How tired are Australians? Very – if you take our consumption of energy drinks as a marker of fatigue.
According to a 2012 study in the Medical Journal of Australia, over the past 10 years, the consumption of ‘energising’ caffeinated drinks has increased significantly.
As the authors write: “Energy drinks were recently shown to comprise 20 per cent of the total convenience store beverage market, with ‘Red Bull’ and ‘V’ accounting for over 97 per cent of sales in this multimillion-dollar industry. Increasingly, toxicity from caffeine overdose is being reported to hospitals and poisons centres.”
Coffee sales echo this trend. A recent Sydney Morning Herald forecast of national coffee consumption in 2013 comes in at almost $800 million.
Here’s my thought: take the time to think more deeply about where you source your energy from this year.
“Most people run out of steam because they make poor lifestyle choices,” says nutritionist Catherine Saxelby.
She lists these common energy drainers:
- Not eating the right foods.
- Overindulging in alcohol, caffeine and the ‘excesses' of life
- Believing you’re too tired to exercise
- Ignoring the calming benefits of meditation, yoga or other relaxation techniques
- Adhering to the above habits, then dropping into bed and expecting sleep to descend immediately!
To turn things around, focus on what you’re putting into your body (and how much you’re moving it!).
A formal ‘energy cleanse’ could be in order – in other words, a detox plan with a focus on energy boosting.
Dietitian Sue Radd explains: “People often feel better when they start a detox regimen simply because they’ve dramatically changed what they put into their bodies—healthier fluids and foods (and smaller portions) and cut out the junk.”
“For example, drinking more water will improve the hydration of your skin. Cutting alcohol and caffeine will decrease headaches. And eating less food results in less discomfort.”
“Rather than going on a ‘spring cleaning’ every so often, you can boost your body’s natural detox mechanisms by adopting good health habits every day.”
Radd recommends:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Eating seven colourful fruits and vegetables daily
- Choosing wholegrain breads and cereals
- Taking 10,000 steps a day (use a pedometer)
How do you boost your energy?
References available on request