Numerous supplements are often marketed as energy boosters, including caffeine, ginseng and various herbs such as rhodiola and ginkgo biloba. Unfortunately, when misused they can be harmful.
An effective solution may be consulting a clinician and creating a tailored care plan. Your clinician can investigate underlying causes of fatigue while suggesting nutritional, mineral, and herbal supplements appropriate for you.
Vitamins
B vitamins are integral in converting food into energy and an insufficient supply can lead to fatigue, weakness and confusion.
Iron plays an essential role in forming red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body’s tissues for use during cellular respiration and, eventually, production of ATP, its primary energy source.
CoQ10, found naturally within cells’ mitochondria, assists with producing ATP from glucose by transferring electrons and acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage. When adding supplements to an overall wellness plan incorporating diet, physical activity and quality sleep as key elements of wellness a supplement like this one may increase mental and physical energy levels significantly. When selecting supplements make sure they are independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider or registered dietitian nutritionist; taking any dietary supplements without guidance could interact with medications negatively and should only be done under medical advice.
Minerals
Minerals are naturally occurring substances with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure, with either one element or multiple compounds comprising their makeup. Examples of minerals include table salt, quartz and coal; minerals can be distinguished from other solid substances by physical properties like hardness, lustre streak and cleavage that make them distinct from one another.
These properties allow us to distinguish minerals, and some, such as shape, colour and cleavage can even serve as diagnostic properties of certain minerals. Careful examination of crystal shapes is another diagnostic property. Some minerals like feldspars and calcite form cube-shaped crystals; micas and olivines form prismatic shapes.
Chromium picolinate, one of several trace minerals often cited as energy boosters, may not provide reliable evidence to back these claims; before taking these supplements it’s best to consult a healthcare provider or registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or registered dietician nutritionist (RD or RDN).
Goji berries
Goji berries are tasty treats that also pack an energy punch, helping athletes and everyday people alike boost their performance and fight colds more easily. Not only are these super berries loaded with iron and vitamin C; they’re packed full of antioxidants which protect your body against free radical damage caused by free radicals in our environment.
Studies show that Goji berries can improve your performance whether you’re new to fitness or an experienced pro. Gojis provide your muscles with protein-rich food sources while simultaneously improving your hormonal profile and decreasing internal inflammation.
Add some goji berries to your morning smoothie or health trail mix for an easy breakfast, snack or addition to cereal, yogurt and salad dishes. However, before including them as part of your diet regimen if taking medication (for instance goji berries can lower blood sugar and could alter how your medication works) speak with your physician first as they could interact with other substances that interact with specific medications; such as lower blood sugar reducing effects from taking them together).
Other ingredients
Many ingredients are added to energy supplements and drinks in order to increase concentration and decrease fatigue, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs and extracts. Some have established benefits while others are being studied further for their potential as energy boosters.
Caffeine is an ingredient commonly found in energy products. As a central nervous system stimulant, caffeine increases energy and mental alertness while simultaneously improving strength, anaerobic, and aerobic activities performance. Caffeine can be found naturally in tea leaves, coffee beans, cacao pods or synthetically produced via chemical synthesis.
B vitamins are another popular addition to energy products. They’re often combined with caffeine and ingredients like taurine or guarana for maximum effect, or used alone. Ginseng and Rhodiola Rosea may be included among popular ingredients as energy drink ingredients, which have the power to reduce stress while improving energy, stamina, memory retention and feelings of anxiety.
