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Cover StoryThree healthy ways to boost energy levels Date published: 2/5/2010
THOUGH winter weather may earn a few snow days here and there, the lack of sunshine can also dampen one's spirits. Some people may resort to quick fixes like coffee and sugar to give a temporary burst. But here are three healthier ways to raise your energy level and keep it up. GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP Sleep is quite obviously one of the most vital ways to restore an individual's energy level. If a person is overly tired, exhausted or even incoherent, the issue is most likely related to sleep in some way. Lack of sleep is even an important indicator of many health issues, such as depression and multiple sclerosis. Teenagers on average need 9.5 hours of sleep a night--while a study by the National Sleep Foundation suggests that teens sleep for an average of only 7.4 hours a night. A good night's sleep is a hard thing to achieve, but a rewarding one. To do so, one must not sleep with the lights or the television on, as both are too stimulating to the brain, and the television may even cause certain glands within your brain to function improperly. Eating and drinking should not be done within two hours of the time you plan on falling asleep, as your body will work to absorb the energy being taken in. Working out or exercising just before sleeping is also not a good idea--the buildup of lactic acid within the muscles can cause a person to have trouble getting that perfect state of relaxation necessary for proper sleep. Keeping a proper bedtime, taking a shower before bed and listening to white noise or a "sounds of the rain forest" CD are all proper ways to help the body relax before or while going to bed. Also, be sure not to use loud alarm clocks--the shock of waking up to one can cause the body immense stress. --Peter Brig EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST Although it is an easy and standard option for most sleepy risers, coffee is not the healthiest way to start the day.
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