by Guest Blogger Amanda Chantal Bacon, Founder of Moon Juice in Venice, CA
I have finally hit a stride in life where I feel like I have tapped into a deep and sustainable energy source in my body, and, thank goodness, because running a growing business and having a toddler is demanding and exciting – I don’t want to miss a second of it!
Even if it’s just for a day or two, the first step to deep and sustainable energy is to eliminate a few things from your diet. Eliminating doesn’t have to be forever, and you don’t have to be extreme, just use this knowledge as a tool. If you are feeling burnt out and would like more energy, give coffee a break! This may seem counterintuitive, but you want to support your adrenal glands not zap them. Try green tea or mate; these are less taxing and won’t leave you crashing after a jittery rush. Give wine, refined sugar and bread a break as well. They are high glycemic items that also leave you to crash and burn, repeating the vicious cycle.
With those eliminations, add a couple of delicious and nourishing superfoods to your day; you will feel immediate surges of sustained energy – a little goes a long way! I like to start the day with a raw, organic, superfood, nut milk smoothie. It’s delicious, and easy to pack full of energy-building, nutritionally-dense ingredients. You will find your not only buzzing with energy, but surprisingly satiated and eating less throughout the day. Eating a lighter lunch and dinner will really make a difference – all of that energy that would have gone to digesting cooked foods can be redirected towards increasing blood flow and brain power.
Here are my top ingredients for an energizing morning blend:
Start with a base of organic almond milk, not sweetened with sugar (if you are going to buy at the store, read the label!). Add any or all of these items and choose a sweetener like local raw honey, stevia, or a ripe frozen banana.
Maca: This adaptogenic superfood increases energy, endurance, strength, and libido. Dried maca powder contains more than 10% protein, nearly 20 amino acids, and 7 essential amino acids. Maca contains five times more protein than a potato and four times more fiber.
Raw hemp hearts: Shelled hemp seeds are packed with 33 % pure digestible protein, rich in iron, amino acids, and vitamin E, as well as omega-3’s. It’s a perfect food for immediate endurance and energy.
Bee Products (honey, pollen, and propolis): Bee pollen is the most complete food found in nature, containing vitamin B-9 and all 21 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Honey, in its organic/wild, raw, unfiltered states is rich in minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, enzymes, and one of the highest vibration foods on the planet. Bee products have been used to increase both stamina and alertness. They’re even used by Olympic athletes today.
Cacao, raw chocolate: Cacao is the highest antioxidant food on the planet, the #1 source of magnesium, iron, chromium and is also extremely high in anandamide (“bliss chemical”). Raw Chocolate balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, is a natural aphrodisiac, elevates your mood, and gives you much more energy than coffee can.
I make sure to sip an unsweetened, 100% organic, unpasteurized, green juice throughout the day. Yes, you can get high on green juice! This juice is loaded with bio-available vitamins, minerals, and live enzymes, while being hydrating and alkalizing. Green vegetables have the ability to transform the sun’s energy into food; they produce chlorophyll, which oxygenates the body and improves blood circulation, resulting in an immediate and massive boost of energy.
I like to use adaptogenic herbs when building energy. Through occasional use of these herbs you can quickly tap into and restore your own energy source. Adaptogens are herbs that promote the health of the adrenal glands, which in turn regulate immune response, emotions and bodily reactions to stress. The herbs restore balance and strengthen the body’s function without throwing another organ or system out of balance. Adaptogens make these changes by a wide range of actions rather than just by one specific action. They are nontoxic, non-stimulant, and non-habit forming. The improvement in energy is the result of a deeper internal shift toward health. It is a safe way to restore balance, rebuild vitality, and promote energy.
My favorites (which I take all at once with a big gulp of water) include cordyceps, rhodiola, reishi, astagalus, and schizandra
I also love taking shots of E3Live, a domestic blue-green alga. The algae unlock your energy sources by nourishing glands and organs and improving their functions. It increase endurance so efficiently that it’s used widely by professional athletes, and you get the benefits of improved mental clarity, focus, and an enhanced a sense of well-being.
No matter how sluggish I may feel, I get myself to a kundalini yoga class or practice at home. Each time, without fail, I am completely re-invigorated; all it takes is a little breath-work and meditation to clear the mind and body of whatever was bringing you down. It’s like washing the windows – everything is instantly brighter and clearer. The kind of energy that is built with kundalini yoga will keep you going for the week.
Last, but not least, is a nap or a night of deep sleep – incorporating even just a few of the above recommendations into your day will prime your body for some quality sleep. Shutting off the phone, turn off the altering blue light from the computer, and fill your mind with peaceful thoughts – it should send you sailing into an energizing rest!
Enjoy!
Amanda
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Moon Juice is a cold pressed, 100% organic, juice and nut milk shop on Rose Avenue in Venice, California. Founded by Amanda Chantal Bacon, a former food writer and chef, Moon Juice celebrates the unadulterated, exquisite flavors and healing force of raw vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, and seaweeds. Find out more about Moon Juice at moonjuiceshop.com.
