The human body requires a variety of natural foods to run at peak performance. When high quantities of processed and ultra-processed foods are consumed, the body slows down, and people begin to feel sluggish and tired. While most whole foods are natural energy boosters, some contain even higher amounts of energy-boosting nutrients.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in a variety of plants, including coffee, tea, and cacao plants. It is the most popular natural energy booster, with most people consuming caffeine in some way each day. A synthetic form of caffeine is an additive in highly refined products, like soft-drinks and energy drinks.

Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system. This causes the brain to feel more alert and awake. Too much caffeine intake can cause overstimulation, a jittery feeling, and possibly insomnia. When used in moderation, plant sources of caffeine can be effective natural energy boosters.

Coffee, black tea, and green tea are the most common sources of caffeine. Coffee has the highest concentration of caffeine with an average of 96 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces. Black tea contains 47 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces while green tea contains just 28 milligrams per 8 ounces. Some experts believe that green tea is the best natural energy booster because its lower caffeine content produces a more sustained and gentler boost of energy.

Complex carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the powerhouse of natural energy boosters. There are two main types of carbohydrates: simple and complex.

Simple carbohydrates are very quickly converted into glucose through digestion. This creates a short burst of energy followed by a steep decline in energy. Often people feel lethargic or sleepy after a simple carbohydrate-filled meal due to this effect. Though some simple carbohydrates, like white rice and fruit juice, are natural energy boosters, their energy is short-lived. Most simple carbohydrates are highly processed and include high quantities of refined sugars.

Complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, have larger molecules than simple carbohydrates. This causes the starches to be digested and converted to energy more slowly. The slower conversion provides the body with a longer lasting natural energy boost. Consuming complex carbohydrates does not cause the sharp incline followed by the sharp decline in energy that simple carbohydrates cause. This makes complex-carbohydrate foods excellent natural energy boosters.

Complex carbohydrates are found in natural energy boosters, like whole grains, beans, whole fruit, and starchy vegetables. Choose unprocessed or low-processed foods for a healthy, natural energy boost.

Iron-Rich Foods

Iron is an important part of a balanced diet. Iron aids in the production of the red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When iron-deficient, or anemic, the body has a lack of red blood cells, which causes fatigue and weakness. Many natural energy booster foods are high in iron.

There are two forms of iron in foods: heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is in a form that is most easily absorbed by the body. Sources of heme iron include meat, fish, poultry, shellfish and eggs. These iron sources do not require vitamin C to be absorbed. Lean proteins are a great source of iron and serve well as natural energy boosters.

Non-heme iron is less easily absorbed by the body. In order to increase the amount of iron available for absorption in non-heme iron foods, they must be consumed alongside heme iron foods or foods rich in vitamin C. Natural energy boosters like spinach, swiss chard, kale, beans, peas, raisins, tofu, and pumpkin seeds require vitamin C to become more easily absorbed by the body. Pair these foods with citrus, tomatoes, potatoes, or berries to help increase iron absorption.

Less Common Natural Energy Boosters

There are many natural energy boosters found in plants that are less commonly discussed.

Capuacu is a fruit found in the rainforest that is used for a variety of health benefits, including as a natural energy booster. It is related to the cacao plant, and the energy boost gained from consuming capaucu is similar to that of caffeine.

Another less known natural energy booster is found in the bark of the Marapuama tree, which grows in South America. Marapuama bark extract is used to treat a variety of ailments, including fatigue.

The common beet is an unexpected natural energy booster. Beets contain high levels of natural nitrates that aid in increased stamina and better oxygen use during exercise. As complex carbohydrates, they also supply the body with a slow-release source of energy. Beets are also a good source of iron as well as vitamin C, both of which are important for non-heme iron absorption.

Native to the Amazon, adaptogens are non-toxic plants with incredible health benefits that have gained popularity worldwide. These Amazonian herbs and roots are herbal powerhouses with a long history of use in both Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions. Adaptogens can play a key role in building up immunity, replenishing tired cells, creating a sense of calmness in one’s body, and providing a healthy energy boost. With an assortment of health benefits, it is no wonder Amazon adaptogens are revered as magical sources of life by Indigenous cultures of the Brazilian Amazon. Small but powerful, Amazon adaptogens have a lot to offer.

Loaded with Nutrients

Amazon adaptogens are renowned for the incredible concentration of nutrients found in each plant. Everyone knows oranges are good sources of vitamin C, but not everyone knows that the adaptogen camu camu boasts 30 to 50 times more vitamin C than the beloved orange. This small berry packs a nutritional punch with high levels of amino acids, beta carotene, calcium, potassium, vitamin B, flavonoids, and phytonutrient content.

The high nutrient count is common amongst Amazon adaptogens, and like the camu camu berry, soursop is another example of the incredible nutrient concentration found in adaptogens. The tropical fruit is known for its sweetness and ability to treat a number of physical ailments. It is rich in fibers and contains abundant vitamin C and several B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, along with calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Sources of Natural Energy

The energy drink market is a massive industry that is often under critical speculation regarding health risks and side effects. Most commercial energy drinks are packed full of additives and refined sugar, and while providing a short burst of energy, most typically result in the dreaded energy crash. Unlike processed energy drinks, Amazon adaptogens are able to give the body a natural energy boost without the afternoon lull. One of the most popular adaptogens used for its energy boosting ability is guarana. The fruit is native to Brazil and Venezuela and has been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples throughout the Amazon. This Amazon adaptogen contains caffeine along with other natural stimulants that work together to give the central nervous system, heart, and hardworking muscles a boost.

Guarana isn’t the only energy powerhouse amongst Amazon adaptogens. Pfaffia paniculata, also known as ‘Brazilian Ginseng’, is another heavy hitter that has been used for hundreds of years by Indigenous groups as an energy booster. Not only does the root serve as a natural source of energy, it has also been used by Indigenous peoples to heal wounds, balance blood sugar, and relieve chronic pain. Proponents of the Brazilian superfood praise the roots for its ability to prevent premature aging, strengthen the immune system, and improve mental activity.

Natural Muscle Relaxants and Sleep-Aids

Amazon adaptogens have long been used to provide relief to sore muscles and also encourage deep rest. For those who suffer from fitful sleeps, Amazon adaptogens can provide much needed relief. Select adaptogens, such as the passionflower, have sedative qualities that provide gentle relief for insomnia. Adaptogens like the passionflower work to relax twitching and relieve tension in muscles. Passion fruit acts as a natural stress and anxiety reliever, earning the title of a popular relaxing tonic. In addition to helping users have deeper sleeps, Amazon adaptogens can provide a sense of calm to an overexcited nervous system and provide relaxation for strained muscles. Indigenous peoples have used adaptogens for centuries to provide relief for a variety of ailments, and these natural remedies provide much needed relief without a long list of side effects common to commercial sleeping medications.

Incorporating Amazon Adaptogens into a Healthy Lifestyle

Amazon adaptogens have earned the title of natural powerhouses with their natural energy boosting qualities and high concentration of vital nutrients. There are a variety of adaptogens that can be used for different health purposes, so taking the time to research the different plants and their uses will help consumers pinpoint the right adaptogens for their needs. Adaptogens will bring a number of benefits to those that use them, but these herbal remedies are not cure-alls, nor can they replace sleep and a healthy diet. Amazon adaptogens work best when paired with a healthy lifestyle and are a great supplement for anyone looking for natural ways to improve their wellbeing.

If you are a coffee lover, then you know that the expression, ‘have it your way,’ is not so easy when it comes to a great-tasting cup of coffee. In fact, it’s hard to make coffee the easy way, since there are a number of ways to make coffee. But most of those ways, until now, have required making 8 or 10 or more cups at a time, and so, you don’t always get the freshest, best-tasting cup available all day long. Especially if the pot has been sitting around awhile! That is no way to make coffee-time special. How can you make coffee the best way, so you don’t have to make more than you need? Easy! Learn the best way of making coffee with a drip coffee maker.

What is a drip coffee maker?

First of all, do you know what a drip coffee maker is? It is a single-cup, ceramic coffee filter that is designed to hold a paper coffee filter securely over a mug while very hot, perhaps boiling water is poured slowly into the mug through the filter.  The word ‘securely’ is key, because you don’t want the filter to become unbalanced and spill boiling water all over the counter-top and yourself. These ceramic cones have a handle on the side that you can hold to take it on and off, and the cone tapers down onto a ledge that balances over the mug, or coffee pot, perfectly.

It’s not expensive or wasteful to make a great cup of coffee every time. Put fresh ground coffee into the filter of the drip coffee maker. Use only as much as you need. For one 6-oz cup of coffee, you only need two tablespoons of grounds. This can be adjusted, more or less, as needed, and the water temperature and amount can be adjusted as well.

How to make coffee with the drip coffee maker?

Choose your mug. Choose your coffee. Choose the amount of water and grounds you would like to use. Put the coffee dripper on top of the mug, put the filter inside, the coffee in the filter, and pour in the water so that the water drips over the coffee and into your cup. Adjust to taste. Yes, this is all there is to making coffee with a drip coffee maker! That’s why this is one of the best ways of making coffee. There is no waste and no waiting. Best of all, there is also no going back, later on, to deal with the stale leftovers.

For any coffee lover, it’s a pleasure to be able to enjoy a different coffee every morning, without having to buy and use a lot of different roasts all at once. By making coffee one cup at a time, you can sample different beans, or pair your coffee with what you are eating. This gives you better flavor as well because the ground beans are always fresh. Making coffee with a drip coffee maker is not just easier and less wasteful, but it’s more convenient, too. The dripper is as easy to clean as the mug. Just throw them in the dishwasher together.

There’s a huge buzz about adaptogen drinks, especially in the health and fitness community. But why is adaptogen drink so important, and how can they help you? There are a bunch of reasons to drink them daily, including a drastic energy increase and reduced stress levels, so let’s dive into a few of the key things you should know about adaptogen drinks.

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are essentially stimulatory herbs that help to reduce your stress. There are a variety of herbs that fit under this category, including many roots and superfoods, and they can all provide a “hack” to your stress response that helps to increase your boosts of energy and reduce fatigue. If you’re looking for better energy, adaptogen drinks are your best friend.

How Do They Work?

When our adrenaline kicks in due to stress, our body releases all sorts of hormones that temporarily increase our clarity, energy, and motivation to help fight off whatever threat has appeared. But, when stress is persistent, it can lead to severe fatigue, because our fight-or-flight response expends energy very quickly. Adaptogen drinks unlock more time in these responses, to increase the amount of time you feel energetic and reduce that immediate, post-stress fatigue.

By drinking adaptogens daily, you’ll be able to use your body’s adrenaline potential to the optimal effect—in a way that will leave you feeling both refreshed and alert. They work by giving your body and mind the time they need to use your stress responses and recover from them.

Energizing

Adaptogen drinks use various energizing herbs and roots to boost your alertness and productivity levels. Some ingredients such as Suma Root and Spirulina are immensely helpful in increasing your energy in a healthy way, and still promote excellent bodily health. Many other nutritional supplements or drinks will feed a bunch of harmful chemicals into your body, and have limited, temporary results. Adaptogens are completely natural, so you can get that awesome boost without relying on things like coffee and 5-Hour energy drinks.

Soothing & Anti-Depressive

In duality with an energy increase, you’ll still find yourself soothed and with improved mood. Many energy increasing beverages, such as coffee, can make you jittery, anxious, or result in other mental health issues. Adaptogen drinks are made of the right ingredients that give you the energy boost you need without sacrificing your mental wellbeing. You can be both motivated and calm, productive and relaxed.

Your mental health is crucial, and it should be your top priority. Though, busy life can make harmful drinks and supplements tempting for a quick energy fix. That’s why adaptogen drinks are such an amazing alternative–you get what you need, without the negative consequences of other solutions.

Neuro Benefits

Adaptogen drinks can actually benefit your mental clarity, as well. While your mental health and energy improve, so will your clarity. You’ll find you can focus better, and if you suffer from neurological disorders or conditions, they will often improve, too. Ingredients such as Arctic Root and Schisandra are just a couple of the adaptogens that can help benefit your brain, and they do so without the use of dangerous steroids.

Physical Health

Adaptogen drinks can also have a great impact on your physical wellbeing. From lung issues to muscle fatigue, many benefits for your body can be found. Some studies even report improved cardiovascular health. Whether you’re an athlete or not, this can help you increase your physical performance and general wellness, giving you the strength you need to tackle life.

So, while it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor before trying anything new, if you’re looking for improved physical health, you’d probably be wise to try out some adaptogen drinks.

Overall, if you’re looking to reduce stress, gain back some energy, improve your mental or physical health, and unlock some neural benefits, adaptogen drinks are most likely the ideal fit for you. Drinking adaptogens daily has numerous positive impacts on you and your body, and you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals, negative side effects, or unnatural ingredients in the same way you would for all the other alternatives to energy increase. If your doctor thinks adaptogen drinks are right for you, you’d be wisest to give them a shot immediately!

What Is Caffeine and Why Does It Matter?

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances worldwide, although, unlike other drugs, like alcohol, caffeine is much less likely to impair coordination and judgment. That doesn’t mean that caffeine is completely safe, though. In fact, for as much as it is consumed, caffeine has many health effects that remain largely unknown to the public that consumes it regularly. In North America, for instance, it is estimated that 90% of the population consumes a caffeine product every day (and an estimated 80% of the population in other parts of the world). This isn’t surprising since caffeine is present in a host of foods and beverages, notably chocolate, soft drinks, tea, and coffee. However, caffeine isn’t the same in every form you find it in; there are some mate drink, natural caffeine drinks, and foods that don’t have the same negative, or even just uncertain, impacts as those which are supplemented by chemicals and sugar.

As a substance that enjoys widespread consumption – so much so that we often don’t even think about it – it is important to discuss its effects on health. Likely the most well-known characteristic of caffeine is its use as a stimulant; early morning lineups outside drive-through coffee shops are a staple of working-class culture, and it is a safe bet that, in the morning, there will always be a lineup. Tempting though it may be to swill back cup after cup of coffee in order to keep your attention focused on tedious work, the Mayo Clinic recommends abstaining from drinking more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, which will vary depending on whether you consume more conventional teas and coffees or seek alternatives like natural caffeine drinks.

Staying within the safe range of daily consumption, and consuming it in healthy ways, like in natural caffeine drinks, caffeine has been known to provide several benefits to health. However, like anything else, excessive consumption carries its fair share of detriments to your health. Caffeine is one of the world’s most studied substances, and there is far from a consensus on whether the benefits outweigh the deficits or vice-versa; it depends on amount consumed and whether you have a pre-existing condition which would make you susceptible to its dangers.

Here is a list of both the positive health benefits and the negative health effects of caffeine, respectively:

Positive Health Effects of Caffeine

When initially consumed, particularly through healthy forms like natural caffeine drinks, caffeine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, with its acute effects mostly affecting the brain within fifteen minutes. Caffeine is primarily a stimulant, for which it is most prominently used. The stimulation of the brain brings along with it many cognitive benefits. Caffeine is thought to block the neurotransmitter adenosine, which makes it easier for releasing “pick-me-up” neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.

Notably, caffeine improves reaction time and ability to think. Too often, the working public lose sleep for myriad reasons, but people cannot afford to call in every time they need to catch up, so they rely on natural caffeine drinks to help. Caffeine is also helpful in reducing the possibility of car accidents, according to a study conducted by the Australian Department of Defence.

The health benefits of natural caffeine drinks are not restricted to increased cognitive function. Several studies have attributed numerous physiological benefits. For one, caffeine may increase metabolic function and accelerate weight loss by mobilizing fat tissues. For this reason, caffeine is a component of many weight-loss treatments. A German study that pitted subjects who drank caffeine against a control group that did not noted that the group that drank between two and four cups of coffee a day were more likely to lose weight and keep it off.

Among the lesser-known health benefits of regulated caffeine consumption in the form of natural caffeine drinks are the reduced risk of cancer, the reduced incidence of suicide, increasing stamina during exercising, stimulation of follicle growth, reduction of chronic inflammation, and strengthening of heart muscles.

Negative Health Effects of Caffeine

Like any other mind-altering substance, excessive consumption of caffeine, especially when it is consumed in its non-natural caffeine drink form, brings with it a swath of risks, and there may be risks present for those who consume any caffeine at all, particularly if they suffer from certain health conditions.

Because of its stimulating properties and tendency to work the heart, a common negative effect associated with non-natural caffeine drinks and other forms of consumption is high blood pressure. This is of particular concern to those who suffer from hypertension. For the same reason, caffeine increases the possibility of heart attacks among young adults. As well, kicking caffeine after a long time of consuming it can cause withdrawal symptoms such as drowsiness, anxiety, irritability, shaking, or in rare cases, tremors.

Bottom Line

The consensus seems to be that, for healthy adults, a nominal daily consumption of caffeine not exceeding 400 milligrams is mostly harmless. Reasonably used, the benefits of natural caffeine drinks clearly outweigh the deficits in most cases, and its seemingly universal use is a testament to its efficacy, and its role in modern society.