Healthy Living

How To Reduce Your Reliance On Energy Drinks

You have loads on your to-do list, but a bad mid-afternoon slump makes you unproductive. Understandably, you’ll want to reach for a can of energy drink to help you power through. But that’s a bad move. While these drinks can give you the energy boost you need, they’re loaded with too much sugar and artificial substances that can damage your health. Studies show energy drinks can cause dehydration, heart complications, anxiety, and insomnia. If you’re addicted to energy drinks, it’s time to stop taking them. Here are some tips to help you reduce your reliance on energy drinks. 

Don’t quit cold turkey

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While you want to reduce your reliance on energy drinks as quickly as possible, some experts suggest you do it gradually instead of quitting cold turkey. Weaning yourself leads to a more sustainable change, as your reliance on the drink will continuously drop until you no longer have an addiction. You can gradually reduce the amount of energy drinks you take every week. For example, if you consume 6 cans each in one week, reduce it to 5 the following week, and so on. But be sure to replace the drinks with healthier alternatives mentioned later in this article. 

Treat the root cause of your low energy levels

Various issues can lead to low energy during the day, and until you address them, you’ll keep relying on energy drinks to help you through each day. Most of the time, lifestyle issues like poor sleep habits and lack of exercise can lead to daily fatigue. Fatigue can sometimes result from illness, medication, and even depression. Low energy can also be the natural effect of aging, especially when linked with illnesses and hormonal imbalances. The right solution will depend on the cause of your lack of energy. For example, rely on hormone therapy if your low energy issue is a symptom of hormonal imbalances. If it’s a lack of proper sleep, you need to ensure that your body gets at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. 

Drink more green juices and smoothies

Your body needs a healthy dose of vitamin B to run at its peak. The more of this vitamin you have, the easier it is for your body to produce more energy faster. Green juices made with dark-colored vegetables like spinach, kale, and parsley are excellent sources of vitamin B. To start your day, you can make smoothies or green juices from these vegetables and combine them with a vitamin-rich breakfast. You can even keep a bottle of this smoothie with you at work. But it’s best to take it early in the day, not at night, to enjoy its energy-boosting benefits. 

Opt for protein shakes with carbohydrates

Image credit 

Believe it or not, a lack of protein in the body is one of the most common causes of daily fatigue. If your daily diet isn’t rich in protein, consider protein shakes. But protein alone may not work, so don’t just scoop protein powder into shakes and expect results. That’s because protein needs high-quality carbohydrates to help convert it into the energy your body will feed on. Some great carbohydrate additions to protein shakes include sweet potato, oats, and legumes. 

How To Reduce Your Reliance On Energy Drinks

You have loads on your to-do list, but a bad mid-afternoon slump makes you unproductive. Understandably, you’ll want to reach for a can of energy drink to help you power through. But that’s a bad move. While these drinks can give you the energy boost you need, they’re loaded with too much sugar and artificial substances that can damage your health. Studies show energy drinks can cause dehydration, heart complications, anxiety, and insomnia. If you’re addicted to energy drinks, it’s time to stop taking them. Here are some tips to help you reduce your reliance on energy drinks. 

Don’t quit cold turkey

Image credit 

While you want to reduce your reliance on energy drinks as quickly as possible, some experts suggest you do it gradually instead of quitting cold turkey. Weaning yourself leads to a more sustainable change, as your reliance on the drink will continuously drop until you no longer have an addiction. You can gradually reduce the amount of energy drinks you take every week. For example, if you consume 6 cans each in one week, reduce it to 5 the following week, and so on. But be sure to replace the drinks with healthier alternatives mentioned later in this article. 

Treat the root cause of your low energy levels

Various issues can lead to low energy during the day, and until you address them, you’ll keep relying on energy drinks to help you through each day. Most of the time, lifestyle issues like poor sleep habits and lack of exercise can lead to daily fatigue. Fatigue can sometimes result from illness, medication, and even depression. Low energy can also be the natural effect of aging, especially when linked with illnesses and hormonal imbalances. The right solution will depend on the cause of your lack of energy. For example, rely on hormone therapy if your low energy issue is a symptom of hormonal imbalances. If it’s a lack of proper sleep, you need to ensure that your body gets at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. 

Drink more green juices and smoothies

Your body needs a healthy dose of vitamin B to run at its peak. The more of this vitamin you have, the easier it is for your body to produce more energy faster. Green juices made with dark-colored vegetables like spinach, kale, and parsley are excellent sources of vitamin B. To start your day, you can make smoothies or green juices from these vegetables and combine them with a vitamin-rich breakfast. You can even keep a bottle of this smoothie with you at work. But it’s best to take it early in the day, not at night, to enjoy its energy-boosting benefits. 

Opt for protein shakes with carbohydrates

Image credit 

Believe it or not, a lack of protein in the body is one of the most common causes of daily fatigue. If your daily diet isn’t rich in protein, consider protein shakes. But protein alone may not work, so don’t just scoop protein powder into shakes and expect results. That’s because protein needs high-quality carbohydrates to help convert it into the energy your body will feed on. Some great carbohydrate additions to protein shakes include sweet potato, oats, and legumes. 

Karla Urwitz
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