Have you ever felt depressed and filled with enormous amounts of energy at the same time?  Probably not.  When we have a lot of energy, we both feel better and get more done.  Of course, we’re told that the way to greater vim and vigor is to eat right, exercise, and avoid harmful substances.  We know what we should do, but we often don’t have the energy or discipline to follow through.  If you’re like me, you wonder “are there any safe shortcuts to how to have more energy?”  Luckily, there are.  There are now a plethora of supplements in health food stores that can safely and effectively help you to get more energy.  Once you find how to get more energy in a way that works well for you, it’s like finding a magic pill that helps you feel healthier, happier, and more energized.  Who knows, you may even become motivated to eat better and exercise more often!

If you go to a health food store and ask about supplements  to get more energy, you’ll likely be overwhelmed by the number of products available.  After much trial and error, I’ve learned three things about how to get more energy in a way that feels good to your body.  First of all, it’s important to look at the ingredients in each of the bottles. Many energy supplements are really just caffeine-like derivatives that take a toll on your body.   Caffeine, Ma Huang, Ephedra, and Guarana are all very similar in that they stress your adrenal glands and ultimately leave you with less energy.   It’s better to look for products whose main ingredients are things like bee pollen, spirulina, wheat grass, amino acids, ginseng, algae, royal jelly, or vitamin B-12.

The second thing to know when looking for a supplement to get more energy is that different pills work for different people.  Just because your friend swears that Product X changed her life doesn’t mean it will have any effect on you.  It’s best to buy small amounts of several products and give each one a trial run to see which one works best.  In addition, you may need to try each supplement for a couple of weeks to notice what, if anything, it does for you.   Thirdly, there’s a tendency for your body to gain a “tolerance” for whatever you take.  This means that, over time, it has less effect on your body.  That’s why it may take more caffeine than it used to in order for you to feel really “buzzed.”  If you’ve tried several supplements, you can begin with the one that had the greatest effect, but periodically change to others when you feel you’re building up a tolerance.

Bearing all this information in mind, there are several supplements I can heartily recommend because of their ingredients and the consistently good results people report.  My personal favorite is something called Uptime.  Although it has a small amount of caffeine in it, it has plenty of nutritional goodies that more than make up for the fact that it contains a little caffeine.  If you’re a coffee drinker, definitely consider using Uptime as a healthier alternative.  If you can’t find it in your health food store, you can order it directly online (I have no financial ties to this company—or any products I recommend here).

Another favorite is something called Ultra Energy Plus by the Rainbow Lite company.  This product is filled with good stuff, and contains no caffeine at all.  Although it doesn’t take effect as quickly as Uptime, it can give you a nice boost of sustained energy.  Think of it as a powerful food that blasts your body with vitamins.  For people who like to take only natural herbs instead of vitamins, there’s a product called Ginseng Energy Now.  It’s especially suitable for people who are very sensitive to supplements.

There are also various drinks you can buy to give your body a boost of energy.  Nowadays there are many places that offer a variety of fresh squeezed juices that are energizing and good for you.  Look for smoothies that have bee pollen, vitamin B-12, or a lot of “green stuff” added to them, or try some fresh wheatgrass juice.  A big smoothie sipped throughout the day can provide you with plenty of vitamins and sustained energy.  Experiment with what your local juice bar offers until you find one that tastes good and feels great.

The great thing about finding a Magic Pill or drink to get more energy is how easy it is.  No matter how lazy you are, you can always pop a pill into your mouth or drink some fresh juices. Although supplements are easy to “use,” their effect can be life transforming.  Many people don’t realize that the reason they feel depressed or unhealthy is due to a lack of nutrients.  I’ve seen clients in my therapy practice who literally change overnight by finding a supplement they really needed to take.  Once you  know how to get more energy in a way that feels good to your body, you’ll have a consistent way to support your body, mind, and spirit. With a little exploring, for under a dollar a day, you can find a supplement that can have a major impact on your life.  That’s a deal too good to refuse.