Healthy Energy Foods

How to Eat: Feel Great & Boost Your Energy Now People who don't make time to eat right will eventually be forced to make time for being sick. Are you one of these people?

"I'm Not An Early Bird Or a Night Owl – I'm Some Kind of Permanently Exhausted Pigeon..."

Whatever your situation, you're not alone. Fact is, most people know what it's like to feel tired most of the day and not want to wake up. Think of this... What if you had the time, freedom and lifestyle you desire – but no energy? What's Dr. Oz's secret? He performs 250 open-heart surgeries a year. He's a professor at Columbia University, a chairman of surgery, a medical program director, a prolific writer, a regular on TV and radio. He even has his own show on the Oprah Network. Oh, and he's also a devoted husband and father of four. "It's about energy management. That is everything," Oz says. In the last article we saw why the right kind of massage can give you amazing natural energy - almost immediately. Besides the DIY tips, a trained, licensed massage therapist can teach you how to get and keep your energy level higher.

Schedule Now Let's talk about food.

"I'll just eat the junk food in the house so it's not there to tempt me."

You don't need a PhD to know that food is fuel. But to get and stay energized, you need to eat smart. Real food can taste amazing. Healthy doesn't have to mean eating twigs and grass.

Eat alkaline food, feel more energetic.

Foods like meat, cheese, candy and ice cream make acid in your body. Your kidneys have to work super hard to get rid of this acid. Alkaline foods, on the other hand, don't produce acid. Your body doesn't work nearly as hard. And everything runs more efficiently for optimal energy. Eat less foods that make acid. Try to eat one alkaline food with every meal and snack. Here are the 7 most alkaline foods: kale, cucumber, celery, spinach, avocado, bell pepper and broccoli. Here's a surprise. Lemons and limes are acidic, but they become alkaline inside your body. Dr. Oz recommends you drink a glass of lukewarm water with a squeeze of lemon first thing in the morning. Then do this again at every meal. This combo wakes up your gallbladder and liver - to flush toxins out of your system and get your intestinal track moving. If the water is too cold, it shuts down your digestive process.

Improve your digestion, improve your energy.

Not only is the lemon alkaline, it stimulates your body to produce enzymes, which helps your digestion. Digestion takes more energy than almost any other process in your body. How many of us feel like going for a jog right after gorging at a buffet? Digesting all that food can take as much energy as running a marathon, some experts say. Want to feel more energy?

Cut down on your portion size and eat more enzymes.

Diet expert Yuri Elkaim explains that sprouts (nuts, seeds and legumes soaked in water for a day or two) are an amazing source of enzymes. They have far higher concentrations of protein, minerals and vitamins...than their non-sprouted counterparts. Your body can use these nutrients way more easily from sprouts, he says. Try broccoli, lentil or alfalfa sprouts to start with. To really boost your energy, keep your gut energized. How?

Put at least 50% raw food on your plate for every meal.

Raw foods are very high in enzymes. Digestion is so very energy intensive. The more raw food you eat, the less work your body need to do when digesting your food. And the more energy you have to spend.

Eat smart fats.

The wrong fats wreck your heart and brain. The same foods that cause heart attacks...make your brain foggy. Feed your brain the right fats. They help you stay sharp, mentally energized and protect your brain from toxins. Get your energy-fat fix by cooking with saturated fats like coconut oil. Use monounsaturated fats like olive oil and avocado on your salads. If you really want to kick it up a notch, get going with omega-3 (polyunsaturated) fatty acids. You find these fats in small cold-water fish, like sardines and anchovies. Want a veggie source? Flaxseed oil is amazing.

Cut the (unnecessary) caffeine.

Your midday energy slump MIGHT be caused by hidden caffeine sources. How? These days, you can find caffeine hidden in gum, mints, pain relievers, ice cream, and (of course) decaf coffee. All this unintentional caffeine builds up our tolerance. It desensitizes us to caffeine's helpful effects when we DO mean to take some.

Essential Oils

Essential oils? Weren't we talking about foods? Well, think of this... People slather all sorts of creams and potions on their skin every day. Does the stuff you put on your skin just stay harmlessly on the surface of your skin? No! Just like food, it goes right into your body. Keep in mind, the FDA does NOT regulate cosmetics like it does food and medicine. We have to look even closer at labels and what's supposed to be "healthy." No one is probably more aware of this than a well-trained massage therapist. In fact, people should want to know that the oils being massaged into their skin (the largest organ of their body) are non-toxic. After all, their body is going to be absorbing these oils.

Massage is just one way to benefit from pure essential oils. Dr. Oz recommends a rosemary energy spritz to fight the mid-afternoon slump. Add a sprig of fresh or dried rosemary to a spray bottle filled with purified water. Let this mixture soak overnight to infuse into the water. Shake well before spraying twice on your face. Or, you can simply use a few drops of essential rosemary oil in the water to avoid the overnight hassle. Oz cites a clinical study showing that inhaling rosemary goes straight to the brain and increases alertness. As a bonus, this rosemary energy spritz may even improve your memory. Even a 5-minute do-it-yourself massage with essential oils can make a huge difference in your energy levels. Daphne Metland, founder of the Good Spa Guide, points out that lemon oil is considered a natural antidepressant. Orange oil lifts your mood. Metland also confirms the invigorating effect of rosemary oil.

How can herbal teas help you?

Dr. Oz suggests drinking a cup of rooibos tea right before bedtime. What is rooibos? It's an herbal infusion made from a South African bush. It's naturally caffeine free and loaded with antioxidants. Oz cites studies showing it reduces tension, irritability and headaches - all key components linked to energy-sapping insomnia.