Blog: LITTLE-KNOWN SECRETS TO BOOST YOUR ENERGY
The categories we are working through this month are:
Mindset
Injuries
Energy
Specificity
Do or do not, there is no try!
Yoda
For those who would like to make a change in your energy levels, here are several real tips that my training partners and I use. I have mentioned some of these tips in previous blogs and will list them here again for your convenience.
Rarely do we meet anyone who says they have all the energy they need (okay, maybe my 2 ½-year-old granddaughter). As we age, energy wanes. This is evidenced by the massive stimulant drink market. Many believe that propping up their energy level with a 5-hour Energy shot, Red Bull, Monster and even morning coffee will bring them the energy they need. Do these work? Of course, they do – temporarily – until the big crash landing. Splat!
Humans have miraculous bodies. Are you watching the Olympians perform this week? These athletes are accomplishing incredible physical feats. Knowing the physicality of our bodies, why would anyone choose to live in a dilapidated zombie-like state? Does it make sense to trash your natural energy systems and then try to prop them up with artificial means? I guess for some among us, it must. For some people, these kinds of stimulants are quite dangerous. For me, this is nonsense. In fact, I call these kinds of damaging habits “climbing to the summit of Mount Stupid!”
Below are a few simple secrets to help you maintain fairly high energy levels and vitality at any age. All I will discuss here should be common knowledge. Simple actions: read, do, and share with those you care about.
Energy tip #1
You’ve heard me say this before: Sleep is the fountain of youth. If you need an alarm clock in the morning to get up, it’s likely you are not getting the proper amount of rest that your body needs. Go to bed earlier. If you are sitting in front of any electronic device mindlessly surfing along with the world of dummy trolls, you deserve to be tired all the time. Give it up and set a regimented sleep time. Turn your electronics off an hour before you go to bed.
Energy tip # 2
Food is your primary energy source. If you are consuming pretend foods that come out of packages with a long list of ingredients, then you deserve to be dragging around all day with low energy. Remember, previously I told you that the Gatekeeper is the most important person in the household. The Gatekeeper controls the foods that come into the home, which will be the foods that get consumed. If you think you have enough willpower to eat just a few chips, then I suggest you hire an Uber to get up Mount Stupid because you surely won’t have the energy to get yourself up there on your power.
I’m not suggesting you can never eat them. I love chips! However, this kind of food is not a routine food to be consumed daily. They are a once in a while small treat just like desserts. That’s why they are called treats!
Energy tip #3
A healthy balanced diet maintains higher levels of Nitric Oxide. Nitric oxide (symbol NO) is a molecule that’s produced naturally by your body, and it’s important for many aspects of your health. Nitric oxide production is essential for overall health because it allows blood, nutrients, and oxygen to travel to every part of your body effectively and efficiently. A limited capacity to produce nitric oxide in your body is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, digestive tract issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, erectile dysfunction, and bladder issues.
Antioxidants destroy free radicals that attack Nitric Oxide. Dark fruits and vegetables are high-energy foods and powerful antioxidants. These are “real foods”, a.k.a. healthy carbs. When these foods are consumed, nitrates are converted into nitric oxide, which confers a wide range of health benefits related to heart health and exercise performance. Nitric oxide is an unstable molecule that degrades quickly in the bloodstream, so it must be constantly replenished.
Energy is also created by eating unsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados. (Don’t cook with olive oil. Pour in on your foods after cooking or on raw foods like salads). Cut out the crap, “calorie-rich and processed” foods. Stay away from simple carbs, sugar, and junk food. You know this. These foods cause inflammation, and many diseases including auto-immune diseases are driven by inflammation. Oh yes, on your hike up Mount Stupid, remember to bring lots of sugar treats!
We’ve heard the adage “Think differently”. This means to change the way you look at something or think about something. Try this mnemonic:
Simple Carbs = Simple Minds. Simple Minds allow Sugars to Rule.
Complex Carbs = Complex Minds. Complex Minds allow Vegetables to Rule.
Each of us will be consuming food for a lifetime. Rather than the result of years of unhealthy treatment of our bodies, which may result in the need for lifetime pharmaceuticals, I recommend placing an emphasis on proper nutrient consumption and healthy eating. Granted, some drugs can be lifesaving and have a time and place as needed. I maintain that most drugs Americans take on a regular basis can be eliminated through proper diet and taking better care of our bodies.
Energy tip #4
Here’s another secret to increasing Nitric Oxide levels that you may not know. (BTW, please don’t confuse this with Nitrous Oxide a.k.a. laughing gas! Nitric Oxide is an essential free radical.)
Enzymes have been found in the nose and in the paranasal sinuses that produce Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide levels in the sinuses are even much higher than what is produced in the nose. The main site for Nitric Oxide production is the paranasal sinuses.
Around 25-50% of the population breathe through their mouth. This means that up to 75% of the population breathe wrong. For millennia, yoga and meditation training have taught us to breathe in through our nose and out through our mouth. This helps create energy. Why? When you breathe in through your nose your body creates nitric oxide. When you breathe in through your mouth, you don’t.
Breathing through your nose is one of the most beneficial things you can do for the overall health of your body and your longevity. The only organ that helps us breathe correctly is our nose. We use our mouth to eat and talk, and we use our nose to smell and breathe!
Try examining your breathing and feel the difference. This simple health hack is one anyone can do, and it’s free all day long. It’s much better for you than a Monster Drink. Also, I’ve linked a great interview below with Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Louis Ignarro (Nobel Prize recipient). They go over the benefits of Nitric Oxide and more, like the added benefits of Arginine. Also, I encourage you to research this. Even though there are reams of information regarding the benefits of Nitric Oxide, many still are unaware of its importance.
Energy tip #5
Okay boys: How do you elevate testosterone? You have a window of maximum opportunity to build this reserve up. This time window is between 10:00 pm and midnight. You either sleep during this time or miss it. If you miss sleeping during this critical timeframe of 10 pm to MN – even if you do get a full 8 hours -- you’ve missed out on testosterone. I believe this is one of the main causes of low testosterone in young males in our culture today. It is the terrible sleep window that we have accepted as normal.
Energy tip #6
Living a sedentary life is suicide! I’m going on record here folks. Don’t do it! If you have a sedentary life and you want to elevate your energy levels, start going for walks. If you already walk and want more energy, start jogging. If you jog and want higher energy levels, begin interval training. Still, want higher energy levels? Add weight training. Be smart and progress one step at a time. You will enjoy the journey and your chances of staying with it will be dramatically increased.
If you use any or all of these techniques, your energy will climb. You will establish something called ENDURANCE. We all deserve to live vibrant, energetic lives. Therefore, we must take ownership of these simple steps. Otherwise, I promise, lethargy will devour your life.
Using these tips is part of Neural Cultivating! Study, learn and approach life as a scientist. Get into everything. Experiment all the time. Continually test yourself. It’s fun and rewarding to expand your knowledge base to bring your body and mind into a better state. Don’t climb Mount Stupid. There are many more exciting, exhilarating, and healthy summits to scale!
Master Wisdom
Never fear to contradict yourself. It shows you are willing to grow, learn and try new things.
It is my greatest hope that you will implement some tips from our Bio-Cultivating and Neural-Cultivating blogs. Further, it is my hope you will be inspired to pass these learnings along to family and friends. We all have people in our lives who have the desire but lack the accurate information to improve their health. It is frustrating to sift through the bombardment of data and the misinformation in today’s world. It’s no wonder some give up in frustration. I believe that we deserve the healthiest choices that honest modern science can offer. It is my mission to help as many of us as possible get and stay healthy.
As a tennis coach myself, I found the compression industry to be unacceptable for our needs. I set out on a journey to help you and your students. I know we all get beat up. The harder we compete, the more we get injured. All compression is not created equal! At Body Helix, we start with an unapologetic obsession for exceptional quality. Our design philosophy is to create modern, innovative gear that surpasses that which is offered in the global marketplace. As a privately held, Veteran-owned, North Carolina company we challenge global leaders to elevate their compression game or step aside. It’s compression gear, designed by tennis players, for tennis players.
Be well and stay focused on cultivating your health, your mind, and your solitude. If I can help you further never hesitate to reach out to me.
Talk on Nitric Oxide (Dr. Hyman/ Dr. Ignarro) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKftD-QRnTI
Move Through It.
Coach Fred.
