Getting Back Your Youthful Energy

As you get older, you may experience a reduction of energy.  This is usually related to lifestyle issues including exposure to toxins through poor diet and pollution, lack of exercise, and sometimes a lack of fun.

This is one of the greatest complaints about growing older, but it’s one that can be reversed through healthy lifestyle practices.

Detoxification

One of the things that can make the body feel the most sluggish is toxins in the body.  Toxins are often found in processed foods and can also come in the form of pesticides and herbicides on produce.

By switching to a diet high in whole foods and going organic with your foods as much as possible, you can reduce your intake of toxins.  When you have high levels of toxins in the body, your body works hard to protect you from them.

The liver tries to help them be eliminated during digestion, but in most cases toxins end up reentering the bloodstream.  The way the body protects itself from these toxins is to store them in fat cells.

As long as the toxins are in fat cells, they can’t harm the body directly.  However, you can gain weight, have more inflammation in the body, and experience overall health problems including sluggishness.

Detoxifying the body is one of the best ways to get rid of this excess fat and to improve your energy levels.  This is especially important if you’re suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

There are several ways you can go about a detox cleanse that will get you on the right track.

Juice Fast 

Many people participate in a juice fast in order to allow the body to flush out toxins.  You’ll choose a specific length of time – usually about three days – where you’ll drink only freshly made organic juice and water.

This allows your system to start getting rid of toxins so that they can leave the body. 

Detox Supplement Kits 

There are also supplement kits that specifically help to detox the body.  These are designed to help the liver filter out the things that are trapped in your body and causing problems.

There are many different kinds of detoxification kits.  You’ll need to choose the one that works best for you and follow the directions from the manufacturer of the product.

Raw Food Diet

Many people find that the best approach for detoxification is through a raw food diet.  You may choose to adopt this lifestyle long-term, but even just trying it for 30 days will help you to detoxify the body and then begin adding other foods.

A raw food diet is plant-based and usually vegan.  With this type of diet you won’t eat anything that’s been heated above 104 degrees.  The idea here is that you keep the food enzymes intact that help to give your body better nutrition.

You’ll eat only organic foods that contain no toxins and can’t add to your inflammatory condition.  This diet works best in the spring and summer when fresh produce is readily available.

Detoxifying Foods 

If you’re not ready to go all out and participate in a full-scale detox program, you can add detoxifying foods to your diet to improve your health.  Herbs such as parsley and cilantro can be added to your salads, smoothies, and sandwiches to naturally detoxify the body.

You can also add flaxseed and chia seeds to your diet.  These are high in fiber, which helps to trap the toxins and eliminate them from the body.

Outdoor Exercise

Another great way to increase your energy is to get outdoor exercise.  This is a combination that works to restore your vitality.  Exercise is always good for improving your heart health and energy.

But there’s also something to be said for getting fresh air and sunshine.  Filling your lungs with fresh air helps you connect to nature and improves your spirituality.

And sunshine, as long as it’s in moderation, will allow your body to naturally produce vitamin D, which is essential for energy and balance.  While you can take vitamin D supplements, there’s really no substitute for natural sun.

Energy Boosting Supplements

You can use supplements to increase your energy, but it’s important not to use stimulants that can lead to poor health - such as caffeine and sugar.  A better choice is to use supplements that help your body have a better metabolism.

For example, vitamin B complex and Coenzyme Q10 will help your body naturally boost energy levels without causing dependence or jittery feelings.  These are also good for your overall heart health.

Avoid products that offer energy through stimulants and focus instead on good nutrition and supplements that support good health.

The Healing Energy of Fun

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.”  It turns out that this statement is true.  Having fun and laughing can help you feel better and have more energy.

You can have fun by enjoying activities such as playing games, going to concerts, and enjoying other forms of entertainment.  Having a selection of funny movies or books on hand can help give you a boost when you’re feeling fatigued.

If you have a hobby that you enjoy, spending regular time on that hobby can help you have more energy and enjoy life more.  What good is your health if you don’t enjoy the time that you have in your life?

Enjoying an Active Social Life

You may feel drained of energy if you feel socially isolated.  Research has shown that participating in social activities improves happiness and energy levels.  As you get older, it’s important to keep social connections as much as possible.

When you take time to have fun with friends, you’ll feel more energy.  Have you ever gotten off the phone with someone you really enjoy and realized you had more energy and were in a better mood?

Spending time with people you enjoy who make you feel good about life can improve your energy levels and help you feel like a kid again.  If you’re missing out in the social department, you may have to get out of your comfort zone to improve this area of life.

It may mean showing up alone to a meeting or event and introducing yourself to strangers.  But every friend begins as a stranger and before long, you’ll have made some new social connections.

Consider ideas such as volunteering, taking a class to learn a new skill or hobby, getting a new part-time job that allows you to get out of the house, or joining a recreation center with scheduled activities.

These opportunities will naturally lend themselves to meeting new people and becoming more social.  You’ll feel less isolated, have more fun, and begin to feel that spark of energy return.

Age Can Be Just a Number

Many people believe that as they get older, they have to accept certain facts about poor health and low energy.  But if you choose to live a healthy lifestyle you can enjoy energy and good health throughout your entire life.

Of course, you don’t have control over every possible health problem, but a healthy lifestyle will certainly help to reduce your risk of many serious and chronic illnesses.

And living your life to the fullest will allow you to enjoy it, no matter what your chronological age happens to be.  Don’t let your age determine what kind of life you’ll have.

Instead, figure out what kind of life you want to live and then make the choices that will allow that to happen in the right way for you.  A great deal of how you age has to do with your outlook.

If you’re optimistic about what life has to offer and you take care of your needs, you’ll have better health, more vitality, and be happier.  If you’re pessimistic and spend your time talking about why your age is limiting you, you’ll naturally become more limited.

You can truly reverse many of the problems associated with aging and grow younger instead of growing older.