Giving your body the fuel it needs is essential to feeling invigorated during physical activity. Here are five ways to stay energized for sports this summer.
Take Supplements
Supplements are an excellent addition to your workout routine, as they can increase your endurance, keep your energy levels up and help you gain muscle and strength.
Many athletes turn to supplements to ensure their bodies are efficiently fuelled. Although, before choosing a supplement, make sure to check out review pages like the Morning Complete review page in order to know how useful the product is to you.
Taking a hormone balance supplement is a great idea for women who experience fluctuations in their hormone levels. Not only can it provide balance, but it can also regulate sleep, energy levels and weight.
Some other common supplements that are effective for physical activity include:
Protein: This can aid in muscle growth, restoration and repair, and it's best taken after a workout.
Creatine: Creatine is an amino acid that's naturally found in the muscles. Taking a creatine supplement can increase levels in the muscles by 40%, which can promote muscle growth, boost energy and improve performance.
Branched-chain amino acids: Also known as BCAAs, they help your muscles recover more quickly after an intense workout. They can also reduce the production of cortisol, a hormone that prevents your body from building muscle.
Stay Hydrated
This may sound like a simple tip for keeping your body energized for physical activity, but it's often overlooked.
One of the most common reasons for fatigue is dehydration, so staying hydrated is essential to keeping your energy levels up. It's especially important to stay hydrated during the summer months, as sweat removes fluids from the body.
Although your water intake depends on your height, weight, and activity level, it's generally recommended that you drink 64 ounces of water a day.
If you find it hard to drink water, try supplementing with other drinks such as chamomile tea, coconut water, or smoothies.
If you're working out early in the morning and finding it difficult to stay energized, try drinking a full glass of water as soon as you wake up. This can stimulate your organs, therefore promoting a more wakeful state.
Get Some Sunshine
Research has shown that soaking up the sun can not only boost your stamina but also improve your mood due to the brain's release of serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that controls feelings of well-being and happiness.
If you've ever wondered why you tend to feel more sluggish and irritable in the cold winter months, it's often due to lack of sun exposure. Therefore, if you have the option to engage in physical activity outside, take advantage of it.
Practice Good Eating Habits
The food you put into your body is the fuel that powers it. Therefore, it's important to eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, fiber, and whole grains.
A healthy diet can cause your brain to release norepinephrine and dopamine, which are hormones that are responsible for boosting energy, improving concentration, and increasing feelings of well-being.
Although you can treat yourself every once in a while, be sure to stay away from eating too many fried foods, saturated fats or refined sugars. These can promote inflammation, mood swings, and even feelings of depression.
While it may be tempting to reach for a sweet snack when you're in need of an energy boost, this can actually do more harm than good. You'll likely experience an initial boost from the sugar, but you'll eventually crash and end up feeling even more tired than before.
If you don't feed your body properly, you won't have the energy to engage in physical activity. Therefore, it's essential that you watch what you eat, especially before and after a workout.
Take a Power Nap
If you're feeling particularly fatigued, taking a quick power nap can help you recharge before engaging in physical activity.
Napping for 10 to 20 minutes is ideal, as it can give you an energy boost rather than the sluggish feeling that you may get after sleeping for too long during the day.
Treating your body properly is the most important thing you can do to prepare it for physical activity. These five tips can help you stay energized while playing sports this summer.
