%> Granville Family Pharmacy
Your Local Pharmacist is

Morris Morcos

1 60 South St
Granville NSW 2142
ph: (02) 9637 5765
fax: (02) 9682 6368

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:: Tips to Rev up His Engine
Top Tips Top Tips Top Tips

If you want to live life in the fast lane you need lots of energy.  Below are some tips on how to rev up your engine and improve your energy levels.
 

 Tip 1 - Prevent Blood Sugar Dips

To prevent Blood Sugar Dips:

  • Eat healthy foodEat every 4 to 5 hours: Eating consistently throughout the day provides your brain and body with a constant source of fuel. This 4-5 hour eating strategy can dramatically prevent dips in your blood sugar levels. Some people with diagnosed hypoglycemia may need to eat even more frequently (every 2-3 hours).

  • Limit refined carbohydrates to help lessen volatile blood sugar swings: Concentrated sources of sugar like soft drinks, lollies, fruit juice,  and jam can create radical spikes in your blood sugar – which often leaves you feeling tired a couple of hours later. And although refined, white starch like white bread, crackers, bagels, and rice do not naturally contain sugar compounds, they are metabolised into sugar very quickly and can often create the same affect. Instead, incorporate high quality carbohydrates like vegetables, fruit, beans, peas, lentils, brown and wild rice, and oatmeal.

  • Incorporate soluble fibre: Foods rich in soluble fibre have the ability to slow down the absorption of sugar in your blood and therefore, help to level blood sugars and energy. Incorporate oats, brown rice, barley, apples, pears, strawberries, oranges, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, and beans into your diet.

  • Incorporate protein with meals and snacks (whenever possible): The addition of protein to a meal will help slow the absorption of carbohydrate in the blood. This can help you feel energised and productive for hours after eating


Tip 2:  Exercise

It doesn't matter what time you exercise, just be consistent with your efforts. Just pick a time that fits with your schedule and personality.  If you have to do it first thing when you wake up, just do it.  Don't even let yourself think about it.  Just get started.  The following exercises can be done each day:

  • Weight training - This training method is one of the most used method for improving stamina. It is done under the guidance of a trainer. In this method weights are used which are increased slowly and steadily. By this method muscles get toned up and are more strongly built.

  • ExerciseRunning briskly - This is another method which is used commonly to increase energy levels. In this method you can go out for jogging in the morning for a distance every day and after few days you increase your speed for covering the distance and after certain days you can further increase the speed as well as the distance.

  • Swimming - It is one of the most prominent method of increasing energy levels in the body. By swimming each and every muscle of the body gets exercised and gets toned up and if continued with increase in duration of swimming will surely improve the stamina tremendously.
  • Walking - Walking long distances also helps in icreasing energy levels as it requires lots of energy and power. Walking is also beneficial for improving the agility and balance of the body.

  • Yoga & Pilates - in modern days yoga and pilates are becoming popular day by day for staying fit and improving stamina.

Energy levels can also be increased by increasing the duration of every exercise we indulge in, slowly but surely it will improve the stamina. Focus on intense strength training for 30-40 minutes followed by a brief cardio interval training session to boost your metabolism all day long. Exercise is like a drug. Like caffeine and nicotine, exercise causes the release of many 'good for you' chemicals into your blood stream, resulting in mental stimulation and an improved sense of overall well- being.


Tip 3: Eat smaller, healthy meals

Eat smaller mealsSkip the cycle of starving and overeating characterised by no breakfast, a high-carbohydrate lunch, and a huge dinner. Instead, eat a supportive breakfast and then continue to eat supportively every 3 hours for the rest of the day. Research shows that a high-fibre, high-protein breakfast helps control appetite and increases mental alertness all day, and improves your ability to process information.

Don't skip breakfast and rely on a coffee to get you through the day. 

Trying to survive on processed foods is a recipe for an energetic disaster. Stick to whole, natural foods during the day, snacking rather than eating huge meals and you'll never feel like dozing off again.  Try to avoid all added sugars.


 Tip 4:  Reduce Caffeine

CaffeineCaffeine is currently the most widely used stimulant in the world and scientific studies confirm that caffeinated beverages like coffee can help keep you temporarily alert and focused. So feel free to enjoy a few cups, but certainly know your personal tolerance level and don’t solely rely on caffeine as your means to stay energized. 

Try and “decaffeinate” by late afternoon so the caffeine doesn’t keep you awake at night. Caffeine typically peaks within the first hour and can linger in your system between 3 and 8 hours, so adjust accordingly.

8-ounce cup of coffee = approximately 100 milligrams caffeine
One cup black tea = approximately 40 milligrams caffeine
One cup green tea = approximately 20 milligrams caffeine

 Tip 5:  Keep Hydrated

Keep hydratedWater is needed to maintain a healthy body, a clear mind, and a good balance within your tissues. About 60% of your body is water and to function efficiently, you must stay hydrated.

How much is enough? Nine cups of fluid per day for women and thirteen cups of fluid per day for men is recommended.  Even more if you live in a hot climate or are very physically active.  Sounds like a lot, but it adds up quickly… and although water is your best bet, ALL fluids count (including coffee, tea and milk in your cereal). Even juicy fruits and vegetables.


 Tip 6:  Take Vitamins

Take vitaminsWhether vitamins give energy is a question that confuses millions of people.  Vitamins do not directly serve as a source of energy, but they aid the enzymes that generate energy from the energy producing nutrients like protein, carbohydrates and fats. They play a major role in helping out in the chemical reaction that leads to fruitful generation of energy, which enables you to perform your daily routine activities effectively.

Adequate vitamin intake promotes your health fitness, by strengthening your bones and teeth. It makes your immune system strong, thereby enabling you to overcome various kinds of infections.

Vitamin B3 works in combination with co-enzyme Q10 and contributes a great deal in boosting your energy levels.

Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in human metabolism.

Vitamin B12 acts as an active participant in the biochemical reactions that lead to the production of energy. It is for this reason that vitamin B12 is sometimes also referred as energy vitamin.

Vitamin C is requisite for the synthesis of a small molecule named carnitine that helps in transporting fat to the cellular organelles called mitochondria, for its conversion into energy.

So, yes, vitamins can enhance your energy levels.


 Tip 7:  Talk to Your Pharmacist

Ask your PharmacistYour local Pharmacist will be able to offer you advice and support

Benefits of getting help from your local pharmacy

The major benefits of getting weight loss help from your local pharmacy include:

  • Easy Access - Most people have pharmacies close to where they live
  • Trust - Pharmacists are trained professionals who are usually very highly trusted
  • Existing Relationships - Many of us already have a relationship with our local pharmacist whom we buy medicines and other health management products from
  • Co-operation - Pharmacists have a track record of working well with other health professionals such as GP's, dietitians, etc
  • Condition Management - In addition to helping us to quit smoking or lose weight, pharmacists are also in a unique position to be able to assist us in the management of weight related conditions such as diabetes for example
  • Ongoing Support - Pharmacists can provide ongoing support which is a critically important factor in successful long-term weight loss or smoking cessation.

 If you would like any advice on how to Revv up your Man, visit your Pharmacy today

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