pwfm Timely Tuesday - Energy Zappers

Do You Face a Mid-Afternoon Energy Slump Every Day?

Do you hit a wall - every day at about 3pm? Well, you may have come to expect that late-afternoon drag, but you don’t have to! Here are a few ways to solve your energy crisis, courtesy of the researchers at Woman’s Day magazine.



•First energy zapper: Eating too much at once. Gloria Tsang is a registered dietician, and she says that consuming a big meal will always cause a dip in energy later on, but that effect is most noticeable in the afternoon - because the slump happens at that run-for-the-vending-machine hour: 3 o’clock. Here’s what happens: You fill up on a carb and calorie-rich lunch and - as nutrients are absorbed by your body - excess glucose is dumped into your bloodstream. Then, your body releases insulin to process all that sugar, wearing you out. Tsang says a better idea is to spread out what and how much you eat throughout the day, to keep energy levels steady.


•Next energy zapper: Poor posture. Pia Martin is a chiropractor in San Diego, and she says that when you sit at a desk for long periods, you tend to slump forward, leading to rounded shoulders and a tilted lower spine. Your muscles contract, and blood flow is impaired. This limits the amount of oxygen to your brain, which means a drop in energy. So, sit up straight, keep your shoulders down, and adjust your computer screen so your eyes gaze at the middle of it.


•One last energy drain: Toxic indoor air. Humming copy machines, synthetic carpeting - even the desks in your office may be contributing to the load of toxins you breathe each day! That’s because all of these release chemicals into the air. Dr. Frank Lipman, a physician in New York City and author of Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great, says that toxins build up over time and can drain your energy - by interfering with thyroid function and overloading your body’s detox system. So, if you’re feeling tired, go outside for 10 minutes to breathe fresh air, and indoors, keep plants around, which are great at absorbing toxins. Also, if you’re home during the day, don’t wear shoes into the house. They drag pesticides and other harmful chemicals inside.