Your Energy Action Plan

(From June 2005 Newsletter)

We are what we eat. That's what we all say, but with one hundred and one things to do everyday, we might be neglecting the importance of correct nutrition. 

Nutritionist, Mary Walker who is a new member of our Revive Team explains how we can improve our health and vitality by restoring our energy levels, which affects how we look and feel.

I believe that correct nutrition is the key to improving your health and vitality, and optimising how you look and feel. Nutrition can help in so many areas, but 'restoring energy levels' is in my top five health issues.

• Do you need more than eight hours’ sleep a night?
• Do you often feel drowsy or sleepy during the day, or after meals?
• Do you avoid exercise because you do not have the energy?
• Do you sometimes lose concentration or does your mind go blank?
• Is your energy less now than it used to be?

Does this sound like you?

Without energy, your body cannot heal itself.  Lack of energy is a symptom that you need to do something about now. Here are six easy steps you can take to increase energy and fight fatigue:

• Avoid sugar and stimulants such as coffee, tea, cola drinks, narcotics and cigarettes.

• Eat low glycemic index foods – this means replace fast-releasing refined or sugary foods with wholegrains, fresh vegetables and fruit (apples, pears, plums, cherries, which are all slow releasing).

• Make sure you are getting adequate protein at every meal – from fish, chicken, beans, pulses, nuts and seeds.

• Sometimes you need to supplement extra vitamins and minerals because all stressors and stimulants consume our energy and literally use up catalyst nutrients like B vitamins, which drive the enzyme systems necessary to release energy from fuel nutrients.  Conservative estimates suggest that you double your need for vitamins when you are in a stressed state.

• Identify how you expend your energy – through over stimulation, preoccupation with issues, over-exertion at work or exercise, fears, emotional baggage - and work to discover healthier ways of staying in balance.

• Take an energy-generating exercise such as T’ai Chi or yoga and practice it at least twice a week.

Increasing your overall vitality and energy depends on four factors.  Some foods give you energy, while others rob you of energy.  Exercising and keeping fit gives you energy. If you’re a workaholic or panic all the time, you lose energy. Generating “vital energy” is the basis of the martial arts and yoga.

For bookings or enquiries, please contact Toshiko:

Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8458 4597