Who doesn’t want at least five continuous hours of energy? Especially when winter makes us want to crawl into the deepest part of our beds and just wait it out—yes, we need energy and lots of it!
But those products that promise a five-hour energy boost may not be the safest. In fact, they’ve been implicated in possibly causing several deaths.
Vitamins, amino acids, and caffeine are what give these products their boosting effects. In other words, if we eat more nutrient-dense foods, energy shouldn’t be a problem. But for those times when you do need an extra push, you can make your own herbal energy boosters—and they’re a whole lot safer, too.
1.Energy Boosting Tea Shake (contains caffeine)
(539843617/S/Shutterstock)Caffeine generally gets a bad rap, but it actually has a few pluses. If you have a healthy history with caffeine, give this warm tea concoction a try. Maca, an ancient Peruvian tuber, is loaded with energizing goodness from amino acids, vitamins, and minerals—it sustained warriors heading into battle! Hemp seed milk provides you with healthy, energizing fatty acids, while bee pollen and honey are naturally energizing and immunity-building as well.
Ingredients
1 teabag of your favorite black or green tea
1 cup hot water
2 tablespoons dried maca root powder
1 cup hemp seed milk
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 teaspoon bee pollen
Directions
Brew up a strong cup of tea. In a high-powered blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour and serve immediately while still warm.
Note: Make sure that heat can escape from your blender. Otherwise, hold on to the lid while blending, as the pressure may force the lid off.
2. Ginger-Ginseng Energizer
(Thanthima Lim/Shutterstock)Root herbs, including ginger and ginseng, are known for their many health benefits. From reducing inflammation to boosting immunity, these potent plant roots also help keep you going. Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index than cane sugar, but still provides energy. Blackstrap molasses gives you a boost of iron and B vitamins to keep you energized but calm and focused.
Ingredients
2-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
20 ounces pure spring water
2 lemons, squeezed
20 drops ginseng root extract
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
Directions
Put grated ginger and water in a saucepan and slowly simmer for 30 minutes until your kitchen smells amazing. Strain liquid into a large jar or glass container, add remaining ingredients, and stir well. Serve immediately, or let cool and add to your favorite tea blend.
3. Quick & Easy Herbal Boost
If brewing up teas is too time-consuming, you can grab a healthy boost with a few herbal extracts (tinctures) with energizing and balancing effects. You won’t get the shakes or crashes here. I recommend Herb Pharm or Gaia Herbs liquid extracts.
(74449909/Shutterstock)30 drops Siberian ginseng root extract
30 drops reishi mushroom extract
30 drops propolis extract
20 drops turmeric extract
20 drops maca root extract
Directions
Mix together all ingredients in a shot glass and drink immediately. Be sure to have something yummy nearby to chase it down with.
Jill Ettinger is a freelance journalist and marketing specialist primarily focused on the organic and natural industries. She bridges her love for changing the food system with her lifelong passion for writing and connecting people in their shared values. This article was originally published on NaturallySavvy.com
