Can’t get out of bed even though you really didn’t go to bed that late?
Low energy? And it’s not just because you’ve done an awful lot today? We receive many questions about what you can eat and which supplements might help when your energy is low. Especially postpartum! I (Merel) had very little energy in the months after my son was born. That was largely due to a lack of sleep (the baby kept waking up at night), but I also discovered that with pregnancy and breastfeeding all my nutrients were going to my baby and I was left depleted.
What helped me? A sleep coach (a good night’s sleep is key) and the workouts from the Rock Your Body book made a huge difference! As for nutrition and supplements, it can be quite an exhaustive search. There are so many different brands on the market, so many stories, and everyone says the same thing or just slightly something different. We did the research for you! We ourselves focused on the following things and started using these supplements to keep our energy high:
Adequate vitamins
Getting enough nutrients in general is naturally essential to feel energetic. No one has ever become fit and energetic from croissants, cups of coffee, and takeaway pizza. The foundation is in your diet: fresh with plenty of vegetables and fruits!
- Make a green smoothie in the morning or as a snack in the afternoon;
- Ensure you have plenty of fresh fruit on the fruit bowl and take that as a snack;
- Fill at least half of your plate with vegetables;
- Make a matcha tea for more stable energy than coffee.
Unfortunately, no matter how healthy we eat, our soil contains fewer nutrients than it used to. Therefore, a good vitamin supplement is almost indispensable. We ensure they are purely plant-based (the power of nature cannot be rivaled by any manufacturer) and contain only natural ingredients. Our absolute favorite is the Longlife Vitality supplements from doTERRA. We notice this almost immediately in our energy, but also in our mood and overall ‘flow’. If there’s one supplement you want to take, we couldn’t recommend this enough. An additional advantage; doTERRA offers a 30-day warranty, so if you don’t notice any difference, you can just send back the empty bottles and get your money back.
Omega 3 fatty acids
Omega 3 fatty acids are incredibly important to keep inflammatory reactions (energy drainers) in our body low. Additionally, you need it for your brain (concentration, memory, focus!). Especially a pregnancy can deplete your omega 3 reserves because these fatty acids are important for the brain development of your baby. We often consume a lot of omega 6 fatty acids through our diet (including sunflower oil and processed food), but too little omega 3.
Eat more of: chia, flax, and hemp seeds, avocados, seaweed.
Avoid: sunflower oil, saturated fats from butter, meat, cheese, and processed foods like cookies and chips.
We started taking a good omega 3 supplement from algae and noticed this almost immediately! Especially when we get a bit tired in the afternoon, this helps us to stay sharp and keep up with our work.
Iron
Blood loss during childbirth or during your monthly menstruation ensures that especially many women have low iron levels (and also other minerals). What helps to keep that mineral reserve up is by eating:
- Plenty of dark green (leafy) vegetables; make smoothies!
- Always ensure extra vegetables with your meals; a salad (lamb’s lettuce!), sprouts on bread, or steamed broccoli.
- Beans, legumes, and lentils;
- Nuts and seeds;
- An extra green powder through smoothies or a glass of water.
Vitamin B12
A low vitamin B12 status often goes hand in hand with vague complaints and is therefore rarely noticed. Especially when you eat plant-based more often, you don’t get nearly any vitamin B12 through food, but even meat-eaters are not automatically safe. Absorption is more important than intake! And the absorption of vitamin B12 is linked to the intrinsic factor in the stomach and the absorption in the small intestine. If this is not optimal, you can still develop a deficiency.
Vitamin B12 can be easily and safely supplemented and is very well absorbed through the nose. This way you bypass the gastrointestinal tract and leverage the well-vascularized nasal mucosa. This ensures that the B12 directly enters your blood and gets distributed throughout your body. Any excess vitamin B12 is safely eliminated by the body via urine. We use the vitamin B12 nasal spray daily and notice an almost instant pick-me-up.
Natural energy booster or just take extra rest?
Need an extra energy boost and don’t want to drink yet another cup of coffee? The Mito Max supplements from doTERRA provide a natural energy boost! Don’t take this in the evening if you want to sleep, but if you have a few hours left and could use some energy, this is for you. However, be mindful; sometimes you have low energy for a reason and it’s a sign from your body that it’s time to take a break. To skip that party and just dive into bed extra early. To take a long bath and leave the work (or laundry) for what it is. You don’t have to be on top of your game every day. Especially women have a natural cycle (based on their moon cycle) and you can greatly benefit from allowing yourself that extra rest.
Have you applied any of these tips? We are curious about your experiences!
