America is being bombarded by 16 ounce lattes and mega energy drinks. It is now acceptable for our youth to consume several sugary coffee drinks or highly caffeinated energy drinks each day. Health officials will soon admit what I have been known to be brewing the last several years: We are a nation low on energy and in need of quick fixes!



Are you low on energy? You must not be alone. Coffee and energy drinks have become big business in this country. There seems to be a high profile espresso shop on every down town corner and in every large office building. The other day I walked into a convenience store and counted the energy drinks offered in the cooler. I was amazed to find 32 different brands and types being offered. (I live near a large college campus.) Energy drinks are now part of the American Culture. "Do more and get more."

Why are health officials concerned about this new "coffee and energy drink culture"? Highly caffeinated and sugary drinks quickly deplete our natural energy abilities. Caffeine tells the adrenal glands to produce more adrenaline. One big problem. We do not have an unlimited store of energy in our bodies. Energy reserves are restored by proper sleep, low stress and a proper diet. More than one or two cups of coffee a day is going to eventually empty the your natural energy reserves.

By drinking more than two or three coffee drinks a day you are robbing your body of the ability to keep a worthwhile store of energy available for use. It is a brutal cycle. The more coffee and energy drinks you consume, the less energy you actually have in your natural energy bank. Too much coffee and energy drinks causes poor sleep, detrimental weight gain and also weakens your immune abilities.

Don't get me wrong, an occasional coffee or energy drink will not kill you. Just like alcohol, beer and wine you must use moderation. The less you consume (both alcohol and caffeine) the healthier you will be. Here are five things you can do to push the energy balance in your favor:

1. Get proper sleep. Much harder than it sounds. When your body "tells" you that it is tired, that means it is time to recharge, not refill your coffee cup. Try not to consume caffeine after noon time. Caffeine can stay in your system for eighteen to thirty hours and disrupt proper sleep.

2. Stay away from high simple sugar content foods such as sodas. Simple sugars elevate then drop your blood glucose levels. This is very hard on the body and leads to more damaging diseases down the road.

3. Add a good green superfood to your diet. Because most of us consume a very processed diet we are missing many of the trace minerals and micro nutrients our system needs to achieve maximum energy and immunity levels.

4. Add adrenal building herbs to your diet to help rebuild your energy storing glands, the adrenals. Some good examples, ginseng, licorice, cayenne, garlic, gotu kola and hawthorne berry. By drinking less caffeine and adding some of these adrenal building herbs as your daily supplements you will be surprised at how this will help you get more from just one cup of coffee versus needing three or four to keep going.

5. If you need a boost from caffeine try something that contains guarana. Guarana is similar to caffeine, but it releases its energy more slowly and evenly into your system. This does not give you the energy roller coaster effect that most people experience when drinking high doses of caffeine.