Put Some Pep In Your Step

By Dr. Reginald B. Cherry, M.D., Christian Post Contributor Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Did you have enough energy to tackle your spring-cleaning? Do you feel exhausted just thinking about all the summer yard work that's just ahead? Perhaps, then, you are among the majority of Americans who frequently visit their doctors with complaints of a lack of energy.

If you are dealing with low energy and fatigue, be sure to discuss your symptoms with a physician. There could be a medical cause for your tiredness and fatigue, such as diabetes, low blood sugar, low thyroid function or anemia - even heart disease and cancer. A doctor will usually recommend a series of blood tests, conduct a medical history and perform a physical examination to try and pin down the cause of your fatigue. If initial tests do not find any medical condition, your low energy levels may be simply due to a lack of exercise, too little sleep, being overweight, poor nutrition, stressful situations, or a combination of all of these.

To keep your energy levels up, you should try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as a brisk walk, three times per week; get at least eight hours of sleep every night; eat whole, unprocessed foods and avoid large amounts of fat and sugar; take steps to deal with stress (such as prayer and counseling); and include a high-quality multivitamin/mineral supplement every day. If you feel your energy levels are still not up to par, consider taking a natural approach to help build your stamina.

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Fortunately, there are herbs and other natural nutrients that other cultures have used, some for centuries, to increase their stamina and boost their energy level - American ginseng, codryceps and Rhodiola are among the most popular. (It's quite fascinating that all around the world people face the identical problem that we Americans face of not having enough energy!)

Of course, you don't want to take just anything to drive your body to a high energy level. You also want to enable your body to use energy more efficiently. There are certain herbs (maté and guarana in particular) that have a caffeine-like compound that can help you do just that. Called isomers, they function similar to caffeine but don't cause any of the jitteriness of caffeine. They help make your body more efficient by helping it utilize more oxygen - a key to maintaining stamina.

God wants us to have the energy we need to accomplish what He has called us to do - and He has supplied us with the natural plant substances to have that energy. Let's take advantage of His provisions to renew our bodies and to give us strength for our daily tasks and to fulfill His purpose.