Most people experience a dip in energy around 2pm, due to a dip in both cortisol and blood sugar. And then people crave sweets and caffeine to help regain their energy. But then this wears down their adrenals and pancreas even more, and over time they find themselves even more tired in the afternoon. A few basic tips to implement earlier in the day, at lunch time, can help prevent these energy swings.
The first is to reduce carbohydrates at lunch. Do meat,( or vegetarian protein) fat, and veggies, with minimum or no starches. This will help even out blood sugar dips. If you need a snack in the afternoon, do a high fat snack vs. sugary cookies, or starchy chips.
The second is to add in an adrenal adaptogenic supplement such as ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, rhodiola, or holy basil. This will help reduce the sharp dip in cortisol, the stay-alert hormone that the adrenals put out. These herbs gently regulate the adrenals vs. forcing them the way caffeine can. Long term care of the adrenals include eating foods rich in zinc and b-vitamins such as nuts, seeds, and mushrooms, as well as organic meats. For more info on the root causes of fatigue, click here…
