One of the most common complaints I hear from clients is that they lack energy. 

This can have a domino effect on every area of your life!  When your energy level is in the tanker, the quality of your work (or school work) suffers, it can have a negative impact on your relationships, and forget exercising (which in turn can pack the pounds on you)!  

What makes this challenge especially tricky is that the causes of low energy can run the gamut! 

They can include sleep difficulties, hypothyroidism, excessive alcohol use, anemia, depression, stress and many medications.  

But there's another cause of low energy that I bet my bottom dollar you or your doctor have never thought of. 

A healthy diet! 

That’s right.  You might think you are eating “healthy,” but your body may think otherwise.   

Here’s what I mean: 

6 ways a “healthy” diet can sap your energy

1) You've give up carbs

Second only to fats, carbohydrates are one of the most misunderstood type of food on the planet. 

People say they're “giving up carbs” but in reality, if you truly did that, you would die...and most assuredly have very low energy before you kicked the bucket. 

Carbohydrates provide glucose which is needed by your body to create energy!  So they’re not something you want to be without.  The key is to know the good from the bad.   

Bad carbs include any type of refined carb like sugar, white bread, rolls, pasta, pastries, cakes and cookies and anything made with high fructose corn syrup—especially soda.   

Even whole grains are something you should limit.  Although they have more nutrients than refined carbs, they still turn to sugar upon digestion, which makes them no different from a cookie in the end.       

Good carbs are fresh vegetables and legumes, plus fresh fruit in moderation (1 serving a day). 

2) You think red meat is the devil

Red meat has taken a bad rap because it contains saturated fat, and saturated fat has been wrongly demonized as being the cause of our heart disease epidemic. 

The truth is that SUGAR is the main culprit behind heart disease.  Sugar stirs up inflammation which in turn drives up your blood pressure and invites heart disease to come knocking. 

The only saturated fat that you should swear off is trans-fats—in other words, the partially hydrogenated oils that are used in processed foods and pastries.  

Saturated fats are needed by your body to make hormones, they cushion your nerves and even support your heart!   

Red meat in moderation is a great source of vitamin B12--and being deficient in B12 can cause your energy to drop through the floor. 

If you're vegetarian, then being low in B12 may be an issue for you.  This is also true of people who use acid reducers, the elderly and people who have had stomach surgery. 

Plus even if you’re eating red meat, B12 is tricky and isn’t always absorbed easily in the GI tract. 

To make sure you have enough of this crucial nutrient AND that you’re actually absorbing it, an oral B12 spray like Hydroxaden 2.5 is your ticket. 

Hydroxaden 2.5 provides an energy-creating 2.5 mg. of vitamin B12, as well as vitamins B2, B3 and B6.  This outstanding blend of crucial B vitamins not only supports high energy levels, but also enhances immune, brain and nervous system health too. 

And with an oral spray, the precious B12 is absorbed through the mucus membranes under your tongue, so any absorbency issues with the GI tract are completely avoided! 

3) You’re a low-fat disciple

There are still a good number of people out there who think fats make you fat. 

Nope.  Not even close. 

Sugar and refined carbs are the primary offenders that widen your backside.   

Fats, on the other hand, fill you up and keep you satisfied, which means you eat less overall (and LOSE weight), plus they CREATE energy!  They're a crucial player in your body's ability to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is your main form of energy.     

Again, you must know the good from the bad.   

Bad fats include all sources of trans-fats (like I mentioned above), fake fats, fat-free or low-fat products, vegetable oils and margarine. 

Good fat sources are real butter, lard, olive oil, coconut oil, meat, eggs and dairy (preferably organic), fish (preferably wild-caught) and unrefined oils.     

4) You eat 3 meals a day

You may be thinking you're doing the right thing by eating 3 meals a day. 

But that might not be the case. 

Fact is, some people experience a drop in blood sugar within 2 hours after eating and if you don't have a snack, that can cause your energy to plummet.   

Now, this isn't an invitation to attack the vending machine for chips or candy!   

Choose smart snacks like fresh fruit, vegetables, a small chunk of cheese, a handful of nuts, a hard-boiled egg or a small piece of leftover meat, chicken or fish. 

5) You eat salads

Salad can be a very healthy food choice, but some people overdo it--to the point where they lack essential nutrients (especially proteins). 

And proteins...you guessed it...are needed for energy production too! 

If you love salads, great, but make them as nutritious as possible to ensure your body is getting what it needs to keep YOU going. 

Smart, tasty additions to salads include: 

• Sliced cooked chicken or beef 
• Grilled shrimp or salmon 
• Cheese 
• Chopped almonds or walnuts 
• Hard-boiled egg slices 
• Chick peas  

And while we're on the salad topic--stay far away from reduced fat or fat-free dressings!  (If you’re wondering why, go re-read #3 above.)   

6) You eat balanced meals

This is far and away the biggest dietary energy zapper. 

The typical meals that most people eat featuring every type of food known to man are VERY difficult for your system to break down efficiently. 

Nothing the human body does demands more energy than digestion, so if you have a fire in your chest or are a gas bag after eating, you can count on being exhausted too.   

But my Great Taste No Pain health system can turn that around for you—fast! 

Great Taste No Pain shows you how to pair foods together in your meals that are much easier for your system to break down.  When you make your system’s job easier, you pave the way for better digestion, less gas, bloating and constipation, and… 

MORE ENERGY! 

Plus Great Taste No Pain teaches you all about good vs. bad carbs and fats, explains proper acid/alkaline balance, and gives you a collection of positively luscious recipes that you’ll LOVE! 

Another common energy sapper to consider—STRESS

Chronic stress can cause your adrenal glands to repeatedly secrete stress hormones which can eventually result in adrenal exhaustion. 

And when your adrenals are exhausted, trust me, so are YOU! 

Being in a prolonged state of stress depletes your body of its essential vitamins and minerals, and causes harmful changes to your gut microbiome, which weakens your immune system function. 

Do whatever you need to do to de-stress—here are some things to try: 

• Prayer 
• Meditation 
• Yoga 
• Massage 
• Counseling or therapy 
• Essential oils (especially helpful is lavender—check out our very own line of Holistic Blends essential oils!) 
• Deep breathing 
• Acupuncture   

Now you are on your way to strong, consistent energy levels all day long! 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia