Royal jelly, Ginseng, Gingko Biloba – these names might sound familiar, along with a few others like flaxseed or Echinacea. These are all herbal remedies and supplements flooding the market.
Herbal energy supplements provide nutrients that your body needs. The idea of turning to herbs for additional nutrition isn’t new. China popularized the use of medicinal tea, for example, for thousands of years.
But do these supplements really work? Can they give you a noticeable energy boost?
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Let’s explore what these supplements truly are and how they can help you:
1. Herbal Energy Supplements: An Overview
Before we go and gauge their effectiveness, let us look at what these herbal energy supplements are. Herbal supplements are products derived from various plants, extracted and refined.
Each supplement has a different focus, providing vitamins or minerals that the body needs to bolster your diet. Energy supplements, in this case, would have active ingredients that boost your metabolism. Chamomile, for example, is rich in antioxidants and supplements containing chamomile extract can also help deal with inflammation.
These supplements come in various forms. Among these products include pills, capsules, and powders.
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People use these products to boost one’s vigor or to supplement the necessary nutrients. They provide what the body needs when the food that acts as the source is not available.
2. Types of Energy Boosters Available
Herbal energy supplements would have these active ingredients in them, tested for their capability to provide the necessary boost to the body’s vigor. These ingredients come from plants, making them organic supplements that don’t cause any harmful side effects.
You can see the wide selection of dietary and herbal energy supplements through this Sunrider distributor.
Now, let’s look at some of the energy boosters you can encounter in various supplements.
Caffeine
This particular stimulant and energy booster is usually found in coffee and tea. Noted for its ability to boost one’s metabolism, it is the go-to for getting the needed energy boost.
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Some people avoid this altogether due to its side effects, among which include irritability, restlessness, and nervousness. There is also the impending energy crash after the first boost.
However, there is a way to counter those side effects. Utilize supplements containing L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea and some mushrooms. It promotes relaxation without increasing drowsiness.
When one combines both ingredients in a supplement, you have a potent energy booster that does not provide the caffeine-induced drawbacks. Despite this, a good suggestion is to limit caffeine intake to 400 mg per day (or 3-5 cups of coffee).
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Vitamin B12
Another energy-boosting ingredient comes in the form of this one part of the Vitamin B complex. B12 helps in transforming the food consumed into energy that your cells can use. It can also keep your nerves and blood cells healthy.
Often found in animal proteins, you can get vitamin B12 in various food. Unless you are on a specific diet (like the vegan diet) or you have gastrointestinal disorders that affect your intake, supplements come in to cover your vitamin B12 needs.
CoQ10
This stands for coenzyme Q10, a component that the body naturally produces. It comes in a few forms like ubiquinone and ubiquinol.
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It’s also present within the body as all cells have it. The heart, kidneys, and liver have the most amount of CoQ10.
While all cells have CoQ10, a decline in this component can impair your body. The cells won’t have the means to generate energy, growth, and stay healthy. This leads to fatigue.
CoQ10 also decreases as the body ages. It drops lower for people with heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
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CoQ10 is present in fish, meat, and nuts. But for reducing fatigue, you have a better chance with CoQ10 supplements.
3. Are They Safe to Use?
Before you pick up a bottle or pack, you might be wondering about how safe these supplements are. In case you have doubts, there are a few things to note.
Are they safe to use? The short answer to this is yes. The longer answer includes a lot of factors into consideration.
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Supplements have to go through regulations set by the FDA. Manufacturers also have to follow good manufacturing practices. This is to ensure their product meets quality standards.
Now, if you err towards caution, consult your doctor or physician for some expert advice. This way, you can make an informed choice before buying
4. How to Know What Is In Herbal Supplements?
The FDA provides a regulation for all herbal supplements to have labels that include the following pieces of information:
- Name of supplement
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Complete list of ingredients (either via Supplement Facts panel or listed under)
- Serving size, amount and active ingredient.
These details should tell you what is in each pill, capsule or serving. In case you don’t recognize or understand something that is on the supplement, you can consult your doctor for more information.
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5. The Verdict
Now, for the final point: do herbal energy supplements really work? The answer is yes, though there are finer details to it.
These supplements provide the key ingredients that your body needs. But you should not rely solely on these supplements. Instead, you need to use them in conjunction with a balanced diet and proper exercise.
The very term “supplement” means “in addition to.” This means supplements should work in conjunction with a diet and a healthy workout routine.
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Second, to be able to use its full effect, follow the listed serving suggestion. Consult your physician for the amount precise to your needs.
Need An Energy Boost? Try These Supplements Today!
The use of herbal energy supplements can help provide the components and nutrients you need that you would not have access to. For those with specific diet programs, you can use herbal supplements to fill the niche. Always remember to use them while observing a balanced diet and exercise.
Did you find this helpful? Browse our online magazine for some more healthy lifestyle tips!
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