|
Energy
is
the
currency
of
life.
You have probably heard the quote,
“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a
promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so
spend it wisely.”
The great
equalizer is no respecter of persons. Our most valuable
asset is our time and everyone has the same twenty-four
hours gifted to us each day. The variable becomes
how much life we fill those hours with.
Make no
mistake, the fuel to get the most out of those
twenty-four hours comes from our energy - or lack of it,
for so many. That energy is both physical and
mental.
Whether it
is cheering the kids on at their game, after a long day;
getting a strong start to your day; being highly
productive in your career; or spending vibrant quality
time with your significant other, sixteen hours after
you started your day - so much of our quality of life,
and creating those all important moments with those we
love, comes down to our energy level.
After all,
business legend Jack Welch says that great leaders have
loads and loads of positive energy and Pete Carroll,
coach of USC football credits positive energy as a key
ingredient to winning two national championships.
In today's
fast paced society, we are under more pressure to
perform in every area of our life. Yet we have
higher energy-robbing stress than ever. We are
over-fed, yet under-nourished with empty calories
through processed foods. With this, and all of the
toxins in our environment, we are aging pre-maturely and
opening the door to disease through free-radicals
ravaging our cells. We are not getting enough
anti-oxidants from our nutrient-deficient produce to
combat this process. Many are not getting enough
sleep. And we wonder why we don't have the focus
and stamina throughout the day.
People are
looking for answers today. They are reaching
beyond the cups of coffee and cans of cola to create a
growing mega-trend - of so called 'Energy drinks'.
As you have filled up your
car at the local gas station or walked aisles of your
local grocery store you have seen the presence of this
trend exploding before you.
An unhealthy mega-trend? Read on for better
answers to energy.
|
|
You don't have to be Lance Armstrong
to have great energy.
The energy
drink market is the fastest-growing category (55%
annually) and the demand is not difficult to understand
why.
As we look at the artificial stimulants in some of the
most popular products in this category, and what they do
to our body, it is quite disturbing.
We found
that some (usually 8 to 9 ounce cans) contain as much
caffeine as 14 12oz. cans of Coca-Cola! 97%
contain preservatives, artificial colors, sweeteners or
flavors.
One
interesting effect of these caffeine-loaded beverages
was shown to cause blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor
to cardiovascular problems, such as stroke.
One hour
after drinking Red Bull, your blood system becomes
abnormal, as might be expected from a patient with
cardiovascular disease.
These
drinks are banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark and
several other counties, because of health risks.
So can we
get a long-lasting, sustained, healthy energy and not
expose ourselves to all of these potentially serious
side effects of popular energy drinks?
The answer
is a resounding yes and there are some very promising
developments on the horizon - turn the page and let's
look at how.
|
|
