Who doesn't want at least five continuous hours of energy? Especially when winter makes us want to crawl into the deepest part of our beds and just wait it out…Yes, we need energy and lots of it! But that 5-hour energy product is not the safest. In fact, it's been implicated in possibly causing several deaths.
Vitamins and amino acids, along with caffeine give 5-hour energy its boosting effect. In other words: if we eat more nutrient-dense foods, energy shouldn't be a problem. But, sometimes it is, no matter how healthy our diet is. So of course you can make your own herbal energy booster, for a fraction of the cost and a whole lot safer, too.
There are quite a few options when it comes to energy boosting. Here are three:
1. Energy Boosting Tea Shake (contains caffeine)
Caffeine generally gets a bad rap, but it's actually got a few pluses. If you have a healthy history with caffeine, give this warm tea concoction a try. Maca, an ancient Peruvian tuber, is loaded with energizing plant goodness, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It sustained warriors heading into battle! Hemp seed milk provides you the healthy, energizing omega-fatty acids that hemp seeds are rich in for an energy boost. Bee pollen and honey are naturally energizing and immune building as well.
Ingredients
- 1 teabag of your favorite black or green tea, brewed and steeped (remove teabag)
- 2 tablespoons dried maca root
- 1 cup hemp seed milk
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon bee pollen
Method
Brew up a strong cup of your tea. In a high powered blender add all ingredients and blend until smooth. Note: make sure the heat can escape from your blender if not using a Vitamix. Otherwise, hold onto to the lid well as heat will expand with the pressure and can force the lid off! Pour and serve immediately while still warm.
2. Ginger-Ginseng Energizer
Root herbs including ginger and ginseng are known for their many health benefits. From reducing inflammation to boosting immune function, these potent plant roots also help keep you going. Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index than cane sugar, but still provides energy. Blackstrap molasses gives you a boost of iron and B vitamins to keep you energized, but calm and focused.
Ingredients
2 inches of fresh ginger root, grated
20 ounces pure spring water
2 lemons, squeezed
20 drops ginseng root extract
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
Method
Put grated ginger and water in a saucepan and slowly simmer for 30 minutes until your kitchen smells amazing. Strain liquid into a large jar or glass container, add remaining ingredients and stir well. Serve immediately or let cool and add to your favorite tea blend.
3. Quick & Easy Herbal Boost
If brewing up teas is too time-consuming, you can grab a healthy boost with a few herbal extracts (tinctures) with energizing and balancing effects. You won’t get the shakes or crashes here. I recommend Herb Pharm or Gaia Herbs liquid extracts. Mix together the following in a shot glass and have yourself something yummy nearby to chase it down with.
Ingredients
30 drops Siberian ginseng root
30 drops reishi mushroom
30 drops propolis
20 drops turmeric
20 drops maca root
