A Global Energy Crisis

……that has nothing to do with oil
Most of us hurry through the day and simply do not have the time to enjoy the things God has put at our disposal; the flowers, the birds, the little child and even the sweet aroma of a well cooked meal.
We scream about 24hours not being adequate for a day. Some even wish for a 48-hour day. The question is would that make any difference? Will we even be able to handle the pressure that such a long day comes with? Maybe we need to stop bothering God and get to the root of our problem.
Some of you will agree with me that a LACK OF ENERGY is the issue we need to deal with. If we managed to increase our energy levels, then we will be able to do more in less time and only then will we realize that a 24-hour day is simply perfect and of course made in heaven.
You may remember “your good old days” when the days never appeared too short and you could do so much. We could at least re-live a little part of that by making minor adjustments to our life-style. Minor changes that will make a whole world of difference and help combat the energy crisis that the whole world finds itself in. This energy crisis certainly has nothing to do with rigs in the ocean.

1. Eat Protein with every meal
a. Good sources of protein such as eggs (recent research suggests it has less cholesterol than we initially thought), chicken (I mean real healthy chicken), fish and beans help to stabilize the sugar in our blood. Proteins are released slowly and prevent spikes in blood sugar that give us an energy boost only to drop and keep us fatigued.
b. Yes white carbohydrates such as sugar and rice also cause a quick rush of energy. In the presence of proteins this is slightly modified to our advantage. Be careful of these white carbohydrates. I am sure like me you have experienced a hunger pang barely 2 hours after eating kooko (porridge) which is also a “white” carbohydrate
2. Stay Hydrated all day
a. Water plays multiple roles in the body including flushing of toxins and acting as a medium for enzyme action. Proper hydration reduces fatigue and the incidence of headaches.
3. Watch Caffeine
a. Yes, it does boost your energy but a few hours later, you can bet it will follow the rule of life “what goes up must come down”. Coffee for instance is currently used by some gym junkies to boost their energy so that they can work out harder and longer but remember the consequence – delayed fatigue and headaches.
b. Caffeine also causes dehydration just like alcohol does so we will have to take in more fluids to combat its effects.
c. I am not discouraging you from drinking your favourite source of caffeine just do not overdo it and be aware of ways to correct its undesireable effects.
4. Squeeze in some Exercise
a. Exercise especially aerobic exercises do not take away energy, they rather energize us. Don’t wait till you are tired before squeezing in some “power walks”
b. You could walk for 5 minutes after working hard (emphases on working) for 2 hours. This will not only reduce the incidence of back and neck pains, it will also give you an energy boost that will enhance your performance on the job.
c. You would have walked 20 minutes already if you do an 8-hour job and you may only need to do very little to top this up to your 30 or 45 minute target for the day.
5. Spend time with God
a. Do you realize that whenever you spend time with God especially in the morning you seem to be energized? Well I believe those few minutes have a great effect on our mental state as well and helps to relax us. A relaxed mind or less stressed individual means more energy to live with. Get the dust off your bible, read and pray and see your energy levels go up.
When you have more energy you may find it easier to wake up at 4am, prepare a whole household for work and school, face the road traffic with a smile on your face, go through a hectic day and still feel quite refreshed at 10pm. Hey! don’t push it too far and remember the benefits accumulate over time DO NOT expect a miracle overnight.

Source:
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Moms’ Health Club

*Kojo Essel is a medical doctor and an ISSA certified Specialist in Exercise Therapy. He is currently pursuing a certification as a Specialist in Fitness Nutrition.

References:
1. Craig Ballantyne – Turbulence Training
2. Dr. Kojo Essel – A Yawn and a Stretch Too Many – Battling Fatigue in a “Tiring” World.