How to Have an Energetic Day (Without Stimulants)

How often do you rely on energy drinks for an energy boost throughout the day?

That may not be a healthy habit. Drinking one to three energy drinks daily could interfere with your heart rhythm and boost blood pressure, according to a review presented at a 2013 American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans.

If you're sitting there wishing there was a better way to feel more energetic, you're in luck. There are natural ways to boost your energy, and they work by providing your body with what it needs to function.

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1. Eat Breakfast. Are you a breakfast skipper? That bad habit may be draining your energy. People who eat high-fiber, carbohydrate-rich breakfasts score better on tests of alertness than their counterparts who do not enjoy a high-quality breakfast, according to a 1999 study in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.

2. Drink water. The cells in your body need to be hydrated in order to work efficiently. Start your day with nice tall drink of water to replenish what you lost during the hours you were sleeping. [9 Healthy Habits You Can Do in 1 Minute (Or Less)]

3. Exercise. When you're tired, the last thing you want to think about is exercise. But the findings 2006 Psychological Bulletin study suggest you may want to rethink that attitude. Researchers found that exercise was more effective at fighting fatigue than stimulants or even napping.

4. Drink more water.It's not enough to hydrate first thing in the morning. Make a point to drink water throughout the day. If you don't like drinking water, consider adding lemon to it, or drinking herbal tea.

5. Try salmon for dinner. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may be important in energy production, circulation, heart health and brain activity.

6. Treat yourself with dark chocolate.If you're feeling fatigued, your body might be low in the important mineral iron. Iron helps transport oxygen throughout the body, which helps many cellular processes, including healthy red blood cell production.

Healthy Bites appears weekly on Live Science. Deborah Herlax Enos is a certified nutritionist and a coach and weight loss expert in the Seattle area with more than 20 years of experience. Read more tips on her blog, Health in a Hurry!