The Best Natural Energy Booster to Start Your Day (and Keep You Going All Day Long)
When you’ve got a busy day ahead, one of the worst things you could possibly have to deal with (on top of everything else you already have to do) would probably have to be low energy and mental fog. And unless you can find a way to get yourself back on your game, you’re likely going to have to push much harder than you really should to throughout the day. That is, if you want to get everything done.
Everyone knows that caffeine is an obvious way to deal with this common problem, but it’s not exactly an ideal solution if you really want to avoid feeling jittery and anxious before crashing later on in the day. Moreover, caffeinated drinks definitely don’t do you any favours in terms of good nutrition, especially if you tend to choose fancy coffee drinks that are full of sugar and fat!
For those who want a natural energy booster that’s caffeine-free, moringa powder could be the answer. Not only is it unbelievably rich in nutrients, but it also reenergizes your body and clarifies your mind without any of the nasty side effects associated with caffeine.
Derived from the moringa tree, it’s a natural source of more than 90 vitamins and minerals with almost every part of the plant having nutritional value. Just like you’d take multivitamin first things in the morning to get your day started off on the right foot, including moringa powder in your breakfast is one of the best ways to take advantage of this powerful, nutrient-dense superfood.
Your Morning Smoothie
One of the easiest ways to use moringa powder is to blend it in with your morning smoothie. You can add about a teaspoon to any smoothie recipe you like. Try this berry banana smoothie with flax and maca:
1 large banana
1/2 cup of blueberries
1/2 cup of raspberries
3/4 cup of rice milk
1 teaspoon of moringa powder
1 teaspoon of flax seed
1 teaspoon of maca
1 teaspoon of tahini
A couple of ice cubes (optional)
Throw all ingredients together in a blender and mix until creamy. Top with optional flax seed or berries.
Add It to Your Cup of Tea
Like smoothies, moringa powder is just as easy to add to tea. The only difference is you have to wait for it to steep. Since moringa shouldn’t be cooked, make sure to boil the water separately to avoid zapping most of its nutrients. You’ll need:
8 to 12 ounces of water
1 tablespoon of moringa powder
1 slice of fresh ginger root (optional)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon (optional)
1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
Start by boiling the water. Once boiled, add the moringa powder to the water and allow it to steep for up to 10 minutes while covered. You can add a slice of fresh ginger root, a squeeze of fresh lemon, or a teaspoon of honey to taste.
Sprinkle On Greek Yogurt with Fruit and Granola
To supercharge your morning cup of yogurt, you can either mix the moringa into the yogurt itself or simply sprinkle it on top of everything. Using Greek yogurt will give you a yummy, high protein breakfast packed with lots of extra nutrients. Try this recipe:
1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup of your favorite fruit like sliced bananas or berries
1/4 cup of granola
1 tablespoon cup of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of hemp seeds
1 1/2 teaspoon of moringa powder
In a bowl, add the granola, seeds and fruit to the yogurt. Sprinkle the moringa powder on top and mix as desired.
Stir Into Oatmeal
If you’re an oatmeal lover, then there’s perhaps no better way to reap the benefits of moringa powder than to mix it right in. And if you use natural sweeteners and other ingredients to liven up the taste of your plain oatmeal, you’ll never even know the moringa is in there! A suggested recipe you can use is:
1/3 cup of rolled oats
2/3 cup of water
1 teaspoon of moringa powder
1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, or Stevia to sweeten as desired (optional)
1 tablespoon of flax seeds or chia seeds (optional)
A pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 cup of fresh fruit like sliced bananas, sliced apples, or berries (optional)
Bring the water to a boil in a pot on the stove, add the oats, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the oatmeal has a thick consistency to it. Stir in the optional honey, syrup, stevia, flax or chia seeds. Once it’s cooled a bit, stir in the moringa powder and mix it well. Pour into a bowl and top with optional cinnamon and fruit.
Other Ways to Use Moringa
Moringa powder is perhaps one of the easiest and most versatile forms it comes in, but you can also get it in capsules, oil, leaves, and it even comes already added to existing products like teabags and soaps. You may be able to find it in its pure plant form by visiting your local Asian grocery market.
Aside from being a highly praised natural energy booster and fantastic source of vitamins and minerals, moringa has also been used to aid in the relief of a number of conditions. According to WebMD, it may help with asthma, headaches, infections, diarrhea, stomach pains, and a wide range of other common ailments. It’s even been known to help stimulate the immune system and increase sex drive.
Consuming up to six grams of moringa a day for up to three weeks is considered safe, unless you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you purchase moringa in raw form, it’s important to avoid the root and its extracts, which may be toxic and very dangerous if consumed.
Have you ever used moringa to boost your energy? If not, would you consider trying it?
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Image of moringa powder via Shutterstock
