Do you plod through the day at the office? Are you so tired by the afternoon that exercise is the last thing on your mind? Do you flop into bed at night and roll out of it exhausted in the morning? Your problem might simply be that you have low energy levels, and if so, there are quick and easy natural remedies to give you the boost you need.

Stress is the main culprit of a low-energy day. If, for example, you are stuck in a traffic jam on your way to work and you let negative thoughts and rage raise your stress level, your body will release enough adrenalin and insulin to keep you running flat out for over a kilometre.

If this energy is left unused, the adrenalin will continue coursing through your veins, diverting energy away from vital bodily functions. This will leave you feeling tired and even slightly depressed for the rest of the day.

Five Instant energy boosters:

1．Start the day off with a steaming cup of water and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This will not only refresh and revitalise you, but will cleanse your palate and will boost your liver function.

2．Feast on this energy-packed smoothie for breakfast: blend one banana, one mango, half a medium sized pineapple, a tablespoon of rolled oats and 150ml milk or a small cup of plain, low-fat yoghurt.

3．Keep a bottle of water or a rehydrating freshener on your desk at work. Use it to freshen you up during the long day.

4．Burn peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil in an oil burner or spill a few drops onto a tissue and inhale. This will stimulate the trigeminal nerve in your nose and palate, which will in turn boost your energy levels.

5．Feeling sluggish? Try this quick acupressure technique on yourself: pinch the point between your thumb and forefinger and hold for two minutes then gradually release.

你是否在办公室里埋头苦干了一整天呢？到了下午，是不是累的够呛，根本不想去锻炼身体了？或是晚上拖着疲惫的身躯上床，第二天早上起来后感到筋疲力尽？问题出在哪？其实原因很简单：你的精力不够了。一旦如此，有几种简便快捷的自然补救法可让你精力充沛。

压力是导致精神不振的罪魁祸首。举个例子，如果你在上班途中遇到交通堵塞，由此而产生的消极和狂躁的情绪会增加压力。你的体内会释放出大量的肾上腺素和胰岛素，足以维持你以最快的速度跑完一公里。

如果这些能量没有消耗完，肾上腺素将会继续流向血管，身体重要机能所需的能量都被转移了。这会使你一整天都感到疲惫，而且有点郁闷。

快速提神五大妙法：

1．早晨起床后喝一杯热水和鲜榨柠檬汁。这不仅能让你恢复精力和元气，而且可以清洗上腭，促进肝功能。

2．享用“能量早餐”：一根香蕉、一个芒果、半个中等大小的菠萝、一大汤匙燕麦片、150毫升牛奶或一小杯原味、低脂酸奶。

3．工作时，在办公桌上放一瓶水或一瓶再化合清凉剂，用于提神。

4．将薄荷油或桉树香精油放在燃油炉里燃烧或倒几滴在面巾纸上，将其呼入体内。这种方法能刺激鼻和上腭中的三叉神经，从而使你精神大振。

5．感到疲惫吗？可以尝试一下快速针压法：掐虎口（大拇指和食指之间的部位）2分钟，然后慢慢松开。

Vocabulary:

plod : to work perseveringly;drudge（辛苦的工作；如：plod through a mountain of paperwork<在成堆的文件中埋头苦干。>）

flat out  : 竭尽全力；用全速

feast on  : 享用（美食）；饱览（美景等）（如：We feasted on chicken and coconuts. <我们吃鸡肉和椰子，大饱口福

rolled oats  : 燕麦片