Learning how to maximize cellular energy through the body’s natural process of energy production, the Krebs Cycle, is not only wise, it is essential if you want to experience optimal health. Getting that Krebs Cycle to run at full throttle naturally and without stimulants can be the key to feeling good all day long as well as having terrific health. The secret is in knowing what you can do to make that Krebs Cycle purr from morning til night, and in this article, you will learn some ways of doing just that.

Contrary to what many consumers now believe is a great source of energy — caffeine — caffeine (and its cousin guarana) is actually a stimulant that creates an adrenaline rush inside the body that mirrors a fight or flight situation. While fight or flight is an important mechanism for humans to have when faced with a dangerous or life-threating situation, the body is not designed to handle a multitude of fight or flight experiences every day, day after day, month after month, year after year. Think of it this way: imagine how it would feel to face a ferocious saber-toothed tiger on the hunt for its dinner and you are its primary target. Now imagine going through that scenario three, four, or more times a day. Pretty quickly you are going to be absolutely wiped out from the constant rush and subsequent crash caused by the adrenaline pumping through your body.

Yet any time someone consumes a so-called “Energy” drink, that is exactly what they are telling their body to do. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands, NOT the Krebs Cycle. When stimulated, the adrenals then pump adrenaline into the body, giving the person that instant “rush” sensation, which, for a little while anyway, creates the illusion of having energy. But then the crash comes, and what do people typically do when that happens? Reach for more caffeine which merely perpetuates the vicious rush-crash cycle.

With millions of people turning to caffenated beverages, gums, etc. several times a day, is it any wonder these same people feel so listless and tired? Caffeine consumption done multiple times a day over long periods of time can lead to weakness, irritability, and exhaustion, and in rare cases, death, the exact opposite of what was sought out in the first place!

Caffeine itself is not bad. There are indeed studies that show a small amount of caffeine can have positive benefits for concentration, memory, and the like. But if someone is looking for long-term, sustainable energy, they must learn how to fuel their Krebs Cycle the right way so they experience energy at the cellular level.

Indeed, a better road to take is to work with the body’s natural systems already in place and geared to work seamlessly when treated well. Inside every cell in our bodies are little engines called mitochondria that literally give us the fuel we need to make it through each and every day. At the heart of these engines is a process known as the Krebs Cycle, which is a fancy term for the formula of energy production that runs the engine. The key to revving up that Krebs Cycle is to fuel the body properly with excellent nutrition that comes from a highly varied diet, along with supplementation.

With so many of our food sources compromised these days, it is very difficult to get all the nutrients we need from diet alone. While it is critical to consume whole foods each day, and a variety of them at that with an emphasis on plant-based foods vs. animal-based foods, the reality for most people is they need to supplement if they want optimal health, and especially if they want their Krebs Cycle to run well. Unfortunately,there are no specific foods a person can consume that directly make the Krebs Cycle run. However, the good news is, if you know what specific compounds work to optimize the Krebs Cycle, you are far ahead of the game.

Clinical studies have shown that there are certain nutrients that give maximum support to the Krebs Cycle. Some of these nutrients include but are not limited to: ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, rhodiola, cordyceps sinensis, polyphenols, and B vitamins like B3 and B6. Adding a supplement comprised of a combination of these ingredients can give a person that natural boost so many people are looking for.

Just like you wouldn’t fill your car with water and expect it to run, you don’t want to fuel your body with an endless stream of empty calories and stimulant-laden beverages. Honoring that beautiful and highly efficient Krebs Cycle inside every cell of your body will not only make you feel terrific, but will also give you that extra bounce in your step with nothing but positive side effects.