Boost Your Energy Naturally

• Eat at least two fruits or vegetables at every meal.
• Eat one fruit or vegetable at snack times.
• Drink water all day (you get tired more easily when you're dehydrated).
• Always eat breakfast. Make it a meal with a balance of complex carbohydrates, protein and a little fat. Good options: whole-grain cereal or bread, nut butter, fruit.
• Eat mini-meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels and energy up.
• Go outside. "Light therapy may work because it stimulates vitamin D production," Aronson notes. The light raises endorphins (the body's feel-good chemicals) and helps regulate sleep. "I think spending time outdoors every day is a huge contributor in our fight against fatigue," she says.

Women's energy issues

Some low-energy problems arise at specific times in women's lives. In addition to getting more physical activity and sufficient sleep, dietitian Melinda Johnson has these suggestions: