What Are Your Energy Multipliers?

#plantbased #vegan #healcancernaturally #exercise #energy #yoga

Energizer bunny strikes again

In my last post, My bumpy road to a plant-based diet, I shared that my earlier attempts to reduce meat failed because I ended up feeling “weak and tired.” My friend Kirk said he felt something similar and asked me to explore this topic. Back then, my primary care doctor immediately advised me to go back to meat-eating. So I gave up my quest, happily returning to my occasional comfort foods of fried chicken and ice cream.

I asked nutrition expert, Mark Simon, founder of the Nutritional Oncology Research Institute what to make of people who try to move to a plant-based diet, but complain of low energy. He said, “When you’re consuming meat, you consume the hormones in the animal that you’re eating. When the animal is slaughtered, it creates stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Those animal hormones might affect your own hormones, giving you a caffeine-like boost of energy so you could say meat is a short-term stimulant. Meat also has a high-insulin index. Pushing up insulin levels allows more glucose to enter cells, giving you more energy.”

Mark Simon, director of the Nutritional Oncology Research Institute (NORI) and Cynthia Chin-Lee, 2024 in Westlake, CA

When I became plant-based in March 2021, the day after my cancer diagnosis, I didn’t have a “lack of energy” problem. I’m not sure why exactly but by 2021 I had improved some of my habits. I exercise frequently, usually 5 or 6 days a week. My exercise includes walks, jogging, short bike rides, weight training, and yoga. My better exercise routine alone may have made the difference in boosting my energy levels. Also I have been doing guided meditation regularly for 20 minutes a day for many years. On top of that, I was retired from my corporate job and free of commuting to work! 

I have a list of my own energy multipliers taped to my office cabinet. These are listed in no particular order, but I noticed they tend to fall into several categories (exercise, social interaction, nature).

• Bike ride

• Meditation

• Nap

• Hot bath

• Good sleep

• Yoga

• Good meal

• Movie

• Call with a friend

• A party!

• Going to the beach (luckily I live on the Pacific coast and am 5 minutes from the ocean)

• A walk in nature

• Reading

• Dancing

• Massage

• Organizing junk (I really should do this more often; my house would be tidier)

Mung bean vermicelli, mushrooms, veggies

What are your energy mullipliers? Why not take note of the activities that give you energy and focus on them. Don't assume you need to reach for meat, dairy, or caffeine...

For those of you, who are skeptical that a plant-based diet gives you enough energy, I suggest watching The Game Changers and look for its upcoming sequel about plant-based world-class athletes.