<-- Back to Glamour Magazine
February 2001
15-Minute Fatigue Fighters
Invest a few minutes in one of these all-day lethargy liberators.
*Swap Coffee for Guarana
The Perks:
Everyone knows caffeine can make you perkier than a Miss America contestant.
The caffeine content in one cup of joe takes just 15 to 30 minutes to kick in and
lasts three to four hours. But java junkies now have a new alternative to coffee:
guarana. “The caffeine in the South American guarana berry is two to three times
more concentrated than the caffeine from a coffee bean,” explains William J. Keller,
Ph.D chair of pharmaceutical sciences at Samford University School of Pharmacy in
Birmingham, Alabama. FUEL-UP 411: Three new citrusy carbonated drinks are spiked
with guarana: Bawls, 180 and KMX. Each one packs as much pep as a cup of strong
coffee, confirms a Glamour road tester.
Energizer Bunny Rating: 2
*Belt Back B Vitamins and Iron The Perks: If your energy level is slipping as low
as dot-com stock, you could be lacking in vitamin B6 or iron. “B6 is found mostly in meat, dairy foods and nuts, so many women who diet don’t get enough of it,” warns
Chris Rosenbloom, Ph.D, associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University
in Atlanta. A meat-free diet may also cause low iron levels, which can make you
feel sluggish. FUEL-UP 411: Load up on foods rich in B6 (meat, dairy, nuts) and
iron (meat, whole grains, leafy greens). Or take a multivitamin that contains 100
percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of both nutrients. Another option
suggested by Oz Garcia, a nutritional consultant at Equinox Gym whose clients include
Winona Ryder and Tyra Banks: ProEndorphin. Each tablet contains 50 mg of vitamin
B6, 25 times the RDA (go as high as 250 mg and it could be toxic). Although no studies
have shown that megadoses of B vitamins result in extra energy, one Glamour guinea
pig who took ProEndorphin reports: “I felt flushed, limber, almost hyper – and ready
to take on the world.”
Energizer Bunny Rating: 2
*Join the Breakfast Club The Perks: “Skipping breakfast can sap your vitality all
day long,” claims Elizabeth Somer, M.A., author of The Origin Diet (Henry Holt).
“It’s as if your gas tank is empty, and driving on an empty tank will run your system further into the ground,” she explains. “Even if you eat a balanced lunch to try
to make up for you’re A.M. damage, the energy and nutrient deficit is so great,
you’ll still spend the rest of the day dragging.” FUEL-UP 411: Eat a breakfast that
contains both carbohydrates and protein, like a waffle topped with low-fat yogurt
and berries, or a bowl of nonsugary cereal with milk and nuts. “You get sustained-release
energy rather than that spike-and-crash effect caused by consuming only carbs,”
explains nutritionist Kleiner. One non-breakfast eater at Glamour who started her
day with toast (carbohydrates) and scrambled eggs (protein) says it helped her to
keep going all day. “But when I had only toast, I did feel tired most of the day.”
Energizer Bunny Rating: 2
*Start Talking The Perks: Carrying on a lively conversation is a proven strategy
for jump-starting a tired brain. “At NASA, we’ve noted that when air pilots keep
talking, their alertness and attention to detail are enhanced,” asserts Alertness
Solution’s, Mark Rosekind, who conducts research with the space agency. FUEL-UP
411: Rosekind believes that a 15-minute animated chat – anything from business strategy
to a girlfriend gabfest – can improve your productivity for up to a half hour. Confirms
one tester: “There’s nothing like a good laugh with a buddy to give you a second
wind.”
Energizer Bunny Rating: 3
*Get Your Groove
On The Perks: Pop in some dance tunes. “Up-tempo music triggers
cardiovascular changes associated with increased energy,” explains Costas Karageorghis,
Ph.D., a senior lecturer in sport psychology at Brunel University in London and
a consultant for Nike. Just getting up and moving recharges you. “Staying in the same position for an hour can lull you into a physical and mental torpor,” explains
Marrin Moore-Ede, M.D., Ph.D., a physiology professor at Harvard Medical School.
FUEL-UP 411: Listen to something like “She Bangs” by Ricky Martin or “Let Forever
Be” by The Chemical Brothers. “Within the first few beats, I was dancing out of
my chair,” raves one tester.
Energizer Bunny Rating: 3
HOLLYWOOD STAR SWEAR-BYS
Busy actresses reveal their high-stamina secrets.
“I drink Emer’gen-C, a vitamin C powder that’s mixed with water. After I drink it,
I feel rejuvenated and ready to go.” -- Tara Reid, Actress
“A Hershey’s chocolate bar gives me pep, especially when I have a 19-hour shooting
day. It’s a beautiful, pure thing – there’s nothing muddying it up.” -- Heather
Paige Kent (That’s Life)
“I run a lot – usually four or five times a week, four to six miles every time.”
-- Meridith Monroe (Dawson’s Creek)
“A good stretch in the morning and another before I go to bed keeps my energy up.
I do it whether I’m on a movie set or off.” -- Sarah Wynter, Actress
“I get eight hours
of sleep every night, no matter what.” -- Jennifer Gareis (The
6th Day, Miss Congeniality)
“I take hour naps that revive me in no time.” -- Tiffani Thiessen, Actress
“Drinking
orange juice and chewing vitamin C tablets give me massive amounts of
energy.” -- Suzanne Cryer (Two Guys, A Girl, And A Pizza Place)