How Supplements for Energy can help Women

Women’s supplements for energy

Just about all women want some extra energy every once in a while. Whether it’s because you’re tired because your day seemed to last longer than it should have or you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, there’s always a time when you’d like to have a little more energy.

Looking over the store shelves today, there is definitely no shortage of supplements for energy that promise to give you that needed boost of energy you’re looking for. Here’s our list of the major supplements you’ll find in today’s marketplace and whether they work or not to give you more get-up-and-go:

Energy boosting caffeine

Caffeine is known to give everyone an “energy boost” when we need it, and it’s widely used today in a lot of supplements for energy. Caffeine mobilizes our fat cells and gives us a boost of energy by telling our working muscles to use fat as fuel.

Caffeine does have drawbacks including the fact that it can produce dependence in some people, and caffeine withdrawal can occur when you stop ingesting it. Women should be especially careful when ingesting caffeine because women take longer to detoxify caffeine from their systems and therefore are more sensitive to caffeine’s effects.

Creatine

Creatine is an amino acid that’s naturally found in fish and meats and is also made by the human body. It does deliver energy as needed when the body converts it into phosphocreatine when is then stored in muscles and the brain.

Most research today concludes that creatine is one of the most effective supplements for energy by helping women not only have more energy but also extra resistance to fatigue during activities that require high intensity  along with explosive levels of energy. However, creatine does not appear to be as effective in cases where endurance over a longer period of time is needed.

L-carnitine

L-carnitine is an amino acid that’s naturally produced in the body and acts as a building block for proteins. Normally L-carnitine energy supplements are used to increase its level in the body when it’s too low because of a genetic disorder. According to some research, L-carnitine does help the to body produce energy, however, there are very few studies that L-carnitine in supplement form directly provides women with an energy boost.

Bee Pollen

Bee pollen is marketed as one of the oldest supplements for energy used by man. However, many studies have been criticized as having been badly conducted and using samples that were too small to give adequate results.

Bee pollen is rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, lipids, carbohydrates and fatty acids and appears to be safe when taken for a short term. However, bee pollen is not considered safe for pregnant women, and it shouldn’t be taken if you are breastfeeding

Bee pollen can also cause a serious allergic reaction, including hives, swelling, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis. It can also cause increased bleeding if taken with certain blood thinners like warfarin. If you’re in doubt about taking bee pollen, check with your doctor first.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that plays a vital role in producing ATP, which transports energy within our cells. Levels of coenzyme Q10 decrease when we age and also get lower when we have certain diseases like cancer or Parkinson's disease. The coenzyme is usually marketed to treat congenital heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, and counter the side effects of statins. Only recently has it also been suggested as one of today’s supplements for energy. Most research says that it might help energy levels and shouldn’t have any negative effects.

L-arginine

L-arginine is another amino acid in the body that’s marketed as one of today’s supplements for energy. The chemical is necessary for the body to make proteins and is normally found in poultry, fish, red meat, and dairy products. Under normal conditions, L-arginine is used for heart and blood vessel conditions, high blood pressure, chest pains and coronary artery disease.

L-arginine also stimulates the body’s release of insulin, growth hormone, and other substances. No direct studies on its effect as an energy supplement have been conducted other than the fact that the body converts L-arginine into nitric oxide which causes blood vessels to open wider for improved blood flow.

Some women may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, stomach upset, or gas. Women are especially cautioned to start with the lowest effective dosage because the optimal recommended amount depends on your body’s weight and individual body chemistry.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that naturally contains polyphenols that many experts believe increase people’s insulin sensitivity and help the body to regulate its blood sugar levels. This in turn can keep your energy level up throughout the day. However, whether taking cinnamon to provide extra energy is still up for debate.

Glutamine

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and helps transport nitrogen to our cells as an important source of energy. Research indicates that glutamine is effective in reducing infections after surgery, burns or bone marrow transplants, but there isn’t any evidence that taking glutamine will increase your energy levels.

Ribose

Ribose is a key component of ATP which stores and the delivers energy to our cells. Because ATP is depleted quickly during exercise, the makers of ribose supplements claim that it’s a way to speed muscle recovery and reduce fatigue. Ribose does appear to help improve blood flow when patients have clogged arteries, but whether it helps your energy level is debatable.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonoid that’s naturally found in the skins of a number of vegetables and red fruits, such as tomatoes, apples and red onions. Although quercetin does seem to reduce inflammation and pain for men who have prostate problems, there’s no evidence that it has any impact on the body’s energy levels.

Supplements for energy

Although energy supplements have become quite popular over the last few years, most of today’s products still appear to be in the experimental phase. For women, it’s generally considered a good idea to check first with your doctor or healthcare professional before taking any supplements for energy.

Supplements for energy may help some people, but in a lot of cases, the most you will get out of them will be a few dollars poorer and wind up with no increase in energy levels to show for it.