What can I take to have more energy and improve my mood? Effective supplements
There's a moment that decides almost everything… and it's usually not at 5:00 PM, when you're already exhausted. It's usually in the morning .
It happens to all of us: the alarm goes off, you open your eyes, and in those first few minutes, your body silently asks you: are we running on fumes today... or are we on empty? It's funny, because life might be the same as yesterday, but you're not. Some mornings you wake up full of energy, sparky, with that spark that makes everything run more smoothly. And others you struggle to even shower, as if the day has come with an extra weight.
And of course… that's where the big question comes in: what can I take to have energy and a positive attitude ?
Some people solve it with a coffee and that's it. But it doesn't always work. There are days (and times) when coffee isn't enough, or worse: it hits you hard and leaves you shaking inside, without actually improving your mood. And there are other days when you're so exhausted that coffee, tea, TikTok motivation, or your gym playlist don't matter: you don't want to do anything . Not go out with friends, not work out, not tackle that project you were excited about.
In our team, we see it very often: it's not that there's a lack of attitude. It's that there's a lack of stable energy and that internal feeling of "I'm okay, I can handle the day."
The good news is that, in many cases, this can be improved . Not with magic promises, but with a realistic approach: understanding what's draining your energy (and mood) and supporting your body to function properly again. And this is where two supplements come in that we use as a "baseline" when someone asks us: "What can I take to have energy and a positive mood without spikes, without feeling nervous, and without depending on stimulants?"
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Reishi Extract (Ganoderma lucidum) – NUALAT
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Lion's Mane Extract (Hericium erinaceus) – NUALAT
Why mornings are the most decisive time (and what cortisol has to do with it)
Many people believe that energy is a matter of "not sleeping enough" or "eating poorly." And yes, those things do play a role. But there's more to it: your energy has a rhythm .
Our bodies function in cycles. One of the most important is the circadian rhythm, and within that rhythm lies a key response: the cortisol awakening response (CAR) , the surge in cortisol levels after waking up. In humans, cortisol typically spikes between 30 and 60 minutes after waking .
Note: Cortisol isn't "the bad guy" here. It's part of your "start-up." It's like the power switch for your day. The problem arises when:
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we slept badly,
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We live stressed,
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We're always late,
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or we haven't recovered in weeks.
That's where the system can malfunction, and you notice it as:
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heavy mornings,
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brain fog,
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irritability,
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or lack of motivation.
And then you return to the question: what can I take to have energy and spirit … because you feel as if you are missing something inside.
Coffee: why some find it sufficient and others don't
Coffee doesn't "give you energy" as such: it relieves drowsiness . Its main mechanism is to block adenosine receptors (a signal from the body to build up "sleep pressure").
That's why some people feel like they're flying after just one coffee: they had accumulated sleepiness, the coffee blocks that signal, and that's it.
But when your problem isn't just occasional sleep deprivation, but stress + exhaustion + burnout , coffee can:
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not be enough,
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or even worsen the condition (more nervousness, more tension, less calm).
It's like trying to fix a dead battery by turning up the screen brightness. It looks better for a while... but the battery life is still the same.
When tiredness turns into "I don't feel like doing anything": energy and mood are not the same, but they feed off each other.
Here's something we love to explain, because it changes the perspective:
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Energy : physical and mental capacity to do things.
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Encouragement : the “emotional spark” that drives you to want to do them.
You can have energy and zero motivation (you're on autopilot).
Or you can have desire but zero energy (you get frustrated).
And when you're stressed for a long time, this often happens: your mood drops, your energy decreases, and you start avoiding things (plans, sports, socializing). This withdrawal is sometimes simply due to fatigue… but if it persists, it's worth paying attention because lack of energy and apathy can also appear in mental health problems like depression. The WHO describes symptoms such as tiredness and poor concentration as common in depression.
We're not saying this to scare you, but to encourage responsibility: if you've been feeling this way for weeks or months, seek professional help . And at the same time, if it's just a period of burnout and stress, there are tools that can be very helpful.
What stress does to your body (and why it steals your energy)
When we are under stress, the body activates the survival response: systems such as the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) are activated. This activation is linked to hormones and mediators such as cortisol .
With prolonged stress, exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt bodily processes and increase the risk of problems such as anxiety, sleep problems, muscle tension, and difficulties with memory and focus .
And here's the point: if you sleep worse, you recover worse. If you recover worse, you perform worse. If you perform worse, you feel worse about yourself. And that cycle eats away at your morale.
That's why, when someone asks us what they can take to have energy and a positive mood , we think about two fronts:
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Regulate stress and improve recovery (so that the fuel returns).
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Support mental clarity and motivation (to bring the spark back).
Positivity isn't just for show: it's biology + habits + environment
We love to talk about positivity, but the kind that works. Not the "just smile and that's it" kind. Real positivity appears when:
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You sleep better,
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you are less alert,
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your mind is clearer,
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and your body has the energy to move.
Life doesn't flow the same without energy. With energy, you feel like doing things. Without energy, everything feels heavy.
Furthermore, processes related to motivation and reward involve neurotransmitters such as dopamine , which plays a key role in motivational control.
And chronic stress can be associated with changes in dopaminergic systems linked to motivation and reward.
Translation into the language of life: when you're stressed and exhausted, it's normal for your body to tell you "not today." And you interpret it as a lack of motivation... but often it's a lack of resources.
So… what can I take to have energy and mood (without spikes)?
This is where our two allies come in , with a very specific focus:
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Reishi : to help the body regain its base (calm, rest, adaptation to stress).
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Lion's Mane : to regain mental clarity, focus and a feeling of "awake mind".
And yes: we're talking about NUALAT products, because they are formulated as concentrated extracts with bioactive data, and that makes all the difference.
1) Reishi NUALAT: stable energy when the battery is depleted
There is one type of energy that manifests as a "high" (stimulants) and another that manifests as stability . Reishi falls into this second category.
NUALAT's product information describes Reishi as an extract of the fruiting body, designed to support balance against daily stress and overall vitality, and recommends continued use to promote adaptation to stress.
Technical data (the ones that matter)
At NUALAT, each capsule includes:
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420 mg of Reishi extract (100% natural extract, coated with vegetable cellulose).
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Highly concentrated extract 20:1 .
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Declared bioactives: beta-glucans 55% , triterpenes 5.12% , ganoderic acids 0.34% and polyphenols 11.3 mg/g .
Why do we like this? Because when someone is looking for "energy," many brands just throw in caffeine and that's it. Here we're talking about something different: support for the system, not an artificial boost.
How to use it when the goal is to encourage
When your stress is high , it's often not a lack of motivation, but a lack of quiet . If you don't rest, your mood will suffer.
Therefore, Reishi is often a good fit when:
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You find it hard to switch off,
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You wake up tired even if you sleep,
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You end the day with your head "spinning".
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And you notice that you lack stable energy, not a momentary spark.
How to take it (according to NUALAT)
Recommendation: 2 to 3 capsules a day with meals .
What we usually see (if it fits) is this: after 2-3 weeks, many people say, "I'm still having intense days... but they're less overwhelming." And that, for morale, is invaluable.
2) Lion's Mane NUALAT: when you want an "awake mind" and the desire to move
Sometimes the problem isn't just stress. It's also that your mind feels sluggish. And when your mind is sluggish, your spirits drop: everything becomes more difficult.
The Lion's Mane is a classic for cognitive function, but here we want to focus it on what you're asking for: energy and a positive attitude . How? Easy: positivity doesn't flourish in a clouded mind. It flourishes when you have clarity and a sense of control.
NUALAT explains that their Lion's Mane is made exclusively from the fruiting body, with independent controls of purity and potency.
Technical data
Each capsule includes:
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420 mg of Lion's Mane extract (100% natural extract, vegetable cellulose).
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Declared active compounds: beta-glucans 47% , terpenes 6.2% , erinacines 4.4% and hericenones 0.17% .
This is important because with these types of supplements there's a big difference between "powder" and "potent extract." And here, at least, you know what you're taking.
In what cases do we recommend it when the question is "what can I take to have energy and mood?"
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“I wake up and my head feels heavy,”
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“I have trouble getting started,”
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“I lack focus and I get overwhelmed,”
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"I feel unmotivated because I feel overwhelmed."
There, regaining mental clarity can be the first step to regaining motivation. Because when you have a clear mind, basic things return: the desire to meet up, to train, to progress. Not through magic: through a feeling of capability.
How to take it (according to NUALAT)
Recommendation: 2 to 3 capsules a day, preferably with meals .
And here we want to emphasize something: this isn't about taking a pill and becoming a superhero. It's about consistency. Sometimes the change is subtle… until one day you realize you've been functioning better for a week.
Simple routine to get started (without going crazy)
If you ask us, the key to making this work is not to overcomplicate it.
A very natural (and quite typical) option is:
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Lion's Mane in the morning or with food (for clarity and start-up).
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Reishi with lunch and/or dinner (for calm and recovery).
And if you're one of those who wants to do it "right" from the start, our advice is simple: introduce one first for 10–14 days. Observe. Then add the other. That way you know what each one contributes.
“Okay, but… what about positivity?”
Here we get a little philosophical, but with our feet on the ground:
True positivity is being able to say:
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“Today I have the energy to accomplish… and also to live.”
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"I feel like training today because I feel good."
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“I’m meeting up with friends today because I’m not exhausted.”
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“Today I move forward because my mind is with me.”
And yes, there are bad days. But when your system is regulated and your mind is clear, those days don't break you. You get through them.
Furthermore, let's not forget something the WHO emphasizes when discussing health: lifestyle matters, and movement contributes to well-being. Even at a population level, there is a huge problem of physical inactivity; and physical activity is linked to well-being and quality of life.
Translation: When you feel energetic, you move more; when you move more, you feel better. And that's how your mood is boosted.
Important: When NOT to normalize “I have no energy”
We're telling you this as a responsible team: if your lack of energy and motivation is accompanied by persistent sadness, intense anxiety, constant loss of interest, or is preventing you from functioning, don't just mask it with supplements . Ask for help. Depression and anxiety exist, they're common, and they're treatable.
Supplements can be a great support, but they are not a substitute for medical care if needed.
Conclusion: What can I take to have energy and a boost without depending on external encouragement?
If you're in that "I'm having trouble getting started" or "I just don't feel like it" phase, the first thing to understand is that it's not always a lack of willpower. Often it's just burnout.
When you're looking for stable energy and mood , without spikes or jitters, these two supplements work very well together because they complement each other:
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Reishi NUALAT , to support calm, recovery and adaptation to stress, with 20:1 extract and declared bioactives.
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Lion's Mane NUALAT , to support mental clarity and a sense of focus, also with a potent extract and specification of active compounds.
And if we had to sum it up in one very real-life sentence:
It's not about going "full throttle". It's about feeling like your day is flowing again... and that you are too.
