The Myth of 'Clean Energy': Why Your Body Wants Rhythm, Not Stimulation

LaSonya Lopez
12 minutes ago
3 min read

by Dr. LaSonya Lopez, MD

June 26, 2025

In the wellness world, "clean energy" is everywhere—stamped across matcha packets, energy drinks, supplements, protein bars. It’s the new holy grail of productivity. A buzzword cloaked in green juice and good intentions. But here’s the truth: “clean energy” is still energy as performance.We’re not being sold rest, nourishment, or natural rhythm—we’re being sold a shinier version of stimulation. And most women are exhausted from it.

This blog unpacks why your body doesn’t need more fuel—it needs more flow. Why we need less peak performance and more cyclical power. And why what you really want may not be energy at all.

The Clean Energy Illusion

Let’s define what “clean energy” usually means: sustained alertness, stable focus, no crash, and ideally, no guilt. Sounds good on paper.

But the emotional marketing of clean energy is what sells:

“You’ll power through your day.”
“No more afternoon slump.”
“Be the most productive version of yourself.”

It’s still about doing more, not being well. Even in the wellness space, we’ve repackaged productivity culture with chlorophyll and adaptogens. The result? Women chasing energy instead of chasing alignment.

Stimulation vs. Energy: Know the Difference

What most of us call energy is actually nervous system activation.

Caffeine? Stimulates cortisol.
“Clean” pre-workouts? Often spike dopamine and adrenaline.
Sugar-free energy drinks? Trick the brain into alertness while depleting minerals.

True biological energy is rooted in:

Blood sugar stability
Mitochondrial function
Thyroid health
Nervous system regulation

It’s quiet. It’s foundational. It’s often boring. But it’s real. Synthetic energy pushes you past your signals. Natural energy moves in rhythm with them.

Your Body Was Built for Rhythm, Not Linear Output

Your biology is cyclical:

You sleep in waves (ultradian rhythm)
Your hormones shift across your cycle
Your digestive enzymes have peak hours
Your focus naturally ebbs and flows

But modern culture demands constant uptime. This mismatch is why we think we need more energy. What we actually need is permission to rest, recover, and reset. The pursuit of “clean energy” often masks a deeper truth: we don’t feel safe enough to slow down.

What You Really Want Isn’t Energy—It’s Access

Ask yourself: When I say I want more energy, what do I actually mean?

To be more patient?
To feel less overwhelmed?
To stop dragging through the day?

What you likely want is clarity. Confidence. Capacity. That comes from regulating your energy, not maxing it out.

Tea: A Case Study in Rhythmic Restoration

Herbal tea is slow energy. The kind that asks you to pause, sip, breathe. The kind that matches your biology, not bypasses it.

Tulsi (holy basil) calms cortisol and supports adrenal repair
Nettle rebuilds iron and mineral reserves for real vitality
Lemon balm balances nervous system tone
Peppermint clears mental fog without stimulation

This is energy that works with your system, not against it. Even the act of steeping—a ritual that requires time—teaches your body to shift out of urgency.

How to Shift from Energy-Seeking to Rhythm-Building

Honor the Dip Instead of fighting your afternoon slump, pause. Breathe. Sip warm herbal tea. This is your ultradian rhythm asking for a break.
Stop Chasing the “Kick” If a food or supplement promises a “boost,” ask what it’s boosting you past.
Feed Your Mitochondria True energy lives in your cells. Eat nourishing fats, prioritize minerals (magnesium, sodium, potassium), and stay hydrated.
Match Your Tasks to Your Tempo Don’t expect deep focus at all hours. Save creative work for morning peaks, admin for slower afternoons.
Let Tea Be Your Anchor Use herbal infusions as intentional pauses—signals to your nervous system that you’re safe to soften.

Final Word: Energy That Aligns

Your worth isn’t in how much you can do. Your vitality isn’t defined by how “on” you can stay.

You are not a battery to be recharged. You are an ecosystem to be regulated. So ditch the myth of clean energy. Sip slowly. Build rhythm. And let your power rise in waves—not spikes.