As part of its “Be Good to Your Whole Body” campaign in its Whole Body departments, Whole Foods Market is focusing on healthy energy for the month of March with a series of in-store lectures and podcasts.

Whole Body experts will provide shoppers with advice and tips for promoting healthy energy, as well as information on energy-boosting herbs, vitamins and minerals, common causes of fatigue, how adaptogens help the body deal with stress and support the immune system, and the basics ON body energy.

“Research has shown that at the simplest level, energy is about having adequate amounts of fuel available for the body. In this case, fuel is nutrients: amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants,” said Malia Curran, nutrition consultant for Whole Foods. “A balanced diet with plenty of whole foods, B vitamins, iron, magnesium and vitamin C, along with healthy maintenance of sleep, exercise and stress, can help sustain the body’s energy.”

In addition to nutrition and lifestyle factors, other energizing ideas to be discussed include:

—Ingredients such as acai, goji berries, green tea, yerba mate, and medicinal mushrooms,which are packed with antioxidants
—Guarana, long popular in Argentina and Brazil, which delivers both caffeine and theophylline (similar in chemical structure to caffeine) and the “feel-good” theobromine found in chocolate
—Acupuncture as a means to counter fatigue and to help balance energy levels
—Aromatherapy using essential oils that support balanced energy, including rosemary, jasmine and peppermint
—Powerful adaptogenic herbs like Asian ginseng, astragalus, eleuthero, Rhodiola rosea, and schizandra, which have general tonic properties for the immune system and can help the body deal with all types of stress

Whole Foods is also providing resources online, including an audio podcast on general lifestyle tips for balancing energy by herbalist and botanical researcher Ric Scalzo, founder of Gaia Herbs. A second podcast, with Dr. Hyla Cass, discusses top natural energy products and supplements, what to look for in vitamins and herbs, and what to steer clear of when choosing from the many currently popular products that promise a boost.

Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods operates more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.