How to Pick the Perfect Protein Powder
I get quite a few questions about protein powders. Like everyone else I had my fair share. However, what people fail to realize is whatever your body doesn’t use up, it will get stored in your fat cells. And while low carb, paleo, SCD diets are all fine, we still have to be careful of higher protein diets. See my posts on Paleo Diet Good for Most and The Positives of Paleo). I want to teach you how to choose a healthy, high quality protein powder while disclosing the truth on protein powders. I think there is a time and place for protein powders, just not every single day. I also want to educate you how to read your protein powder labels so you can make a wise decision whether or not. After posting and asking which ones are the best I want to help you better understand what to look for in a protein powder. Most are junk and full of synthetic GMO junk, but there are some other good clean brands out there. To Whey or Not Whey? You wan to buy a whey protein concentrate powder that is a high-quality whey protein. It must be cold pressed, derived from grass-fed cows, and free of GMOs, chemicals, and sugar. This type of whey protein and how it is made contains all the essential amino acids, keeps its nutrients in tact and has higher nutrient value than commercial processed protein powders. When whey protein is heat pressed, it denatures the protein. Whey protein Isolate is a denatured protein, your body cannot process this form of protein (whether soy or whey). Since isolates are heat processed, it destroys all of the amino acids needed to help your body absorb protein properly. What often happens is companies will fortify the nutrients and vitamins back into the powder often with synthetic vitamins and sweeten it with junkie sugars such as sucralose, fructose and some other sugar alcohol that ends in “ol.” If you are not sure about how the protein powder is made, call the company and ask what type of dairy they use and how do they process it. Soy? Not so much.. Soy is a very, very hard legume to digest and most of us cannot digest it. It is a close cousin to peanuts, and some who have serious peanut allergies may need to stay away from soy too. Soy is best digested when it is fermented in the forms of miso, tempeh and natto. The problem is about 95% of soy in America is mostly a GMO crop. I recall back in my more active fitness days, I would drink my strawberry soy protein shake with my soy milk thinking I was sooo healthy…all it did was make my stomach more bloated and distressed. Protein powders should be easy to digest, not cause more distress. When the body is presented with a synthetic isolate, the body may need to draw on its stores of cofactors needed to better absorb the vitamins and minerals, namely proteins, carbs, fats, bioflavonoids, and enzymes, but this is not always the case. And men, soy may decrease your libido and can cause temporary infertility because it decreases testosterone. Women, it will mess with your thyroid too because of its high estrogen content. (You can read more here on The Whole Soy Story). My opinion, stay way from all forms of soy protein powders. Pea Protein and Rice Protein Makes a Perfect Protein If you are like me you want something that is gluten, soy and dairy free, but finding one that tastes good...
Read MoreI am doing The Gunnar Challenge for 8-weeks
I filled out a survey to do The Gunnar Challenge and was selected to give it a try for 8-weeks. Now typically I hate following “programs” because I do not believe one size is a fit all. I did the Jillian Michael’s program though a Klout Perk I had earned and I thought the workouts were fantastic, but the nutrition part is not for me. And I did not finish following through each and every workout. (lack of sleep from my son, dealing with life sometimes gets in the way of my fitness, I am just like you!) Since I follow a complicated diet (gluten, soy, dairy, corn free including no oats, buckwheat or red meats), The Gunnar Challenge will be the same way. I will have to modify the diet to my needs. So this time, I am having you hold me accountable as a way to review this program in great detail. I will analyze it from a both fitness and nutrition perspective. It is nice to have a program to use when you do not have access to a gym, cannot afford a trainer and be a part of an interactive community through Facebook and Twitter. Registration was easy. Asked for my goals, current weight/height, measurements which were optional. I opted in to enter my weight weekly and checked off that I will work out at least 4 days per week. My real goal is 5 days per week (and looking ahead, it has me scheduled for 6?…we’ll see), but one of those days will be used to run to prepare for the Dirty Girl Mud Run I am doing on June 30. So that is it. Each Monday I will post for you my experience with using the Feel Great in 8 Gunnar Challenge and I will do some before and after pics…yikes I have never done that before. However, you can join me today! Anyone who signs up today will get $30 off their registration, that is pretty cool! Click here to register. No worries, you did not miss anything for a workout, today is a rest...
Read MoreCinco de Mayo Recipe: Strawberry Colada Green Smoothie
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I thought I would share my delicious Strawberry Colada Green Smoothie recipe. It got the thumbs up from my 4yr old daughter. This makes it a fantastic post workout smoothie. Strawberries and pineapple are full of vitamin c which helps with fat utilization (or burn fat) and helps bind to iron in the spinach resulting in maximal iron absorption. Exercisers who lack vitamin C burn 25% less fat during their workouts, so get those C’s! The coconut oil is a medium chained fatty acid helping aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, boosts metabolism, and aid in muscle recovery Strawberry Colada Green Smoothie Put in blender in this order: 4 frozen strawberries 1/3c of frozen pineapple 2c of spinach or other greens 1/2c of Unsweetened Coconut Milk (water will work too) 1T of coconut oil melted (don’t add until it starts to blend) scoop of vanilla protein powder, I use Vanilla Warrior Blend Raw Protein by Sunwarrior As the fruit, spinach, milk and protein powder are blending, slowly add coconut oil. Coconut oil will harden when it cold or when you add it to cold items, thus resulting in coconut oil chips. This will also allow for the oil to fully blend in your smoothie. Pour and...
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