Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nutrition. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2014

Add great nutritional boost to your food

Wow! Glad I ordered the pound bag

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Bell Plantation Powdered Peanut Butter, 16 Ounce (Pack of 12)


As much as I love all things peanut, the grand goober is taboo while I'm counting calories. Looking for peanut flavoring or extract, I was shocked to find PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter, a product I'd never imagined. Based on the glowing reviews, I opted for the large size, which proved to be the right choice. This stuff is FABULOUS.

It's a very fine, dry powder with such an intense peanut flavor that very little goes a long way. A 2-tablespoon (12 gram) serving has only 45 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, but reconstituted with 2 tablespoons of sugar-free grape jam (instead of water), that's enough to coat 2 slices of toast for a sinlessly delicious PB & J. I've also used it successfully to make no-guilt Chinese cold peanut noodle, peanut sauce for chicken, and substituted PB2 everywhere I'd used peanut butter or peanuts in the past. Low calorie, low fat, scrumptious and versatile -- what a concept.

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Add great nutritional boost to your food

OMG, this is AWESOME!!!! Finally a really good alternative to high fat peanut butter

This is a review and it was written on 

Bell Plantation Powdered Peanut Butter, 16 Ounce (Pack of 12)


Guys: Although this may not have the exact taste of a typical commercial brand peanut butter out of the jar, it is VERY CLOSE. THIS IS THE ONE THAT SATISFIES A CRAVING FOR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER without all the fatty oil.. It has no chemical or weird aftertaste (it's the most peanut-nutty tasting alternative out there which I've tried), and you really can adjust the consistency based on the amount of liquid you add. Although I previously favored the "Better-n-Peanut Butter" brand sold here Better N Peanut Butter, Better N Peanut Butter, Orig Lf, 16.00 OZ (Pack of 12)and at Trader Joe's (which needs no mixing or preparation and has a real peanut butter texture), I must admit that the taste of "better n peanut butter" is not nearly as good as PB2 ( "Better n Peanut Butter" is less peanut-y and does have an odd sort of after taste) and it needs to be refrigerated after opening or it gets moldy (trust me.....yuck).

Anyway, back to this product:PB2. It has a very good peanut buttery taste and if you're cooking with it or mixing it in drinks or smoothies (like a banana smoothie), the texture is a non-issue. And having it in these 1 lb packages makes it much more affordable than buying the small jars sold here or directly from PB2's website (where they add $10 shipping). And if you get at least three bags at Amazon, it qualifies for free shipping (it works out to about $8.70/lb). I also ordered the chocolate which is also good (not a strong chocolatey taste, more like a hint of cocoa), but my favorite is still the plain PB2.

***UPDATE***
Guys: I just tried another product from Byrd Mill and searched under peanut flour product (basically peanut butter with the oils removed as well) that's also very good (it's cheaper than the PB2 product here if you buy the 5 1lb. option....I ordered -1- 5 lb bag and the total price with shipping was approx. $32.65 (therefore about $6.50/lb). The package comes in about 4 days after you order, but the one negative is that it is not vacuum sealed. It's in a plastic bag with a twisty tied around it and then placed in a large paper bag with a folding top (the kind of bag that coffee beans come in, but bigger). In order to keep it fresh, I use about 1 lb. at a time and then vacuum seal the rest. They also sell larger and smaller quantities at slightly steeper discount with little change in shipping. You have an option of getting a dark roast (more peanut-y) or light roast (less peanut-y tasting) and either 28% fat left in (at 6g/serving) or 12% (at 3g fat per serving). I buy the dark roasted, 12% fat. It is definitely more peanut-y than PB2 and is smoother and creamier in texture. The only big difference from the PB2 product (which I prefer, others may not....) is that Byrd Mill does not have any salt and sugar added (it's just pure roasted de-fatted peanut flour) so you'll most definitely want to add a little salt (maybe even a little honey) to the mixture to suit your taste if your using it plain (like on a sandwich, or with crackers or right on a spoon. So if you find yourself snacking on peanut butter every day to satisfy your peanut butter cravings, go ahead and try this.

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Add great nutritional boost to your food

Simply the best I have had among all other organic proteins I've tried

This is a review and it was written on 

Organic Whey Protein 17 Supplement Powder, Delicious Natural, 1 Pound



I have been cycling different organic proteins for the better part of 3 years now and this is the simply the best one hands down.

I have had Dr Mercola's Pure Power protein which is a private label of Defense Nutrition's Warrior Whey. I have Defense Nutrition's Organic Warrior Whey. I've had Well Wisdom's Vital Whey (them and Defense Nutrition seem to have some sort of marketing battle going on) and I have had Emerald Essentials Action Whey it too is a private label Defense Nutrition with some proprietary Biocystein3 (I'm not sure what advantage this has except to make it more expensive). It talks about having the same immuno factors as breast milk, but I'm no longer a baby and have no idea how that affects me as an adult. All have various ingredients that are all much better than anything you can buy at your local GNC and I have no problem recommending them to anyone. What I feel makes Protein 17 stand out from all of them are two things.

1. There is one ingredient in Protein 17 - the protein concentrate that's it. In my opinion there is no worrying about what else is in it as with other proteins even the one's I mentioned above. Nothing proprietary, no fillers (Mercola's uses milk powder),
2. No sweeteners (no stevia - not a fan personally),
3. No flavors - I like the fact that I cannot choose a flavor to be honest because I can add my own flavoring and there are times where I want chocolate or vanilla and can't really afford to by both. Not having any flavor choices allows me to buy one and if I want to flavor them myself I can with whatever I want. This also points back to number one. One ingredient.
4. You will not find a better price for 1lb of protein (at least I have not yet).
5. It mixes pretty easily (ALWAYS A PLUS)
6. The company is not trying to sell you crap just to make a profit. I feel they are genuine in their mission statement and that alone makes me feel good in purchasing their product.

You will not go wrong by purchasing this. I drink raw milk (it is unpasteurized) regularly and to be able to get whey concentrate as closely sourced to that as possible for this price point is amazing. To put it in perspective I pay $7 a gallon for my milk.

I hope this helps if anyone has any questions email me and I'll be glad to answer any that this review may not have covered.

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Add a great nutritional boost to your food

Potassium, Zinc, Magnesium...

This is a review and it was written on 

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, 5 Pound Pouch


Manitoba is an excellent brand and this item is conventional not organic but Manitoba sells organic hemp as well. Buying direct from Amazon offers freshness which is a priority in any seed especially one like hemp hearts which are full of natural healthy oil which will go rancid. The five pound containers are the most reasonably priced hemp if you consume lots of it otherwise for freshness, 16oz is a better option.

GENERAL: No, these will not make you high mentally but yet I get high physically since three tablespoon of this beauty, once again only 3 tablespoon which is 30 gr, offer me 50% magnesium and 25% zinc which allows me to get to really high spots in the mountains with my mountain bike or catch those big high waves in the ocean since my muscles do not cramp due to magnesium intake of hemp seeds. What an absolute joke, in US they continuously talk about health care but yet this one creation of nature which offers so much not only is not produced in US but yet the only site that I trust for ingredients which is the USDA Nutritional Value, will not offer me any info in regard to this superfood. Now you probably get an idea why so many industries controlling your dear representatives in US Senate will not allow hemp to have a chance to flourish in US. Big Pharma loves that idea since they sell those magnesium supplements which god knows what is in those unregulated tablets but yet citizens of US will not have access to the simple knowledge of all the minerals, vitamins, proteins and multitude of healthy hidden ingredients that this superfood offers at a reasonable price but yet they have all the nutritional value of Chia seeds which hardly has any vitamin or mineral but yet a whopping fiber at a whopping price since it is no threat to any industry in US... shame, shame, shame. While hemp and marijuana are kissing cousins, the amount of THC in hemp is almost non existent. Two tablespoons contains 400 milligrams of anti-inflammatory gamma-linolenic acid and 2 grams of omega-3 fats, plus all nine essential amino acids, compounds that help maximize recovery from workouts. I consume these straight from the container with spoon, an hour before my work outs without mixing in a bowl or as dressing. I consume it first thing in the morning or when I need a quick burst of energy regardless of the time of the day. For years I have consumed 1)raw sunflower seeds, 2)almonds in water 3)organic sesame+flax seeds ground in coffee maker+cocoa powder+unflavoured protein isolate, 4)hemp seeds, 5)watermelon & garlic on daily basis. Seeds all go rancid due to the oil and the germ of the seed so regardless of the type or brand, seeds need to be stored in freezer, in a dark, cold, sealed container, away from any moisture. If plastic container then it needs to be #5 or for me it is much safer in glass containers that keeps air out. I consume seeds within two weeks and insure not to purchase in big quantities since freshness is a priority to me due to the nutritional value which I consume food for, any food. Hemp is an unbelievable product and you can not grow it in US since it is illegal and big business does not want to see you healthy. No gain for big industries either since it is so cheap to grow with so many benefits that scares big pharma, plastic industry, fabric-cotton industry, pesticide producers, etc... so if you live in US, Canada becomes your only hope. Hemp increases my level of energy without any artificial stimulants like caffeine and sugar. More energy with less empty calorie fillers like sugar and saturated fat, in all energy bars which I never consume. Hemp contains the highest percentage of globulin than any other plant which is an essential amino acid that helps my body to create antibodies, a component of a healthy immune system. Healthy addition to a weight loss plan since it provides essential nutrients such as protein, essential fatty acids, fibre, vitamins and minerals without adding an excess amount of calories, starch, sugar or salt. One of the best natural boosters that I can get when doing any type of sport or when I need energy without a big meal. Hemp is truly a good plant for the environment and it is shame that we have to deal with the politics of the hemp instead of the benefits of the hemp in US. Victim of its own success. This is a super food next to quinoa, kale, broccoli, dandelion, raw honey, garlic, legumes, nuts, seeds, etc...

MINERALS: Hemp is one of the kings of nutrients when it comes to minerals and so important to me as a whole delicious seed with highest magnesium, highest potassium, highest zinc and the healthiest fat.

Accordingly for 100gr servings size of;
SESAME__FLAX__CHIA__AMARANTH__QUINOA__HEMP__PISTACHIO__ALMOND__CASHEW

CALORIES
565__534__490__371__368__567__557__575__553
SAT FAT
34__18__16__7__4__17__27__19__39
CALCIUM
99__26__63__16__5__0__11__26__4
MAGNESIUM
89__98__0__62__49__167__30__67__73
POTASSIUM
14__23__5__15__16__167__29__20__19
ZINC
48__29__23__19__21__83__15__21__39
FIBER
47__109__151__8__11__4 __41__49__13
PHYTOSTEROLS
714__0__0__0__0__N/A__214__0__0

FRESHNESS: Fresh means nutritious and delicious. I consume lots of seeds, beans, grains, vegetables, etc. and freshness is a priority regardless of the brand so I always purchase my food ingredients in small quantities from reputable sellers with high turnover. When fresh, food is nutritious and that goes for any food in any form, from frozen to canned. Fresh food is nutritious as well as delicious since nutrients give food its delicious taste. When old or rancid, nutrients are gone and any food item becomes an empty calories with no taste and absolutely worthless regardless of the brand or price, organic or conventional. For few years I consumed seeds in oil form since physicians advised me to do so not knowing that majority are not aware that seeds hardly offer any nutrients unless; seeds are fresh, not old which means rancid, not in oil form, not in supplement form, not hulled, ground and consumed within few days, kept in dark cold temperatures, away from light-sun-moisture since the oil in seeds and nuts go rancid regardless. That is why brown rice which has its nutrients will go rancid even if kept in freezer while white rice will last for years at room temperature since it hardly has any nutrients or oil. I ground in my coffee grinder sesame, flax, chia, amaranth, hemp then add cocoa, isolate protein, soy milk and consume it before my workouts on daily basis for its vitamins, minerals, protein and many nutrients, without much spike in my glucose. Un-hulled seeds are full of nutrients. I never consume hulled seeds which are empty calories, absolutely worthless since the nutrients have been removed.

FAT: The most important hormone, and the one that's crucial for weight loss, is insulin. Insulin is the hormone that controls fat storage. A high-carb diet increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, which in turn means you produce more insulin. The more insulin the body produces, the more fat gets stored. A low-carb diet means less insulin, making it easier to lose weight because less fat is then stored. For intake of a massive 5,000 calories every day for three weeks with calories from a low-fat, high-carb diet; and for another three weeks with calories from more fat no carbs with exactly the same amount of calories, with moderate exercise regimen each time; low-fat diet stacked on 16 lb with 3.7" (9.5 cm) around the middle where the high fat diet offered a loss of 2.5 lb and loss of 1"(2.5 cm) from waistline. If calorie is calorie, then in my case and my experience shows that I would prefer to get my calories from a healthy fat from sesame seed and almond than the calories from the carbs in chia. Almonds have the highest fat calories from all the seeds and nuts and that is a priority to me in type of calories since I am kind of vegan who consumes fish but hardly any meat or chicken.

Accordingly for 28gr/1oz servings size of;
Amaranth__quinoa__flax__peanut__almonds__chia__sesame__sunflower__cashew__pistachio

TOTAL CALORIES
28.6__33.6__ 150__166__161__137__160__162__155__156
CALORIES FROM CARBS
21.2__23.6__33__28.9__24.6__50__26.8__31.2__34.4__31.8
CALORIES FROM FAT
3.7__4.8__98.8__121__116__72.1__116__112__103__104
CALORIES FROM PROTEIN
3.7__4.9__17.8__16.8__20.6__15.2__17.2__19.1__17.7__20

For almost the same total calories sesame offers half of chia's "CARB CALORIES" gain but 50% more "FAT CALORIES" with high amount of nutrients for weight loss. Sesame is my calcium but almonds are the superfood when it comes to fat calories and vitamin E. Americans consume enough peanut butter each year to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon, priced for 1/3 but hardly with any nutrients vs. sesame. None offer ALA and not only flax's high ALA is needed but it balances the omega-6 which is so abandoned in all foods and not healthy at all. But, but, but, Hemp is the king for magnesium, potassium, zinc where is needed most for my muscle cramps and goes with all my work outs.

Organic is always better for the planet earth and its inhabitants if organic available. The most harmful and deadly diseases plaguing America today are caused by food; cheap, low quality processed foods high in sugar, fat, salt, genetically modified ingredients and pesticides. when you reach for whole, nutrient-dense, organic foods, you get a food-remedy tool kit that not only will ward off cancer and heart disease, but also colds, flu, allergies, and a host of other ailments that plague us every day.


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Add a great nutritional boost to your food

Add a great nutritional boost to breakfast foods

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Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts, Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds, 5 Pound Pouch


I've been experimenting with different oatmeal add-ins lately to try to boost the nutritional profile and to make things more interesting (because eating the same breakfast every day gets a little old). These hemp hearts were the most recent add-in I tried.

Compared to the chia seeds I tried last week, there are some strong points and some weak points. The hemp seeds don't stick in the packet as much as the chia seeds do, so you can actually get them all out. And they don't make the oatmeal quite as gelatinous as the chia seeds. However, the taste is more noticeable, and it's not neutral. It's not a bad taste, but it's different and (for me) takes a bit of getting used to. There's something vaguely coconut-like about it, but I'd hesitate to say these tasted like coconut. At any rate, no point in analyzing it further, I just wanted to make you aware that these do have a flavor, so be prepared for that.

These are quite high in fat, with 1.5g of saturated fat. However, there are 10g of polyunsaturated fat and 1.5g of monounsaturated fat (you know, the "good" plant fats). And they're cholesterol free. These are also quite high in fiber and protein and have very little sugar. What's truly amazing about them, though, is the level of some nutrients: these are high in phosphorus (45%), magnesium (45%), and manganese (110%), as well as having decent amounts of iron and several B vitamins. It's so much better to get your nutrients from whole foods instead of vitamin supplements if you can, and these are pretty awesome in that regard.

I am definitely considering buying these again (they're also vegan, Kosher, and non-GMO, and they're sustainably harvested).

Update 5/27/14: I have bought these again (from Whole Foods, hence no Verified Purchase label). They're actually more affordable than several other brands. And I have gotten used to the taste and don't notice it so much any more.




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How to maintain and increase lean muscle mass

 Why This is the one of the best Protein Supplement in the Market, A critical analysis from a Bio technologist




This is a review and it was written on 

Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard, 5 Pound

 

As a fitness enthusiast and a Science guy, I am always curious to find the real value of a supplement. What works and what does not work. More importantly, I believe the analysis of a product should be based on strong scientific knowledge base, combined with good old fashion practical use of the product, and only then one should come down to the final conclusion.

This product review and analysis was conducted based on 3 parameters

A. Constituents: What comes in the box, the real value of the product
B. Assimilation: How does this product goes down in your system, how much of it will your body assimilate
C. Usability : Long term usability and and effects.

I believe this is one of the best supplements available in the market today. The Question is Why?

1. The Quality of protein. Since its manufactured by Glanbia (who owns Optimum nutrition), this product is coming straight from the manufacturer. This is a BIG factor, 90% of the protein supplement companies source their raw materials from third parties, often importing them from third world countries.

100 grams of Whey protein isolate from one source is NOT equal to the 100 gram Whey protein isolate from another. Inferior resources usually have high level of Heavy metals and cattle Hormones. This has been elucidated from recent tests and published widely in the consumer reports. ON aced this report with minimum levels of such harmful residues. Reason is simple, they make their own whey in a plant which has to abide all regulations under US law.

Just for the point of reference. I am from India, and therefore know first hand how many poorly regulated cheese plants export their whey to Europe and US. So make sure your Whey protein is coming from Whey extracted in the US!!

The Additives

2. Ideally, I will prefer the protein powder with no artificial sweetener. But lets face it, such a product will be hard to sell. However, Golds whey keep artificial sweeter to minimum. If you check Bodybuilding.com forums, lots of consumer complain that its not sweet enough. I request all such folks to realise that is actually good for them, if you feel this product is not sufficiently sweet for you. Its better you use lesser amount of hydrant (Milk, water, juice etc), or add a tiny bit of Honey.

The Profile- The Myth about Isolate vs a Blend

3. This might be hard for some people to digest. However, the truth is 96% people who use Whey supplements, will have no additional benefits of taking an Isolate vs a Blend. Please note, when I use the word blend, I mean a product lile Golds whey which is well balanced with Whey isolate and Whey Concentrate. (not any junk product form the market). If you take the blend, you might get 1 gram of extra fat or 2 grams of extra carbs which is absolutely nothing. You can burn this by adding 1.5 minute to your jog routine or walking for 2-3 minutes. You will get the same result and effect as the Isolate, so its not worth spending extra refined Isolate. The Isolate rumor is just a Hype created by the supplement industry. I will repeat this again, if your blend is as good as Golds whey i.e you are getting 24 grams per 30 gram scoop, you don't need an Isolate.

Who all comprise the 4% population who can benefit from an Isolate. First people who are extremely lactose Intolerant. I have used the word extremely since all good products add enzymes to digest the little amount of lactose residue in the supplement. Lactose is not a a bad thing, its simply the milk sugar. So if you are highly allergic to Lactose, Isolate will help (they have negligible levels of lactose)

Second tier of people who can benefit from Isolates are professional athletes who are pepping up for an upcoming competition. This competitive set is consuming 5-8+ scoops of Whey protein daily and therefore will benefit from reduction in additional fat or carbs.

4. Why go for Whey protein blend when you have specialized protein powders with Whey,egg and Casein.

Its simple science, Whey is just better with the best Biological value*. This means that your body will better absorb and use the protein source from Whey more than any other source, therefore no wastage. Egg is also a great resource, which is just behind Whey. However in real world it lags behind Whey substantially, even the delayed absorption rate cannot compensate much. Scientifically it has been proven that Whey is just better, since it doesn't tax your digestive processes as much as an egg protein.

Question of Casein:
Its true that Casein has an edge when it comes to delayed absorption. Its anti-catabolic properties and slow absorption makes it an ideal night time protein. This said, its best when you take Casein in concentrated from, i.e. if you need Casein, take only Caesin, do not mix it with Whey... Why do I say this, Its a big topic based on metabolism response(will add a different thread later). One last thing 24 grams of Whey protein is NOT equal to 24 grams of Casein as the Biological value of Casein is lower than Whey.However Caesin does have its own benifit of delayed response, provided you actually need it.

*Biological Value: Biological value (BV) is a measure of the proportion of absorbed protein from a food which becomes incorporated into the proteins of the organism's body.

Whey protein concentrate: 104
Whole egg: 100
Cow milk: 91
Beef: 80
Casein: 77
Soy: 74

Last Thoughts:
Always keep a note of how much protein you are consuming from Supplements Vs straight from the food. Ideally one should keep protein sources from supplements under 25%, but if your life style is demanding and you are unable to get hold of good meals rich in protein, you should always keep your protein dependency under 50%. In layman terms, for most of us who are looking for fitness, keep it not more than 2 scoops/day. For those who really pump some heavy Iron keep it upto than 3 scoops/day. (let me know if you wish to know the science behind this)

In the end Supplements are only Supplements. The word Supplement has a lot of Drama attached to it, as if, if you don't take a protein shake within 30 minutes of your work out.. you will never make good gain. Total Crap. This is not a make or break factor(its just beneficial). Baring few exceptions. Supplements adds up only 20 percent of your fitness equation.

In the real world, for over 90% of us. The fitness equation is something like this.

A Intensity and Regularity of Workout: 30- 35%
B Lifestyle and Nutritional Choices: 40- 50%
C Supplements : 0 - 20%

So the most important thing is to focus on A%B. Once you have maximized A and B, think about C


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