The Energy Drink Blog

Super foods are foods that are packed with nutrition and offer a form of health protection to the body naturally.  By eating these foods daily, you can reduce your risk or even prevent certain health issues such as high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer or diabetes.  Not only will you be able to prevent various health issues, you will also find that managing a healthy weight is much easier by eating a diet free of additives and preservatives.  Here’s a list of some of the most common super foods and what they provide the body nutritionally speaking.

For starters blueberries rank very high on the list because of their high vitamin c content and antioxidant value.  Antioxidants help to protect your cells against free radical damage, ward off cancer, and slow the aging process.  By picking blueberries richer in color you are also picking berries that are higher in nutritional value.  Choosing fresh organic berries is the preferred choice, however if they are not in season frozen is fine too.

 Next on the list is one we are all familiar with, oatmeal.  Oats are a great way to help keep your cholesterol in check and keep it from climbing too high.  They are also a great source of soluble fiber which helps to manage weight easier and prevent against heart disease.  Because they also have a high B1 content this super food is great in assisting with carbohydrate metabolism as well.

Salmon and walnuts are both rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  Omega-3 fatty acids are especially well known for reducing bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol.  Omega-3’s help to prevent heart disease, plaque build up and hardening of the arteries, they also keep joints lubricated and act as an anti-inflammatory which in turn can be helpful for anyone who suffers from chronic or severe arthritis.  From a beauty standpoint, consuming salmon or walnuts at least once a day is also beneficial for healthy shiny hair, a beautiful complexion, and strong nails.

Known for its power packed nutrient content, spinach ranks in at the top among all leafy greens.  Its nutritional content includes a high amount of vitamins, proteins, and antioxidants.  Spinach is a great way to give your self a natural boost of energy and enhance your mood by either juicing or eating raw in salads.

Another super food worth mentioning is yogurt.  Plain low-fat yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein which is excellent for bone health.  It also contains live active cultures or healthy bacteria such as acidophilus which helps to regulate the digestive system and keep you regular.  Plain yogurt is great for treating and preventing yeast infections as well as strengthening the immune system.  Another benefit noticed when consuming yogurt is that it may help reduce your appetite and keep you satisfied longer between meals.  When consuming yogurt you should stick to plain and choose organic if possible.  By adding a little granola and some blueberries it can be an amazing snack or dessert late at night when you feel like splurging on all the wrong things.

These are some of the important super foods to choose from.  By incorporating them into your daily diet you can keep your health in check, manage your weight, and experience an overall sense of well being.

Many of us are searching for a magic diet pill or an elixir that will take away our insatiable need to eat and lose a ton of weight.  But with so many diet products on the market today how do we know which one works best?  A few years back when ephedrine was pulled off the market, the number one weight loss supplement , we all panicked that nothing else could possibly deliver the same results and as quickly.  Then something called Hoodia Gordonii was discovered as a powerful supplement that could help to curb appetite and hunger, promote weight loss, and maintain energy levels while enhancing your mood.

South African Hoodia Gordonii dates back to prehistoric times when the San Tribe from the Kalahari Desert first discovered this rare species of a plant.  They would chew this bitter tasting plant and it would help to suppress their appetite for up to 24 hours while they would hunt for food for their families.

Hoodia is an endangered, protected plant species because it is so rare.  It can take up to 5 years to mature from the time it is planted.  There are several different kinds of Hoodia grown but the only one known to curb appetite and promote weight loss is the form known as Hoodia Gordonii.  The active molecule in Hoodia Gordonii is called p57, this is the key factor that aides in appetite suppression. 

 Today Hoodia is found in many weight loss products that claim to reduce your appetite while helping to maintain you energy levels as well.  A study done in Leicester, England on overweight individuals proved that over a 15-day period calorie consumption was reduced by about 1000 calories a day with the use of pure South Africa Hoodia Gordonii. 

There are so many companies today that claim there product contains pure South African Hoodia Gordonii but many actually don’t because it can be so hard to export.  The only way to know for sure if you are getting the real deal is to find out if the company has proper certification or what’s known as a C.I.T.E.S (Convention on international trade in endangered species) which allows them to export the Hoodia.  This is the only form of certification out there that proves you are getting pure Hoodia Gordonii. One of the only companies out there today that has this certification if a company called Strictly Health.  They carry Hoodia in either pill or elixir form.  Their Hoodia is pure right down to the capsule there are no other ingredients or fillers involved in the making of their products.  By taking just 2 capsules about an hour before meal time you will be amazed at how the urge to eat diminishes.

There are no negative side effects by using Hoodia long term either.  You can stay on it for as long as you like.  The most common side effects you will experience are a decrease in your appetite which helps to reduce calorie consumption and promote weight loss, an increase in stamina and energy, and a sense of well being.  Many people are using Hoodia Gordonii as an effective way to lose weight more efficiently than with just diet and exercise alone.

Most of us have tried one at one point or another.   I’m talking about the latest craze when it comes to quick energy, energy drinks.  They have been around for years but over the last few years we’ve noticed an increase use of them.  From athletes who want to enhance their performance to your typical 9 to 5 employee who is trying to keep himself from falling asleep on top of his computer.  So, are they dangerous?  Are they addictive?  And who can use them? 

A couple things to know about energy drinks is that they are meant to supply the body with immediate energy by stimulating your central nervous system and blocking a chemical in your brain that causes you to become tired.  Most of them contain almost double the amount of caffeine than your morning cup of Joe but unlike coffee, they also include quite an array of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids if you find the right one. 

Depending on your own personal needs and any sleep issues you may have, energy drinks can be addictive if your body isn’t getting what it needs.  There are some out on the market that offer a steady, safe increase in energy for an extended period of time without sending you on a crash after it wears off.  Those are the ones I highly recommend and those are the ones that probably contain either little or no sugar at all. 

My suggestion for those of you with any kind of hypertension or heart issues, you may want to stick with a protein shake or something of that nature so you do not exacerbate your condition.

So what’s the big hype about energy drinks?  With so many to choose from it’s hard to know which one to buy and what to look for.  By understanding just a few key points and determining what your personal needs are, you will be able select the perfect pick me up by quickly scanning the ingredients on the back.

I’m sure most of you already watch your sugar and carb intake so it’s a no brainer when I say pick an energy drink that doesn’t contain your entire sugar intake for the day in one serving.  That means either a few grams or none at all.  Let’s face it; sugar is one of the number one addictions in this country and also a huge contributor to obesity.  Not to mention when you consume high amounts in a short period of time it sends your body on what I like to call a roller coaster ride, first you go up and then you crash hard.

But, that’s not all.  One of the most deleterious effects of “normal” aging is impaired glucose metabolism.  Failure to maintain normal sugar can trigger a cascade of ill health effects throughout the body.

Studies have shown that the consumption of foods and drinks that produce elevated blood sugar levels, result in the body’s production of advanced glycation end products(AGEs)- substances which are implicated in accelerating the aging process in blood vessels, the kidneys, and the eyes.

Vitamin B6, a water-soluble vitamin complex, supports healthy blood sugar metabolism and helps protect the body’s tissues against AGEs and oxidative stress.

In a landmark study published in the journal Diabetes Care, Scientists demonstrated for the first time that Vitamin B6 effectively reduced post-prandial endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress normally seen in patients with high blood sugar whose bodies had advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

Skinny Gazelle, the only energy drink I recommend, not only has zero sugar but also has a healthy serving of Vitamin B6 to combat this concern.

Next, always check to see what the stimulant base is and in what order it is listed.  Generally if you see caffeine, guarana, or green tea listed as the first ingredient in the energy blend it usually means you are getting a hefty dose of it.  If it’s the last ingredient in the energy blend then chances are you are getting a moderate dose but nothing that will whack you out of your mind and make you jittery.

Lastly, if you notice that your energy drink looks more like a multivitamin and primarily contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, various herbs, and enzymes then congratulations you have found one that is worth testing.

�