The Energy Drink Blog

Choosing the right foods to snack on is very important, especially for eating properly after a workout. It is important to building lean muscle mass and quickly repair muscles. While working out, the body depletes its source of glycogen. Not replenishing your body of this will likely cause fatigue and poor performance during future workouts.

Eating snacks that are a combination of carbohydrates and protein is the ideal post workout snack.  To achieve optimum benefits from a post work out snack, the snack should be consumed 30 minutes post workout and another meal should be eaten about 2 hours after the snack. Choosing snacks that are low in sugar is also important.

As mentioned before, the ideal post work out snack is a low sugar combination of protein and carbohydrates. Some of the following snacks are not only great to help lose weight, but are also great for post workout.

1. Protein shake with fruit: Mixing up a whey protein shake with some frozen fruit after a workout may seem like a decadent treat, but this is on of many weight loss tips. As bodybuilders know, whey protein is quickly digested and absorbed into the body providing quick energy and recovery.
2. Energy drinks: Finding the best energy drink and weight pills is very important to maintain weight loss. Be careful when choosing an energy drink as most of these drinks are saturated with sugar! It is very crucial to find a drink that will send you into an energy crash after consumption, or disrupt sleep patterns at night.
3. Lean meat with cheese: You can skip the bread this time around. Enjoying a slice of lunch meat and cheese will provide essential protein and calcium post work out. Enjoying a few slices of fruit along side will also provide adequate carbohydrates and fiber to keep you feeling fuller for the rest of the day.

Fruits and vegetables are recommended staples of any well balanced diet. As of late, it seems that the public is made available to more and more exotic fruits and vegetables. Up until lately, not many people have heard of fruit such as the acai berry. However, now it is hard to avoid this berry.  Advertised in just about everything lately from energy drinks to the best diet pills, this exotic fruit boasts powerful properties. Much similar to Hoodia Gordonii , the acai berry is known to help people lose weight, and its benefits have been proclaimed by such stars as Rachel Ray.   

Like the acai berry, the goji berry has been introduced into mainstream culture. Native to Asian, subtropical regions, the goji berry grows on evergreen bushes. Used by people native to the regions of Tibet and Mongolia, for thousands and thousands of years, the goji berry has been used to treat everything from sex drive to cancer.

Similar to chemical properties as domestic fruits and vegetables, they are rich in antioxidants, particularly carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. These properties are good for eyesight and preventing the formation of “free-radical” cells. In one published study by a group of Chinese oncologists, the goji berry was shown to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Goji berries are often sold in a dried form. They have a sweet and tart taste and a texture similar to raisins. They can be consumed raw, or as a juice. Goji berries are often used in Chinese cooking as well.

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Many of us probably don’t get the recommended daily requirements when it comes to vegetables. For those that are opposed to eating them there is an easier way to consume the once boring broccoli, kale, or spinach and that technique is juicing. Juicing is quite popular in many areas of the country and has been around for years. In today’s society people are putting more emphasis on health and personal appearance. Juicing provides the body both internal and external benefits as well as an overall sense of well being.

Some of the obvious advantages of juicing are rapid absorption of nutrients such as raw enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. In fact, fresh juiced vegetables are digested and absorbed in as little as 30 minutes. This immediate assimilation can add a great deal of protection to the body and help out an unhealthy immune system. This is not the same case however when you purchase store bought juices as these may contain chemicals, preservatives and ungodly amounts of sugar.

Most fasting or cleansing programs suggest juicing as a way to detoxify the body. Green leafy vegetables are rich in a nutrient called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a natural occurring substance found in plants and algae, this is what gives the plant its natural green color. It is also chock-full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Chlorophyll can safeguard the body from various cancers as well as provide protection to our cells from free radical damage. And, if that’s not enough when you drink one of these vitamin packed green drinks you will naturally boost your energy without experiencing crash like effects from caffeine. Juicing allows us to get more vegetables in our diet by condensing them into liquid and supplying the body with a substantial amount of nutrition.

So how easy is it to juice and how long should you do it for? Well if you purchase a high-quality juicer from a reputable retailer, juicing can be very easy for anyone. Not only will you get a lifetime of use out of it, you will also get a lifetime of proper nutrition. As for how long or how often, well you can do it periodically for cleansing purposes or for various health issues, or incorporate it as a daily part of your routine. Many health food stores are now offering juice bars for those that don’t have the time but still want the health benefits that it has to offer.  In fact, it’s just as easy to order fresh vegetable juice in some places as it is to order a cup of coffee.

The most common vegetables juiced are, spinach, kale, endive, cucumbers, parsley, bok choi, garlic, ginger, wheatgrass, watercress, broccoli, and various herbs. If these sounds a bit intense at first try adding in an apple or a pear to sweeten things up a little and you will be amazed at how delicious your once loathed vegetables taste. Another important thing to know is that you should always buy organically grown vegetables whenever possible. Organically grown vegetables and fruits are grown without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or genetically modified organisms and are much healthier for you and contain a higher nutrient content. If you can’t find organic produce in your grocery store make sure you sanitize your vegetables thoroughly to remove any residues before consuming.

Everyday we expose ourselves to dangerous chemicals, toxins, and pollutants by simply going about our daily lives.  What if a majority of that exposure came from the foods you ate?  Would you do something about it to reduce your risk of various health related issues?  Here are five reasons to benefit by eating organic everyday.

Probably the most significant reason of them all is to reduce the levels of toxins, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones and antibiotics you ingest by eating produce and meat that is certified USDA organic.  Not only are these substances harmful for the body but studies have shown that they increase your risk of a variety of cancers and a host of other health problems.  If you consume produce that is not organically grown one way to reduce your risk of pesticide ingestion is to peel your fruit or vegetables because most of the pesticides and chemicals don’t penetrate the skin.  The down side to peeling your fruits and vegetables is that a majority of the nutrient content is lost when you discard the skin.  It is also very crucial to choose organic dairy, poultry, and meat whenever possible due to the high levels of hormones and antibiotics detected in the meat.  If the animal is injected with these substances then you are also ingesting them as well.  You will increase your risk of cancer, obesity, birth defects, and weaken your immune system by eating animal protein that has been injected with artificial growth hormones.

The next important thing to note is that by consuming organic foods you are increasing the nutrient content of the food by about 50%.  With increased nutritional content your body will respond with more energy and a reduced risk of illness.  Something else to keep in mind is that food that has been organically grown is also richer in taste.  With over 10,000 taste buds on your tongue, sacrificing taste would be such a shame.

Going green is a big concern for out planet so by choosing organically grown food you are also helping to lower the negative impact that mass produced fruits and vegetables have on our earth. By choosing food without the use of pesticides, chemicals or toxins you are reducing the amount of pollution to our environment.  Organic farmers also use less energy and water to grow their crops and do not have the need to clutter landfills up with toxic waste.  Helping to save our planet is a big concern these days.  Supporting local farmers and growers is one way we can help do our part.

Another great reason to make the switch is that organic foods are easier to find than they use to be.   Now even in your local grocery chain you can find an organic produce, meat, seafood, dairy, and dry good section.  In the state of Florida the major chain of grocery stores is Publix.  They carry a specific line of organic foods called “Greenwise”.  The next time you enter your local market ask a store manager where the organic food section is and you will be amazed at the selection they provide.

Lastly, you should choose to eat organic to protect the future generations to come.  If we all pitch in to do our part we can protect our children and our families from serious health issues by preserving the quality of the air, land, and water from dangerous pollutants.