I must admit, the first time I ingested Matcha Green Tea it was in my Elevate Me nutrition bar. The health benefits of matcha tea exceed those of green tea because when you drink matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water. One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content. It is rich in antioxidants and chlorophyll and is shown to enhance mood. Another benefit is that it has a rating of zero on the glycemic index; therefore it will not raise your insulin levels.

I cannot even begin to list off the thousands of health benefits there are to this next fruit, but it truly is Bananas (pun intended)! This yellow, half moon shaped super food, has been shown to reduce depression by improving mood. Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function. Due to their content in fibre, they help restore a normal bowel function. Banana’s help with eyesight protection, aid in bone and kidney health, and the absorption of calcium. Lastly, bananas are extremely high in potassium, yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high blood pressure.

I’ll be honest and tell you that Papaya is not on my weekly shopping list, but I am starting to reconsider that because it is an amazingly rich source of the proteolytic enzymes. These are the chemicals that enable the digestion of protein. Thank goodness I can get a source of Papaya in my Elevate Me energy bar! Papaya is also a great source of magnesium, and potassium.

This next fruit I often use to make a quick Salsa to put on fish. Mango! This amazingly delicious fruit is high in Iron, helps relieve clogged pores, combats poor digestion, helps protect against heart disease, and contains phenols which have a powerful antioxidant and anticancer abilities.

Nothing taste better than a good old fashioned Blueberry pie! That must be because Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit. These berries neutralize free radicals in the body which can affect disease and aging in the body. They also aid in reducing belly fat, brain health, promote urinary tract health, preserve vision, help cure heart disease, helps constipation and digestion, and reduce the risk of cancers!

If you have never heard of Goji Berry, listen up! The Goji contains more beta carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach, and more vitamin C than an orange. Goji has a long history of treating eye problems, skin rashes, allergies, chronic liver disease and tuberculosis. Who knew?

Last but certainly not least, I give you one of my absolute favorites, Cocoa! Chocolate and cocoa derive their health benefits from flavonoids, which are plant pigments capable of acting as antioxidants to counteract some of the cellular damage that can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Cocoa powder has also been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow in humans.

I hope you found my last two blogs very informative! Now we just need to educate the rest of the world because there are way too many processed foods out there. Until next time,

Nicola Gildersleeve
Athlete Ambassador/ Trail Runner

But are you getting enough protein?

Protein is the building block of muscle, so you’re protein requirements will increase with any form of training. A lack of protein will result in muscles loss, a weaker immune system, slower recovery time and less energy.

Try this simple calculator: The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight or 56 grams of protein a day for the average male and 46 grams for the average female. For people with an active lifestyle the protein requirements jump to 1.7 grams of protein per kilo of bodyweight. If you want to build muscle as fast as possible, you will need at least 2.5 grams of protein per kilo of bodyweight.

Why Whey?

Whey protein contains amino acids such as leucine which increases protein synthesis and speeds up recovery time. Studies have also shown that whey protein increases cellular glutathione levels. Glutathione is an antioxidant that combats free radicals in the body and helps reduce the risk cancer.

Now for the fun stuff!

Here at Elevate Me! We are running a contest for the best Elevate Me! picture. The first 3 people to send in a picture of you and your Elevate Me! bar doing any of the fantastic sports you enjoy, be it yoga, running or simply walking in Lynn Canyon will receive a box of Elevate Me! bars.

Start sending in those awesome pictures now!!

Email them to marketing@prosnack.com

Coreylee
Marketing Manager