Posts Tagged ‘Natural Sugars’

Bananacavo Energy Smoothie

March 24th, 2010

Let’s say you’re an athlete. You’re not a professional by any means, but you get out there a few times a week and really build up a sweat. Maybe you run, maybe you play a team sport, or maybe you just hit the weights and give your muscles a good thrashing.

Regardless, you come home happy but tired. You’ve left it all out on the court or the path or the gym floor, and you have no energy left. You know you should eat something, but man, it’s tempting to just flop down in the chair and relax. Who wants to spend a bunch of time in the kitchen preparing a tasty snack at that point?

So, maybe you reach for one of those chocolate bars that tosses a bit of protein into the mix and calls itself an “energy bar”. Sure, you get some fuel for your system, and it’s easy, but is it really what you want to put into your body? What if I told you there was a simple and easy snack that would take less than three minutes to prepare, but would give you an amazing amount of energy, help repair those overworked muscles, and taste great to boot?

That, my friends, is the beauty of the Bananacavo Energy Smoothie. Not only does it have a great name, it has a taste to match, and benefits beyond your expectations.

First of all, let’s go through the ingredients…

First, you have bananas. If you have seen a marathon or even run in one, you know that pretty much the only solid food they hand out at the water stations are bananas. Not only are they nice and mushy (so very easy to eat), but they are full of all sorts of things that a hard-working runner needs – right now. There is a ton of potassium in bananas, and potassium goes straight to your poor muscles, helping to break down the pockets of lactic acid that build up in your overworked muscles.

That lactic acid is what brings the pain, so bananas are like aspirin for your legs on a long run, and you’ll be thankful for it later. But on top of that, bananas contain natural sugars that help to fuel your body right now, rather than later. The mushy texture means that those sugars are digested quicker, and are available to your body faster. All good things, when you’re working that hard.

The other main ingredient in this smoothie is avocado. This fleshy green fruit might not be your first choice to pair with bananas, but the fats contained within are truly beneficial to the hard working body. These healthy fats are essential to maintaining proper health, and besides, they taste great.

To make the Bananacado Energy Smoothie, combine a whole, peeled banana with a half of the flesh of an average sized avocado in a blender. To complete the mix, add in a cup of cold water, the juice of half of an orange, a pinch of salt and a handful of previously soaked and softened almonds. Blend until smooth, and consume immediately.

I guarantee you, you’ve never tasted anything like this before, and once you go Bananacado, you’ll never go back.

How to Eat Vegan and Have More Energy

March 20th, 2010

It is amazing how many people are willing to adapt to new technology in health and sports, but are still doing things the old fashioned way when it comes to the nutritional aspect of their well-being.

We buy pedometers and heart rate monitors; we run in the latest and newest innovations in shoes; but before we work out, we still slam back heavy foods; during, we consume sugary drinks and thick, viscous gel packs; afterwards, we gorge on fat and processed junk.

Sure, eating vegan would me much healthier, but the common misconception is that a vegan diet would be lacking in much of the energy-providing foodstuffs that a regular diet would provide. After all, eating vegan means limiting your intake so drastically, that you’re left with nothing but fruits and vegetables, right?

Wrong. A vegan diet can actually improve your athletic prowess, by providing you with the energy you never thought you could get from such basic and delicious foods.

Nuts are one of the best snacks you can have when you’re out on the run. Absolutely portable and incredibly easy to control for portions, you can have a handful of almonds in a bag in your pocket at all times, ready for when the munchies hit or your energy levels start to drop. Leave the energy bars at home, and load up on nuts instead.

Water is essential to having more energy, and the ultimate vegan food. While many of us take a pull on an electrolyte-enhanced drink or even a cup of coffee, we are getting the fluidity of the water but weighing it down with additives that you body could do without. Staying hydrated while you work is a sure way to get more out of your body, no matter what you are doing.

Goji berries have gotten a lot of press lately for their phenomenal health properties, one of which is the quick energy their natural sugars can provide you. In their dried form, these little wonders can go anywhere with you, and give you a quick burst of energy when you need it most.

Hummus and pita might sound like a fancy appetizer, but in actual fact, it is the best possible snack food you can find for during a prolonged workout. This tasty treat is light, which means you won’t feel the weight of it, sending you into cramps when the workout gets tough. But for all the lightness and flavor, you will find a ton of energy – so much so, that many ultra-marathon runners chose this as their on-the-run snack.

Strawberries can also help to give you energy without leaving the vegan track. Rich in vitamins and flavor, these berries are also calorie-neutral, which means that you get the sugars and vitamins, without having to worry about burning off the excess calories.

After you’re finished your workout, kale is a great choice to recoup some of the power you’ve burned off. For ease of eating, you can make a delicious green smoothie that will do more for you than the oft-recommended chocolate milk could ever dream of.