bars. Pacari chocolates crafts single-origin raw chocolate bars, while
Gnosis chocolates has mixed raw cacao into everything from bars, truffles and trail mix to body care and supplements.
Kamut. Whole grains provide energizing power, and one such ingredient standout is Kamut, a nonhybridized ancient wheat (think the
way our ancestors ate wheat). Complete with energizing nutrients like
B vitamins and magnesium for sustained energy (B’s give us a boost
while magnesium relaxes us and helps turn off our internal stress response), whole grains also contain fiber, which means the body has to
engage its entire digestive system to access the energy from the grain.
The end result is efficient, clean energy. Products that feature Kamut
include Kirkland Nature’s Path Ancient Grains Granola and Eden
Kamut swirls.
Hemp. Optimal energy for vegetarians requires attention to nutri-
ent balance and that’s where hemp delivers. A key element to eating
for optimal energy is nutrient balance, and that means not overdoing
it on carbohydrates in the name of getting sufficient protein. Hemp
offers the only complete plant protein that
doesn’t contain carbohydrates; moreover,
hemp provides an excellent source of es-
sential fatty acids (omega- 3’s and 6’s,
including the valuable gamma
linoleic acid), so it’s the perfect part-
ner to quality plant carbohydrates
and nonstarchy vegetables for any
veggie eating occasion. Some cool products that incorporate hemp
are Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts and Hemp Pro 70, Nutiva
unsweetened hemp milk, Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola and 22
Days’ vegan protein bar line, which uses organic hemp protein.
Organic Dairy. Organic dairy offers the benefits (protein, fatty
acids) of dairy without the concerns (antibiotics, hormones), and a
key benefit is enabling sustained energy. A rich source of
protein, organic low-fat and whole dairy also provide fatty
acids that help provide the body with energy-sustaining nutrition. For example, organic dairy provides a higher
amount of the fatty acid CLA (conjugated linoleic acid),
known for supporting muscles as well as
fat burning. Also, recent research shows
that full-fat dairy may be the nutrition upgrade for combating infertility, male
teenage acne and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The theory is, when we eliminate fat completely, not only do we get
an energy imbalance with greater amounts of carbohydrates, but also
the loss of the fat changes the hormonal balance of the dairy, which
can impact hormone regulation in the body. Green Valley Organics
makes lactose-free dairy products, including kefir, yogurt and sour
cream. Stonyfield Farms Oikos organic Greek yogurt and Clover Organics butter are other great sources of these key fats.
22 Days’ Bar with Hemp Protein
Green Valley Lactose-Free Dairy
Core Health
Our digestive system rules our emotions; there’s more serotonin
here than in our brains. It dictates
our immune health—the gut-associ-ated lymphatic system plays a key role
in immune health as does the microbial balance (good and bad bacteria).
It affects our skin health; when toxins
aren’t properly eliminated, the skin,
the body’s other excretory organ, attempts to remove them, often resulting in irritated skin. It is also key to
our energy levels; without proper digestion, allocation and elimination of
nutrients, our energy levels suffer, as
well as our weight. Proper digestion
affects everything from belly fat to
overall body composition and the
ability to lose fat. These ingredients
help keep the digestive system performing optimally:
Chia Seeds. Black and white chia
seeds offer an excellent source of
fiber to help clear out
waste, aid in feeling full
and create a welcome environment for good bacteria. Plus, chia provides
a good source of fatty
acids, including omega
3’s, and is a good vegan
source of calcium. Chia’s
gelling property protects
its nutrients as well as
helps slow the rate at
which carbohydrates
are broken down
into sugar, so when added to carbohy-
drate-rich foods, it can help lower the
food’s overall glycemic load. All this
plus the fact that chia does well at
high heats (baking, cooking) and
doesn’t require grinding (like flax) to
access nutrients make this seed a new
favorite ingre-
dient for many
organic prod-
ucts. Some
products that
incorporate
chia include
the new func-
tional bever-
age Mamma
Mamma Chia
Vitality Beverage
Mary’s Gone Cracker’s
Love Cookies
