Clean nutrition and a balanced diet, along with staying physically active, go a long way in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy foods in particular will help you maintain your mental and physical health. It not only keeps your weight in check, but also improves mood and sleep, among other things.
One of the main challenges in making consistently healthy food choices is lack of time when it comes to shopping for and preparing dishes with healthy ingredients. That’s why today we’ll focus on a couple of our products made from healthy natural ingredients that require little to no preparation time.
Note that these are not meant to be meal replacements, and we still encourage you to put in the effort to make sure at least half of your daily diet consists of freshly prepared ingredients. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our meal planning article.
Protein Powders
Taking protein powders before and after workouts will fuel your muscles while doing exercises and will help in muscle recovery during the resting phase.
Pre-workout protein shakes are a popular and speedy way of taking in amino acids that your muscle cells will be using during strenuous physical activity. It can be as simple as adding protein powder to water - which gives the added benefit of fast and easy digestion, while keeping you hydrated during the workout.
The protein meal you consume after the workout can and should include some carbohydrates - which are needed to replenish the glycogen stores in your muscles. So get creative with some recipes that feature fresh fruits and vegetables.
Protein powders are also a great way to add some extra protein to dishes that are otherwise lacking in this macronutrient. Desserts come to mind!
Unflavored protein powders are a popular choice here, since they don’t impact the overall taste of the dish, and in particular Zen Principle protein powders are single-ingredient only and contain no additional flavourings, sweeteners or any other additives.
While Whey Protein has been the go to choice for protein shakes, in recent years organic plant-based protein powders have been growing in popularity. We make our protein powders from Peas and Brown Rice, both of which are Certified Organic.
Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides
Another popular form of protein powder are Collagen Peptides. In addition to the benefits that regular protein powders give, Collagen goes a step further. Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins found in the human body. It is present in connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and skin. Collagen performs many important functions in the body such as strengthening the muscles and bones and providing skin structure. Hydrolyzed collagen is the best form of collagen to consume, since it’s available in broken-down form and is easily absorbed by our digestive systems.
Here are couple of starting points to check out when consuming collagen:
- Supplementing Collagen: Beginner's Guide
- Marine Collagen vs Grass-Fed Beef Collagen: Which to Choose and Why
- How to Add Collagen to Your Coffee
- How Long Does It Take for Collagen Supplements to Work?
- 8 Collagen Benefits for Men To Achieve Holistic Wellness
Superfoods
While this is a controversial term used too often in questionable marketing claims, there is no denying that some foods have an exceptionally high nutrient density. That is, the amount of beneficial nutrients in a food product in proportion to its overall energy content and/or weight. Below are some of the foods that pack quite a nutritious punch!
Moringa Leaf Powder
Moringa leaf powder contains healthy micronutrients such as vitamin A, Riboflavin, calcium, folate, potassium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, Vitamin B3, B6, and B1. It contains very low fats and contains only LDL cholesterol.
We’ve already discussed the benefits that consuming Moringa has on men or mom’s who are breastfeeding. But the truth is, Moringa is a great food for just about anyone and can easily be added to a variety of shakes, soups, desserts and it can even be consumed as tea!
For those that are particularly in a rush, but still want to reap the benefits of Moringa, we provide Organic Moringa Leaf Capsules.
Beetroot Powder
The humble beet is no slouch when it comes to nutrition! It’s packed with many essential minerals, vitamins and other phytonutrients. It’s also a highly recommended food for diabetics.
In its powder form, beetroot provides all the benefits of consuming it, without the hassle of preparation. Just be sure to pick a powder that’s made from fresh beetroot, not beet juice.
Zen Principle Organic Beetroot Powder is USDA-certified organic and made in the USA.
Beef Liver Capsules
Last but not least, beef liver is already renowned as a nutritious powerhouse. The trouble is that people generally do not like the taste of beef liver, nor do they enjoy preparing fresh liver. That’s why we’ve decided to develop an alternative in the form of Beef Liver Capsules, which are made only from fresh livers of grass-fed cows that live on the open pastures of Argentina.
Whichever of the above natural ingredients you choose to bolster your dietary plan, always remember that the foundation of any healthy diet are freshly prepared whole foods.
