Welcome to HeaveninHealth’s Outdoors’ health week where this discussion lies in discussing healthy foods such as protein shakes and snacks that represent the benefits of an outdoor friendly substitute. With it being the Fall, many are taking advantage of the activities that deal with the opt outside method before the Winter cold gets here. Activities such as hiking, running, sight-seeing, etc. are being taken advantage of not only because of the beautiful weather but also because of the gorgeous scenery that Fall brings to the table.
Now, in order to maximize your efficiency and gain proper nutrients throughout activities such as the ones listed above, it is ideal that there is a replenishment for your body. When dealing with a casual exercise or outdoor activity, it is very easy to forget to not pack essentials that can help gear you into gaining the sustained energy required for such recreation. When dealing with the outdoors, not everyone has the capability of having a full-blown picnic or the time to pop a squat for an hour, sometimes the best result is to stash a couple of bars that can keep you going. When looking for the right bars to take with you, you always want to look for the ones with plenty of protein, good fats, and carbs in order to keep your energy up longer. Grams of Fiber is also a great beneficiary when looking.
Bars such as CLIF bars, Larabar’s, Vega bars, and general protein bars are the right way to go through the process of finding the right tasty treat for you throughout a specified activity. CLIF bars use whole, organic ingredients aimed at providing activity-goers with sustained energy, one of the best rated flavors is the White Chocolate macadamia, which only contains a little over 200 calories with 9 grams of protein. Vega bars offer clean plant based diet nutritional bars and their popular Vega one bar contains 15 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and also Omega-3 which is a very important component with a lot of health benefits. Larabar’s are also a great go-to as it is a gluten-free energy bar made from minimal ingredients. Each bar has no more than nine ingredients and are made up of fruit, nuts and spices with a whole array of flavors.
When it comes to bars targeted more on the protein side, a great array of products include Powercrunch, One, and Quest bars. These bars range from 15-25 grams per bar and can leave a lasting effect once consumed, which leads to more production and gets you to a filling state. Protein bars are a fast and convenient way to get more protein in your system – which can increase protein synthesis, muscle mass and help keep fat off. Now if you’re not a fan of any type of bars there is a great substitute that fills in for a health and hearty snack. Protein chips have become readily available from companies such as Quest, IWON Organics, and other notable companies. Protein chips can range from 15-25 grams of protein per bag and also contains fiber. Who ever thought eating chips could be of benefit!
All the assortments listed above for the most part are able to be found at any local supermarket, fresh market, and retail market such as GNC and Vitamin Shoppe. For the most part, retail has many deals for products such as these so buying singles or in bulk can be affordable throughout the right seasons.
Post workout/activity is incredibly important as your body needs fuel to recover. There’s a window after a session of activity that lasts 30-45 minutes, where your body looks for replenishment through carbohydrates and protein to help with the rebuilding of muscle. This is called the anabolic window and it is very important when pertaining to nourishment after any activity. For example, if hiking was the main activity that someone was getting involved in, this would require a lot of walking. Hiking has an outstanding array of benefits such as lowering risk of heart disease, improving blood pressure, building strength in glutes, quads, hamstrings and more. The reason I bring that up is because once you are done with an activity such as this, your body looks for recovery and nourishment.
Protein shakes and personally one of my favorites, Acai bowls are a great go-to post activity. Down below I have the recipe of my favorite acai bowl and what it contains so much so that anyone is able to make it a at home as a beneficial post snack that gets you feeling great! But first let’s talk about the health benefits of protein shakes and why it is a staple for many after any sort of activity.
Now there are different types of protein that can fit anyone’s specific interest and I recommend going to a place such as GNC or any local nutrition and supplemental store to get help on finding what fits you and your desires. Questions that may be asked can deal with – if you’re trying to lose weight or gain weight? Mass gainers, thermogenic protein or just regular whey is out there. Is vegan protein a better option in terms of what you are looking for? Are you looking for a regular whey protein(concentrate, Isolate, or hydrosolate) that is low in carbs, sugars, high in branched chain amino acids or anything else? Finding the right protein matters and detrimental to accomplish what you are looking to accomplish. Why protein? Protein promotes muscle growth, can lower blood pressure, reduce risks of diabetes, reduce inflammation, and may even enhance the body’s antioxidant defense. Protein also can help you lose weight and reduce hunger.
In terms of Acai bowls, it is a great and delicious way in gaining nutrients and antioxidants that are very beneficial. Bowls are one of my favorite snacks and one of my favorite snacks to enjoy outdoors, in a way you sort of feel connected with the outside world as it makes you feel re-energized and feeling right!
The ingredients for a homemade acai bowl contain - 1 packet(100 mg) packet of frozen acai berry, one frozen banana, ¼ cup of non-dairy milk or yogurt, and to top it off fresh berries of your choosing, coconut, and granola. Instructions to make it - you need to acquire a high-powered blender in which you will combine the acai berry packet, frozen banana and ¼ cup of silk dairy-free milk (your preference on milk is completely fine, a good substitute can be Greek yogurt or dairy-free milk). From there pour into bowl and top with berries, coconut, a hint of honey and/or granola and that’s it! A great tasty snack that not only makes you feel great but contains nourishment for your body! This is not the only mix that can be made, there are plenty of different bowls that contain different ingredients to follow your exact preference on what suits you best.
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