Christopher Shaddock   Wellness...
Over the years supplements and vitamins have grown into a billion dollar industry I myself have used various products and some had great results. Others came and went into my body like taking a laxitive or drinking way too much grape juice, or eating a box of Total cereal. Some of the best companies out there are weider (Joe Weider the godfather of fitness and supplement products) Joe has worked with such bodybuilding legends like Arnold (not attempting to write his last name) and Lou Ferrigno.

EAS is another good company that has some of the best products. But with all of that nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats a natural protein shake. Here is a lis from an article I found on what to do to make a more natural protein shake: So what kinds of ingredients make good choices for your shakes?

Try using the following tips when getting your ingredients from the supermarket or refrigerator: 1. Try to keep as many of your ingredients as natural as possible. A good example of this is using natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter. The natural version has better protein content and also natural fats that are important in your diet.

2. Fresh fruit should be used whenever possible. Fruit contains the carbohydrates that will fuel your workouts and your day. The complex sugars in fruit are important to any diet (unlike the simple sugars in sweets, sodas, etc).

3. Think about ingredients that will boost your shake's protein content. For example, you could throw a handful of nuts into the blender for a little extra protein without making the shake much thicker. You could add a few raw egg whites (if you are worried about eating raw eggs you may be able to find treated egg whites in cartons at your supermarket). You could always simply dump an extra scoop of whey powder in there as well.

4. Make sure you have enough liquids. If you get a little too carried away you may discover your shake is easier to eat with a spoon then drink from a glass. When you first start creating your shakes it is a good idea to add your liquids (water, fat-free milk, fruit juices, etc.) in stages so that you get your desired consistency.

5. Examine the nutritional information for each ingredient and consider the impact it will have on your dieting goals. For example, you may be opting for fat free (skimmed) milk if you aren't trying to gain weight.

6. Always know what your goal is and make your shakes accordingly. If you are trying to shed the fat you will be skipping the types of ingredients that add too many carbohydrates and fats while trying to increase the protein content.

7. Think of how you might create a unique flavor. You can try things like cinnamon, vanilla, honey, coconut milk, etc. Once you get the hang of this you will see the possibilities are endless. So try these tips and you will still get the effects of all the nutrients as if you were taking tons of supplements. Less expensive and much more healthier for you.
Apr 5th 2009 18:31