Superfoods, Adaptogens and Phytonutrients...OH MY!

I drink Shakeology every morning and it has made a huge difference to my life. I have more energy, I feel fuller longer, I snack less. I even lost 5lbs in the first three weeks after I started drinking it, and it was the ONLY thing I'd changed in my lifestyle.

BUT. Although I knew all the buzz words and the basic premise for what Shakeology was made from, I never really understood what any of it meant.

Here's what it says on the Shakeology website for what's in the recipe:

• More than 70 super-nutritious ingredients.
• Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals – to help reduce hunger and food cravings.
• Antioxidants and Phytonutrients – to help detoxify and protect the body against free radical damage.
• Adaptogen Herbs – to help increase energy and combat stress.
• Prebiotics, Probiotics, Fiber, and Digestive Enzymes – to aid digestion and promote regularity.

Super-nutritious ingredients is pretty clear. Protein, I understand. Vitamins and minerals, I get.

Superfoods. Phytonutrients. Adaptogens. These I wasn't really clear on.

Superfoods

While not a scientific word and more widely considered a marketing term, the Oxford Dictionary definition states a superfood is “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being." Also referred to as "dense," these foods are basically packed with nutrients.

Phytonutrients

Plant foods contain thousands of natural chemicals. These chemicals are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. ("Phyto" means plant.)

From www.whfoods.org:

Phytonutrients (also referred to as phytochemicals) are compounds found in plants. They serve various functions in plants, helping to protect the plant's vitality. For example, some phytonutrients protect the plant from UV radiation while others protect it from insect attack.

Not only do phytonutrients award benefit to the plants but they also provide benefits to those who enjoy plant food. That's because they have health-promoting properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-health-promoting activities.

Adaptogens

Definition of ADAPTOGEN (from http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

adap·to·gen noun \ə-ˈdap-tə-jən\
: a nontoxic substance and especially a plant extract that is held to increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

Adaptogens have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. They’re called adaptogens because of their ability to “adapt” their function according to the body’s specific needs.
Adaptogens have highly concentrated nutrients that can help your body cope with stress, provide energy, and maintain a strong immune system.


Basically, Shakeology is FULL of amazing nutrients and good-for-you ingredients. Really, as long as there isn't any CRAP in there, I will go by how drinking Shakeology makes me FEEL, which is AWESOME!

Here is a video on the clinical study recently conducted on Shakeology:

Interested in trying Shakeology? Send me an email!