Once in a while a product comes along that I like to describe as a game changer. I stumbled upon one of those a few months back, started using it and have been so impressed with it that I would put it in the supplement game changer category. I am my own biggest guinea pig when it comes to nutrition and supplements. I have tried them all. Over the years, research has revealed new supplements and proved or disproved the benefit of various supplements and diets. The good companies monitor this over time and create new products or improve on existing ones.
One such company Sequel Naturals, produces products geared toward vegetarians and athletes but we can all benefit from them. The product is called Vega whole food optimizer, it has recently been reformulated and the new product is called Vega One, all in one nutritional shake. They have made a few changes in the formula but it is still a great product.
There are many things I like about this product. It is a plant-based, deriving it’s proteins from plant forms such as brown rice and peas. It is also minimally allergenic as it contains no dairy, whey, gluten or corn products. It is a high protein and high fiber supplement, the original formula contains 15 grams of fiber and 26 grams of protein, and only 1 gram of sugar. It contains no artificial sweeteners. The product also contains many of the supplements I recommend on an individual basis such as omega 3s, vitamin D, probiotics, digestive enzyme and macca, a powerful herbal supplement that helps to regulate adrenal function. Finally it has a healthy dose of greens from a variety of vegetables and a powerful mixture of fruit derived antioxidants.
Gut health is one of the foundations of Anti-aging medicine. Your intestines are the barrier between your body and the outside world and the toxins that bombard us. If your gut integrity is breached, you absorb toxins that can wreak havoc on your body and accelerate aging and disease. Many of the immune functions of the body begin in the gut and the majority of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin is produced there as well. Therefore if your gut function is compromised, you tend to have lower immune function and higher rates of anxiety and depression. This product contains many of the nutrients that have been shown to promote the health and regeneration of your GI system. The fiber alone will reduce your risk of colon cancer and cholesterol levels.
I started using this product 3 months ago by incorporating into my diet on most days as a meal replacement. I put it into a blender along with some almond or coconut milk, fruit, and ice. It fills you up and tends to stay with you because of the high fiber and protein content. Like most powders, people tend to like it or hate it but this is one of the better tasting ones on the market in my opinion. I tell my patients to do what they have to do to improve the taste so they will be more likely to drink it. This could be adding some yogurt or honey or whatever else you need to do to make it more palatable to you.
In an attempt to get down to a better racing weight for my upcoming Ironman, I incorporated this product into my diet and have lost 10 pounds since January. In my next blog I will go into more detail about my seemingly new weight loss program so stay tuned. In the mean time, pick up either the whole food optimizer, if you can still find it, or the all in one shake by Sequel in your local health food store or if you are near our office stop in, as we now carry them as part of our supplement line.
Until next time, Stay Healthy and Live Well… Dr. Mike
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