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The foodie

Hyland's Restful Legs - Product Review

Hyland's sent me their restful legs product to review. Although I normally don't suffer from restful legs I sometimes have a hard time getting comfortable in bed so I said why not give it a try. I actually found that it help me get comfortable so that I was able to fall asleep.

According to their website  the product "Calms agitated legs so you can rest."

What is restless leg syndrome?

"It’s that creepy-crawly feeling, when your legs itch and you have a compulsion to move, them especially while lying down, sleeping, or sitting still for long periods. During times like these, you can feel really isolated and frustrated. Hyland’s Restful Legs offers relief for the uncontrollable urge to move your legs,* made with natural, active ingredients and no aspirin, acetominophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. Our gentle, safe medicine has no known drug interactions. There’s no need to suffer anymore."

Hyland's Restful Legs does not treat Restless Legs Syndrome.  If you suspect that you have this condition, please consult a physician.

Thank you Hyland's for sending me this product. If you guys are interested in it. You can find more information on their website:

http://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-restful-legs

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.*

Hyland's DEFEND Severe Cold & Flu - Review

Hyland's sent me their product Defend Severe Cold & Flu. Because I don't get sick very often I have not had a chance to try it. But like any of their products I can assure you that it most likely will help to aid in reducing symptoms.

The packaging is nice and I like that it comes in single serve packets.

According to Hyland's "When a bad bug has you bedridden, there is nothing like a nice, hot cup of Hyland’s DEFEND^TMSevere Cold & Flu. It tastes like honey and lemon, and fights the symptoms of cold and flu naturally. This safe, natural homeopathic medicine is formulated for severe cold and flu symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, fever, chills and body ache. So stay warm, get cozy and sip your symptoms away, with Hyland’s DEFEND^TM Severe Cold & Flu."

They say that it "Temporarily relieves the symptoms of severe cold and flu including the early onset of flu, runny nose and nasal congestion, sore, hoarse throat, cough, headache and body ache, fatigue, fever and chills."

Active Ingredients:

Each packet contains 160 mg of:
Aconitum 6X HPUS - Sore throat, cough
Anas Barbariae Hepatis et Cordis Extractum 200C HPUS - Early onset flu, including fever, chills and body aches
Bryonia 6X HPUS - Headache, fatigue, fever
Eupatorium Perfoliatum 6X HPUS - Fever with chills, body ache, headache
Euphrasia Officinalis 6X HPUS - Nasal congestion, runny nose, cough
Gelsemium Sempervirens 6X HPUS - Hoarse throat, fatigue, fever
Kali lodatum 6X HPUS - Headache, sore throat
“HPUS” indicates the active ingredients are in the official HomeopathicPharmacopoeia of the United States.

Inactive Ingredients
Citric Acid USP, Fructose, Honey Powder, Lactose N.F., Natural Color, Natural Flavors, Silicon Dioxide (absorbs moisture).

If you want to find out more information or where to buy you can visit them at: http://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-defendtm-severe-cold-flu

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.*

Hyland's Arnica - Product Review

Ive been a fan of arnica for quite some time. So when Hyland's  asked me to review their product of course I said yes.

What is Arnica?

Active Ingredient | Purpose:

Arnica Montana 30X HPUS: bruising, swelling, stiffness, muscle soreness and pain.

"HPUS" indicates that the active ingredients are in the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.

Inactive Ingredients: Acacia Gum, Lactose N.F.

Arnica temporarily relieves the symptoms of muscle pain, soreness, bruising and swelling due to injuries and overexertion.

I found the Hyland's arnica to be the perfect size pills and it gave me lots of servings. If you work out a lot and suffer from sore muscles, brushing and injuries I highly recommend using Arnica because I find it very helpful.

Hyland's Arnica 30x is the smart choice for relieving both everyday pain or acute injury.* Our new pain relief formula speeds your recovery from injuries and trauma. You can even take it before activity to minimize pain later. Arnica 30x relieves pain from joint & muscle soreness, bruising, swelling, stiffness, back ache, fatigue and inflammation.

For more information on Arnica montana, visit www.arnica.com

For more information on their arnica you can visit their site:

http://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-arnica-30x

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.*

Hyland's Leg Cramps - Product Review

I was recently asked to try Hyland's Leg Cramps to review. Firstly, I have always been a fan of Hyland and homeopathic products. After my breast augmentation my surgeon recommend I take Arnica. I still take it to this day as I bruise easily and train so hard. Anyway, I quickly said yes.

According to Hylands  information about their product:

• At the onset of symptoms for fast-acting relief of leg, calf and foot cramps
• Strong and effective pain relief
• No stomach discomfort
• No aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxenUses: Temporarily relieves the symptoms of stiffness, pains in limbs, joints, legs and cramps in calves, feet and legs.

   

  Active Ingredients | Purposes:

  Cinchona Officinalis 3X HPUS: pains in limbs & joints
  Aconitum Napellus 6X HPUS: pains in joints, legs
  Gnaphalium Polycephalum 3X HPUS: cramps in calves & feet
  Ledum Palustre 6X HPUS: pain and cramps in legs
  Magnesia Phosphorica 6X HPUS: cramps in calves
  Rhus Toxicodendron 6X HPUS: pain and stiffness
  Viscum Album 3X HPUS: pains in joints

  “HPUS” indicates the active ingredients are in the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.

  I actually suffer from leg cramps especially when I am prepping for a show. I find this product to be highly beneficial and it works really well. I would recommend it to anyone who suffers from leg cramps.

   

  http://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-leg-cramps

• *Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.*

Genuine Health - Fermented organic gut superfoods+ - Product Review

Genuine health is known for their high quality health food products. I was recently sent their Genuine Health - Fermented organic gut superfoods+ - product for review. I always include greens and superfoods in my diet so I was happy to try it.

Overall I was very impressed with the packaging. It clearly tells you what the product is and does. It also is very clearly written on the front that it contains 22 fermented plant-based superfoods and prebiotics to nourish a healthy gut. The flavour that they sent was Summer Berry. And it is dairy free, soy free, gluten free and even vegan.

According to their website:

Using the latest research available on the gut microbiome, we have created the ultimate prebiotic gut superfood – fermented organic gut superfoods+ is the ONLY prebiotic superfood that packs a 1-2-3 punch!

1 – Made from 21 organic plant-based superfoods that are rich in phytonutrients called polyphenols, which not only feed our gut microbes, but have synergistic benefits with them, too!

2 – Easy-to-tolerate source of prebiotic fibre that helps to feed “good” bacteria and won’t irritate the gut – or cause bloating.

3 – Fully-fermented, amplifying the plant nutrients and improving digestion.

The health of the gut is crucial to our overall health. Research is finding new evidence to support this all the time. But to nourish your gut and body completely, a probiotic alone often isn’t enough.

Did you know that the International Association for Probiotics and Prebioticsrecommends a minimum daily intake of 5 grams of prebiotics? And for good reason! Prebiotics help to improve gut health by:

✓ Encouraging the growth of gut bacteria
✓ Improving digestion
✓ Enhancing mineral absorption

But not all prebiotics are created equal. The majority of prebiotics on the market today have their downsides:

✘ Many feed both the “good” and the “bad” bacteria in our guts
✘ Many lead to uncomfortable gas and bloating, and can irritate the gut lining
✘ And most don’t offer nutritive benefits

Nutritional research has come a long way. One of the most exciting recent discoveries is that the plant foods that provide our bodies with nutrition from phytonutrients are also good for our gut ecology. Polyphenols are a type of phytonutrient known to contribute to overall health and slow the aging process – and research has recently identified that polyphenols contribute to gut health, too.

"Genuine Health has perfected the art of the fermentation process – we use artisanal methods of fermentation and we know precisely when to stop the process to ensure peak phytonutrient potency.

Then we add a fermented fiber that is easy to tolerate – so you get all of the benefits of a prebiotic fiber and none of the bloating."

It does mix very well. And overall I was impressed with the taste. It does however have around 11g of carbs. And if you are dieting like me for a body building competition or counting your macros this needs to be accounted for.

Overall it seemed to help with digestion because I was a little bit hungrier throughout the day vs when I did not include it in my diet.

If you are interested in finding out more you can visit their website:

http://www.genuinehealth.com/store/fermented-organic-gut-superfoods#.WigNx7YZMdU

Raymond James Partners with Umind.ca To Help Deliver Canada's Premiere Online Resource for Child & Youth Mental Health Care Professionals

SOURCE Raymond James Ltd.

Topical Edge Lotion - Product Review

I was recently sent the Topical Edge Lotion to review. I thought this would be great considering that I am in prep and how hard I train on a daily basis. And this is a pain reliving athletic lotion.

Performance & Recovery Lotion

"Topical Edge's clinically proven PR Lotion helps you train harder, go faster, push longer and recover quicker. Use it every time you suit up. You’ll feel stronger and your muscles will feel better afterwards, so you can hit it again tomorrow."

Both my boyfriend and I tried it. We found for it to have an instant cooling effect that provides immediate relief of pain. Even just the action of the lotion getting rubbed into the muscle provides immediate improvement of pain symptoms.

Topical Edge Performance & Recovery Lotion is powered by menthol and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Menthol is approved by the FDA as safe and effective when used according to the label. Baking soda is a commonly consumed ingredient in food, toothpaste, and antacids.

Topical Edge Performance & Recovery Lotion is comprised of pharmaceutical grade ingredients sourced from certified suppliers. Topical Edge PR Lotion contains: menthol (0.5%), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), water, isopropyl palmitate, lecithin, poloxamer 407, denatured alcohol, benzyl alcohol, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, caprylic/capric triglycerides, lippia citriodora flower extract, sorbic acid, and sodium hydroxide.

Topical Edge Performance & Recovery Lotion allows you to workout harder and recover faster thanks to the main ingredient sodium bicarbonate (which is simply baking soda). Topical Edge PR delivers sodium bicarbonate directly to working muscles in order to reduce the workout burn, and feel better the next day. Here's more info on how it works.

Topical Edge PR is available in a 5 workout box for $20 at www.topicaledge.com.

I would highly recommend this product to those of you who workout hard and want to manage muscle soreness and injuries.

Spokes - Air Puffed Potato Snack

I recently was sent Spokes air puffed potato snacks to try. Luckily they caught me just before I got back on to prep and could try them. Holy moly were they amazing! They would be a great snack for someone on a diet and watching their calories. They taste like a potato chip meets cheesie.

The best part about they is that they are a light and crunchy potato snack that is air-puffed {never oil fried}. They are lightly oil-misted and seasoned for a naturally delicious clean and crisp taste experience.

They had simple ingredients as well.  I love products that have simply ingredients. They satisfy your crunch craving and taste great. I was sampled bbq and salt and vinegar.

They really are a great guilt free treat and they are Canadian. And are probably one of the best healthy snack on the market today and Ive tried a lot.

“Created by a Canadian Mom who wanted a Better-For-You (BFY) snack for her family, SPOKES was born as a result of many years’ work refining product development and consumer research. We’re naturally curious, and are always experimenting with new things. With an emphasis on wholesome, naturally simple ingredients and great taste, we set out to create a delicious snack the whole family can love. The new brand is quickly gaining traction with extremely positive consumer response so far, and for good reason,” says Dave Pullar, CEO of Left Field Foods. “Selective about everything we do, we listened carefully to our customer. This is at the heart of our commitment to excellence and the driving force behind what we do every day – from sourcing simple, quality ingredients, to our product innovation and production processes, to ensuring consumer satisfaction – and above all, creating a naturally delicious taste experience for families to enjoy, without all the bad stuff,” says Pullar.

SPOKES air-puffed potato snacks typically retail $3.99 for a regular size bag, and are already available across Canada in most natural, conventional and independent grocery and drugstore retailers including: Whole Foods, Kardish, Goodness Me!, Planet Organic, Blush Lane, Safeway, Sobeys (Western Canada), Thrifty Foods, Metro (Quebec), London Drugs and Bed Bath & Beyond. For more information on where to find SPOKES, please visit spokes.ca

About Left Field Foods

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Left Field Foods is a high-growth snack food company focused on helping savvy snackers eat and feel better, today and tomorrow. The company develops innovative, naturally delicious products with Great Taste from the Ground UpÔ that appeal to consumers’ growing preference for great tasting, Better-For-You (BFY) products made with naturally simple ingredients. For additional information, please visit: leftfieldfoods.ca

For more information visit www.spokes.ca

Hey Guys!

I was recently sent the Super Human Elite Post Recovery Formula to try. It can be found at: https://www.superhumanstrength.com/pages/recovery-protein-hydration-formula  

"Intense sports and workouts deplete your body of what it needs. It's because of this that we created our Recovery Formula. This formula will put the necessary protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, electrolytes and vitamins that your body wants after an intense workout or game. Our Recovery formula has been designed with intensity in mind."

As I was just beginning my prep I was able to try it. I also gave it to my boyfriend to try. The flavour that they sent us was "Crushed Berry."

My first impression was that the container was sharp looking and unique vs other brands and products. Its tall and slender and its very easy to see the writing on the packaging.

According to their website:

"Our Elite Series Recovery Protein Formula was created out of a need by strength coaches in professional sports. Due to many professional sports signing on to NSF Certification (This makes sure there are no banned substances in the products) strength coaches haven’t had a many choices for safe products to choose from that were also natural. SuperHuman Recovery is an NSF Certified for Sport product that has been formulated using natural ingredients to allow the body to recover from a high intensity workout and provide the body all of the protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, electrolytes and vitamins that it wants. This product carriers a Canadian Natural Product Number. (NPN)

This product is perfect for athletes and also non-athletes that just want to exercise. Many people have found that they not only feel less depleted after consuming the Recovery protein formula, but also feel less sore the next day.

This product has no artificial sweeteners or colors and you’ll be a bit shocked by how good and refreshing it tastes after a workout, game or any other strenuous exercise.

Fun Fact: We had a big debate over here at SuperHuman about the organic sugar in this product. Most of the market is moving towards no sugar much like our other products. However, for a recovery product, sugar is listed as a medicinal ingredient. After a workout, sugar is a proven method to help replenish that lost glycogen in muscles and help shuttle amino acids into the muscle cells, thus providing a true recovery. This type of recovery also helps cut down on muscle soreness and helps build and repair body tissues.

1156 grams(2.55 lbs) – 68.3 gram serving – 17 Servings

Recovery Elite Post Workout Formula by SuperHuman is a supplement that provides over 27g of pure New Zealand Whey Isolate protein, as well as 27g of our engineered carbohydrate matrix that includes; organic cane sugar, potato starch and pea starch, not to mention relevant doses of vitamins and minerals in each dose. Recovery contains unique ingredients that have been clinically proven to help restore and replenish energy.

Ingredients Include:

INGREDIENTS: New Zealand Whey Protein Isolate,
Organic Cane Sugar, Carb10 (Legume-based
starch derived from pisum sativum (peas)), Potato
Starch, Natural Flavour, Citric Acid, Taurine, Vitamin
& Mineral Blend (Vitamin A (Vitamin A Palmitate),
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D2
(Ergocalciferoil), Vitamin E (dl-Alpha Tocopheryl
Acetate), Vitamin K (Phytonadione), Vitamin B1
(Thiamine Mononitrate), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin),
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine
Hydrochloride), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12
(Cyanocobalamin), Biotin, Pantothenic Acid
(Calcium D-Pantothenate), Potassium (Potassium
Citrate), Sodium (Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate),
Phosphorous (Tricalcium Phosphate, Magnesium
Phosphate), Calcium (Tricalcium Phosphate,
Calcium Lactate), Iron (Ferric Orthophosphate),
Iodine (Potassium Iodide), Magnesium (Magnesium
Phosphate), Zinc (Zinc Oxide), Copper (Copper
Gluconate)), Red Beet Powder (colour), Stevia Leaf
Extract, Sunflower Lecithin (as an emulsifier).

After a vigorous workout you must replenish your body with energy in the form of calories. By doing so, your body increases protein synthesis, replenishes glycogen and decreases protein breakdown. Where those calories come from is very important, that’s why a recovery protein shake is often the easiest and most convenient way to get the nutrients you need.

Post workout nutrition is based on the fact that certain nutrients are metabolized differently at different times of the day, specifically around times of exertion, i.e. your workout. Exercise sensitizes muscle tissue to certain hormones and nutrients, making muscles most responsive in a post workout window of anywhere from 30 minutes to 48 hours, depending on the work done. The macro-nutrients of focus are carbohydrates and protein. Carbs assist with replenishing glycogen, which is stored in muscle and is the main source of energy used in a lot of endurance sports. Replacing these stores has significant impact on subsequent performance levels, for both aerobic and anaerobic work. Protein, on the other hand, helps with building and repairing muscle. Exercise increases circulating catabolic hormones that break down glycogen and fat for fuel and can continue to break down muscle tissue, post exercise, if nutrient intake is compromised. Therefore, consuming a high glycemic carbohydrate, as well as a high quality protein, such as the ingredients found in SuperHuman Recovery, will help ensure that you’re properly re-fueling, replenishing, repairing and re-building, post workout.

SuperHuman Recovery Protein contains a unique combination of carbohydrates that that create a cascade effect of absorption into depleted muscle cells after intense exercise. All of these ingredients are natural and from the purest sources available."

For me personally I found it did not mix well with water and had kind of a grainy taste. Maybe I needed to mix it more. However, I was short on time so I did not get to do so.

I really like the fact that it is non GMO, gluten free and NSF. It does have a whey protein so be careful if you can't digest dairy because that means it is deprived from milk. Although the website claims that it has no artificial sweeteners Sucralose was named in the ingredient list along with sugar cane and potato starch. Despite these ingratiates all of the other ones make for a great post workout cocktail especially the fact that it does have an array of vitamins, taurine, L-Glutamine and magnesium among other great micronutrients for recovery. It states on the packaging that you should consume no later than 90 minutes after exercising. One thing I didn't like about the label is that it doesn't say how many calories a scoop is nor how many carbs and/or fat it contains. These are particularly important to me since I do watch my macronutrients as a bodybuilding figure athlete.

The product is manufactured in the USA but does state that it is a product of Canada. Which I find interesting.

Overall I think this is a decent post workout for an athlete that plays sports or a recreational gym goer looking to improve their recovery and health. The price is a little steep but thats because most of the ingredients seem to be high quality. You get what you pay for with this product.