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February 24, 2022

Best Coffee Alternatives to Get Your Caffeine Fix Without the Crash

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 7:42 pm

Searching for coffee alternatives? We don’t blame you. You don’t need a Tasmanian devil-like personality for a second (or fifth) cup of joe to set you off on a high-octane spinout. While coffee has plenty of health benefits, caffeine constricts blood vessels but surges blood pressure and adrenaline, causing that overstimulated, shaky-Chihuahua sensation, followed by plummeting energy.

Avoid the boomerang by reaching for one of these piping-hot coffee alternatives. They’ll keep you laser-focused without the jitters—and you’ll reap some unique health benefits, too.

Best Coffee Alternatives: Table of Contents

  • Blume

  • Crio Bru

  • MUD/WTR

  • Laird Superfood

  • Superbolt Tea

Reach for one of these caffeine alternatives to keep you laser-focused without the jitters—and you’ll reap some unique health benefits.
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1. Blume

If you’re matcha-averse because it’s too dang vegetal (mmm, grass in a mug), try Matcha Coconut Blend. Tea leaves grown in Nishio, Japan, are handpicked then stone-ground with organic coconut milk powder and antioxidant-rich moringa leaf powder (7x more vitamin C than oranges, 15x more potassium than bananas). The blend is subtly tropical and velvety in texture. Mix 1 tsp with a splash of boiling water, then add 1 cup hot or cold milk for a killer latte that has half the caffeine of coffee.

[$25; itsblume.com]

Get it

Reach for one of these caffeine alternatives to keep you laser-focused without the jitters—and you’ll reap some unique health benefits.
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2. Crio Bru

If you love the routine of pour-over but hate its acidity, reach for Ghana French Roast. Pure ground cacao is roasted and ground just like coffee beans. Give the bag a good huff; the aroma is devilishly good, like an earthier dark chocolate. While brewed cacao is practically caffeine-free, it contains a stimulant called theobromine that delivers a slow burn of energy. It’s also packed with mood-boosting antioxidants. For a robust brew, double the amount of grounds and steep long and hot in a French press.

[$13; criobru.com]

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MUD/WTR
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3. MUD/WTR

For a mindful approach to wakefulness, you can’t beat this blend. Masala chai—aromatic and spicy with cinnamon, cardamom and peppercorns—is an ayurvedic mainstay that sharpens mental acuity. Lion’s mane, cordyceps and reishi mushrooms support immune function and energy. Turmeric and cinnamon lend anti-inflammatory benefits, and cacao improves mood. Pour boiling water over 1 tbsp, then use a frother to whirl it up. Add the brand’s MCT creamer for a touch of sweetness.

[$40; mudwtr.com]

Get it

Reach for one of these caffeine alternatives to keep you laser-focused without the jitters—and you’ll reap some unique health benefits.
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4. Laird Superfood

We’ll drink the Laird Hamilton Kool-Aid— especially when it takes the form of Chai Instafuel. Black and rooibos tea gets married to a zesty chai blend that’s mellowed by the brand’s Original Superfood Creamer, made from coconut milk powder, seaweed-derived calcium, organic coconut sugar and organic extra-virgin coconut oil. The full range of MCT oils promotes energy and satiety. This is indulgent without artificial additives. Add 3 1⁄2 tbsp to 12 oz hot water and mix with a frother.

[$15; lairdsuperfood.com]

Get it

Reach for one of these caffeine alternatives to keep you laser-focused without the jitters—and you’ll reap some unique health benefits.
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5. Superbolt Tea

Tapping into traditional Chinese medicine, this powerhouse tea is targeted at athletes hoping to feel energized and clearheaded. The caffeine in green, white and Ceylon black teas enhances blood flow to the brain without jacking up your heart rate. Siberian ginseng helps keep you mentally stimulated, yerba maté ups antioxidant levels, and ginger and adaptogen-packed herb schisandra offer immunity support. The flavor is light and herbal. Steep tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes. Add honey, if desired.

[From $13; superbolt-tea.com]

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January 15, 2022

MXXY’s Dual Chamber Hydration Pack: Water with a Boost

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:57 am

The original idea to put a water bladder with a hose attached to it into a backpack was pure genius. Suddenly, adventurous folks could easily hydrate without breaking a stride, whether hiking, bombing around on a mountain bike, or kayaking in the ocean. Now, MXXY, a small startup, has taken that hydro-iffic idea one sip further. Their new dual chamber hydration system combines two separate bladders with an ingenious mixing value so you can blend two different liquids together—like, for example, water and a liquid performance supplement, all in one neatly divided package.

MXXY was formed by a few high school friends in Marin County, CA. Outdoor adventurists, they saw a need for some innovation when it came to hydration systems—specifically getting a dose of a performance supplement offering a boost of caffeine, amino acids, and electrolytes without having to haul a separate bottle around. Their dual bladder system brainchild uses a smaller “booster” portion (750ml) that can be attached to a larger side (1.5 L) intended for water with a total capacity of 2.25 liters. The remaining space in the small pack gives you an additional seven liters for stuffing a light jacket and some trail tools or snacks.

The MXXY hydration backpack system is the first to use to bladders to mix liquids.
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The bladder system uses a nifty latching handle with magnets that keeps both reservoirs (made by HydraPak) together in the pouch, while easily coming apart for separate refilling and washing. Both are machine washable and can be turned inside out to ensure every inner edge and corner is throughly cleaned without harboring any pockets of mold or gunk. The valves are just as easy to wash, requiring a single rinse. The rest of the system will be familiar to anyone who regularly uses a hydration reservoir—until you get to the mixing part.

The MXXY hydration backpack system is the first to use to bladders to mix liquids.
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A cable attaches to the junction near the bladders where the liquids mix, exiting on the other side of the backpack straps opposite the tube that contains the bite valve. The ingenious part of the MXXY is an easy-to-operate, color-coded dial allowing you to quickly adjust your dual liquid ratios—blue for water, orange for supplement. Five dilution settings range from 25 to 100 percent water and 75 to 0 percent booster supplement accordingly.

The MXXY hydration backpack system is the first to use to bladders to mix liquids.
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Easy to use and (important) clean, MXXY’s dual chamber Hydration Pack offers a unique, fairly robust hydration system for your thirst-producing adventures. The outer shell of the backpack is a sturdy polyester/nylon blend that appears to holds up well—available in Ash Black and Space Gray. The inner lining is a thinner 100 percent polyester that seems, along with the inner zipper, not quite as durable over the long term. That said, no problems cropped up in our use, and MXXY’s one-year free repair program provides some extra security.

All in all, for a novel, first-of-its-kind hydration solution that provides more than just water when you’re out there pushing your limits, the MXXY Hydration Pack is a handy step up from those traditional single chamber systems. Take this out on the trail and you can welcome an energizing, flavorful change from the usual straight H20 wherever you roam.

[$199; mxxyoutdoor.com]

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March 28, 2021

Does Fish Oil Supplementation Impact Recovery?

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:29 am

Fish oil supplementation has gained a lot of attention for its health benefits. Specifically, supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids has demonstrated positive effects on blood pressure, triglycerides, and heart rate.1

Additionally, they’ve been shown to improve arterial dilation, possess antiarrhythmic and anti-inflammatory properties. All of these have been shown to have protective effects against cardiovascular disease development.1

But less is known about the role of fish oil supplementation in recovery from resistance training.

A 2020 paper2 by VanDusseldorp et al. set out to examine the effects of fish oil supplementation on various markers of recovery following a strenuous bout of eccentric exercise.2

A 2020 paper3 by Heileson et al. found that the minimum effective dose for fish oil supplementation to elicit a positive response on recovery was 2 g supplemented for at least four weeks.3 However, research has been conflicting regarding what the appropriate dosing should be.

Therefore, the previously mentioned paper by VanDusseldorp and colleagues where they set dosages to 2 g, 4 g, and 6 g between groups and examined the effects of a seven-week fish oil supplementation protocol. This paper was on a well-controlled study:2

“Utilizing a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind experimental design; participants were randomly assigned to consume 2- (2 G), 4- (4 G), or 6- (6 G) g/da of either FO or placebo (PL) supplementation for ~7.5 weeks (8 participants per group (4 males and 4 females per group); a 6-week run-in the supplementation period, 1-week involving familiarization testing at the beginning of the week and experimental testing at the end of the week, and three days of recovery testing). Muscle soreness, venous blood (for the assessment of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and indices of muscle function were collected before eccentric exercise, as well as immediately post 1-, 2-, 4-, 24-, 48-, and 72-h (H) post-exercise. Participants continued to supplement until they completed the 72H time-point.”2

  1. Participants completed eccentric squats on a Smith machine at a tempo of 4-0-1 for ten sets of eight reps using 70% of their 1 RM and taking three minutes to rest between sets.
  2. Additionally, participants were made to complete five sets of twenty bodyweight split jump squats.
  3. The primary metrics used to evaluate muscle damage and recovery were blood biomarkers, perceived soreness, vertical jump, agility test, forty-yard sprint, and maximum voluntary isometric contraction.

Researchers observed 6 g of fish oil supplementation had a beneficial effect on perceived muscle soreness.

Whereby participants reported lower soreness scores across all time points of measurement. The 6 g group also decreased the recovery time of vertical jump performance. In some cases, it also resulted in better blood values when monitoring indirect markers of muscle damage compared to the other controls.

So, what does this mean practically? Although the researchers found a beneficial effect on recovery when supplementing 6 g/day of fish oils, the effect’s magnitude was still relatively small. Therefore, a costs benefit analysis should be the basis for deciding whether to utilize this strategy.

I typically don’t recommend many supplements to individuals.

However, from a health perspective, I think fish oil supplementation is generally beneficial. So if you decide to take it for that reason, you may also experience some minor benefits of enhanced recovery.

Finally, if you want a comprehensive analysis of primary recovery strategies and how to utilize them for better results effectively, I have covered it on Kabuki Strength.4

References

1. “Effects of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases: a randomized placebo controlled trial.” BMJ. 2010;341:c6273. Accessed March 17, 2021.

2. Trisha A. VanDusseldorp, Kurt A. Escobar, Kelly E. Johnson, Matthew T. Stratton, Terence Moriarty, Chad M. Kerksick, Gerald T. Mangine, Alyssa J. Holmes, Matthew Lee, Marvin R. Endito, and Christine M. Mermier, “Impact of Varying Dosages of Fish Oil on Recovery and Soreness Following Eccentric Exercise.” Nutrients, U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH. Published online 2020 Jul 27. Accessed Mar 16, 2021.

3. Heileson JL, Funderburk LK. “The effect of fish oil supplementation on the promotion and preservation of lean body mass, strength, and recovery from physiological stress in young, healthy adults: a systematic review.” Nutr Rev. 2020 Dec 1;78(12):1001-1014.

4. Daniel Debrocke, “Optimize Your Recovery For Maximum Strength.” Online Kabuki Strength, Accessed March 16, 2021.

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February 2, 2021

Bryson DeChambeau Invests in Mark Wahlberg’s Supp Company, Performance Inspired

Filed under: Fitness,Health — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 5:16 pm

You could say Mark Wahlberg’s most at home when he’s training. His inner drive is genetic and by some standards borderline obsessive—but that’s why the man’s so successful. He previously spoke with Men’s Journal about his daily routine, saying “breakfast is at 3:45 a.m., by 4 I’m training, 5 a.m. is prayers, and I’m golfing at 6.” So it was only natural for him to make a personal venture into supplements. Enter Performance Inspired.

After all, what better way to maximize recovery and gains than to have a direct hand in optimizing pre-workouts, BCAAs, creatine, and bars? From the beginning, Wahlberg adopted a startup mentality, hustling to research the competition and reaching out to distributors (you can read all about his journey into the supplement biz here). His partner, Tom Dowd, worked at GNC for 25 years and was involved with an exhaustive range of product development. His know-how and Wahlberg’s determination to provide clean, natural products to everyone from student athletes to weekend warriors made PI a success.


Now, they’re welcoming a new ownership union with pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau. He’ll take an active leadership role in shaping PI’s line of products and work with Wahlberg to inspire others to lead healthier lifestyles through fitness and nutrition. (We foresee many brainstorms happening over a round of golf.)

“The PI team created a full line of all-natural, clean products you can trust and their commitment to quality is what drew me to their products,” DeChambeau said in a press release. “I look forward to helping them develop more products and introducing healthy options to the golf and fitness community. Everyone is looking for healthy options on the course and at home, and I can’t wait to help inspire others to improve their golf fitness and their overall health, the right way!”

The hope is to develop a “Golf Fitness” strategy largely influenced by DeChambeau. (If you’ve been following his 40-pound bulk-up, you know why.) DeChambeau’s been creating a buzz ever since he beefed up—prioritizing strength, flexibility, and nutrition—and started driving the ball, on average, 322 yards. He finished the 2020 PGA Tour season as the longest hitter in the history of professional golf. If it seems like DeChambeau and Wahlberg are a match made in heaven, that’s because they are.

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November 9, 2020

Discover Supplements That Benefit Your Specific Needs With Supplement Advisor

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 9:48 pm

Discover supplements that benefit your specific needs with Supplement Advisor

The supplement industry sometimes seems like the wild wild west, where you’re left feeling like there are more questions than answers:

Should I take fish oil? Isn’t it good for reducing inflammation and heart health? What’s better? Pill form or liquid?

Or:

I have recently started the Ketogenic diet. Is it true I should be taking multivitamins and a folic acid supplement because I’m no longer getting folic acid from grains?

Or:

I’m a menstruating woman who doesn’t eat red meat. Should I be taking an iron supplement? And doesn’t Vitamin B12 play a role in red blood cell health, too, helping fend against becoming anemic? Should I take that, too? Do I need a B12 supplement too?

Enter Supplement Advisor’s free assessment test.

Supplement Advisor is a web-based company designed to empower health-conscious people to improve their cognitive function, as well as emotional and physical potential through simple and personalized supplement guidance designed by their advanced AI, ultimately helping you navigate through the wild wild west of the supplement industry easily and quickly.

One way they do this is through their assessment tool, a tool that lets you to either take a full assessment, or select a particular area to see if you might benefit from taking a supplement. The areas include:

  • Memory
  • Motivation
  • Focus
  • Mood
  • Energy
  • Learning
  • Sleep.

How it works:

Let’s say you’re curious if you might benefit from taking a magnesium supplement to help regulate your blood sugar levels and stop you from having energy crashes in the middle of the day. And if so, what products might be best for you.

Giving you these answers is exactly what Supplement Advisor’s tool is designed to do.

All you do is select energy, hit submit and answer a few questions, such as:

  • Do you feel fatigued throughout the day?
  • Do you need an extra boost to get the most mileage out of your day?
  • Does caffeine give you any nervousness or restlessness?

After answering the questions, the AI engine—which will continue to get smarter and smarter as more people take the assessment and the database grows—quickly analyzes your responses and offers various recommendations in terms of what products might be best for your specific needs.

Sleep

Because fifty to seventy million people in the United States suffer from some kind of sleep disorder—from having trouble falling asleep, to insomnia to sleep apnea—one of the most common reasons to take a supplement is for sleep.

On top of the natural products, nine million Americans take prescription drugs to help them sleep.Prescription drugs, however, can come with some side effects, including gastrointestinal problems, prolonged drowsiness during the day, daytime memory and cognitive performance challenges or various allergic reactions.

A better option for many is a melatonin supplement.

Why is it better?

Melatonin is a hormone the body produces naturally. It’s responsible for regulating your body’s internal clock by responding to lightness and darkness.

When it gets dark out, melatonin increases in your body and lets you know it’s bedtime by attaching to receptors in the brain that help you relax and feel tired. During the day, on the other hand, your body makes dopamine, which signals you to release less melatonin, thus helping keep you awake.

When you select sleep on Supplement Advisor’s assessment tool, it once again, puts you through a series of questions, including:

  • Does stress cause you mild sleepiness?
  • Does it take a long time for you to fall asleep?
  • How difficult is it for you to achieve a sufficiently restful sleep routine?
  • Do you have trouble falling into a deep sleep?
  • Do you experience restless sleep?
  • Lucid dreaming in the REM stage has shown to be helpful with reducing stress and dealing with trauma. Would you be interested in lucid dreaming more often?

From there, you’re given a list of options of various products that might help your particular sleep concern or deficiency.

Giving it a try

As a writer, my focus needs to be one point to handle long days staring at a computer. I tend to be really focused and motivated in the morning, but fade after 2 p.m. before I have completed all my work for the day.

I decided to give the tool a try to see if there was something I could take to improve my focus.

The tool asked me:

  • Do you experience attention disruption when your brain is stressed and overworked?
  • How easy is it to attend to one task or stimuli while ignoring distraction?
  • Are you able to maintain your attention on one task for a long time?
  • Are you able to attend to more than one task simultaneously?
  • Are you able to shift attention from one task to another without losing focus?
  • Do you feel able to focus intently enough to create goals and monitor your progress?

I answered no to the first question, as usually being stressed out and overworked lights a fire under my bum. Similarly, I find it easy to ignore distractions and can remain focused on one task for a long time, so I also answered no on the second and third questions, as well. The final question was also a no.

Where I struggle is with focusing on more than one task at a time and definitely with shifting attention from one task to another without losing focus, hence I answered yes on the fourth and fifth questions.

What the tool recommended as the top product: A probiotic-fermented Vitamin B complex for energy, brain and mood support (it also recommended various other Vitamin B complex options).

(Funny enough, my naturopath also recommended I take a B Vitamin supplement. I’ll call that a win).

I decided to take it a step further and also selected the motivation assessment, as sometimes it’s not that I lose focus so much as I lose motivation in the final couple hours of my work day. I was then asked:

  • Do you feel like you want to crawl in bed and watch Netflix all day?
  • Is your sleep and nutrition regular and adequate?
  • Are you a stressful person? If so, does it influence your decisions?
  • Is your blood sugar high?

Supplement Advisor’s recommendation: Mane Brain’s brain-boosting power, a supplement is designed to help you feel more energized, alert, focused, and less forgetful.

Take the assessment now.

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