How Superfood Powders Transformed Me
(As a Vegan BTW)
Eating vegan (or plant-based) can look very different from person to person. Individual needs depend on our bodies, our activity levels, and our goals. To be vegan, we are simply abstaining from using animal products and byproducts. In fact, veganism isn’t a diet, because we don’t eat leather shoes! It’s a lifestyle.
I have been vegan for two decades. Throughout that time, I have been a junk food vegan, a raw vegan, a fruitarian, a fast food vegan, and a vegan who primarily lived off of beer (not the healthiest!) These days, I’m lifting heavy, raising a toddler, and running a decent distance at a decent clip.
Superfood powders have been a great tool for my mood, energy, and strength gains. Here's my experience:
1. Protein Powder directly after strength training
Let me preface with this disclaimer: vegans are not at risk of protein deficiency if they’re eating enough calories! But, if you’re busy, lifting heavy, and not paying attention to the macros in your meals, protein powder is a magic elixir.
I’ll admit that I never paid much attention to protein. I’ve always been strong – or so I thought. My yoga practice was solid, my chaturangas looked great, and I was very active. But, with strength training and drinking vegan protein directly after a workout, I have seen my strength increase substantially in a short period of time. Also, from a vanity standpoint, my shoulders, abs, and triceps have never been this poppin’.
I started following a YouTube strength program at the beginning of lockdown, and I’ve stuck with it! At that time, I decided that I would drink a vegan protein powder after each strength session. I’ve increased the weights I use from 5-10 lbs up to 15-25 lb depending on exercise.
For this, I drink two scoops of Uplift Florae Plant Power vegan protein immediately at the end of my session.
2. 2. Green Drink in the AM
I have not yet transcended my craving for a hot cup of earl gray with a super sweet, barista blend oat creamer. However, I have added in an additional beverage to my morning routine. I mix my green drink in with my protein powder. I mix 2 scoops of Plant Power Protein with one scoop of Phyto Greens.
Magnesium supports mood, bones, cardiovascular health, and nerve function. A quick scoop of Phyto Greens containing mineralized seaweed already puts me at 12% magnesium before the sun comes up, along with 10% daily calcium and a ton of nutrients from leafy greens, sprouts, and nootropic mushrooms. I’ll drink to that!
3. Nootropic Mushrooms to Get my Mind Right
Speaking of nootropic mushrooms.... Nootropics support clarity of mind and concentration. As a full-time, work-from-home, single mom with a toddler (who isn’t in childcare), my brain would be a braided mess without a little detangling. Nootropic mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps have been shown to help focus the mind, providing some calming clarity during the work day.
Some of these nootropics are present in the Phyto Superfood Green Drink, so I get those in first thing in the morning to start off on the right foot. But, if I need an afternoon (or mid-morning) boost, a quick click of the electric kettle and a scoop of Lean Bean Power Coffee provides a mega-dose of mind-massaging mushrooms.
4. Golden Milk at the end of a lonnnnnggggggg day
Does your body hurt? Are you sore in weird places from your ankle to your knee to your hip joint? Is your brain so fried that you've reached a zen place of zero thoughts?
Tranqui-Latte Golden Milk is a soothing tonic with a creamy latte texture and a turmeric ginger flavor. Just the aroma and taste alone are a gentle hug for the soul. But, the goodness doesn’t end there. For someone who runs, picks up a giant toddler with one arm, and generally does the most… turmeric helps to soothe tired muscles and ease inflammation.
The ginger, meanwhile, supports digestion, so if you had to scarf down your cold dinner quickly while being yelled at by a baby… the ginger can help ease your mistreated belly.
5. Adaptogens for a mellow mood under pressure
Adaptogens help the body to adapt to daily stress. Stress effects more than our minds – after all, or minds and bodies are intricately connected. Ashwagandha, gynostemma, and ginseng are all adaptogens. They help to regulate body function, nerves, and mood regardless of external pressure.
In addition to nootropic mushrooms, Lean Bean Power Coffee contains adaptogens astragalus and ashwagandha. Who doesn’t need a little stress support with their afternoon pick-me-up?
We also have adaptogens ashwagandha and maca root in the Hot Sexy Cocoa Blend, a decadent vegan treat that supports mood, energy, and sexual health. Plus, it's vegan cocoa and it's delicious so what's not to love?
Superfoods for a Vegan Diet
Incorporating plant-based superfoods into your vegan diet can help give you an extra boost. A vegan diet has many benefits, from a moral, to an environmental, to a physical standpoint. But, even with the healthiest vegan diet, the demands of daily life can ask more of our nutrition.
If you want to feel your best and perform at your optimal level, give superfoods a try for your mind, your muscles, and your mood! The results of a few simple and delicious beverages incorporated into your daily routine may transform you in ways you never knew were possible!
Sippin' on some superfoods brings us to our happy place!
Uplift Florae Lean Bean Power Coffee
Everything you need to know to go camping
From Lockdown to the Gym
