As we head into 2018, I know for so many, setting heath and wellness goals for the start of a New Year is of utmost priority. I often get asked questions about my favorite supplements to recommend, why I take collagen daily and what it does, etc. etc. So today, I am sharing some of my favorite products from Vital Proteins that help me #STAYVITAL and play very important roles in my own health and wellness, along with the health of many of my clients.
With so much of the focus surrounding wellness often being centered on What to Remove from the Diet, I really do love the idea of instead shifting our perspective to What Can I Add? While I always suggest getting your nutrients from whole food sources, at times we simply just cannot consume enough to reach the necessary level with select nutrients. Mindfully including properly-sourced supplemental sources of important and essential nutrients to boost our healthy diets and ensure our bodies are getting what we need, is something I believe can play a very significant role in our continued healing journey, along with maintaining our vitality for many years to come.
Beth’s Top 5 Vital Products from Vital Proteins:
Collagen Peptides
Why I Like It:
For more than a couple years now, Vital Proteins’ Collagen has been a part of my healthy lifestyle. You can read more about the benefits of collagen here, but in a nutshell, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, it plays a very important role in healing and improving the gut and has also been shown to improve hair, skin, nails and joints, ligaments, tendons. Collagen peptides are highly bioavailable, so it gets digested and absorbed by the body, quickly for maximum benefits. Collagen peptides are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free and are appropriate for paleo, keto, AIP, WHOLE30, low FODMAP lifestyles – along with many others. NOTE: Collagen peptides are not a full and complete protein with all essential amino acids, so while it’s great as a supplement providing a slew of benefits I do suggest other more complete options when building a smoothie as a full and complete meal replacement or post-workout supplement (read more here).
How I Take It:
I like to consume collagen in some form, daily. Generally I blend the original collagen peptides powder into hot coffee or tea. It can also be added to cold liquids, smoothies, added to soups, salad dressings, baked goods, etc. The single-serve travel stickpacks of collagen are quite amazing and convenient for travel and when you are just on the go. I never leave home without them. If you don’t want to mess with the powder, the Cartilage Collagen capsules are a really great option, for ease. The capsules are loaded with Type II Collagen Peptides and Glycosaminoglycans including naturally occurring Chondroitin Sulfate. They also now make the original Collagen Peptides in capsules, as well.
Favorite Recipes that use Collagen:
Grain-free No Bake Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
Grain-free Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Beef Liver Capsules*
Why I Like It:
You’ve likely heard me sing the praised of liver, by now. Liver is nature’s most concentrated source of Vitamin A and it provides over 200% of your daily value of B12, along with copper, folate, zinc, choline, and hyaluronic acid and many others. Beef liver is wonderful for improving and sustaining energy levels, promotes post-workout recovery, healthy immune function, brain health, heart health and more. Read more abut the benefits of beef liver by clicking here.
How I Take It:
I take 4 beef liver capsules daily, if I haven’t consumed liver or other organ meat in recent days.
Collagen Creamer
Why I Like It:
This dairy-free creamer is a great option for boosting your morning (or anytime) brew or tea and it comes along with 10 grams of collagen peptides, plus healthy fats from the coconut milk powder. I like to pack this when we road trip and bringing my favorite liquid coconut milks or creamers for my coffee and tea aren’t exactly an option.
How I Take It:
I like to add a scoop or two to coffee or tea. If you want some fun flavors in your coffee, try the gingerbread or the vanilla flavors. Boasting flavors from whole food ingredients and no added sugars or sweetners, there’s truly nothing like it on the market.
Collagen Veggie Blend
Why I Like It:
This is the ultimate greens powder. Specially formulated by the brilliant Dr. Ballantyne (AKA PaleoMom, the leading authority on the Autoimmune Protocol, AIP), this nutrient-packed Veggie Blend features nourishing collagen along with a blend of 11 whole organic veggies and fruits, one serving contains more than 4 servings of fruit and veggies. It doesn’t contain any added sugar or alternative sweeteners, but the sweetness from the fruits bring a taste that is far more palatable and delicious than most other greens powders I have ever tried. It’s also a great source of fiber, it’s loaded with Vitamin C and other naturally occurring phytonutrients and antioxidants and of course brings all the benefits of the collagen.
How I Take It:
I love this as an option for those busy days where I know I haven’t gotten in enough whole food sources of veggies and fruit. Green stuff is vital to my days, so I opt for a scoop of this in a smoothie or stirred into a glass of water. I also really love traveling with this, since we all know veggies and green stuff don’t take nearly the same prioritty when we aren’t cooking at home.
Matcha Collagen
Why I Like It:
Antioxidant rich matcha tea, can help fight free radicals in the body and promote long-term health. Matcha being the whole leaf, ground, also contains 137 times the amount of free radical-fighting antioxidants as any other green teas that you would simple brew and dispose of the leaf in the tea bag. Matcha is combined with Vital’s high-quality grass-fed collagen which promotes bone, joint, and skin and digestive health. I love this Matcha Collagen as an option for a cozy afternoon beverage with a boost!
How I Take It:
This is great just added to hot water like traditional matcha or it can be added to warmed non-dairy milk for a Matcha Latte, or even a smoothie of your choice. For a special treat, you MUST try my Paleo Matcha White Hot Chocolate.
Other Vital Proteins Faves:
Dark Chocolate Collagen Whey Protein: If you can tolerate whey, this is a really wonderful source of complete protein and BCAAs and it’s one of my personal favorite recommendations for my Smarter Smoothies. While this isn’t technically paleo, I don’t subscribe to strict labels and black and white approaches to eating. Personally, I do alright with properly sourced, minimally processed whey in small amounts, so Vital Protein’s is naturally my first choice, especially as a post-workout option, because in addition to the solid protein, it also brings the additional healing and recovery benefits of collagen, with proline, and glycine plus it’s also boosted with probiotics and hyaluronic acid. Whey is an isolate of dairy, so it doesn’t contain casein or lactose, both of which can oftentimes be the root of people’s dairy intolerances.
Beef Gelatin: As it’s name suggests, this is the gelling version of the collagen peptides. The gelatin can be mixed into both hot and cold liquids, but will gel if blended in cold. This is wonderful for stirring into hot drinks, soups, sauces or for making boosted treats like coconut milk yogurt, dairy-free ice cream, panna cotta, marshmallows, fruit gelatin and parfaits and lots more.
Spirulina Capsules: One of nature’s most incredible sources of nutrition, Spirulina is a wonderful superfood sourced from blue-green algae with powerful antioxidant support. Spirulina is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin K and other potent phytonutrients that help to aid in the body’s ability to naturally detoxify while giving our overall energy and stamina levels and our immunity a huge boost.
NOTE: Like many other immune system boosters, spirulina has the ability to stimulate the immune system which could be beneficial in some individuals, and potentially harmful in those who already have an overactive immune system or an autoimmune condition. If you have phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder in which your body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, or an autoimmune disease, such as MS, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you shouldn’t use supplements containing spirulina. Spirulina can stimulate your immune system and worsen your symptoms associated with these conditions. You should not take spirulina if you have a severe seafood or iodine allergy.
Beauty Boost Supplement: Rich in biotin and Vitamin C, Vital Proteins’ Beauty Boost offers the keys to helping the body produce more collagen on it’s own. Collagen is the building block for supporting healthy hair, skin, and nails, digestion, and bone and joint health. As we age, our body’s natural collagen production slows, which can reduce skin elasticity and increase signs of aging. Beauty Boost offers 500% of the daily value of Biotin and 300% of the daily value of vitamin C, both of which directly and effectively impact collagen production. Not to mention, biotin is important for maintaining a healthy metabolism.
Only use these dietary supplements under the supervision of your doctor, particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Vital Proteins is a sponsor of Tasty Yummies. All content, ideas, and words are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Tasty Yummies.
