New Protein Product

Reading Labels
The launch of the new Special K protein shake is due this month - a lead on from the Protein Water shown left. I guess this means that New Zealand will see them in the next few years if it gets here. I must admit I was kind of excited until I saw the nutrition panel.
Here's what the PR says "Each bottle contains 180 or 190 calories depending on the flavour, 10 grams of protein, 5g of fiber as well as vitamins A, C, D and E and calcium." Kellogg’s said consumers using Special K products to replace some meals should be able to lose six pounds or one inch off their waist in two weeks.
Figure it out - do the math, there are 4 calories in every gram of protein, so these new shakes provide 190 calories but only 40 calories of protein. If this is a low fat product then you're going to get more than 120 calories of sugar! I really don't know how they can claim that this is a weight loss product. Protein is a fabulous ingredient in a weight management plan but I'd be looking for a better product than this.
At about $3 a serve you're paying 30 cents for a gram of protein and getting 150 calories of stuff you don't need! Alternatively you could choose a 100% whey protein that is low carb and low fat and pay just .08 cents per gram of protein. Check it out here.
I've managed to find a nutrition panel for the new product. 29 grams of carbs, 220mg sodium. Just another way to peddle sugar.

Folic Acid - Eat More Bread

Do they want us to eat more bread, or do they want us to have better nutrition? Folate comes from foliage. That's right plants - green plants. Eating fortified foods will not replace greens.
So supplementing our bread will folic acid does not cure our abundant eating culture.
Folic acid is just one piece of the puzzle.
I'll make my own bread from now on. Eat a loaf of bread to get sodium and folic acid 0r take a multivitamin and eat a healthier diet? Tough choice.

Resveratrol

www.realnutrients.co.nz

It's just in case I forget it.

Please don't stop eating garlic

The New Zealand Medical Journal did an undercover shopping trip throughout NZ. Apparently some health food shops came under fire after an undercover shopper asked for help with high blood pressure and asthma. The headline was scary - 'Garlic offered for High Blood Pressure'. In fact it really slammed health food shops and I'm a little confused as to why it's such a big deal. Yes, I've read the full article and some of the advice given by health food stores was plain stupid, I agree .. remember though that many staff in those chain stores are on the minimum wage, so what do you expect? I can't help wondering why was all this effort put in, what's really behind it and how bad is garlic?
Surely this person was told to seek medical advice from his trainer at the gym? Is it the health food shops fault that this person is seeking a magic pill and not consulting a doctor?

I was at the supermarket the other day and the women in front of me was quite obviously severely overweight, at least over 100 kilos. I couldn't help but notice that she had in her basket, 2 large bottles of coke, an assortment of refined snacks, some herbal slimming pills and 3 bottles of wine. Now, hear me out... I bet her cholesterol was high, never mind her blood pressure. Based on the 'Garlic Sold For Blood Pressure' story, should I then be concerned that the checkout operator seriously put this womens health at risk by scanning her products and completing the sale? How much of health is personal responsibility? Would the person have been better off at the doctors? Probably... for a while, it's good to get blood pressure under control - in fact its an urgent goal. Sadly for many though it takes a stroke or a heart attack for many to make those lifestyle changes. Whether it's garlic or meds - it still doesn't fix the under lying problem. So we are stuck with, the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff approach or personal responsibility. I kind of agree with The New Zealand Medical Journal - there is some plain stupid advice out there, but really, how many people walk into a chemist or health food shop ready to overhaul their diet and get back into shape? That's why I started Real Nutrition.
Please don't stop eating garlic. It's a super food.
www.realnutrients.co.nz

I don't actually like apples, I love the colour of apples, apple pie, apple crumble, apple macs...

Apples are really cool to look at, a nutritionists not going to pose with a pie or a pizza. I've chosen an apple. Not completely original I know.

But green... and not too hippie looking... my real site is here www.realnutrition.co.nz