My shipment from Wild Foods included their Wild MCT Oil, Wild Chocolate Powder, Wild Whey, an herbal tea, Grizzly Blend Wild Coffee, and a sample packet of Wild Himalayan Pink Salt. The packaging was professional and can easily be used for storage of the products. When I opened the box, I could smell the coffee, so that’s what I started with. Besides, who doesn’t need a fresh cup of coffee when they are going through a box of treats?

Grizzly Blend Coffee

Wild Coffee comes in a variety of types of beans and roasts. It is roasted in small batches weekly, sometimes even daily, which creates a very fresh bag of coffee upon arrival. Wild Foods is very particular about their coffee, offering only organic, fair-trade Arabica beans.

Opening this bag of coffee was an experience all of its own, it smelled fresh and strong. I recently learned the pour over method for brewing coffee, so I got my grinder out and went through the process. I have found that if a coffee is too bitter, stale, or over-roasted, the pour over method reveals any fault right away. The flavor was excellent once I tasted what I brewed. I would give this coffee a 5 out of 5 for quality and flavor, especially as compared to average supermarket varieties.

Wild MCT Oil

I have heard of MCT oil before, but I had never purchased any, so this was a new one for me. Wild Foods does a good job describing their products, and I learned that MCT oil is made from separating the shorter chain fatty acids from the longer chain fatty acids to create an odorless liquid oil that is quickly metabolized by the body. I’ve recently been working with a dietician and before I tried this out, I asked what she thought of it after sending her a picture of the nutrition facts. She gave me a hearty yes with an emoji thumbs up. Apparently, this is good stuff!

The oil is completely liquefied, making it very easy to measure and pour. It is tasteless and not overly heavy or greasy. From my experience with using other types of coconut oil, I would give this a 5 out of 5 for ease of use and quality.

Wild Chocolate Powder

I rarely buy cocoa powder, so when I first saw the bag of it in my delivery, I wondered how to use it. Wild Foods always sends a recipe book with their deliveries, and there were some ideas on the bag for using it. This chocolate powder is unsweetened and can be added to recipes, smoothies, and it can also be used for baking. I added it to my chocolate smoothies and it brought out a rich chocolate flavor, and my daughter and I used it in a batch of homemade chocolate cupcakes and frosting, very fabulous. The Wild Foods website goes into great deal on this chocolate powder, and it’s a very quality product, another 5 out of 5 for me.

Wild Whey

I was really excited to try the Wild Whey protein powder. It is made from milk and is undenatured, which means that it’s processed at cooler temperatures during the pasteurization process. They sent me a sample of the natural flavor, but there also is vanilla and dark chocolate. Just three tablespoons of Wild Whey has 16 grams of protein and only 80 calories, and there are only about 2 grams of sugar per serving, so it is easy to incorporate into a low-sugar diet.

The powder blended very easily in both a shaker bottle and the blender. The texture of the powder is smooth to the touch and it smells fresh. I added the natural flavor to almond milk with a bit of the Wild Cocoa Powder and a scoop of almond butter for one of my shakes. It tasted great and mixed well. I also tried it with berries, banana, and either spinach or kale. It is a very versatile product and because of the three tablespoon serving, I didn’t experience any stomach sensitivity as I have in the past with other 100% whey products. I would definitely recommend this protein powder; you guessed it, 5 out of 5.

Wild Tea

What was most impressive about this tea is that it looks like tea. By that I mean that there were actual flowers in the bag when I opened it. I received the Wild Herbal #1 9 Mind Herbal Tea Blend. There are 81 flavors of tea available on the Wild Foods site, including matcha. The flavor of this herbal tea was well-balanced, not too strong in flavor, and, most importantly, it brewed well. Some of the less quality teas seem to not release even with boiling water, and this tea had a hearty brew quickly that could be repeated with additional hot water, to taste. I give this tea a 5 out of 5 for flavor and quality ingredients.

Wild Himalayan Pink Salt

Wild Foods offers several types of salt. I had not used pink salt before and I found it to be less “salty” than some of the other types of regular salt I have tried. It can be used for cooking or as a finishing salt. Because it isn’t as potent as other salts, it can also be used to bring out the flavors in drinks and can be used for salt rubs. It contains over 80 trace minerals and can help balance the body’s electrolytes.

I have been using pinches of this salt on everything, my veggies, my chicken, I even tried a pinch in my chocolate protein smoothie. This is a great product for general kitchen use, definitely a 5 out of 5 here, as well.

Wild Foods Is Worth It

When I do reviews, I am always very careful to not heavily endorse any product. I am an average consumer. I’m not an elite athlete, a nutrition expert, or heavily versed in organic products. I like quality products that are a good price and that I will actually use. I like products that are what they say they are. After I received my trial box of products, I actually went on and placed a regular order for other things I wanted. I got another flavor of tea, the Wild Black Truffle salt (which is absolutely amazing) and one of their insulated mugs.

I very highly recommend checking out Wild Foods. They offer a 100% money-back guarantee on all their products and a 10% off code to anyone who visits their site. I have had personal contact with some of the staff, and the customer service is excellent. I cannot say enough good things about these products or this company. Give them a try, honestly.

The post Get Wild: Clean Foods to Fuel Your Body and Mind appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

A steamy hot cup of fresh brewed coffee is the only thing that gets many of us through the morning. But coffee may be doing much more than keeping us alert and functional throughout the day.

According to new research, a chemical found in coffee may help prevent major obesity-related issues that lead to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The consumption of coffee may help reduce the risk of diseases and disorders that affect many of us, including insulin resistance which affects 25-35% of the population of Westernized countries.

RELATED: Prevent Type 2 Diabetes With Resistance Exercise

Chlorogenic Acid

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a natural chemical compound and antioxidant. Out of all the plant species that contain the acid, coffee has by far the greatest concentration of CGA at six to seven percent.

“Studies have shown CGA significantly reduces two of the most common side effects of obesity: insulin resistance and the accumulation of fat in the liver.”

The chemical is responsible for the slightly bitter notes found in certain types of coffee^.1 But this chemical has more to offer than its taste and antioxidant benefits. Studies have shown CGA significantly reduces two of the most common side effects of obesity: insulin resistance and the accumulation of fat in the liver.²

Insulin Resistance

This condition, which plagues overweight people and underpins type 2 diabetes, occurs when cells have difficulty absorbing glucose from the bloodstream. The body needs higher levels of insulin to absorb glucose into the cells. But insulin-producing beta cells often fail to meet the demand to produce more insulin, causing elevated blood glucose levels, and potentially pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, as well as heart attacks.³

RELATED: Working with Special Populations Part 3: Diabetes Mellitus

Research suggests that CGA may prevent insulin resistance. CGA slows the release of glucose into the bloodstream, which means a slower rate of insulin release and lower blood glucose levels. CGA also increases the signal protein for insulin receptors in liver cells. When insulin binds to these receptors, it stimulates the breakdown of glucose by the liver, once again driving down blood sugar levels and increasing insulin sensitivity (the opposite of insulin resistance).⁴

In a recent study at the University of Georgia, researchers used mice that were fed a high fat diet and injected them with CGA twice per week. The CGA injections made a significant difference in the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels in the mice, confirming that CGA protects against insulin resistance.⁵

RELATED: Is Coffee Good or Bad for Your Testosterone? 

Reduction in insulin resistance has a significant impact on type 2 diabetes prevention. In another study, researchers found a fifty percent risk reduction for type 2 diabetes in people who drank 26 cups of coffee a day, compared to people who drank seven.

Healthy Liver Function

Accumulation of fat in the liver, another negative side effect of obesity, can lead to poor liver function. A healthy liver is critical. A person with liver failure can only live one to two days.⁶ CGA has been found to play a large role in maintaining both healthy liver composition and function.

CGA is a cholagogue, which means it stimulates the flow of bile from the liver and through our systems. Bile primarily facilitates fat digestion and is a natural laxative with cleansing properties.⁷ By promoting bile flow, cholagogues help prevent accumulation of fat in the liver and other issues such as gallstones.⁸ For this reason, cholagogues are largely used for alleviating diseases of the gallbladder and liver.

“With the medical cost of obesity at $147 billion dollars a year, anything that can help reduce this staggering burden is sorely needed.”

Chlorogenic acids are not the only substances that serve as cholagogues, but the evidence for their success is the strongest, largely because of the research conducted with coffee. Apart from the benefits that CGA provides for the liver as a cholagogue, it also reduces liver inflammation.⁹

Start Your Day With CGA

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of American adults are obese. With the medical cost of obesity at $147 billion dollars a year, anything that can help reduce this staggering burden is sorely needed.⁵

RELATED: 29 Studies Confirm Caffeine Increases Athletic Performance

Starting your day with CGA is a public and personal health habit that’s easy to learn to love, if you don’t already love it. For those of us who already make a habit of guzzling this aromatic stimulant as soon as our eyes peep open in the morning, we can do so knowing that this “addiction” is doing our bodies all kinds of good.

References:

1. “Chlorogenic Acid.” Coffee Chemistry. Accessed November 14, 2014. 

2. University of Georgia. “Chemical in coffee may help prevent obesity-related disease.” ScienceDaily. Accessed November 27, 2014.

3. “Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes.” National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). Accessed November 18, 2014.

4. Stokel, K. “Are We All Pre-Diabetic?” Life Extension. Accessed November 18, 2014.

5. University of Georgia. “Chemical in coffee may help prevent obesity-related disease.” ScienceDaily. Accessed November 27, 2014).

6. Bergner, P. “Herbal Treatment of Functional Liver Disease.” Herbal Treatment of Functional Liver Disease. Accessed November 15, 2014. h

7. “Cholagogue.” The Naturopathic Herbalist. Accessed November 19, 2014.

8. Chang, J. “My Personal Journey of Healing.” Sensible Health. Accessed November 22, 2014. 

9. Shi, H. “Chlorogenic Acid Reduces Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis through Inhibition of Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling Pathway.” Toxicology. 2013 Jan 7;303:107-14. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2012.10.025. Epub 2012 Nov 9. Accessed November 16, 2014. .

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

The post How Your Daily Coffee Battles the Effects of Obesity appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Suddenly I found myself feeling like a scientist as I made my daily cup of joe, and it allowed for a completely new approach to the art of making coffee. Here are three recipes I’ve used during my experimentation.

Modified Bulletproof Coffee

The paleo movement has ignited momentum in the world of coffee with the birth of Bulletproof coffee. The original way of making Bulletproof coffee falls into more of a primal category, since it includes dairy. I prefer a modified version, using ghee instead of butter. Here’s how I make it:

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon of MCT oil
• 1 Tablespoon of ghee
• 18oz of fresh brewed coffee
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• Dash of turmeric

Method:

Blend it all together and enjoy!

Traditional bulletproof coffee would not use the cinnamon and turmeric. These modifications offer an anti-inflammatory benefit, which is a bonus for any athlete.

RELATED: Curcumin for Athletes: Why You and Your Joints Might Like It

Homemade Cold Brew

Cold brew is another craze in the coffee world, especially here in Los Angeles. I love an afternoon cold brew like nothing else. At my favorite local spot I mentioned how much I enjoy a good cold brew and also that I write for Breaking Muscle, and the gentleman behind the counter was happy to tell me how to make my own. Delighted, I ran home and immediately got started. Here’s how to do it:

Ingredients:

• 16oz of cold filtered water
• ¾ cup freshly ground coffee

Method:

1. Combine both ingredients in a Mason jar and stir.
2. Cover and let sit for 16 hours.
3. Strain through a coffee filter into a new container and refrigerate until chilled.
4. Enjoy a delicious homemade, simple cold brew!

“Hello” Cup of Coffee

Since the beginning of my health-conscious life, I crave a little kick now and again with my food and drinks. That desire, coupled with a strong love of chocolate, inspired this cup of deliciousness. Basically my two cravings got married and they now exist in a cup of coffee that excites from the first sip to the last. I call it my “Hello” cup of coffee.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of freshly brewed coffee
• Dash of cinnamon, turmeric & cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon of cacao powder

Method:

Mix all ingredients together and stir with a spoon. Take your first sip and say hello!

For the athletes in all of us, each of these recipes offers tools for optimum performance. Bulletproof coffee supports a ketogenic fat-burning response. The anti-inflammatory benefits of the spices used have long been known for their benefits. And there’s no denying the energy a delicious cup of coffee brings to any workout.

The decision regarding caffeine in an athlete’s diet is an individual one. I find coffee helps my performance, and science has found the same thing time and time again, so I’ll go on enjoying a cup of joe before my daily workouts.

Photos courtesy of V Capaldi.

The post 3 Coffee Recipes to Fuel Your Workouts appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Asprey claims: ”It can promote brain function, memory, and energy levels. It can serve as a massive source of antioxidants and is associated with all sorts of positive health outcomes … you never feel hungry, get low energy …”

I decide to check out The Bulletproof Excecutive site. I quietly sneak around in sites like these because though I’m interested in the content and gaining insight relative to my own life and diet, as a vegan I definitely get the message I’m an outsider or that because of my choice, I’m on the “wrong path.” But no mind, I’m used to that. I simply wanted to research for myself, especially when people I trust and like are raving about the particular benefits of Bulletproof coffee.

The Bulletproof site is also very testosterone infused, to put it mildly, which is another reason I skulk around. It makes me wonder if the health benefits they tout are actually meant for me. But just when I feel turned off by some of the ways Asprey gets his message across, I find nuggets that resonate highly with me. His definition of “bulletproof” is this: “A state of higher performance, resilience, and health. A state where your body, mind, and life are protected from illness, fatigue, stress, and inflammation.” Please, who doesn’t want that no matter who you are or what your personal plan is to get there?

The thing that made me most interested about Bulletproof coffee in particular was Asprey’s explanation of how he came about it. While climbing Mt. Kailash in Tibet, he was given yak-butter tea and was immediately rejuvenated. My mother has been on many expeditions hiking the base camps of the Himalayas and she said the same thing when she was fed this tea by Sherpa guides. It’s no mystery to most indigenous cultures or even families of lower-economic means that fat will sustain your energy. My Irish grandfather was raised with four brothers in the brutal winters of Saskatchewan in a poor household and they sustained on lard sandwiches. When he used to tell me those stories, I cringed, but now it makes sense, especially when there was so little else.

When I heard that some partakers of the Bulletproof coffee where using half butter and half coconut oil, I knew I had to give it a try using all coconut oil. I brewed 20oz of my favorite coffee, Trader Joe’s Ethiopian, which is fair trade, organic, and shade grown, and then blended in two tablespoons of raw, organic coconut oil. Just like with anything, high-quality ingredients will give quality results. Crap in, crap out is certainly a motto I live by.

When I turned on the blender, the black coffee turned to a rich, caramel color immediately. I had heard about the magic that happens after blending the fat into coffee – that it becomes instantly creamy. And it was true. I will say that for a beginner, two tablespoons of oil was rather aggressive. I liked the taste for about a quarter cup, and then I had to sprint to the toilet. The coffee went through me liked greased lightening. If you are just starting out, lower doses are recommended, about one tablespoon. I imagine this is true if you are adding butter, too.

I didn’t try the coconut-oil Bullletproof coffee again for a couple weeks. I was scared away by that first experience. But the second time, I added far less oil – one tablespoon – and it still blended beautifully. I’ve experimented with a couple sweeteners since. I tried liquid stevia, which seems to be the Bulletproof coffee sweetener of choice, but as much as I try to like the taste of stevia, I just don’t. I have added raw agave and raw coconut nectar, too, and since this is not ideal to the original, fat-burning intent of Bulletproof coffee, I recently switched to sweetening my coffee with Xylitol. Wow is it good. It tastes like heaven in a cup.

I’ve been drinking one cup of BP coffee every morning for a couple months now. I still only add about one tablespoon of coconut oil, no more. What I notice most is that I am very satiated in the morning without “coffee jitters.” I coach morning classes on Tuesday and Thursday, which start too early for me to eat breakfast, but end about 10:00am. The running joke at the gym was that after my last class, I’d run upstairs yelling “I’m starving!” I have not yelled that since I started drinking a cup of Bulletproof coffee before my first class.

I cannot definitely say that I’ve experienced spikes cognitively or performance-wise because of Bulletproof coffee. I haven’t had any notable loss of fat either. The way I approach my health as a whole contributes to all of that anyway – it’s never just one component. I can say that, though, that the drink is definitely satisfying and gives me an even amount of energy in the morning. Mostly, I really enjoy the taste of all coconut-oil coffee and I intend to stick with it.

Photos provided by Danette “Dizzle” Rivera.

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