Workout

Mango & Coconut Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie!⁣⁣The change of season is here! Longer days, warmer temperatures and a sense that the world is slowly getting back on schedule. @sabrinavirdee is rolling out a delicious treat that can be enjoyed anytime of the day. By adding natural ingredients along with a bit of love, you will be cooling down in no time with a cold smoothie in hand! Add Kaizen Naturals Vanilla Protein Powder and help build muscle, repair tissue! Check out past recipes to put together a full day of eating, snacking and enjoying time with your loved ones and friends! #livelifehealthy⁣⁣Mango & Coconut Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie⁣Serves 1⁣INGREDIENTS ⁣1½ cups Frozen Mango ⁣½ cup Frozen Pineapple ⁣½ cup Coconut Milk ⁣1 tsp Turmeric Powder⁣1 cup of Cold Water⁣1 scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder *optional ⁣⁣DIRECTIONS1. Add all your ingredients into your blender and mix until you have a smooth and creamy consistency. Add more water for desired thickness! Enjoy!⁣ Recipe created by: @sabrinavirdee

Nutritionist & Healthy Planet Ambassador Marissa Liana shares the importance of post work out meals and how it effects performance and recovery. Discover  what happens to muscles when you exercise, the 3 muscle building amino acids, how they work and what the body needs to repair itself for optimal muscle building. Learn what happens to the body when you don’t get the proper nutrition post workout. Marissa shares an easy to make and incredibly beneficial post workout recipe that not only goes down easy, but sets you up for the next session in the gym! Enjoy Marissa’s delicious Protein Waffle Recipe below with Genuine Health Vegan Protein     DRY INGREDIENTS: • 1 scoop vegan protein powder (I use VEGA, genuine health or sun warrior)  note: has to be plant based protein powder or the recipe/consistency will not work. • 30 g gluten free pancake mix (about 2 tbsp) • 1/2 tbsp Ceylon cinnamon if desired • 1/2 tsp of both baking soda and baking powder • Packet of stevia WET INGREDIENTS: • 1 whole egg • 1/3 cup egg whites • 2-3 tbsp almond milk   DIRECTIONS: • Mix wet and dry ingredients separately first and then add wet to dry. Mix until pudding-like consistency is formed. • Pour into waffle maker and let sit until steaming stops. • Top with your fav fruit/syrup and enjoy!    Tag us with your waffle creation @healthyplanet with #livelifehealthy. Enjoy!

Almond Hemp Energy Balls? Yes please! On the go treat that will energize you all day? We got it.  Packed with superfoods and high in protein, these Energy Balls will keep you energized and on the move all day feeling healthy and complete. Healthy Planet Ambassador  marissaliana shared with us one of her favourite Fitness snack recipes, AMAZING Almond Hemp Energy Balls. Super fast and easy to prepare, this is the energy ball you will be craving pre and post workout. Combine hemp seeds, chia seeds, almond butter and  protein powder together for what will quickly become your new favorite post workout snack. Find what drives you and fuel it with a heart healthy and nutritious treat made with love. #lifelivehealthy Almond Hemp Energy Balls Ingredients: 1/2 cup Organic Traditions Raw Almond Butter 1/2 cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seeds 4 tbsp Prana Chia Seeds 1 overly ripe banana 2 scoops Vega Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder (70g) 2 tbsp Shady Maple Farms MapleS 6 tbsp Giddy YoYo Dark Chocolate Chips   How to prepare Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined. Roll into golf ball sized balls and store in freezer for best texture. Let thaw for 5 minutes before eating and enjoy!   Put together your favourite Energy Ball recipe, tag @healthyplanet on Instagram and show us what keeps you going! Use the Healthy Planet hashtag #livelifehealthy and we will share your recipe with our followers! Keep spreading the love!

Tis the season to embrace your family and loved ones. Your time is occupied by holiday parties, friend's gathering and surrounding yourself with family. It’s a chance to immerse yourself into the holiday spirit and leave behind the stress of daily life and the issues that come with it. While we mask the not so positive parts of ourselves during the holidays to keep up a positive and festive mood around others, doing so can lead to increased stress and anxiety. This can make way for excessive eating and sometimes deepen an already depressed state of mind. Taking care of your mind and body during the holiday season is of utmost importance not just for you, but those around you as well. With the New Year quickly approaching, we all know what comes when the big hand strikes Midnight. A laundry list of how we are going to improve our Health and Wellness in the upcoming year. Resolutions like increased time in the gym, adapting to an organic diet or making a pact to spend more time with nature are popular with the health and wellness lifestyle. Healthy Planet is here to help assist you in being the best version of yourself.Here is a list of some of our favourite New Year Resolutions and how we can help reach your goals! Digestion Health: Change of Diet Resolution: We an all overindulge in food and sweets over the Holidays. Here are some of our favourite products that will help realign both your gut health and digestive health for the New Year. Genuine Health Probiotic Gut Health - Benefiting both skin health, digestive health and immunity. Start your New Year building a defense in your gut against bloating and weak digestion. New Roots Digestive Enzyme - Get more energy from your food while helping increase vitamin and mineral absorption from foods. Helping with digestion, boating and gas, give a little love to your Gut Health with the arrival of the New Year. Traditional Medicinals Eater's Digest Peppermint Tea- This Kosher, Non GMO, Organic, after dinner tea is perfect for occasional indigestion and soothing a full belly. Let’s be serious, who doesn’t love a cup of tea after dinner. Dry Winter Weather: Spend More TIme In Nature Resolution Spending more time in nature can bring a sense of calmness following the busy holiday season. Dedicating more time walking and exploring the outdoors can be a fun way to enter the New Year feeling invigorated and fresh. Earth's Care Dry and Cracked Skin Balm - Winter months can be harsh and cold. Increased time spent exploring outside will leave you cracked and dry. Absorb the benefits of Shea Butter, Arnica and Cajaput Oil. Dr. Bronner Lip Balm Peppermint - Keep your lips from getting chapped with a classic. Support proper moisturizing of your lips over the cold months into spring. All organic and all love, Dr. Bronner should be a staple for everyone this New Year. Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea Tea - Heating up with a warm and comforting Tea after enjoying a walk in the park in the Winter months is the perfect treat. Organic, Non GMO, Kosher and Fair Trade. Gym Supplements: Joining Gym Resolution One of the top New Year Resolutions is joining the gym. We always promote self care and improving your body at Healthy Planet. Allmax ISONatural - Gluten free and formulated with probiotics to improve intestinal microflora, Allmax protein technology is a great addition to any training regiment. Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer - Go into your workout fully energized and ready to build your best self empire. Increase your endurance while raising your menta focus and recovery time. Amazing Grass Green SuperFood - Complete raw food with powerful antioxidants, Organic, Raw, Gluten Free, Natural, support your body while you train it to be the best it can be. Going Organic: Going Organic Resolution The Organic movement has made huge strides in the last few years. With the public understanding the importance of healthy and pesticide-free produce and products, trading in your processed foods and items for Organic will be an easy transition. Organic Traditions Sprouted Quinoa - Full of protein and incredibly versatile in the kitchen, quinoa is one of the easier proteins to fuel your body for the New Years challenges. Organic Traditions is one of our favourite Organic brands on the market. Prana Organic Cashews - Known to reduce inflammation, improve metabolism and lower the risk of diabetes, Prana Organic Cashews are some of the best Organic nuts on the market. Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Hearts - An easy way to add omegas, protein and fibre straight into your diet, Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Hearts are free of any additives or preservatives. A healthy and organic addition to your New Year Goals. Going Cruelty Free: Cruelty Free Beauty Self Care Resolution One of the most popular and fastly growing New Year Resolutions/Movements is jumping on board the Cruelty Free Cosmetics and Self Care. We are proud to carry all Cruelt ...

Sexual health and the concerns related to it are the things one shouldn’t neglect. In fact, it has been observed that individuals are quite reluctant to even talk about sexual problems. 

Weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight can be a tricky thing. You may try out several intense cardio workout sessions, but figuring out the right combination of exercises to get your desired weight can be extremely time-consuming and tough. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, young or old: More and more people are adding the goal of building muscle as part of their overall fitness program. Whether it’s for aesthetic reasons, sports performance, weight management, to improve your active lifestyle or a combination of the aforementioned – more people than ever before are engaging in resistance training as a means of adding lean muscle to their physiques. If you’re one of them, here are a few tips that can help you maximize your results:   1. HAVE A PLAN: Sure, it sounds simple, yet the gyms are filled with people just “winging it,” wandering aimlessly from machine to machine and making up their workouts as they go. A few crunches here, a biceps curl there, a quick stretch, with no method to their madness. Lack of structure is one of the primary reasons so few manage to achieve their workout goals. Yes, there is a science to building muscle, and it starts by following a well-designed exercise plan. It can be a workout found in a book, a magazine, an exercise DVD, one in an exercise app. Just make sure you are following an intelligently-designed strength training plan. (Ideally one created by someone with an exercise-science related degree and/or possessing one of the top fitness certifications, such as those from the ACSM, NSCA or NASM.)   2. CHOOSE YOUR PLAN CAREFULLY: Unfortunately it’s not enough to simply follow a plan – You also have to ensure that the one you do select is based on sound exercise science. Thanks in large part to the internet and social media there’s a plethora of bad fitness advice, questionable workout plans and self-proclaimed “fitness experts” out there. Choosing an improper strength training plan can not only keep you from achieving your goals, it may also potentially lead to injury. Be sure you seek out information from a reputable source.   3. USE APPROPRIATE RESISTANCE: There is a line often used in fitness: “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” When it comes to resistance training and building muscle, the concept is known as the “Overload Principle.” Simply put, it means you should lift weights that are challenging, without losing your ability to maintain safe, proper form. The human body is an extremely intelligent machine, and can adapt to the stressors imposed upon it. Lifting the appropriate weight breaks down your muscle tissue and your body “adapts” by rebuilding and repairing itself, including increasing the size of your muscle fibers.   4. EAT YOUR PROTEIN: Amino acids are the building blocks of muscle, and protein is made up of amino acids. Failure to eat adequate daily protein can prevent you from building lean muscle. A good strategy is to try to consume high-quality sources of protein with each meal.   5. BE CONSISTENT: Lifting weights a few times a month will simply not get you the muscle building results you are looking for. You need to overload the muscles at least a few times per week to adequately overload and stimulate your muscular system.[annotation]Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. (2016). Effects of Resistance Training Frequency on Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine. 46(11):1689-1697. A good plan is to engage in a full-body strength training workout three times per week on non-consecutive days.  It doesn’t matter if you do it at home or the gym, with free weights, machines, or your body weight. You just need to do it, and do it consistently.   6. GIVE IT TIME: Building muscle, like just about everything related to exercise, takes time. No, it won’t happen overnight, or even in a few weeks for that matter. But it can happen, as long as you don’t expect immediate results and you follow the advice listed above.   Reference: https://myvega.ca/blog/tips-for-building-muscle/

Whether it’s macrobiotics, Ayurvedic practices, raw food or food combining—I love finding ways to reduce stress and increase energy. I’ll take my research and obsession with freshness and nutrient density, and turn them into approachable tips to help you prosper. Regardless if you are plant-based or not, I hope to help you reach optimal wellness with the most up-to-date information on healthy living. Many Vega employees, and of course our formulator Brendan Brazier, are cardio fanatics. Of the five members of the Vega Education Team (my department) I’m literally the only one that is not a runner and has not done a marathon. But no shame here; my training is in functional athletics. However cardio training, or aerobic conditioning, is important for heart health and overall fitness levels, for athletes of all types. If you’re like me and dreaded the timed mile test in high school or the thought of “going for a run” sounds excruciating, you’ll love my favorite fun cardio workouts that are not running: Trampoline If you haven’t been on a trampoline yet, or since childhood, you are missing out. I just got a mini one for my home as a way to encourage myself to do more cardio. The benefits of bouncing on a trampoline are said to include invigoration of the heart and cardiovascular system while being gentle on your joints and tissues. It can also be used for improving your balance as well. Some athletes use trampolines to improve their speed, jump and anaerobic performances. 1 If you don’t want to invest in one for your home, many gyms now offer classes using this equipment or better yet there are trampoline parks where you can take your entire family to play. Jump rope Jumping rope is like a little black dress: simple, classic and never goes out of style. It also has the benefit of being portable; if you’re traveling, pack one in your suitcase and it hardly takes up any room. Whether you’re in a gym or outside in the sunshine jumping rope is great way to achieve cardio benefits and shows potential for improving shoulder strength as well. 2 Rowing Rowing is one of my new favorite workouts. As a full body movement it gets your heart rate up, making it an effective cardiovascular exercise and is a great deal of fun. Some of the rowing machines (ergs) even have games that you play as you row. High-intensity and short duration rowing is said to preserve skeletal muscle function and structure, in addition to playing a role in preventing atrophy in antigravity muscles (joint stabilizing muscles  such as quadriceps, glutes, and spinal erectors—muscles of the lower back).3 A quick internet search can help you find rowing clubs near you so you can experience this activity outdoors and meet other people interested in fitness. If you haven’t noticed I love workouts that don’t feel like workouts. Finding an activity that you enjoy doing is a great way to ensure that you’ll continue with it. What are your favorite fun workouts that are great for the cardiovascular system?   References1. Karakollukcu M, Aslan CS, Paoli A, et al. (2014) Effects of mini trampoline exercise on male gymnasts’ physiological parameters: a pilot study. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.2. Duzgun I, Baltaci G, Colakoglu F, et al. (2010) The effects of jump-rope training on shoulder isokinetic strength in adolescent volleyball players. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 19(2):184-99.3. Krainski F, Hastings JL, Heinicke K, et al. (2014). The effect of rowing ergometry and resistive exercise on skeletal muscle structure and function during bed rest. Journal of Applied Physiology. 116(12):1569-81.   By Paige Snyder https://myvega.ca/blog/best-cardio-workouts-despise-running/

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a gym beginner, staying motivated to work out can be a challenge.  Let’s overcome this challenge together! Below are 10 tips that I’ve learned through my own experiences as a Personal Trainer for staying motivated.  I have worked with all types of people, personalities, and ages! I even pride myself on exercising my cat, Mitzi!  Believe me, she wasn’t the most motivated to workout. I hope these tips are helpful and keep you on a path to overwhelming wellness in your life. Try something new! Ever taken a yoga class? Pilates? Cycle? Barre? Zumba? Kickboxing?  There’s an abundance of classes available to let you experience something new. Find hobbies that keep your body moving.  That way, you’re enjoying your workouts!  Some of these include (but of course, are not limited to) hiking, paddle boarding, surfing, running, swimming, and cycling. Keep an exercise calendar. Set up a calendar and keep track of your workouts. It will help you stay consistent and you can plan ahead a week in advance. Keep a workout journal. Be proud of your workout accomplishments!  If you’re a weight lifter, track your sets/reps and muscle groups trained.  If you go for a 30-minute run, write it down! Find a workout buddy.  Whether it’s for spotting you on a bench press, or having a jogging buddy, finding people who are as motivated as you are will be a great way to keep on track. Plan your meals. Focusing on exercising is only part of the battle! Making sure your food choices are as thoughtful as your exercises will keep you fast tracking to success. Be kind to yourself.  Be your own #1 supporter.  No one is perfect; there will be days when you have planned a workout and didn’t get to it.  When those days happen, be kind to yourself…tell yourself it is ok and you will try again. Get enough sleep.  If you’re moving your body more, your body needs rest! Stretching, Foam Rolling.  In my personal experience, stretching and foam rolling after working out feels great.  I may be at home while watching a TV show, and stretching out my glutes, hips, calves…and foam rolling my IT band.   Multitasking is great! Get Excited.  The fact that you read all the way to the bottom of this blog posts tells me that you are already on the right track. Good luck and have fun! Have a fitness tip? Share it in the comments. Kara Hamada http://naturalfactors.com/articles/top-10-tips-for-staying-motivated-to-work-out/

OUR NUMBER ONE MUSCLE BUILDING ALLY The history of protein supplementation is long and storied. Esteemed nutritionist and physical culturist Rheo H Blair (formally Irvin Johnson) kickstarted the industry in the 1950s with his famous Rheo Blair Hi Protein mix, which consisted of calcium caseinate and sodium from skim milk powder, whey and dried whole eggs. Ahead of its time, Blair’s concoction delivered 17.5 grams of protein per 1/4th cup serving and with its rich complement of milk and eggs defied the then-current industry standard, soy (now regarded to be inferior protein source). Blair determined that the best way to build muscle was through diet rich in eggs and milk and, for his time, before the modern whey protein era, he was right. From the 60s through to the present day, the protein supplementation industry has exponentially grown to where it is now a multibillion dollar enterprise. For much of its history, the protein industry standard was milk, egg, and soy, taken separately but usually combined. Bodybuilders being bodybuilders would try anything to gain muscle and in the early days the protein formulations were extremely crude, of a chunky consistency, virtually unpalatable, and just plain ineffective. Iron pumpers of the 60s would, for example, force down Bob Hoffman’s Protein from the Sea, a vile concoction of seaweed and other questionable ingredients, which tasted like dried fish scales. It was however an extremely effective emetic (vomit inducer). EVEN AS LATE AS THE EARLY-90S, BODYBUILDERS WOULD SEEK THE ANABOLIC EDGE THROUGH THICK, CONGEALED, MILK-POWDER HEAVY PRODUCTS OF DUBIOUS EFFICACY. The argument that whole foods nutrition trumped targeted supplementation in the muscle building stakes was likely a valid one until the next wave of protein supplementation hit stores. Now, with the advent of decidedly more potent protein blends featuring various grades of whey (unquestionably the current gold standard in muscle building nutrition) and casein, the iron community are treated to products that not only work fast and effectively to add quality mass but which also taste great, mix well and provide a host of additional health benefits. Why whey? Because bodybuilders require higher than average levels of protein to recover and grow from strenuous training and advanced levels of muscle microtrauma, they must consume a minimum a one gram of protein per pound of body weight, per day. Not only must hard training bodybuilders (and indeed all strength athletes and high performing sportspeople) achieve a sufficient daily protein intake, but the protein they consume must be of the highest possible quality (try putting diesel in your Ferrari and see how far you get). IT IS FOR BOTH OF THESE REASONS THAT WHEY PROTEIN HAS BECOME THE GO-TO SUPPLEMENT FOR SERIOUS BODYBUILDERS. Derived from the cheese making process and containing high levels of all of the essential amino acids (those that must be provided in the diet, unlike the nonessential aminos, which can be manufactured through the breakdown of proteins in the body) and a superior ratio of the branched-chain amino acids (which account for 35% of all amino acids found in muscle tissue and which are crucial for optimal muscle building progress), whey builds muscle faster than any other protein type. Furthermore, of all protein sources whey contains the highest levels of the amino acid cysteine, which assists the biosynthesis of glutathione, an important antioxidant and liver detoxifier which helps to prevent muscle cell damage.Importantly for bodybuilders who require rapid protein assimilation at key intervals, whey protein is designed to be absorbed thoroughly and quickly; such rapid absorption is important in that there is less wastage and more of the anabolic goodness can reach the muscles to aid growth. In fact, of all the different protein sources, whey protein comes out on top for its digestibility and utilization, or Net Protein Utilization (NPU), the percentage of protein retained by the body after digestion (whey clocks in at 92% while eggs, another bodybuilding staple, rank second at 88%). Aside from its superior NPU, whey also scores highest in Biological Value (BV) and Protein Efficiently Ratio (PER); respectively, the percentage of a protein that is absorbed and utilized, and the rate at which an individual protein can sustain growth. The BV for whey protein isolate is 159 compared with eggs (100) and chicken (79) while whey’s PER is assessed at an impressive 3.9 in comparison to eggs (3.1) and chicken (2.7). Indeed, all evidence points to whey’s superiority as the perfect protein source for muscle repair and growth. In addition to its clear muscle building advantage, whey has also been shown to promote fat loss, suppress appetite, increase strength, counter stress and depression, and boost immune system integrity, making it an ideal supplement for all who seek health along with lean mass bu ...