How to respond to the label and who to believe…

Sound familiar?

If we’re totally honest with ourselves, we all love a good buzzword. And despite being educated, knowledgeable or even somewhat informed, we can’t help but be tempted by these sneaky little marketing power words that happily nudge our desire to be healthy. But are they just a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Most of the time, sadly, yes.

For instance – did you know that when people see “gluten-free” on a box of oats, unsuspecting shoppers are merely 2 steps away from being duped? All oats are gluten-free people. Really. But by stating the obvious, marketers want to make you believe it’s a superior product, when in fact, it’s just an excuse to hike up the price R50 more than it needs to be. And seeing the word “superfood” often leads to binge eating because we’re like, “wow, I’m going to get super healthy by eating all these amazing superfoods”.  In reality, eating a variety of food is what will lead to overall wellness, not one ‘magical superfood’.

OK – well, what then, you may ask. So, you ask the internet. And as much as we all have honourary PhDs from Dr. Google, you’ll find just as many articles stating the “terror of tomatoes on your body” as you will find articles on “tomatoes – the food of the future”.

Sadly, much of the narrative is bias and subjective to whoever paid for the study. Then how do we know what sources to trust? Science, research, and medical journals that are unfunded and factual are beyond our reach, and we don’t have access to them. So, what we do is go back to basics.

Un-dupe yourselves and read the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV).

Nutritional labels tell you the nutritional content of your foods. They can help you make decisions about which foods and drinks to buy. Have a look HERE (https://www.heartfoundation.co.za/topical_articles/understanding-food-labels/) for a refresher course or a deeper understanding. You can also familiarize yourself with the nutritional values of the general foods you enjoy every day. By doing so, you empower yourself to 1.) make good choices and 2.) not become a sucker (because you deserve better).

If you want someone to do the thinking for you, ask a professional. Many nutritionists are open to responding, I do this all the time, and they often respond for FREE. Why? Because they’re not interested in making a quick buck off you but rather in your overall health. You can also access reputable non-funded sites such www.examine.com who also respond via email should you need supplement advice.

Don’t take what you read on google at face value.

So, what does HPR nutritional label reveal?

Our favourite High Protein Recovery Milk has 888 KJ per serving which is around 211 calories. When considering your food budget for the day, this protein power-bomb comfortably fits into most eating plans (including deficit ones), all while boosting your macros. Now some may comment on the 22g of sugar on the label. Sure, that seems a lot, but don’t let that mislead you – 11g of that is lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in dairy. HPR is only sweetened by ¼ teaspoon of sugar, which is a lot less than what the average person puts in their coffee. Lactose also supports microorganisms in the gut, leading to a healthy biome, translating to the better absorption of nutrients i.e. better for your body.

Calorie-dense also doesn’t equal ‘bad’. We have to start shifting away from a good’ and ‘bad’ food mentality – we need to retrain our brains to think “fuel” for our bodies based on our individual daily calorie “budget’. It’s a beautiful thing when ‘fuel’ and ‘budget’ align – spending your calories allowance on nutrient-dense foods that support your health goals.

Optimal recovery and post-exercise nutrient replacement is so important – recovery milk is perfect for post-training recovery – this is scientifically proven, and the label reinforces this. That’s not Dr. Google, that, my friends, is a fact!

So many times, we are not willing to change, see the bigger picture, and we’re very set in our ways. Don’t be afraid to step outside yourself. Try adding a scientifically proven product to your training regimen. Change the way you’re eating. For the rest – ask for help and empower yourselves with basic label-reading knowledge.

Eating ‘healthily’ should not be this or that; it should be colourful, nutrient-rich and moderate. (Yes, Mom, we’ll eat the rainbow now), and HPR can actively contribute to that.

Professional athlete or everyday enthusiast – I would love to support your journey – feel free to contact me.

All my love,

Candice

HPR is a specially formulated, high-quality protein recovery drink, packed with 21 grams of protein and 8 added vitamins that are crucial for high-intensity exercises. It provides all the necessary components to speed up muscle recovery so you can Recover Like a Pro.