We’re the first to admit that it can be hard to consume a healthy and perfectly balanced diet every single day! On busy days, when your nutrition takes a back seat, nutrient-dense whole foods are often the first to go and be replaced with nutrient-poor and heavily processed convenience foods. For this far too common problem, we have your solution...

 

Introducing True Superfood Vegan Protein Blend, combining multiple wholefood ingredients with bioavailable plant-based protein powder. The combination of nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit and whole grain extracts provides a nutritionally-dense formulation of essential vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre, good fats, antioxidants and phytonutrients (beneficial plant chemicals). 

 

We explore all the superfood ingredients, the health benefits and ways you can incorporate True Superfood into your healthy and active lifestyle.

 

Pure plant protein

 

Don’t let the word ‘vegan’ deter you. Plant-based, vegetarian or vegan protein sources are often slammed for being incomplete or lacking, particularly in branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). True Superfood is an excellent source of protein providing more than 21g of high quality and bioavailable protein in a single serve. 

 

True Superfood combines premium plant protein powders, namely pea protein isolate and organic brown rice protein found in our popular Vegan85 blend and the new pumpkin seed protein. Our pumpkin seed protein is European-sourced and certified organic providing a rich source of fibre, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper, which makes it a superfood in its own right. 

 

The combination and ratios of the three plant-based proteins ensure a complete protein source of both essential and non-essential amino acids, including the three BCAAs, leucine, isoleucine and valine, known for their roles in the recovery of exercise-induced muscle damage and preservation of lean muscle mass^1,2. 

 

Vegetarian lifestyle or not, protein is an important nutrient to watch, particularly if your goal is to shed fat or gain muscle mass. True Superfood has a protein concentration of more than 50%, so you know your protein needs are covered with every serve.

 

A trio of nuts

 

True Superfood contains cashew meal, almond meal and organic peanut butter powder, 8g per serving to be exact. The trio provides a rich serving of heart-healthy unsaturated fats as well as fibre, vitamin E and minerals folate, magnesium, calcium and potassium. 

 

By including nuts into your diet, you’re taking a positive step towards a quality healthy diet. Tree nut consumption has demonstrated beneficial health outcomes including improved glycaemic control, lipid (fat) metabolism, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. These physiological mechanisms have implication on healthy blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels³.

 

Even though tree nuts are energy-dense, their consumption does not appear to cause weight gain, but rather the opposite, consumption of tree nuts has been proven to assist with satiety (the feeling of fullness), likely due to their rich protein, fibre and healthy fat content, and also thermogenesis, which is a process where your body burns calories to produce heat³.

 

Sustainable Aussie chia

 

The ground chia seeds in True Superfood is sustainably grown, sun-ripened and milled right here in Australia. It is brown in colour with a mild nutty flavour and aroma. Chia seeds are considered a powerhouse of fatty acids, approximately 64% is omega-3 fatty acids which are well known for their cardioprotective effects⁴. Chia is considered a superfood because it’s highly nourishing to the body. Our chia is almost 40% dietary fibre and rich in minerals calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus, with only a trace amount of sodium and carbohydrate.

 

 

Psyllium husk

 

Psyllium husk is the fibre component of the shrub-like plant, plantago ovata. Consuming psyllium husk is often recommended by medical professionals as a natural way to boost your dietary fibre intake to encourage bowel regularity and assist symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) such as constipation and bloating⁵. It has also been shown to improve symptoms of heartburn and reflux⁶.

 

 

Organic Maca

 

Our certified organic Peruvian Maca Powder originates from the root of the lepidium meyenii plant, which looks similar to a turnip. Maca has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac for both men and women. Modern science explores the use of maca supplementation on sexual health, and it has now been scientifically validated to increase sexual desire⁷. Maca has a high antioxidant content, specifically quercetin and anthocyanins, which have been associated with enhanced learning and memory in studies on mice⁸. Another study involving women supplementing with maca showed improvements in diastolic blood pressure and a reduction in depressive symptoms⁹. 

 

Maca powder is a natural superfood that has been suggested to support general wellbeing and energy levels^10,11.

 

Organic acai berry

 

Native to Central and South America, this small purple berry is a potent antioxidant and superfood in its own right. The acai in True Superfood is certified organic, raw and freeze-dried straight from the Amazonian regions of Colombia, which means it retains all of its nourishing properties.

 

Acai has been studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in some metabolic, cardiovascular, renal and psychiatric conditions, with various potential benefits. Acai also acts as a prebiotic in the body which nourishes and feeds gut microbiota for promoting positive overall gut health¹². 

 

Natural flavours and sweeteners

 

In line with the True Protein promise, True Superfood is 100% natural. Flavoured with natural ingredients or extracts like organic vanilla bean powder and sugar-free cocoa, and sweetened only with the smallest amount of organic stevia. You are assured that the delicious taste comes solely from whole food ingredients and no nasty or artificial additives. 

 

Suggested uses

 

As the name suggests, True Superfood is packed full of nourishing whole food ingredients so it can be enjoyed at any time of day. Mix one serving (40g) with 250ml water for a mid-afternoon snack to curb your sugar cravings or drink it post-workout to feed your starving muscles.

 

The combination of high protein and low calories makes True Superfood the perfect meal replacement for those looking to lose weight and shed fat.

 

True Superfood is a versatile staple for any pantry. Try mixing it with coconut oil, True MCT or a natural nut butter for an easy protein ball recipe. Sprinkle it on your muesli or oats at breakfast for a nutrient boost, or why not try adding it to your favourite raw treat recipe? 

 

True Superfood can be enjoyed not only by vegans and vegetarians but by anyone who is looking for a high protein, nutrient-dense and convenient addition to a healthy and active lifestyle.

 

Ingredients list

It’s often suggested to choose packaged foods with the least amount of ingredients. Why? Because you would hope that only the essential ingredients would be included with no hidden or artificial additives. Unfortunately, this concept isn’t regulated in our food system, so it’s up to you, the consumer, to understand and interpret the ingredients list and nutrition information panel (NIP) yourself.

 

Even though we’ve already discussed the benefits of True Superfood, for complete transparency and to ensure you are confident in knowing that this product truly is healthy and natural, here is the entire ingredients list and macronutrient profile of True Superfood:

 

True Superfood - Rich Chocolate:

Pea protein isolate, organic brown rice protein, organic pumpkin protein, organic powdered peanut butter, natural cocoa, organic chia seed flour, cashew flour, almond meal, psyllium husk, organic acai berry powder, organic maca powder, organic inulin, natural chocolate flavour, vegetable gum and organic stevia.

 

Per 40g serve: 

157Cal

21.5g protein

8g carbohydrate

4.8g fat

 

True Superfood - French Vanilla: 

Pea protein isolate, organic brown rice protein, organic pumpkin protein, organic powdered peanut butter, organic chia seed flour, cashew flour, almond meal, psyllium husk, organic acai berry powder, organic maca powder, organic inulin, natural vanilla flavour, vegetable gum, organic vanilla bean powder and organic stevia.

 

Per 40g serve: 

154Cal

22.5g protein

7.1g carbohydrate

4.6g fat

 

References:

 

1. Fouré A, Bendahan D. Is Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation an Efficient Nutritional Strategy to Alleviate Skeletal Muscle Damage? A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017;9(10):1047. doi:10.3390/nu9101047.

2. Dudgeon, W. D, Kelley, E. P. and Scheett, T. P. In a single-blind, matched group design: branched-chain amino acid supplementation and resistance training maintains lean body mass during a caloric restricted diet. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2016, 13:1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0112-9

3. De Souza RGM, Schincaglia RM, Pimentel GD, Mota JF. Nuts and Human Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1311. doi:10.3390/nu9121311.

4. Ullah R, Nadeem M, Khalique A, et al. Nutritional and therapeutic perspectives of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.): a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2016;53(4):1750-1758. doi:10.1007/s13197-015-1967-0.

5. El-Salhy M, Ystad SO, Mazzawi T, Gundersen D. Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2017;40(3):607-613. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2017.3072.

6. Morozov S, Isakov V, Konovalova M. Fiber-enriched diet helps to control symptoms and improves esophageal motility in patients with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;24(21):2291-2299. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i21.2291.

7. G. F. Gonzales, A. Córdova, K. Vega, A. Chung, A. Villena, C. Góñez and S. Castillo. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men. Andrologia. 2002 Dec;34(6):367-72.

8. Rubio J, Qiong W, Liu X, et al. Aqueous Extract of Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Memory Impairment Induced by Ovariectomy in Mice. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2011;2011:253958. doi:10.1093/ecam/nen063.

9. L. Stojanovska, C. Law, B. Lai, T. Chung, K. Nelson, S. Day, V. Apostolopoulos & C. Haines (2015) Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women, Climacteric, 18:1, 69-78, DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2014.929649

10. Gonzales GF1, Gonzales C, Gonzales-Castañeda C. Lepidium meyenii (Maca): a plant from the highlands of Peru--from tradition to science. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009 Dec;16(6):373-80. doi: 10.1159/000264618. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

11. Zenico T1, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, Mercuriali M, Bercovich E. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well‐being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double‐blind clinical trial. Andrologia. 2009 Apr;41(2):95-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00892.x.

12. Martins ICVS, Borges NA, Stenvinkel P, Lindholm B, Rogez H, Pinheiro MCN, Nascimento JLM and Mafra D. The value of the Brazilian açai fruit as a therapeutic nutritional strategy for chronic kidney disease patients. Int Urol Nephrol. 2018 Jun 18. doi: 10.1007/s11255-018-1912-z.