Energy Bits Review

• 6 • Live Well, Thoughts

Update, January 2, 2015: I’ve made the decision to stop buying Energy Bits because I’m concerned about safety.  Spirulina itself is safe and an extremely beneficial superfood, but upon further reading I’m no longer comfortable with the risk of toxin contamination.  I believe EnergyBits as a company is one of the best, most cautious producers, and people making the decision to continue eating spirulina should heavily consider using EnergyBits as their source.  However, reading more about how dangerous contaminated spirulina can be, I’ve decided to avoid it and opt for chlorella (which doesn’t carry the same contamination risks) instead.  In addition, I’ve learned that the B-12 in spirulina isn’t effective at fixing a B-12 deficiency in humans, eliminating one of the fringe benefits I found appealing.

Dr. Michael Greger, M.D. addresses spirulina use in this article, with several additional videos about it linked at the bottom of the article.

I might occasionally purchase Recovery Bits from the same parent company, 100% chlorella tabs that are also certified non-GMO organic.  They have different benefits, but are also nutrient dense and have some detox benefits that any champagne lover can appreciate.  Dr. Greger addresses chlorella here: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/latest-on-blue-green-algae/

I’ve left my original review of Energy Bits below, and wish you the best as you make a decision about what’s right for your health and family!

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I recently accepted a free sample of energy bits in exchange for posting a review.  I’d never done this before, but a lot of the runners I follow on twitter had started using energybits, and #poweredbybits kept popping up in my feed.

What ARE these “bits”, and why are so many runners I follow into them?  Curiosity won.

What they are:  ENERGYbits are 100% spirulina algae tabs.  They’re designed to be swallowed, so you don’t have to taste the GREEN.  Spirulina is a nutritional powerhouse, it’s a plant protein that has a high percentage of protein, vitamins and minerals.  They’re low in calories, just one calorie per tab, but pack a huge protein punch with 5 grams of protein in a 30 calorie serving.  Since it’s bio-available (easily used by your body) protein, that’s even more substantial than 5 grams of protein from a less usable source.  It’s also high in vitamin B, which is essential in rebuilding and repairing muscles for athletes.  Since spirulina is grown in water, it can be easily contaminated by microcystins and it can absorb heavy (toxic) metals.  I asked ENERGYbits’ community manager, Jonathan, about their growing practices and was really impressed by the level of thought and effort they’ve put in to keeping their algae safe.  It’s grown organically, it’s non-GMO certified, and it’s grown in Taiwan rather than Japan to avoid any issues with nuclear contamination (yikes).  The pages of information he sent me were too long to include here, but I’m convinced that if you’re going to buy algae, you should buy it from the safest possible source, and that’s NOT going to be the cheapest source.  I’d recommend ENERGYbits.

Other products: ENERGYbits is part of a line of algae products which also includes RECOVERYbits (100% chlorella), VITALITYbits (50% chlorella, 50% spirulina) and SKINNYbits (100% spirulina – actually the same product as ENERGYbits just marketed differently).  All products are available only online through the energybits.com website… and no, shipping isn’t free.  (Darn you, Amazon Prime for making me feel ripped off when I pay for shipping.)

The claim: ENERGYbits promotes itself as a product that will “eliminate fatigue and hunger instantly” and suggests that you “throw away your energy drinks, gels, bars and supplements”. (www.energybits.com, front page)

My verdict: I’m not so certain.

Enough calories for a long run? ENERGYbits are a great source of nutrition, but at 30 calories a serving, they’re not a great source of calories.  The protein and nutrients are great for an athlete, but we also need calories if we’re going to be doing a long run.  The Community Manager at ENERGYbits, Jonatahn Levitt of www.realfitsocial.com, recommended suplementing ENERGYbits with Pocketfuel or another source of calories for longer runs.

Helpful for weight loss? There’s no doubt that our bodies feel the best when we’re not nutrient deficient, but that doesn’t mean a dose of nutrient dense food will give us the energy boost or stave off hunger in the way that ENERGYbits advertises.  Their website claims that because ENERGYbits are such a good source of bio-available protein that it makes you feel full and reduces cravings.  I’ve had them several times while hungry to see if they’d be a good snack replacement.  An hour later?  Still hungry.  The thought of substituting them for a meal makes me shudder.

I’m disappointed that ENERGYbits are also marketed as SKINNYbits – it’s the same product, just a different website with one targeting athletes and the other targeting people seeking weight loss.  I feel a little bit manipulated, like if you walked into the grocery store and saw three bins of broccoli: “skinny” broccoli, “beauty enhancing” broccoli, and “cancer reducing” broccoli, only to discover they’re all the same product.

I think it’s skeevy to market specific foods to people seeking weight loss.  Any healthy, whole food is going to be a good weight loss option if you’re substituting it for a processed snack.  You don’t need algae tabs, you don’t need acai berries.  Carrots are a super weight loss food if you eat a couple of them instead of processed crackers.  Be real.

These are definitely a healthy snack option, and it’s possible that the protein in them helps reduce cravings.  I didn’t experience reduced hunger, but I can’t rule out the possibility.  But I think relying on them as a weight loss strategy is no substitute for eating healthier all the time, and exercising.

Here’s how I’d recommend approaching weight loss: A nutrient dense approach to weight loss.

NOT a substitute for a whole foods diet: This brings me to my next qualm.  ENERGYbits coined their name because they want consumers to think of them as “bits” of food.  This is fine, algae is food, and they’re selling raw, organic, high quality algae.  Yet they’re marketing them in a similar way that people would market supplements – encouraging people to take spirulina every morning and chlorella every night to experience the best health benefits.  

I don’t disagree that these are nutrient dense.

However, I ALSO think that kale, carrots, broccoli, onions, garlic, mushrooms, zucchinni, red peppers, bok choy, strawberries, and dozens of other whole food plants are also nutritionally dense, very healthy, and definitely less expensive and more locally available.

If ENERGYbits are food, I would suggest we treat them like food – eat them as part of a whole foods diet to ensure that we get the balance of nutrients we need to be healthy.  There are very few foods I eat every day.  No one quite understands how the symphony of nutrition works yet, and one thing I strongly believe in is variety.  Kale might have a higher ANDI score than spinach, but it doesn’t have the exact same profile, so if you eliminate spinach from your diet you’re missing out on some things.

Let’s be careful not to overly rely on superfoods for our nutrition and forget that it’s filling our plates with a variety of whole foods that will make us the healthiest.

That doesn’t mean I’m against swallowing a handful of ENERGYbits before you go on a run, or having some RECOVERYbits after a night where you maybe shouldn’t have had that second (third?) glass of wine in hopes that the chlorella will help you detox.  It does mean that at $3.50 a serving, I’m not going to recommend to anyone that they start taking algae tabs daily.  Even if they were free, I believe it’s better to get your nutrition from a variety of sources.  (But they’re SO not free.  Ask my husband who opened the refrigerator door and saw almost $200.00 worth of algae in there.  Chia seeds are such a gateway superfood.)

My experience: I used ENERGYbits for several runs, and those runs went fine. I’ve also used them a couple times during the day when I was feeling exhausted (chasing two kids around!) and felt a boost.

This makes sense.  They’re a fantastic source of nutrients, and a really easy and quick way to get some greens into my diet when I don’t feel like sitting down and eating a salad.

purchasedbits

I got my free sample in exchange for offering to write this review (a tin and two small handfuls of energybits) and after an extensive amount of research into spirulina, chlorella, and the safety and quality of ENERGYbits, I decided to buy my own bags.  They list at $115.00 a bag, which is $3.50 a serving.  I used a discount code from www.forkstofeet.com in order to get 30% off that price – read his review and see if he still has a discount code if you’re interested in buying your own!

How I plan to use my bits: I plan to use my bits like I use other superfoods – as part of a healthy lifestyle, balanced by other whole foods.  I think they’ll be great to take on the go when I don’t have time to make a green smoothie in the morning or haven’t had a salad in a few days.  I definitely like the idea of taking them before my long runs to provide my muscles with the protein and vitamin B they need to recover.

What I love about ENERGYbits: These are a great idea.  They’re fast to take, they’re nutrient dense, and they’re super convenient.  Super, super, super, but just like any “superfood”, I think it’s dangerous to rely on them.  I love chia, goji berries, maca powder, camu powder, and all kinds of other “superfoods”, but because they’re so super, they actually provide more nutrition than we need if we eat all of them every day.

My advice? Watch Forks Over Knives to understand the importance of a whole foods, plant based diet, focus on eating whole foods every day, incorporate “superfoods” when you can, and don’t look for the one, best, healthiest food out there.  It doesn’t exist.

References:

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/spirulina

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/923.html

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21606

http://www.energybits.com

http://www.recoverybits.com

http://www.skinnybits.com

When people are no longer surprised by your running

• 0 • Thoughts

We were up in Maine during an incredibly hot weekend in July. Temperatures were in the nineties, combines with sun and humidity that made it difficult to even BE outside, let alone RUN outside.

I was at an event with some mutual acquaintances, and I told one of them that Greg had run the Shipyard Half Marathon that morning despite the intense heat.

She just shrugged her shoulders, said “of course he did” and asked how my boys were.

Umm, what? What do you mean “of course he did?!” IT IS 90 DEGREES OUT!!!! People fell over on the course! That’s THIRTEEN (.1) MILES!!!!

Ok. Yeah. Of course he did.

I can see her point – Greg has been running very seriously now for over four years, he’s run 4 marathons and 14 half marathons (I think, I’m losing track) and is always towards the front of his age group.  Freezing rain doesn’t stop him.  Wind doesn’t stop him.  90 degree weather doesn’t stop him.  Really, there just isn’t much that stops him.

And yet… now that I’m a runner, I realize that just because he runs fast, long, and often, doesn’t mean it’s EASY.  Yes, he could easily run a half marathon at MY pace, but when he goes out and runs a half marathon in 90 degree weather at HIS pace, he works AS HARD AS HE CAN for all of those 13 miles.  And it’s not easy.  It’s worth more than a shrug, that’s for sure.

But at the same time… it’s a big compliment when you do something awesome and people are no longer surprised.

A friend asked me recently about my running and I told her I was signed up for another half marathon in June, but had been running less recently because of busy family life and the freezing cold weather.  She didn’t seem surprised by either statement.

That’s right… it’s no longer surprising to someone that I’m signed up for a half marathon.

Hmm.  Neat.

Happy running – will you get so far people stop noticing?  Another good reason to do it for yourself 😉

Interview With a Runner: Abby Glassenberg

• 2 • Thoughts
Abby Glassenberg, author of “while she naps“
How long have you been running?
I started running a year ago. I was out in the neighborhood with my kids and ran into you and you were running! You told me about Couch to 5K and I came home and signed up. The mobile app was really terrific for me and eased me into running from literally having done no exercise for months and months prior to beginning. Good thing you’re my neighbor!
How often do you typically run?
I run four mornings a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I don’t run on Wednesday because the public schools here have a half day on Wednesday which means my kids come home at noon. There just isn’t enough time for me to run that day and still get my work done. I also like sticking to a four day schedule because it’s got built in flexibility. If I miss a run on one of my four days I can make it up on the weekend and still get four runs in that week. Flexibility is key, I think, when creating an exercise plan. Nobody’s week is perfect.
What do you listen to when you run? 
I listen to podcasts when I run. I love to get immersed in an interesting story. I find it really helps the time go by. I don’t have much time during my week to read the newspaper so having someone talk to me through my headphones while I run helps me catch up on what’s going on in the world. Here’s a list I created of 20 terrific podcasts: http://whileshenaps.typepad.com/whileshenaps/2013/04/20-podcasts-to-listen-to-while-youre-crafting.html
Do you have a favorite running memory?
The halfway point of my run is going around the high school track. There’s a sandpit there for the long jump and a few months ago there were two shore birds in the sand pit, looking around. I think they thought they were at the beach! Pretty funny looking beach if you ask me. 
Proudest running accomplishment?
I think I’m proudest of actually incorporating running into my life. I no longer have to convince myself to go running. I just go. I truly think (hope!) that after a year of running 12 miles a week it has truly become part of me. I’ve been a very intermittent exerciser previously, so this is a pretty big step.
Any advice for new runners?
Embrace running because it is the most flexible of sports. You can run anywhere, any time, with no special equipment. Running is humble in that way, which is one of the reasons I love it. You don’t need to join a gym, or wait for a class to start, or hire a trainer. You can start today, right where you are, with what you already have.
Abby at a 5k in September of 2012
Abby Glassenberg is my neighbor and the author of the popular craft blog “while she naps, sewing stuffed animals & running a creative business“.  She has written several craft books, including Stuffed Animals, From Concept to Construction which actually teaches you how to design and sew your own stuffed animals.  
Abby has also written a moving piece about running on her own blog: “How I Made Exercise a Part of My Life”.  It’s worth reading.  I love the part where she takes her previous roadblocks to exercising and writes about the solutions that have helped her make exercise a habit.  
Many thanks to Abby, who is a professional blogger and author but was willing to take the time to contribute to my blog and reach out to other runners!  I remember the day she saw me out running with Will in the jogging stroller, at the very beginning of Couch to 5k last July.  I was kind of mortified because I felt like I was a fraud out there in my exercise gear.  I told her right away that I had no idea what I was doing and I was just getting started but I’d found this great program and was really excited about it!  Who would have thought that she and I would both still be running today.  I love it.

Interview With a Runner: Jessica Johnson Sherwood

• 1 • Thoughts

Jessica Johnson Sherwood 

How long have you been running?

I went for my first run about nine months ago, in the beginning of October 2012. I ran/walked a ½ mile down the street – came home and collapsed on the kitchen floor!

How often do you typically run?
For the first few months, I ran 3.1 miles a day, 5 days a week, skipping weekends. As a full time working mom to a 3 year old – the incentive for going to the gym during my lunch hour was that I got to take an uninterrupted shower and fully dry my hair every day! I didn’t even have to play peek-a-boo from behind the shower curtain, yelling out every few minutes, “are you okaaay?” I currently try to run 3 miles at least every other day.

What do you listen to when you run? Is there a favorite song on your playlist?
Music is huge for me. If I forget my headphones, forget it. I’m definitely not the type that can run in silence, alone with my thoughts. It’s like trying to get a massage when I’m super stressed – I just lie there thinking of all of the things I should be doing. I have a ton of songs on my running playlist – it’s quite the variety. Until I can record a drill sergeant yelling at me to KEEP MOVING, DON’T YOU DARE START WALKING! – I like fast paced songs. Current favorite is probably My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark by Fall Out Boy. My favorite song to anchor a run is definitely Warrior’s Call by Volbeat or Diamond Eyes by Shinedown. The most embarrassing song on my playlist is probably Jai Ho from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, closely followed by Spice up your Life by the Spice Girls and The Final Countdown by Europe. I’ve learned through trial and error that if I’m playing the air drums or busting out in dance moves during my run – I need to slow my pace because I’m going to burn out.

Do you have a favorite running or race-day memory?
I was probably the most excited and felt the greatest about myself when I first ran 3.1 miles. I took a picture of the treadmill! The first time you run a distance that qualifies as an actual race? Psshht. I might as well have just won a marathon. Same goes for when I first ran 6.2 miles. I posted it on my Facebook I was so proud!

Proudest running accomplishment?
The week before my first 5k was a super stressful time in my life. The night before, I got about 3 hours of broken sleep.  My husband was out of town and just trying to get me and my little guy and all of his paraphernalia out of the house in time to drive 45 minutes to the race and then find my bib and pin my number on (no Sammy, you can’t play with the pins buddy, they’re sharp) and find the starting line and stretch and wait in line to pee and then wait in line to pee again because the first one was just nerves and hand my son off to my mom who was going to watch him while I ran (Yes I drank a lot of water mom. No I don’t need your gardening gloves, I’m not going to be cold) all while trying to explain to my son that mommy is going to run a race in a few minutes (Aww, sorry bud, you can’t come with me, this race is only for mommy’s and daddy’s … oh, and that kid right there in the running stroller. Damn it! ) If any parent wants some great motivation to run a fast race – have your child peeled out of your arms and then hear him cry for you as the gun fires and you start to run. That’s pretty solid motivation right there.) So my proudest running accomplishment was finishing my first 5k with a great time, under less than ideal life circumstances and being met at the finish line by a hug from my biggest fan (see picture)

Jessica and her son Sammy after her first 5k

Any advice for new runners?
Uhm, probably that your first few runs aren’t going to be enjoyable, but to stick with it. I always hated the thought of running and after my first several runs, I still hated the thought of running. Keep trying new ways to run until you find something you actually enjoy –the treadmill in an air-conditioned gym, a path in the woods, down a busy street. Set a goal yourself – tell yourself to run to that telephone poll. Run to that telephone poll and then run right by it. Or tell yourself to run for 5 minutes straight, and then run for 6. See how that makes ya feel! It was worth it, right?

Thanks to Jess for being my first interview with a runner and sharing her running stories and advice for new runners!  She keeps me laughing and keeps me motivated all at the same time 🙂  Go Jess!!!! you are SO running this 🙂