Energybits: Take-Two
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Around this time last year I had a chance to try Energybits for the first time. I have to qualify that experience though with the fact that I was 37 weeks pregnant and not really willing to trying something new that I was not previously part of my diet. I spoke with my midwife and she encouraged me to give it a try. I ended up taking half of the recommended serving, you can read about that first much more detailed and informative review HERE (I talk all about the science and nutrition of it, here I'll just describe my experience.) I never ended up incorporating Spirulina algae. I mean I had a baby and promptly forgot about it. Like you tend to do when you're trying to manage a newborn and a three year old, with no prior experience of parenting two children and absolutely no sleep. Things slip through the cracks...like spirulina algae.
So when Energybits offered me another chance to try them I thought I'd give it another chance and be able to have a more definitive opinion on the product. I was given a two serving (30 tablets) tin and decided to split my servings between two days. I took on serving on a Thursday morning before a 6 mile double stroller run. I ate my usual breakfast around 7am and then packed up the car to drive to the running trail. About a half hour before we arrived at the trail I took the bits (30 tablets) with water. For the most part these six mile double stroller runs leave me famished. We get home from the trail around lunch time and I'm starving. What I notice on this run though was that despite eating the same breakfast I eat every.single.morning I didn't have that shaky hungry feeling after the run and that stayed with me throughout the day. I felt "full." I ate my usual meals but I wasn't constantly "grazing" like I do sometimes after hard runs.
I took note of this and thought I'd test out the second serving on my planned long run (16 miles) on Saturday. I totally forgot to take them before my run, so when I arrived home I took them with my usual breakfast, again 30 bits with water. To be honest I would say that my hunger levels on Saturday were 'normal' I didn't experience that "full" feeling I'd felt on Thursday. Perhaps that was because I took the bits after my run instead of before.
I have a feeling that that "full" feeling I had on Thursday did in fact come from the Energybits. The bits themselves "have the highest concentration of protein in the world" according to Energybits. They also point out on their website that algae is a food, not a supplement. Noting that algea is grown and harvested and is naturally occurring vs. supplements which are engineered in a lab. Spirulina algae is extremely protein dense and protein (along with fat) are contributing factors to a feeling of satiety or feeling full. But I'm wondering if on Saturday I didn't get that same feeling because a) I took them after instead of before and b) it was a much more intense workout. Six double stroller miles is tough, but 16 miles with five race-pace miles sandwiched in the middle is tougher. Perhaps if I had taken another serving I would have experienced the same feeling of fullness I did on Thursday.
There area lot of things out there that are beneficial and promote better health and possibly better performance when it comes to running. There are some that are a consistent part of my daily diet, like Bragg's Cider Vinegar and chia seeds, kombucha, coconut oil among others. I think spirulina algae could also be one of these, whether or not it is in the form of Energybits I'm not sure. I feel like the cost* is a bit prohibitive: one bag of 1000 bits, 33 servings (or a months supply if you take it every day) is $115, which works out to about $3.25 a serving. If you spend that much on a coffee every day then maybe it is worth it. Since I don't have a daily spendy coffee habit and am a pretty budget-conscious food shopper. I buy mostly organic and local and want the highest quality for my dollar, but I just can't justify the cost for something that isn't 'essential' in my mind. But I think if something is important enough to you then you probably make room in your budget for it. So if that extra edge is what you're needing Energybits might be the thing for you.
If you would like to try Energybits use the discount code "BLOG" in the coupon box to receive 10% off.
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*After writing this review, Jonathan Levitt the brand manager for Energybits contacted me with this additional information that I found helpful. It makes sense to me to spend a little more for higher quality, that's what I do when I grocery shop. I don't always buy the cheapest brand I try to buy the highest quality (usually organic and local/in season) but still get the most bang for my buck.
[In regards to the price - you can find cheaper spirulina, but you risk contamination (due to quality issues with the water in Japan and standards in Chinese production) and the need to take even more. We had someone recently compare our spirulina with cheaper, store bought options (check it out here: http://bit.ly/12LRRTW). The reason ours costs a bit more is due to quality – we have the highest quality control standards and the spirulina is the best of the best. In virtually all cases, these other companies are mass distributors who sell hundreds of products at very low prices. They rely on volume not quality for profits and in almost all cases, they have used inferior strains of algae, inferior growing or production methods, inferior faster drying techniques (that destroy the enzymes and the nutrition) and inferior packaging methods etc.
In a nutshell, you get what you pay. It will be impossible for the quality of these low price algae to meet the high standards and high quality as ours. As a result you may need to take 4-5 times as much to get the same concentration nutrition that is found in ours. Plus you always run the risk of contaminants being in low quality algae unlike ours which is guaranteed pure. Algae is ALL we do. We are "algae specialists." You always get the best from a specialist. We think people’s health is worth it.}
Disclaimer: I was provided with a sample of Energybits free of charge. The views expressed in this review are my own and based on personal experience. I am not a nutritionist or doctor and you should consult one if you have questions about the health benefits of Spirulina Algae.
--Sarah
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