Take Your Algae!

I love all things green.  Something about being able to sip a drink, chew a tab or mix a smoothie that contains all sorts of green goodness has always appealed to me.  Although I do enjoy eating kale, spinach and other green veggies, I know that I don't get enough.  And green goodies like spirulina?  Doesn't really seem to make it into my daily diet too often.
So a couple months ago I was delighted to find out about Energy Bits from Katherine at Real Food Runner Blog.  I entered the giveaway and I won!  Energy Bits sent me a travel tin with their green algae energy tabs.  
If you know me you know that before I ingest anything I like to know what it is, where it came from and what it is going to do to me.  One of the best things about energy bit?  One ingredient:  Spirulina Algae.  And, even though they come in pill(tab) form, they are not supplements but FOOD.  So it's really dehydrated bits of organically grown, raw algae.  No added ingredients, fillers or binding agents.
So...what's the deal with them?

• Spirulina algae is shown to open up blood vessels to give your brain and body a steady supply of oxygen and nourishment.  That means an energy booster without any chemicals!
• Algae contains over 40 vitamins and minerals, along with a healthy dose of amino acids.
• 1 serving (12 tabs) contains 64% protein!  In comparison, animal protein only contains about 22% protein per serving.  So that means algae really packs a protein punch in a animal-free way.

This is just a very short list of the benefits of algae.  To learn more click here to go to the Energy Bits site, where you can find out anything and everything you want to know about the tabs.

I love all-natural products and boosting my immune system.  Don't you?
It is recommended to take 20-30 tabs before exercise or activity.  Keep in mind these are food, not supplements.  They may come in tab/pill form, but think of them more like a snack that you can munch or swallow.

Dr. Oz on the detoxifying anti-brain fog properties of Chorella:

Can you get algae--spirulina and chorella--from other sources?  Definitely.  But Energy Bits are so convenient I don't know why you would want to.  

A serving is 12 tabs and EnergyBits recommends taking 20-30 bits daily to meet most dietary needs.  I was able to swallow 6 at a time, 2 gulps of water provided me with the full 12 in a serving.  I took them on a few different occasions, once on a Sunday evening, once in the afternoon after a long day of teaching and once before teaching a full schedule of classes.  I did feel like I had less hunger/food cravings and more energy.

So what about the taste?

You can swallow the tabs whole but you don't have to.  You can also chew them up like a handful of nuts.  So, I HAD to try chewing them, right?  They are described as having an earthy taste, and they do.  I would describe it like plain roasted soy nuts mixed with a little bit of ocean.  The taste didn't bother me, but the bits did stick in my teeth a bit.  I prefer to swallow them whole.

What I love about Energy Bits is the fact that they pack such a nutritional punch.  Plus, they are food, not pills, which means I can eat them on an empty stomach, on the go, in between classes.

I have a super special treat for you today!

Energy Bits has been kind enough to sponsor a giveaway of a travel tin of their tabs.  Entering the giveaway is easy, and there are multiple ways to enter:

1. Head to the Energy Bits Website and then comment below about which health benefit of algae you are most interested in.
2. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and then comment below to let me know.
3. Follow Energy Bits on Twitter and Facebook and then comment below to let me know.

3 chances to enter, 3 chances to WIN! :)  Giveaway ends November 4, 2012, with the winner announced soon after.

ALSO--Energy Bits is offering a 30% discount on ANY of their bags of algae bits.  The discount runs until October 31st so act fast!  This is their first major discount they have ever offered...it is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month... and I am super excited to share it with you.  just enter the code BREASTCANCER into the coupon box upon ordering

A quick note from the Energy Bits company on why Breast Cancer awareness is important to them:

"As you likely know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. But what you may not know is that our company was started four years ago as a result of our Founder’s younger sister being diagnosed with breast cancer and being told by her oncologist to eat an alkaline diet to help her heal. When our Founder helped her sister learn what foods to eat (anything green) she discovered algae. The rest, as they say is history." 

Good luck on the giveaway and don't forget the 30% off discount for Energy Bits!