Reporting Live from the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA
Today I’m reporting live from the Natural Products Expo West, ok almost live. I’m here to check different products and foods and gather some insights for items you can look for in the future when you visit your local health food store. Here are a few highlights from the expo…
Macro Greens
Macro Greens offers a whole green food supplementation product which is hypoallergenic (no dairy/wheat/sugar), is sweetened with stevia- balances blood sugar, contains 18.5 billion probiotics and has 5 extra digestive enzymes. These features help balance blood sugar, boost brain function, support your endocrine system, clean kidneys, and many other benefits. It’s also raw, vegan friendly, and certified organic.
Tip: An important thing to keep in mind is that just because our bodies crave food and we feed it, it doesn’t mean we’re getting the right nutrients. Foods that are high in nutrients will not only fuel the body but curb unnecessary cravings.
I use this green product in my smoothie. I also drink it in water to curb my sweet cravings at night.
Larabar- natural raw bar
I typically like Larabar for a quick emergency snack, this year they have a new chocolate line. I’m not excited about the extra sugar in these bars. I would stick with the original flavors.
Energy Bar Vendors
There are plenty of energy and protein bar vendors here today selling products that are supposedly good for you. Even though this is a natural products expo I’ve seen plenty of artificial flavors and sweeteners in some of these bars. These bars claim to make you muscular and strong (they even have to have models to promote it!). But don’t believe the hype! Steer clear! This just reiterates that you really do need to read labels.
Vega
I spoke with Rob Cheeke at the Vega booth. Looks like he is Brendans right hand man.
Vega has a new sports line of products. They have a pre workout energy drink with ginger, ginseng, yerba mate, green tea, rhodiola, kombucha all for quick and sustained energy. They also have a post work out drink that contains 5 different kinds of protein and is a great workout aid!
This guy is sure energized! I want whatever he is having! He is a great representative of a plant based diet and what’s a person is capable of. Not everyone aspires to be as lean and ripped as he is but we can definitely appreciate what it must take to get there.

Growing Naturals
Growing Naturals produces a line of allergen-free, GMO free, raw (under 120 degrees), vegan, whole grain bio-available rice-protein drinks. It’s the only whole grain rice protein on the market right now. I didn’t know this but other brands only use parts of the rice and not the entire brown rice. This gives them the advantage of added key nutrients and amino acids that are found in the protein bran.
What’s interesting about this company is that the processing that happens to create the protein concentrate is an enzyme process and it’s heated under 120 degree which keeps the rice protein in a more natural state.
I had an awesome time at the expo! I can’t wait to share more product reviews with you in my next video.
Kardena Pauza,
Author of Easy Veggie Meal Plans, 90 day vegetarian weight loss program
I even met John Grey! (author of Men are from Mars women are from Venus)
With all this cold weather recently, aren’t you craving something warm? Maybe something Italian? How about a healthy alternative for spaghetti made from winter squash?
A note on spaghetti sauces:
One of my favorite snacks is granola and I ate it all the time as a youngster. But I found out later, granola can be high in sugar and high in dense calories from grains and nuts! No wonder I gained weight in high school!

Why soak nuts and seeds?

This is how I make my quick, easy and delicious Blueberry Banana Smoothies. You can also find this recipe in my 




Making almond milk is easy, inexpensive, and a healthy alternative to cows milk, soy milk, or even processed almond milk.
e and have fun!
While everyone is scared about not getting enough protein, most dieters are equally scared about getting TOO MANY carbohydrates. So let’s take a look at proper carbohydrate intake when using the Easy Veggie Meal Plans to lose weight.
Today we’re cruising in my veggie car to go skiing at Mammoth Mountain here in California. I’m looking forward to snowboarding and traveling a healthy way.



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