Gnu bar review + Giveaway!

~~~~~~~~THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED~~~~~~~~

My friends over at Gnu foods have sent me a sampler box = 14 bars with 7 flavor varieties!  After trying a tiny nibble from each, I decided to share the rest.  Keep reading to find out how you can score your own variety pack of 7 gnu bars!

Gnu bars are known for combining "flavor and fiber at last" and I couldn't agree more.  With 7 different flavors to choose from, you're bound to fall in love with several of the flavors.  My favorite is peanut butter.  It tastes just like a chewy peanut butter granola bar- yum!  The other flavors are banana walnut, chocolate brownie, cinnamon raisin, espresso chip, lemon ginger, and orange cranberry (second place favorite).

All About Fiber

Fiber is important in a balanced diet because it helps keep us “regular”, may help prevent certain diseases (Diabetes, Heart, Cancer), and can aid in weight management by keeping us full longer.  For individuals with gastrointestinal issues (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis, Diverticulitis), fiber can help prevent flare-ups and control undesirable symptoms. 

Adults need a lot more fiber a day than most are getting.  Here are some guidelines:

• Men, 50 years old and younger= 38 g/day
• Men, 51 years old and older=30 g/day
• Women, 50 years old and younger= 25 g/day
• Women, 50 years old and older= 21 g/day

The general rule for children aged 3-18 years old is to add “5” to their age in years. For example, a 5 year old needs 10 g/day of fiber.

Sports Nutrition: Eating and Exercise (Part 2)

We established in Sports Nutrition Part 1 that healthy living is a 2-sided coin.  Part 1 discussed exercise tips so Part 2 will focus on eating in regards to exercise.  Fueling your body is essential for a successful workout.  When you start exercising, your body pulls energy from the carbs stored in your muscles and liver (glycogen) before it starts breaking down fat stores.  If you want to burn more fat, you have to do endurance exercise like jogging.  Depending on the intensity of your workout, you can exercise for shorter or longer to burn more calories.  

What to eat prior to exercising:

You don’t want to eat immediately before you work out as this can cause cramping or nausea but you definitely want to have a nourished body.  For some morning gym-goers, a drink of water is adequate prior to working out since your body is using stored energy from last night’s dinner anyways.  If you feel very hungry, than definitely eat a small carb-rich snack at least 30 minutes before.  If you exercise later in day, try to eat a large meal 3-4 hours before exercising or a smaller snack 1-2 hours beforehand.