On National Cashew Day, it's time to pay homage to this delightful nut that often steals the spotlight in the world of snacks and culinary creations. Beyond their irresistible taste and crunchy texture, cashews boast an array of health benefits that make them a superstar in the realm of nuts. Let's dive into the nutritional wonders that make cashews a delectable and nutritious choice.

1. Heart Health:

Cashews are a heart-healthy snack, thanks to their high content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These unsaturated fats can help lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, cashews contain oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil.

2. Rich in Nutrients:

These crescent-shaped wonders are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins like B6, E, and K, along with minerals such as copper, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. These micronutrients play crucial roles in bone health, immune function, and energy metabolism.

3. Weight Management:

Contrary to the myth that nuts should be avoided in weight management, cashews can actually be beneficial. Their combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber helps promote a feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of unhealthy snacking between meals.

4. Boosted Immunity:

Cashews are a fantastic source of zinc, a mineral essential for a well-functioning immune system. Adequate zinc intake supports the production of immune cells and helps the body fight off infections and illnesses.

5. Enhanced Cognitive Function:

Loaded with magnesium, cashews contribute to maintaining healthy brain function. Magnesium has been linked to improved memory and learning abilities, making cashews a smart choice for brain health.

6. Good for Skin and Hair:

The copper content in cashews promotes the production of collagen, a protein vital for maintaining the skin's elasticity and preventing premature aging. Additionally, the antioxidants in cashews contribute to healthy hair and skin by combating oxidative stress.

As we celebrate National Cashew Day, let's savor the deliciousness of cashews while appreciating the numerous health benefits they offer. Whether enjoyed as a standalone snack, sprinkled on salads, or blended into creamy nut butter, cashews are a versatile and nutritious addition to your daily diet. Embrace the goodness of cashews not just for their flavor, but for the well-being they bring to your heart, mind, and body. Cheers to the mighty cashew!

Facts:
A cashew tree usually starts producing three years after it is planted, but it may take up to eight years for peak, harvestable production.

Collagen, often associated with radiant skin, luscious hair, and strong nails, has transcended its cosmetic reputation. While it undoubtedly contributes to a youthful appearance, the benefits of collagen extend far beyond the realm of beauty. In this blog post, we'll explore the lesser-known advantages of collagen that impact various aspects of our health.

1. Joint Health:

  Collagen is a key component of our joints, providing structure to tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Supplementing with collagen can support joint health by promoting elasticity and reducing stiffness. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with joint conditions or those engaged in physically demanding activities.

2. Gut Health:

  The amino acids found in collagen, such as glycine, support a healthy digestive system. Collagen can help soothe and repair the gut lining, potentially alleviating issues like leaky gut syndrome. Improved gut health is associated with better nutrient absorption and overall well-being.

3. Muscle Mass and Metabolism:

  Collagen contains proline, an amino acid essential for muscle tissue repair and growth. Including collagen in your diet can aid in maintaining muscle mass, which becomes increasingly crucial as we age. Moreover, the protein content in collagen may support a healthy metabolism, contributing to weight management.

4. Bone Density:

  Collagen plays a role in bone strength and structure, working alongside minerals like calcium. Supplementing with collagen may help prevent bone loss and support bone density, reducing the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.

5. Cardiovascular Support:

  The amino acid proline, found abundantly in collagen, is associated with heart health. Collagen may contribute to the elasticity of blood vessels, potentially lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and promoting overall cardiovascular well-being.

6. Balanced Blood Sugar:

  Some studies suggest that collagen supplementation may help regulate blood sugar levels. The glycine in collagen is believed to support insulin function, contributing to better glucose control.

While collagen's role in promoting healthier skin, hair, and nails is well-documented, its influence on other aspects of our health is equally noteworthy. From supporting joint flexibility and muscle growth to aiding digestion and promoting cardiovascular health, collagen emerges as a comprehensive ally in our pursuit of overall well-being. Consider incorporating collagen-rich foods or supplements into your routine to unlock these hidden marvels and experience the holistic benefits of this remarkable protein.

You can savor the joy of the season without compromising your well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore some clever tricks to help you navigate the holiday spread while keeping your health goals intact.

1. **Strategic Portions and Mindful Eating:**

  The holiday buffet can be overwhelming, but managing portion sizes is key. Opt for smaller portions of indulgent dishes and savor each bite mindfully. Eating slowly not only enhances the enjoyment of your meal but also gives your body time to signal fullness.

2. **Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate:**

  Water is your ally in maintaining healthy eating habits. Before indulging in holiday treats, drink a glass of water. Staying hydrated can help control hunger and prevent overeating. Consider infusing your water with citrus or herbs for added flavor without added calories.

3. **Prioritize Protein and Fiber:**

  Load your plate with lean proteins and fiber-rich foods. These nutrient-dense choices can help you feel full and satisfied, reducing the temptation to overindulge in less nutritious options. Turkey, veggies, and whole grains are excellent choices.

4. **Smart Substitutions:**

  Get creative with healthier ingredient substitutions. Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, opt for whole-grain alternatives, and experiment with natural sweeteners. These swaps can significantly cut down on excess calories while maintaining flavor.

5. **Stay Active:**

  Incorporate physical activity into your holiday routine. Whether it's a pre-feast walk, a friendly game of touch football, or a post-dinner stroll, staying active helps balance the extra calories and boosts your overall well-being.

6. **Choose Your Indulgences Wisely:**

  It's okay to treat yourself, but choose your indulgences wisely. Pick the holiday specialties you truly love, savor them, and skip the items that don't excite you as much. Quality over quantity is the key to guilt-free enjoyment.

7. **Bring a Healthy Dish:**

  If you're attending a gathering, contribute a nutritious dish to share. This ensures there's a healthier option on the table and allows you to lead by example, inspiring others to make mindful choices.

Conclusion:

With these tricks up your sleeve, you can navigate the holiday season with confidence, enjoying the festivities without compromising your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. By making strategic choices, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods, and staying mindful of portion sizes, you'll not only savor the flavors of the season but also step into the new year feeling energized and vibrant. Cheers to a healthy and happy holiday season!

This dairy free strawberry smoothie bowl is super simple to make and full of flavor! The fresh strawberries combined with our Caveman Protein is a delicious morning meal option which can be ready in 5 minutes! This is a perfect way to stay cool as Summer fast approaches 🌞

Prep Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Key ingredients for this strawberry banana smoothie bowl (With a Caveman Twist):

• Coconut milk - almond milk is also a good option
• Strawberries - ideally frozen
• Banana - again, ideally frozen
• Optional: extra protein powder. Not necessary since you will be topping with a Caveman Collagen Bar, but sometimes you need more protein.

Smoothie topping options:

• Caveman Collagen Bar (Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Walnut) - sliced into 8-12 small pieces
• Coconut flakes
• Chia seeds
• Fresh fruit - we love to double up with more strawberry or banana

How to make:

• This recipe is super simple! Place the three simple ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
• Transfer to a bowl and place sliced Collagen Bar plus any additional desired toppings on top.

Looking to make changes to your diet but not sure where to start?

Diet apps are a efficient and proactive way to track your progress and ensure you stick to your weight loss goals. More specifically, diet apps give you a place to log your food and how much H2O is inputted. We searched online for the best diet apps that cover a variety of needs such as Keto, macro counting, weight loss, and meal planning. We also considered the pros and cons of each diet app and included a detailed comparison table at the end to help you choose the best app for your needs.

The Rundown

• Best Overall: Lifesum
• Best for Food Logging: MyFitnessPal
• Best for Nutrition Education: Fooducate
• Best for Keto: Carb Manager
• Best for Paleo: Paleo (io)
• Best for Weight Loss: Lose It!
• Best for Macro Counting: MyMacros+
• Best for Meal Planning: PlateJoy

“Weight loss apps can help people become aware of what they’re actually eating, as well as the number of calories they consume, which is helpful because we generally underestimate the number of calories in some foods,” says Deena Adimoolam, MD, an endocrinologist in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

You can also use them to get more know-how about nutrition labels and what macronutrients they contain if you’re trying to follow a specific diet. Holding oneself accountable is one of the most important factors which is why we’re here to help our tribe out!

For today only, we’re giving away a FREE box of our nutrition bars (the flavor of you choice) to everyone that buys a box of our mini nutrition bars.

This gives you the oppurtinity to hold yourself accountable while being able to stock up on healthy snacks for the rest of the summer!

Use code NU4ME to snag this limited time offer!

With nice weather either upon us or fast approaching (depending where you live) it’s time for many of our tribe members to consider how they want to spend the warmer season! Lucky for us, there’s an incredible amount of options when it comes to beautiful scenery, some which might be closer to you than you think! Below we’ve outlined some Caveman favorites that are worth a visit. This is also a great opportunity for you to pack some delicious Paleo snacks for the journey!

Pacific Northwest

One of our favorite stops in the Pacific Northwest is North Cascades National Park which is located in Washington State. This park is split into two separate sections and borders two other natural spaces: Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, which adds beautiful lake views to an already gorgeous natural area. This park gives our tribe the perfect opportunity to hike around while enjoying some Grain-Free Granola Crunch to keep their spirits and energy up! .  

Southwest

The Southwest is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and chasers of high-octane adventures. Rugged landscapes, arid deserts, and majestic natural wonders are this region’s claim to fame. No adventure to the Southwest will ever be complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon. This 10-mile section in Arizona is famous for its massive natural rock formations which reveal layers of red rock that speak of the region’s millions of years in history. Who knows? Maybe Cavemen once called this home!

Southeast

Whether you are taking a southern-inspired road trip, exploring a specific state, or want to cross off another U.S. National Park, whatever brings you to the Southeast will be well worth the adventure! Providence Canyon State Park is considered one of the most inspiring landscapes in Georgia and is absolutely worth the visit if you are in town or planning to be! Also known as the “Little Grand Canyon” of Georgia, the Providence Canyon makes a fantastic day trip option for nature lovers and hikers.

Northeast

If you love natural beauty, quaint towns and opportunities to spot whales and devour fresh lobster, then the northeast is for you. Nestled in Vermont, the Grand Isle is an intimate little island that is only home to a few thousand people who really care about this gorgeous place. This is a perfect spot for a little ramble around the beautiful nature, and it’s a great place to watch the sunset across the shores too! Don’t forget to pack some Caveman Nutrition Bars to keep you fueled on this gorgeous stop!

Coconut has been a controversial ingredient since our ancestors first roamed the earth, from what we have heard. While some love the taste and texture of this fruit others are quickly repelled by it. We even have coconut naysayers inside the Caveman tribe…

Whether you love it or hate it, it’s hard to deny how positive coconut can be as an addition to your dietary routine. Below we’ve outlined three benefits that this fruit can offer our tribe when snacking on our new Dark Chocolate Coconut Keto Bars or our original Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut Nutrition Bars! Don’t forget about the mini version of our nutrition bar for a quick on-the-go snack to satisfy cravings the healthy way!

1. Coconuts are a Highly Nutritious Fruit

Differing from other fruits that are loaded with carbs, coconuts provide mostly fat.

This controversial fruit also contains protein and small amounts of B vitamins. Coconuts also contain manganese, which is essential for bone health for metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, and cholesterol!

2. Coconuts Contain Antioxidants

The” meat'' inside of a coconut contains phenolic compounds. These are antioxidants that may help protect cells from oxidative damage. Oxidative stress can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, which can contribute to aging. It may also play a role in development of a range of health conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.The primary phenolic compounds in coconuts include:

• Gallic acid
• Caffeic acid
• Salicylic acid
• p-coumaric acid

3. Easy to add to your diet

Coconut has been known to add a nice flavor to many savory snacks. Because it’s grain-free, this fruit is also good for those on the paleo diet, which (as our tribe knows) does not allow grain products like regular wheat flour.

Why is magnesium important? What foods have lots of magnesium? Are there delicious sources of magnesium? Well, if you are into nutrition, you probably know that you can get magnesium from a big spinach salad or a bowl of lentils. But have you been hearing about dark chocolate as a source?

Do you find yourself craving a chocolate-y snack more frequently than others? These chocolate cravings can tell you something and it can be a life-changer to pay attention to these cravings when they hit you!

Dark Chocolate is filled with magnesium and if you find yourself always seriously craving chocolate, maybe your body is just magnesium deficient.

Magnesium is a mineral that helps regulate blood glucose and blood pressure, protects the proper functioning of the adrenals and female hormones, promotes muscle recovery, enhances a sense of calm and also helps you relax, allowing a fulfilling and relaxing sleep-cycle.

Caffeine and alcohol deplete our bodies of magnesium and chronic stress robs our bodies of this precious mineral little by little. Our bodies temporarily shut down our own production of magnesium if we're stressed. The Caveman example: if cortisol and adrenaline were pumping through our veins as we were running from a wooly-mammoth, we'd stop producing magnesium. A similar phenomenon happens today, but today’s stressors are emails from the boss, deadlines and tough commutes.

What are some Caveman Snacks that are rich in magnesium? The list includes some of our tribe’s all-time favorites such as our mouthwatering Nutrition Bars and delectable Protein Bars! So while you probably can’t get all of your magnesium needs from dark chocolate, it is certainly a nice side benefit!

It can be pretty tough to figure out what diet you should follow, and a quick Google search might make things seem even more complicated. Indeed, there are many different diets out there and a good deal of them are sensationalist fads, which can make it even more difficult to figure out what you should do. Below we've broken down the Paleo Diet and the Keto Diet to help give our tribe some perspective on our brand new Keto Bar!

The Paleo Diet

The Paleo Diet is a balanced eating plan based on what might have been available to humans during the Paleolithic era. In our opinion, the benefits of this diet are avoiding overly processed foods upon which we have become too reliant. The Paleo Diet is similar to clean eating, but involves a bit more structure and restriction – namely, foods including processed grains, dairy, high sugar foods, or legumes are not permitted on the Paleo Diet. What is left is foods like meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Because the Paleo Diet is fairly low in carbs and high in fat & protein, it makes an excellent choice for those looking to maintain an active lifestyle. What’s more is that all of Caveman Foods’ products are made specifically with individuals following the Paleo diet in mind - in fact, all of our products are certified Paleo or Paleo-friendly by the one and only Paleo Foundation.

• Meat and fish
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Fruits
• Vegetables — except corn, which is a grain
• Selected fats and oils, such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, lard, tallow, ghee/butter
• Minimally processed sweeteners, including raw honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, raw stevia

For most, paleo is about more than just a diet.

Keto

A great option that has been surging in popularity for someone looking to lose weight , the Keto diet has in some form has actually been around for quite some time. Named for a natural body process known as ketosis, the Keto diet takes advantage of body’s response to not getting enough glucose from food, as it begins metabolizing its own glucose using your fat cells as fuel. This results in relatively quick fat loss compared to other diet plans, according to DietDoctor. Unlike the Paleo diet and “clean eating,” which are focused more on what you eat versus how much, the Keto diet requires you to focus on how much carbohydrates, fats, and proteins you eat each day. That being said, the Keto diet has some flexibility so long as you don't go over your carbohydrate limit and your ratios of carbs to protein and fat. While the Keto diet is one of the preferred options for quick fat loss, some may find the restrictions challenging to maintain. While Caveman does not design products specifically for keto diets, some of our meat products can be part of a keto regimen because of their high protein to carbohydrate ratios. As we recommend with any major diet changes, it’s good to talk to your doctor about these options and to try them out before committing long term.

In summary, both of these can be great choices when considering healthy snack options like our brand new Keto Bar  with only 2 grams of net carbs, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 9 grams of fiber!

Our team-members here at Caveman Foods are super excited to share this recipe with our tribe! We were lucky enough to have @realfoodwithjessica create a delicious breakfast treat with our Cinnamon Crunch Grain Free Granola that is not only mouthwatering but also gives you the right nutrients to start your day on a good note!

Click here to see the original Instagram post!

You can also keep reading below to see her post's content and follow the recipe below!

These Paleo Breakfast Granola Cookies are simple to make and so delicious. (#ad) Made with @cavemanfoods grain free granola that adds such a nice crunch to the thick, soft cookie. A great treat to whip up in the morning or make ahead and have on hand. They are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and still so tasty! Full recipe is below, I know you’ll love them!

Ingredients:

Cookies

1/2 cup almond butter

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup almond flour

2 tablespoons flax seed

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup @cavemanfoods Grain Free Granola, I used Cinnamon Crunch. Big pieces broken up

1/3 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Glaze (optional)

2 tablespoons coconut butter

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1-2 tablespoons water, as needed

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350° and line a sheet tray with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the almond butter and maple syrup and mix until smooth. Add in the almond flour, flax seed, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda and stir until well combined.

Stir in the granola and cranberries and scoop into 2 tablespoon portions. Roll into a ball, place on the sheet tray and press down lightly.

Bake 10-11 minutes. Makes 10.

Enjoy warm or let cool and top with glaze.

Store leftovers covered in the fridge.

What is Granola & Where Did it Come From?

Crunchy, full of nutritious seeds, naturally sweet. What is this mysterious food? According to the New York Times article “Who Made That Granola?”  A New York man called Dr. James Jackson simply crumbled graham flour and baked it until it was crispy in 1863. He then dubbed the product Jackson’s Granula.

Soon after Dr. Jackson’s invention, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg), made a mixture called granula, which was a simple mixture of oatmeal, wheat flour, and cornmeal. Dr. Jackson then sued Dr. Kellogg for infringement and subsequently the name of Kellogg’s mixture was changed to granola. By the year 1899, Dr. Kellogg was selling about four tons of granola a month.

Caveman’s Grain-Free Granola takes all this a step further. While we appreciate our roots, we know some folks crave that granola flavor and crunch but without all of those grains. So our Granola is not only crunchy, delicious, Vegan and Non-GMO, but it is also Gluten-, Soy-, and Dairy-free and Certified Keto! We pack our granola with crunchy nuts and seeds and provide naturally sweetness with maple and coconut sugar. Keep reading to see how you can use this delicious snack in every meal!

Breakfast

Stir some granola into pancake batter for a fascinating version of the classic breakfast. Our Cinnamon Crunch Grain Free Granola adds a tantalizingly tasty dimension to your pancakes! Not to mention the crunch!

Lunch

Make chicken tenders with Almond Butter Crunch Grain Free Granola instead of breadcrumbs or batter. Crush them a little and it is perfect.

Dinner

Top baked apples with Cinnamon Crunch Grain-Free Granola for a unique crumble.

Dessert

No yogurt parfait is complete without fruit and granola! If you like this mixture, try making frozen yogurt bites by mixing yogurt, Chocolate Almond Crunch Grain Free Granola and berries together into small clusters.

With a plethora of uses, granola can truly be a staple in every home’s kitchen. While using it for every meal every day may not necessarily be practical, it can be comforting to know just how far-reaching our Grain-Free Granola can be in recipes.

The sun's last rays tease the streetlights. Pumpkins line the houses on the block, each one bearing a grotesque face lit up by fire. Up and down the pavement weave lines of monsters, heroes, princesses, robots, and more streaming from door to door, their persons weighed down by their haul of treats. Little do they know, the bags full of candy they carry are the scariest thing they’ll encounter this evening.

The Problem With Halloween Candy

In a study of total sugar intake, it was reported that In the US, “added sugars account for up to 17% of the total calorie intake of adults and up to 14% for children”. Eating too much added sugar can have many negative health effects. An excess of sweetened foods and beverages can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease, among other dangerous conditions. No one wants to be the neighbor giving out apples or toothbrushes on Halloween but there has to be a balance between being the scrooge on the block and giving in to the harmful impact that candy has on children, right?

Even if consuming small amounts of sugar now and again is healthy, it is important to work on cutting back whenever possible. Fortunately, by even just focusing on eating whole, unprocessed foods (*Ahem* CAVEMAN FOODS), it becomes possible to automatically reduce sugar amounts in your diet. So why couldn’t this be applied to traditional treat-giving on Halloween?

Naturally Tasty Treat Options

Our Dark Chocolate Almond Coconut Nutrition Bar Minis or Dark Chocolate Caramel Cashew Minis not only have the tantalizing flavors to keep the Halloween spirits up but are also packed with just the right balance of healthy fats, carbs, and protein, and a sweet and salty flavor that satisfies the ghastliest of ghouls. Take a look at the chart below where we can see how our Dark Chocolate Caramel Cashew Minis stack up to one of the more popular candy brands:

Preparing for Halloween

It can be all too easy to put off stocking up for Halloween until the last minute which is why we think now is a great opportunity to be thinking about your treat-supply ahead of time! To help facilitate the gifting of healthy snacks this Halloween, we’re providing a “Buy One Get One Free” discount on all of our Caveman Mini Bars! Use code BOOGO2021

By making the decision to go this route, not only will you be choosing to be health conscious this holiday, but you’ll also be able to avoid the stress of picking up enough snacks for the block at the last minute all while having the most delicious treats on the street!

Have you ever woken up late and decided that you would just eat something easy (a.k.a. unhealthy) for breakfast? Or worse, have you decided that breakfast can wait and you’ll make it up at lunch?

Rethinking this morning meal strategy can rejuvenate your daily energy levels, keep your physical activity up, and help keep weight goals in check!

Why Is Breakfast Important?

According to Hopkins Medicine, “Eating breakfast may help your heart, digestion, bones and more to meet dietary guidelines! A healthier heart. Adults and kids who skip breakfast tend to have higher blood cholesterol levels—a risk factor for heart disease—than do breakfast eaters.”

In other words, neglecting breakfast can severely throw your body’s rhythm off-balance. When first waking up, your body craves the blood sugar that makes it run its best. This is where breakfast jumps in to save the day!  

Eating a nutritious breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, gives you a hand in burning calories and gives you the energy you need to get things done and maintain focus throughout the day.

Breakfasts to Avoid

Most of us are familiar with what’s good for us and what just tastes good. With breakfast, choosing the right foods is essential which is why when looking for new meal ideas, it's not a bad idea to use a list such as the featured in the infographic below to help guide you as to what NOT to put in your cart this week:

Getting Ahead on Breakfast Plans

Making the right choices at breakfast can set you up for tremendous success both in the short and long term. Choosing a food such as our Caveman Nutrition Bars will give you a meal option full of protein, healthy fats and fibers. Foods like this will provide a day of off-the-chart energy levels, steady blood sugar levels and in addition will help provide control over your appetite and weight.

On the other hand, making a poor choice at breakfast can leave you hungry and struggling to get through the rest of the day as well as increase your risk of developing health problems.

This is why choosing Caveman snacks is not only a delicious and healthy option, but also an investment into your day and future! Some of our favorite breakfasts include our Grain-Free Granola -- whether it is sprinkled over low-sugar yogurt or just soaked in paleo-friendly almond milk. We also hear from our customers that they often rely on a protein-filled snack like our Turkey Bites or our Protein Bars. Perhaps not surprisingly, our customers also love Caveman Nutrition Bars when they are on-the-go in the morning. Breakfast Better!

Have you ever have a moment in the middle of the day when it seems your stomach is the one making all the decisions?

It’s important to have a mid-day snack for a variety of reasons but it can be challenging to always pick the one that’s not only convenient but also good for you! Here at Caveman, we know that a balanced diet can make the difference between a great day and a just “ok” day which is why when considering snacks, it can be helpful to look at them as a regular meal. 

HEALTHY SNACKS KEEP YOUR BODY & MIND CONTENT

Snacking is crucial task if one is to retain their mental focus throughout the workday, especially in the late afternoon periods. By choosing a snack that’s high in protein, you're choosing a much better alternative rather than just filling up on empty carbohydrates. This is a major reason why a snack like our Zero Sugar Sausage Sticks or the Maple Pork Meat Bites make for a great snacking option that not only tastes great, but is great for your body and mind.

By choosing to eat these natural and nutritious foods, you are making a conscious decision to halt random cravings in their path and to keep hunger at bay for longer periods of time.

HEALTHY SNACKS & ENERGY MAINTENANCE

When consuming foods high in protein, a complex physiological process begins in which the protein’s amino acids release a chemical in the brain called Orexin. This chemical gives our bodies a renewed sense of alertness and an energetic feeling one couldn’t get from simply eating a food that’s carbohydrate based. Notice after you eat a meal heavy in carbs you end up feeling drowsy? Not when taking this approach to snacking! This is one of the many reasons we love our Dark Chocolate Nutrition Bars so much. With ingredients such as protein-rich nuts and seeds, all drizzled with dark chocolate, it's a great solution to keeping fueled so you can be constantly ready to take on the day.

All in all, it’s important to remember our bodies are more like a garden than a machine so what’s good for a snack one day may not necessarily be true the next. We highly recommend getting a variety of natural snacks that have all the ingredients and flavors you could possibly crave throughout the week!

You know the warning signs. At a certain age, teens seem to start growing out of their clothes almost overnight. They are always full of energy but never seem to want to sleep. Food disappears faster than you can bring it in the house.

It can be overwhelming and making sure they are getting all the nutrients they need can be stressful. We’re here to give a basic breakdown of what teenagers and kids need nutritionally to grow on a day-to-day basis. (Note: we are talking about normal teenagers. If your teen has unique needs, talk to a nutritionist or a physician!)

Their bodies are growing fast and they need all that food to keep growing. On average female teens (talking 13-19) need around 1,900 - 2,200 calories a day, and male teens need around 2,400 - 2,800. You probably know that. That said, we need to make sure they’re getting the right calories.

For the three basic nutrients we all need – protein, carbohydrates, and fats – teens need more of all of them than what adults normally need per day. Having the balance of those nutrients is the important part.

In America teens usually eat twice the amount of protein they need, so we don't have to worry about protein too much. Most of that comes from high protein foods like meat, eggs, cheese, and fish. Carbs are the body’s fuel and eating carbs, especially if you are an athlete, are essential. So having that bowl of rice or eating some quinoa are great options to start. Other great ways to get your complex carbs in are oatmeal, beans, vegetables, and peas.

Last we have fats. This is where it can get messy. Teens don’t always find their way to the “good fats.” So let us break down the 3 different fat types, there's monounsaturated fat which is the best of the three. This is found most frequently in nuts, olives, olive oil, peanut butter; pretty much anything to do with nuts or olives. Next on the list: polyunsaturated fat is not bad, but it also is not the best type of fat. This is found in corn oils, sunflower oil, sesame seed oil, and soybean oil. Now saturated fats are the ones we want to stay away from, even for teens. They might not have the short-term negative problems that come from the cholesterol and clogged arteries, but they still are not great in large quantities. So there is too much of a good thing when it comes to egg yolks, beef, lamb, cream, butter, and cheese (sorry!). As a rule of thumb, fats should make up no more than 30% of the daily diet.

Next are the little gremlins that run around with seemingly unlimited energy. Kids can be picky with foods so making sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need can seem like an uphill battle. We all either have kids or know kids that are on the “all colorless foods diet” – pasta, bread, butter.

No need to worry, there is no panic button for kids’ nutrition. That said, here are some thoughts on how to think more about this. In general, your goal should just be to make your kids comfortable trying new stuff. Children between 4-9 should eat around 1,200 -1,600 calories a day.

Protein can be an issue, but there are a lot of other ways to get protein without eating meat. Eggs, milk, nut butters, rice, and beans are great protein options if they don’t want that chicken or steak. A lot of kids are into avocado these days! Carbs are probably easy, so we don’t have to worry about that aspect as much. Like teens, the issue for fats is getting them the right ones - pack their lunch with nuts or nut butters if you can; if not, it’s a great snack when they get home.

We hope this breakdown helps! No need to stress about your kids – they will be alright. But it helps to get them the best nutrition possible.

Are you headed back to the office in the future and worried about maintaining your workout routine you worked so hard to develop? Believe it or not… they can coexist. We just need to do a little planning to do so. So here are Caveman’s 5 tips to maintaining a workout routine while at work.

Quality over Quantity: We all can agree with work, and especially kids, our lives get hectic very quickly. Most of the time we don't have the liberty of going to the gym for 30 minutes, much less an hour. If you do go to the gym, make sure to do short intense training. Getting your heart rate up is in direct correlation to burning calories and you don't have to run on a treadmill for hours to do that. Try doing intense interval workouts where you’re constantly moving for 5-10 minutes doing 4-5 different workouts in that time. Do a couple reps for each workout and once your 5-10 minutes are up, take a break and do it again. This can lead to more calories burnt and higher endurance rather than extending those workouts over an hour period or so.

Plan your workouts: This is similar to our “work life balance” tip in our previous article in this series. After a long day of work, working out might seem like the last thing you want to do but if you put the time in your calendar, you have committed to yourself to do it. Self-accountability is an awesome life hack. After a couple weeks of working out, it will become a part of your everyday life and you’ll probably feel a little off if you don't workout.

Something is better than nothing: Life is unpredictable at best, so sometimes priorities run in the way of your normal workout schedule. Instead of chalking that day up as a loss for your workout routine, just do something around the house. A quick Youtube bodyweight workout is better than watching that episode of your favorite show. Another exercise hack is to turn a meeting into a walk. The key to working out is a semi consistent workout routine to see results.

Do what you want to: For some people (a.k.a. the writer of this blog), the bane of their existence is running, but that’s some people's paradise. Working out becomes so much more rewarding and effective once you're doing something fun or enjoyable. If running isn’t your forte, try weight training or yoga. Or take up tennis or pickleball. The great part about working out is that there are many different paths to take to your goals, and the fun part is trying all of them!

Find a workout buddy: Many people have the misconception that the road to a healthy life is a lonely one, but it doesn’t have to be. Finding someone with similar goals can do wonders for your health, in terms of keeping you accountable and pushing you further. They don’t even have to work out with you, but we do find that someone with similar goals can add the extra little motivation.

 We hope this makes working out seem a little more manageable when going back to the office. Just remember that all it takes is consistency and commitment.

Sometimes with work you feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day – family, exercise, work, eating healthy. We get that and while there is no perfect solution, hopefully some of our team’s tips will help you find some additional balance. At the end of the day, whether it is your diet or your time, it is about finding that balance.

Prioritize Your Time: Not just for work but for everything. When you see a list of 30 things to do, it is overwhelming! We take 10 minutes and break them up into different categories. You can choose your own approach but here is one way to think about task management:

Urgent & important:

Urgent & not important:

Not urgent & important:

Not urgent & not important:

Prioritize Exercising: You should have this one on the same level as making money. Without your health you wouldn't be able to work (and we would argue that exercise makes you more productive). Sometimes your mind needs a break from all the numbers and screen time, so going out for a walk or hitting the gym is a perfect way to let your mind reset.

Look at the structure of your life: I know the saying, “old habits die hard” but they don’t have to...especially if it will make your life less stressful. Take a look at your daily habits, identify the stressors, and see if anything can be changed to make things easier on you. If going to the store and cooking dinner is just the absolute last thing you want to do after a hard day at the office, make a plan to go out for dinner once a week and reduce some of that stress. We are big believers in finding happiness. Obviously, we aren’t saying to eat fast food… but sometimes it is worth for someone to make that paleo-friendly meal for you.

Calendars are your friend!: Planning out your week or even a month at a time can really help with time management. Color coding your tasks can also make a huge difference, have different colors for personal and work tasks so you can clearly see what needs to be done this month or week. Calendars also are a great way for accountability, it shows you what is or isn’t getting done and can prevent days from slipping by like so many in the past.

Don’t be everything to everyone: There is nothing wrong with helping out a coworker here and there, but don’t be showered in extra work if it isn’t necessary. It is alright to say “no” especially if your plate is already full, nothing wrong with prioritizing what you are already working on. This is a job. Not your life. Dedicate a certain amount of hours to your job a day and that is it. Leave yourself some time to do your favorite hobby or spend time with family. This will promote productivity during your work hours and you will still be able to do the things you love. Your work doesn’t have to encapsulate your life as a whole.

Strive to find the balance that brings you happiness. Even though it is hard, we think it is worth looking under the hood of life to make sure you are finding your balance.

With the world getting back into the swing of things you might be going back into the office soon. While you might have a good routine with working from home, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your overall wellness. Here are some simple tips to help you stay on top of your health in the office.

Take a break: We know the workplace can be a high paced environment where you feel the need to move from one task to another like a robot but that doesn't have to be the case. Once you finish a task, get up and walk around the office or if you have the opportunity, take a walk outside. This can help reduce stress and gives your mind and body time to relax. In some cases this has been proven to even increase productivity!

Hydrate Hydrate HYDRATE: It can be hard to drink the necessary amount of fluid your body needs during the day, but putting down the soda and picking up the water can help you in more ways than one. Drinking water throughout the day reduces unnecessary calories. Drinking more water will also lead to you going to the bathroom more, which are great mini breaks in your day to help you refocus and tackle the tasks for the day.

Ergonomics Matter: Working all day at the computer can lead to slouching which can result in some serious back issues as well as eye strain. Actively thinking about your posture is a great way to keep on top of it, but you can also get some aids to make it even easier. Getting the proper chair for you is huge and some chairs come with a lumbar support which helps shape your lower back into its more natural, healthier position. Eye strain can be a pain to deal with while working. It can lead to headaches, difficulty focusing, and even light sensitivity. To help with eye strain, keep your screen at an arm's length away. If you can't read your screen from that distance, simply increase your font size to reduce squinting.

Nutrition:This aspect of work life balance is always overlooked. Make sure you’re putting good food in your body so you have energy during and after work to do other things. Packing your lunch rather than stopping at the local fast food chain will leave you with a bigger wallet and making you feel more sustained throughout the day. We will be expanding more on this topic in the future of our seven part series, so stay tuned for “nutrition at the office doesn’t have to be difficult”

Know Your Limits!: We are all human, and we all deserve breaks sometimes. Having a stretch of long days can wear you down and can end up affecting your work performance. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night - lack of sleep can gradually have tremendous wear and tear on your body making the work day harder on you to focus and complete tasks. With that, make sure your work day isn’t your full day. Leave sometime for you to do the things you love and use it as motivation to get done with your work so you can go and do these things.Having a quick chat with coworkers is also a great way to break up the monotony work can have sometimes. Make sure to not always talk about work too, ask what they plan to do on the weekends or the hobbies they partake in.

Armed with these tips, we hope going back into the office is a little less daunting for you and your health. Always remember to put your health first.

Whether you're a student athlete or just trying to maintain good health, school can sometimes offer challenges to staying on a healthy regimen. Now that school is starting back up again, here are some simple back to school health tips that'll help you keep up on your health while in the classroom.

Rest Up: I know this seems basic but it’s a huge factor some people overlook. If you aren't getting enough sleep that can affect your attitude, eating habits, and even your ability to fight off infections. It is also the main way you recover from stress put on your body through sports or exercise.

Cut Down on the Screen Time: This goes in hand with getting the proper amount of rest. Screens can reduce the natural production of melatonin which is what makes us sleepy to begin with. Spending too much time in front of the screen, especially right before you go to sleep, can hurt your sleep schedule and put you at a disadvantage.

Backpacks: Backpacks are essential to school, although if your backpack is too heavy it can lead to lower back and shoulder issues. Your backpack should be no more than 10% of your body weight - past 10% and you're starting to put extra strain on your shoulders and back. To help with backpack weight, make sure to evenly distribute the weight in your backpack and put the heavier objects closer to your back. Also make sure to take only the books you will need for that day, leaving the other books in your locker or at home.

HYDRATE!: We know energy drinks are popular and that soda is too often an option, but drinking water instead of soda or energy drinks can lead to a better mood, more energy, better weight management, and even helps with digestion. Ironically, you might have more long-term energy from drinking water even though there is the short-term energy boost from drinking soda or an energy drink. Eventually, that will lead you to crash, leaving you feeling groggy and tired. You should aim to drink at least 6-8 cups of water a day which is about 3 - 4 water bottles a day.

Don’t Skip Meals: I know being a student can be hectic just from studying and classes alone can be hard, but if you’re an athlete or working it can make it even harder. You can get so busy you forget to eat but this is something you want to avoid at all costs. Skipping meals leads to lower energy levels, worsened mood, and even in some cases reduces muscle. Make it easy on yourself and prepare some on-the-go meals you can grab and eat easily to stay on top of it. Its also a great idea to grab some snacks to help if you can’t make on-the-go meals, some good examples of snacks are our meat bites, grain free brownie crunch, or our nutrition bars. We’re gonna break this down some more further in the series, so make sure to keep up to date!

[Bonus Tip] Plan your week: Planning your week can show you how much time you have to work on things or to rest. Breaking down what you all have to do in a week can let you maximize your time and leaves more time for things you want to do.

School is hard already, no sense making it harder on yourself with poor health. You’ll notice a huge difference once you take some of these simple tips into account.

No better way to unleash your inner savage than climbing a summit in the great outdoors. Here are some of the biggest Cavefan’s favorite spots to hike. Maybe this can help you find the next adventure to embark on!

Justin is our Vice President of Sales: “My favorite hiking spot of all time is Table Rock in Boise, Idaho, up the “Old Pen” trail. It’s a 3 mile hike, reaching just over 3,600 feet in elevation. The reward is a beautiful 360 degree view of valleys, foothills and all of the city of Boise. Once reaching the top there is nothing like sitting down, enjoying the sights, and the ensuing peace that comes over you while taking in all the beauty around you. Before my descent I love to enjoy a Caveman Double Dark Chocolate Protein bar to fuel the rest of my journey!”

Sallie is our Vice president of Product Development: “My favorite place I’ve discovered so far in the Pacific Northwest has been Mount Teneriffe. It’s a pretty good peak at 4500ft, and there are so many different topographies within this mountain that make it unique – you can start at the bottom where its green and lush and peak at the top where it is snowy and freezing. I have summitted this mountain twice using different routes and it was a completely different experience. As always, the best part is standing at the top, enjoying the view and tapping into your inner savage!”

Jeff is our Chief Executive Officer: “My favorite hike is the alpine meadow loop above Paradise on Mount Rainier”

Amber is our Accounting Associate: “A favorite trail of mine is the George Miller Regional Trail in Martinez. It winds along the hillsides that border the Carquinez Strait so I love that you get some nature and wildlife while also getting some amazing views of the water. It’s great if I want to get some fresh air and take a leisurely stroll, but it’s also great if I’m looking for something more challenging.”

Damon is our Senior Director in Digital Marketing: “The Bay Area is filled with amazing hiking. My “regular” hike is the Quarry loop in Tilden Park, but I have also loved exploring the less popular trails in Briones Regional Park. If I could return to any hike I have done, it would probably be the Black Elk Peak Loop in Black Hills’ Custer State Park – it is worth the climb to the top! (And my favorite Caveman hiking snack is the Sweet and Smoky Turkey Bites.)”

Beach is our Digital marketing Manager: "Living in Bend, Oregon provides me with almost unlimited hiking possibilities! I especially enjoy munching on the Sriracha​ Chicken Bites while trudging up Broken Top Trail to reach the Bend Glacier Lake. It's always worth the few miles of incline to be alone with the clear water, magnificent peaks, and the wildflowers!"

Many of you who are not well versed in collagen have probably seen our collagen bars and wondered what their purpose is. Collagen is naturally made in your body, it is often called “the body’s scaffolding” and over time the older you get the less collagen is produced so that’s why we have collagen supplements to help your body keep producing it. Collagen is essential to our body's health and well being as we age and can actually slow down the effects aging has on our body like in your skin, bones, tendons and muscles.

Skin Health: Collagen is one of the main contributing factors to healthy skin, in many studies it has been proven that collagen can help reduce wrinkles and hydrate your skin. It can also increase the elasticity of your skin so it can prevent wrinkles and fine lines or reduce the wrinkle depth. Collagen also gives your skin the ability to retain moisture better so it can help with dry or cracked skin.

Joint Health: Collagen is a huge factor for joint and cartilage health. It can help keep the integrity of your cartilage, reducing joint pain and strain. It can also help with arthritis and inflammation due to the lack of cartilage, it has been theorized that supplemental collagen can be stored in your joints to further promote making more natural cartilage.

Heart Health: Collagen is essential for your vascular system’s overall health, it gives your arteries structure so they are stable and can easily transfer blood to where it needs to go. When you start to lose collagen, your arteries can shrink in diameter so they can maintain their structural integrity which can lead to heart attack or stroke if left unchecked.

Muscle & Bone Health: Collagen is actually a protein, and is a lot easier to digest rather than chicken or beef proteins. Since it can be digested easier it can be distributed through your body faster and in some cases help muscle development and keep your muscles healthy in general. As you get older your bones can become more and more fragile, and a contributing factor to that is having less collagen in your body. Ingesting collagen can increase your bone density, strengthening them and further preventing bone mass loss.

Collagen is the main component to our body's overall health so it's a no brainer to help build it up as you age. So next time you scroll past our collagen bars, add a box to your cart and kick start your body back to its fully functioning abilities.

Our main message is that you can still live a full and healthy life with great tasting foods you were meant to eat. We as a country are starting to move in the right direction of health, and feel we serve an important role in helping this movement. There is still some negative stigma around healthy foods, like they don't taste as good as their less healthy counterparts. But we assure you this, Caveman is here to get rid of that stigma, we choose the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle without compromising the great tastes of natural ingredients.

Why is non-GMOs such a big deal for us at Caveman? 

GMOs not only pose a risk to our health, but also a risk to the agricultural system that we rely on.

We specifically have chosen to use non-GMO ingredients despite the fact GMOs have become more prevalent. While there are benefits to organic ingredients, we are concerned that GMOs can effortlessly take over an organic crop by natural cross pollination. Once GMOs have become embedded, it is hard to use that crop / land for non-GMO farming. Since they are modified to be resistant to herbicides, they are almost impossible to get rid of once they contaminate the soil. Also, GMO crops can bring stronger, more resistant weeds as well, forcing farmers to use stronger pesticides to help control them. GMOs are bringing nothing but more problems without solving any of our previous ones.

On top of that, studies show that GMOs do not increase yield significantly and their natural counterparts are often fresher looking and tasting.  

Our focus is to supply quality healthy snacks to people who want to put better food in their bodies. In doing this, we felt using GMOs would be counterproductive when we say, “What we’re meant to eat.” We are not meant to eat genetically modified foods... It’s really that simple.

With all of this talk about GMOs, you might be asking yourself who makes these seeds in the first place? 60% of GMO seeds are made by four biotech companies, which have patents on all their products. In some markets like corn or soy, they own upward of 70-80% of the seeds used in this channel. We felt it was best to remain true to our roots and to use only sustainable non-GMO products.

So while we obviously believe in the health benefits of non-GMO ingredients, there are other reasons for why non-GMO matters. We feel we would be selling all of our Cavefans short if we were to use GMO products, plus using non-GMO ingredients is better for the agricultural system.

The Paleo diet has become widely popular since Caveman was founded ~10 years ago due to the basic concept that we are better off following our early ancestors’ eating habits. That said, bringing the past to the present can be hard with modern foods and eating habits we’ve adopted today. Here are some helpful tips that can make following this primitive diet more realistic in today’s society.

85/15 rule

As with all diets, you must give yourself some leeway so it can be more enjoyable and effective. Experts have suggested after being on the paleo diet for a month or so you should give yourself the 85/15 rule. This rule implies you follow your diet “to a T” for 85% of the month, leaving you 15% of the month to enjoy a family BBQ or a night out with friends. With this rule you may notice some discomfort the day after splurging, but it can often motivate you to get back on the train the next day.

Make some extra

As you might know, lunch can be one of the hardest meals to eat paleo friendly. Our quick and easy solution is to make extra food at dinner and grab some leftovers for lunch. This can also be a huge time-saver if you’re in a pinch and need a quick healthy meal that fits the pelao parameters.

Bust out that crock pot

For the folks who rarely have time to make a full meal in the evening (or are just exhausted at the end of the day), here is our paleo hack. We do a little prep the night before (like cutting vegetables), then we wake up 10-15 minutes early to start one of our easy paleo crock pot dinners. When you get home from that exhausting day, you'll be welcomed with the delicious scent of your food ready to be eaten.

Make this an opportunity to try new things!

A recurring theme I see is people getting bored of just some meat and veggies every night or almost every night. Take this as an opportunity to start to expand your palate with recipes from different cultures or with ingredients you’ve never tried. With paleo becoming more and more popular, there are loads of websites that have only paleo friendly recipes. You never know, you might find your new favorite dish! Here’s our personal favorite to find new recipes. https://nomnompaleo.com

Clean out the kitchen

I know this seems like a pretty straightforward basic tip, and it is… but without those junk foods and processed foods at your fingertips you'll be less likely to indulge and break your diet. Make your fridge and pantry reflect your diet and its restrictions so you’ll have no other option but to follow your diet. Those junk food cravings are tough at the beginning, but eliminating the temptations is often easier than white-knuckling in front of the pantry. Luckily we know a guy that has some fantastic products to fill those shelves back up...

https://www.cavemanfoods.com/collections/all 

Dieting can be very overwhelming when you first realize how much effort goes into being precise about what you put in your body. It’s always easy to eat what youre craving or what you think tastes the best but the real challenge is being in control of your body and thoughts. I'm glad you've made the decision to better yourself, it's the first step down a long worthwhile journey you won't regret. Thankfully your journey doesn't have to be alone, we're here to help you down the path to a better lifestyle.

Small consistent meals

Now I know what you’re thinking, “I kinda figured that...since it's a diet?”. Well you’re right, but the thing is if you have 4-5 smaller meals a day consistently spread out you won't be haunted by those terrible hunger pains. The goal isn't to starve yourself, it's not healthy, we just want you to plan your meals and make them smaller than normal. You're still going to eat as much but it will be spread out in the day so your body can properly process the food. Studies have also shown you will feel more full throughout the day compared to eating only 3 meals a day, so give it a try!

Slow and steady wins the race

A big misconception with diets is that you will instantly lose weight in a couple weeks or a month. Again, that wouldn't be healthy, and you would end up gaining that weight back if it is done too rapidly. The key to keeping those pounds off is to slowly widdle them off, I know that's probably the last thing you want to hear but wouldn't it be worse if you lost all that weight just for it to come back in a month? As a little mile marker system, weigh yourself every week and document how much you have lost. This is a great way to motivate yourself to have that number keep going down with consistency and commitment. Even if you don't notice those results in the first week or two, keep going!! Set a healthy goal of 1-2 pounds a week, it only takes losing 5-10% of your body weight to have major health benefits.

Food Diary

You’d be surprised how much you can eat in a day or week. Writing down what you ate and when can give you some major insight into how much you’re actually eating. It sounds small but just writing down every time you have a snack or a meal can really help you stay on track. A study was done with a group of people keeping a food diary for 6 days out of the week compared to a group only recording 1 day out of the week, and the group who recorded more was found to have lost almost double the weight to the other group.

Keep active

Again doesn't sound like anything new to you, but going for that 20 minute walk or just doing stuff around the house can be tremendously beneficial to you. Instead of sneaking that candy bar in because you’re just craving something sweet, get up and move around for a little, it can be anything just move! This has been shown to help reduce cravings while promoting eating healthier. You’d be surprised but once you start burning some calories you won't be craving a sweet treat, but rather a nutrient dense snack or some fruits and veggies.

Don't get discouraged!

I know it is hard especially when you aren't seeing the results you want too, but remembering why you started has always helped me personally. On average it takes 66 days to form a new habit, if you are consistent and committed, being healthy will turn into something you won’t give a second thought to. Also finding a partner is a great way to be held accountable to your diet, even if they aren't on it with you, just ask them to check up on you to see how the progress is and make sure you’re doing what you planned on doing.

As we start to swing into the summer months, especially after covid, we are all itching to go outside. No better way to enjoy nature rather than hiking and camping. Sometimes camping and hiking can seem a little daunting to newcomers or a hassle to experienced campers but there is truly no better way to appreciate nature than to be right in the thick of it. Luckily we have your back with some simple outdoor hacks to leave you more time to comfortably enjoy what's right outside.

The ol bag of coffee

Many of us can't start the day without a nice hot cup of coffee, to reduce the mess and time making coffee we have a little trick to help. Before leaving, put a scoop or two of your favorite coffee into a coffee filter and tie it off with some twine or a rubber band. Once you have your single serve coffee bag, just drop it into some hot water, let it steep and enjoy!

Say goodbye to mosquitos

These little guys are a great way to ruin your outdoor adventures. So instead of using harmful chemicals to keep them at bay, burn some sage at your campsite and get you some relief from those pesky insects. Say you get bit by some before you could shew them off, just smeer a little deodorant on the affected area for some itch relief.

Single use soap

We all enjoy the feeling of being clean, wherever we may go. So to help with that, use a vegetable peeler and slice off some soap to make easy single use soap slivers.

Waterproof your shoes!!

Waterproofing your shoes may not seem like a big deal at first but having wet feet and shoes on a long hike or for the duration of your camping trip can put a major damper on the experience and possibly your feet’s health as well. You can do so easily with either a spray or the more natural way of melting and spreading some beeswax on your shoes. I promise after a weekend get-away, you don't want to come back with gangrene or athlete's foot.

While we’re talking about waterproofing..

Line your backpack with a garbage bag to give yourself an extra layer against rain and moisture to keep everything you want to keep dry, dry.

Break out those snow sleds

Transporting coolers and other necessities can be exhausting, especially if you have a ways to go to your campsite. So load up that old snow sled with all of your stuff and slide it on over to your campsite. Limit the trips and the exhaustion on your body!

Repair kits

We all know in life, expect the unexpected. So bringing a bag with some duct tape, zip ties, paracord, and a multi tool could be a trip saver. Also consider bringing along a pvc pipe to go over any broken tent poles could save you a lot of hassle.

Single use seasonings

When camping and hiking it's always best to pack as little stuff while still bringing everything to have an enjoyable trip. So forget bringing all those big seasoning bottles and use a hair straightener to seal off one side of a straw, fill to the top with whatever seasoning you like and just seal the top. Works great for making those campfire meals taste even better.

In need of some kindling?

If you have some corn chips like doritos or fritos no need to worry. They have a high enough oil content to light on fire when introduced to heat. No it won't blow up on you, but you'll have a consent flame to light anything you need too. Dryer lint works great as well!

Let's keep those pearly whites, white

If you make some toothpaste dots on a plate or mat with a light sprinkle of baking soda and leave to dry for 2-3 days. You'll have perfect single-use toothpaste dots you can throw in a bag, and when you're ready to brush you just pop one in with some water and get to it.

We took care of the mosquitos, but the ants are the problem now?

No need to worry, before you start your outdoor adventure stop at your local store and pick up some instant grits. Sprinkle where the ants are and they will soon scatter.

When in doubt head south

Get caught up in the beauty of nature and forget your way back? Well if you have a watch on, no worries. To tell which direction south is, just lineup the hour hand on your watch with the sun, then find the point halfway between the hour hand and 12-o’clock - that’s south.

Don’t get caught wandering out in the woods in the dark...it's never fun.

To see how much daylight you have left, just stretch out your arm towards the sun and every finger width from the horizon to the bottom of the sun is 15 minutes.

Bring more toilet paper!

I don't need to explain the importance of this, one of those things it’s better to have than to not. So to reduce the space it takes up, slide that center cardboard roll out and flatten them down. Then you can shred up that cardboard for some top notch kindling.  

Need more light?

Instead of having a direct beam of light from your flashlight or phone, place a bottle of water on top to disperse the light around rather than direct.

Armed with these tips we're confident you'll be able to enjoy the great outdoors even more so than before. Remember to always pack some nonperishable snacks too! Like our zero sugar peppered beef jerky or our grain free granola *wink wink*

Avocado - it’s a wonderful thing! It’s got a wonderful taste and has use in many different dishes and foods, from guacamole, to sliced on toast, to even pudding! It’s an extremely versatile fruit, to say the least - but what can it do for our health as part of a balanced Paleo diet? Is avocado really healthy, or is it just another fad?  

• Vitamin & Mineral Density

Avocado is fairly dense in nutrients like vitamins and minerals. A typical avocado alone contains about a quarter of your DV (daily value) of Vitamin K while also containing good amounts of Potassium, Folate, and Vitamins B5, B6, and C. Avocado also has smaller amounts of magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, and Vitamins A, B1, and B2. Plus, it contains all of these nutrients with only 160 calories! Out of that 160 calories, it’s got 2 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat, and 9 grams of carbohydrates - 7 of which come from it’s fiber content, which brings us to our next point...

• High in Fiber and Good Fats

Avocado is great for loading up on fiber and good, healthy, unsaturated fats. It’s one of the fattiest plant-based foods you can eat, with nearly 77% of its calories coming from fat! What’s more, the fat that does make up the avocado’s fruit primarily consists of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that is great for overall health, especially when it comes to reducing inflammation. The fat contained within avocados can also help you absorb more nutrients as well, as certain nutrients like Vitamin K and D are fat-soluble (meaning they are better absorbed with the presence of fat). Additionally, avocados are loaded with 7 grams of fiber, which is essential for microbiome health and digestive regularity. Avocados also contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, both of which are essential for digestion.

• It Can Help You Stay Healthy

Avocados can be responsible for a number of positive health effects. Firstly, it can help you manage your cholesterol levels. Avocados have been shown to reduce overall cholesterol levels in the bloodstream significantly, as well as increase “good cholesterol” (HDL) levels by a decent amount within a span of only two to four weeks. That’s not all avocados can do, however: avocados are also loaded with antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which can help boost your immunity. Avocados may also have potential to help prevent cancer, as avocado extract has hindered growth of cancer cells in laboratory settings. Avocados can also help treat arthritis, as they contain a substance called unsaponifiables, which can reduce arthritic symptoms by controlling pain and related symptoms.

In short, avocado is a tasty addition to any food, from sandwiches to salads, and makes a great addition for any meal, both for taste and for health. Plus, it’s perfectly Paleo - and here at Caveman Foods, we love putting avocado on just about anything. So with everything avocado has to offer, why not give some a try if you haven’t already?

As we discussed in the last blog post, the Paleo Diet can boost your health and immunity by reducing inflammation in the body. But is there more? What else can the Paleo Diet do for our immunity?

An excellent way to see what the Paleo Diet does for our immune systems is to compare its nutritional density to the typical western diet. It’s in this comparison that we notice which things the Paleo Diet has that a typical diet may lack, such as a higher level of fats in addition to a higher density of micronutrients and fiber. Let’s look at the effects each of those can have on our immunity.

How can a higher fat intake affect our immune function? For one, it can keep our organs healthier, keeping us better safeguarded against immunity. A diet high in unsaturated fat, for example, can have protective effects against heart disease or blood clots by keeping LDL cholesterol low and raising HDL cholesterol levels, which improves immune response and resistance against pathogens. But it’s important to keep in mind that the type of fat we consume is key in maintaining health as well, as too much saturated fat can trigger production of inflammatory cells in the body.

What about micronutrients? Let’s look at Vitamin D for starters, since nearly half of Americans are estimated to have a Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is key for immune response since it helps regulate expression of the immune cells mentioned in the previous blog, and lower levels of Vitamin D are linked to a higher susceptibility to infection. While Vitamin D is best acquired in the body through regular sun exposure, you can increase your Vitamin D intake by eating more cold-water fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, all of which are very Paleo. Vitamin D aside, there are other micronutrients that Americans tend to have deficiencies in; this includes Vitamins C and B12 in addition to Iron. Iron and B12 can be acquired most easily by eating more meat and fish, while Vitamin C can be had from eating your daily serving of fruits and veggies. If you suspect you aren’t getting enough micronutrients in despite hitting your other nutritional goals, it may be time to try a multivitamin for health’s sake.

Last but certainly not least, let’s take a look at fiber. While it may seem strange that fiber intake would have any impact on immune response, soluble fiber actually plays a role in regulating inflammation in the gut. In fact, in a study where mice were fed a low fat diet, with one group eating soluble fiber and the other going without, it was found that when the mice that were fed the fiber were given an infection, they showed less symptoms and recovered more quickly. This is because soluble fiber contains a protein called interleukin-4, which can make the inflammatory cells in our body pivot from creating an inflammatory environment to neutralizing it, allowing us to better fight off pathogens in our environment.

In conclusion, we believe a balanced diet is the single biggest key in regulating your immune system and fighting inflammation. What’s more, balanced eating will ensure that you get all of the nutrients you need to live better - that said, our snacks can help you get started on achieving a better state of health since they’re made no nasty artificial ingredients or added sugar to help keep you on your path to get back to better.  

It’s no secret that we love the Paleo diet here at Caveman Foods; we believe it’s the most balanced way to achieve longevity, good health, and eat delicious whole foods while we do it. But how exactly can we use the Paleo diet to boost our immunity?

First of all, let’s get a quick refresher on how our immune system works. Your immune system is made up of several different cells that are responsible for defending your body from invaders like bacteria and viruses. Your immune cells, known formally as phagocytes and lymphocytes, are chiefly responsible for disposing of unrecognized biological material and creating antibodies to ensure that they can be neutralized the next time they are seen in the body, respectively. The way that your immune cells recognize whether or not something is foreign is by the protein coating on the outside of the cell in question - “invader” cells won’t be recognized by the immune cells and they will dispose of the invading cell in question.

So how does Paleo dieting play a role in immunity? Well, let’s look at one of the big reasons why people switch to a Paleo diet in the first place: inflammation. Many people switch to Paleo to reduce inflammation, and for good reason too - Because the Paleo diet is very low on processed foods and ingredients like sugar, grains, and legumes, a common side effect of the Paleo diet is reduced inflammation in the body. In fact, many people who suffer from autoimmune disorders like Crohn’s, IBS, and Multiple Sclerosis switch to the Paleo diet to reduce their symptoms - but anyone can benefit from switching to Paleo from a typical diet as a typical western diet, rich in grains and processed foods, can cause a great deal of inflammation in the body.

But why is inflammation so bad? For one, inflammation isn’t always a bad thing. As we mentioned before, your immune system attacks invaders it doesn’t recognize, and when this happens it can cause inflammation. Over short periods of time, inflammation isn’t really problematic - however, chronic inflammation due to diet or otherwise can quickly become quite bad for your health because it will eventually lead to your body attacking its own organs! When this happens, it can lead to nasty side effects like internal scarring, tissue death, and can even create an environment for diseases like cancer to develop in your body. So while it’s important for your body to be able to use inflammation as a means of getting rid of toxins and invading cells, it’s equally important to keep inflammation under control by way of diet and lifestyle.

In the next part of this two-part series, we’ll look into the other immunity benefits Paleo has to offer besides inflammation control. In the meantime, why not treat yourself to some grain-free deliciousness that can help keep your body inflammation free?

Here at Caveman Foods we’re beginning to notice that all around the world, more and more people are beginning to “go against the grain” and adopt a grain-free diet. But what’s the reason for this big shift? Is it for health reasons, such as anti-inflammatory dieting or weight loss, or is it because it helps us think more clearly? Let’s dig in and have a look!

For hundreds of years since the agricultural revolution, humans have had grain as a major staple food in our diet. But lately, dietary trends have been emerging that exclude grain as a major food group. Why is this? For starters, this trend may be emerging due to the popularity of gluten-free diets in the past decade. In fact, around 1 in 5 people now eliminate or limit gluten consumption in their diet in the United States. While gluten-free diets are a necessity for individuals with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that causes a severe allergy to gluten, only about 1% of the population has celiac disease. So why is it so popular if so few people need to follow it? Some speculate that even if you don’t have celiac disease, it’s still possible to be what is called “gluten-sensitive,” meaning that while you may not have celiac disease, you may still have adverse reactions to gluten itself such as inflammation, weight gain, and indigestion, which is why individuals may benefit from a gluten-free diet even if they don’t have celiac disease.

While gluten-free diets aren’t necessarily grain-free diets since some grains are naturally free of gluten (like buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa), they can have similar benefits. As mentioned earlier, gluten-free diets can limit inflammation and weight gain, both of which are added health benefits of a grain-free diet. Additionally, grain-free diets can limit blood sugar levels and are believed to reduce pain for individuals with certain conditions such as fibromyalgia or endometriosis, though the scientific link between those conditions and a grain-free diet is not quite concrete.

So why specifically would individuals be choosing no grains over grains? As mentioned before, the biggest reason is likely for weight control. Grains are typically very high in carbs and low in other macronutrients like protein and fat, which can derail weight loss efforts very quickly if not eaten in moderation. In fact, removing grains from one’s diet can yield effects very similar to the Keto diet, which focuses on eating mostly fat and protein-rich foods while foregoing carbs. While Keto isn’t necessarily grain-free, the two are certainly very similar as those on a Keto diet will typically forego grains in the same way those on a grain-free diet will due to their carb density. Grain-free diets also enhance weight loss by keeping blood sugar levels down. The reason blood sugar affects weight loss is because most grains can be high in carbs while low on fiber, making them easily digestible, and so the body’s blood sugar levels will spike when the carbs in those grains are converted into sugar. If there’s too much excess sugar or not enough activity for the body to use all that sugar, it will be stored as fat, which can hinder weight loss even further. So for that reason, grain-free diets make an excellent choice for those trying to lose weight because they keep blood sugar levels much lower overall. It’s also for that reason that low-carb diets are recommended to those who are pre-diabetic, because they can help control diabetes symptoms and can reduce the need for additional medication in those who take it.

While a grain-free diet can be a great health choice, it comes with it’s own set of precautions that ought to be followed because grain-free diets carry their own set of risks and complications. Grain-free diets can increase the risk of things like constipation and nutrient deficiencies since grains can be high in fiber and other vitamins and minerals we need on a daily basis, so if you do switch to a grain-free diet make sure you’re supplementing properly to get everything you need! And if you’re starting a grain-free diet, don’t go all in right away - take things slow and give yourself time to adjust to your new diet, and don’t restrict everything right away. While we love to eat grain-free at Caveman Foods, we don’t mind the occasional treat here and there because above all, we believe in living a balanced, healthy lifestyle, not one that is overly restrictive and draconic. So, in short, stay balanced, and stay healthy!