Phix Natural Energy Mix: Drinking in Health

Sneaky Gluten

2012-05-31T15:15:00.000-04:00

Sticking to a gluten-free diet is no easy task. With all of the food restrictions, and temptations, sometimes it can seem a bit overwhelming. There are many that needto follow a strict gluten-free diet, and those who choose to. Whatever the reason, and no matter how disciplined you may be, without proper knowledge, transgression may be imminent. Besides doing the research on what foods are gluten-free, you should also know that some foods are unexpected sources of gluten. Furthermore, to deal with those sneaky foods, many of those foods have gluten-free options. For example, most breads contain gluten, but that does not mean that there are no gluten-free bread options! Gluten can be sneaky, and hide in foods that you would never expect. Let’s check out a few.

Oats: I know what you may be thinking; this does not make sense because oats are naturally gluten-free. While that actually is true, during the processing of oats, there is a lot of cross-contamination with wheat and/or rye that is also processed in the factory. Luckily, there are gluten-free oats!

Condiments: You may be doing a great job sticking to gluten-free foods, only to ruin it by spreading condiments laden with gluten all over your otherwise gluten-free food. As a general rule, since gluten is often used as a thickener, stay away from ‘thick’ condiments such as barbeque sauce, marinades, tomato paste and pasta sauces. Also add soups and other sauces, such as soy sauce, to the list due to the thickening properties of gluten.

Licorice:Surprisingly, both red and black licorices contain wheat! Fortunately, they do sell gluten-free brands of licorice; you just have to do a little searching!

Processed Meat Products: Sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats (especially pre-packaged), often contain gluten used for texture purposes. Also, be weary of BBQ chicken (the barbecue sauce), or teriyaki style meats!

Next time you want to shout out, “gluten-free since ’93,” you better make sure you’re not accidentally ingesting your vice every day! And for those who can’t consume gluten, we certainly hope this helps. And don’t forget, although energy drinks can often contain gluten, Phixis gluten-free!

Happy, healthy, and safe eating to all,

Your friends at Phix

Meat Is Overrated

2012-05-25T13:15:00.001-04:00

How many of you consider your dream meal to be filet mignon with a side of steak? Do you incorporate meat in (almost) every meal in some way? I know a lot of you are quivering at the very thought of life without poultry, and red meat, however, did you know that there are a multitude of health benefits associated with the vegetarian lifestyle?

Some of you may worry that even if you wanted to go vegetarian, you could not. First of all, let’s just quash the idea that you can’t receive sufficient nutrients or protein intake without animal meat. There are countless replacements such as tofu, and plant protein just to name a few. If you are, or are trying to be, a competitive or even professional athlete and worry that you will not be able to keep up with the field on a plant-based diet, that is not true either. Our preconceived notions, thanks in part to television, media, and stereotypes, has us picturing a skinny (and let’s be honest, hippy-like) animal rights activist munching on nothing but salads. Check out the article below for a list of just a few of the professional athletes, in all different fields, who follow(ed) vegetarian diets.

Now that your biases have been tossed out the window (go ahead, toss ‘em out the window), we can all learn some great health benefits spurred by the vegetarian diet.

· Healthy skin: Plant-based foods are heavily loaded with antioxidants and vitamins which contribute to healthier skin.

· Chemical and hormone-free food: Meats are often are loaded with hormones (such as hormone contributing to that oversized chicken that can’t support its own weight), as well as chemicals and preservatives.

· Lower blood pressure: Vegetarian diets are generally (naturally) low in sodium, and fats which helps reduce blood pressure.

· Lower risk of diabetes / lower cholesterol levels: It is very easy to keep steady blood sugar levels when sticking to a vegetarian diet. Also, without unhealthy meats and fats, that takes care of both lowering the risk of diabetes (blood sugar, again) and lowering cholesterol levels!

· Improved digestion: If you have stomach problems, fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber which help with both taking foods in (digestion), and getting them out J

These are just a few of the countless benefits of a vegetarian diet, not even mentioning the obvious weight loss possibility! If you are serious about getting healthy, why not give this a try for a day, a week, or even a month and see how it works for you! Go online and check out some meat substitutions for an easy transition. Don’t forget, Phixis all-natural and VEGAN!

You’re welcome, animals.

Your friends at Phix

Black Tea vs. Coffee

2012-05-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

Whether you wake up at 6am to exercise, get ready for work, get the kids off to school, or just seize the day, mornings can be tough. Heck, for some of us, waking up at the crack of noon can be difficult! Regardless, sometimes we all need a little extra boost. Usually, we gravitate to what will wake us up, not what will be the best for our health—a cup of water isn’t going to help us much in the morning. However, there are many options that can wake you up, and fall in line with our healthy standards of living. We are going to be comparing the world’s most popular wake-up drink, coffee, with black tea; the less-popular cousin of green tea.

Let’s start with the obvious question; which one has more caffeine? An average cup of coffee contains about two times as much caffeine as an average cup of black tea. So, if you find yourself jittery after a cup of coffee, the tea switch might be ideal for you. On the other hand, from a caffeine perspective, if you are still exhausted immediately after a cup of joe, perhaps tea is not your best bet.

Since we are extremely health oriented, let’s hop on this topic for a minute. Of course, we could all pound a standard energy drink first thing in the morning, and that will probably wire us for a few hours (before the inevitable crash and jitters), but we know this is not in our best interest. Coffee has been linked to both positive and negative health effects. While it can regulate blood sugar and decrease the risk of attaining certain diseases, it can also lead to irritability, anxiety, and sleep-related problems. Tea has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels, increase metabolism, and relax blood vessels, but can have the same adverse side effects as coffee if similar amounts of caffeine are consumed (remember, 2:1 ratio). Both coffee and black tea contain antioxidants, however, black tea contains significantly more.

We can conclude that this is really a matter of preference. While black tea is healthier than coffee, it contains less caffeine so may not have the same wake-up power you need. On an aside, we would recommend if you are going to switch to tea, switch to white or green. White and green teas are both minimally processed, unlike black tea which is fermented. The fermentation process reduces the amount of antioxidants! However, black tea does have just a little bit more caffeine than green and white teas. Of course, you can always get the best of both worlds by getting a coffee’s cup worth of caffeine, AND a boat load of antioxidants (plus much more) from a Phix Energy!

Rise and shine,

Your friends at Phix

Mother’s Day Ideas

2012-05-10T16:25:00.000-04:00

Mother’s Day is approaching fast, and that means it’s time for us to spoil the woman that brought us into this world. The only problem is, what do you give someone that has already given you everything? Although we love our moms and appreciate everything they do, this is also the one day of the year when we realize that we should have been pampering them the other 364 days of the year after all they have done for us! Unless there is a very special something that they have been non-stop talking about, chances are they don’t want anything materialistic. What they really want for Mother’s day are memories—more specifically, memories with you. This means that you don’t have to spend money to make mom happy this year, but if you do, spend it on something you can do with her! We’re going to give you some ideas to help make this Mother’s Day a special one.

No Money Required:

Go for a walk in the park and stop somewhere for a picnic. Reminisce on old times, and most importantly, just spend time together. Turn your phone off, leave your iPad in the car, and just walk and talk! Pack moms favorite food and drink for the picnic!

Work on her garden with her. Not only will this be fun, and give you quality time to spend with each other and talk, but you will have a chance to help out and take part in your mom’s hobby! If you’re feeling adventurous, pick up her favorite plants and help her plant them.

Break Out The Wallet:

Go out to a nice Sunday brunch. There will be a ton of restaurants catering to the Mother’s Day crowd. Grab some pink pancakes, chocolate covered strawberries, and flower shaped fruits! Loosen up the belt and hit the omelet bar with no regrets! If you are really looking to spice your morning with mom up, order some mimosas!

There is a reason that clichés exist. Don’t worry about being unoriginal when it comes to a spa day with mom! Not only will she love it, but you will too! What’s better than bonding with mom over a stress-relieving massage?

With all of her running around and being super-mom, give her the gift of energy this year! A box of Phix Energy is the gift that keeps on giving JBut whatever you do this Mother’s Day, just make sure that you spend time with mom! Remember, she can buy herself flowers, or chocolates, but you can’t put a price on spending time with your children!

We salute you, mom!

Your friends at Phix

Healthy Cinco De Mayo Recipes

2012-05-04T11:50:00.000-04:00

May 5^th is right around the corner, and you know what that means—Cinco De Mayo celebrations! With great food, drinks, dancing, and festivities, what’s not to love about it? The problem is that Cinco De Mayo might just be too much fun. This holiday gives Thanksgiving a run for its money in the gluttony category. Perhaps it is not quite as much of a ‘sit down and eat all day’ type of occasion, as is Thanksgiving, but generally speaking, the foods (and drinks) consumed are not the best for you. After downing platefuls of nachos, chips, quesadillas, and other fattening appetizers, it’s time to wash them down with some sugary margaritas each containing up to 800 calories! You’re at (probably over) your daily caloric intake, and your entrée hasn’t even arrived yet. Now comes the plate of greasy tacos loaded with meat, cheese and sour cream to top off your meal. Dessert? Good luck.

You’re probably thinking, “But it’s Cinco De Mayo, it’s just one day!” We agree with you. We’re here to give you a condensed Cinco menu with some traditional favorites made healthier!

Vegetarian bean & butternut tacos with salsa Verde:

Beans are a great and filling source of protein and the butternut squash adds a smooth, creaminess to keep your cravings satisfied. If you’re not a vegetarian, go ahead and add some grilled lean chicken or shrimp to these to spice up your night.

Nutrition: (based off recipe on link below) Per serving: 406 calories; 9 g fat ( 2 g sat , 4 g mono ); 3 mg cholesterol; 70 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars;13 g protein; 13 g fiber; 517 mg sodium; 1006 mg potassium.

Shredded turkey and pinto beans burrito:

Turkey is a great source of protein and contains very little fat—far superior to beef, when it comes to calories and fat content. Beans provide more protein and added fiber to keep you feeling fuller faster and longer. Throw some veggies in there and sprinkle it with homemade salsa and you have a complete, nutritious, and delicious meal!

Per serving: 392 calories; 12 g fat ( 5 g sat , 4 g mono ); 84 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrates; 38 g protein; 6 g fiber; 652 mg sodium; 616 mg potassium.

If you are craving an appetizer, here are some quick and easy tips for a healthy nacho platter:

è Use chicken, not beef

è switch to low fat cheese, and sour cream (try to cut out the sour cream altogether)

è Use whole grain chips and go heavy on the veggies, light on the fillers.

And finally, the moment you have all been waiting for; the margarita! There is really one simple change that can cut out between 300-500 calories from your drink alone! Instead of using the pure sugar and calorie laden margarita mix, use fresh cute lime wedge juice (or if you’re feeling lazy, store bought lime juice). Go ahead, have a second drink you deserve it! (Approximately 150 calories per ‘rita)

For more healthy meals, as well as ingredients and cooking directions for the ones above, follow this link!

Also, don’t let the sugar crash from those margaritas bring down your night, grab an all-natural, low-sugar, healthy pick-me-up Phix Energy and celebrate like it’s your 21^st birthday!

"Healthy Food" Myth-Busters

2012-05-02T16:02:00.000-04:00

Every year, popular health trends that were supposed to be the future of dieting, are disproved and new trends make their way in. One year, the Atkins diet is ‘in’ and red meat is our savior. Now, red meat is connected with shorter life expectancy. Carbs are good. Carbs are bad. The list goes on and on. Although it’s hard, if not impossible, to know what to believe, its safe(est) to assume that the newer information is the most accurate. Although the same Harvard study that condemned red meat may have been conducted by the same people who praised the Atkins diet just a few years earlier, it’s hard to argue against up-to-date information. As technology and science progress, new information and trends are bound to appear; it seems as though keeping up with the times is half the nutritional battle. What are some of the new trends from this year that seem to contradict what we thought about healthy eating? Let’s bust some of these misleading health myths!

To most people, Greek yogurt and healthy eating go hand-in-hand. Being a protein and calcium rich, better version of already healthy ‘regular’ yogurt, what’s not to love? Before you take my head off screaming that you know Greek yogurt is healthy and you don’t care what any study says, well, yes and no. It is very true that plain non-fat Greek Yogurt is not only extremely healthy but may even be considered a super food. A 6oz nonfat plain Chobani has just 100 calories, a whopping 18 (!!!) grams of protein, just 7 grams of sugar, calcium, vitamins, and is great for your digestive tract! On the other hand, take a 6oz nonfat blueberry flavored Chobani, and you’re getting 140 calories, 14 grams of protein, and 20 (!!!) grams of sugar! Not to mention there are low-fat, 2% and even worse versions for you, so NOT all Greek yogurts are created equally!! And get this; a 5.3oz Fage Total 2% With Honey has 29g of sugar, so make sure you buy plain flavored and throw some real fruits, or granola in there yourself.

This next one has been a more widespread trend, especially after Dr. Oz got his hands on the issue—fruit juices. For starters, these juices contain less nutrients and vitamins than the real fruits have. Next, they obviously have no satiety effect and can’t fill you up, such as an apple can. Also, it is easy to consume too many calories, as a large glass of apple juice may contain 150 calories, whereas an actual apple may have 75 calories and fill you up. Now, add in all of the sugar added into fruit juices, and in reality, they aren’t much better than soda! Going back to Dr. Oz, he found high levels of arsenic in samples of 88 different juices, so these diet-poisoning drinks may actually be poisoning you!

One of the most popular trends these days seems to be fiber content. What if we told you this was one of the healthy food scams? Much like the Greek yogurt situation, this is true and false. Fiber IS great for you—if it is naturally occurring. Fruits and vegetables should be your main sources of fiber. Oatmeal, quinoa and other oats are great sources of fiber as well. The problem with fiber lies in products such as Fiber One dessert brownies that add fiber…along with maltodextrin, sorbitol, and inulin which basically act as faux fiber. These are not nutritionally beneficial for you, and cause stomachaches and bloating.

With thousands of different research studies offering contradicting ‘facts’, our best advice to you is keep it simple, and natural! Don’t opt for flavored items at the risk of high sugar and artificial flavoring. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, raw foods, nuts, whole grains, and naturally occurring products and you will be just fine! Stay away from sugar-packed drinks and opt for an all-natural, low-sugar Phix Energy instead!

Pair Up Your Foods To Live Longer?

2012-04-26T15:30:00.000-04:00

What do spaghetti and meatballs, peanut butter and jelly, and macaroni and cheese all have in common? They are perfect, complementary pairs of food that more-often-than-not are associated together. The reason for this is simple; they taste delicious when paired up! Who doesn’t want their macaroni pasta covered in gooey melted cheese? Most people pair together two foods that are exceptionally tasty when mixed, but did you know that there are certain foods that create immense health benefits when paired—oh, and still taste great? Check out some great “power food combinations” below, and how to put them to use!

Tomatoes and avocados are both considered healthy foods on their own, but together, they are a force to be reckoned with. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is an antioxidant that reduces cancer as well as cardiovascular risks. Avocados contain “healthy fats” that are great for your heart.

How to use them: if you weren’t already thinking it, we’ll just go ahead and say it; holy guacamole! Whip up a delicious, healthy, and powerful guacamole that will keep your taste buds and your body equally happy!

Orange juice & oatmeal is another combo that you have probably paired together in the past, not realizing that they were a match made in heaven. We have accepted that both are healthy morning choices, orange juice because of its vitamin C, and oatmeal because of its fiber-rich content and heart healthy aspects. However, when combined, the two clean your arteries and prevent heart attacks with twice as much efficacy as opposed to consuming either one by its lonesome, because together, the phenols stabilize your LDL cholesterol.

How to use them: well this is simple, really. Eat a bowl of unprocessed oatmeal for breakfast, and wash it down with a cold glass of organic orange juice.

Apples and chocolate is a fun one that can serve as dessert. Red apples are filled with quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory shown to reduce the risk of allergies, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart attacks, and prostate and lung cancers, while chocolates are filled with catechins, an antioxidant that reduces the risks of getting cancer. Together, they are the Batman and Robin of power foods!

How to use them: Dice up apples and small chocolate chunks and put them into your oatmeal for a delicious, healthy, and ultimate power breakfast. Or, a Phix favorite, make chocolate covered candy apples for a powerful snack that no one will be able to resist!

Some of you have probably combined a few of these power foods in the past not knowing the positive health benefits they had on your body. Next time you are munching on one of these snacks, pair it up with its counterpart to optimize the effects! And don’t forget an instant classic, and fan favorite of course, is pairing a delicious Phix Energy with a great work out! Here is a short list of other complementary power foods:

Blueberries & grapes, lemon & kale, broccoli & tomatoes, garlic & fish, eggs & cantaloupe, almonds & yogurt, peanuts & whole wheat, red meat & rosemary

Remember, life is more fun in 2’s.

Your Friends at Phix

Sleep = Skinny

2012-04-20T14:22:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been so tired after a long day that you have used the excuse “I don’t have time to exercise?” Sometimes we don’t have time in the morning to squeeze a work out in, with getting the kids up and off, daily chores consuming our time, or our jobs. If you are one of the workout warriors out there, who has the willpower to sacrifice a few hours of sleep in order to hit the gym and get that workout in—even after a day of being on the go non-stop—you might not like what you’re about to read.

Hitting the sack early might have actually been the better long-term weight loss decision. That can’t be right, can it? New studies show that inadequate sleep can have an effect on appetite regulation, impair glucose metabolism, and increase blood pressure—all of which can lead to weight gain. Not to mention the obvious likelihood that you will eat more if you are awake than if you were sleeping. This study does not say that you can lose weight by sleeping more (sorry, sleeping for 18 hours and waking up to indulge on a supersized fast-food meal is NOT the new diet fad) but rather, that you can gain weight if you do not get a sufficient amount of sleep.

Sleep directly impacts two key hormones, leptin and ghrelin, which in turn directly impact appetite regulation. Ghrelin tells you when to eat, and leptin is the hormone that tells you when you are full, and to stop eating. When you deprive your body of sleep, you have more ghrelin, and less leptin—the opposite of what you want for weight loss! If you have more of the hormone that tells you to eat, and less of the hormone that signals your brain and says you are full, no pun intended, that is a recipe for disaster.

The bottom line is that your body needs sleep! Sometimes burning the midnight oil for “health purposes” may be doing more harm than good. Try to squeeze in a work out during the day, which will help you fall asleep easily at night. If you aren’t doing anything, rather than watching TV, get an extra hour of sleep; your body will thank you, and so will your waist line! If you have trouble falling asleep, drift off to a stress-free night of blissful sleep with Phix Sleep!

Sweet dreams,

Your friends at Phix

Carbs—Your Worst Enemy Or Your Best Friend?

2012-04-11T11:04:00.000-04:00

We have all been told at one point or another that carbs are our worst enemy—on par with sugary, fatty snacks and sodas. But the truth is, not only are carbs not the devil, but they are actually necessary, and good for you. Like any other food type, or food group, as long as you are getting the right kinds of carbs, and eating them in moderation, they can be your best friend. Furthermore, a no-carb diet is almost impossible. Carbohydratesare commonly associated with bread, pasta, grains, etc., which is true; those foods are packed with carbohydrates. However, there are other forms of carbs such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

Yes, it is true that the common denominator and basic structure of each carbohydrate is a sugar molecule. However, not all carbs were created equal! Have you ever heard of simple carbs and complex carbs? Complex carbs are the best for you, while simple, processed carbs are the worst. Before getting into the specifics of what kind of carbs you should try to consume, let us first give you 3 reasons why you need carbs, in general, as part of your regular diet (even if it is a LOW carb diet).

1) Carbohydrates are used as our primary energy source to fuel our bodies, which is easily obtained in the form of glucose. Without a supply of carbohydrates, fatigue and “crankiness” are very common.

2) If we do not have carbohydrates in our system, the body will turn to fatty tissue to get the glucose necessary to fuel our bodies. When more energy is needed, the next line of defense is protein tissue in the muscles. Basically, carbohydrates are necessary, even more so, for active people—such as those trying to loseweight!

3) Complex carbs are great for digestion (see: fiber).

Low carb diets (not to be confused with NO carb diets) have been shown to assist in weight loss. Instead of cutting out carbs, make the appropriate substitutions to promote optimal health. Consume whole grains (whole wheat bread instead of white bread, brown rice instead of processed white rice, whole grain pasta) and lots of delicious fruits and vegetables. Oatmeal, nuts, and beans are another great source of carbohydrates that are also a good source of fiber and protein.

Everyone should include carbs in their diets. If you are trying to cut back on carbs to lose some weight, and feel fatigued, that is completely normal, and even expected. Grab a Phix Energy and keep your day and your diet going!

Foods That Help You Sleep

2012-04-02T09:31:00.000-04:00

After a long, busy day sometimes it’s hard to even keep your eyes open. We have all had those days where our eyelids just feel so heavy and we can’t wait to just curl up in bed and sleep as long as humanly possible. After fantasizing about sleeping all day, and struggling to stay awake, you FINALLY climb into bed, close your eyes, and…….can’t fall asleep. Maybe you drank too much caffeine that day; maybe you had none at all. Maybe you took too long of a nap, or maybe you are just stressed out. But sometimes, it’s very possible to be doing all the right things, and be in the right state of mind, and still just not be able to fall asleep.

If this problem became regular, and serious, your doctor could prescribe sleeping pills—which should only be used as a last resort. If you wanted to go down the over-the-counter route, there is melatonin along with countless herbal remedies that could possibly help you. But is there any way you can decrease your chances of suffering through a sleepless night just by changing simple everyday habits such as eating? The answer to that question is extremely simple: yes. There are certain “normal” foods that many may consume every day anyway that can help you sleep.

We all know that bananas are a nutritious treat, but they are most commonly associated with breakfast. Did you know that bananas are a perfect pre-bedtime snack due to their excellent source of magnesium and potassium as well as tryptophan? Almonds are another great snack to eat right before bed. They too, contain magnesium, but they also contain protein which helps balance out blood-sugar levels to help you drift off to sleep. Cereal is another classic treat to eat right before bed. It seems like we may have breakfast and our bedtime snacks mixed up! Cereal is such a good choice because complex carbohydrate-rich foods increase the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream, increasing the sleep-inducing effects. Go for a whole grain cereal though, not a sugary one that lacks nutritional value. Finally, all dairy products are a strong choice to help you sleep well at night. The proteins in dairy products help balance blood sugar and calcium is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers, including those in the brain.

Let’s combine some of the above snacks and create the ultimate snooze-snack. It seems as though the perfect snack before bedtime would be a bowl of cereal with milk, almonds, and sliced up banana. Just don’t eat this if you plan on staying awake because this sounds like a real knockout punch!

And If that isn’t enough to put you to bed, grab an all-natural Phix Sleep and drift off to a stress-free sleep!

Spring Clean(se)ing

2012-03-23T09:59:00.000-04:00

It is now officially Spring, which means the weather is getting warmer, and panic mode has set in because we thought we would already have our beach bodies by now when we made our New Year’s resolutions. Oops! Now that it’s crunch time, no pun intended, everyone is trying all sorts of crash-diets extreme weight loss regimens to get to where they want to be physically. We know just the perfect thing to start out your new diet (whatever it may be) with. How many of you have tried, or thought about trying a detox, or a cleanse diet? But do these actually work? That all depends on what your goals are.

A very common misconception is that a detox or cleanse diet will cause one to lose a lot of weight. Yes, and no. The weight you will lose will be water weight, and will be gained back right after you finish the cleanse. So if your goal is to lose temporary weight (not fat) for your 3 day cruise and then immediately gain it all back, sure a cleanse may work. However, if you are thinking about doing a cleanse in order to lose permanent weight, this is not the solution.

So why do a cleanse diet then? Simple; for your overall health. What better way to jump-start a diet than to get all the bad out before you start putting all the good in? J As the cleanse & detox names imply, the point is to get rid of all of the bad toxins, poisons, and extraneous materials in your body. This will not only make you feel healthier, but you will BE healthier! Also, many people have had spiritual awakenings by going through cleansings—if you are religious or spiritual, this may be another reason to choose to do a cleanse. If you are not, you may be after, so watch out! Now the biggest question with choosing the right cleanse, is: which one should I choose?! It is like picking a diet; there are hundreds of different ones, and they all work in their own ways. Read over a few, and see not only which one seems like it would be best for you, but which one you would actually be able to stick to! If one cleanse calls for 3 days of drinking water mixed with cayenne pepper, and you HATE cayenne pepper, stay away! Check out a big list of some of the most popular spring cleanses and choose one that’s right for you!

Once you complete your cleanse and are ready to move onto your diet and fitness goals, don’t forget to grab a Phix Energy and get active!

http://www.everydiet.org/detox_diet.htm

Red Meat--the New (Old) Food Villain

2012-03-19T14:03:00.001-04:00

They say that eating ‘green’ can help you live a longer, healthier life. Now, doctors and researchers are saying going ‘red’ can drastically shorten your life span. Recent Harvard studies have shown that consuming red meat is directly correlated with increasing early death rates. According to the studies, “Based on these findings, the researchers estimate that substituting one daily serving of red meat with fish, poultry, nuts, legumes, whole grains, or low-fat dairy products would reduce the risk of dying in this stage of life by 7% to 19%. If everyone in the study had slashed their average red-meat intake to less than half a serving per day, the researchers say, 9% of deaths among men and 8% of deaths among women could have been prevented.” This is a scary statistic, especially for those, like myself, who love a big juicy steak, or break out the grill, burgers, and dogs on a regular basis.

I guess 2012 really is the end of the world. Kidding. But if you are a meat lover, don’t be TOO worried just yet. Dr. Pan, lead author of the study specifically states, "We don't want everyone to be a vegetarian," whew. However, suggested consumption is 2-3 servings of red meat per week. Remember, this does not mean 2-3 red meat meals, but SERVINGS—3 oz. A large steak can easily take down all 3 servings in one sitting, so watch your portions!

As with all studies like this one, however, it must be taken with a grain of salt (just a grain; remember, portion control). Because of the way red meat has been vilified in the past, there is an inherent bias which makes it hard to separate the damages of the red meats versus the rest of the diet, and easy to place the blame for any harm on the red meat. Also, people who generally consume more red meat also tend to be less active, smoke, and drink more than those who consume less, once again skewing the results.

Whether or not you believe every new study that comes out (as it appears everything nowadays is unhealthy or causes some sort of disease), I can’t help but stick to the old saying, “everything in moderation.” If you are going to eat red meat, and I know I won’t be cutting it completely out of my diet, do so in moderation! Also, after eating a meal heavy in red meat, just grab a water bottle and a Phix Energy and do something active!

Enjoy in moderation,

Your friends at Phix

The Ultimate Athlete

2012-03-06T14:56:00.000-05:00

So, you fancy yourself an athlete, huh? What defines an athlete though? I find it hard to say that a 350 pound out of shape NFL offensive linemen with 80% body fat is “athletic” yet they make millions of dollars every year getting paid as a professional athlete. On the other end of the spectrum, there are runners who can run miles on end without getting tired, or outrun your 1975 AMC Pacer, but if you asked them to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, or kick a soccer ball, they would most likely find themselves more lost than a 6 year old left on his own at Disney World. Of course, the term athlete is very subjective, and if you are in the top percentile of your specific sport, you are probably considered by most a great athlete (with the exception of maybe a bowler—sorry I had to). Personally, I think an athlete is defined by versatility and the ability to perform different physically challenging tasks.

This brings us to some of the most athletic people in the world-- (in my opinion, of course)—triathletes. In order to compete in a triathlon you must thrive at running, swimming, and biking; 3 sports that have no connectedness or interrelation to each other, for the most part. If you consider yourself a great athlete, i urge you—I even dare you to sign up for the 2575 Triathlon in Key Biscayne this weekend, March 10, and March 11. This course includes a .75 Km swim, a 20 Km bike course, and a 5Km run.

Team Phix is going to be there as sponsors of the 2575 triathlon! We will be at the expo sampling, as well as selling Phix Energy individual stix for the first time ever! Come see us to get energized before your big race, and check out Phix Sleep to drift off to a relaxing night of sleep before and after your big race!

See you there,

Your friends at Phix

Does Technology Help You Lose Weight?

2012-03-02T13:56:00.001-05:00

In today’s day and age, people seem to almost directly correlate advances in technology with laziness and obesity. You hear about all of these new video game systems, 3D TVs, and devices that perform even the simplest activities-- such as those little $50 robots that allow you to stay put on the couch while it brings your next beer right to you. HOW LAZY ARE YOU?! However, with all of these negative associations, we often fail to realize the other side of the spectrum. Technology has opened the door for fitness and weight loss. Technology has made it so easy to get in shape (or at least develop a plan of attack) for anyone and everyone. Gone are the days of making excuses, “I don’t have money for a personal trainer,” “I don’t know what I’m doing,” “If I had the money for a Hollywood trainer I’d be in just as good shape as Brad Pitt…”. Not only do you have access to all of this information, but you can bring it with you to your workout, your gym, your job—anywhere! Since it seems that almost everyone has a smart phone these days, let’s see what we can do on one of those!

There are countless ways to use your smart phone to help you lose weight. As mentioned before, you could use the internet to find a new diet plan, or even a new workout plan. You can use your phone as a music device, phone, and personal trainer at the gym! Or you could do what millions of others are doing, and download an app or two to keep you on track. Apps such as LoseIt! work by personalizing your goals and activities. First, you would enter your height and weight (and a few other basic details) to figure out how many calories you should be consuming per day. Then, you have the option to decide if you want to lose weight (or fat), gain muscle, etc. Throughout the day, you enter what you eat, along with what exercise you have done, and it will tell you how many calories you have consumed and burned. You also have the opportunity to connect with fitness professionals, and share your results with friends.

There are countless apps that can do anything from personalize a workout, to count your calories, to even GPS track how far you have walked throughout the course of a day. If you want to take your fitness goals to the next level, you’ll live this new little gadget. Nike has just released a new product called the Fuel Band +. This is a ‘bracelet’ that allows you to set goals for yourself. For example, if your goal is to expend 1,000 calories today, it will track how many calories you burn doing everything from walking, to running, to lifting weights, to even brushing your teeth and scratching your head! It has a USB attached to it so you can either plug it into your computer to get more detailed results to analyze, or you can have the information sent to your smart phone!
The possibilities are endless, so if you are an ‘old school’ kind of person that believes that we are getting more obese and lazier because of the advances in technology, I’d say, quite the contrary! I blame the supersize fast food option, and that darn heavy metal music you kids listen to these days. Times are moving fast, try to keep up—literally! Set your goals, grab your Phix Energy and get going!

Enjoy.

Your Friends at Phix

Train like a Spartan

2012-02-24T10:57:00.002-05:00

They say that distance running is a mental game—you need to have the resolve to push yourself to keep going even when you want to give up. They also say that sprinting relies mostly on physical ability. Whoever runs the fastest in short bursts will win the race; there is no time for thinking. What if there was a race in which you needed to be equally strong, both physically and mentally? That is plausible. How about if that race had obstacles, such as fire, barbed wire, mud, and even people trying to trip you with one of those double-sided foam ‘swords’ they use in American Gladiators? That seems ridiculous and unfeasible, yet so oddly specific it must exist right? Oh yeah. It’s called the Spartan Race. People actually pay to sign up for this cruel and unusual punishment, as it has become one of the most popular (and toughest) competitions around! Distance running + interval sprinting + grueling obstacles = Spartan Race. Now, that is a formula truly created for the athlete looking to push themselves to the limit!

This year, Phix is one of the proud sponsors of the daunting Spartan Race! We will be there both days (2/25 and 2/26) providing free Phix refreshments and energizing the athletes to help them get both mentally and physically amped up for their big race!

If you want to train like a Spartan, stop making excuses! Grab a Phix Energy, and get out there and GO DO IT!

Your friends at Phix

Dont Worry, Be Happy!

2012-02-17T11:15:00.000-05:00

We all say we just want to be happy. However, some of us say it until we’re blue in the face, but don’t do anything about it! If you’re looking for us to tell you how to be happy, you’re barking up the wrong tree—there is no blueprint for happiness. Some people want money, others just need friends and family, and for some, just a piece of chocolate is enough to lift their spirits! While we can’t tell you what will make you happy, your friends at Phix are here to give you some general tips on how to improve your current happiness levels!

For starters, don’t just think about your own happiness. Believe it or not, even if you are in a bad mood, or feeling down, doing something nice for someone else will actually make you feel better! Compliment a stranger, tell your partner how nice they look, or even just hold the door open for someone a couple of steps back—you’d be surprised what it might do for your own happiness! Getting caught up in oneself sometimes takes away the joy of the simple things in life.

Avoid spending time around negative people. Even if you consider someone your best friend, their negative energy could be rubbing off on you without you noticing it. Spending time around happy, positive people ALWAYS has a positive effect; remember-- smiling is contagious!

Do things that make you happy, not what you think will make others happy. Although this may seem like a contradiction to the first suggestion, it is not. This is not to say ‘don’t do things that make others happy’ but basically, be yourself and don’t try to impress or please others! If you don’t like going out drinking, don’t just do it just because your friends are, or because they want you to! You can have as much fun just being there with your friends having a soda!

Finally, take 30 minutes a day just to do something YOU like—alone. Whether it’s just reading the paper, watching your favorite show, gardening, going for a run, or writing a poem—do it! But don’t ever tell yourself that you are too busy to take 30 minutes out of the day to do something for you!

Hint: for those 30 minutes start an ongoing project! For example, 30 minutes a day, work on pottery, or restore an old car, or start up a new garden in your back yard! This will get you excited about something every day, and will keep your mind on something positive, fun, and most of all, something you are doing for YOU. Whatever you are doing, just know, that you DESERVE to be happy! As Yogi Berra once said, “90% of the game is half mental,” so go into it with the right mindset!

Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day

2012-02-09T14:10:00.000-05:00

Are you tired of doing the same thing for Valentine’s Day every year? Dinner, gift exchange, “romantic” night in with your loved one? Don’t get me wrong; this is definitely great, but why not step it up a notch. Add back some of that excitement you had when you first started dating—be spontaneous, outgoing, and well, fun! Your friends at Phix are here to give you some great ideas to get your hearts racing, and your blood flowing this Valentine’s Day!

We know that a romantic dinner on this special day is a must. Weather permitting, take a hike somewhere scenic, and don’t forget your picnic basket! Not only will the actual hike be fun and invigorating while giving you time to actually talk (the most underrated Valentine’s Day activity), but spreading a blanket, breaking out a bottle of wine along with your favorite Vday treats and snacks like a couple of college kids fist falling in love will bring a smile to both of your faces! Not to mention, you can use the hike back to burn off some of those chocolate calories J If you live in a tropical area, substitute the trails for the beach—what’s more romantic than walking the shoreline while the sun sets behind you? If it is too cold to get outside, ditch the restaurant, and cook a new meal (that neither of you have ever tried to make before) together, and skip the dinner table and have a picnic in your house! If you have a fireplace, I think you know where to set up the picnic!

Believe it or not, a ‘blue-collar’ dinner date might be exactly what the doctor ordered! Instead of dressing up and dining on expensive cheeses that you can’t pronounce, go to Dave & Busters, play Skeeball, go bowling, hit the arcade machines, and feast on a burger and fries, and split a milkshake! Tell me that doesn’t sound fun, I dare you. If you are on a budget, just go for a nature walk, or cuddle up on the couch, watch a movie and split a tub of popcorn. Valentine’s Day should be more about spending time with your loved ones, than spending money on your loved ones. Here’s a question to ask yourself: how often do you just sit and talk with your partner?

After a tiring evening of fun and games (literally), head back home and give each other massages. Not only is this an intimate and great way to cap off your day, but if you took our advice, you will both be physically drained and a massage will be the perfect nightcap! Of course, there are other ways to burn off some of those Valentine’s Day calories, and cap off the night…

Enjoy each other J

Your Friends at Phix

The Secret to Living Forever—Green Tea?

2012-01-25T12:08:00.001-05:00

Certain foods and drinks have developed associated health stigmas throughout the years. Whether they are true or false, positive or negative, the only certain thing is that these stigmas exist. Have you ever been out with your friend who is on a “diet”, and they order a large salad with bacon bits, cheese, croutons, and about a half-gallon of ranch dressing? Most people think they are eating healthy when they order a salad, sometimes failing to realize the cheese, meat (such as fried chicken), and dressing in it can add up to over 1,000 calories. On the other hand, pizza is commonly vilified and associated with pigging out, or eating junk food, but in reality a fresh, homemade slice of pizza can contain a mere 150 calories, while satisfying your cravings! The point is that not all associations hold true—but what about the ones that do?

One of the most revered, and mysterious drinks, is green tea. Green tea has been said to make you healthy and strong, awake and alert, fight cancer, improve memory, vastly increase the duration of your life, and achieve world peace. Ok, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. How much of what is said about this enigmatic plant is true? What could possibly be in a tea leaf to have such vital, healing effects on people? Believe it or not, the answer is actually simple; catechin polyphenols. Medical research has shown that these catechins are beneficial for the good health of not only humans but also plants. The most influential catechin polyphenol in the green tea leaf is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. This is a very powerful antioxidant, which not only is shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, but it actually kills the cells without causing any harm to the healthy tissue! These catechins are able to prevent the activity of free radicals, another contributor to cellular damage leading to cancer. Furthermore, EGCG has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels, thus decreasing one’s chance of strokes and heart attacks. These are just the scientifically provenhealth benefits. Many more rumors about this magical leaf have been circulating for thousands of years—and hey—how many of you would have believed that green tea can help fight cancer just a few years ago?

If you are like most people, and don’t believe everything you hear, don’t be so quick to dismiss some of the claims that green tea proponents are, and have been making for thousands of years! Perhaps green tea won’t make you live forever, and cannot bring you infinite wealth and wisdom, but if an apple a day keeps the doctor a way, just imagine what a cup of green tea a day could do! Green tea is one of the main ingredients in Phix Energy—so grab your Phix and a water bottle and get energized and healthy!

The Science Behind Losing Weight—Lose 1 LB in 1 week

2012-01-20T11:11:00.001-05:00

To put it simply and state the obvious, to lose weight you have to burn more calories than you consume. Now, I know what you may be thinking—‘I eat 2,000 calories a day, there’s no way I can burn close to that much!’ However, this task isn’t nearly as daunting as you think. Believe it or not, you are CONSTANTLY burning calories, when you’re sitting still, sleeping, or even eating! Everyone burns a different amount of calories, depending on your gender, age, height, and weight, as well as your personal metabolism activity levels. To get a number for about how many calories you expend at REST, while not doing anything, you have to calculate your BMR—Basal Metabolic Rate. You can find your BMR simply in about 10 seconds by using this: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Now that you know how many calories you are burning by doing nothing, let’s get a feel for how many calories you expend on a typical day. Use the following scale to determine your needed caloric intake to maintain weight.

· Sedentary (little to no exercise): BMR x 1.2

· Lightly active (light exercise, 1-2 times per week): BMR x 1.3

· Moderately active (moderate exercise, 3-5 times per week): BMR x 1.5

· Very active (heavy exercise, 6-7 times per week): BM R x 1.7

Let’s say you are a 25 year old, 5’4” female who weighs 125 pounds. If you are lightly active (you run for 30 minutes, twice a week) you can calculate your needed caloric intake to maintain weight as follows:

BMR = 1382.05

1382.05 * 1.3 = 1796.665. This means that you could consume approximately 1800 calories per day and maintain your current weight (assuming you exercise twice a week, lightly). But what if you want to lose weight? Yes, you need to eat less, or workout more…but how much more?

One pound of body fat is approximately equal to 3,500 calories. To simplify this, if you expend 500 calories more than you consume every day, you will lose 1 LB in 1 week. (7 days * 500 calories = 3,500). Using the previous example, you would either need to consumer 1300 calories a day, burn 500 calories a day, or find a medium; such as consuming 1500 calories and burning 300 calories.

Cut out that Caramel Macchiato in the morning and that mid-day soda and there’s your 500 calories right there! It’s not as hard as it sounds—that morning muffin packs about 500 calories. Sub it for a 100 calorie protein shake with much more nutritious value and you’re almost there. Spend an extra 30 minutes in the gym; go the extra mile—literally! If you set your goals, and keep track of what you are putting into your body, and how many calories you are burning, losing weight can be THAT much easier. When you are able to track your progress, it makes the process so much easier. Who said your 2012 New Year Resolution wasn’t going to last?

Your Friends at Phix

Vitamin B12, Are You Getting Enough?

2012-01-12T16:41:00.001-05:00

Are you feeling sluggish and having trouble focusing, especially at night? Are you experiencing low-efficient workouts which require you to rest for 10 minutes after every 5 minutes of exercise? Do you find it difficult to recall things that happened just a few minutes ago? Do you find yourself in a bad mood, or stressed out over even minor issues? If any two of the above situations have been happening to you, it’s highly probable that your body is giving you signs that you have a Vitamin B deficiency.

Vitamin B12, a water-soluble vitamin that is commonly found in foods such as fish, shellfish, meat, eggs, and dairy products, is an essential vitamin that protects our nervous system. Permanent deficiency in Vitamin B12 can result in blindness, deafness, dementia, fatigue, and tingling in the hands or feet. Often these symptoms develop gradually over several months to a year before being recognized. However, you don’t need to worry if you have been a typical meat eater for most of your life, your body should have stored enough B12 to prevent overt deficiency for a number of years.

Generally, Vitamin B12 can be found in all animal products, but there is also controversy over whether plant products can be a reliable source of B12 within the nutritionists’ community. The overwhelming mainstream consensus is that plant foods are not an abundant source of vitamin B12, and fortified foods or supplements are necessary for the optimal health of vegans, and even vegetarians in many cases.

So, for vegans, how can you make sure that your body is getting enough Vitamin B12 and truly nutritious and balanced meatless meal?

Eat fortified foods two or three times a day to get at least three micrograms (mcg or µg) of B12 a day or
Take one B12 supplement daily providing at least 10 micrograms or
Take a weekly B12 supplement providing at least 2000 micrograms.

Most vegans consume enough B12 to avoid anemia and nervous system damage, but many do not get enough to minimize potential risk of heart disease or pregnancy complications. So, be alert when you plan out your new vegan diet. Just to let you know: Phix Energy drink is also an excellent source of Vitamin B12. Each Phix pack contains .0025 mg Vitamin B12. So when you pack up your healthy vegan lunch box, you should take Phix Energy into consideration as wellJ

In Good Health,

Your Friends at Phix

Ready, set, Zumba!

2012-01-06T10:10:00.000-05:00

Sometimes there just isn’t enough time in the day to do everything that you want to do. Often, we have to choose between doing something that we wantto do, and something that we ought to do. Now that the New Year has officially commenced, many of us have made resolutions to go back to the gym, while a lot of us have promised that we will make more time for ourselves! Which one of those people are you? If you had to choose between going out dancing with your friends, and working out, what would you do? Depending on what your goals are, both of these options could sound great to you. You could leave both scenarios either saying:

a) I just got back from dancing with my friends! We alternated between salsa, hip-hop, merengue and even some belly dancing. It was so much fun!

b) I just got back from such an intense aerobic workout! I worked out my abs, core, complete lower body, and did a ton of cardio—what a great workout!

But what if I told you that they are both responses to the same activity, and you could be saying both of those things? Do I have your attention now? Many people look at going to the gym, going for a run, or working out as a chore, or a dreaded activity. Sticking to a workout plan and getting the most out of your time exercising largely depends on your attitude. If you dread it, you may be looking for ways to justify not going to the gym, or you may do the bare minimum just to say that you exercised, and then leave. If you truly enjoyed your workout, why wouldn’t you do it as much as possible? You would.

That is why Zumba is such a rising trend in the vast and expanding world of fitness. ‘Accidentally’ created by Alberto Perlman and Beto Perez, many refer to Zumba as a “fitness party” or a “dance party”. In fact, Zumba instructors are actually trained to not give too much verbal criticism as to not dampen the positive mood and the fun of the participants. Zumba is a great mix of fun, learning, and exercise—it appeals to so many different people. From those who just love dancing, to those who want to get better at dancing, to people who want to exercise, this combines all of those categories. Not to mention, you do not need a partner for Zumba, you can just show up alone and dance the night away judgment free! Perhaps this is why Perlman has said, "Zumba is liberating and magical.”

Zumba’s choreography dance styles vary depending on the instructor, or class you are taking. The dancing styles include, but are not limited to, hip-hop, soca, merengue, belly dancing, mambo, salsa, samba, squats, lunges, and even martial arts! One of the coolest parts of Zumba is how much it has grown in the past 5 years or so—Zumba is now available for all ages and thrill seekers! One can take a Zumba class, a Zumba Gold class, classes designed either for active older adults, or for beginner exercisers, Aqua Zumba classes (in the water), Zumba Toning classes in which you use sticks to incorporate different parts of the body, as well as Zumbatomic for children between 4-12 years of age! All of that being said, it is not surprising that for the first time ever, Zumba has cracked the top-10 of the 2012 fitness trend projections list.

Next time you are thinking about whether you feel like exercising, or doing something fun—do both! If you are feeling tired, instead of vegging on the couch, put on your gym pants and dancing shoes, grab your Phix Energy stix and shake a leg!

New Year Greeting and Resolution of Phix

2012-01-05T13:12:00.000-05:00

Phix, your all-natural energy drink friend wants to take this opportunity to extend our New Year wishes to all our customers and make our continuous commitment in quality manufacturing and community involvement in 2012.

“2011 witnessed a productive year for Phix, and we know that we can’t achieve anything without the support of all our customers,” said Doug Brown, President of Phix. “At the moment while we are ringing in the New Year, the whole Phix team wants to express our most sincere gratitude and best New Year wishes for all the Phix fans.”

Last year, Phix grew fast and spread wide its name and good will across the globe. From sponsoring Badwater Ultra-Marathon Tournament to fuel the self-challenging athletes, teaming up with Grassroots Soccer to raise money for the kids in the AIDS-stricken areas in Africa, the charitable donation in Susan G Komen Foundation to fight against breast cancer, to the engagement in the Muddy Buddy Race for brand building etc., Phix was making every endeavor to develop and give back to the society.

“As a healthy energy drink manufacturer, we know safety and quality of our products should always be our priority,” said Doug, “So besides our community engagement, we also devoted in developing our products to satisfy our customers’ needs, and the upcoming sugar-free Berry Grape energy drink in 2012 is just one of our new progresses in response to our health-oriented customers’ requests.”

Phix is also in the process of holding a blogger contest early 2012 to show the gratefulness for the bloggers who brought the most traffic to the Phix website. Your Phix team is trying our best to give back to each support we were given and we think that appreciation and devotion are the rule-of-thumb which will guide Phix throughout the New Year and also further in the long run.

Again, Phix thanks our customers’ support and we wish each of you a happy and fruitful 2012.

Best Regards,

Phix Team

How to Stay Happy and Healthy This Flu Seas

2011-12-16T14:02:00.000-05:00

Fever, headache, fatigue, running nose, sore throat…I am pretty sure those are the last things you would like to experience during the Holiday season when everybody is in party and celebration mode, right? However, while everyone is busy preparing for the most anticipated days of the year, flu viruses are also in the holiday hustle and bustle spirit, since winter is their most active, and favorite season to hang out. You may be wondering, is there any way to cure your flu and to protect yourself against the stubborn viruses? Your friends at Phix have put together a few tips that can help keep you healthy and happy this Holiday season. It could be possible that some small details that you regularly overlook in your daily life are mounting up to become the culprits of an upcoming flu virus!

More fresh vegetables and fruits instead of supplements

If you think that taking several tablets of dietary supplements are enough to ward off the flu, then you are so wrong. Eating a fresh and juicy orange is much better than drinking the instant Vitamin C powder because what you get is the whole package of the nutrition: magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and antioxidant-rich flavonoids. According to scientific research, the reason that fruits and vegetables do a better job of keeping your immune system ready is because they also contain vitamins A and E, as well as the flavonoids that work along with vitamin C to keep your immune system and your whole body healthy.

Hot baths to kill the viruses

Water vapor and hot baths are the most common home cures for fighting those pesky winter viruses. Either standing in the bathroom with hot water running all over your body or inhaling the vapors over a pot of boiling water can help facilitate decongestion and kill the stubborn virus in the nasal cavities through the high-tempered steam.

Lots of rest

I know it’s hard, especially during holidays, but you have to get a lot of rest if you are already sick or feel yourself coming down with something.

Many people take it for granted that they can overcome their cold without rest, but actually rest is the most important factor that can help cure winter sicknesses. You need to get some good rest in order for your body to resist the flu virus better, faster and more efficiently. If you have a fever, you should absolutely stay at home, turn off your cell, disconnect your Facebook and Twitter and tuck yourself into bed for the whole day. Plus, avoid exercise and all sorts of physical activity, for 3-4 days in order to give your body and immune system enough energy to fight off the virus.

Hot liquids

Although right now there is still not sufficient scientific research that proves that hot liquids can cure colds, according to Ronald Turner, a cold researcher at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, “Heated drinks have a more intense taste which stimulates the flow of saliva and mucus, lubricate the nose and throat and also may help clear bacteria and viruses.”

Think about it! How does it feel having a bowl of warm and tasty chicken soup when you’re feeling sick and gloomy? Soothed and relieved? Yes, many people consider “grandma’s medicine” the best cure for the cold. The advantage of such a traditional cure comes from the broth, which keeps the body hydrated. Research shows that chicken soup is the most effective, among all soups, due to its high protein content--a substance necessary for our body to build antibodies to fight viruses. Hot soup can also reduce the swelling of the nasal cavities and help fight the sickness and speed up the recovery process.

Phix, your all-natural healthy energy drink can also be your pain reliever. Phix is full of green tea antioxidants, as well as Vitamins C and A, which are all necessary nutrients that can boost the immune system and protect your body against viruses. Mix any of your favorite Phix powders with 12 OZ hot water, and let the steam and fruity taste get you out of the winter blues, and feeling happy and healthy!

Last but not least, try to be in a good mood and maintain a positive attitude because all the warm, cozy thoughts associated with that hot Phix or chicken soup may actually activate a healing response in the bodyJ

In Good Health,

Your friends at Phix

Warm Up, Don’t Burn Out!

2011-12-07T10:41:00.001-05:00

Its 3 P.M., and you left your trail mix and dried fruit at home. You never forget your snacks. Ever. Today, you are secretly excited that you get to mix it up a little bit and indulge in something out of the daunting vending machine. You anxiously walk over to the vending machine and stare down the options, knowing you only have one chance to make this huge, ever-so-important decision. B5— NO, WAIT, B7. Uhh…Your finger nervously goes back and forth between the two. Finally, not knowing if you made the right decision, you press B7 and… wait, what just happened?! The coil kept spinning and TWO of your favorite delicious treats fell right into your eagerly awaiting hands. This is the only analogy I could think of to match the pure ecstasy and satisfaction gained from leaving the gym after an amazing workout, where the weights feel as light as feathers, and the treadmill seems to be getting tired trying to keep up with you. Your spirits are soaring, your confidence is high, and nothing can bring you down. The next day, you feel no soreness at all, so you go back into the gym feeling on top of the world ready to mimic yesterday’s performance. 20 minutes into your workout and something’s not right. Your arms feel like rubber, your legs feel like Jello, and you’re wheezing like a lifetime smoker even though you’ve never before touched a cigarette. This time, you pressed B7 and the coil never spun at all. There are a few reasons this could have happened, we’re going to give you some tips to help you in the gym, preventing burn-out and bad workouts.

Remember when you played little league and you had to stretch and run laps before every game or practice? If you were like me, then you hated that. It’s no coincidence that high school, college, and professional athletes also do this! You should be warming up every single time before any workout you choose to do; be it weights, running, boxing, sports, etc. There are so many benefits to warming up before a workout, it not only increases your recovery and performance for your next session, but it actually directly positively impacts your workout that day! Warming up increases your heart rate and dilates your capillaries, which allows oxygen in the blood to travel faster and at a higher volume, and also enables joints to move more efficiently and with greater flexibility. As the name implies, it also increases the temperature in the muscles, (or warms them up, get it?) which allows increased flexibility, extensibility, and elasticity of muscle fibers, along with increased force and speed of contraction. Also, warming up serves as your best “pre workout” as it releases adrenaline, and increases muscle metabolism. This will supply you with energy through the breakdown of glycogen. On top of this, it also removes lactic acid! Who knew warming up could be so vital to a workout and recovery?

Even the most experienced athletes make some of the same mistakes that people first stepping foot in the gym make. The first mistake ties right into the warm-up. Always do warm-ups relevant to the type of exercise you are going to be doing! If you plan on going for a run, don’t warm up with a light set of bench press, and vice versa. Also, we know that usually more reps of lighter weight gets you “toned” and low reps of higher weight get you “bigger” but don’t only lift heavy weights, or light weights! You need to mix it up, or else your workout will become predictable to your body, and your results may “plateau” or hit a wall. This same concept applies to performing the same workouts over and over. You should be changing your workout plan every month to month and a half, in order to prevent hitting a plateau. Just because you find a workout that you like, and seems to be working, doesn’t necessarily mean it will continue to work if you don’t change it up!

There are many ways to get burnt out, both physically and mentally—take heed to a couple of these easy tips to not only make your exercise more enjoyable, but to also get more out of your sessions! Also, we know that your energy and intensity levels are high when you’re in the gym, and you want to do as much as you can while you’re there. Sometimes, you don’t realize you’re tired because your adrenaline is pumping-- until you hit a wall and can barely lift your arms. To prevent this, always take time to rest up between sets. It is important to not take too much time, but not rush right into your next set, lap, or exercise either. If you time yourself between sets, take about 1-2 minutes (depending on the intensity and weight/reps ratio you are doing) and then get back at it!

Even if you follow all of these tips, there are still certain things that are hard to prevent. Burning yourself out, both physically and mentally, is one extremely easy way to not only ruin your workout for the day, but ruin your exercise habits as a whole. The first mistake most new-comers to the gym make is that they are too gung-ho about their new workout routine so they do not pace themselves properly. Do not go to the gym every day, because when you are building muscle, the REST days are when the muscle repairs itself! Everybody is different, and it depends what kind of exercise you are doing, but as a general safe-bet rule, don’t work out more than 4 days of the week, giving yourself at least 3 days to repair the muscle. Along the same lines, do not overwork yourself in individual training sessions. Do not keep running until you can’t move your legs, or keep lifting weights until your body is too sore to get out of bed. This will not only deter you from going back to your workout plan the next day, but even if you do go, you may be too sore to get a get work out in.

It is also easy, believe it or not, to mentally burn yourself out. By failing to switch up your routine, not only can you plateau, but you can also just straight out get bored! If the motivation is not there, it is going to be very hard, if not impossible, to convince yourself to work out on a consistent basis. On the same note, if you have been working out for half a year straight, (of course with your regular days off), maybe it is time to take a week or two off. I know a lot of you may think you would not be able to get back into the habit, but more likely, if you continue to work out with no breaks, you will just lose interest in working out altogether as it will have become a mundane chore. Finally, keep the right attitude! Everyone is going to have bad days in the gym, it doesn’t mean you aren’t making progress or regressing—it happens to everyone. Regardless of how good, or bad your results are, stick to your workout plan and schedule. Do not increase your days, mileage, or weights, just because you are getting great results, but rather stick to your designed plan. At the same time, if you are gaining weight, or losing muscle (depending on your goals), and that is not what you want do NOT give up on your workout plan—give it a few weeks or a month before you decide if it is working or not. Remember, to put it in a language you may understand. Working out is a marathon, not a sprint. Hang in there!

See you at the finish line,

Your friends at Phix

Winter Wonderland

2011-12-01T16:46:00.001-05:00

There seems to be a direct correlation between weather (temperature) and activeness. The nicer the weather is the more active people seem to be. However, when the weather gets cold, simple activities such as waking up for work suddenly become a chore; running out in the freezing cold to warm the car up, checking the weather report, bundling up before leaving, and whatever weird rituals we may have to stay dry and warm. We get home, drink something hot, grab a blanket, and head to the couch for some quality ‘comfort time’. Not a very pretty picture I just painted, now is it? Sadly this holds true for some, if not most of us. Fortunately, while the cold weather, and the early darkness is viewed as disgusting, gloomy, and even depressing by most, believe it or not, there are many that not only live for this time of year, but are the most active in the winter as well!

No, I’m not talking about Eskimos, Penguins, or Canadians (just kidding, of course). When you think of athletes, who do you think of? Mostly football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis players right? That’s because while the majority of us are vegging on our couch drinking hot chocolate and hitting the bag of Cheese Doodles, these athletes are hitting the slopes, tearing up the ice, or even participating in team sports that many people are unaware even exists—such as curling, a team sport that is a similar equivalent to bocce ball on ice. If you think I’m lying, check it out yourself; believe it or not, this is a winter OLYMPIC sport!

With so many winter sports to choose from, being slothful due to inclement weather is not only a bad excuse, but is really a shame! With so many activities to choose from, pick one up, and we guarantee that you too, will be waiting for winter time. Of course, there is snowboarding and skiing. There are many different forms of each though; you can due cross country skiing which is long distance skiing on a flatter surface along a trail, or downhill skiing, which is just what it sounds like, skiing down slopes, hills, or even mountainsides for those more advanced. For professional skiers and snowboarders, wide arrays of activities are available, including ‘vert’ ramps, jumps, trick moves, and halfpipes! If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Winter X Games on ESPN, you’re in for a real treat. These are extreme athletes that do some things you never would have imagined possible on skis, snowboards, and even snowmobiles!

For a more family oriented fun time (that can also double as a workout), head over to a local ice rink and do some ice skating. Ice skating is like riding a bike, it may take a few minutes to get comfortable and gain your balance, but once you do, it’s something that you can take with you for the rest of your life. For those more advanced, there is figure skating, which you can either do alone, or with a partner. This is synchronized skate-dancing, and is a very, very elegant and beautiful activity. For the tougher people out there, along with the extreme thrill seekers, pick up some skates, grab a stick, and play some hockey! This is definitely not for everyone, but for those who enjoy a tough, physical sport, this may just be perfect for you. All you football players out there, if you think you are tough, try this one out!

Whether you are looking for a new hobby, a fun activity to pass the ‘dead-time’ in the winter, a great new workout, or a way to get out of the house and break the glum slump the winter can cause sometimes, there are great activities for those of all ages! So get off your couch, but down the chips, and get out there and try something new and exciting that will also benefit you!

Stay cold this winter,

Your friends at Phix