Purition – road testing a new wholefood protein shake! Is this a way to help you lose weight?

Purition - a wholefood protein shake

Purition – a wholefood protein shake

Purition is not a diet, it’s a nutritional upgrade” I was told.  Though, to be fair, I’m not 100% sure what that means.  But Purition deserves a hearing as they do have something interesting on offer.

However, a week or two ago, I received an email from a lady at Purition asking me if I’d like to try out the new their new protein shake.  Because it was a Friday afternoon I was feeling what might be called “PR friendly” so I said yes.

To my surprise a box arrived the next day.  This is not a comment about Purition by the dire standards of delivery services in the UK.  In it were six packets of their non-vegan Protein shake.  Purition do do a vegan product but I’ve not tried it so don’t want to comment.

Okay so what is Purition?  Just another protein shake?

Well the way Leanne their PR lady described it was as follow “Our product is a healthy, wholefood protein shake, that’s an alternative to junk filled meal replacements and artificial protein shakes. We only use clean and natural ingredients, absolutely no artificial nasties. 70% of the product is made from a blend of seeds and nuts, along with Madagascan vanilla pods and other natural ingredients for our flavours. It is much more than just a protein powder. The shakes provide a quick, low carb, low sugar breakfast smoothie or lunch when you don’t have time to cook. We care about nutrition and ensuring that people are aware about what they are eating, and what can be hidden in their food products.”

Which I translate from PRspeak to “If you have one for breakfast you won’t feel hungry till lunch”.  And as it weighs in at £12.99 for six packets seems quite reasonable price considering.  (For Americans it is about $16.00 at today’s rate while for those in the Eurozone would play around 15 Euros).  Though this is for what they describe as the trial box!  I expect it is more if you by on a regular basis.

Purition - bags of it

Purition – bags of it

Okay so does it work?   The answer has to be a resounding yes.  Both my wife and I had lunch late on both the days we tried the product and I can honestly say I felt no urge to eat for over five hours.  My wife backed this up and she had a morning of heavy meetings!

So yup it’s a winner from that point of view especially as it is seriously low in calories.

But there is a downside.

It tastes horrible and you get bits in your teeth.  My advice, for what’s worth, is to down it in one.  You can pretend you’re on a drinking bout somewhere just outside Tomsk rather than on a health kick.

So would I use it?  The answer is yes.  A few seconds of unpleasantness do help you lose a load of weight if used properly.   (They also tell me that it’s useful for recover after exercise).

I also asked if T2 diabetics can use Purition.  The answer came back “and I shall quote in full) “’Purition makes a great breakfast (or lunch) for anyone, not using insulin, to help regulate their blood sugar with their diet.

So for anyone diagnosed with a risk of developing type 2 diabetes or recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes looking for a low-carb dietary intervention, widely regarded now as the only way to reverse T2 without medication.

Purition is safe to use if medicating with Metformin but should not be used by diabetics using insulin or insulin releasing tablets without medical supervision.

The slow release nutrients are low in sugar and carbs and will keep most people satisfied between meals without the need for snacking. Purition is all about setting the right foundations for a great food day.’

So there you have it.  I think it works.  If you have any question please use the comments section below and I’ll as Purition to reply!

Oh and if you want to try it you can pick it up here.

Many thanks!

How does Excess Fat and Protein in Diet impacts Brain Negatively? A guest post by Kelly Everson


How does Excess Fat and Protein in Diet impacts Brain Negatively?

How does Excess Fat and Protein in Diet impacts Brain Negatively?

Too much of fat and protein in your diet can cause adverse effects on your brain. In a recent study, researcher discovered that getting rid of excess fat can improve the brain function while reversing the negative impacts associated with weight gain. On the other hand, excessive consumption of protein can alter your brain function and the nervous system. Some researches indicate that body fat increases the number of protein in the brain which triggers a number of events that predispose a person to mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease.

Here are various ways through which excess fat and protein in diet negatively impacts your brain:

  • Alter Brain Chemical and Tissues

In reference to Dr. Melinda Sothern, a food system expert from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, excessive consumption of diet that is rich in protein and fat triggers neurological and chemical changes in the brain. This is usually caused by changes in genes that cause the receptive cells of the brain fail to receive different genes. When this takes place, your brain develops in a different, undesirable manner that can make you more likely to become overweight or obese. Changes in brain chemicals can in turn trigger the onset of mental illnesses like anxiety, depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Impairs The Nervous System

Recent studies indicate that other than sugars, unhealthy fats and excess protein can disrupt neurological messengers as well as metabolism messengers. This usually happens over time, and once the damage is done, it can be difficult change your behavior or eating habits. Your brain can no longer be able to listen to signals coming from your stomach or the intestines. The signals reaching your brain are different because you have over-indulged in unhealthy fats or refined sugar from processed foods.

  • Causes Memory Loss

According to researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, people who consume saturated and Trans fat are at an increased risk of memory loss and other cognitive functions. Saturated fats are commonly found in animal products like red meat and butter, which are also great sources of protein. In a statement, Dr. Olivia Okereke, M.D., from the Department of Psychiatry at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that when they were looking at changes in cognitive function, the total amount of fat intake didn’t really matter, although the source significantly did. In the meantime, study participants who took healthy fats from plant sources showed improved cognitive function.


  • Impairs Blood Brain Barrier

The blood vessels that are in charge of supplying the brain are equipped with a specialized lining that can’t be found in other areas of your body. This special lining is commonly known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This barrier regulates the entry of nutrients and other chemicals into the brain by actively mediating their transport from blood into your brain. Only a few amounts of chemicals can leak into your brain, and ammonia, a byproduct of protein, is one of them. When in excessive amounts in your body, the leakage of ammonia can potentially lead to brain damage.

  • Increased Stroke Risk

If you are obese, fat/cholesterol may accumulate in your blood vessels and trigger a rise in blood pressure. This may in turn cause the rupture of arteries. If this happens in your brain, you are at an increased risk of developing stroke, which can be fatal. This can also lead to frequent headaches which can negatively affect your ability to concentrate at work or make it hard for you to fall asleep at night.

  • Brain Shrinkage

Trans fat commonly found in protein sources like red meats can raise your “bad” or LDL cholesterol levels while lowering the “good” or HDL cholesterol. In reference to Brandon Mentore, sports nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner, a high consumption of trans fat can lead to brain shrinkage. Trans fat ups the amount of oxidation in your body to create an arterial stiffness. This influences the ability of your brain and nerves to expand and contract, which can increase inflammation and impair your brain. In reference to a study published in the journal Neurology, brain scans showed that excess ingestion of trans fat can cause brain shrinkage.

Regulating Protein and Fat Intake

While your body requires protein and fat to function normally, eating in moderation is the key to a better metabolic health and your brain function. Here are some tips to help ensure that you are consuming the right amounts of protein and healthy fats:

  • Avoid protein from animal sources and instead go for healthier plant options like legumes, seeds and nuts.
  • Avoid high protein foods that are also rich in fat
  • Eat plant-based fat like olive oil, castor seed oil, vegetable oil, etc
  • Ensure you get adequate protein in your diet to help in tissue repair and muscle formation.

Conclusion

When consumed in excessive amounts, protein and fats can produce adverse effects on the health of your brain. While the two make a part of a healthy diet, eating in moderation can help in the maintenance of a healthier body, and thus should be consumed in every meal. Even if you are on a weight loss diet, make sure you are getting adequate amounts of protein and healthy fats in your regular meals.

Related Video

Top 4 Healthy Foods to Boost Your Brainpower

Author Bio

Kelly Everson is MA in English Literature and an American Author. Her work comprises of articles appearing or forthcoming in over a dozen health care websites covering beauty skin care, weight loss, diet and overall men’s & women’s health. When she’s not educating strangers with her writing, she’s most likely researching about new discoveries in health, fitness and beauty industry. You can see more of her work at Consumer Health Digest. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.