Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life

carbohydrate.
    Best Thrive sources: fruit of all kinds.
     
    Sterols Sterols are steroid-like compounds found in both plants and animals. Plant sterols have the ability to lower cholesterol and have been recognized as beneficial to heart health and in the fight against cardiovascular disease. All the major sources of plant sterols are plentiful in the Thrive Diet.
     
    Best Thrive sources: vegetables, legumes, fruit, nuts, seeds, and seed oils, particularly hemp, flaxseed, and pumpkin.
     
    Trace minerals Also known as microminerals, trace minerals have several important functions in the body that add up to optimal health.
     
    As the name suggests, these minerals are needed only in trace amounts, and a diet rich in a variety of foods will ensure their inclusion.
     
    Best Thrive sources: most foods to some degree, but especially seaweed, yerba maté, maca, green tea.
     
    Trans fats Also known as trans-fatty acids, these are a form of fat produced by heating oils to high temperature, thus altering their chemical compound and making these fats difficult for the body to process. They also inhibit the body’s ability to efficiently burn healthy fats as fuel.
     
    Whole foods Foods that have not had any part removed during processing are known as whole foods. The term whole food is also used to refer to foods that are simply in their natural state, such as fresh raw fruit and vegetables.
     

resources
     

     
    When shopping for products, you can be assured that the ones bearing this logo meet the highest nutritional standards as outlined in this book. The following list contains foods that I’ve personally tested and use myself—they are Thrive Diet Approved .
     
    Vega: plant-based whole-food products
     
    I formulated Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer to replicate the smoothie that I first made for myself at the age of 15 to help speed recovery after exercise—a meal and all my supplements in liquid form. It supplies complete protein, essential fatty acids, probiotics, fiber, enzymes, antioxidants, chlorella, and maca, while maintaining a slightly alkaline pH level in the body. Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer (formerly called Vega Whole Food Meal Replacement) is a whole-food powder that can be mixed with water to supply complete nutrition anytime, anywhere.
     
     
    Vega Whole Food Energy Bars were the next creation in the Vega line. These are 100 percent raw bars, based on the recipe that I’ve been making in a food processor for years. Moist, fresh, and enzyme-rich, these bars are indispensable on a long bicycle ride or when you know you’re going to miss a meal. They include sprouted flax, sprouted mung bean, agave nectar, and wheat grass.
     
     
    Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion is a simplified version of the Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer, containing many of the same basic ingredients but without the food-source vitamins and minerals. It’s a neutral-tasting whole-food powder that gives a convenient, instant boost of complete protein, omega-3, fiber, and greens to any smoothie. It can be used in place of hemp protein and flax in all smoothie recipes in this book to make them even more nutrient dense and alkaline forming. It can also serve as a more nutritionally complete replacement for hemp protein and flax in all Thrive Diet baking recipes on a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, up to 20 percent of regular flour can be substituted for Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion in traditional recipes.
     
     
    Vega Antioxidant EFA Oil Blend is a synergistic, balanced blend of unrefined, cold-pressed plant-based oils rich in omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. In addition to the hemp, flax, and pumpkin seed oils, I added a synergistic combination of antioxidant oils to reduce cellular oxidization and inflammation. They are: green tea seed, pomegranate seed, black cumin seed, black raspberry seed, blueberry seed, and cranberry seed. I also added coconut oil for its MTC content.
     
     
    Vega products are made by Sequel Naturals and available at most health food stores, some grocery stores, and online.
     
     
    Tel: 1-866-839-8863
Email: [email protected]
www.myvega.com
     
     
    Guayaki: yerba maté
     
    Guayaki yerba maté is shade-grown under the natural jungle canopy, thereby shielding its leaves from direct sunlight, keeping them subtle. Unlike some yerba maté that is produced in plantation-style farms, Guayaki is grown with the jungle, not instead of the jungle. This type of agriculture helps preserve