About Vega | Vega
Ads and Press
May
1, 2008
For complete information about Vega, you may visit our
new website at: myvega.com
July 25, 2007
Vega Whole Food Smothie Infusion gets write-up
in the Toronto Star
January 5, 2007
Vega Whole Food Energy Bar gets write-up
in the Toronto Star
November 23, 2006
Vega gets written-up on The Final Sprint
Read write-up
August 2006
View the new one-serving-equels info sheet
March
2006
Vega Whole Food Energy Bar wins VegNews "Best in Show" award at
Natural Products Expo West.
Vega is now available in the USA. Please
visit store
locations for a complete list of both Canadian and US retailers -
updated weekly.
About Vega
In September of 2004, Vega, my whole food meal
replacement formula launched in Toronto at the Canadian Health Food
Association's largest trade show called CFHA East. As a result Vega is
now available in most Canadian health food stores and is available to be ordered on-line. Vega whole food
energy bars launched one year later.
- Complete whole food meal replacement ingredient list
- information
sheet (pdf)
- Whole food energy bar ingredient list
- information
sheet (pdf)
myvega.com
The Story behind Vega
I first experimented with a vegan diet in 1990. At the
age of 15, not knowing the intricacies of what I was getting into,
mistakes were made. Initially, I can attribute my interest in eating
plant-based foods
exclusively to my belief that they might improve athletic performance.
It
was not to be, not yet. With Vega nor its concept not yet even on the
horizon;
I feasted on refined, denatured carbohydrates and manufactured fats in
an
attempt to satisfy my seemingly insatiable appetite. Eating from the
first
onset of light, until dark I was having difficulty maintaining
nourishment despite the fact that my stomach was full. Trouble
mustering energy to get through the day, my cognitive ability also
became compromised.
An unmistakable decline in athletic performance caught
the eye of my high school track coach. In addition, my teachers were
less than enthused by lethargy and impaired concentration that I now
exhibited. I needed encouragement, and I got it. Encouraged by many to
start "eating normal", it was not the kind I was looking for.
As a persistent 15 year old, resistance to my plan
seemed to
lend it a certain allure. "It can't be done" is what I was being told.
"You
have to choose. Do you want to be an athlete or a vegan?" This seemed
to
be popular opinion. In retrospect I realize that lack of encouragement
was
exactly what I needed to fuel my curiosity. Could it be done? I decide
to
see if I could make it work.
I began to investigate. Medical journals, applied
dietary studies
and health and nutrition publications were my sources of choice.
Initially
there were not any studies to be found that supported exclusive
plant-based
nutrition for the athlete. However, there was also very little to
discourage
it! Encouraged by the lack of discouragement, I was optimistic. That
said,
I realized that I'd have to be my own test subject and carefully track
my
findings - first hand research at its best.
Upon additional investigation I learned that several
nutrients of great importance, and commonly lacking for vegans, were
nonexistent in my diet. This was a good start and just what I wanted to
hear. I now had a reason for my malaise; the hardest part was behind
me. I had identified the deficiencies: Complete protein, iron, omega-3
fatty acids, calcium and vitamin b 12 were all lacking in my diet.
As a means to fulfilling my dietary shortcomings, I
began making
a blender drink with several of my newfound favourite foods. It was
easy
to do and it worked. Over time the constant hunger, fatigue and a poor
recovery
rate all dissipated. I was more than satisfied with what I had
achieved. Now
performing at a higher level, I felt as though my persistence and hard
work
had paid off. Several years passed and as they did my satisfaction
turned into complacency. I was still performing well, but believed that
further gains could be made.
My interest in further improving athletic performance
through diet was rekindled when I heard an ad on the radio for maca.
"Maca has an amazing attribute-it can help reduce cortisol levels
caused by stress", the announcer went on to say more but that's all I
needed to investigate further since adrenal fatigue was a constant
concern during periods of heavy training. I researched maca thoroughly
and found it was for real; certainly not a "magic pill" or a cure for
all problems, but a nutrient dense whole food with a "modern world"
application. It helped to know native Peruvians had been taking maca
for centuries for greater energy, strength and stamina and to this day
it's still their #1 health food. I began adding the suggested daily
teaspoon to my evolving blender drink.
As a firm believer in the value of replenishment as
apposed to stimulation for energy production, I knew that maca was the
type of addition I had been looking for. Acknowledging the value of a
balanced endocrine
system from previous research, I knew that if I were able to rejuvenate
my
hormonal system, my energy level would also improve. No longer would it
fluctuate in accordance with, nor be dependent upon recently consumed
caffeine
and sugar containing products. Pleased with my discovery of maca, I
wondered
if there were other whole foods that could further improve health. The
answer
was yes.
Intriguing from the onset as a natural alternative to
vitamin B-12 supplementation, chlorella stood out as a great addition
to my daily regimen. Its highly alkaline nature, derived from densely
packed chlorophyll, made it a new favourite of mine. Furthermore, its
unique Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) intrigued me, eventually leading
to my understanding of its amazing effect on cellular regeneration.
I began adding a teaspoon of chlorella to my
ever-evolving daily blender drink. Not only did chlorella look good on
paper, it actually delivered. Very pleased with the results, I could
now eliminate the few remaining tablets that I had been taking. Vitamin
B-12 and calcium were the
last to go at the hands of chlorella.
I'm pleased to say that by this time several studies and
clinical trials had been conducted on plant-based nutrition. Many
highly respected medical doctors, nutritionists, and dietary
researchers had begun encouraging the substitution of many animal
products for plant-based ones.
Vega was born
Impressed with both the MacaSure brand of maca and
ChlorEssence brand of chlorella that I had been using, I approached
Sequel Naturals, the manufacturer, and met with the owner, Charles
Chang. Starting from the beginning, I told Charles my story. I proposed
my idea of combining my blender drink formula with MacaSure and
ChlorEssence in a commercial version that anyone could take.
Since my blender drink formula had proven its self on a
daily basis over the last eight years, it was clear that it delivered.
Providing all the nutrition that a professional Ironman triathlete
needed while maintaining a vegan diet spoke for itself. Charles liked
the fact that I not only was able to "exist" on a vegan diet, but
actually thrive on one. Charles pondered the implications. "If this
formula can fulfill the nutritional needs of a professional vegan
athlete who doesn't take supplements and is pushing his body to the
limit each day, imagine what could it do for the average person!"
Appreciating the obvious value, Charles was excited
about the
possibilities. Also a bit tentative because nothing like this had been
replicated
before, Charles wondered if it was possible. A great concept on paper,
but
could it be done? Charles and I committed ourselves to the necessary
research
and development. Over the course of about a year and a half, we
answered
all the questions earlier posed to us - by us.
Charles gave me complete control of the formulation
process. "I'm giving you a blank slate, go to it without compromise" he
said. Exactley the words I wanted to hear. We spared no expense and
Vega was made with the goal of replicating my proven blender drink as
closely as possible. Thus, Vega was born.
The launch of Vega was rewarding. Knowing it will help
thousands of people achieve a better quality of life through improved
health is tremendously satisfying.
Why Vega works
Healthy, convenient food for everyone and anyone
The reason for my rapid fitness gains were due to the fact that I was
simply recovering at a faster rate than I previously had. As a result I
was able to train again sooner and harder, inevitably leading to a
greater level of fitness in a shorter amount of time. Making the
connection, it became
apparent that expedited recovery was a result of nothing more than the
removal
of stress from my body. I saw the wide spread implication. Having
learned
first hand that the body's response to stress is the same regardless of
its
source, I knew that Vega could help people curtail it and reap the
benefits.
One of the most promising aspects of the formula was its
potential to benefit a wide variety of people. Experienced first hand,
stress rises when life gets busy. The busier a person becomes the less
time remains to prepare healthy food, most usually leading to the
creation of a vicious circle. Sometimes referred to as the "high
achiever's paradox", the situation can lead to premature burnout. When
good nutrition is most necessary is the
very time when it's usually gone without. Being too busy to prepare
wholesome
food, coupled with the integration of denatured convenience food
options
is a recipe for elevated stress. As an alternative,
Vega can help busy people reduce nutritional stress through providing
nutrient rich whole foods in a convenient and enjoyable form.
Additional energy through conservation, not
consumption
Reducing the amount of energy expended on digestion, assimilation,
and absorption allows for a greater net gain than traditional foods can
offer. Because Vega contains natural digestive enzymes, is alkaline
forming
and is in liquid form, energy is conserved in its utilization. As you
read
earlier, conservation is another way to obtain more energy. Efficiency
in spending becomes the determining factor as to how much energy we
have.
By consuming Vega, a large part of the first energy boost noticed can
be
attributed to conservation not consumption, and of course not to
stimulation.
Improved performance through rejuvenation, not
stimulation
The second way in which Vega provides more energy is by nourishing
the adrenal glands and the endocrine system as a whole. By requiring
fewer
resources to utilize its nutrients, Vega allows the body to spend its
energy
elsewhere. As a result, the body can now put more of its resources into
improving immune system function, recovering from exercise and coping
with
stress.
By spending energy on stress tolerance, cortisol levels
become reduced. Once cortisol levels decline the body is better able to
maintain lean muscle and shed fat. In addition, the ability to fall
asleep and quickly slip into the deep regenerative phase known as Delta
is only possible when cortisol levels are low. Once the body is able to
spend a greater amount of time in the Delta phase of sleep, effectively
improving sleep efficiency, waking up will be easier.
Rested and restored will be the result and, as such the
desire to stimulate by consuming sugary, starchy and caffeine
containing foods will be reduced. As this process transpires it will
set off a complimentary circle, a positive chain of events. Some
describe the effect this way, "When I sleep I'm more asleep,
consequently when I'm awake I'm more awake". The line between being
asleep and being awake becomes starkly defined, certainly a deviation
from our current cultural norm.
Now that the desire to "borrow" energy from sugar,
starch and
caffeine has begun to dissipate, sleep will continue to improve since
the
cortisol rising attributes of sugar, starch and caffeine will have been
further
reduced.
Five synergistic sources of protein
By synergistically combining five protein sources, I found that my
ability to recover dramatically improved. Improved recovery is of
course
an indication that stress has been relived from the body. Amino acid
levels
vary in all protein sources. By synergistically selecting complementary
sources and amounts, we can achieve what is referred to as a "flat line
profile". An indicator that all amino acids are being met in
substantial
quantities, the "flat line profile" of properly combined amino acids is
indicative of a broad-spectrum source of protein.
Found predominantly in hemp, Edestin is an easily
digestible form of protein. Beneficial for the structural integrity of
our cell's DNA, Edestin more closely resembles human protein than any
other in the plant kingdom.
The branch chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and
valine are prevalent in hemp protein. Essential for the repair and
building of lean muscle tissue these, branch chain amino acids are also
an integral part
of maintaining a healthy metabolic rate.
Hemp protein by itself is complete, but there is still
room for improvement. Relatively low in the essential amino acid
tryptophan, hemp protein is nicely complemented by the addition of rice
protein. Naturally prominent in rice protein, tryptophan helps the body
fabricate serotonin. With more readily available serotonin in the
system, mood will be elevated, resulting in fewer sugar and starch
cravings.
Relatively hard to find in the plant kingdom, the amino
acid lysine is exceptionally high in yellow pea protein. An essential
amino acid, lysine is a critical factor in the production of enzymes,
antibodies and hormones. The body's ability to maintain correct
nitrogen balance and absorb calcium is also reliant on the presence of
lysine in the diet. During times of augmented stress, the maintenance
of lean muscle tissue is assisted by the consumption of lysine rich
foods.
Not only complete, this combination is complementary and
synergistic, it's structured better than any single protein source can
ever be. As a direct result from the "flat line" amino acid profile, I
noticed immediate gains in strength and lean muscle retention, even
during times of elevated stress. The desire to consume more food
dissipated as well, leaving me leaner.
No common allergens
A standard practice in naturopathic medicine is to first eliminate
all sources of common allergens from the diet. This is a logical way to
determine if the patient has an allergy or sensitivity to commonly
eaten
foods that can produce a wide range of symptoms. Ranging from mild flu
like symptoms, to headaches, difficulty with sleeping, bloating and
fatigue,
food sensitivities are becoming increasingly common. Since foods such
as
wheat, dairy, soy, corn, and gluten have become so common in our food
chain;
the body can develop an intolerance, which often results in the
manifestation
of symptoms.
In my opinion, food allergies are not a major problem
because they become evident immediately after consumption. There's no
mistaking it, the symptoms occur almost immediately. Stop consuming
the-problem-forming food: problem solved. Conversely, food
sensitivities can be extremely difficult to ascertain, therefore they
are much more difficult to eliminate. The symptoms of a food
sensitivity might not become evident for a few days or a week
after being consumed, making its exact origin difficult to trace.
For a few years in a row I had what I thought to be a
bad
case of hay fever each spring. A logical possibility since pollen
counts
increase that time of year therefore I didn't think much of it. The
following
year, after learning more about food sensitivities, I tried eliminating
all
common allergens from my diet. As springtime arrived this time,
surprise-no
hay fever. Confirmed later, the congestion that I had previously
exhibited
was a sensitivity to corn, and not to rising pollen counts. Once spring
arrived I began cycling more, therefore began consuming large
quantities of a so-called endurance enhancing sport drink. The first
ingredient was maltodextrin, a cheap sugar derivative made from corn,
and as I found out, the precipitator of my hay fever-like symptoms.
Alkaline forming
It amazes me how little attention the value of balanced pH has garnered
from the mainstream medical world. In my opinion, positive
acid/alkaline balance is one of the most important factors in athletic
performance. By
disregarding this factor, sport supplement manufactures have
significantly
reduced the effectiveness of their products.
After a hard training session the body will have
increased its acidity due to lactic acid accumulation caused by muscle
contractions. For recovery to be expedited, alkalizing foods,
especially those rich in chlorophyll, need to be consumed soon after.
Protein must also be consumed to help repair broken down muscle tissue.
Many sport supplements touted as post-work-out recovery agents contain
highly processed, manufactured proteins usually in the form of
denatured isolates, which are acid forming. Suggesting they be consumed
soon after a workout will certainly fulfil the body's need for protein,
but completely neglect its need for pH balancing.
The paradox is this: most protein sources are highly
acid forming,
yet the majority of highly alkaline forming foods are low in
protein.
As I found, this can be overcome if the protein sources are chosen
carefully.
Raw, unprocessed, natural, hemp protein powder, for example, contains
about
50% protein, yet is greatly less acid forming than common soy or whey
protein
products. Hemp's higher pH level can be attributed in part to its
chlorophyll
content, responsible for its green colour. Chlorella is another one,
almost
70% protein and highly alkalizing. Whole micro-milled flax seeds,
enzymes,
stevia, probiotics, and the berry complex contained in Vega also help
increase
its alkalinity.
By consuming natural, non-denatured proteins after my
training sessions I noticed a vast improvement in my ability to fight
infection, proving my immune system's effectiveness had greatly
improved. My body no longer created a safe haven for bacteria, viruses
or disease. In addition, my protein requirements were being met so I
was able to maintain and build lean muscle tissue and strength.
For complete information about Vega please contact
Sequel Naturals
directly at:
1-866-839-8863
www.myvega.com
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