Superfood Giveaway from Sacha Vida

At last year’s NYC Veg Fest I met Carlos, the young and energetic founder of Sacha Vida. Sacha Vida is a new company that recently started bringing some of South America’s best superfoods up North to share with us. They pride themselves on their sustainability, and the very high quality of their products.  I have been impressed with Sacha Vida since first meeting Carlos and really loved the sample of Maca they recently sent me. To help build a little holiday excitement, Sacha Vida has agreed to do a giveaway of a bag of their maca as well as a bag of their delicious chocolate covered goldenberries! I know once you try it, you’ll be as convinced as I am about its health benefits and Sacha Vida’s quality.

First tell me a bit about who you are and the founding of Sacha Vida.

Sacha Vida comes to life from my desire to share the amazing super foods that are native to Peru.   After I graduated from college I started to work for an international shipping company and traveled all over the world.  During my travels I always ended up talking about maca and other super foods from Peru and people would always ask me where they could buy such products.  Eventually I started thinking about my own company and ended up leaving my job to work on Sacha Vida full time.  It has been an amazing journey and we are excited and grateful for the great support that our products have received in the U.S. 

I love your company’s mission statement about providing healthy plant-based foods while also preserving the environment they grow in: the Amazon. Can you talk a little about why the Amazon is so vital to protect?

I’ve travelled in the Amazon many times and am always impressed by its beauty and its rich biodiversity.  The Amazon rainforest provides most of the air that we breathe and it is also the best source of natural remedies that could probably cure most of today’s illnesses.   Many people don’t know that  a lot of medications are derived from plants that grow in the Amazon.   The Amazon is also home to many native tribes that have survived for thousands of years only to be kicked out and robbed of their land by industrial agriculture and deforestation.  We need to protect the Amazon in order to ensure that our planet fights back against global warming and to ensure that we protect the natural ecosystems that our planet needs to keep going.

When did you first learn about Maca?

I learned about maca when I was in college, during one of my travels to Peru one of my friends talked to me about this natural powder that he used before he played soccer (we are talking about playing soccer at approximately 10,000 feet above sea level).  I did a little bit of research and found out that the Chasquis, which were high distance runners in charge of delivering messages on behalf of the Incas used maca during their journeys.   I tried maca powder and felt more focused and energized and have been hooked on maca ever since.

Why do you think Maca is such a vital ingredient? How can it benefit us?

Scientists have proven that maca is an adaptogenic plant, that means that it has the capacity to adapt and benefit your body where it needs it most.   For example, a woman suffering from menopause symptoms will  take maca and feel relieved and another woman who is trying to conceive will take maca to produce healthier eggs.  Likewise, an athlete training for a big event will take maca before workouts and a scientist will take maca before going to work.   Maca is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and it also supplies your body with calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids.  In addition, maca is known for its aphrodisiac powers and in Peru is known as “Peruvian Viagra.” I heard countless stories of people using maca to enrich their sex lives and to help them conceive.  I use maca for its energizing properties, nothing helps me focus and concentrate better than a spoon of maca in my morning smoothie and I have friends that swear that a maca smoothie before hitting the gym makes their workouts more intense.

What is the best way for us to incorporate Maca in our daily lives?

Best way is to add a tablespoon to your daily smoothie, juice or oatmeal in the morning.  It is best to start gradually and start with one tablespoon in the morning or before your workouts.  

There are generally two types, raw or gelatinized. What is the difference? Which, in your opinion, is better?

People familiar with maca will know that raw maca is a lot cheaper and harder to digest than gelatinized maca.   Besides the digestibility issue you can also tell the difference with the flavor, raw maca has a much stronger flavor that many people dislike or can not tolerate.   Raw maca is made by pulverizing the dry maca roots,  gelatinized maca undergoes an additional step where the natural starches of maca are removed in order to make the maca powder more digestible while concentrating its nutrients.  Some people’s digestive systems are more sensitive and have to work harder to digest starches and other compounds in raw maca, consequently they experience stomach pains or a feeling of discomfort during the digestive process and may not give maca a second chance.  Gelatinized maca powder does not cause those side effects as it goes straight to your system allowing your body to absorb all the nutrients and minerals found in maca immediately.   Sacha Vida currently carries gelatinized maca and so I am biased towards gelatinized maca which in my opinion is a better product than raw maca.  Now, on a related side note, in Peru maca is always consumed cooked and never raw, people who cultivate maca in the Peruvian highlands added it to their stews or toasted but don’t eat it raw.

I also want to highlight that we are the only company in the market that sells maca products that are Fair Choice Certified  which is a certification system based in the International Human Rights Declarations and Labor Conventions.   I support this certification process because it seeks to protect and assure the fair treatment to everyone involved within the control of the company that implements the certification system so it benefits the overall community of growers and producers.   This is the first fair-trade standard created in Latin America that takes into consideration local market and producing conditions and it also includes requirements on health, safety and environmental protection.

Do you have a relationship with the growers of your product? What are the conditions Maca is grown in?

I have a very strong and close relationship to the farmers that produce our maca products.  I visit the maca farms every time I travel to the highlands of Peru and have shared many meals and interesting conversations with our farmer partners.  They are invested in producing a high quality product and are very excited to see that their products are reaching the U.S. market. Maca is usually grown in high altitude lands, where  lots of sunshine during the day and freezing temperatures at night make it difficult for other plants to survive. Maca has adapted to this environment and thrives by absorbing all of the minerals and nutrients from the soil in order to grow and survive. 

Tell me about Sacha Inchi. There is a lot of buzz around the seed of this beautiful star shaped fruit.

I am very excited about sacha inchi finally getting the recognition it deserves.  Sacha inchi is a vine and grows in the Peruvian Amazon, it is a very sustainable crop because you can cultivate it many times a year.  The seed has one of the highest plant based concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids along with protein and vitamins.  This seed has been consumed in the Amazon for thousands of years and the oil has been used by native women to protect their skin.  What distinguishes sacha inchi from other plant based sources of Omega 3 is that sacha inchi also has naturally occurring vitamin E which helps the oil preserve its properties without oxidizing quickly like flax seed oil for example.  In addition the oil is very light and is a great complement to salads, dips, smoothies and cold dishes.   I recommend that the oil do not be heated because the Omega 3 bonds will break with heat and the nutritional value of the oil is compromised.  Sacha inchi seeds are super healthy snacks, they are full of protein and Omega 3 and are a great additional to trail mixes or enjoyed on their own.  We are currently working on expanding our sacha  inchi line and will have new sacha inchi products available online soon.

Anything else you’d like the readers to know?

We are a family owned company competing with big companies, what makes us different is that our products are always organic and that we truly care about following fair trade practices with our partner farmers.  For example, our maca products are the only ones in the market that are Fair Choice Certified. In addition,  I pick our partner farmers carefully and usually spend weeks with them understanding their processes and learning about their motivations.  I believe that a great part of being a successful entrepreneur is associating yourself with partners who are as passionate if not more passionate than you are about producing and delivering a high quality product.    I grew up in Peru and unlike other entrepreneurs  I am vested in seeing our partner farmers grow and prosper.  Economic development of their communities along with access to education for their children are the first steps in the process.   We have exciting projects in the pipeline with these goals in mind and I hope to share them with you soon.

Besides online, where can we find your stuff? Also what is the best way to connect with you (Instagram, twitter, facebook?)

You can find our products in New York at the Live Live Organic store in the East Village, you can also find us in California at the Rainbow Grocery Coop in San Francisco and in Massachusetts at Cambridge Naturals.  We are always looking to add more stores and if you want to see our products sold in your local store I encourage you to speak to the food buyer at the store  and ask them to add our products to their store inventory. You can always connect with us through our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest accounts, we love to hear from you!

Thanks for doing the interview Carlos! Now for the exciting part. We are doing a giveaway (call it a little holiday gift!) of a bag of Organic maca and chocolate covered goldenberries!

GIVEAWAY

Here are the rules. First, the winner needs to live in the United States (sorry international readers, no disrespect). The contest will end on December 30th at midnight. To enter, you must be a subscribed reader to BYOL. To increase your chances of winning leave a comment on this post or/and "like" "Sacha Vida" on facebook. You will also gain a point if you "like" Bring Your Own Lentils facebook page. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always the information presented in this blog is for educational purposes only. It should not be considered as specific medical, nutritional, lifestyle, or other health-related advice.

Navitas Naturals GIVEAWAY!!!

After meeting the phenomenal Julie Morris at Whole Foods a few months ago, I’ve been following the young company she represents, Navitas Naturals. Navitas, the Latin word for energy, has a simple mission statement: Sustainable, organically grown, nutrient rich whole foods are best. As such, they have dedicated themselves to making the most nutrient rich, sustainable foods on the planet available to the average consumer. (They lovingly refer to their product as superfoods). All of their products look to enhance health and increase energy.

I do not think you need to include “superfoods” into your diet to be healthy. Nor do I believe that the inclusion of superfoods into an otherwise unhealthy diet will greatly change your overall health. That said, if you already eat a healthy array of plant-based foods, Navatis Naturals’ superfoods are an excellent way to greatly boost your antioxidant and phyto-nutrient intake. 

Recently, a large box arrived at my doorstep. I was delighted when I opened it up!

Now just to be clear, they did send me these products for free with the expectation that I would do a blog review of their products; however, the agreement was for nothing more than a serious and honest evaluation of their products. That said, I freely admit that I am biased. These were in my pantry when the box arrived:

I also buy Navitas Naturals chia seeds, however I keep them in a glass jar instead of their package. When the box arrived I was happy to see some old favorites but I was really excited to try a few products which I have not yet sampled.

Product One: Maca Powder!

I love this stuff. A root vegetable similar to turnips which grows in mineral rich volcanic soil of the Peruvian highland, maca has been a staple of native Peruvians for thousands of years. While I’ve never tasted fresh maca, the raw maca powder from Navitas has a sweet, almost vanilla taste. Among its many benefits, maca helps the adrenal glands find balance. When the body becomes stressed either from the chaos of every day or from a hard workout, the adrenal glands respond by releasing corticosteroids such as adrenaline but also release serotonin which helps the body feel relaxed and calm. When the body is stressed frequently, the adrenal glands become over worked. This will result in the bodies’ decreased ability to deal with stress and can lead to hormonal imbalances, exhaustion, and disease. Because modern day life is so hectic, this is not an uncommon problem. As if reducing your stress load wasn’t enough, maca is also a rich source of a steroid-like substance called sterols which promote the regeneration of muscle tissue! By incorporating a small amount into a smoothie after a workout, (or by making some of Julie’s amazing Maple-Maca Ice Cream) the body is better able to recover after hard workouts or long stressful days. Raw Maca powder is one of my favorite staples from Navitas and I especially love to mix it with just a little bit of vanilla extract, cinnamon, some raw cocoa and some soaked almonds for a delicious post-workout recovery smoothie!

Product Two: Chia Seeds

Okay, so I’ve blogged about Chia seeds in the past and for good reason. These tiny seeds have eight times the Omega 3s as salmon, five times the calcium as milk, three times the iron as spinach, three times the antioxidants as blueberries and are twenty percent protein! They effectively replenish minerals used in muscle contractions and are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, helping to sustain high energy levels.  I sprinkle these things on pretty much everything I eat, from salads to steamed veggies to lentils. Sometimes I even just toss a tablespoon into water and drink them straight. The downside of chia is it can be expensive. Navitas offers a pretty great deal, often a few dollars cheaper than the other brands on the shelf and to top it off, they are certified organic and always completely raw!

Product Three: Twister Blend (goji, acai, and pomegranate)

This product is new to me. It is a blend of goji berry powder, pomegranate powder and acai berry powder As you can see in the picture above, I have each of these guys individually, however buying them in a blend seems like a great way of saving some money and not having to choose between the various benefits of each powder. It is hard to tell the color, but I was surprised to find a cayenne pepper color with dark purple sprinkles mixed in. 

           Goji berries have long been trumpeted as one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods on the planet! In fact, I typically bring a bag of Navitas Naturals Goji Berries with me when I travel. Goji’s are an excellent source of protein, antioxidants, all of the essential amino acids and over 20 other vitamins and minerals! There is a reason why these tiny red berries are held in such high esteem in Asia! Navitas Naturals’ Pomegranate Powder is particularly special. They freeze-dry the entire pomegranate skin, pulp, juice and pod and then blend it into a fine, sweet light pink powder preserving all of the fruits' amazing nutrients. Particularly high in Vitamin C and potassium, it has also been proven to be an antioxidant powerhouse containing phytoestrogens and polyphenols. These two compounds are remarkably capable at fighting free radicals, helping to prevent the breakdown of cells and inhibit viral infections. The juice of the pomegranate has also been linked to good heart health. Finally the Twister contains acai, a dark purple berry, native to South American palm trees. Becoming increasingly popular among westerners (in juice form) acai contains monosaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as flavonoids, which have been linked in early studies by UCLA to reduce the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Hesperidin, a type of flavonoid have also been shown to have beneficial effects on capillary permeability, making blood flow more easily throughout the body.

Obviously, this powder was created to be mixed into smoothies; however I find it is also great in oil-free salad dressings, as a sweetener in tea or can easily be added to flours to add an extra antioxidant boost when baking. Simply put, I was really impressed with this mix. I even started mixing a teaspoon of it into my breakfast quinoa, buckwheat and oatmeal mix!

Product Four: Power Snack (three varieties)

These little bite sized delights are brilliant. I’ve only tried the Blueberry Hemp Snack, but Navitas has taken their most potent and delicious superfoods and created each of these delicious snacks as a way of taking the power and energy of superfoods easily on the go. Personally, I have enjoyed packing a few of these guys on my long marathon training runs for when I am looking for a little pick me up after hours of pounding the pavement. While I admit that this is the only product of theirs I have tried where the flavor was not an instant hit, by bite two I was hooked and I’ll be coming back for more soon and often. Besides being a great fuel for running, they would make a perfect lunch companion for anyone looking to cram a lot of nutrition into their afternoon meal. 

Besides offering amazing products, Navitas Naturals is committed to sustainable growing methods as well as human welfare. Their products are all certified organic. Their cocoa products are not only organically grown, they are fairly purchased as Navitas really demonstrates their commitment to a food revolution by only sourcing their products from certain places. Often times, small companies source their products, particularly cocoa and other forms of chocolate, from all of the global making the growing and laboring conditions difficult to trace. Navitas Naturals however has received a seal of approval from the Food Empowerment Project.  On top of that, their website is filled with delicious and nutritious recipes using superfoods! They really are a feel good company!  

THE GIVEAWAY!

Now for the part you are all waiting for. I am happy to announce Navitas Naturals has the distinct honor of being BYOL's first blog giveaway (a bag of dried lentils didn't seem as exciting!) They agreed to send a small package of goods to the winner of this contest! Here are the rules. First, the winner needs to live in the United States (sorry international readers, no disrespect). Second, you must be a subscriber to the blog. There are two ways to gain entry. First, leave a comment on this blog post about which product you most want to try. Second, “like” Navitas Naturals Facebook page. Doing both will increase your chances of winning. The contest will end Friday, October 10, 2012. Good luck and cheers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Obviously, I owe a huge thank you to Navitas Naturals for the goodness they have provided me as well as for agreeing to do the giveaway. I also want to thank Julie Morris and Mic LeBel of Navitas Naturals and finally Gena Hamshaw of the blog choosingraw. She helped me set up the contest rules and is a huge inspiration to me.