Author: CF Clinical Nutrition

Fiber’s Role in Our Diet

Fiber is a crucial component of the diet, yet many of us don’t reach the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Today we break down how much is recommended and how to incorporate it into your diet. Plus we discuss how CF(Protein)® can help us meet the RDA.

What is fiber?

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot digest. It helps regulate bowel movements, keep blood glucose levels in the normal range, and helps increase satiety which can support weight management. There are two different types of dietary fiber – soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber passes through the body undigested, unlike other carbohydrates. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and may help lower blood glucose and cholesterol. Examples of foods with soluble fiber are oatmeal, nuts, beans, lentils, apples, and blueberries. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and helps food move through your digestive system. Consuming insoluble fiber helps regulate your digestive system and may help prevent constipation. Some examples of insoluble fiber are wheat, whole wheat bread, whole grain couscous, brown rice, legume, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

How much should I consume each day?

The 13 grams of fiber per 8-ounce bottle of CF(Protein)® comes from non-GMO soluble vegetable fiber. The RDA for total fiber intake for men and women 19-50 years of age is 38 grams/day and 25 grams/day, respectively. The RDA for men and women over 51 is 31 grams/day and 21 grams/day, respectively. Consuming CF(Protein)® can help you meet the RDA and get all the benefits of consuming adequate amounts of fiber.

How can I include more in my diet?

Most Americans do not consume enough dietary fiber. On average, Americans consume about 15 grams of fiber per day, far lower than the RDA, regardless of age or gender. The best ways to increase fiber intake are choosing whole grains whenever possible, consuming legumes and beans, and increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Drinking CF(Protein)® can help support you in achieving the RDA because it contains 13 grams per one 8 ounce bottle.

Preventing diseases with adequate fiber:

Fiber may help reduce the risk of developing various diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Studies show that the intake of fiber lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. NHANES cross-sectional Data (2003-2006) showed that intake of whole grains (rich in fiber) was associated with enhancing the effects of statin in lowering cholesterol.

Fiber may help prevent constipation by regulating bowel movements. Constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem that many people experience. If you have chronic constipation, you may need to ramp up your fiber intake, and drinking CF(Protein)® is an easy and effective way to do so. As always, if you have a chronic health issue, it is best to speak to your doctor for any specific recommendations.

Fiber can also help maintain a healthy weight. High fiber foods are typically more filling than lower fiber foods. They also help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Satiety is the term used to describe your fullness. Fiber increases satiety after a meal. If you are looking to lose weight, increasing your fiber intake may help by increasing satiety and preventing the intake of excess calories.

If you are not getting enough fiber, we recommend drinking one CF(Protein)® a day as a simple yet effective way to reap the benefits of adequate fiber intake.

Now that you know everything about fiber, check our our website to purchase CF(Protein)® to easily meet the RDA.

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How Can I Prevent a Hangover?

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date August 25, 2022
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While we do not recommend drinking in excess, sometimes, hangovers just…happen. And sometimes, that is just…okay. The easy answer to not having a hangover is to stop drinking but we know this may not be realistic for some people who enjoy drinking. With that being said, we want to prepare you for your next night out and help you fight those dreaded hangover symptoms with CF(Rehydrate)®.

How much alcohol is recommended per day?

As always, we genuinely want you to look and feel your best. When it comes to alcohol, the Recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 1 standard drink per day for women and 2 for men.

A standard drink is defined as:

5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of hard alcohol
12 ounces of regular beer (5%)

What causes a hangover?

Typically, if you drink too much alcohol you may feel it the next morning. The more alcohol you drink, the worse the hangover is but some people have worse symptoms than others. But why do we get these gnarly symptoms after having a little too much fun?

Some factors that contribute to these feelings are:

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine output and, after a night of drinking, can leave your body extremely dehydrated.
Alcohol causes an inflammatory response. This in turn can trigger inability to concentrate, memory problems and decreased appetite.
Alcohol increases stomach acid and delays stomach emptying. This can cause nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
Alcohol may cause low blood sugar. When blood sugar is too low, you may experience fatigue, weakness, shakiness and mood swings.
Alcohol can cause blood vessels to expand leading to headaches.
Alcohol causes sleep disturbances which may leave you feeling tired.

How is CF(Rehydrate)® crucial BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER a night out?

As we have learned, hangovers are typically caused by dehydration as a result of too much alcohol. Electrolytes are keys to hydration. When you provide your body with electrolytes like sodium and potassium and minerals like magnesium, you can stave off headaches, fatigue and muscle pain.

CF(Rehydrate)® makes bouncing back a breeze with 32 fluid ounces of liquid that is concentrated with electrolytes. This natural beverage provides medical grade hydration, resulting in superior rehydration to sugary sports drinks or water alone. For best results, we recommend drinking CF(Rehydrate)® before and after your night out.

Why is water so important during a night out?

While in an ideal situation you would carry CF(Rehydrate)® everywhere you go, we understand that it’s probably not the case while you’re out dancing the night away. So, while you are out make sure to ping pong your alcoholic beverages with a hefty glass of water. This will be a game changer in how you feel the next morning. We know this can be difficult but it really makes all the difference.

So now you know how to best prepare for a night of fun- head to our website to purchase CF(Rehydrate)® to help prevent a hangover.

What is Chronic Dehydration?

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date August 18, 2022
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With these past few months being especially hot in many places across the country, we thought we would discuss the important and relevant issue of dehydration. If you aren’t hydrating, you may be feeling some signs of dehydration (especially this time of year).. Today we break down the symptoms of chronic dehydration and provide you with tips on how to prevent it. Read along to learn more.

What is Chronic Dehydration?

Most of us are familiar with acute dehydration that occurs when we don’t drink enough water on a particular day. This type of dehydration can be resolved by resting and drinking fluids.

Chronic dehydration is a condition when dehydration recurs for longer periods, sometimes regardless of how much fluid you take in on a particular day. This is more severe than acute dehydration because it becomes an ongoing problem and may require medical attention. It can also lead to hypertension and kidney stones if left untreated.

What Causes Chronic Dehydration?

Your body needs water for every function it performs and water is an essential part of human health. When you don’t get enough water or when you lose more water than you replace, you will feel symptoms of dehydration. But being dehydrated doesn’t just mean you are losing too much water, it also means you are losing essential electrolytes like potassium and sodium. Some people are more susceptible to becoming dehydrated. The following groups may be more at risk for chronic dehydration:

Living in warmer climates
Working outdoors
Having only sporadic access to water
Frequent diarrhea
Children who can’t express their thirst
Pregnant or breastfeeding woman
Athletes

Signs of Chronic Dehydration

Sometimes, your body may be dehydrated before you even start to feel signs and symptoms of dehydration. Once dehydration becomes severe, you may start to notice the following:

Constipation
Yellow Urine
Fatigue
Headache
Irritability
Brain Fog
Headaches
Unable to Concentrate
Abnormal electrolyte levels
Dry, flaky skin
Altered kidney, heart, or digestive function

How can I prevent Chronic Dehydration?

Obviously drinking more water is a great first step in preventing chronic dehydration because water is an essential part of human health. However, our bodies are made up of much more than just water. An adequate balance of water and electrolytes is crucial for many of our body’s most important functions. Electrolytes are minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) that are involved in an abundance of internal events, such as neurotransmission and maintaining a balanced pH in the blood. If you are experiencing chronic dehydration, electrolyte replacement is crucial to your recovery.

CF(Rehydrate)^® is a natural electrolyte replacement drink designed for medical-grade hydration. Free from artificial colors, flavors, and sugars, CF(Rehydrate)^® delivers the electrolytes and essential hydration you need, without the harmful additives found in sports drinks and other hydration products.

Additionally, CF(Rehydrate)^® Immunity+ is a natural electrolyte drink with immune-supporting ingredients. When your body is under stress of any kind, medical-grade hydration with key vitamins and minerals is essential for maintaining optimal health. CF(Rehydrate)^® Immunity+ is formulated with functional nutrients that promote immunity and wellness when you need it most.

Other ways to manage your symptoms are:

Tracking your daily water intake by using a journal or an app
Decreasing alcohol consumption
Watching your stress levels
Cutting back on diuretic medication therapy
Cutting back on caffeine if it’s causing you to lose fluid

*It is important to contact your doctor if you think you may be experiencing chronic dehydration. Now that you know about chronic dehydration, shop CF Nutrition products today to stay on top of your hydration needs.

What is Ketosis?

The ketogenic diet has become popular over the past few years. As many of us know, a ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate and high fat diet. But what is actually going on when you follow a keto diet correctly? Today on the blog we break down what happens when your body enters ketosis. We will also discuss how many carbohydrates are in each of our products to help you understand which products you can have to remain in ketosis.

What is ketogenesis?

Ketogenesis is a metabolic pathway that produces ketone bodies and provides an alternative energy source for the body. Your body and brain need glucose to function. When carbohydrates are restricted, and glucose is not available, ketogenesis occurs. It is a metabolic process to help the body survive on low levels of exogenous glucose.

In healthy individuals, small amounts of ketones are continually being produced and used in the body as energy. During a prolonged period of fasting, the nervous system can oxidize ketone bodies as an alternate energy source. In ketosis, ketone body production increases when there are decreased carbohydrates or increased fatty acids.

How many carbohydrates can I have to stay in ketosis?

The number of carbohydrates it will take to “kick you out of ketosis” can vary from person to person. Typically, limiting your carbohydrate intake to under 35g will keep you in ketosis. However, some people may need to restrict their carbohydrate intake to under 20g/day, while others can reach up to 50g/day and stay in ketosis. So, depending on your specific carbohydrate limit, some or all of our products may “kick you out of ketosis.”

How many carbohydrates are in CF Nutrition Products?

CF Nutrition’s products carbohydrate content in grams:

CF(PreOp)® – 50 g carbohydrate/bottle
CF(Protein)®- 29 g carbohydrate/bottle
CF(Rehydrate)® – 10g carbohydrate/serving (3 servings per bottle)
CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ – 6g carbohydrate/ serving (3 servings per bottle)

What CF Nutrition products can I have to stay in ketosis?

If you are trying to stay in ketosis, we do not recommend CF(PreOp)® or CF(Protein)® as those contain higher amounts of carbohydrates and will likely take you out of ketosis. CF(PreOp)® is a presurgical drink and typically consumed in the hours before surgery. Depending on how many other carbohydrates you are consuming throughout the day, one serving of either CF(Rehydrate)® or CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ should keep you in ketosis.

What is ketoacidosis?

An overproduction of ketone bodies through increased ketogenesis can cause a problem because ketones are acidic. Ketoacidosis occurs when there are too many ketone bodies (occurs in cases of uncontrolled DM). Overproduction of ketone bodies through increased ketogenesis can be detrimental. An example of this is Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA. DKA occurs when there is a lack of insulin or insulin resistance and is more common in Type 1 Diabetics. The threshold for DKA is a glucose level of 250 mg/dL.

Should I follow a keto diet?

Following a keto diet has become a very popular way to lose weight. At CF Nutrition, we feel it is important to discuss what type of diet is right for you with your Dietitian or Doctor as everyone is different. Our mission is to provide you with the information you need and separate fact and fiction.

Now that you know all about ketosis, check out our blog for more information on health and wellness. While you’re at it, head to our https://drinkclearfast.com/ to purchase CF Nutrition products.

Tags keto diet, ketosis

What are My Protein Needs?

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date July 20, 2022
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High protein, low fat, low carb, no sugar…….oh my!!! How are we supposed to know how much protein we need when there is so much information out there? Well, it is tough and to be honest- there isn’t a one size fits all approach. Many factors affect your protein needs including age, gender, lean body mass, fitness level, training regimen, and more. However, today we will break down some different scenarios and help you determine a range that may be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

Here are a few scenarios that might fit your specific goals:

If you are trying to build muscle…..Your daily protein intake should be between 1.2-2.0 grams/kilogram of body weight.

If you are an athlete…..Your daily protein intake should be between 1.2-1.7 grams/kilogram of body weight.

If you are trying to maintain weight….. Your daily protein intake should be between 0.8-1.5 grams/kilogram of body weight.

If you are trying to lose weight….. Your daily protein intake should be between 1.5-2.5 grams/kilogram of body weight.

If you are preparing for surgery….. Your daily protein intake should be between 1.2-2.0 grams/kilogram of body weight (if you are underweight it should be closer to 2.0 grams/kilogram).

If you are highly active……..Your daily protein intake should be between 2.0-2.5 grams/kilogram of body weight.

To determine how much protein you need, take your body weight in kilograms and multiply it by your range based on your goals (see the above scenarios).

So, let’s say I am 150LB and I am preparing for surgery:

Divide your weight in LB by 2.2 to get your weight in kg

o 150/2.2 = 68.2 kg

· Next, multiply your body weight by 1.5 to 2.0

o 68 times 1.5=102; 68 times 2.0=136 g

· So, you should consume 102-136 g per day of protein

*Please note that if you have chronic kidney disease or other specific health conditions please speak to a registered dietitian or your doctor as your protein needs will be lower.

Other ways to calculate protein needs:

Another way to determine your protein needs is by taking a percentage of your total calories. Typically, your protein will account for 10-30% of your daily calorie intake. There are 4 grams of protein per calorie.

Let’s do an example:

I am on a 2000-calorie diet and want my protein to be between my total calories.

2000 calories times 10-30%:

200-600 calories from protein.

200-600/4 (because there are 4 calories per 1 gram of protein)

50- 150 grams of protein per day

*If you want to follow a higher protein diet, you will want to aim closer to 150 grams of protein per day. Whereas if you want to follow a low protein diet, you will aim closer to 50-75 grams of protein per day.

How should I break up my protein throughout the day?

As a general rule of thumb, you want to divide your protein up and have some at each meal and snack. Protein helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer so it is good to include some each time you eat. Depending on your protein needs, you should aim for 15-35 grams of protein at each meal and 5-15 grams of protein at each snack.

Here is an example:

Goal: 100-125 grams of protein/day

Breakfast: 20-25 grams

AM Snack: 10-15 grams

Lunch: 25-30 grams

PM Snack: 10-15 grams

Dinner: 30-35 grams

Night Snack: 5-10 grams

How much protein is in CF(Protein)®?

Each CF(Protein)® has 13 g of protein per bottle. So, depending on what else you are eating and drinking, and your specific protein needs, consuming 1 to 2 CF(Protein)® drinks per day can help ensure you are optimizing your nutrition and help you to meet your needs. CF(Protein)® is not designed to be a sole source of nutrition. Therefore, consuming whole foods, high in protein, is recommended before and after surgery to meet your protein and calorie needs.

Is CF(Protein)® a meal replacement?

At CF, we encourage all our clients to consume well-balanced meals with a variety of food groups and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Depending on your calorie and protein needs, CF(Protein)® may not provide enough calorie and protein for a complete meal. Each meal you consume should have a balance of complex carbohydrates, lean protein, fiber, healthy fats, and fruits and vegetables. Food is fuel so ensuring you are consuming enough calories is of utmost importance. With that being said, if you enjoy drinking CF(Protein)® during breakfast, lunch, or dinner time, we recommend pairing your CF drink with something else to make a complete meal. This could be a piece of whole grain toast with 1/3 an avocado or nut butter or maybe some whole wheat crackers with hummus.

CF(Protein)® can also be consumed as an on-the-go snack. For healthy individuals and those with nutrient deficiencies, it is an excellent addition to ensure a well-rounded, nutrient-dense meal. It contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals derived from fruits and vegetables, along with other healthful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Now that you know your protein needs, shop our website https://drinkclearfast.com/ to stock up on CF(Protein)® to help you reach your goals!

Tags protein needs

Featured Posts For Med Pros Preparing for Surgery Presurgery Nutrition

How do I use CF(Protein)® to Prepare for Surgery?

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date July 7, 2022
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Whether you’re trying to preserve muscle mass following a procedure or replenish your body with nutrients after an athletic event, adding protein to your diet is a great way to give your body what it needs to be its best. CF(Protein)® was created for both ease and enjoyment. Thirteen grams of delicious, clean plant protein is packed into an 8-oz bottle that can be enjoyed on-the-go!

What are the benefits of CF(Protein)®?

CF(Protein)® is a plant-based protein drink that provides a concentrated dose of natural electrolytes, antioxidants, and essential fats. CF(Protein)® is a great choice for anyone who is preparing for, or recovering from surgery. Plant protein is the modern way to give your body the best nutrients with the lowest impact on your digestive system.

Some benefits of drinking CF(Protein)® are:

· Promote muscle maintenance, repair, and recovery

· Strengthen the immune system

· Reduce risk of malnourishment

· Antioxidants & anti-inflammatory ingredients

· Concentrated nutrition on-the-go

· Healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats

· Naturally derived vitamins & minerals

· Essential amino acids

· Natural fiber sources

· No artificial colors or flavors

· Shelf-stable

· Gluten-Free, Kosher, Vegan, Dairy-Free

· Convenient on-the-go protein source

How much CF(Protein)® should I drink leading up to surgery?

Each CF(Protein)® has 13 g of protein per bottle. So, depending on what else you are eating and drinking, and your specific protein needs, consuming 1 to 2 CF(Protein)® drinks per day can help ensure you are optimizing your nutrition prior to surgery. Prior to surgery, drinking 1-2 bottles per day (in addition to a well-balanced diet) for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery, will help you to feel strong and well-nourished for your operation. CF(Protein)® is not designed to be a sole source of nutrition. Therefore, consuming whole foods high in protein, is recommended before and after surgery in order to meet your protein and calorie needs.

What else is in CF(Protein)® other than protein?

In addition to the protein content in CF(Protein)®, it also contains chia seed oil and turmeric which are anti-inflammatory. These will also help to ensure you are at optimal nutrition status for your surgery as well as strengthen your immune system. The antioxidants in CF(Protein)® will help you to fight off diseases and strengthen your immunity.

How do I determine my protein needs before surgery?

There are a variety of factors that determine your specific protein needs. These include your age, activity level, chronic diseases, weight, and fitness goals. Typically, someone who is preparing for, or recovering from surgery has increased protein needs. This is to help the body ensure a speedy recovery.

To determine how much protein you need before or after surgery, take your body weight in kilograms and times it by 1.5 to 2.0.

So, if you weigh 150LB:

· Divide your weight in LB by 2.2 to get your weight in kg

o 150/2.2 = 68.2 kg

· Next, multiply your body weight by 1.5 to 2.0

o 68 times 1.5=102; 68 times 2.0=136 g

· You should consume 102-136 g per day of protein

If you have any chronic disease like COPD, Chronic Kidney disease, End Stage Renal Disease, HIV, or Cancer, please consult with your doctor or dietitian to determine your protein needs as they may be lower or higher based on your specific condition.

What if I am underweight?

If you are malnourished, it is important that you ensure adequate calories and protein leading up to your surgery. Nutritional status is crucial prior to surgery. A nutritional assessment should be completed prior to any surgery to reduce the risk for postoperative complications, increased length of stay, and risk for infection. A patient can be diagnosed with mild or severe malnutrition by the MD. A Registered Dietitian can also assess the patient for mild to severe malnutrition.

Why is it important to correct malnutrition before surgery?

It is imperative to correct malnutrition in a patient prior to their surgery. Research proves that malnutrition is a leading reason for poor outcomes postoperative. Studies show that preoperative nutritional deficiency is a strong predictor of 90 days mortality and poor overall survival. Nutrition status can be improved with recommendations from a Registered Dietitian. Common recommendations include high protein supplements such as CF(Protein)®. CF(Protein)® is a plant-based protein product with complete nutrition to help build muscle and strength for a speedy recovery. Other ways to improve nutritional status can include enteral or parenteral nutrition. For obese patients, it is often required to lose excess weight prior to surgery.

If you are preparing for an upcoming surgery, CF(Protein)® can help you meet your increased protein needs and get your body ready for surgery. Visit our website https://drinkclearfast.com/ to learn more.

Tags preparing for surgery, recovery

Featured Posts Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition

Top 5 CF Nutrition Summer Recipes

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date June 29, 2022
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Longer days means more time to spend trying out new delicious recipes. Summer has officially kicked off and the sun is shining at full force. If you are like us, we know you are in desperate need of some refreshing and delicious recipes to cool you down this summer. Today we are bringing you our top 5 recipes using our very own CF Nutrition products.

#1 Aloha Watermelon Slushy

Nothing is more refreshing than watermelon on a hot summer day. Here is the recipe for our delicious watermelon immunity slushy. It is low in calories and high in hydration.

Ingredients⁠⁠:

10 cups seedless watermelon cubes, (pureed watermelon, frozen in an ice cube tray for at least 24 hours)⁠⁠
2–4 tbsp honey⁠⁠
Juice of 1 large lime⁠⁠
1/4 cup fresh mint ⁠⁠
1 1/2 cup CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+, Aloha Blend⁠⁠

Directions⁠⁠:

Let the frozen watermelon cubes sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to defrost some. Then, add the cubes, 2 tbsp honey, lime juice, mint, and CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ to a high-speed blender.⁠⁠ Pulse the blender until the watermelon starts to break up some, then blend to form a thick, slushy consistency. Adjust the honey to taste, adding more if necessary. If the mixture is too thick for your liking, you can also add in extra CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+.⁠⁠

Divide equally into 4 glasses, serve, and enjoy!

#2 Mango Peach Margarita Mocktails!

Not only is this drink the perfect way to fire up your fiesta (& soothe the spice-factor if you’re like us and love your tacos with a little heat), but it also provides a healthy dose of plant-based protein from all-natural, clean ingredients!⁠

Ingredients:

12oz frozen mango chunks⁠
12oz frozen peach slices⁠
Extra Ice, for blending⁠
1 bottle CF(Protein)®
1 cup citrus seltzer water⁠
2 tablespoons coconut sugar

Directions:⁠

Throw the mango & peach chunks into the blender. Top off the blender with ice. Pour in the bottle of CF(Protein)® & seltzer water. Blend until completely smooth, adding more ice if necessary to get it the consistency you want. Pour the drinks and serve them immediately.⁠

#3 Vegan Tropical Overnight Oats

⁠Cooking over a hot stove in the morning just isn’t in in summer. Here we share our favorite summer breakfast idea that will kick off your day right.

Ingredients⁠:

1/4 cup pineapple finely diced⁠
1/4 cup mango finely diced⁠
1/2 rolled oats⁠
1 bottle CF(Protein)®
2 tbsp chia seeds⁠
2 tbsp shredded coconut⁠
1 tsp pure maple syrup⁠

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a 16 ounce mason jar, stir to combine, cover and store in the fridge overnight. ⁠⁠Serve up this tropical breakfast treat with an extra pinch of shredded coconut & sliced bananas if you really like things fruity!⁠

#4 Choco-Orange Energy Bites (Vegan Friendly!)⁠

Are you in need of a healthy summer snack to take with you to the pool or beach? We have you covered with these delicious and nutritious energy bites.

Ingredients:⁠

1/4 cup CF(Rehydrate)⁠®, Orange
1/4 cup fresh orange juice⁠
1 cup pitted Medjool dates⁠
1 1/2 cups oats⁠
1/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts⁠
2 tbsp orange zest (plus more for dusting the energy bites)⁠
1/4 cup cocoa powder⁠
2 tbsp cacao nibs⁠

Directions:⁠

⁠Soak dates in hot water for about 10 minutes or until softened; drain and squeeze to release excess moisture. Set aside.⁠ Add oats to food processor; pulse until coarsely ground. Add walnuts, orange zest, cacao nibs, and cocoa powder; pulse until finely ground.⁠⁠ Add dates, CF(Rehydrate)®, and orange juice; process until mixture comes together into a ball, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Roll mixture into 1‑inch balls and coat with additional orange zest (add as much or as little as you’d like to create your perfect orange-chocolate flavor profile!).⁠ Place on parchment paper–lined tray; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until firm & then enjoy!⁠

#5 Extra Creamy Cooked Oatmeal (Vegan & Great for the Gut!)⁠

Last on the list is another awesome summer breakfast idea for our oatmeal lovers.

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats⁠
2 cups warm water ⁠
2 tbsp pure maple syrup or agave⁠
2 tbsp coconut yogurt⁠
1/2 tsp salt⁠
1/2 cup CF(Protein)®
½ cup water⁠
1 cup coconut milk⁠

Directions:

Mix together: oats, 2 cups water, pure maple syrup or agave syrup, and yogurt in a large bowl. Cover and let sit on the counter overnight.⁠ In the morning, bring coconut milk, CF(Protein)®, water, salt, and oat mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for around 5 minutes. Watch carefully as these oats cook quickly.⁠ Spoon into bowls and top with a tbsp of coconut butter for some healthy fat and sliced banana. Other topping favorites include a sprinkle of cinnamon & a drizzle of pure maple syrup.

Now you have 5 delicious and nutritious summer snack ideas. So what are you waiting for – head to drinkclearfast.com today to purchase some of our awesome products.

Tags healthy recipes, summertime

Our Top 4 Travel Tip to Stay Healthy & Hydrated

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date June 15, 2022
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Ever get sick when you travel? Or feel a nasty headache the next day? Well, if this is you, you may not be fueling your body with what it needs to stay healthy and hydrated. Don’t worry, today we break down our top 4 tips to keep you healthy and happy next time you travel.

Tip 1: Drink CF(Rehydrate) Immunity+

The best way to hydrate and prepare for a day of travel is with CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity +. Not only does CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ contain electrolytes for premium hydration, it also has immune-supporting ingredients like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Magnesium, and Zinc. This makes it a great way to prepare yourself for traveling. Ever get sick right after a plane ride? Well you’re not alone and it is pretty common when being around several people in such a small space. But CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ can help you combat any nasty bug or cold. It is formulated with functional nutrients that promote immunity and wellness when you need it most. Even if you are traveling by car, CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ can help you quickly hydrate yourself and replenish lost electrolytes.

Top 2: Eat a well balanced breakfast before you travel

When we have to get on the road early or take a 6 AM flight, it is so easy to skip breakfast—but this will cause more harm than good. On travel days, it is even more crucial to make breakfast a top priority. Some great travel day breakfast ideas are whole-wheat toast with 2 scrambled eggs and ½ an avocado (add veggies to your eggs for a bonus) or oatmeal with walnuts and blueberries. No matter what you decide to eat for breakfast, make sure it is packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. If you’re in a rush, grab CF(Protein)® for a quick and convenient breakfast.

Tip 3: Pack more travel snacks than you think you’ll need

Even though we aren’t physically active when we travel on the road or in the air, we tend to get more hungry than we think. This may lead us to gobble down endless amounts of airplane cookies or stop at fast-food restaurants to get something greasy. We suggest preparing for this midday hunger with some nutritious snacks that will keep you energized for your travel day.

Some great travel snacks are:

Raw walnuts and popcorn
Banana and peanut butter
Whole-wheat crackers and almond butter
CF(Protein)®
Celery and carrots with hummus
Peanut butter and banana sandwich

Tip 4: Get a good night sleep

One way to make our travel day easier is by getting a good night’s sleep beforehand. It is so easy to leave packing until the last minute and spend all night trying to get our bags under 50 LBS, but getting 7-9 hours of sleep is crucial to kick off your vacation on the right foot. Even if you plan to sleep on the plane or in the car, try your best to get in your ZZZ the night before because let’s face it – sleeping on the plane or in the car isn’t necessarily the quality sleep our bodies deserve.

Now you are ready to take on your travel day and feel your best. Don’t forget to check out our website to purchase CF(Protein)® and CF(Rehydrate)® Immunity+ for premium hydration and nutrition.

Tags nutrition while traveling, travel tips

Featured Posts For Med Pros Preparing for Surgery Presurgery Nutrition

Importance of Preoperative Nutrition Before Surgery

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date June 8, 2022
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Nutrition plays a crucial role in surgical outcomes. Implementing nutrition screening and correcting malnutrition before surgery can help reduce readmission rates, postoperative infections, and length of stay. By understanding the components of preoperative nutrition medical professionals can help ensure patients receive the best standard of care.

What is preoperative nutrition?

Preoperative nutrition covers a wide variety of interventions—including nutrition screens, correcting nutrition status before surgery, patient education, and carbohydrate loading up to two hours before surgery. There is a lot involved in preoperative nutrition, and understanding each component can significantly enhance recovery, which is why it is a major component of ERAS®.

Why does preoperative nutrition matter?

There is a strong association between poor nutrition status and surgical outcomes. Several studies report that preoperative nutrition to correct poor nutrition status improves outcomes postoperatively. To understand the importance of preoperative nutrition and correcting nutrition status before surgery, consider surgery analogous to a marathon. Before a marathon, you train for an extended period to ensure you will finish the race with the fastest time possible. If you have any injuries or illness, you would likely postpone running the marathon until you were healthy because, if not, you will not run as fast and perhaps wouldn’t even be able to finish the race. In the grand scheme of things, surgery is far more critical than running a marathon, so ensuring patients put in the same “training” to enter surgery at their strongest leads to smoother, faster recoveries.

What is the risk of preoperative malnutrition?

Preoperative malnutrition increases the risk for mortality and morbidity, and also increases costs. Malnutrition and cachexia are caused by proinflammatory cytokine response, inadequate dietary intake, and catabolic effects (Ward et al.). Preoperative malnutrition leads to increased susceptibility to infection, impaired wound healing, pressure ulcers, and increased length of stay (Abdelhamid et al.). Therefore, patients who are severely malnourished should correct malnutrition before surgery. In some cases, surgery is postponed until malnutrition is resolved.

Malnutrition and Surgery

Ideally, a nutrition assessment before any surgery can diagnose malnutrition. A Doctor or Registered Dietitian can evaluate the patient for mild to severe malnutrition. The Academy Adult Malnutrition Criteria (ASPEN) has specific criteria to identify malnutrition.

Research proves that malnutrition is a leading cause of poor postoperative outcomes and it is a strong predictor of 90 days mortality and poor overall survival. Ward et al. suggest that preoperative anorexia and malnutrition increase postoperative complications in Whipple procedures. Furthermore, malnutrition in patients with pancreatic cancer can lead to cancer-related cachexia, defined as greater than 10% weight loss over six months.

CF Nutrition’s Role in helping prevent malnutrition

Nutrition status can improve with recommendations from a Registered Dietitian. Typical recommendations include high-protein supplements in the weeks leading up to surgery, such as CF(Protein)®. CF(Protein)® is a plant-based protein drink patients can consume in the days and weeks leading up to surgery to optimize nutrition. It contains high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory ingredients that will enhance the immune system and optimize overall health. It is a complete nutrition product to help build muscle and strength for a speedy recovery.

Other ways to improve nutritional status can include enteral or parenteral nutrition if protein beverages are not enough to restore nutrition status. For obese patients, it is often required to lose excess weight before surgery. The macronutrient excess in those with obesity can be associated with chronic inflammation, sarcopenia, and micronutrient deficiency.

What about preoperative carb-loading?

Surgery induces a catabolic effect on the body. Reducing the fasting period can help reduce this catabolic effect and enhance recovery. Preoperative carbohydrate loading is also an essential component of preoperative nutrition. Prolonged fasting before surgery may cause detrimental effects. Prolonged fasting worsens the catabolic state, and increases metabolic stress, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, when the body fasts for a prolonged time, glycogen stores are depleted, leading to protein and muscle breakdown. Postoperative insulin resistance (PIR), a result of the stress response from surgery and further exaggerated with prolonged fasting, is related to delayed wound healing, increased morbidity/mortality, and LOS. Decreased PIR sets patients up for a smoother recovery.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading maximizes glycogen stores in the body as an energy source to minimize body tissue degeneration and reduce PIR. When you change the metabolic state by shortening preoperative fasting, PIR decreases, protein loss drops, and muscle function will improve. Additionally, preoperative carbohydrate loading increases patients’ comfort and reduces hunger, thirst, and anxiety leading up to surgery. Ultimately decreasing stress entering surgery. Our anesthesiologist-developed product, CF(Preop)®, may be consumed before surgery to enhance recovery and shift the body from a fasting to a fed state.

How does preoperative nutrition benefit the medical professional?

Screening patients’ nutritional status, correcting malnutrition and providing preoperative nutrition benefits patients and medical professionals alike. The patient will benefit from a smoother recovery—while the medical professional will benefit from cost savings, reduced length of stay and postoperative complications, increased patient satisfaction, and lower readmission rates.

In summary, preoperative nutrition is a critical component of surgery. Nutrition screenings, correcting malnutrition, and preoperative carbohydrate loading are necessary interventions before performing surgery. CF Nutrition is here to help you better understand preoperative nutrition and how to incorporate it into your practice. Our products promote a smooth recovery and improved surgical outcomes.

Featured Posts Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition

5 Surprising Sources of Plant-based Protein

Post author By CF Clinical Nutrition
Post date May 26, 2022
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Are you tired of steak, chicken, and fish but afraid that plant-based sources of protein won’t cut it? Well, we have some good news for you. Plant-based sources of protein may already be in your diet without you even realizing it. Today, we will break down some surprising sources of protein that you may already be eating in your diet. Going plant-based, or even just adding a few meatless days to your week doesn’t mean you have to eat less protein. Read along to find out some surprising sources of protein.

#1 Whole Grains

It is pretty common knowledge that whole grains are recommended over simple carbohydrates like white rice, white pasta, and white bread- you get the idea. But there is a reason (more than just the color) that whole grains are the better options.

Whole grains contain higher amounts of protein than simple carbohydrates. Most of the time, a slice of whole-grain bread will contain about 5 grams of protein, whereas, a piece of white bread has just 2 or 3 grams. Don’t believe us? Next time you’re at the supermarket, pick up whole grain bread and white bread and compare the nutrition facts label. You will notice that while white bread has < 3 grams of protein, whole grain bread will have 4-7 grams of protein. The same goes for things like pasta and rice. Having more protein will help you feel fuller for longer and help blood glucose stabilize.

#2 Black Beans and Brown Rice

A dynamic protein duo is brown rice and black beans. On their own, both provide a great source of fiber and protein but together they make a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids. In one ½ cup serving of black beans, there are 7 grams of protein. And in 1 cup of brown rice, there are about 5 grams of protein. If you pair the two together, you make a complete protein and about 12 grams of protein. Looks like you have your next burrito bowl base!

#3 Vegetables

Have you ever heard the riddle – what has more protein – a pound of broccoli or a pound of beef? Well, you may be surprised to know that the answer is broccoli. In one cup of broccoli, you will find about 3 grams of protein (But think about how much broccoli makes up one whole pound).

Broccoli isn’t the only veggie that serves as a good protein source. Another vegetable that is high in protein is peas. In just ½ a cup, there are 4 grams of protein. Spinach has 1 gram of protein per 1 cup. That may not seem like a lot but if you ever have cooked spinach, you know that it shrinks quite a bit when cooked. So you can add multiple cups of spinach for multiple grams of protein. One cup of kale contains 2 grams of protein and one cup of mushrooms contains 3 grams of protein. Another powerhouse vegetable is Brussel sprouts, in a 100-gram serving, there are 3.4 grams of protein. A single artichoke has 4 grams of protein and a 100 gram serving of asparagus has 2.2 g of protein. Edamame does more than just pair well with sushi – it provides a whopping 17 g of protein per 1 cup serving. So, as you can see, vegetables can really help beef up your daily protein intake. Add these high-protein veggies to some black beans and brown rice and you may never need to eat chicken again.

#4 Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is a common cheese substitute for people following a dairy-free diet. You can add it to sauces, pasta, popcorn, vegetables, and more. It is a unique vegan-friendly food with a cheesy flavor. Not only is it tasty, but it also has a very powerful nutrition profile and is a great source of vitamins, especially B vitamins. Additionally, it serves as a great source of protein. At just 60 calories per serving, ¼ cup of nutritional yeast provides 8 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and just 25 mg of sodium. So next time you are looking to add some flavor, and protein to your meal- check out nutritional yeast.

#5 Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are well known as a source of omega-3. Omega-3 is the good type of fat that we need to consume daily to help our hearts stay healthy. But what some people don’t realize is chia seeds also are a good source of protein. In one ounce of chia seeds, there are about 5 grams of protein. Chia seeds are 19% protein and have all nine essential amino acids making them a high-quality plant-based protein. They are a great addition to yogurt, oatmeal, pudding, and more. Want to hear even better news? CF(Protein )® contains chia seed oil in its formulation and provides 13 grams of plant-based protein. Check out our website to buy yours today as a great addition to your everyday diet.

So, as you can see- meat is not essential to meet your protein needs. There are several plant-based sources of protein that are easy to add to your diet. If you are trying to explore a more plant-based lifestyle, use this as a tool to add some high-quality foods to your diet.

Tags plant-based, protein

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