Breakfast seems to be a big topic on this blog (a few previous posts here and here). I often get walloped with responses like, “but I don’t have enough time” and “I’m not a breakfast fan”. My answer to such queries is protein shakes. HOWEVER, there are protein shakes and then there are protein shakes. Some are full of sugar and crud, some are geared at blokes with bulging muscles and odd little gym swaggers. But I’ve come across this one which is neither: 180 nutrition’s protein superfood. Below, Jo has outlined the deal with protein shakes and some great recipes for this sponsored review. Enjoy!
photo by Maria Laitinen
what to look for in a protein shake:
Most of the info out there advises it’s all about whey protein. But know this: the whey needs to be…
- raw
- cold pressed
- derived from grass fed cows
- free of hormones, chemicals
- free of sugar
180 nutrition’s protein superfood ticks all these boxes.
Also, less is more. This superfood contains only a handful of (recognisable, no “numbers” involved) ingredients:
- grass fed whey protein isolate
- flaxseed
- almond meal
- sunflower kernels
- coconut flour
- cocoa (chocolate flavour only)
- chia seeds
- pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- sesame seeds
- pysillium husks
- inactive brewers yeast
- stevia
So: no gluten, no artificial flavourings or preservatives, no processed sugars and sweeteners, no bulking agents or thickeners. PLUS the whole lot is 100% raw and organic.
This combo is geared at helping muscle recovery after excercise, and increases your daily energy levels. But is also a no-brainer, fuss-free way to have a breakfast with no sugar or processed crap, to get enough fibre, protein and good fats (without the carb, sugar, insulin overload!!!)…and to trim down, if that’s your caper.
three 180 Nutrition breakfast recipes
You can just add a few scoops to some water or kefir or coconut water and shake. Sarah tried a tablespoon of 180 powder sprinkled into a big splodge of yoghurt in a cup, wtih some cinnamon and vanilla powder sprinkled on top, and a handful of walnuts. Insta-breakfast!
Or you might like to try these:
1. a smooth morning smoothie
- 2-3 big spoonfuls of 180 natural protein superfood
- 100ml water
- 100ml coconut milk
- 1 organic/free range egg (raw)
- dollop of probiotic yoghurt
- handful of berries (blueberry or strawberry)
In a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Tip: pour into a jar with a lid and you can take to work or drink en route!
2. high protein pancakes
- ¾ cup 180 natural protein superfood
- ½ cup besan (chickpea) flour
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- 1 large egg
- 1tsp vanilla extract
Whisk milk, egg and vanilla together in a jug. Sift flour and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in the egg mixture and 180 Natural Protein Superfood. Whisk until just combined.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush pan with butter. Using a small ladle, scoop approx 1/4 cup of mixture (or less) per pancake and pour into frying pan. Cook for 2 – 3 minutes or until bubbles appear on the surface and pancake is golden brown underneath. Turn pancake and cook for 1 minute or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
Cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining mixture, brushing pan with butter between batches.
For a sweeter option, serve with a sliced banana or strawberries. And yoghurt!
3. hazelnut orange muffins
- 1 cup hazelnut meal
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup 180 natural protein superfood
- 1/3 cup blueberries (optional)
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 mashed banana
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 egg whites
- juice of half an orange and flesh
- 1/4 tsp vanilla essence
Mix together the hazelnut meal, coconut flakes, protein powder, blueberries and orange. In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed banana, egg yolks, juice of an orange and flesh, and the vanilla essence.
Stir the two bowls together.
Whip the 3 egg whites into hard peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the mixture (a metal spoon is best so you loose less bubbles). Pour the mixture into greased muffin tins, about two-thirds full. Bake at 180° for 20 minutes.
You can order 180 Nutrition’s Protein Superfood here. And there’s free postage on the starter packs here.
180 nutrition’s facebook page and blog are often updated with new recipes, and interesting health and wellness articles. Why not ‘like’ them, and stay in touch for more recipes and ideas.
Tried protein powders yourself? Any tips for ways to use them in quick and easy meals?
I love 180 Nutrition’s protein superfood. It tastes so good and is just so easy to use. Even my teenage children love it and mix a glass before running out the door to school. My mother-in-law who doesn’t get enough protein has just started using it too. It’s such a great product 100% natural great tasting easy to use – I’m hooked!
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180 is the Daddy of all protein supplements! I have one to two shakes a day, depending on my training session. I do a lot of CrossFit workouts and as I follow a Paleo diet about 80% of the time, I find I need more protein and good fats to curb my craving and keep me feeling fuller (I don’t eat refined carbs). I put a couple of tablespoons of 180 in the blender with water, avocado and baby spinach or sometimes a handful of my favourite berries. You can also use coconut milk to give you that extra feeling of fullness and increase your good fat intake for the day. Love, love, love it!
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Have just ordered thier sample packs – sounds lovely. Just one teensy thing (harking back to your grammar/spelling/punctuation post); can you tell them there is no apostrophe in plural acronyms (ie “FAQs”)
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November 25th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Ha I noticed that too within seconds of being on the site!
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December 1st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Thanks guys, all fixed.
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Hello Sarah, sorry to bother you again but I just read your comment from 18th Nov on your hitch hiking blog and wanted to thank you for being such a sweetheart. My daughter and her friends are up there now and called me yesterday to say they have found a service (Top Shop Taxis) who will pick them up at any time during the week if I pay $300 upfront . I don’t really have this type of money but knowing they’re safe, it will be worth every cent. Problem solved.
As for the tattoo, it is a snake wrapped around her arm (like an armband).
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November 21st, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Oh, good!! To be honest, it’s a lovely vibe up here, so I hope she has a good time. As I say, I’m here until Wed morning, so sing out if you get worried or need some local info!
The tatt…could be worse!!
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I take a protein powder just before my babes are born to help with breastmilk, and for a few months afterward. But I can’t do a whey based one…have used a soy one in the past that has heaps of veggies and good stuff but am not happy with the soy part now. Does anyone know of a good one? Am 24 weeks pregnant now and need one already I am so low in energy….I try to make shakes with spirulina etc…. but can’t do bananas or milky things so even that is tricky! Any suggestions would be welcome.
Kirrilee
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November 21st, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Hi Kirrilee,
I love Phyto Protein Organic Vanilla Pea Protein. It’s simply the protein of organic golden peas and some vanilla extract. It’s fantastic if you want a dairy-free, soy-free protein. I mix it with berries, coconut water, coconut yoghurt and chia for a yummy breakky shake.
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Hi there
I met Guy, who is one of the owners of 180 Nutrition a few months ago, as he takes one of my classes at the gym. We got chatting after class about health and fitness and the different kind of health supplements on the market. I hadn’t really given much thought to the idea that not all Protein powders are the same, and i did some research when i got home and found out that the one i was taking was actually not all that great after all. Guy mentioned his company 180 Nutrition and i looked at their website for a better understanding of their product. I have to say there are very few Protein powders that are all natural and tick all the boxes that 180 Nutrition can do, and it turns out for a much cheaper price!! I live around the corner from where you can buy their new superfood, so i’m on my way down there now to buy some (after i’ve finishing writing this of course!)
Kind regards
Daniel
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Great timing! I was after a protein shake and did not know where to start. I just ordered my starter pack. Thanks for the blog.
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I have to say, those first two comments seem suspicious to me. Sounds like they have been submitted from the company itself. Not very believable posts.
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November 25th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
I actually thought the same thing. But I just took it with a grain of salt…
They may be real, they may not be. But I am pleased (not the right word but struggling to find a better one) that I had the ability to look at them and immediately red flags went up in my brain as to their validity.
But I do know that when I love a product, I will shout it from the rooftops. I have been told I sound like a walking infomercial for my favourite brand of self-tanning cream because I keep banging on about how great it is
But I’m cool with that. When I love something, I want to share. And maybe help someone else out.
So. Y’know. Be grateful you’ve been taught to think critically. But maybe try not to take ‘are they/aren’t they’ comments to heart too much?
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The ptotein shake has flaxseed as a ingredient, does flaxseed interfere with the thyroid? I have read mixed information about this.
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November 21st, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Hmmmm, I haven’t read anything like that.
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November 25th, 2011 at 1:51 am
Hi all, I recently stumbled upon this brilliant blog (thanks Sarah, I’ve only just begun reading your blog and look forward to learning more).
I was recently diagnosed with Hashi’s so am very new to what this means in my life. I have been overwhelming myself with info from the web and just yesterday read about ‘goitrogens’
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen ).
Reading this post flaxseed rang alarm bells for me so I traced back where I had read about it; http://www.forums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19998&p=161494&hilit=flaxseed#p161494 (It seems flaxseed might be bad for the thyroid).
So far I have found this forum ( http://www.realthyroidhelp.com ) to be really useful. There is an Australian group within the forum. Hopefully others will find some answers here too.
Thanks again Sarah, It looks like I’ve got a lot more reading ahead of me, starting with your blog!!
Ez
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November 26th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Thanks Ez. So annoying i am on a gluten free diet and also trying my best to avoid goitrens. Sometimes i feel like i cant eat anything! I ordered my starter protein pack but read whey contains soy!
I came across 180 through your site a couple of months ago Sarah, I had been looking for sugar & aspartame- free protein powder for ages and jumped on a bought two tubs.
I also run a wellness business and have since met and had a long chat with Guy who runs 180. He is the real deal, very passionate and knowledgeable about health & fitness and the protein powder tastes great. I do find that they are better in the blender in a full smoothie than on your traditional gym- style protein powder shaker, cause there’s so many crushed nuts seeds and good stuff. So be sure to stir it before you drink the last bit.
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November 21st, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Oh, good feedback! Ta.
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I’d suggest to avoid the raw egg white in the first recipe as the avidin (anti-nutrient) content inhibits biotin. It’s only raw egg white that is the problem – yolks are fine, and cooking destroys the avidin in the white. Other than that, great recipes. xx
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Random question, but is there a reason why you make this with coconut milk instead of normal milk?
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Ooh, I will have to try some of those recipes, as well as that protein powder! Is it sweetened with an alternative sweetener?
I use soy protein most days, and I almost always include a frozen banana, frozen spinach, and flaxseed oil.
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Love the ‘smooth morning smoothie’ recipe Sarah! I discovered 180 protein superfood last year from Guy, one of the directors from 180 and have loved it either since!. I have been studying nutrition at the Australasian College of Natural Therapies and clients are always looking for natural protein powders without all the fillers and sugar and quick and simple breakfast ideas!! thanks once again!
Regards
Bronwyn
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Thank you!!! Finally a protein powder that doesn’t have artificial sweetener in it!
I really dislike how overly sweet the average protein powders are. I find I can’t drink them on an empty stomach because they make me feel ill – too sweet!
If 180 protein could now also make a vanilla powder I’ll be a very happy customer.
Off to order the coconut one.
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What about the flax. almond meal and other seeds oxidizing and going rancid. There is a lot of info out there suggesting to never eat these products ‘pre-ground’?
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I had a question about whey protein concentrate compared to whey protein isolate – which the 180 Protein Powder has. I can see the benefits they claim it has on their website but others (also selling their own product) like Dr Mercola’s Miracle Whey Protein Powder claim that whey protein concentrate leaves the proteins still rich in amino acids and readily absorbed by your body – something the isolate apparently does not do.
Any thoughts would be great as I am wanting to buy one very soon for our family!
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December 28th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Hi Anne
Good question…..Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) is cheaper to produce than Whey Protein Isolate (WPI). WPC has the milk solids and lactose still there, making it much higher in carbohydrate and sugar (lactose), which we feel isn’t benefital because this effects blood sugar and insulin levels.
Even though our grassfed WPI is more expensive, we use it as there is very minimum lactose and carb’s. WPI is still rich in amino acids.
Also, WPI makes up about 30% of the total ingredients in our Superfood. Combined with the rest of the ingredients, this gives you an excellent nutrient dense food source.
Hope this helps…Guy
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Hi Guy,
Thanks very much for your response – helps make things clearer amidst all the info available.
kind regards, Anne
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[...] pursuer, the health qualities of coconut water drive me to have coconut water every day in my natural raw protein shake, and also like to drink it as an alternative to water. I found what I think was the best in [...]
I use hemp protein powder – 50% (lets just say I don’t live in Australia) and add whatever seeds/oils/greens/egg etc I want depending on the day. With two 5 yr olds, I mix it up to what they feel like, so that it can be chocolate (cacao powder), green (kale/whatever green superfood powder we have at the time), red, purple or orange (depending on the fruit).
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I always had the impression that protein shakes are for people who do heavy workouts. Is it ok for someone less active to consume it? How does one figure out how much protein one needs?
Thanks!
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Does anyone know anything about Hemp Protein powders? I am living in Canada and want to find a good protein powder.. I found this one http://www.northcoastnaturals.com/products/organichempprotein.php
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My breakfast is just one cheese sendwich and protein shake but now i change it for use diferent recipe of protein and foods.
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