Make a smoothie they say. It’s SO EASY. Add protein powder. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Ok, ok. We know. But we literally have oh, around 38 seconds between showering and being set upon for lost shoes, hair ties, bags, books, the meaning of life. Also, there’s only 1/4 of a past-its-best banana and 3 blueberries left in the house. That planned post workout snack seems to be dropping down the to do list…
Don’t get us wrong, smoothies are great. They provide a big nutrient boost and can be consumed on the go. But if they’re not carefully composed they can also be a pretty quick way to ingest a whole bunch of calories that you might have just spent 45 minutes burning. What’s more, sometimes it’s kinda nice to eat real, non-powdered food that isn’t blended to within an inch of its life!
Refreshing, hydrating, pre-loaded with electrolytes and low calorie, a Kiwano might just be the all-natural post workout snack you’ve been looking for.
Here are 5 reasons why Kiwano is the healthy post-workout snack every busy person needs.
1. The right type of hydration
At 88% water, eating a Kiwano also helps to quench thirst. But there’s a bit more to proper hydration than just drinking 8 glasses of water a day, especially if you’ve been exercising. According to Healthline.com, electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium found in Kiwano, are also necessary for maintaining healthy fluid status.
2. Low calorie and low sugar
Don’t put those burpees to waste! Though we certainly don’t advocate for counting calories, it’s good to have knowledge of whether you are meeting your own personal balance of energy in and energy out. At only 152kJ per 100gm (36cal) Kiwano is nutrient rich but also low calorie. Tick! So you can get an idea of portions: 100gm is equivalent to around 1/2 a Kiwano. So a whole medium sized Kiwano (which yields around ¾ cup of pulp) comes in at well under 100 calories. Kiwano is also very low in the naturally occurring sugars found in all fruits. It has just 3.8gm of fruit sugars per 100gm – compared to a banana’s 12.2gm or an apple’s 10.4gm.
3. A source of magnesium
Magnesium supports hundreds of chemical reactions in your body – in fact, every cell in your body needs it to function. Recently there’s been growing recognition we may not be getting enough. Some studies suggest that about 60% of US adults do not consume the Recommended Daily Amount (RDA) for magnesium. It keeps our teeth and bones strong, helps to reduce tiredness and maintain a calm nervous system, plus aids energy metabolism. Our blog has more info on why this mineral is so important.
4. Vegan & vegetarian approved
No animals were harmed in the growing of our Kiwano! And no need to check the list of ingredients for dairy or animal products.
5. It’s real food
The long list of ingredients on the back of some protein bars can be a little scary. Bloggers like Caralee Fonanele and her Real Food Pledge and Nadia Lim’s “Nude Food” philosophy are helping people discover the health and wellbeing benefits of moving away from processed and packet foods. As Nadia says: “Eat real food – food that comes from the ground, the sea and the sky; stuff that is easily recognisable from nature, that has been minimally processed.”
We’re proud to grow real food. At Enzed Exotics we choose to keep the growing process as close to nature as possible by not using any sprays, harsh chemicals or pesticides. Our head grower Alan’s mantra is “healthy soil = healthy fruit” – and we think that shows in the purity of our Kiwano. If you’d like to see where it all happens, check out our video here.
Could the Kiwano be the next big thing in post-workout nutrition?
The nutritional jury is unanimous that there’s nothing better for us than real food. But we think you should be the judge. Next time you hit the gym/park or pool, try eating a Kiwano afterwards and see whether its low cal, hydrating, nutrient-packed powers are the real food gap filler you’ve been searching for.person
