ENERGYBits Review and Giveaway!

Introduction

One aspect of running that I find particularly interesting relates to nutrition, particularly because I have a very sensitive GI  and do most of my runs in a fasted state. And by fasted, I mean no food in my body usually for 12+ hours.

I have been following EnergyBits on Twitter for quite some time, and somewhere during our communication EnergyBits reached out to me (I think a few weeks before Thanksgiving) and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their product. Algae before or after a run? Meh, why not.

What They Say

I am not going to even pretend to masquerade as an expert on nutrition, generally speaking, let alone nutrition and fitness! So, this is a brief synopsis of what EnergyBits has to say about their product:

ENERGYbits® algae tabs are your answer for raw energy and health. All naturally too. With just one calorie per tab, ENERGYbits® will stop your cravings, slay your hunger and give you a steady stream of energy all day or night. They may even make you want to leap over tall buildings in a single bound, but we think that’s best left to the guys in the red capes and blue tights.  Remarkably, our ENERGYbits® have just one ingredient, spirulina algae which is a super hero in the world of super foods. Spirulina’s nutritional pedigree is so impressive that The World Bank, NASA and Olympic athletes have all declared spirulina to be the most nutritious food in the entire world. Why? Well for starters, it effortlessly and naturally boosts your energy like an energy drink, energy bar or coffee  but without the downside of chemicals, caffeine, calories or sugar and gram per gram, there is no denser source of nutrition than spirulina algae. Research done by NASA showed that that 1 kg of spirulina had the nutritional  equivalent of 1000 kg of fruits and vegetables.  That's a  lot of groceries! But if an endorsement by NASA isn’t enough to convince you of the health benefits you’ll get from our ENERGYbits® and spirulina, consider that many International Health Organizations including the United Nations have hailed spirulina as one of the “Greatest Superfoods on Earth.” Don’t worry if you haven’t heard about this super food yet. You will. It may be virtually unknown in America but for the last 50 years, millions worldwide have taken it to improve their energy. Now it’s your turn.   

Best used for: 

▪   Increasing Energy
▪   Increasing Endurance
▪   Increasing Mental Vitality
▪   High Protein Snack
▪   Curbing Hunger
▪   Meal Replacement
▪   Balancing Blood Sugar
▪   Lowering Blood Pressure
▪   Reducing Fatigue 

How to take them:
For best results, swallow at least 30 ENERGYbits® (or more) before any workout, run, game or intense physical or mental activity. They will improve your energy and endurance. Also take whenever you are tired, hungry or don't have time to eat or cook. They are a terrific high protein, low calorie snack or meal on the go.  A favorite of Olympic athletes.Swallow with beverage (or chew them as you would a handful of nuts). Remember, they're "bits" of food (not pills).

Sounds good, right?

Here’s a comparison of some of the other products you might be using….

My Experience:

In the sample that was provided, and which I will be giving away (below!), there was enough to power me through about 7-9 runs. Not too shabby, actually.

As I mentioned, I usually run in a fasted state, and that’s not good to do all the time. I distinctly remember after my first run using EnergyBits early in the morning, “Huh… I don’t feel as hungry as I usually do post-run.” Cool.

And then I didn’t really feel that hungry an hour after my run. I felt content, which is strange because that “content” feeling rarely happens. So then I thought, “I wonder how I will feel on my long run being #Poweredbybits.”

(Note: If I start dialoguing with myself, then I’m borrowing the literary style of Freud and others. Hehe.)

As I’ve mentioned above, I have a very sensitive GI, which means that I used to do most of my long runs in a fasted state, too. This probably explains one of the main reasons why I dread long runs- I usually crash near the end due to lack of energy (especially on hot days). After all, running 15+ miles when my last meal was over 12 hours ago just sounds like a horrible experience. And usually it is.

I decided to take 20 bits (swallowed them in groups of five or so) about 15 minutes before 1 15 mile run. I’ll usually bring Tailwind with me to start sipping after 30 minutes to get some calories in my system, but I decided to just try EnergyBits for this run. What happened?

Nothing super specific happened. I just felt content- as if I had a constant “satisfied” feeling in terms of my energy level and hunger.

WAIT. WHAT? I almost always crash near the end of a long run. Not this time. Even stranger is the fact that I did not feel the need to stuff my face with food post-run. SWEET!

Placebo effect?

I tried it again on a faster-paced 13 mile run the next weekend. Same result!

Placebo effect?

Honestly, I don’t know if it’s the placebo effect or not. For the 7-9 runs that I used Energybits, I constantly felt that “sustained” feeling. Equally as important: I never “crashed” during a run. I’m not really sure what more you can ask for in a fuel source!

I also like to put it in my morning or afternoon yogurt. Once you get used to the taste (you can also swallow it, which is what I do pre-run), it's nice to add to meals, too!

Conclusion:

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I am no nutrition expert and I am not going to pretend to be a nutrition expert, though I am definitely going to learn more about it (!). I have a very sensitive GI, so I am particular about what I will and will not use for fuel. Tailwind has worked for me during runs, and I introduced it to the running team that I am on (Team Wicked Bonkproof). Sometimes, though, we need to make sure we also fuel right before and after a run, and I think this is where EnergyBits comes into play. While there is always a little bit of the placebo effect when trying nutritional products to review, there seems to be some solid nutritional evidence concerning the efficacy of algae and fueling for sports. Besides, what you pay for various multivitamins and other dietary supplements is packed into 1 tab of EnergyBits. Over the long haul, I would guess it will save you quite a bit of money.

I believe in EnergyBits, and I will be buying a pack of it to use as a constant for my running nutrition needs.

I want you to have a chance to sample EnergyBits, so here are a few things that we can do for you:

1. ENERGYbits are only available at ENERGYbits.com, and Jonathan (their Brand Manager) has shared with me that he'd be happy to connect anyone with a current ambassador to share a discount on a bag of bits - you can email him at jlevitt@energybits.com
2. I am doing a giveaway for a sample pack below!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided a sample of ENERGYbits free of charge for review.  All opinions are my own, and my opinions should not be taken for medical or nutritional advice. The review is based on my experience, and your mileage may vary!