Benefits
Our smoothies and foods are designed to provide the body with vital nutrients.
They are meant to increase the body’s functional abilities for a period of several hours, while protecting the body from potentially harmful food compounds:
- They are gluten free, soy free, egg free, lactose-, peanuts free.
- They contain natural, slow-digesting carbohydrates that do not excessively elevate blood sugar level, thus protecting the body from blood sugar spikes and subsequent energy crash.
- They contain plenty of dietary fiber from several sources, which provides for improved intestinal and immune health, as well as additional delay of food absorption.
- They contain high-quality proteins in amounts, appropriate for the average individual.
- They stand lower in calories, when compared to their conventional counterparts.
Why Gluten Free and Hypoallergenic?
It is estimated that nowadays 1 out of 10 individuals suffer from some form of gluten intolerance.
Additionally, many individuals suffer from an autoimmune disease called ‘Celiac disease’. These individuals are extremely sensitive to foods, containing gluten.
These foods can cause severe reactions, and in rare occasions could even be lethal.
It is our observation that even those, who do not need to be on a gluten free diet can benefit from avoiding gluten-containing foods.
Finally, almost everyone nowadays has some type of food allergy. This is why we decided to remove all major food allergens from the foods we bake at the Viitals Bakery & Café.
Why is it important for the carbohydrates to be slow-digesting?
Even in healthy individuals fast-digesting, refined carbohydrates will cause sudden climb of the blood sugar levels, which in its turn causes sudden release high amounts of the hormone insulin.
Insulin quickly removes the sugar from the blood stream, causing low energy levels, sleepiness, fatigue.
Insulin also transports extra sugars in the fat cells, causing increase in the amount of fat tissue.
Prevents the fat cells from giving up their fats to be used by the body for energy, thus compromising any fat loss efforts.
On the contrary, slow-digesting carbohydrates are released in the blood stream slowly over a period of time, thus:
- sparing the body from the sudden release of the hormone insulin and its negative effects on the body.
- providing steady energy levels, fueling the body and the brain with calories for a prolonged period of time.
Their macro nutrient ratios (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) are consistent with the ratios, frequently recommended by dietitians and nutritionists.
We make foods that are completely balanced nutritionally.
Why do I need more dietary fiber?
It is said that 70% of our immune system is in our digestive tract. Good digestive tract health is achieved by providing the body with healthy amounts of dietary fiber in each meal.
Fiber is necessary for regularity of bowel movements and for providing food for the friendly bacteria, like Acidophilus, which are essential for our immune system health.
Why is protein important?
Here are the facts:
There are three macro nutrients:
- carbohydrates
- proteins
- fats
Out of all three, only proteins can not be stored in the body. They have to be provided through food every several hours.
Our bodies are composed of protein. Protein is such an important part of our bodies that it pays to take it seriously. We need the right amount and the correct kinds of protein to function at our best.
The body’s cells die and are replaced with new ones every day, every minute, every second. In order to properly re-build our bodies we constantly need protein. All parts of the body contain structural protein even our bones, skin and brain. Enzymes are proteins, too, and our body can not function without them.
If we don’t provide protein with our foods, the body will take the protein it needs from existing cells. This process is called catabolism. In other words we digest our own proteins to provide enough amino acids (proteins) for the body to continue to function properly. Catabolism is cannibalism of our own tissues.
That is why it is imperative that we provide quality proteins with each meal several times a day (Remember, we can not store protein for later use)! If we don’t, we use up our own resources!
Many ‘food’ nowadays are devoid of protein. Most gluten free options on the market today are almost or entirely free of protein. They do not provide the necessary nutrients our body needs. In fact they put the body in serious nutritional imbalance!
All of the following are sources of high quality protein: meat, dairy, eggs, fish. And most of us have them daily.
There are also vegetable sources of complete protein. These include quinoa and hemp.
How are the Viitals foods low in calories?
Most traditional baked goods contain very high amounts of fats and carbohydrates. In addition, a large part of the carbohydrates come from refined sugars.
It is not a secret that for example a regular large muffin could reach 900 calories!
In contrast, all Viitals muffins contain less than 300 calories, and this is with the added high-quality proteins, which account for some of these calories!
Another example: a conventional ”protein-free“ cookie usually has 350 calories.
Ours are almost half that amount with the protein!
