Category: Blog

One of the main rules of dieting is to not drink your calories, meaning you should avoid things such as soda and other sugary drinks. But smoothies are a great way to supplement a meal or snack and not sacrifice any nutritional value.

Smoothies also make it easy to pack a lot of nutrients into a tasty little package. I don’t know about you but on a day-to-day basis I don’t eat greens and fruits as much as recommended. Adding them into your daily smoothie is a great way to catch up on anything you might be missing.

In that same vein adding supplements to your smoothie makes it even better! Smoothies are great bases for adding in protein powder, protein packed yogurt or your KBA supplements.

KBA’s Pine Pollen is great for an everyday boost or even a pre and post workout supplement. It boosts energy, vitality and immunity. It also aids in joint pain relief, menopause relief and sexual function.

KBA’s Pine Needle Powder is great to add to a smoothie if you are seeking allergy relief or a boost to your immune system. It’s also a great supplement for hair, skin and eye health.

 

We have great smoothie recipes in our free supplement recipe e-book like the one below. Enjoy!

 

 

Berry Pine-Away Smoothie

SERVES: 4

Prep time       Mix time       Total time

 3 min              2 min            5 minutes

 

Ingredients

• ½ cup frozen blueberries*
• ½ cup frozen strawberries*
• ½ cup frozen blackberries*
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 ½ cup skim milk
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
• 3 teaspoons KBA Pine Pollen or  Pine Needle Powder supplement

 

 

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.
3. Add more milk or water as needed.
4. Pour into glasses and serve.

 

Tips

◊ You can try adding different berries: acai berry, raspberry, gooseberry, elderberry, cranberry, goji berry, or bilberry.

◊ Instead of using skim milk you can try rice, almond, soy, flax, coconut or low-fat yogurt.

 

Paige Peterson

One of the simplest ways to start getting healthy and making better nutritional choices, is having healthy snacks ready to go for the week!

I know when I’m not prepared I usually resort to convenient foods such as chips, cereal or sweets for snacks throughout the day. And even if you focus on making healthy meals, your snack food choices could still set you back.

When it comes to snacks, it’s all about having lower calorie options that still have substance to hold you over until your next meal. This means you need to create snacks with healthy proteins and fats to satisfy your hunger and nutritional needs. But you also need snacks that you’re excited to eat, beyond just keeping fruit and nuts on hand.

It’s important to make snacks that can travel easily and last the week, so that you can grab and go as needed. This means you need to prep your snacks for the week ahead of time, to make your healthy options just as convenient as a bag of chips.

KBA’s Recipe e-book has a handful of snack recipes along with smoothies, drinks and desserts. Giving you a few great snack options whether you’re at home or on the go. And with KBA supplements added to your snack recipes, you are fueling your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs for the week to come!

 

Healthy Protein Balls

 

SERVES: 4

Prep time       Mix time       Total time

  5 min             2 min           7 minutes

 

Ingredients

• ¼ cup oats, steel cut
• ¼ cup raw cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 2 tablespoons flax seed ground (mixed with 4 tablespoons water)
• ¼ cup chia seeds
• ½ cup dates, chopped
• ¼ cup almond nuts
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
• 4 teaspoons KBA Pine Pollen or Pine Needle Powder supplement

 

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients. Stir unt犀利士
   il well combined.
2. Roll into 1 inch round or bite-sized balls. This should make about 12 oatmeal energy balls. Then put an almond nut on top of each ball.
3. Serve and enjoy! Store the balls covered in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for longer.

Tip

You can also put about 1 tsp. of any nut butter on top of each ball for some added protein and flavor!

 

Download our free e-book for more recipes: https://kiknbacassets.com/e-books/

 

Paige Peterson

 

So it’s time for warmer jackets and warmer foods, soups are officially in season!

A classic that most people will enjoy (sick or not) will probably be some variation of chicken noodle or a chicken and vegetable blend. Chicken soup is a great way to get loads of protein and many vegetables in one meal.

It also can be made on a budget while feeding the whole the family. And like many soups that use some type of broth, it’s almost better as left-overs, to allow all the flavors to meld to together.

The recipe below is from our KBA Recipe Book, which is FREE when you purchase any of our supplements. This recipe, like all the ones in our FREE e-book, show you just how easy it is to add any of our powders to many different types of recipes. This will allow you to easily add additional nutritional value to your meals!

For this recipe we suggest using KBA’s Pine Pollen Powder or Pine Needle Powder, depending on what supplement suits your nutritional needs best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken Soup

SERVES: 4 -6

Prep time      Cook time    Total time

10 min            20 min          30 min

Ingredients

• 4-ounces diced chicken breast (skinless,boneless)
• 2 carrots (chopped)
• 2 celery stalks (chopped)
• 2 medium onions (chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon curry (ground)
• ¼ cup basil leaves (minced)
• 1 teaspoon oregano (minced)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 teaspoons KBA Pine Pollen Powder or Pine Needle Powder supplement

 

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat, add carrots, onion, and garlic then cook for 3-5 minutes.
2. Add chicken breast and stalks then cook for about 5 minutes more.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients (except for supplement) and reduce heat to low, cook about 10 minutes covered.
4. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Add Pine Pollen or Pine Needle Powder supplement. Serve and enjoy!

 

Tip

◊ Instead of using chicken, you can try vegetarian ingredients, such as beans, tofu, mushrooms, lentils, or cauliflower!

 

 

 

You can find this recipe and many more from KBA’s FREE Supplement Recipe e-book. Just visit the e-books tab on our website to download!

 

Paige Peterson

Living in Colorado you deal with dry weather pretty much year round, but especially when the temperature drops in the fall and winter. And for someone who has had eczema their whole life, the winter brings flare-ups and overall drier skin. If you’ve ever dealt with eczema you know that it takes a little extra care compared to the rest of your skin. But there are some things you can do throughout the cold winter months to keep your skin from drying out.

Pump up the Moisture:

In my opinion enemy number one during the winter is hot showers and baths. Showers are great, not to mention necessary, but you are cleansing your body from head to toe with usually really warm/hot water and harsh soaps and cleansers. Showers cleanse all the dirt and grim from your body but they also strip away the natural oils which help to keep your skin moisturized.

So my first recommendation is to use baby oil right after your shower, it’s best if you apply the baby oil when your skin is still damp to really lock in moisture. You may need to hang out in your robe for a few minutes before putting on your clothes for the day, but your skin will thank you. I also apply some to my elbows, knees, any visible eczema spots and hands prior to bed every night! If you’re gonna use and trust baby oil to keep your baby’s skin supple and soft then why not use it yourself?

Other products to consider adding to your routine during winter are serums and heavier face moisturizers. Serums can penetrate the skin deeper than your moisturizer and often times contain the highest concentration of active ingredients for your skin. After the serum, add in a moisturizer that will provide needed hydration and works best with your skin type. And if adding new products to your routine isn’t in the budget or you just don’t want to, then do your best to use what you’ve already got more consistently.

Seasonal Product Changes:

Since I have oily skin, my normal facial cleansers are usually pretty harsh and contain salicylic acid and other ingredients to help combat my acne and oil production. But in the winter I’ll only use my harsh cleansers on days when I wear make up and I really need my skin to be clean afterwards. But day-to-day I’ll use a cleanser that is geared more towards skin calming, which still gets the job done, but won’t strip away all the natural oil from my skin.

Your body would also really benefit from a less intense body wash or soap too. Switching to a cleanser geared more toward moisture will really protect and maintain your skin’s moisture over all, even after a hot shower.

And if you wear makeup every day, to work, to school, or just because, try using less powder. In the summer I need all the powder I can get to combat natural oil from coming through. But in the winter months I can get away with a minimal amount of powder and still stay relatively shine free.

Moisturize your skin with food:

Fats, Fats and more healthy fats! This does not mean making butter a main ingredient in your diet, because you still need nutritional value too. Instead be sure to eat more fish, nuts, avocados, and olive oil. All of which will provide you with needed fatty acids and vitamins to help your skin stay hydrated. But you can also eat more sweet potatoes and cucumbers, both of which contain vitamin A, which is great for soothing skin and fighting damage.

And of course there are supplements you can try if you feel your skin still isn’t its normal self. Like KBA’s Radiance, which provides tons of vitamins and minerals your skin will drink up during the dry winter and year round, give it a try today!

 

By: Paige Peterson

Winter is coming (for most of us)! The first thing I want to do when it gets cold is put on my biggest hoodie and have a warm beverage by the fire. I’ll usually stay in that state until I notice the weight gain associated with being so inactive. But this year I have decided to end that cycle and try my best to maintain an active lifestyle even if there is snow on the ground!

Outdoor Activity Options:

Now if you’re brave and bundled up enough to endure the cold there are a ton of activities you can do to stay active. Besides the obvious, skiing and snowboarding, there are quite a few other things you can do that don’t involve going to the top of a mountain. For example, ice skating, which a lot of the time is indoors meaning you can most likely get some hot cocoa to help you stay warm. Ice-skating is a great way to get out of the house, get some exercise and even learn a new skill.

And if the roads won’t allow you to travel much, the snow brings many activities right to your door. Shoveling, while necessary, can also keep you get moving and this helps prepare you for other activities too. Like building a snow man or a snow cave and having a snow ball fight. It’s free and can tire the kids out quickly! You can even find a nearby hill and go sledding! Then you can always end the night by roasting marshmallows at the fireplace or over a fire pit outside—since now you’ve earned it!

Indoor Activity Options:

And if you’re like me then your main goal is to avoid the cold all together! So to start if you have any workout equipment at home, use it! Put on some festive movie or TV show and run or bike while you watch. Also if you have a gym membership that you’re paying for, use it!

Once you’ve gotten sick of staying home or are avoiding working out at all costs, I’m giving you permission to go shopping! Go walk around your local malls and shops, this will keep your feet moving and you may even get ahead of your Christmas shopping for once.

Malls and arcades are greats options for winter activities; you can usually find an indoor mini-golf or laser tag. You may even be able to find a roller rink and finally have an opportunity to bust out your roller blades from the 90’s. Your body will thank you for all the activity, making getting back in shape for summer a bit easier.

Diet for Winter Energy:

Last thing to keep in mind is to eat a diet that will keep you energized to want to stay active, and I don’t just mean eating sugar cookies.

First things first, stay hydrated and consume your recommended amount of water. I know it gets boring but it’s necessary, add some citrus or mint to spice it up if needed.

Second is protein and healthy fats! To be sure you have enough healthy fat in your diet eat nuts, seeds and oils. A couple of easy ways to get enough protein in your diet include eating eggs, Greek yogurt and lean meats like chicken and fish.

And lastly, if you’re still feeling sluggish after beefing up your diet try an all natural energy supplement that can provide needed vitamins and minerals to enhance and maintain your energy even on the coldest of winter days! Try KBA’s Energy supplement to help get you through this season feeling energized all day, everyday! Staying active will help keep your mind off the cold and dread winter a little less, because hibernating is unfortunately not an option!

By Paige Peterson