Zesty Life Xmas Energy Balls

Hittin’ the backcountry takes balls

If you’re planning a long day in the elements, it’s critical to properly fuel your body. While carbohydrates are your body’s preferred source of quick fuel, protein is equally important for energy and muscle conservation and repair.

From carbohydrate-rich dates to nut and seed plant-based proteins, these Zesty Energy Balls are packed with whole food goodness to keep you on the uptrack. They’re extremely easy to prepare and don’t have the added junk that’s in most store-bought bars. These balls are raw, vegan, gluten-free AND Tasty!

Protein intake for endurance athletes

How much protein and when depends on the duration of your activity – protein isn’t going to make you perform better instantly, but if you went for a six-hour ski and didn’t have any protein during that time, you’d likely start breaking down muscle tissue because when carbohydrate stores are used up, fat stores cannot be utilized quickly enough to supply energy and muscle proteins are used instead. Thus, you need to ingest protein every three hours.

Taking your date into the backcountry

If you need stamina that’ll last all the way to the overnight hut 😉 dates are where it’s at! Dates are almost completely made of glucose, a simple carbohydrate that is easily burned by the muscles as fuel. In fact, dates have the highest glucose-to-volume ratio of any fruit, and so they make the perfect carbohydrate base for these Zesty Protein Balls!

Nutritional Highlights

Dates – Easily digested, dates are full of minerals and vitamins such as mood-boosting and blood vessel supporting B6, tissue-forming manganese, organ and tissue supporting copper, recovery-accelerating magnesium and cardiovascular boosting B3.

Coconut Oil – Loaded with natural pH feeding electrolytes, immunity and energy enhancing lauric acid and  fat burning MCTs.

Sunflower Seeds – High in free-radical fighting Vitmain E, Digestion-aiding fibre

Flax Seeds – Contain a large amount of recovery-enhancing manganese, inflammation-reducing Omega-3 and energy-boosting Magnesium.

Walnuts – Full of healthy fat, Walnuts have Bone-strengthening ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid), blood flow improving amino acids, disease-fighting Vitamin-E and free-radical fighting manganese and copper.

Almond Butter – Full of muscle-repairing protein, energy-boosting Riboflavin and Vitamin B2, free radical fighting antioxidants and blood sugar and blood pressure stabilizing magnesium.

Hemp Hearts – Packed with brain-boosting Omega-3’s, muscle-repairing protein, anemia-fighting iron, immunity-boosting zinc, recovery-accelerating magnesium and free-radical fighting Vitmain E.

Pumpkin Seeds – Full of anemia-fighting iron, immunity-boosting zinc, recovery-accelerating magnesium and mood-boosting tryptophan.

Black Sesame Seeds – Rich with skin-enhancing zinc, heart-healthy magnesium, anemia-fighting iron and cholesterol-lowering and cancer-fighting phytosterols.

Cinnamon – Cinnamon is known to promote heart health and eyesight through beneficial antioxidants, it’s been found to kill E. coli and many other bacteria, and its anti-inflammatory compounds help relieve pain and stiffness of muscles and joints due to arthritis —or a day of killer skiing!

Nutmeg – Nutmeg contains tissue-forming manganese, organ and tissue supporting copper, recovery-accelerating magnesium and disease-preventing phytochemicals.

Cardamom – As a member of the ginger family, cardamom is one of the richest sources of cineole, a potent antiseptic for sore throats and respiratory conditions. Cardamom has high levels of skin-improving vitamins A, B, and C and free-radical fighting antioxidants.

Cloves – Full of free-radical fighting antioxidants, tissue-forming manganese and inflammation-reducing Omega-3. And umm… a great aphrodisiac too!

Ginger – Ginger is among the healthiest and zestiest spices on the planet. A natural anti-inflammatory, it may reduce nausea, help with digestion, fight cancer and boost the immune system. For athletes, ginger can open up your airways, assist in weight-loss, improve circulation and strengthen your immune system.

Pink Himalayan Salt – Containing at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form, the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt range from Regulating the water content throughout your body and promoting healthy pH balance in your cells to preventing muscle cramping and aiding in proper metabolism functioning.