Happy March, but more importantly Happy Women’s History Month! The FITAID community is filled with fierce, independent, strong women, and we celebrate them not only this month but every month and every day. From our internal employees to our female ambassadors and athletes, FITAID would not be the same without them. 

History

If you didn't know, Women’s History Month started off as International Women’s Day in 1911. In 1978, the school district of Sonoma, California celebrated the first ever Women’s History Week. This week was centered around March 8th, International Women’s Day. In Febuary 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th, 1980, Women’s History Week. The proclamation stated: 

"From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” 

In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned a bill to turn Women’s History Week into Women’s History Month. Congress passed the Pub. Law 100-9 which made March of 1987 the first official Women’s History Month and declared March of every year moving forward to be designated as Women's History Month. 

FITAID Women

Be sure to check out all of our great female athletes and ambassadors who we are honored to work with day in and day out. Stay up to date with everything they have going on by following them on Instagram! 

Alexis Johnson - alexis_mathlete

Ashley Kidd - ashleykiddsurf

Brianna Cope - briannacope

Cassidy Lance-McWherter - cassidy_lancemcwherter

Emily Bridgers - emilybridgers

Emma Lawson - emma.lawson_5

Hunter Elam - hunterelam

Jackie Perez - jackie585

Kelsey Kiel - kelskiel 

Laura Horvath - laurahorvaht

Meagan Martin - meaganmartin89

Sara Sigmundsdottir - sarasigmunds

Zoe Szczepanek - zoeszcz

Happy March, but more importantly Happy Women’s History Month! The FITAID community is filled with fierce, independent, strong women, and we celebrate them not only this month but every month and every day. From our internal employees to our female ambassadors and athletes, FITAID would not be the same without them.  History If you didn’t […]

You know we've got your back when it comes to drinks that serve the purpose of being functional AND delicious, now let’s take the same approach to your dinner table. Here are some of our favorite simple and nutritious recipes for those busy weeknights when you’re looking to fuel your body without spending too much time in the kitchen. 

 

Paleo Strawberry Avocado Salad: This delicious keto friendly salad pairs nicely with an ice cold FITAID Strawberry Lemonade. 

Ingredients: 

Dressing: 

Check out other recipes and how to put this beautiful salad together here. 

Spicy Thai Chicken Zoodles: Try combining this with an ice cold LIFEAID Thrive for a refreshing touch of sweet heat.  

Ingredients: 

Dressing

Salad 

Instructions: 

  1. Make the dressing in a large bowl by combining the sunflower seed butter, sriracha, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Whisk well to blend a thick sauce. Ta-dah!
  2. Now go grab your veggies and leftover cooked chicken from the fridge. Get your vegetable spiralizer and make your zoodles.
  3. Finish dicing and chopping your other veggies and herbs.
  4. Dump the raw zoodles into the bowl of dressing and add the julienned carrots and chicken. Toss well to combine.
  5. If you’re feeling fancy, transfer the salad to a clean bowl and top with sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, and toasted sesame seeds. Eat immediately.

Head to nom nom paleo for this recipe and several other simple and quick dinner recipes. 

Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet: Our favorite pairing with this comforting meal is an ice cold IMMUNITYAID. The flavorful orange boost is a perfect sweet treat without the guilt. 

Ingredients: 

If you want to know why you should use a cast iron skillet instead of a regular pan and want to see the step by step directions, check out Primavera Kitchen

Smoked Ribs: A protein packed favorite that goes down easy with a chilled PARTYAID. 

Now this is a fan favorite. We all love a good bbq smothered rack of ribs. However, for the best smoked ribs, check out Traeger’s advice on the perfect way to make these ribs. It’s all about the 3-2-1 method. 

Enjoy these simple recipes and let us know what you think! Tag us on Instagram with your favorite weeknight meals @FITAID 

You know we’ve got your back when it comes to drinks that serve the purpose of being functional AND delicious, now let’s take the same approach to your dinner table. Here are some of our favorite simple and nutritious recipes for those busy weeknights when you’re looking to fuel your body without spending too much […]

What is our secret to success? What do all winning teams and industry-dominating companies have in common? A strong set of shared values that each member of the team upholds day in and day out. The LIFEAID Team is proud to stand by our core values. We’re excited to share them with you! 

  1. Create the most fun, healthy, holistic & fulfilling work environment in Santa Cruz (we think we’ve got this one down. Just a quick walk to the beach to get into that Flow state)
  2. Grow deliberately, sustainably & consistently; create long term value for our customers & stakeholders (all of you & all of us)
  3. Be curious, ask questions, communicate & adopt a growth mindset (always ask questions, approach new situations with open arms and an open mind)
  4. Everyone is an owner, approach your work as such (it really takes teamwork to make the dream work!)
  5. Work hard, Play hard; have fun doing both (the exact reasoning for FOCUSAID & PARTYAID) 
  6. Create raving fans- of our team members, customers, suppliers & community (check, check, and check)
  7. Be solutions oriented, not problem focused (obstacles are really challenging opportunities for growth!)
  8. Do more with less (think Macgyver here, yes the Tv show from the 80’s)
  9. Strive for continuous improvement instead of perfection (everyday is a new opportunity to level up your game)
  10. Always play the long game (all great things take time, energy, love, blood, sweat, tears)

What are your core values? Crack open a can of FOCUSAID, tap into that flow state and start crafting your list.

Take a look and find out what and who LIFEAID is for! >  https://youtu.be/P9OJImhdUe8

What is our secret to success? What do all winning teams and industry-dominating companies have in common? A strong set of shared values that each member of the team upholds day in and day out. The LIFEAID Team is proud to stand by our core values. We’re excited to share them with you!  Create the […]

Just like you, we like to make things as easy as possible because we are subscribers too! This is at the core of how we've formulated our products, taking the guesswork out of blending the perfect combination of vitamins and nutrients to help you live your best life. We wanted to share this helpful reminder on how easy it is to swap products and modify your LIFEAID subscription.

Please click on the My Account button in the upper right-hand corner of our main page. Once logged in, you'll be able to edit your address, credit card number, frequency of deliveries and even select a different product to be sent for your next shipment.

To make changes to your subscription click "My Subscribe and Save"

If you'd like a shipment sent right away, you can click the "Ship now" button. If you select the "Ship now" button, please be aware that this will move your next ship date to 30 days from the date of clicking that button. If you click "Skip Next Delivery" you can skip the next month's delivery. If you click "Pause My Deliveries," you can choose to push the next order out for up to 4 months. Clicking "Edit" will allow you to Modify the products in your subscription. Click "Modify Delivery" to cancel your subscription.

To cancel the subscription, click "Cancel My Subscription."

Check out the images below for a more detailed walk through! Of course if you ever have any questions on your subscription our Customer Success Team is happy to help! 

Just like you, we like to make things as easy as possible because we are subscribers too! This is at the core of how we’ve formulated our products, taking the guesswork out of blending the perfect combination of vitamins and nutrients to help you live your best life. We wanted to share this helpful reminder […]

Most people associate caffeine with coffee and fewer people than you might think know that caffeine is also in tea. Caffeine is actually present in the beans, fruits and leaves of more than 60 plants around the world – one of the most popular being green tea! Why does this matter? And what are the facts about caffeine made from green tea? Let’s start at the beginning…

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a naturally-occurring stimulant that works on the nervous system. It boosts alertness and fights fatigue by blocking the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel tired as it builds up over the course of the day.

It is commonly consumed in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and as a dietary supplement tablet.

Caffeine in Green Tea vs Caffeine in Coffee and Other Beverages

How much caffeine is actually in your drink?!

The amount of caffeine in a 230ml (8oz) cup of coffee is 95mg.

The amount of caffeine in black tea ranges from 25 to 110mg.

Soft drinks (like cola) contain between 23 and 37 mg while energy drinks contain 72 to 80mg.

Although the amount can vary according to the tea plant variety, growing conditions and the production process, generally a 230ml (8oz) cup of green tea is around 35mg. It can vary between 30 and 50mg.

The variation arises from numerous factors:

Is the Caffeine in Green Tea Better?

In recent years, green tea has gained popularity as a health drink. Research has linked green tea with benefits such as:

Scientifically, there is no difference in the type of caffeine in green tea but there is an element in green tea that might lead to the conclusion that green tea caffeine is better than caffeine in other drinks.

Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that works in synergy with caffeine. This makes the “buzz” you get from green different and milder. Working synergistically, caffeine and L-theanine have demonstrated an improvement in focus and alertness.

You can assume green tea is a safe source of caffeine. The safe limit for an average adult is 400mg per day so you should be able to drink 4 x 8oz servings of green tea each day without side effects.

Try out FOCUSAID, which contains 100mg of clean caffeine from green tea! 

Most people associate caffeine with coffee and fewer people than you might think know that caffeine is also in tea. Caffeine is actually present in the beans, fruits and leaves of more than 60 plants around the world – one of the most popular being green tea! Why does this matter? And what are the […]

If you have had the chance to pick up any of our delicious products from our website, you have figured out 2 things.

  1. We’re passionate about providing the cleanest, tastiest, way for you to enjoy your vitamins!
  2. We’re obsessed with Customer Service. Our Customer Success Team here at LIFEAID is devoted to ensuring you have the best experience with our products, and is available to assist with anything you need.

Our “CST” put their heads together to craft this Mission Statement to share our values and our commitment to your success on your journey with LIFEAID. We’re pleased to share it with you here.

As a Customer Success Specialist I strive to continuously enrich and refine the relationships with our customers. I personalize each interaction keeping the customers best interests in mind. Thereby creating a defining moment in the day of each individual.

So now our question to you is this: 

Is there anything we can do to make your day a little better? As always we are only a dm, text, email, phone call or chat message away. We look forward to helping you make shopping LIFEAID the best experience we can.

If you ever need ANYTHING LIFEAID related, follow this link to find out the ways in which you can get in touch with our Customer Success Team - https://www.lifeaidbevco.com/contact/

If you have had the chance to pick up any of our delicious products from our website, you have figured out 2 things. We’re passionate about providing the cleanest, tastiest, way for you to enjoy your vitamins! We’re obsessed with Customer Service. Our Customer Success Team here at LIFEAID is devoted to ensuring you have […]

What is the history behind yerba mate? What is it? Where does it come from? Well…yerba mate has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the 16th century when it was consumed by the indigenous Guarani people in Paraguay.  Since that time, word of its benefits has spread across the world resulting in it quickly becoming a delicious herbal drink consumed worldwide.  While still mainly cultivated in South America, yerba mate can now be found in herbal and nutrition stores globally and people are digging it!

So what makes yerba mate so popular?  A lot.

For starters, yerba mate contains caffeine which everyone loves!  If you were to consume yerba mate by brewing a tea, 1 cup would contain about 85 grams of caffeine.  This is awesome as   caffeine is one of the most effective ergogenic aids we know of and can improve health and fitness through a variety of factors including;

Second, yerba mate contains a ton of compounds known as “polyphenols”.  Polyphenols are a large group of various antioxidants which are naturally found in some of our food.  Together, have been found to offer an array of health benefits as diets that contain high amounts of polyphenols may;

In fact, yerba mate has been found to be a more powerful antioxidant than the superfood green tea!

Third, yerba mate has been found to help individuals achieve or maintain a healthy weight.  This is accomplished through several different mechanisms.  For example, some studies have shown yerba mate increases the use of stored fat for fuel.  This means fewer cravings, higher levels of energy, improved exercise performance, and less discomfort when in a caloric deficit.  Better yet, yerba mate might be one of the very fat compounds which actually targets belly fat!

The fourth reason yerba mate is a true superfood is that it may be able to mitigate the risk of several chronic diseases.  One of those diseases is diabetes which is, unfortunately, seeing a disturbing uptrend in society.  It is believed to be able to lower blood sugar levels naturally as well as help maintain proper levels.  

South Americans have known about the miracles of this herbal tea for hundreds of years and its far-reaching benefits have finally reached the shores of the USA.  Americans are always looking for that special miracle pill or some new drug being produced by big pharma.  In reality, we should be looking at what earth has provided us and yerba mate could very well be the true miracle drug you’ve been looking for.

What is the history behind yerba mate? What is it? Where does it come from? Well…yerba mate has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the 16th century when it was consumed by the indigenous Guarani people in Paraguay.  Since that time, word of its benefits has spread across the world resulting in […]

When most people hear the term “nootropics”, their first thought is “new what?”  In a nutshell, nootropics are supplements for your brain.  These are a family of compounds that reportedly are able to improve cognition, brain function, attention, creativity, memory, and executive function.  Basically the movie Limitless but in real life.

As a whole, nootropics contain a huge list of different compounds and include the world's favorite drug; we’re talking about caffeine of course.  When taken properly, caffeine can actually improve mental function and cognitive performance.  In fact, caffeine has been found to actually improve brain function in scientific research.  However, it should be noted that more is not necessarily better and that lower doses (100-200mg) seem to produce better cognition results than high doses (>300mg).

L-theanine is another very popular nootropic that is often consumed alongside caffeine.  It can be consumed by itself but most people will get theirs from drinking green tea as it’s the active ingredient.  The reason L-theanine is often consumed with caffeine is that it’s actually not a stimulant but rather enhances brain function by increasing the number of alpha waves.  These are responsible for sustaining clarity and focus making it a great choice to get some work done without the jitters.  However, if you do want that little “pick me up”, caffeine is the compound of choice.  Still, this combination allows an individual to decide what levels of each they want.

Perhaps the most popular supplement on the market for improving performance is creatine.  Most people are aware of its effects in the gym but new research is showing that creatine can also improve performance in the workplace or classroom.  The reason being is that while the vast majority of creatine is used by your muscles (around 95%), the remaining is required to actually fuel proper function of your brain!  Studies have shown that with supplementation, creatine can actually improve reasoning and cognition!  To be clear, your response creatine will depend on two variables;

  1. Vegans and vegetarians tend to see greater improvements due to their natural creatine stores being naturally lower due to their diet (creatine is primarily found in red meat or fish).
  2. Stress levels.  Again, studies have shown that individuals who are highly stressed tend to see greater improvements in cognition.

Various mushrooms, such as lion’s mane and cordyceps, are reported to enhance various facets of brain function.  For example, a lion's mane may be able to not only improve brain function but also act as a neuroprotector.  In other words, it can help prevent any sort of mental decline as we age.

Alpha GPC, also known as L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, is known as a cholinergic nootropic as it helps to deliver a surplus of choline to the brain.  The multiple benefits of Alpha GPC are reported by thousands of user reports, as well as actual research studies.  For example, it has shown to reverse memory loss in patients with Alzheimer's and other cerebral diseases.  Still, many healthy users report a plethora of benefits including:

Numerous B-Vitamins are also essential for proper brain function and can also directly improve cognitive function.  Benefits include:

This is a non-exhaustive list of the numerous nootropics that can help your brain function better.  More importantly, these are a safer and more natural form of energy than what is usually found in “energy drinks”.  Energy drinks will often produce a short-lived boost in “energy” which is followed by a crash or even health risks.  If you are serious about health and optimizing your brain health and cognitive function, nootropics are definitely the path to explore.  These ingredients are natural and work to improve brain function organically, the way the brain is supposed to work.

When most people hear the term “nootropics”, their first thought is “new what?”  In a nutshell, nootropics are supplements for your brain.  These are a family of compounds that reportedly are able to improve cognition, brain function, attention, creativity, memory, and executive function.  Basically the movie Limitless but in real life. As a whole, nootropics […]

Looking to start your yoga journey? Here is all you need to know about yoga, its health benefits, types, poses, and how exactly to get started! 

Yoga has been a popular practice since ancient times, tracing back to over thousands of years ago. Many people practice yoga to achieve its many benefits including staying healthy both mentally and physically. Not to forget, it has also been an incredible fitness trend lately. If you are looking to hop on the trend, read on to discover all you need to know about the journey you are about to take.

What is Yoga?

While many people around the world practice yoga, it often holds a different meaning for different people. For instance, some people turned into yogis to work out and stay physically fit and healthy. On the other hand, it goes beyond physical health for others who believe that yoga takes them into a spiritual world. Not to forget, it is both for many others.

Yoga tends to date back to around 2700 BC, while the term is also seen in one of the oldest Indian scripts called the Vedas. It arrived in America through Indian teachers like Indra Devi and Paramahansa Yogananda in the early 1900s.

Benefits of Yoga

There are various physical and mental benefits associated with yoga, for people of all ages. It can make you feel better on all spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical levels if you only practice it for a few days.

A few benefits of yoga include:

Types of Yoga and Poses

There are many different styles and types of yoga. A few of these are:

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga simply refers to the physical yoga rather than the meditation and breathing part of it. However, most Hatha Yoga poses are a combination of physical postures and movements as well as breathing exercises. Some easy Hatha Yoga poses for beginners are:

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga yoga demands physical strength as it follows a series of progressive poses that flow into one another. It is best that beginners practice this type of yoga with a trainer. Some Ashtanga poses are:

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a type of yoga that focuses on stretching connective tissues for improved body flexibility. It especially deals with connective tissues around the knees, spine, pelvis, and sacrum. Here are some Yin Yoga poses:

Tips for Getting Started on the Mat

Beginning a yoga practice may feel overwhelming, scary, and exciting at the same time. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start your yoga journey:

Starting off with yoga is a good way of beginning your health journey. It has numerous benefits for both the mind and body. Make sure you refer to our tips for getting started on the mat and let us know what you are looking for in yoga.

Have a favorite yoga pose or practice? Tag us on Instagram! @fitaid 

Looking to start your yoga journey? Here is all you need to know about yoga, its health benefits, types, poses, and how exactly to get started!  Yoga has been a popular practice since ancient times, tracing back to over thousands of years ago. Many people practice yoga to achieve its many benefits including staying healthy […]

What came first? You stopped taking care of your brain because you forgot?  OR, you forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain?  You likely forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain, if you ever did in the first place! Since it sits up in our skull in pure blackness, the only time we ever think about our cerebellum is when we have a headache and that’s not good! Case in point, when was the last time you’ve ever heard someone talk about nutrition for your brain?! Why does your brain need vitamins? And…which vitamins are essential for your brain?

Well, we’re going to talk about brain health today as it is literally the main frame of our entire body. If our brain doesn’t function at optimal levels, every part of our body will suffer! Therefore, we’re going to lay out the most important vitamins you need to keep your brain sharp.  Maintaining a healthy brain can improve memory, improve cognition, and mitigate any type of decline normally seen with age.  

Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene

The reason why we always see vitamin A & beta-carotene together is because beta-carotene is the primary precursor to vitamin A; in other words, beta-carotene produces vitamin A.  Regardless, these compounds have been found to act as neuroprotectors as we age and prevent cognitive decline.  Further, long-term supplementation has been found to sustain brain function past the age of 65 in men.  While studies aren’t conclusive about vitamin A improving brain function, if we are just as sharp as we are now when we are 70 years old, we’ll take that. However, the key to using vitamin A to maintain cognition levels is to make it a regular part of your diet for the long-term.  Studies show that this can be done either through your diet or supplementation.

The 8 B Vitamins

While there are a total of 8 B vitamins, all of them play a role in improving brain health.  In fact, some studies have even suggested that a B vitamin complex can be more beneficial than an isolated B vitamin.  Regardless, these powerful vitamins are absolutely essential to optimize your health.  One systematic review (the highest level of authority in scientific studies) found that taking B vitamins improved cognition, memory, and attention.

Vitamin C

Mmmmm….vitamin C.  Maybe the tastiest vitamin there is!  And that’s great because it’s essential to maintain brain health!  Studies have shown that vitamin C can;

Basically, eat your oranges if you want a healthy brain!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is best known for its properties as an antioxidant.  As many diseases that result in lowering cognition are caused by free radicals, vitamin E’s function as scavenging these free radicals can play a big role in keeping these conditions at bay.  In fact, lower levels of various vitamin E compounds (there are eight total) were found to be associated with cognitive decline in scientific research.  

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Technically not a “vitamin”, but your diet should contain Omega 3’s for a slew of reasons.  It just so happens that maintaining a healthy brain is one of them.  Omega 3 can do this through several mechanisms.  First, eating an adequate amount can help reduce inflammation thus improving brain health.  Secondly, Omega 3 can prevent excessive stress to the brain by keeping your blood pressure in check while also maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol.

 If you haven’t been thinking about the health of your brain, you need to start doing so now.  Not getting these brain vitamins in adequate amounts could be putting your brain health and mental capacity at risk. Losing cognition is not a fun experience and in reality, it can have a drastic effect on our quality of life and even relationships.  What makes this even more troublesome is that brain health is actually very simple!  Being sure to consume the vitamins that are essential for your brain listed above is literally all it takes. To ensure you maintain your Einstein-esqe levels of intelligence, check areas of your diet which could use some tweaking or opt for a quality vitamin.  (could link a product here)  Preferably you can get the bulk from your food but adding some supplements can ensure that you truly get what you need. Check out the ingredients in our products, too, we bundled them all together in a can for you 😉 

What came first? You stopped taking care of your brain because you forgot?  OR, you forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain?  You likely forgot because you stopped taking care of your brain, if you ever did in the first place! Since it sits up in our skull in pure blackness, the only […]