We got this question from Tracey this past Sunday:
"I have a question: I love the Thorne Research Vega Lite - I have NEVER stopped using it every morning ever since my first cleanse.
My question is this: Why does it have so much sodium? I have shared this with a few friends and as soon as the look at the sodium they freak! I am fine, but I do not know what to say.
Thank you in advance for your help!"
Answer from the PEERtrainer "Nutrition Supercenter":
The reason the Vegalite has so much sodium is because of the pea protein. Pea protein is naturally high in sodium, so that's why there are 400 mg per serving. The chocolate has some sodium chloride (NaCl, table salt) in it, but is only 20 mg higher in sodium than the vanilla--I think the NaCl is probably just a part of the chocolate flavor they add, but it adds only a minimal amount more.
Unfortunately, there's not really such a thing as low-sodium pea protein. Still, if the rest of their diet is clean (as it should be on the cleanse!), then getting 800 mg of sodium per day isn't an issue, and they'll still have another 700 mg of 'discretionary' sodium before hitting the AHA's suggested max of 1,500 mg.
The vast majority of added sodium in the average person's diet comes from processed foods like pasta, pizza, cold cuts, cheese soups and fast foods. And your body does need sodium to function properly to transmit nerve impulses and maintain fluid levels.
What is interesting about Tracey's comment that she never stopped using the Thorne Shakes since doing her first cleanse.
This is an observation that we see over and over. People do the shakes for the first time, and do them right. Or they switch from soy or whey based formulas and feel much better as a result.
With whey, you need to keep in mind that this is protein that comes from a pregnant female cow. It doesn't matter how grass-fed or all natural it might be- it still comes from a hormonally charged substance that is designed to help GROW a very large animal.
Tracey's behavior pattern is something that we see over and over, it just works for her and many others. And that is really the key because the only thing that matters are the actions we take daily.
The shakes are a thing that help make better action possible and much easier!
We have several different non-why and non-soy shake options in the PEERtrainer Shop, and we also have a 10% coupon code SPRING10 to help you out. Done right, shakes become a VERY cost effective way to start the day:
http://shop.peertrainer.com/shakes
For very active men who want or need to rebuild muscle whey can be an effective tool, and we do sell that in our store through the new Thorne Perfomance Line:
http://shop.peertrainer.com/performance
But from the research that our team and network of experts is seeing out there, the pea/rice and pea/potato combos have plenty of protein so that you really don't ever need the whey, especially women who are already dealing with hormonal balance issues!
The SPRING10 coupon code is also good across the shop:
http://shop.peertrainer.com/
For those of you new to shakes, it can take a couple times to get your own recipe right. Some people like the shakes thick, others prefer less thick which means less fiber.
For those of you who like a nice Chocolate flavor, this recipe has been a very popular one, and keep in mind that you want to work the different flavors to find what YOU like:
http://blog.peertrainer.com/recipes/2012/12/chocolate-decadence-shake-recipe-with-a-super-healthy-twist.html
-Jackie and the PEERtrainer Team
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