nutrition Archives - Athletech News https://athletechnews.com/tag/nutrition/ The Homepage of the Fitness & Wellness Industry Thu, 21 Mar 2024 02:38:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://athletechnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ATHLETECH-FAVICON-KNOCKOUT-LRG-48x48.png nutrition Archives - Athletech News https://athletechnews.com/tag/nutrition/ 32 32 177284290 Product of the Week: NFL’s Nick Bosa Swears by the Hurom H400 Juicer. Should You? https://athletechnews.com/product-of-the-week-hurom-h400-juicer-review/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 01:32:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=104154 Hurom’s premium juicer packs a (quiet) punch and cuts down on cleanup. Does it deserve a spot in your wellness routine? All products featured on Athletech News are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission Hurom has been manufacturing juicers since 1974…

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Hurom’s premium juicer packs a (quiet) punch and cuts down on cleanup. Does it deserve a spot in your wellness routine?

Hurom has been manufacturing juicers since 1974 and approaches juicing with a science-first approach. The Hurom H400 Easy Clean Slow Juicer is no exception. It rotates at a speed of 43 revolutions per minute to mimic the motion of a hand squeezing juice and has the brand’s largest volume of any self-feeding hopper yet, which reduces a consumer’s need to chop produce finely.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is affiliated with the brand, and credits juicing with revamping his diet and improving his play on the field.

Athletech News took the Hurom H400 for a spin to see if this juicer is a worthwhile addition to your wellness arsenal.

Pros

As someone who doesn’t usually consume juice, I was worried I would find the product overly sweet, like many grocery brands. However, although it was not pulpy, the juice was noticeably different than store-bought brands. The juicer minimizes the breakdown and oxidation of fruits and vegetables, which retains much of the produce’s nutrients and gives it a more natural taste.  

Even as someone inexperienced in juicing, it was easy to figure out combinations of ingredients that tasted as delicious as drinks one might purchase in a health food store or smoothie store. Adding ingredients with a kick—like lemon, turmeric, or ginger rounded out more standard produce ingredients like celery, kale, apples, and oranges. The ability to make fresh nut milk at home, like almond, oat, or cashew milk, can reduce the number of trips to the grocery store and revamp your daily routine.

credit: Hurom

The Hurom website has an extensive list of recipes that users can explore, ranging from fruit juices to pesto to soup. It only took minutes to get a full cup of juice and was extremely quiet—I barely noticed the motor’s sound. 

Although many juicers have cleanups that are time-intensive, the Hurom H400’s only took around 5-10 minutes. The pieces of the juicer detach and reattach easily. The pulp container is spacious, which allows for fewer disposals while juicing. I was able to produce a full glass of juice (~12 ounces) from filling the chamber with fruits and vegetables. It was also easy to add more produce while the juicer was still running, which was useful when I was still figuring out recipes and my flavor preferences. 

The pulp also comes out in a consistent texture, and Hurom provides recipes for the pulp, including ravioli and baked veggie crackers. For those who have concerns about juicing’s lack of fiber, consuming the pulp is a convenient and healthy way to get back that fiber without waste.  

credit: Hurom

Cons 

Although this is not unique to the Hurom H400, the product requires a significant amount of produce for a serving of juice. For example, one serving of apple and carrot juice requires two large carrots and a large apple. One cup of almond milk requires 1 cup of almonds. For multiple servings of juice, you’ll need to stock up on produce. 

Juicing does require some prep time, as well. I tried to put larger pieces of grapefruit into the H400, and it did not start properly. Cutting produce into smaller pieces is generally necessary to start the machine. However, 2-inch pieces cubes of produce were generally small enough to get the machine working, which was easy in terms of preparation. Otherwise, the juicer could handle dense fruits and vegetables if combined with more watery produce. 

Because the juice is not pasteurized, it can last up to 72 hours depending on the ingredients. For those who want to produce a lot of juice and store it for the week, at-home juicing might not be the best solution. 

For those on a budget, the Hurom H400 retails for $699. Many other premium slow juicers are similarly priced. Some budget offerings retail for as low as $100 but lack Hurom’s advanced masticating technology. The machine is also large (6.6 x 10.3 x 18.5 inches), taking up a nontrivial amount of counter space, which could be a consideration for those who live in smaller apartments. It also weighs around 15 pounds, so storing it away is possible but likely not preferable for many. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Hurom H400 Easy Clean Slow Juicer is a fantastic option for those looking to bring premium juicing to their daily routine with easy cleanup. 

Read more ATN Product Reviews here.

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Weight Loss Drugs Shift Spending to the ‘Wellness Wallet’ https://athletechnews.com/weight-loss-drugs-wellness-wallet/ Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:16:05 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=103699 Cutbacks in unhealthy spending among GLP-1 users are shifting $205 per month to the “wellness wallets” of those consumers The “Wellness Wallet” phenomenon recently sparked by GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy has led to a seismic shift from unhealthy to healthy consumption options for millions of American consumers. A survey by…

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Cutbacks in unhealthy spending among GLP-1 users are shifting $205 per month to the “wellness wallets” of those consumers

The “Wellness Wallet” phenomenon recently sparked by GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy has led to a seismic shift from unhealthy to healthy consumption options for millions of American consumers.

A survey by KFF reports at least 4% of adults are currently using these drugs, while new reports, surveys and data are alluding to a shift from unhealthy food to wellness purchases to the tune of over $205 per month and most likely growing.  New estimates by JPMorgan suggest that by 2030, as much as 9% of the U.S. population —that’s over 30 million people—could be taking advantage of these drugs.

As a result, we are going to observe a huge shift of wealth from unhealthy to healthier living and wellness options.   

Consumers Demand Healthy Food Options

Data-driven revelations have pointed to a compelling societal pivot towards health and wellness for consumers taking GLP-1 medications. The perspective from Wall Street is that unhealthy food is becoming “the new coal,” and there is an increasing demand that food companies revise their strategies away from sugary and processed foods. For example, 73% of Bloomberg Pulse respondents are calling for unhealthy food companies to come up with a new game plan. 

This demand is already being seen with Krispy Cream getting downgraded, Nestle’s stock dropping 5.3%, Morgan Stanley reporting grocery expenditure shopping down 9% with GLP-1 users (90,0000 households and 12.3% reported taking GLP-1s) and Walmart reporting a shift in food sales to health and wellness purchases. 

GLP-1 Users Embrace Exercise

The shift is not just restricted to diet, however. As the population loses weight (on average, users lose up to 21% according to clinical studies) thanks to GLP-1 drugs, they show increased interest in beauty products and body-enhancing procedures.

In addition, we see emerging trends in fitness as weight loss drugs have a negative side-effect of causing a loss of body mass, creating a need for users to do strength training. Reports are showing these users are twice as likely to take up exercise.

According to a Morgan Stanley research analyst, 35% of drug users exercised before taking the medication and 71% reported doing exercise while taking the drugs.  This is leading to a growing market for performance wear as people begin to slim down and need new apparel. Simultaneously, social fitness is gaining popularity as people reduce time spent eating out and drinking, pursuing healthier activities with friends instead. 

Rise of the ‘Wellness Wallet’

In a palpable sense of urgency, large food manufacturers, such as Chipotle Mexican, Dannon, Unilever, Nestlé, and Conagra Brands are following the trend — 66% of GLP-1 drug users are reporting consuming less confectionery (snacks, candy, sugary drinks). These brands are deploying teams of demand and behavior scientists to study the impact and develop new products to cater to this healthier consumer demographic.

This evolution, coupled with the impressive “Wellness Wallet Share” of $205 per month, instigates crucial questions about what else the fitness and wellness industry can do to leverage this trend.

Sweetgreen stands to benefit as GLP-1 users shift their spending (credit: The Image Party/shutterstock.com)

Evidence for such a profound shift in consumption trends comes from a significant change in buying patterns among GLP-1 users, according to anonymous data from 95 million JPMorgan customers. The four notable areas that saw changes are a steep decline in fast food and alcohol sales, a shift in snack/soda preferences, and increased demand for fitness. 

The impact of GLP-1 drugs on users’ behaviors can be seen, and reports are suggesting an 85% decline in fast food sales, a 60-70% reduction in alcohol consumption, an 80% reduction in snacking and a 70% reduced spend on soda.  These reductions can be seen as savings of $125 per month from fast food, $28 per month from alcohol and $50 per month from snacks and soda.

These saved amounts are being reallocated to healthy lifestyle choices, proving the growing prominence of the “Wellness Wallet”. Fitness and wellness businesses now have an unprecedented opportunity to cater to these changing preferences and capture this increasing wallet share with new products and services catered to this customer group as well as selling more of their existing offerings.  

In addition, new surveys have shown weight loss drug users presenting a 19% decrease in patronizing chains like Outback Steakhouse, Chipotle Mexican, and Cheesecake Factory, with a 50% drop in visit frequency.

A Brave New World for Brands

However, it’s not all gloom for the hospitality sector. Sweetgreen, for example, has emerged as a winner in these changing times, thanks in part to the increased propensity for GLP-1 users to choose fruits and vegetables over junk food. Adding to the Wellness Wallet amount is the projected 19% reduced spend on eating out, adding another $57 per month to healthier options which is a shift from unhealthy food spending to healthy food spending.  

Overall, the increasing adoption of GLP-1 drugs presents both challenges and opportunities across various sectors. Companies in wellness and fitness, beauty, apparel and food need to realign their strategies and product offerings to cater to evolving customer preferences. They need to research behavior changes, consider how to develop new consumer programs/services, and perhaps, start introducing relevant facilities to maintain a competitive market advantage. 

Bloomberg’s recent post estimated this market to soar to $80 billion by 2030 and Goldman Sachs has estimated it to reach $100 billion by 2030.

Judging by the current momentum and considerable savings produced by the shift in consumer behavior—accumulating to the “Wellness Wallet”, this projection seems highly feasible. But what is not being shown or talked about is where the shift in spending is happening; we are just starting to see this paradigm shift which looks to be bigger than the money spent on the drugs themselves. 

What we’re witnessing could be just the tip of the iceberg, with more products and services entering this segment as supply constraints by big pharmaceutical companies get solved. 

The rise of the “Wellness Wallet” isn’t just a financial phenomenon; it marks a milestone in a societal shift towards health-conscious living and wellbeing, reshaping business models and consumer habits along the way. In the future, companies that capitalize on this phenomenon will likely reap bountiful rewards.

credit: Mike Hansen

Mike G. Hansen is a serial entrepreneur, venture partner and strategic advisor in the Health, Fitness and Technology industry. He has over 25 years of experience across nearly 20 market segments and investment groups, and has done business with over 100 brands. He is a thought leader in our industry covering top trends and providing key insights as he drives innovation and growth forward with corporations and entrepreneurs.  To learn more about these trends and insights, you can reach Mike at Mike@MikeGHansen.com 

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Celebrity Trainer Don Saladino on the ‘Magical’ Benefits of Halo Hydration https://athletechnews.com/celebrity-trainer-don-saladino-on-halo-hydration/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:51:07 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=103058 Saladino, who trains celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, believes Halo’s electrolyte and caffeine-packed products are changing the hydration game Halo Hydration, an advanced hydration and performance drink company behind the world’s first hydrating latte, has entered the new year with a reformulated line of its premium hydration powders, supported by notable ambassadors such as renowned tennis…

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Saladino, who trains celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, believes Halo’s electrolyte and caffeine-packed products are changing the hydration game

Halo Hydration, an advanced hydration and performance drink company behind the world’s first hydrating latte, has entered the new year with a reformulated line of its premium hydration powders, supported by notable ambassadors such as renowned tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou and celebrity fitness trainer Don Saladino.

Having expanded from its e-commerce presence into U.S.-based retail locations, Halo is currently found in Ingles, Cub Foods, United Supermarkets, Market Street, DeCA and AAFES, and is planning additional product launches.

Halo Hydration is on a mission to inspire how the world hydrates,” said Anshuman Vohra, Hydration founder and CEO. “Our products are meticulously crafted to elevate how individuals feel, perform and recover. We’re excited to introduce these new offerings that provide advanced hydration in caffeinated and non-caffeinated variants.”

Saladino, a fitness expert and trainer who has worked with Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Blake Lively, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt and others, spoke with Athletech News about the importance of hydration to overall wellness and Halo’s next-gen, electrolyte-packed hydration products. 

The Importance of Sodium for Sleep & Energy

“There’s a large population of Americans that are dehydrated,” Saladino, who is training Reynolds for “Deadpool 3,” said. “Hydration is one of the most important components of wellness that I focus on. When sitting and speaking with anyone before an exercise regimen, one of the first questions I ask is ‘What is your water consumption? How is your hydration?’ and then we take the conversation from there.”

Certified organic and low in sugar, Halo Hydration comes in convenient powder sticks for on-the-go hydration. Packed with as many electrolytes and minerals as eight 500 ml bottles of mineral water, it exceeds the electrolyte, vitamin and mineral content of other sports drinks. In addition to its caffeinated Hydrating Latte line, Halo offers non-caffeinated products with hydration powders in Pink Lemonade, Peach, and Mixed Berry flavors.

“Halo Hydration really is a magical product,” Saladino said. “I know the hydration drink (market) has been very saturated over the last decade, but this is something different. The quality is exceptional, but also, I think the benefits it brings into the human body are next level.”

credit: Halo Hydration

Saladino touched on the importance of sodium in a healthy diet, underscoring its significance to well-being and fitness. 

“I think people were always under the assumption that salt was bad and actually, salt can be one of the most important nutrients for your body,” he explained. “Sodium is what allows our brain to function, our heart to pump and our muscles to contract. Halo Hydration has packaged a very high-quality sodium content, which is so important for our overall health and performance.”

Although health-conscious consumers may follow a low-salt diet, focusing on lean proteins, vegetables and slow-burning carbohydrates while drinking half their body weight in ounces of water, Saladino warns that they may inadvertently flush out essential nutrients, decreasing valuable sodium levels.

Saladino also reports a positive shift in clients who opt for Halo Hydration as a solution with its quality built-in salt.

“I’m finding that people who are starting to trust the process are getting a lot more benefit out of their energy levels,” he said. “Their performance is going through the roof, and their sleep quality is improving because now they’re not waking up three or four times to pee at night.” 

credit: Halo Hydration

Mindful Caffeine Consumption

Coffee drinkers may be aware that their daily dose of caffeine is dehydrating, but still look forward to reaching for their morning cup of coffee. As Saladino advises, hydrating with salt first thing in the morning is essential, and with Halo’s Hydrating Lattes, consumers can now hydrate and caffeinate all at once.

“Most of the time when we travel, we get access to really poor forms of coffee for caffeine,” he said. “The coffee bean is one of the most heavily polluted crops out there. Now I can pack a few (Hydrating Lattes packets) in my bag and travel with it.”

As Saladino points out, the Hydrating Lattes packets aren’t too high in caffeine, so they shouldn’t cause unpleasant effects, such as jitters or an eventual crash.

“Two of these packets are going to be the equivalent of, say, one Starbucks coffee so you can go back for that second and not feel guilty for it,” he said. “It’s really a smarter way to consume caffeine; it’s a more thoughtful and controlled way to consume caffeine.”

Halo’s Hydrating Lattes comes in flavors such as Iced Caramel Latte, Iced Vanilla Latte and Iced Mocha Latte, with caffeine sourced from real coffee and a proprietary blend of electrolytes and non-dairy creamer. 

“They’re absolutely delicious,”  Saladino said of Halo Hydrating Lattes packets. “To have just that right amount of caffeine to where you’re alert and you’re able to utilize caffeine to its potential — we want to make sure it’s a supplement that we’re consuming to our advantage, and there is so much incredible research out there on caffeine and coffee consumption in relation to preventing heart disease or cardiovascular health.”

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Celeb-Backed Absorption Company Aims To Change the Supplement Game https://athletechnews.com/absorption-company-supplements-ian-somerhalder-nikki-reed/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:27:04 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102930 Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are out to disrupt the $177 billion supplement industry with a line of highly bioavailable products Actors Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed have launched The Absorption Company, a powdered supplement brand that aims to elevate the bioavailability of nutrients by up to 500%. Launched with Zeke Bronfman and Nate Medow…

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Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are out to disrupt the $177 billion supplement industry with a line of highly bioavailable products

Actors Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed have launched The Absorption Company, a powdered supplement brand that aims to elevate the bioavailability of nutrients by up to 500%. Launched with Zeke Bronfman and Nate Medow along with Somerhalder and Reed, the company has already enjoyed a successful pre-launch at Erewhon, the famous grocer in Los Angeles, and is now available nationwide. 

“Since I was a kid, health, wellness, and natural solutions have been a huge part of my life,” Somerhalder told Athletech News. “My mother always said that to have great output, you must have great input, and that especially applies to what we put in our bodies. As I got older and my professional life got busier – from taking over 100 flights a year to working 18-hour days on set – I was always looking for natural solutions, not only to keep me feeling my best but functioning at my best.”

Once Somerhalder and Reed became parents, they completed bloodwork and were shocked by the results. Somerhalder discovered high levels of arsenic, lead and toxic folic acid in his system.

“It was then we realized that not only were the supplements we had been taking ineffective, but they were actually doing more harm than good. So many of us are simply not able to detox what we are putting into our bodies fast enough,” Somerhalder shared. “That was the ‘a-ha’ moment. People are spending billions of dollars per year of their hard-earned money on supplements that aren’t safe or effective and the industry is completely unregulated.”

“We wanted to create a brand that addressed these challenges and lead by example in the hopes that others would follow suit,” he added.

The couple spent years working with scientists, nutritionists and pharmacists to develop The Absorption Company. The products work through a proprietary delivery system designed for liposomal absorption. They address four critical areas: Restore, Calm, Energy and Sleep.

credit: The Absorption Company

The supplements use Capsoil technology, which was created by scientists from Hebrew University to reduce oil-based active ingredients into nanoparticles that increase surface area and improve powdered product format efficiency. Each Absorption Company batch is third-party tested.

“There are two main issues that no one is really talking about. First, traditional supplements have very low absorption rates due to their large particle size and harsh gut environment,” Somerhalder explained. “Second, since the FDA deregulated supplement oversight in 1994 there has been little visibility into what is actually going into products, so there is truly no way to know what you are taking and the quality of the ingredients.”

By using the proprietary Capsoil technology, Somerhalder said The Absorption Company supplements are the first-ever water-soluble delivery system for liposomal nutrients proven to increase bioavailability by up to 500%. By only using certified ingredients and testing and retesting every single batch, there are no contaminants in the products.

The supplement market was worth nearly $177 billion in 2023; The Absorption Company is hoping to disrupt the current ways of doing business with its new approach. The brand’s products are now available for purchase online and at Erewhon in Los Angeles.  

The Absorption Company also has its eye on retail expansion after its launch in Erewhon last month.  

“Our goal is to make products that consumers need and deserve,” Somerhalder said. “Our company is rooted in efficacy, transparency and authenticity, and I hope that this empowers people to do their own research and be objective.”

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Can Dr. Andrew Huberman, Mateina Make Yerba Mate Popular in the US? https://athletechnews.com/dr-andrew-huberman-mateina-yerba-mate/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 20:10:11 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102827 The neuroscientist and wellness influencer sees Mateina’s yerba mate product as a better, more healthy alternative to coffee and tea Mateina is officially coming to the United States in what could be a major category expansion. The yerba mate drink product, cultivated in partnership with a fourth-generation farming family in Misiones, Argentina, has been available…

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The neuroscientist and wellness influencer sees Mateina’s yerba mate product as a better, more healthy alternative to coffee and tea

Mateina is officially coming to the United States in what could be a major category expansion.

The yerba mate drink product, cultivated in partnership with a fourth-generation farming family in Misiones, Argentina, has been available in Canada since its founding in 2017. However, neuroscientist and wellness influencer Dr. Andrew Huberman and Tiny, a Canadian holding company, announced their intentions to expand south, obtaining a majority ownership stake in Mateina.

Tiny’s support for Mateina comes from its private partnership Tiny Fund I, LP.

“We envision a world where Yerba Mate is a highly accessible and health-forward beverage that is consumed by hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, in the same way coffee and tea are today,” said Elodie Simard, co-founder of Mateina.”Partnering with Tiny and Dr. Huberman enables us to introduce Mateina U.S. and globally while also underscoring our commitment to sustainable, organic farming practices in Argentina.”

Dr. Huberman, a neuroscientist and professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, has built a massive following on social media, with over 5 million Instagram followers and 1 million followers on X, formerly Twitter. He received the Cogan Award in 2017 as well, given to scientists making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision.

Mateina’s U.S. launch includes a new sugar-free option, which Dr. Huberman co-developed.

“Yerba mate has been my preferred source of caffeine for more than three decades,” Dr. Huberman said. “Collaborating with Mateina to develop a non-smoked, sugar-free version of cold pressed yerba mate was a thrill and I’m so excited to be able to share this drink with the world. I see it as a truly peerless beverage in terms of its positive effects on mind and body.”

Mateina products are non-carbonated, lightly sweetened cold beverages and come in flavors such as original lemon, peach passion, and grapefruit guava. Along with the new sugar-free option, low-sugar beverages are available as well, culminating in a broad, yet precise and scientific approach to serving the energy drink community

This move comes as another chapter in what’s been a big year for the energy drink industry. PepsiCo’s Rockstar Energy just launched a functional mushroom-infused drink called “‘Rockstar Focus.” At-home revenue in the sports and energy drink market is at $102.9 Billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow annually by 5.46% through 2028.

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Tom Brady’s TB12, Nobull Merge To Form Nutrition & Apparel Giant https://athletechnews.com/tom-brady-tb12-nobull-merge-to-form-nutrition-apparel-giant/ Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:22:56 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102602 The NFL legend joins Mike Repole, who bought Nobull last summer and has a history of partnering with Hall of Fame athletes The most decorated football player of all time is going deep once again, this time in health and wellness. Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl Champion and the NFL’s all-time passing leader, is merging…

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The NFL legend joins Mike Repole, who bought Nobull last summer and has a history of partnering with Hall of Fame athletes

The most decorated football player of all time is going deep once again, this time in health and wellness. Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl Champion and the NFL’s all-time passing leader, is merging his supplement and nutrition brand TB12 with training apparel and footwear company Nobull, the sides announced Tuesday.

As part of the deal, Brady becomes the company’s second-largest shareholder, trailing only Mike Repole, who bought Nobull last July. Repole has a history of working with Hall-of-Fame athletes, previously partnering with late NBA legend Kobe Bryant to grow BodyArmor, which he later sold to Coca-Cola for $5.6 Billion in 2021. Repole did the same with Glaceau, the maker of Vitaminwater and Smartwater, in 2007.

“I wanted to do something really big,” Repole told CNBC of the deal with Brady. “I think Nobull has a chance here to be this epic historic brand — playing in a space of health and wellness, through sneakers, apparel, nutrition mentality and really helping people with adversity, resilience, grit.”

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Founded in 2015 by former Reebok executives Marcus Wilson and Michael Schaeffer, Nobull primarily sells footwear but also athletic apparel and accessories such as headbands, bags, hats and more. Nobull ensures that Brady’s “No BS” attitude is well ingrained in its line of products to help consumers become the best versions of themselves. 

TB12 sells protein and electrolyte powders in a variety of flavors. The brand also offers a line of supplements categorized as sleep, perform, recover and protect, designed to enhance a user’s strength, hydration, energy and focus, recovery and immunity. 

“I’ve been blessed to be surrounded with the most amazing teammates my entire career, and I feel fortunate to be joining another team that’s going to inspire the next generation of people to push themselves to be better!,” Brady wrote about the deal on social media. “This wouldn’t be possible without Mike Repole, a great friend of mine who I have spent the past few talking with about my own journey. We’ve pushed each other to get better every day and now it’s time to bring this attitude to the world.”

The merger also makes Brady an official partner with the league he dominated for more than 20 years. The NFL invested in Nobull in 2022 via the league’s venture capital fund. As a result, Nobull sponsored the NFL Scouting Combine last year and will do so again this spring.

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Product of the Week: Gainful Personalizes Nutrition Better Than Most https://athletechnews.com/product-of-the-week-gainful-nutrition-review/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 19:44:54 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102416 Gainful creates personalized nutrition and supplement packages based on an online quiz, and offers access to registered dietitians All products featured on Athletech News are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission Founded in 2017, Gainful is all about personalized performance nutrition.…

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Gainful creates personalized nutrition and supplement packages based on an online quiz, and offers access to registered dietitians

Founded in 2017, Gainful is all about personalized performance nutrition. The company provides consumers with customized nutrition and supplement recommendations as well as access to a one-on-one Registered Dietitian.

After taking an online quiz where customers are asked information about their health goals, Gainful recommends a monthly shipment of products tailored to a user’s unique profile, including protein, hydration and pre-workout, along with performance boosts (such as collagen, creatine and fiber).

Athletech News tested Gainful to see if its personalized approach to nutrition is worth the hype. 

Pros

The Gainful quiz was not long but felt comprehensive. It asked about my nutrition goals, experience with nutrition, relationship with fitness, and current exercise routine, among other questions. At the end of the questionnaire, I received a list of products tailored to my own “Gainful System.” 

I was impressed by the product quality. Having tried and tested many protein powders, Gainful’s was among the most delicious. The Protein Powder is unflavored, but Gainful allows users to select flavors that come in individual serving sizes. I found the process of choosing a daily flavor, like Rich Chocolate, Strawberry Cream or Madagascar Vanilla, based on my preferences enjoyable. Similarly, both the Pre-Workout and the Personalized Hydration were subtly sweet and seamlessly integrated into my daily workout routine. 

Gainful’s personalization feature was useful. Many powders over- or under-deliver on protein grams or electrolytes or require a significant amount of research to find the perfect fit. Gainful makes the process easy—it considers whether or not you want to bulk up or lose weight and personalizes products accordingly. The Hydration and Pre-Workout offering also comes with a Caffeinated and Non-Caffeinated option. The packaging was also sleek and subtle, unlike many protein powders. 

credit: Gainful

Cons

Although Gainful markets access to a registered dietitian, using the service didn’t always feel seamless. I received an initial e-mail from my dietitian, encouraging me to reach out with questions, and stating that they expected me to provide updates once a week. I responded to the e-mail with a few questions. The response I received was from a dietitian other than the one to which I was assigned, and it was formatted too much like a customer service response. It would have been better to have a built-in “messaging” system on the platform, even if the dietitians changed. 

The price of the “System” can also be high—my recommended products were a total of around $130 per month. However, many high-end sports nutrition offerings are similarly priced but lack the component of personalization, so Gainful’s cost becomes more palatable.

Lastly, the powders did not include many other vitamins or minerals, unlike some competitors. Adding those in could’ve taken Gainful’s products to the next level by catering to different health needs. 

Final Thoughts

Despite some issues with the dietitian services, Gainful offers fantastic products that capitalize on the growing trend of health and wellness personalization. If you’re looking for a way to simplify your nutritional routine and work toward your goals, consider Gainful.   

Read more ATN Product Reviews here,

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MyFitnessPal Appoints New CEO, Collabs With Kate Hudson https://athletechnews.com/myfitnesspal-appoints-new-ceo-collabs-with-kate-hudson/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:19:32 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102347 Mike Fisher, formerly of Etsy, Quigo, AKF Partners and PayPal, will lead the nutrition and food-tracking app MyFitnessPal has named Mike Fisher as its new CEO, a move that comes after the global nutrition and food tracking app recently announced a new partnership with Kate Hudson. Fisher, who has previously served at Etsy, Quigo, AKF…

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Mike Fisher, formerly of Etsy, Quigo, AKF Partners and PayPal, will lead the nutrition and food-tracking app

MyFitnessPal has named Mike Fisher as its new CEO, a move that comes after the global nutrition and food tracking app recently announced a new partnership with Kate Hudson.

Fisher, who has previously served at Etsy, Quigo, AKF Partners and PayPal, succeeds Dinesh Lathi, who will remain involved with MyFitnessPal and serve on the company’s board of directors.

“I’m thrilled to join the MyFitnessPal team,” Fisher said. “As CEO, I’m excited to pair my passion for consumer-facing technologies with MyFitnessPal’s commitment to improving human wellness. MyFitnessPal’s mission to empower its users to achieve their weight management and broader health goals resonates with my own aspirations to live a healthier life and my desire to help others do the same.”

Mike Fisher (credit: MyFitnessPal)

In addition to his corporate leadership experience, Fisher is a U.S. Army veteran. He’s also served on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and currently serves on the board of the West Point Association of Graduates.

Private equity firm Francisco Partners acquired MyFitnessPal in 2020 from Under Armour. The leading nutrition and food tracking app has garnered over 200 million users in 120-plus countries since launching in 2005.

Christine Wang, partner at Francisco Partners, noted the “tremendous growth” in the health and wellness technology sector and that Fisher’s experience will enhance the user experience and assist “millions more” in achieving their goals.

Earlier this month, MyFitnessPal teamed up with celebrity and Fabletics co-founder Kate Hudson (and her personal trainer) for its “Small Steps, Big Wins” initiative, where users can join a free one-week plan to build healthy habits. 

“I’m excited to partner with MyFitnessPal because we share a vision to help inspire people to get healthy and just take those small steps to get them started,” Hudson said. “This is something I’ve been passionate about for years so developing the Small Steps, Big Wins Plan with them was a natural next step after using the app for years to track my nutrition.”

The seven-day program includes Hudson’s tricks for staying inspired and her favorite affirmations for hitting health goals. It also encourages users to lower sugar intake and boost their hydration levels.

Corporate wellness platform Gympass added the popular nutrition app as one of its offerings due to a high number of requests from users and clients last year. The MyFitnessPal app also introduced sleeping tracking insights in recent months, integrating sleep data from Apple Health and Health Connect by Android to show how certain food choices can impact the length and quality of sleep. 

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Bloom Nutrition Scores Investment From C4 Energy Owner https://athletechnews.com/bloom-nutrition-scores-investment-from-c4-energy-owner/ Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:22:25 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102261 C4 maker Nutrabolt acquires a 20% stake in Bloom in a deal that sees the influencer-founded supplement brand raise $90 million in total Nutrabolt, a health and wellness company that makes functional beverages and active nutrition products including C4 Energy, has made a significant minority investment into Bloom Nutrition, giving Nutrabolt a 20% ownership stake…

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C4 maker Nutrabolt acquires a 20% stake in Bloom in a deal that sees the influencer-founded supplement brand raise $90 million in total

Nutrabolt, a health and wellness company that makes functional beverages and active nutrition products including C4 Energy, has made a significant minority investment into Bloom Nutrition, giving Nutrabolt a 20% ownership stake and making it Bloom’s largest investor.

The female-founded Bloom Nutrition concentrates on supplements in the greens and superfoods category, selling pre-workout blends, whey isolate proteins, collagen peptides, collagen creamers and blending accessories.

The investment is part of a larger $90 million financing that includes investor Clayton Christopher, who will join Bloom’s board, and consumer investment firm Amberstone.

Bloom is the brainchild of Mari Llewellyn, a fitness and wellness influencer who shared her inspiring weight loss journey and monetized PDF workout guides and exercise bands before launching the supplement brand in 2019 alongside her husband, Gregory LaVecchia. 

With an audience north of a million Instagram followers, Llewellyn’s Bloom Nutrition quickly landed partnerships with retail powerhouses such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Target. 

The couple, who were listed on Forbes’ coveted “30 under 30” list, will remain Bloom’s majority shareholders. 

“We are very excited to partner with Mari and Greg, two outstanding entrepreneurial founders, during the next phase of their company’s growth,” said Doss Cunningham, Nutrabolt chairman and CEO. The deal sees him represent Nutrabolt on Bloom’s board of directors. 

“They’ve built an incredibly strong brand and business over the past 4.5 years, yet there is still tremendous whitespace to pursue in the form of new product platforms and distribution opportunities,” Cunningham added.

The funding will be used to accelerate Bloom’s demand-generation activities and product innovation.

“When we started this company, we could’ve never imagined building such a huge community, and inspiring so many to begin their wellness journeys,” Llewellyn said. “Our goal at Bloom has always been to help everyone ‘bloom’ into their best selves through nutritious and delicious supplements. It’s an incredible honor to have Nutrabolt join us in extending our mission further.” 

LaVecchia added that partnering with Nutrabolt will take Bloom to new heights.

“Their expertise and resources as industry leaders will enable us to scale effectively, fuel sales growth and accelerate innovation,” he remarked. “This is a significant leap forward, and we could not be more excited to embark on this next phase of growth together.” 

The vitamin and supplement sector accounts for a sizable portion of consumer spending, with over 90% household penetration. Recent data from NIQ, a data intelligence service provider, revealed the revenue power of vitamins and supplements, with sales booming to $13.5 billion last year.

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Dr. Rachel Goldman on the Complex World of Weight Loss Drugs https://athletechnews.com/dr-rachel-goldman-on-weight-loss-drugs-exclusive-interview/ Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:59:05 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=102097 A Ro advisor, Dr. Rachel speaks about the confluence of mental and physical health in weight loss and misconceptions around GLP-1s Dr. Rachel Goldman is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral medicine. After being exposed to the treatment of obesity, she became interested in the patient population. Dr. Rachel previously served as the…

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A Ro advisor, Dr. Rachel speaks about the confluence of mental and physical health in weight loss and misconceptions around GLP-1s

Dr. Rachel Goldman is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral medicine. After being exposed to the treatment of obesity, she became interested in the patient population. Dr. Rachel previously served as the senior psychologist at Bellevue Center for Obesity and Weight Management at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Today, she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and an advisor to Ro, a telehealth company that offers GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

Dr. Rachel spoke with Athletech News about weight loss drugs from a behavioral medicine perspective, and how the fitness and wellness industry can best support people taking GLP-1s.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News: Why did you join Ro as a medical advisor? 

Dr. Rachel Goldman: I loved the opportunity and jumped on it for many reasons. I’ve been very involved in the academic work around the treatment of obesity, and I think it’s really important that there are behavioral health providers sharing information about that. People don’t understand obesity. It’s a multi-factorial, complex chronic disease. There are not a lot of behavioral health providers who specialize in this area. The more people we can get advising companies on mental health and how the brain works the better we can serve our patients and provide compassionate empathetic care.

ATN: What are some of the biggest misconceptions around the confluence of mental and physical health related to obesity? 

RG: Obesity is a disease. We in the medical field know that and treat it as a disease. But unfortunately, the general public still doesn’t see it that way, and they label people as being lazy or lacking willpower or discipline.

GLP-1s are allowing individuals who have the disease of obesity to be on a level playing field. They have this extra tool that is helping them get to a place where they’re more in that category of individuals who, if they’re mindful about what they’re eating and exercising a little more, they will likely lose weight. It’s literally giving people hope who felt like they lost hope. Some people saw an option like bariatric surgery as a last resort but GLP-1s are now giving people an additional option. We are also seeing that people after bariatric surgery have weight (gain) recurrence because obesity is a chronic disease. 

ATN: How does fitness play into the weight-loss-drug space? 

RG: I’ll share with you what I’ve seen with bariatric surgery because that’s been around longer than the GLP-1s, and I’ve worked very closely with that patient population. What we typically say is that food matters, but exercise brings it to another level. The food you put in your mouth helps with weight loss. Exercise will help with weight maintenance. All of these treatments that are available must be coupled with lifestyle changes.

Many people initially hate exercise, particularly individuals who have struggled with it in the past. Maybe it’s hard. Maybe it’s causing pain. Maybe they can’t walk or they get out of breath. They have this association with exercise that it’s really difficult. This is why I also don’t like to use the term “exercise.” I like to use the term “movement” or “physical activity” because “exercise” is overwhelming for a lot of my patients. We’re really just talking about moving your body a little bit more: being more active and less sedentary.

I also see exercise and physical activity being a huge tool for mental health. I have clients who struggle with their weight but don’t fall under the category of having the disease of obesity. I joke that if I could give a prescription apart from behavioral prescriptions, it would be to exercise and to find an activity that they love. I have clients for whom their anxiety is much worse and they feel so much more overwhelmed on the days that they’re not being active or didn’t go to a workout class. If we’re able to change our behaviors by moving a little bit more it will also impact our thoughts. 

ATN: How do you recommend patients manage the lifestyle and social shifts that come with drastic weight loss from GLP-1s?

RG: Once people get to a dosage that works for them, the weight loss is going to be faster than it would if they were to do it on their own. People aren’t really prepared for that. I often say any change can be overwhelming because there are unknowns, which is scary. It’s ideal to have a team of providers and a team of support. This includes friends and family and a behavioral health provider to discuss potential changes with them. It’s important to discuss all of those expectations. Some people really struggle not being able to go out and be as social because they’re having difficulty figuring out what they can eat or they have reflux. Some also get tired from the medications or have certain other side effects.

Thinking about all of this in advance and having a plan in place is really important. Relationships may also change, so it’s good to talk about friends, co-workers or even partners. I just had this conversation with a friend who started GLP-1s. I said, “What if people notice you’ve lost weight? What will you do?” Let’s prepare a few sample scripts. 

ATN: What should the fitness and wellness industry do to cater to new consumers who take GLP-1s?

RG: We should be getting rid of the messaging around, “Burn your calories before you eat them,” or, “Now you deserve that pumpkin pie because you finished a workout class.” All of those are harmful messages and as people, we don’t have notes on our forehead saying what we’re struggling with. So just assuming that people have different struggles and are in different stages and not assuming everybody is capable of doing the same thing is really important.

For personal trainers, open-ended questions are really great to get more information from people. Just being mindful and compassionate. 

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Global Wellness Economy Projected To Hit $8.5T by 2027 https://athletechnews.com/global-wellness-economy-projected-to-hit-8-5t/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:27:49 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=101762 The category of nutrition, non-GLP weight loss management and supplements is expected to become the largest wellness market in 2025 A new report brings encouraging news to the wellness sector, with the total wellness economy projected to hit a staggering $8.5 trillion in 2027 after reaching $5.5 trillion in 2022. Research by the Global Wellness…

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The category of nutrition, non-GLP weight loss management and supplements is expected to become the largest wellness market in 2025

A new report brings encouraging news to the wellness sector, with the total wellness economy projected to hit a staggering $8.5 trillion in 2027 after reaching $5.5 trillion in 2022.

Research by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) reveals that wellness spending is expected to profoundly impact the global economy in the next five years, growing at an annual rate of 8.6%, surpassing the projected GDP growth of 5.1%.

The causes of the wellness surge are simple, according to GWI: not only are consumers invested in health and wellness, but the medical industry and even governments are placing increased value on prevention and wellness. 

With a landscape of health and optimal living set in motion, here are three of the biggest projected wellness growth sectors through 2027:

Wellness Real Estate (17.4% annually)

Wellness real estate, which GWI defines as buildings, neighborhoods and communities designed to support the holistic health of residents, occupants and visitors, saw accelerated growth due to the pandemic. As consumers became more conscious of their health goals and recognized the influence of their environment on well-being, a shift occurred. Now, places ranging from offices to residential buildings offer spaces with WellnessSpace Brands recovery products, gym equipment or zones promoting social engagement and activities, such as pickleball.

One leading player in the wellness real estate space is lifestyle operator Life Time, which has been opening the doors to upscale clubs that blend fitness and wellness with luxury residences available to lease, where residents can enjoy amenities like rooftop pools, nutrition coaching and even health meal prep and delivery.

“We predict this growth trajectory will continue, as healthy building features increasingly shift from being a luxury, or ‘nice to have,’ toward becoming an expectation or even a minimum standard, especially in the commercial/office real estate space,” GWI’s report finds.

Wellness Tourism (16.6% annually)

Wellness tourism may have been one of the fastest-growing wellness economy sectors before 2020, but as GWI points out, it was also the one most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, wellness tourism is back on track as a burgeoning sector, with wellness travelers spending more per trip than the average tourist.

Equinox, well-known for its top-tier fitness experience in its celeb-frequented gyms, has created a presence in the hospitality industry to offer next-level wellness, nutrition, movement and restoration with its services and amenities. And Equinox is just getting started – the brand says it’s developing a global network of customer-centric hotels, and plans to launch 33 properties across the globe in the next ten years in key areas.

Whether the primary goal of a trip is wellness-seeking activities at a health resort or destination spa, or a secondary activity like booking a sauna or cold plunge during a work trip, tourists are eager to incorporate a touch of wellness into their travels. Even airlines have taken note, as seen with United collaborating with Therabody to offer luxurious wellness touchpoints to its passengers both at 30,000 feet and in the airport. 

credit: Therabody/United

Mental Wellness (12.8% annually)

Mental wellness is a resilient sector, according to GWI, finding that it’s “one of the few wellness economy sectors that has continued its upward growth trajectory over the last four years, as consumers sought out products, services and solutions to help them cope with the immense stresses they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Consumers are happy to spend hard-earned money on products and experiences that promote a mind-body connection, such as self–help guides, sound healing, aromatherapy, stress gadgets, weight blankets, circadian lighting, sleep-promoting and meditation accessories. Functional food and beverages are also enjoying their moment in the sun, as are vitamins and supplements, which are surging in sales in the performance, recovery, mood and digestion categories, according to a recent finding by NIQ.

It’s also a sector that overlaps into wellness tourism, with consumers booking sensory-based entertainment such as forest bathing, hugging therapy, scream therapy, laughter yoga, cuddle parties and flotation tanks.

The Bottom Line

“Looking into the horizon, the global wellness economy has a strong current under its wings, based on global trends that are only accelerating: an aging population, rising chronic diseases and mental unwellness and a shift in consumer values,” said Ophelia Yeung, GWI senior research fellow, adding that there are some challenging macro conditions to be considered. 

“Widening wealth gaps, consumer confidence in uncertain economic conditions, and rapidly changing geopolitics that will affect the flow of people, capital, technology and ideas,” Yeung continued. “How the wellness economy will do will depend on the interplay of all of these factors.”

In the short term though, there is immense potential. By 2025, GWI predicts healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss will become the largest wellness market, but it’s important to note that estimate doesn’t include medical interventions, such as GLP-1s, as part of its total. 

Instead, GWI projects a continued consumer interest in foods and beverages that are positioned and marketed as wellness-enhancing, vitamins, dietary supplements and weight management products and services. Although such a category may sound almost archaic in a tech-forward world, food and beverage titans such as Nestlé are currently using AI to create nutritious yet tasty products.

Read the full GWI report here.

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Orangetheory Taps Ascent as Official Protein Powder https://athletechnews.com/orangetheory-taps-ascent-as-official-protein-powder/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=101718 Ascent’s whey and plant-based protein powders will now be available at select Orangetheory Fitness studio locations Ascent Protein has reached new heights, inking a nationwide partnership with Orangetheory Fitness that makes the sports nutrition brand the fitness franchise’s first official protein powder partner.  Ascent, a Colorado-based nutrition brand, offers protein-packed whey and planet-based blends, each…

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Ascent’s whey and plant-based protein powders will now be available at select Orangetheory Fitness studio locations

Ascent Protein has reached new heights, inking a nationwide partnership with Orangetheory Fitness that makes the sports nutrition brand the fitness franchise’s first official protein powder partner. 

Ascent, a Colorado-based nutrition brand, offers protein-packed whey and planet-based blends, each with 25g of protein and zero artificial flavors and sweeteners. As a result of the new deal, Ascent’s 100% Whey Protein Powder and Plant Protein Powder will be found at select Orangetheory Fitness locations nationwide in vanilla, chocolate and chocolate peanut butter flavors. As a nod to its new partner, Ascent created a custom 1lb bag exclusively for Orangetheory studios, featuring the fitness franchise’s logo. 

“Orangetheory Fitness is a great partner for Ascent and our mission to help athletes naturally improve their athletic performance,” said Dallas Doiron, associate director of sales for Ascent Protein. “All Ascent products are created using minimal ingredients, no artificial flavors or sweeteners and are designed to support muscle health and performance. This partnership allows consumers to conveniently grab their favorite protein products right before or after their workout at Orangetheory.”

Launched in 2016, Ascent’s products have found fans in athletes such as Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, CrossFit Games athletes Brent Fikowski and Christine Kolenbrander, and Team USA Weightlifting’s CJ Cummings and Jourdan Delacruz. In addition to post-workout recovery protein powders, Ascent offers a pre-workout blend and an iced coffee with protein powder.

“We’re excited to bring Ascent Protein on as our official Protein Powder Partner,” says Scott Brown, vice president of fitness for Orangetheory. “This collaboration offers our domestic network of over 1,300 studios a great opportunity to provide their members with an essential tool for muscle growth, tissue repair and overall recovery. It perfectly aligns with our mission to support their journeys in living a longer, healthier life.”

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Gen Z, Millennial Employees Prioritize Workplace Wellness https://athletechnews.com/gen-z-millennial-employees-prioritize-workplace-wellness-lifesum-survey/ Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:01:27 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=100708 Lifesum survey data reveals that young consumers increasingly expect employers to support them on their health and wellness journeys Workplace stress is experienced by 52% of Gen Z and millennials, with 51% stating that their personal life is affected by work-related stress always or most of the time, a new survey from Lifesum reveals. The…

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Lifesum survey data reveals that young consumers increasingly expect employers to support them on their health and wellness journeys

Workplace stress is experienced by 52% of Gen Z and millennials, with 51% stating that their personal life is affected by work-related stress always or most of the time, a new survey from Lifesum reveals. The global healthy eating platform, which has been tapped to serve GE, Google and Amazon employees, is encouraging employers to take measures to support staff — a move that Lifesum says is mutually beneficial.

The findings are based on a Lifesum October survey of over 5,000 U.S.-based Gen Z and millennial employees to explore how they make career decisions based on personal values.

“Burnout, layoffs and the cost of living crisis impact stress, but it won’t stop people from job-hopping,” said Wesleigh Roeca, director of business development at Lifesum. “Gen Z and millennials are telling us that factors, including healthy eating initiatives, help them — and for good reason, given that scientific evidence shows how a balanced diet can support a healthy immune system and provide the extra energy to deal with stressful events.”

Ultimately, Lifesum’s findings underscore that workplace health and well-being are imperative to the success of companies and their staff. Not only would 48% of survey respondents quit tomorrow in favor of a job supporting their wellness, but 69% said they’d be more productive if their employer took measures to improve their health and well-being.

Creating a Culture of Workplace Well-Being

“Gen Z and millennials care deeply about their health and well-being and are passionate about finding a job that aligns with their personal values,” added Roeca. “Scientific evidence, including a recent McKinsey Health Institute study, shows how healthy eating leads to improved cognitive functioning and reversal of type 2 diabetes — all of which impacts workplace outcomes.”

The results should make employers take note — but with some simple measures such as positive management, healthy eating initiatives, proper compensation and mental health support, employees are more apt to feel supported and experience reduced stress levels.

Although many companies are beginning to provide employees with access to well-being tools and actionable resources such as Lifesum, the report indicates there is still a long way to go, as nearly 64% of respondents feel their employer doesn’t have a “well-being culture.”

One surprising survey result from Lifesum’s research was that 35% of female Gen Z and millennials would quit their job tomorrow in exchange for one that better supports their monthly cycle

It’s a finding to which Lifesum has been calling attention in the crowded corporate wellness industry: that hormonal health has a profound impact on everyone, with menopause alone costing American women an estimated $1.8 billion in lost working time per year. Lifesum also cites an additional finding revealing a million women in the U.K. left their jobs due to the symptoms of menopause.

“Hormones regulate every process in the body, including stress and productivity, meaning employers risk losing top talent if they don’t offer support, such as fertility planning and hormonal health,” Roeca said. “Everyone has hormones and that’s why our Hormonal Health Plan works for all genders.”

credit: Lifesum

Young Workers Want Flexibility

Lastly, despite many major corporations diminishing remote work in favor of fully in-office models or a scaled-down version of a hybrid model — Lifesum’s research shows Gen Z and millennial workers want their employers to continue granting flexibility, and 41% would seek another job if a hybrid model wasn’t on the table.

As Roeca points out, flexibility is “hugely motivating,” and it’s a factor employers should consider when attracting and retaining talent. Most importantly, regardless of an employer’s decision — remote, hybrid or in-office, they can still support staff with wellness programs and see a guaranteed return on engagement and productivity. 

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CEO Corner: Gainful’s Dean Kelly on Personalized Nutrition https://athletechnews.com/ceo-corner-gainful-dean-kelly-exclusive-interview/ Thu, 09 Nov 2023 01:25:46 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=100114 Under Kelly’s watch, Gainful has raised millions in funding, increased its sales and expanded into product categories beyond protein Dean Kelly knows a thing or two about building successful consumer brands in the digital era. After creating a pair of app businesses and holding senior roles in Walmart’s e-commerce division and at online wedding registry…

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Under Kelly’s watch, Gainful has raised millions in funding, increased its sales and expanded into product categories beyond protein

Dean Kelly knows a thing or two about building successful consumer brands in the digital era.

After creating a pair of app businesses and holding senior roles in Walmart’s e-commerce division and at online wedding registry Zola, Kelly took over as CEO of Gainful in February 2020, tasked with taking the personalized performance nutrition company to the next level.

Kelly quickly built on the impressive work done by founders Eric Ji Sun Wu and Jahaan Ansari, who created Gainful as a personalized protein company that allows users to take a quiz and receive a protein powder blend that’s customized to their needs, goals and preferences.

Under Kelly’s watch, Gainful raised $7.5 million in a Series A round in January 2021 and has expanded beyond protein into categories including pre-workout, creatine, fiber, collagen and hydration, all while staying true to the brand’s ethos of personalized nutrition. Gainful reached profitability in early 2023 and has seen over one million orders and counting placed on its website.

Kelly spoke with Athletech News about the power of personalized nutrition, Gainful’s groundbreaking retail partnership with Target, and what’s next for the brand in terms of new features, products and funding.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News: You came into this role with high-level experience as a founder and executive at top consumer brands. Why did you decide to join Gainful?

Dean Kelly: I’d been at a lot of big consumer companies, with big brands in really emotional categories, whether it be pets, weddings, furniture and homewares, or travel, and personalization has been a theme across my entire career. When Gainful approached me, I saw a really great opportunity to join a very young company with two incredible founders as the CEO in a category, health and wellness, where more and more people are spending more time and money. Personalization was being used as a vehicle in so many other categories, but it hadn’t really been done in this category, performance nutrition. I’ve stood in front of a wall of supplements in a GNC and been so confused, not knowing what the ingredients meant. So I had the same experience that our founders had.

credit: Gainful

ATN: Besides offering quizzes, how does Gainful make nutrition “personalized”?

DK: I view personalization as the feeling that a customer gets at the end of their experience with Gainful that makes them feel as if “Gainful is for me.” And it’s not only because of the products we’re recommending; the way that we talk to you is unique to you. We also bring in expert guidance from real RDs (registered dietitians) to help our customers with nutrition. It’s completely personalized, so it’s a real person responding to real people with real questions. Customers who use our RDSs retain 20 percentage points higher than customers who don’t. At the moment it’s email-based, but we’re moving into making it chat-based and text-based.

We’ve also started to work with content providers who are experts in their field, whether it be personal personal trainers, registered dieticians, etc. So the education and the content that we send you post-quiz is tailored to you. If you’re looking to build muscle versus lose weight, the education and content you get will be very different.

ATN: How does Gainful decide which supplements to sell?

DK: Gainful as a brand is about the individual, and removing barriers to that individual feeling their best, whatever those barriers are. There are brands out there that are quite niche. A vegan company can’t necessarily launch a Keto product, for example. The incredible thing about the Gainful brand is that we can go into any product in any multi-billion dollar category.

We started with protein because it’s an incredible base, most people don’t know how much they need and most people aren’t getting enough of it. But as you can see, we’ve started to add products and categories very selectively. Pre-workout, for example, there’s a huge crossover between a protein and a pre-workout customer. We then launched Boosts – collagen, fiber, creatine – that can be added to any of our products. And then we launched hydration as well.

If you can imagine where we’ll go next, Gainful is all about customization. You have a base protein, and then you can start to add Boosts, which might be gut health, menopause, prenatal, postnatal, cognitive, sleep, heart health or joint health. These are all categories we can go into under the umbrella of customization. We’ll be launching a brand new category in Q1 of next year.

credit: Gainful

ATN: Why did Gainful decide to partner with Target and enter the retail space?

DK: Target has over 1,800 stores nationwide, and 85% of the U.S. population shops in Target, so we saw it as a huge opportunity to attract a new customer and give that new customer a better experience, a more seamless and personalized experience, in an aisle that’s been pretty intimidating in the past.

ATN: How does Gainful bring a personalized experience to brick-and-mortar retail?

DK: Online, we taught customers how to shop a system for themselves. And we brought that behavior into the four walls of Target. When we launched at Target, we didn’t launch with just two products. We launched with 11 products and a very simple three-step process where customers can choose their base protein, they can choose a flavor, and then they can add a Goal Boost – build muscle, lose weight or recover. And you can combine those Goal Boosts and your flavor into the base protein, which is your customized protein. Also, on the lid of each of the protein packs (bought in Target) is a QR code that drives you to our registered dietitians. So we really are bringing personalized nutrition to everyone across the U.S.

Gainful’s Target lineup (credit: Gainful)

ATN: Gainful is the official U.S. supplement and performance nutrition partner of Hyrox for the ‘23-24 race season. Why is this partnership important?

DK: One thing I love about Hyrox is that the races span ages, genders and athletic abilities. This is what Gainful recognizes, everyone is different, and therefore, everyone needs a personal approach not only to their training but to their nutrition. Also, Hyrox is incredibly big in Europe, and it’s coming to the U.S., so we thought it was incredible timing with an incredible partner who is trying to do something innovative. The third reason is because it’s becoming harder to acquire customers online and through Facebook and Instagram. For us, it’s less about putting a click-bait ad in front of a person. It’s about, Where are our customers when they’re not on Facebook and Instagram? They’re competing in Hyrox.

ATN: You’ve gone on record saying that Gainful is planning to raise another $20 to $30 million. Why is that investment important and what are your expansion plans?

DK: We’ve always been very capital efficient and very prioritized in what we do. We’ve never been one of those companies that’s over-raised, over-hired and then fired a lot of people. But now we’re at this point where we can expand our product range into new categories. We want to double down on retail – we’re further expanding in Target, and we have other retailers who approach us all the time. I get approached weekly by various people internationally about wanting to sell Gainful. We see a brand that could and should be global.

We want to build out our platform. We currently get a lot of our data from a quiz and we want to move that to make it more real-time. That involves building out an app, getting real-time data and connecting with different connected fitness partners. We also want to build brand awareness. We’re in the multiple tens of millions in revenue, and it’s now time to start telling the stories of Gainful, and that involves larger marketing budgets and top-of-funnel brand advertising, stuff that we’ve never done before.

These are all the things we want to do, and we want to find the right strategic partner who has seen numerous companies throughout this stage of growth and future stages.

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CEO Corner: Momentous’ Jeff Byers on Democratizing High Performance https://athletechnews.com/ceo-corner-momentous-jeff-byers-exclusive-interview/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 18:12:51 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99696 Momentous is one of the fastest-growing brands in wellness, offering supplements designed to bring NFL-quality performance to the masses Supplement companies often get a bad rap, commonly accused of peddling needless and potentially unsafe products backed by questionable science, all at high mark-ups.  Momentous, an NSF-certified nutrition and supplement brand based in Park City, Utah,…

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Momentous is one of the fastest-growing brands in wellness, offering supplements designed to bring NFL-quality performance to the masses

Supplement companies often get a bad rap, commonly accused of peddling needless and potentially unsafe products backed by questionable science, all at high mark-ups. 

Momentous, an NSF-certified nutrition and supplement brand based in Park City, Utah, is out to change that perception by giving consumers access to high-quality products formulated by experts and designed with specific lifestyle and performance goals in mind.

Led by CEO Jeff Byers, a former NFL offensive lineman turned wellness executive who co-founded Amp Human, Momentous has become one of the industry’s smashing success stories, with revenue growth exceeding 1,000% since the company merged with Amp in 2021. Byers’ vision for Momentous is clear: to democratize high performance by bringing the same health and wellness tools he had access to as a pro athlete to everyday consumers. 

The company’s product line includes staples like Omega-3s, whey protein and creatine monohydrate, but also more targeted supplements like sleep aids, cognitive and athletic performance boosters, and hormone optimizers. Specific collections are also available, including supplement packages curated by experts like Dr. Andrew Huberman.

Along with a booming direct-to-consumer business, Momentous has nearly 200 partnerships with pro and college sports teams in the U.S. and has secured $4.5 million worth of innovation contracts with the Department of Defense to focus on human performance for service members.

Byers spoke with Athletech News about his transition from NFL lineman to wellness CEO, what makes Momentous stand out from other supplement companies, and where he sees the health and wellness market heading over the coming years and decades.

Athletech News: Can you tell us about your background and what led you to create Amp Human?

Jeff Byers: As a former professional athlete, I was really passionate about optimization and performance. When I retired from the NFL, I noticed there was a huge black hole in this space. You go from having access to great practitioners, experts and thought leaders in the space, and being given really curated products geared towards your goals, to this big black hole as an average consumer. So I saw a gap (in the market) to bring together high-quality products with the right practitioners and experts. 

After I decided I wasn’t going to stay in sports, I initially jumped into finance and realized it wasn’t for me, not by a long shot. I joined an early-stage biotech company because they had this technology we thought could be used in sports. That was kind of the genesis of what would become Amp Human and our product, PR Lotion. I thought, “What if we could roll that out to the consumer and build a leading high-performance company to fill this gap? ” So around five years ago, my co-founder Erica Good and I started Amp Human. 

Around two years ago, we bought the Momentous brand and merged into the company. The idea was that nutrition and supplements are such a cornerstone to optimization and health, but there’s still this very big black hole. Our vision is to democratize high performance. We do that through products, knowledge and access.

 

credit: Momentous

ATN: What separates Momentous from run-of-the-mill supplement companies?

JB: Supplements to me have a weird connotation, so our goal is to build the “anti-supplement supplement company.” It’s not, “Here are 500 products, go figure out what’s right for you.” Or, “Here’s some cool Fruity Pebbles-flavored protein,” because that’s really where the (supplement) market sits today. We want to be your trusted partner in life optimization.

I believe experts in optimization and wellness don’t live inside businesses, I believe they’re out there doing incredible things at the university level, in pro and college sports, or at the Department of Defense. So if we really want to create a different company, let’s not do it how it’s always been done. Let’s use the external resources – experts and practitioners – and build products around them.

ATN: How do you put that brand philosophy into action?

JB: We have three core pillars that we think are really important. Number one is experts. We align with experts, people like Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Andy Galpin, and we also have this incredible performance engineer board that’s made up of top practitioners in pro and college sports. So it’s this expert-driven approach where we work with the best and ideate with the best.

Number two is our endless commitment to product. It’s everything from how we think about sourcing to what products we have – and what products we don’t have –  in our portfolio, to how we certify. There are very few (other) brands out there that certify their entire product line.

Our third pillar is customer experience. To me, this is getting people the right products at the right time. We recently released a new version of our website that allows people to navigate our products based on what we call need spaces – or pillars of optimization – which are Cognitive Function, Sleep, Athletic Performance and Foundational Health (Hormone Support has since been added). 

ATN: Who is Momentous’ target customer?

JB: We’re an aspirational brand, which means we’re built for those who are seeking to make changes in their lives. Our customer is much more of a mindset customer. It’s that continuously curious consumer who is an optimizer. They could be on day one of their optimization journey, but they’re looking to make changes in their life long term. They care about quality, they’re curious about content and are knowledgeable. Those people range from 18-year-olds to 70-year-olds, from male to female, overweight to underweight, from CrossFiters to football players. It’s a pretty deep pool, so we tend to target people not based on demographics but based on psychographics and sociographics. 

credit: Momentous

ATN: What kinds of work does Momentous do with sports teams and the U.S. government?

JB: We made a custom recovery product for one of the top NFL teams, although I’m not at liberty to say who. We worked with them to source, create and get the right ratios, and now we have a custom product that they use exclusively in their locker room as a competitive advantage. That’s been a really exciting product for us to build to flex some of our bespoke muscles. We’re working on seeing if we can launch it to the public sometime in the next year.

We’re also under contract with the Department of Defense. We’re developing what will hopefully become three novel products over the next two or three years that will be funded by the Department of Defense and clinically validated in top university settings, and then we’ll be able to sell those as well. One of them is a cognitive stimulant, another is around connective tissue health and then the last one will be around hydration.

credit: Momentous

ATN: Looking ahead, what areas of health and wellness are you most excited about? 

JB: There are two main areas. I’m incredibly passionate about cognitive longevity because it touches me so closely as a former professional athlete and it touches the people I care about. As we age, the likelihood is that our mind is going to go before any else. I think the real goal of longevity will become, Can we make the brain survive long enough or be sharp enough as we all age? One of my most passionate stories is about creatine monohydrate. Most people think creatine is just for bodybuilders and meatheads. But taking creatine monohydrate is one of the most impactful things we can do for long-term brain health. That’s the education aspect we need to bring and the difference we want to make for consumers. 

Number two is, there’s a lot of misinformation about female health. There’s not a ton of great clinical research around female health, so it just needs to be invested in and better understood across the board. Males and females are completely different, so I think there’s a great opportunity for us to help champion female performance and female longevity.

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Signos Raises $20M To Fight Metabolic Health Crisis With AI https://athletechnews.com/signos-raises-20m-to-fight-metabolic-health-crisis-with-ai/ Tue, 24 Oct 2023 20:25:14 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99677 The AI-powered startup offers a non-medicated way to lose weight with continuous glucose monitoring Signos, a metabolic health platform that combines a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with an AI-powered app to provide real-time data and make health-centered recommendations, has secured $20 million in a Series B round. The new funding, led by Cheyenne Ventures and…

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The AI-powered startup offers a non-medicated way to lose weight with continuous glucose monitoring

Signos, a metabolic health platform that combines a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with an AI-powered app to provide real-time data and make health-centered recommendations, has secured $20 million in a Series B round.

The new funding, led by Cheyenne Ventures and Google Ventures, with support from Dexcom Ventures and Samsung Next, will be used to expand the team at Signos and go towards additional metabolic health research.  

While continuous glucose monitors were once primarily reserved for diabetics, advances in technology and rising interest in health and wellness have led to an increase in the use of metabolic monitoring devices by everyone from non-diabetics to wellness enthusiasts.

Wearing a device for high-tech health monitoring isn’t a novel concept, particularly given how consumers have embraced fitness and health wearables. CGMs have also come a long way, providing customers with a discreet means to monitor their metabolic health with better accuracy and real-time valuable data.

Despite increased concern and focus regarding health, Americans are nevertheless facing a metabolic crisis, with 96 million classified as prediabetic and, as Signos points out, 1 billion people worldwide are projected to develop diabetes by 2050.

Looking to change those starting stats, Signos says its CGM provides users with a solution to reverse prediabetes and assist with long-term weight loss. After deciding on one of three monthly plans, members log meals and workouts in the Signos app, allowing the AI platform to learn how a user’s metabolism responds to different foods and exercise. 

A Long-Term Solution

The platform then offers recommendations based on a user’s unique metabolic profile. The insights are rich — users discover what foods are best for them, when to eat and when to exercise to bring their glucose levels back within range. 

Essentially, the goal is to navigate glucose spikes and dips, which may cause people to eat sooner than necessary and ingest more calories than needed. 

Signos also integrates with smart watches, smart scales and Apple Health data to track metrics. 

“Sleep, stress, exercise and diet all influence how high and sustained one’s glucose spikes can be,” said Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, founder and CEO of Signos. “We often don’t realize that people make around 227 food-related decisions a day. By providing glucose visibility, tracking and AI-driven proactive suggestions, Signos can help you navigate those choices for better health.” 

Fouladgar-Mercer, who founded Signos in 2018, views the mission of the startup as somewhat personal, having been open about his own experience with weight management struggles. And although many consumers have started taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, he doesn’t see the injectables as the ultimate solution. As Fouladgar-Mercer told CNBC, the headline-making medicine may kick off weight loss, but consumers often struggle to keep off the weight after stopping the medication. 

Signos also expanded its weight management platform for those living with Type 2 diabetes earlier this year, offering a separate program that pairs CGM technology and its app to promote health and weight control.

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Lifesum Creates Healthy Fasting Program for Employee Wellness https://athletechnews.com/lifesum-creates-healthy-fasting-program-for-employee-wellness/ Tue, 24 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99643 Designed to increase employee well-being and boost productivity, Lifesum’s latest program helps workers make fasting fit their lifestyle  Lifesum, a healthy eating app that has attracted major employers such as Amazon, GE and PayPal, has introduced a new digital health benefit, the Healthy Fasting Program, available through its Lifesum for Work corporate wellness platform. The…

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Designed to increase employee well-being and boost productivity, Lifesum’s latest program helps workers make fasting fit their lifestyle 

Lifesum, a healthy eating app that has attracted major employers such as Amazon, GE and PayPal, has introduced a new digital health benefit, the Healthy Fasting Program, available through its Lifesum for Work corporate wellness platform.

The Lifesum Healthy Fasting Program allows users to design a fasting plan that works for them based on their lifestyle and needs or opt for a pre-set fasting interval. Employees receive nutritional guidance on what to eat based on their fast selection, providing recipes with reminders of when to start and end their fast. 

The fasting lifestyle can be an ideal and healthy approach for employees, as proponents say it can optimize productivity and overall wellness.

“Fasting is a popular way of eating, but helping employees to find a fasting routine that fits their personal needs is key,” said Signe Svanfeldt, Lifesum’s lead nutritionist. “When practiced safely, individuals report higher levels of concentration, and feel more focused and energized.”

A Food-First Approach To Corporate Wellness

Since launching its healthy eating app in 2013, Lifesum has inspired over 60 million people with its unique approach to better-for-you food choices that incorporates personalized nutrition insights, guidance, recipes, meal plans, diets and food and exercise trackers.

As consumers continue to pivot towards wellness apps, platforms and therapies, employers have also taken note of the benefits of investing in employees’ health, such as increased engagement, retention and reduced absenteeism — all of which work in tandem to increase a company’s bottom line.

Lifesum recently added group insurance company YuLife as a corporate wellness partner, bringing its corporate wellness experience to member companies such as Tesco, Santander and Capital One.

The healthy eating app has also taken an innovative approach with the recent launch of its Hormonal Meal Plan, which encourages employees to balance hormones naturally and addresses what Lifesum calls a “workplace blindspot.”

While available to both male and female employees, Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan gives special consideration and attention to the nutritional needs of women experiencing menopausal symptoms, which, according to Lifesum, costs American women roughly $1.8 billion in lost working time each year.

In addition to nutritional support, Lifesum also promotes sleep hygiene and its impact on workplace wellness, as seen by a partnership with Oura. As part of collaborating with the wearable tech company, employees can access Lifesum’s sleep tracking feature to understand the link between sleep, nutrition and workplace performance. 

Svanfeldt offers the following tips for employees looking to fast healthily at work:

1. Avoid excessive caffeine: drinking black coffee is fine while fasting, but be careful not to exceed the individual tolerance level, as this can lead to headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate, and nausea. If you still feel like having a warm drink after consuming your daily coffee amount, enjoy an unsweetened, caffeine-free herbal tea instead.

2. Hydrate: stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Always keep a water bottle or glass close by, as it can help to curb hunger. If you want to make your water more exciting, infuse it with some herbs and/or sliced vegetables. Mint and cucumber are a perfect combination.

3. Plan meals ahead: make sure to plan your daily intake of food, and bring a nutritious meal to work. If you fast during the morning, it is likely that you will be very hungry during lunch. The natural temptation is to reach for a quick-fix sugary snack instead of a proper meal, so ensure that you prepare a home-cooked, nutritious meal instead.

4. Breaking the fast: when breaking the fast, aim to eat a balanced meal rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats to achieve a stable blood sugar raise, as well as filling you up with nutritious fuel. These three components help you stay fuller for longer and provide essential nutrients.

5. Stay flexible: always prioritize your health and well-being. Even if you had planned to fast for a certain amount of hours, it is important to listen to your body. Stay flexible and allow yourself to break if required. Fasting is not for everyone. We all have individual needs that can vary depending on the day, sleep duration and daily activities.

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As Fitness Evolves, ISSA Embraces ‘Nutrition on the Go’ https://athletechnews.com/as-fitness-evolves-issa-embraces-nutrition-on-the-go/ Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:05:44 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99536 ISSA has invested in making nutrition education more accessible, including with world-class content on its digital platforms In today’s accelerated society, achieving balance, especially regarding health and wellness, often seems like a distant dream. However, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), known for its rich history in fitness education, has emerged as a forerunner in…

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ISSA has invested in making nutrition education more accessible, including with world-class content on its digital platforms

In today’s accelerated society, achieving balance, especially regarding health and wellness, often seems like a distant dream. However, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), known for its rich history in fitness education, has emerged as a forerunner in making this dream a reality for countless individuals.

With the dawn of the digital age, the traditional paradigms of education have been reshaped. ISSA, attuned to these shifts, has invested in making nutrition education more accessible. 

As people traverse the globe, tethered to their smartphones and laptops, the concept of “nutrition on the go” has gained profound significance. Recognizing this, ISSA has harnessed technology to deliver world-class educational content on digital platforms, ensuring everyone, from personal trainers to business travelers and stay-at-home parents, can access valuable nutritional insights.

Nutrition on the Go

Historically recognized as a fitness-centric organization, ISSA has been instrumental in bridging the gap between physical activity and nutrition. Their innovative approach toward imparting knowledge is now making the nuts and bolts of nutrition more accessible than ever.

“On-the-go describes all of us right now in this busy world that we live in,” said Kurt Mangum II, ISSA’s Director of Strategic and Business Partnerships. “ISSA is making wellness more accessible by connecting people to fitness worldwide, through fitness education. We’re making education and wellness available via phone, tablet or computer. You can get that nutrition truly on the go — you can learn anywhere.”

Kurt Mangum II (credit: ISSA)

The pandemic ushered in an era where people, confined to their homes, began to explore ways to improve their health and wellness. ISSA identified this trend and played a pivotal role. They observed a surge in individuals enrolling in their courses, including those related to nutrition. The question “How do I manage nutrition on the go?” became ubiquitous, underscoring the importance of understanding what we consume.

“We saw a massive growth during the pandemic because people had more time, whether they were home or they had their phone in their hand or they wanted to learn something new,” Mangum said. “A lot of people came to ISSA wanting to improve their health and wellness, and nutrition was one of those very popular topics. People asked us how to eat properly on the go and how to apply that knowledge to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Mangum stresses one important key is providing customized programs, not a one-size-fits-all approach. ISSA prepares coaches to help clients not only meet and surpass their goals, but also feel empowered by the process. The nutritionist certification, ISSA’s second most popular certifying option, perfectly aligns with continuing education requirements, providing a major value-add for busy fitness professionals looking to easily maintain their credentials.

Long-Lasting Transformations

Mangum, a former collegiate athlete, emphasized the adage, “You can’t outrun a bad diet.” Reflecting on his athletic days and how he himself can’t justify eating the large portions he used to, Mangum underscores the importance of diet, stating that he uses an 80/20 rule: 80% of positive health outcomes come down to diet and 20% to activity. This ratio varies based on a client’s unique needs, lifestyle and health history — all of which can be finetuned with knowledge gleaned from an ISSA certification.

ISSA launched in 1988 and has been offering nutrition-related certifications since 1995. Today, they have a formidable presence in over 176 countries. But it’s not just about nutrition facts and figures, macro and micronutrients, and knowing how to read labels; it’s also about behavioral change and modification. 

“It takes 21 days to form a habit,” Mangum said. “We want to prepare our coaches so that they’re able to help with positive change to make real, long-lasting transformations.”

For some, the notion of customized nutrition might seem a far-fetched idea while “on the go.” However, with ISSA’s nutritionist certification, every fitness professional is equipped to cater to individual needs while staying within scope of practice. 

“When you have the right knowledge, you can apply it to different clients effectively,” Mangum said.

A unique aspect of ISSA’s nutritionist certification is the live bootcamp and practical application, which gives coaches the real-world experience they need to embody the knowledge. The hands-on experience, coupled with a gamut of case studies and live Q&A sessions with master trainers, ensures an interactive and enriching learning journey.

credit: ISSA

Nutrition as a ‘Hidden Superpower’

While nutrition is an obvious, needed tool in any fitness professional’s toolbox, ISSA strives to widen the entry for anyone interested in taking a deep dive into nutrition.

“One of the most frequently asked questions our fitness professionals get is, ‘What should I be eating?” Mangum says. “Every person is looking for something customized. ISSA prepares people to create unique programs that also help with behavioral change. When we talk about our nutritionist certification, we like to say that you can turn food into a hidden superpower.”

There are no barriers to entry at ISSA, which is committed to making sure that everyone has an opportunity to gain more knowledge and wisdom about healthy eating habits.

“I think we saw the importance of this time in history when more people wanted the knowledge for themselves,” Mangum said, adding that he has seen an uptick in interest from people who are not strictly defined as fitness professionals. “Now, with nutrition on the go and the ability to study from anywhere, people who simply want to get serious about improving their health and wellness — whether it’s a mom who wants more information and guidance on what to feed the kids or someone who wants to help their family or community — are seeking advanced education. It opens it up to anyone and everyone who wants to know more so that they can make informed changes.”

As the fitness landscape evolves, it’s evident that the lines between fitness professionals and enthusiasts are blurring. With the rise of influencers and bloggers, there’s a pressing need for credible information. ISSA has made strides in this realm, partnering with influencers and providing them with certified knowledge. This initiative not only empowers the influencers but also ensures their followers receive accurate and beneficial information.

Brand Partnerships & Pushing Boundaries

ISSA’s vision transcends traditional boundaries. As they collaborate with brands, one such notable partnership is with Trifecta Nutrition, a meal delivery service. This collaboration epitomizes ISSA’s commitment to providing value to its vast network of fitness professionals and members. They have many partnerships in the works, Mangum said, including one with a “major nutritional supplement company.”

For 35 years, ISSA has empowered fitness professionals with the knowledge and expertise to help others achieve their health and fitness goals. Through their many certified programs and array of educational resources, ISSA equips aspiring fitness and wellness professionals with the skills to motivate, educate and transform lives. They also instill an ethos of lifelong learning so that certified fitness professionals can continue to expand their knowledge and better serve their communities.

ISSA’s approach to nutrition education is disrupting the industry in the best way possible. With over 500,000 fitness professionals under their wing, their mission to create a healthier and stronger global community is well underway. For industry leaders, the message is clear: ISSA is not just shaping the future of fitness and nutrition, they’re leading it, and they’re looking for partners who also want to expand the reach of wellness. 

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The Future of Food? Nestlé Explores AI-Powered Personalized Nutrition   https://athletechnews.com/nestle-explores-ai-powered-personalized-nutrition/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 20:38:02 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99365 The food and drink giant is one of several firms using tech developed by January AI to dive deeper into personalized nutrition “Artificial Intelligence” may be one of the biggest buzzwords of 2023, and for good reason: fitness and health companies are among the leading players harnessing the simulation of human superpowers. Among those major…

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The food and drink giant is one of several firms using tech developed by January AI to dive deeper into personalized nutrition

“Artificial Intelligence” may be one of the biggest buzzwords of 2023, and for good reason: fitness and health companies are among the leading players harnessing the simulation of human superpowers. Among those major players are food industry titans, who are clamoring in test kitchens, using algorithms to create recipes designed to make palatable yet healthy food. 

As consumers continue to adopt healthy habits and as weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are clobbering shares of snack and beer companies, it’s likely prudent for the food industry to lean into creating healthier (but still tasty) products.

January AI, a metabolic health platform, looks at the current landscape as a crisis, heightened by rising healthcare costs and an alarming statistic from the CDC that 37.5 million Americans (roughly one in ten) have diabetes, with one in five unaware that they have the condition. It’s a grim picture, but one that January AI has set out to change by promoting well-informed eating with generative AI.

Launched in 2017 by Noosheen Hashemi and Stanford University’s Dr. Michael Snyder, January AI says its approach can help end lifestyle-related diseases.

January AI’s Digital Twin 

The metabolic health platform uses wearables to help users decide what to eat by combining continuous glucose monitoring, generative AI and a database of 32 million food items, but it takes it a step further. Users can now access a digital twin, to see how certain food selections will impact their digital twin’s blood sugar.

credit: JanuaryAI

It’s the equivalent of offering consumers a science-backed crystal ball in which they can see the potential impact of certain foods on the body, therefore encouraging them to make healthier meal choices.

Nestlé Embraces AI

The platform is helpful to consumers, but it’s also proving valuable to major food companies, such as Nestlé. The multinational food and drink leader is using January AI’s digital twin technology as it considers AI for product innovation, such as personalized nutrition for those with special considerations, like diabetes.

According to January AI, the food industry has the potential to enhance the taste and texture of food, as well as its glycemic impact on the body, by using its digital twin capabilities.

“Our digital twin technology gives food companies an additional level of intelligence beyond what they already employ in their product development process,” explained Hashemi, CEO of January AI. “We’re able to help them see how people with diabetes or pre-diabetes would do on their various foods and decide how to reformulate their foods to be healthier for the population. This allows for virtual product development and optimization before any costly lab work is undertaken.”

AI-Powered Cheese

Along with food industry leaders, biotech companies are also exploring the power of AI to make nutrition more personalized and even positively impact the environment.

Climax Foods, a biotech startup, made news this summer for using “precision formulation” AI to discover a plant-based protein ingredient that mimics the melting magic and texture of casein, a dairy protein in cheese. A win for those with allergies, dairy sensitivities or a vegan lifestyle, Climax Foods credits its proprietary AI and data science process for discovering a new approach in creating AI-powered cheese.

Instead of attempting to genetically engineer plants to make proteins, Climax Foods says it uses data science and machine learning to model different formulations while also uncovering what makes certain foods “craveable” to human taste buds. 

While it may sound reminiscent of a high school chemistry class, Oliver Zahn, CEO and founder of Climax, explains that the company isn’t changing any ingredients genetically, but is using what already exists.

“Plants can impart all of the same texture, taste, and performance of animal-based ingredients – our AI-enabled Deep Plant Intelligence platform takes away the guesswork,” Zahn said. “For our casein replacement, our AI platform and precision formulation process helped us uncover a mechanism in specific plant proteins that imparts indistinguishable melt and stretch and mouthfeel from casein while also dramatically improving nutrition.”

credit: Climax Foods

Although it’s focused on dairy products at the moment, Climax Foods has its sights set on food products far past cheese. Zahn confirmed that the biotech company’s AI process can one day be applied to replace other animal-based foods. 

“This is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in food in the last six thousand years—since humans invented animal agriculture – but we are only getting started,” Zahn said.

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ISSA Acquires Empowered Education, Bolstering Wellness & Nutrition Offerings https://athletechnews.com/issa-acquires-empowered-education-bolstering-wellness-nutrition-offerings/ Tue, 10 Oct 2023 12:30:00 +0000 https://athletechnews.com/?p=99251 The Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance, two Empowered Education Brands, are now part of ISSA The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), a leading fitness, nutrition and wellness education provider, has acquired Empowered Education, a functional nutrition, health and life coaching provider. The newly acquired business is the parent company of the Health Coach…

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The Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance, two Empowered Education Brands, are now part of ISSA

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), a leading fitness, nutrition and wellness education provider, has acquired Empowered Education, a functional nutrition, health and life coaching provider.

The newly acquired business is the parent company of the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance, which will now become part of ISSA. The deal follows ISSA’s acquisition of the Functional Aging Institute continuum last year and several recently launched educational programs, such as one that serves military members and their families and yoga and wellness training.

ISSA says the move to acquire Empowered Education marks a significant milestone in the organization’s journey to inspire 100 million individuals to healthy living by 2030. Stacey Morgenstern, co-founder of the Health Coach Institute, agrees with the fitness and wellness education leader.

“Under ISSA’s leadership, both the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition are poised to impact even more lives,” Morgenstern said. “What particularly stands out is ISSA’s collaborative ethos— forging ties with over 10,000 gyms and universities to ensure job placement to qualifying graduates. This is a game-changer and we are thrilled for the impact this partnership will have on helping millions of people live healthier, happier lives.” 

Andrea Nakayama, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance, says the acquisition will “supercharge” the platform with new learning experiences due to ISSA’s robust platform and the collective expertise of the two.

ISSA’s acquisition of Empowered Education will result in an expanded range of courses with a student-centric approach and the addition of 36,000-plus members of the Health Coach Institute and Functional Nutrition Alliance to ISSA’s base of over 500,000 students. 

More Than Just Personal Training

By folding in Empowered Education, ISSA is ushering in a transformational period designed to significantly impact the industry, said Andrew Wyant, CEO and president of ISSA.

“Already the established industry leader in personal training certification, we will become the clear choice for health coaching, life coaching and functional nutrition, offering the industry’s most holistic view of health and fitness certifications,” Wyant said

ISSA was recently enlisted by Orangetheory Fitness to provide customized recruitment solutions and “up-skill” Orangetheory coaches as the boutique fitness brand looks to continue expanding.

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