PITTSBURGH As Cameron Sutton and Steven Nelson started to share a locker room this spring, the veteran cornerback noticed the crystals in the younger defensive backs locker.

I'm very into it, Nelson said. I know exactly what that is. It's spirituality.

The two cornerbacks quickly formed a bond that's continued into the thick of the season. Their conversations cover the types of soaps they use, gum they chew and their decision not to eat red meat or pork.

But the crystals came early on. And as the slightly younger Sutton pulls through a 2019 season with a changed, though increasingly prominent role in the team, he continues to do so with a regular practice of crystal healing.

They all serve their own purpose, you know what I mean, Sutton said. Obviously it's coming from nature's greatest.

Sutton and Nelson, among plenty of others, believe that proximity to certain rocks and minerals can help with ones day-to-day disposition, energy levels and focus, among other attributes, plenty of which are widely open to the individuals interpretation.

And while the size of the the crystals varies greatly, the Steelers defensive back notes that cultures in different parts of the world believe in the ability of different stones to aid people in their daily lives. His girlfriend, Courtney Alexander, told him about the practice years ago. Shes better-read on the subject than Sutton is, he said, and handcrafts bracelets and jewelry with the stones.

Throughout the week of practice leading up to a game, Sutton will pick out a stone for a purpose for each day. And, if at the end of the week, the Steelers are traveling, Sutton will pack four or five, plus a hand-held dream catcher to bring with him.

Certain stones have very specific purposes, whereas others are more open to the needs of whoevers around them.

The approximately 10-inch tall selenite crystal that was in Suttons locker last week, he explained, is an energy stone, bringing positivity and clarity. Though there are different meanings, those are the base readings, he said.

It's really cool obviously to see the benefits that they put out and obviously in return the benefits you reap from that, Sutton said. I think it's something that obviously you don't' force on anybody. People ask about it and then obviously it brings attention and curiosity to some people.

But obviously there's a few people that keep up with those things too.

Nelson is the most direct supporter of the practice, but when the Steelers travel, Sutton does charge the crystals in the light of the hotel room window, moving a table over and placing the rocks there to absorb the light of the sun and the moon.

His weekend roommates dont mind. Sutton shares a room with Artie Burns on the road. Joshua Dobbs roomed with Sutton before he was traded in Week 2, and he had no issue with the practice, either.

If there's no window, Sutton will take the crystals outside. Between uses he and his girlfriend clean and charge them. They charged them all up at the last full moon.

A lot of people don't really, you know, they see crystals, they don't think about it, Nelson said. They just think it's a rock. But it has meaning.

The crystals are part of the same diet, exercise and health product discussions Nelson and Sutton share.

It works for Sutton. He used to buy his stones at Journeys of Life in Shadyside before it shut down. He still looks for shops that sell them whenever he travels with his girlfriend.

On Friday, as the Steelers neared the end of their preparation for their first game since Sutton shined with a clinch interception against the Los Angeles Chargers, he explained the powers of citrine. It provides clarity, love and energy.

They're reasons why it's a regular in Sutton's rotation of rocks.

It's kind of just what you want out of those stones, what those stones define in how you're feeling, he said. And like I said that's something else that's manifested and you can bring that out and carry with you.

Sutton, like a lot of the youngest Steelers, still lives on South Side just a few minutes away from the team's headquarters. He and his girlfriend have talked about moving North or into some suburb of Pittsburgh, but he's in Year 3 of a four-year rookie contract, carving out a role playing a specific slot corner position all but exclusively on passing downs.

There's little point in moving out and buying up.

Still, Sutton feels a benefit from stones. That sensation isn't isolated to those he carries with them as he's feeling whatever lift he's getting on a given day. But he knows, he said, and that's enough.

It could be lucky socks. It could be 'Hey I wear these lucky socks, manifest a good game, manifest, making plays, manifest, you know, certain things that guys have that they can carry with them, Sutton said. It's not really a pinpoint thing.

Its something that they use. It keeps you motivated.

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Steelers CB Cameron Sutton powers on (in part) aided by his crystal collection with support of Steven Nelson, - PennLive

Youve definitely heard of the ketogenic diet starving your body of carbs to force it to burn fat and produce the mind-clarifying, brain-healing compounds known as ketones. You may have even heard of people and athletes ingesting ketone salts or drinks to propel them into or keep them in a state of ketosis. And if you were paying close attention during the Tour de France this year, you may have spied Team Jumbo-Visma openly drinking ketones mid-race.

The funny thing is, these athletes are not on a ketogenic diet. They are not fat adapted.

For the last three years or so, weve seen Tour athletes fueling with carbs and then supplementing with exogenous ketones to score a two to three percent boost in performance from dual-fueling, says Matt Johnson, a former competitive cyclist and co-founder of The Feed, an online sports nutrition shop and leading supplier of exogenous ketones in the U.S. June was insane with teams placing $10,000 to $20,000 orders for ketone esters and rush shipping them to France. We could barely keep up with it.

Elite athletes biohacking to score a tiny edge? Nothing new.

But this is: a study in the Journal of Physiology says everyday athletes who arent on a keto diet, who arent fat-adapted, may improve their recovery by a whopping 15 percent just from drinking exogenous ketones after intense training days. And the news is spreading.

We have also had a huge spike in individual athletes ordering the product that seems to be only growing, Johnson adds.

Now, will this approach work for you? Heres everything you need to know.

First, a quick biology lesson slash crash course in the trendiest diet of the twenty-teens: in an ideal world, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is then transported and used or stored as energy for your muscles, organs and, most importantly, your brain.

Your brain is at the top of the pecking order it gobbles about 20 percent of your total energy expenditure, a lot for a single organ and if its not fueled, everything else stops functioning. When you deprive your body of carbohydrates, your muscles can use fat for fuel, but your brain cant. Instead, your body has a fail-safe to prevent total shutdown: the liver starts converting fat into a superfood designed to save your starving brain: ketones.

Even if your body can adapt to burning fat quickly to fuel long runs and rides, it would still prefer to burn carbs. Which is why the notion of pro athletes downing exogenous ketone drinks without having to give up carbs is completely bonkers.

Ketones are essentially a fourth macronutrient your blood sugar is stable, your body is burning fat and your brain has entered an almost elevated state of functionality. In ketosis the state you reach when adhering to a keto diet your brain starts producing more mitochondria (the little powerhouses of energy in your body) and better regulating neurons. Staying in a state of ketosis has been shown to help clear the brain of proteins that can lead to and worsen Alzheimers disease, reduce seizures in about half of people with epilepsy and even extend the lifespan of mice.

In athletes, staying in ketosis via a ketogenic diet can increase fat utilization during exercise (great, considering your body can store way more fat for fuel than carbs), help reduce body fat and sometimes improve endurance time trials and sprint peak power.

The catch: it all rides on you steering clear of carbs with no slip-ups. If you eat more than your allotted count typically 50 grams, which is one cup of pasta or just two bananas your body falls out of ketosis and you dont get any of these benefits. And pretty much all nutritionists agree that even if your body can adapt to burning fat quickly to fuel long runs and rides, it would still prefer to burn carbs.

Which is why the notion of professional athletes downing exogenous ketone drinks without having to give up carbs is completely bonkers.

In the early 2000s, as part of a DARPA program to enhance U.S. soldier performance, Oxford professors Kieran Clarke and Richard Veech set out to distill the exact molecular structure of one of the ketones our body produces. The resulting ketone ester is a specific molecule, butanedial, that converts directly to beta hydroxybutyrate, the ketone our liver naturally produces in the ketogenic state, when you digest it, explains Geoffrey Woo, co-founder and CEO of HVMN.

HVMN is currently the only company to produce ketone esters, as they lease the patent to Clarke and Veechs molecular structure.

Now, keto followers are probably familiar with other brands of keto drinks (usually based on MCT oil) and ketone salts. But esters are different than these aids. MCT oils dont produce ketones; they help put your body in a state of ketosis so it can start producing its own but since that requires carbohydrate starvation, thats not an option for dual-fueling athletes, Johnson explains.

Ketone salts, meanwhile, use beta hydroxybutyrate as well, but by their nature, theyre bound to a mineral. Because you have to take so much ketone to raise your blood levels enough to see an effect, youre also gaining a lot of mineral load. This leads to a lot of GI issues in athletes, explains Woo. That, plus the fact that the salts dont raise your ketone levels that much, leaves a lot of room for a superior product. There has been minimal testing on the aids but the HVMN esters have been tested and verified, Johnson says.

Ketone esters are a way to eat ketones directly thats going to convert 100 percent to ketones in your body, Woo adds.

Woo says professional athletes drinking exogenous ketones during a race report about a two to three percent increase in performance. That matters in an event like the Tour but the real benefit for athletes, especially everyone other than Egan Bernal or Geraint Thomas, seems to be in downing a bottle once the race is over.

The aforementioned Journal of Physiology study, conducted by seemingly impartial Belgian researchers, simulated a Tour with everyday athletes: 20 fit men trained twice a day (HIIT or intermittent endurance training in the morning, then 1.5- to 3-hour endurance sessions at night), six days a week for three weeks. Half drank a ketone ester after each workout while half drank a placebo.

After three weeks, the guys were shredded everyone showed signs of cardiovascular, hormonal and perceptual overreaching. But those who had taken ketone esters regularly had significantly less damage in all these areas, and on a two-hour endurance test, they were able to ride at a higher sustainable pace and produce more power in the final 30 minutes compared to guys who recovered regularly. All in all, researchers estimated the ketone esters helped improve recovery by 15 percent.

Mainly, its providing your body with another option for fuel, says Jonathan Scott, Ph.D., R.D., an assistant professor at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland who researches performance nutrition and dietary supplements.

You can still have your cake and eat it too. Athletes dont need to consume a diet thats extremely restrictive, and they can then consume exogenous ketones to introduce yet another fuel source the body can use.

Your brain is either going to use glycogen or ketones for power. If ketones are available, glycogen is spared and your muscles can instead use that energy to fuel fiber repair and metabolic cleanup. Whats more, now your body isnt going to break down other structures like muscle fiber to get your brain the fuel, saving your body extra damage.

And, because ketones keep your blood glucose stable, your body is steadily producing insulin, which sweeps glucose into your cells, continuously topping off the pool of energy as its being used and at a much faster rate than youre able to with food, Scott explains.

In addition to faster post-exercise glycogen replenishment, a 2018 Italian study in Current Sports Medicine Report foundthat exogenous ketones decrease proteolysis (the breakdown of proteins into amino acids) and act as metabolic modulators and signaling metabolites.

Theres also some chemistry research to suggest exogenous ketones may help realign your hormone production, adds Krista Austin, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., a sports scientist, exercise physiologist and nutritionist. The anterior pituitary produces hormones that become dysregulated if youre overtraining, dont sleep well at night, have a poor heat tolerance, or experience something like a traumatic brain injury, she explains. Exogenous ketones seem to help realign the production of susceptible hormones like prolactin, which can otherwise prevent proper sleep and recovery.

To top it off, it takes very minimal effort for athletes to earn all these gains: You can still have your cake and eat it too literally and figuratively, Scott explains. Athletes dont need to be consuming a diet thats extremely restrictive on food choices or energy sources during exercise, and they can then consume exogenous ketones to introduce yet another fuel source the body can use.

Johnson says its only a matter of time before major American sports stars pick up the training aid and that well definitely see it in the Olympics. Basketball and hockey especially have some grueling schedules. Imagine the benefit in-season for back-to-back games on the road?

Johnson estimates that roughly 80 percent of the interest in exogenous ketones on The Feed comes from Europe and about 60 percent of that is from non-elites.

For most amateur athletes, that 15 percent improvement in recovery means youll simply feel better after a grueling workout youll have less muscle soreness and stiffness, more energy, better range of motion and sleep better, says Austin.

But thats not necessarily the score it sounds like. If you dont feel terrible after a series of tough training days or a hard race, youre much more likely to get back out, sooner, Austin says. But you might do more harm than good. Until we understand better how exogenous ketones affect the body and recovery, numbing the alarm doesnt change the need for rest.

And will they even work for you like they do for the pros? Jurys still out. Everyday athletes are likely going to respond differently to exogenous ketones, considering just the impact of genetics and training on energy substrate metabolism (how well your body burns other fuel sources) alone, Scott says. And, as with all supplements or performance aids, there are very clearly responders and non-responders. It simply doesnt work for everyone, he adds.

But most importantly, there are so many other aspects of performance that everyday athletes would be better served to focus on, Scott points out, including but not limited to sleep, diet composition, diet quality, nutrient timing, hydration, training program, rest days, stress management, meditation, visualization and even social relationship quality. For elites, all these things are taken into consideration and already optimized, he says. But I would hate for an amateur athlete to start taking ketones to improve sleep for better recovery when its really their stress management that needs to be tweaked.

The upside: as long as you monitor everything above, all our experts agree, theres close to no risk in trying.

Pretty much everyone agrees you shouldnt be using exogenous ketones to enhance recovery after every hard workout or race. This isnt meant for a long weekend ride, Johnson cautions. Even if it was really hard and I came home completely bonked and exhausted, I dont need a ketone ester to feel better at work the next few days.

Not only will drinking it post-ride regularly lead to overtraining, but, at $37 a bottle, a few bottles a week doesnt make economic sense for most of us. The effects of exogenous ketones last roughly an hour after ingestion and youre intended to drink a whole bottle immediately after moving for recovery.

If a client is having trouble sleeping, Ill have them drink ketones before bed so their body can catch up on repairs. But its important to address the underlying issues of why theyre not sleeping in the bigger picture.

But when marathon training gets serious and youre logging 15K, 18K and 12K all within a few days? Thats when you want to take it. Harder training weeks, multi-day endurance competitions, multi-stage races I would absolutely be using it after every stage. That level of benefit is enormous, Johnson adds.

Austin agrees, but adds shell also use it sparingly to disrupt recovery inhibitors. If a client is having trouble sleeping, Ill have them drink ketones before bed for just a few nights so their body can catch up on repairs, she says. But its important to address the underlying issues of why theyre not sleeping in the bigger picture.

And while we have no studies on microdosing (which would be more approachable and more wallet-friendly), Austin says shes seen some results. If someone is new to training, that mid-morning fatigue can be debilitating in terms of getting work done, but taking 10 milliliters of ketones can give them an energy boost, she explains.

Everyone agrees, given the current state of research, exogenous ketones are generally safe. And the one high-quality product we have on the market now (HVMN) is good to go.

But its worth noting that exogenous ketones are currently sold as dietary supplements, which means theres no oversight by the FDA. As ketones become more popular and more formulas come to market, well inevitably see products packed with both other enhancements and other cost-cutting, potentially dangerous ingredients, Scott says. (The upside: the hefty price of formulas like HVMN will likely come down, too.)

We also dont know the effects or risks of using it long term is there a threshold after which exogenous ketones stop being as effective? If your body gets used to the aid in recovery, could it eventually stop being as efficient at rebuilding without it? Do you get any of the neuroprotective benefits of naturally going into ketosis? And, perhaps most importantly, if youre an ultra-runner or frequent multi-day racer using exogenous ketones for recovery, what nuanced alarm bells are you overlooking?

There are definitely a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to exogenous ketones. But with minimal risk and serious potential gains, we wouldnt knock anyone for giving a sip.

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How Athletes Are Reaping the Benefits of Keto Without Actually Giving Up Carbs - gearpatrol.com

Plant-based diets have many health benefits, from better heart health to lower risk of certain cancers. But eschewing meat and other animal products may not really improve your sex life, according to available evidence.

Meat-eating is often associated with masculinity in popular culture. We call muscular men "beefy," and words like "sausage" often euphemize male genitalia.

However, a growing number of advocates and experts hypothesize that it's actually a plant-based diet that best supports erection size and staying power.

The new vegan-friendly Netflix documentary, "The Game Changers" (produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, and James Cameron) dedicates a scene to exactly that topic, claiming that after a single plant-based meal, 3 young men found their erections lasted three times as long and were nearly 10% stronger.

Anecdotally, vegans have stronger, longer lasting erections but there's no evidence to back that up. Crystal Cox/Business Insider

The film features Dr. Aaron Spitz, urologist and author of "The Penis Book," a comprehensive medical guide to the human member.

In the movie, Spitz conducts a brief test on three male college athletes, measuring the girth, strength and duration of their erections over two nights as they sleep. The first night of the test, each of the men are given a meat-based burrito, and the resulting effects on their overnight erections is measured. The second night, the men are given plant-based burritos.

After eating the plant-based meal, all of the men showed an 8% increase in erection hardness, and a 300 to 500% increase in the amount of time their erections lasted, compared to the meat-based meal.

"This is not a scientifically validated study, but the results that we're seeing are very exciting," Spitz said in the film.

It turns out that those claims are supported by a rather flaccid body of evidence. Although anecdotal evidence is promising, there aren't yet any rigorous scientific studies to show a meat-free diet makes a difference on erections.

Vegan and vegetarian diets are typically low in saturated fat and cholesterol, which are plentiful in beef, pork, and dairy products. Healthy blood flow is also directly related to healthy erections high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other vascular problems linked to meat-eating have also been linked to erectile dysfunction.

It's true that better cardiac health can improve overall blood flow, which may lead to better erections, said Dr. Seth Cohen, urologist at NYU Langone Health.

"The harder your heart has to work to pump blood to your organs and everywhere else, the less actually makes it to the penis." Cohen told Insider.

But it's too early to say how, or if, plant-based diets affect sexual health, since the research just hasn't been done, he said.

"There really isn't any good data to say that a vegan diet will improve your erections," Cohen added Research slated for late this year aims to prove the virility of a plant-powered erection. gLuBeR/Getty Images

A new study to test how veganism directly affects men's sexual health has been scheduled for late 2019 or early 2020, led by Dr. Robert Ostfeld of Montefiore Medical Center. The research is funded by the Purjes Foundation, a nonprofit created by financier Dan Purjes to promote the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first and only research of this kind," Purjes told Insider via email. "To be clear, there are many anecdotal stories that are similar, but not clinical trials or other rigorous scientific studies."

Purjes said he hopes the trial confirms the hypothesis that a plant-based diet can help with erectile dysfunction, paving the way for more rigorous studies that could eventually bring the research to a mainstream audience.

Any future testing, Cohen added, would have to not only need to include more than three participants to be scientifically valid, but also account for other variables such as exercise, sleep, and other healthy lifestyle markers.

Diet does have a significant impact on health. What's good for the rest of your body is also good for your sex life for example, a 2004 study found a healthy diet and exercise could help mitigate erectile dysfunction in obese men.

However, the study doesn't specify a vegan diet, just one that's high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats and cholesterol. Other types of diets that fit this description like the Mediterranean diet, which includes fish have also been linked to improvement of erectile dysfunction. Exercise also plays a major role, according to the research.

"Diet and exercise together are the key to success. If you have someone that's eating a poor diet with a lot of meat and saturated fats and things to eating more vegetables, of course it'll be good for you," Cohen said. "Is it going to take your erections from zero to hero? I don't know."

Julia Naftulin/INSIDER

Your most recent meal may also have an immediate impact on your well-being; a small study found that eating a single fast food meal constricted the blood flow of otherwise healthy college students.

A healthy diet can include meat, but should also have lots of fresh produce, whole grains, and healthy fats, registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix previously told Insider. And as always, any serious dietary changes should be done gradually and with careful planning.

"You don't have to be a vegan, in this case. Even going from a diet that is very animal product-heavy to one that is more plant-forward would be a good idea," she said.

Read more:

A vegan said he got sick after Domino's served him pizza with real ham. Here's what really happens when vegans eat meat

10 common questions about erectile dysfunction, answered

10 of your most embarrassing questions about penis health, answered)

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A vegan diet can boost erections, according to a new Netflix documentary. Here's the reality. - INSIDER

Its been a big year for plant-based protein. Following White Castle last year, in August Burger King launched its meat-free Impossible Whopper. In April, Del Taco introduced Beyond Tacos, made with plant-based Beyond Meat protein. And in September, McDonalds announced that its first North American plant-based sandwich, the PLT, would arrive in Canada, also featuring Beyond Meat.

In 2018, both plant-based meat companies made headlines for their landmark investment deals. Impossible Foods raised a $189 million venture capital round, and Beyond Meat posted the best first-day IPO performance in nearly two decades, with shares popping 163% on its first day of trading.

According to Nielsen, the plant-based food market grew 20% between June 2017 and June 2018, while total food sales only grew 2% over the same period. In the U.S., the industry is estimated to be worth nearly $4.5 billion, up 11% in value between 2018 and 2019.

So, will the 2020s be the decade that meat becomes obsolete? And what should marketers do about it?

Embrace the Plant-Curious Era

While veganism an absolute rejection of animal-based products is growing, it remains a niche community. But a new consumer cohort is emerging: the Plant-Curious. These consumers dont follow a specific diet, but they are interested (for ethical, health or environmental reasons) in incorporating more meat-free meals in their routine. They are moved by a desire to gradually change their habits, not embrace a new identity. And thats a big difference: For many people, its no longer about whether or not you eat meat, its about how much meat you eat. According to a study by Nielsen, while only 3% of U.S. consumers follow a vegan diet, 39% are actively trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets. The plant-curious consumer, not the vegan consumer, will be the one that makes "vegan" products go mainstream.

Help your audience reconcile "want" and "should"

While conducting an ethnographic study of millennials food habits a few years ago, I was reminded that food is a loaded subject. It is highly emotional, and intrinsically linked to identity and community.

Whatever label people choose or dont choose for their diet, most of us experience a sharp tension between what we want to eat and what we know we should eat.

In my view, brand leaders have a responsibility to champion plant-based food because its healthier and more sustainable - it is truly what we should eat. Recent research suggests that Americans must consume 90% less beef and 60% less dairy in order to bring their carbon footprint to sustainable levels. And in 2015, The World Health Organization classified processed meats including ham, salami, bacon and frankfurts as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means that there is strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer.

But for most of us, meat is associated with reward, community, celebration, strength and in some cases, gender identity. Most cuisines place meat at the center of the meal. Meat is what we want to eat. What brands like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have understood is that the plant-curious crowd, who are really just U.S. consumers, wants ways to reconcile the want with the should. A burger that is plant-based, low in cholesterol and with a small carbon footprint, but that bleeds and tastes just like a real burger, is exactly that.

Start thinking of meat marketing as luxury marketing

If the Plant-Curious wave does become a watershed moment, we might soon find ourselves in a new paradigm where meat-free is the norm, and meat the exception.

In Meat: A Benign Extravaganza, Simon Fairlie explains that exceptional consumption of meat is actually the most environmentally effective use of resources by human societies, above and beyond pure veganism. Thats because some land will always be more suited to grazing than farming, and because of the agro-chemical benefits of creating food-production systems that leverage both animals and plants. For millennia, thats also how meat was consumed by humans: not as a thrice-a-day staple, but as a special occasion treat that brought the community or the family together.

One day soon, we will come to consider the meat-heavy diets of the 20th and early 21st centuries an anomaly in a food history dominated by plants. If that becomes the case, and if public regulators decide to act on the advice of public health specialists, and make health warning compulsory, the marketing of meat might well end up looking like the marketing of an exclusive champagne: a luxury item, best saved for celebrations, and savored with moderation.

Agathe Guerrier is the head of strategy of BBH LA.

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Vegan to plant-curious: A small shift that could make all the difference - Campaign US

"Veganism is the choice of those who want a sustainable and ethical planet, but achieving a nutritionally complete diet as a vegan is challenging," commented Healthycell CEO, Douglas Giampapa, "VEGAN ESSENTIALS is the first product to make sure that vegans are getting health-critical nutrients which may be lacking in a plant-only diet, in a revolutionary pill-free ultra-absorption formula made with MICROGEL technology. With a great-tasting natural peach mango flavor, VEGAN ESSENTIALS is both a uniquely functional and delicious gel that can be enjoyed conveniently straight from the pack, mixed in water, or added to smoothies."

In the past five years, veganism has grown rapidly. Up to 3% of the U.S. population, or about 10 million people, now identify as vegan. Many more aspire to be vegan but are put off by concerns that they will be deficient in nutrients typically provided by animal dietary sources. Additionally, most people who adopt veganism quit shortly thereafter, many due to nutritional concerns. A lack of essential nutrients is linked to several conditions more prevalent in vegans and vegetarians, including fatigue, poor cognition, memory loss, anemia, weaker bones, brittle nails, fragile hair or hair loss, digestive complications, and even depression.

"Our mission with this product is to support the millions of people on plant-based diets, so they can feel amazing and empowered to stay committed to a plant-based lifestyle indefinitely, and live the life they believe in," says Mr. Giampapa.

Formulated by an expert team of physicians and nutritionists, VEGAN ESSENTIALS is designed to provide 100% of the new FDA recommended daily value of essential micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients that bolster a plant-based diet, such as vitamin B12, omega-3, iron, vitamin D3, choline, zinc, vitamin A, and amino acids. It offers extra support for areas of vegan concern, including brain function, hair health, nail strength, energy, muscle mass, bone strength, and immunity.

The packaging is 100% recyclable. "We're obligated to protect our planet so it can keep providing for us and future generations," commented Mr. Giampapa, "We've committed to using only cruelty-free, sustainably-harvested ingredients and packaging that is 100% recyclable. Product boxes are recyclable through municipal programs, and we're partnered withTerraCycleso our customers can send back their empty gel packs free of charge to give them another life. But we're not stopping there we're looking into edible and biodegradable packaging for the future".

To learn more, visit healthycell.com, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Healthycell

About MICROGEL

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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New VEGAN ESSENTIALS by Healthycell Helps Vegans Avoid Nutrient Deficiency and Live the Life They Believe In - PRNewswire

Earlier this year Subway launched its first MEATLESS meatball marinara in the US. Yep, a completely veggie substitute to its meaty counterpart meatball marinara. But you'll be glad to hear that this time round, Subway are bringing it to the UK - I know, us Brits seem to always be second best when it comes to food launches (still fuming its taking this long for Cadbury's Caramilk to be a thing!)

The concept is pretty simple, the sub will include veggie meatballs, coated in tons and tons of marinara sauce nestled in between two hearty cuts of bread with the choice of cheese (if you're not vegan of course).

This veggie/vegan dream will be available this week in selected stores in Birmingham and Manchester. But there is some bad news, Subway is only trialling the sub so we're unsure how long it will be available.

If I were you, I'd be ON IT.

A spokesperson for Subway UK told Metro:

"We are currently trialling an exciting new vegan product, our Meatless Meatball Marinara, in a number of stores across the UK. We are hoping to introduce these nationwide early next year, so keep your eyes peeled and well let you know once we have more information."

Subway isn't the only ones this year who have decided to jump on the vegan bus, Pret has recently launched vegan versions of its famous sandwich range, Zizzi introduced a vegan pepperoni pizza and Ginsters even made a vegan Cornish pasty!

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Subway's Vegan Meatball Marinara Is Coming To The UK This Week - Delish.com

Travel company United Airlines recently announced its Flight Plan 2020, a strategy for next year which includes the addition of new vegan in-flight meal options. According to CNBC, the carrier aims to keep up with evolving customer demands by focusing heavily on plant-based options, which United Executive Chef Gerry Gulli revealed will include red beet hummus with roasted vegetables; roasted curry cauliflower with whipped hummus and pomegranate; and vegan stuffed grape leaf with dolma-infused yogurt. United is the only airline that operates its own kitchen and serves approximately 55 million meals annually. Gulli joined United in 1985 when all meals were frozen and its produce suppliers were limited. Back then I didnt think the meal service would ever be where it is now, Gulli said. Travelers wanted to get from point A to point B. Now cable TV and the Food Network has put excitement into food and made it fun. A lot of our customers are very food savvy. In July, United Airlines joined a growing list of companies to cut ties with SeaWorld by removing all mentions of the troubled marine park from its United Vacations website.

Want more of todays best plant-based news, recipes, and lifestyle?Get our award-winning magazine!

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United Airlines to Add Vegan Options to 2020 In-Flight Menu - VegNews

Plant-based options are growing every day. Meat and dairy alternatives are more realistic than ever, making fantastic substitutes for those who are transitioning away from animal products or whenever someone has a nostalgic craving. From fully vegan brands like Oatly, So Delicious, and NadaMoo, to unexpected traditionally dairy brands like Hagen-Dazs, Magnum, Perrys, and Baskin-Robbins, there are now options for everyone. Clearly, dairy-free products are in high demand! Thats why west coast burger chain, Fatburger, is adding dairy-free milkshakes and vegan cheese to their menus.

The vegan milkshakes have been available at twelve Fatburger locations in Southern California since October 14th. Fatburger told One Green Planet the milkshakes are made with hand-scoopedCraigs Vegan Ice Cream, a local brand, and they come in two flavors: vanilla and strawberry.

Source: Courtesy of Fatburger

Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of FAT Brands told One Green Planet: Our existing vegan items have performed incredibly well with not only vegans, but existing Fatburger customers who are looking to try something new. We have no doubt our new Craigs Vegan Ice Cream milkshake will follow the same trajectory.

This isnt the first time Fatburger adds plant-based options to the menu. They also already offer the Impossible burger patty. And now, customers can have dairy-free cheese with their meatless burger! Starting on November 1st, World Vegan Day, dairy-free cheese slices from Daiya will be available at Fatburger locations as well. The cheese slices can be added to any burger or sandwich purchase.

There was a successful test run for the dairy-free cheese slices in Los Angeles leading to this nationwide launch. Wiederhorn also says: After our successful test run in our hometown, Los Angeles, we are thrilled to offer ourFatburger fans around the US a 100 percent plant-based cheeseburger.

Dont live anywhere near a Fatburger or any place that offers vegan milkshakes? Weve got you covered with these recipes from the Food Monster App.

Source: Coconut Milkshakes and Cookies

These Coconut Milkshakes and Cookies by Kelly Farrier are a fun and indulgent treat that also nourishes your body with healthy and wholesome ingredients, like oats, coconut, and nuts. The milkshakes are a more natural alternative to the sugary, artificially colored and flavored milkshakes, made with only chilled coconut milk, liquid sweetener, and leftover cookie filling to pair perfectly with each cookie. This is the perfect summer treat to get kids involved in the kitchen or just to treat yourself.

Source: Peaches N Cream Milkshake

Peaches are loaded with carotenes, flavonoids, lycopene and lutein, which are beneficial in warding off macular degeneration, cancer and heart disease. Try them in this Peaches N Cream Milkshake by Crissy Cavanaugh.

Source: Cookie Dough Milkshake

Yep, you read right, all the flavors of a cookie dough in drinkable form, complete with a mini cookie on top, chocolate drizzle and some dairy free whipped cream. This Cookie Dough Milkshake recipe by Harriet Porterfield is a winner! Thick and creamy, gently infused with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and sweetened naturally with medjool dates.

We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

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West Coast Burger Chain Fatburger Adds Vegan Cheese and Dairy-Free Milkshakes to the Menu! - One Green Planet

Vegan jerky offers an environmentally friendly alternative to beef, argues columnist Jenna Ruzekowicz. (JENNA RUZEKOWICZ / The Stanford Daily)

Before I went vegan, I often craved the dry, spicy and tough composition of beef jerky. I devoured juicy red meat and cheered with glee each time my father started up the grill. Hamburgers were a weekend must in my family culture, and I loved every second when I dug into them.

When I found Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky in my first care package from home, I was skeptical, to say the least. The clear backing of the package exposed a muddy liquid surrounding the fake meat. After going vegan just three months prior, I was still navigating my way around the artificial meat industry. A multitude of brands have emerged in the market in recent years, each with hopes of capitalizing on the new environmentally-friendly trend in food products. But upon placing the jerky in my mouth, I was awestruck by the near-beef flavor. It tasted exactly like the sticks I had been consuming my entire childhood. And the most rewarding sensation of all was the lack of guilt in my chest.

The beef industry in America and around the world is one of the most economically inefficient food industries as a whole. With recent news surrounding the burning of the Amazon forest, more people have been turning toward vegetarianism and veganism to clear their consciences. The wastefulness of the beef industry can be understood by briefly examining the logic ofthe food chain. We grow crops to their maximum potential by pumping them full of fertilizers. We then spend an exorbitant amount of resources harvesting these crops. We could, of course, then directly eat these crops. For example, we make bread, eat corn and refine wheat into consumer goods such as cereal, crackers and flour.

But instead we choose the most calorie inefficient way to feed ourselves we feed these crops to cows so that later down the food chain, those cows can feed us. After the feed is distributed, the cows then spend long periods of time grazing land and being fed these crops, all to be slaughtered in the end. The land use is inefficient, the food production is inefficient and the calorie conversion, reported by IOPscience, comes in around 3 percent. In other words, for every 100 calories we put into feeding livestock, we only receive, on average, three calories in return. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms that there is an opportunity food cost (the food production you give up when choosing to produce another type of food) of 96% just to produce beef. Meanwhile, we are capable of producing 20 times as much plant-based food as beef with the same resources. In terms of land use however, with all else held equal in post-production systems such as transportation, packaging and distribution, we see the direct impacts of choosing beef over plants. On the same land, the same PNAS study finds that we would be able to produce 20 times as much plant-based food compared to animal-based food. Producing meat for a large scale of people is highly inefficient and not sustainable in the long run.

Many people know that beef is an inefficient way to feed ourselves, but in a sense we go with the flow. If it tastes good, we eat it. We often dont consider the various impacts of our meals, or consider what is necessary for a sustainable future that provides adequate calories for all. We tend not to consider the origins and history, in relation to calorie inputs, of our food, a negligence that increases our environmental footprints at the exact moment we should be working to decrease them. We must ask ourselves deep questions about the history of our food so we can make more economically sustainable choices every time we stack our plate.

When thinking about beef alone we need to ask: How many pounds of feed did the cattle consume before they were eventually eaten? How many calories of meat are gained from resources versus the potential plant-based calories? Are we operating in a way that is losing us money, resources and calories just for pleasure?

We must acknowledge that beef damages the food market as a whole. Beef consumption in the most general economic terms is inefficient, yet it becomes so difficult to draw ourselves away. For a world so focused on market efficiencies and accumulating wealth beyond measure, we are failing miserably in food production, distribution and calorie maximization. Because of this failing, we are wasting immense amounts of land and agriculture related resources that lead to various other environmental issues.

More than just reminiscence and nostalgia, the vegan jerky is exponentially better in terms of calorie production per given amount of resources. With advancements in fake meat products its becoming easier by the day to make economically efficient food choices. For those who love meat and fear missing the smokey flavor, I may have found the solution.

Contact Jenna Ruzekowicz at jruzekow at stanford.edu.

We're a student-run organization committed to providing hands-on experience in journalism, digital media and business for the next generation of reporters.Your support makes a difference in helping give staff members from all backgrounds the opportunity to develop important professional skills and conduct meaningful reporting. All contributions are tax-deductible.

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Vegan jerky: An efficient alternative to meat cravings - The Stanford Daily

Those not feeling misled about the amount of meat in their meat may have missed it. But brace yourselves: The Arkansas legislature made the national news a few months ago. Like so many proposals in recent years, this was another industry-backed Republican effort to hold back the hands of time. Witness state Rep. David Hillmans Act 501, signed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in March, a.k.a. the Tofurkey Law.

The laws stated purpose is to protect consumers from being misled or confused, but, anecdotally, we found more vegetarians who had accidentally been served meat than vice versa. Of course, there was a reason behind the sudden legislative concern for a problem no ones had after years of anonymous toil in the freezer aisle and as an afterthought on menus, plant-based food products have been having a moment.

The mere existence of this law means, in the battle of Tofurkey v. the State of Arkansas, the state has already lost the war. Vegetarian dining has evolved from the days late last century when a veggie burger was an exotic entree for forward-thinking restaurants.

It was a way to fill out the menu in a sort of new way, said John Gaiser, a former restaurateur in the city, now owner of Pennsylvania Trading Company. Gaiser operated Little Rocks stalwart Buffalo Grill restaurant. When the veggie burger hit Buffalo Grill, it would have been around 1988 or 1990, he said. We bought [pre-made] Gardenburgers, which was a brand. Hed seen them in trade magazines. I chose the Gardenburger because it tasted better some of them tasted like compressed cardboard at the time, he said. It handled well on the grill, it looked good on the bun. Now owned by Kellogg, Gardenburger launched in the mid-1980s, its titular dish based on a recipe from a vegetarian restaurant in Oregon.

I dont think it ever occurred to any of us at the time to make them ourselves, he said.

If you could go back and grab some menus from restaurants around here at that time, including some chains, youd find veggie burgers on a lot of folks menus, Gaiser said. So it wasnt the cutting edge, but it was walking up to the cutting edge, he said.

Even during the Reagan-Bush years, meat-preferring customers werent misled or confused as to the contents of the new menu option. However, some carnivorous cut-ups took the opportunity to mock the dish or, as Gaiser put it, there was a counter-cultural sideswipe that wasnt entirely positive.

As for the burger, it didnt sell gangbusters, but it gave everyone sitting at the table an option to be satisfied, Gaiser said. It was a good thing.

Further back, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, vegetarianism was considered so avant-garde in the U.S. that a big bulk of it was practiced at communes and Utopian cults up North.

Even in this land of soybeans and rice not to mention high obesity rates Arkansas will likely long prefer its meat. Still, nowadays, in most cities, vegetarians can now eat the same gnarly pub grub as their flesh-eating brethren burgers, dogs, fish sandwiches and more can all come plant-based. Even Burger King is getting into the action. So progress?

Many vegetarians will note that its just as easy to eat unhealthily as a vegetarian as it is for a meat-eater. Still, this sympathetic carnivore appreciates the marginally healthier option and found, in addition to the River Market plazas lauded vegan spot, a SoMa eatery dishing out meatless meat and misleading no Arkansas diners in the process.

Located on South Main Street, Esters rose from the ashes of Core Brewing of Springdales contraction from the Little Rock market. In fact, the huge Core sign still stands outside, not entirely misleadingly, as Core is still available on tap, and craft beer remains a focus at the bar. Even the batter for Esters hush puppies contains Core beer.

Any item on the menu can also be prepared for vegans, even down to the cheese or cheese, as it were.

Esters Land Yacht is not only wonderfully named, it holds great promise: A Frito chili pie burrito, you say? Sold. Containing quinoa and bean chili, dill sauce, cheddar and apparently Fritos, ours was tasty and nicely griddled, but lacking the crunch necessary to fall anywhere in the realm of being mentioned alongside Frito pie. The We Be Clubbin club sandwich had no such issues but at $12.99 is the most expensive thing on the menu, and on the high side for a club sandwich of any origin. Similarly cleverly named, the Dej Au Jus is a veggie take on a sliced roast beef sandwich. Even with a fine buffer of caramelized onions, provolone, dill horsey sauce, and, of course, jus, the faux beef came off a bit chewy. Texture, of course, is key in meat mimicry, and expectations are high in the age of the Impossible Burger. The science is obviously still sorting out veggie roast beef.

However, the veggie burger which by rights should be the flagship menu item at a place like Esters satisfied. Big, and noted as an 18-ingredient veggie patty, its served with the usual burger trimmings and comes with fries or Fritos for $10. Esters house burger takes the same patty, blackens it, and adds remoulade and crispy onion strings for another dollar.

Speaking of fries, the time has come to praise the french fries at Esters (battered in a coating that would also be great on veggie corn dogs, just saying). These fries are a highlight of the menu, and should be being discussed in LR fry fan circles.

The fried pie bites are also a delightful ender, arriving with cherry, blueberry and apple fillings and served with an almond whip. But perhaps the most surprising and delightful ender at Esters is its cavernous game room in the back. This industrial wonderland is full of video games, ping-pong and the exciting recent addition of Skee-Ball. With its garage door facing the alley, and a smattering of college-age gamers having fun, not to mention its veggie options, Esters began to resemble some Dickson Street eatery of yore no counter-cultural sideswipe intended.

There are still hits and misses with plant-based food acting in the stead of meats just as weve found when being served meats, to greater gastronomic peril.

Alleged consumer confusion has never tasted so sweet. Long may the plant-based option grow in Arkansas.

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Plant-based pub grub: Add Ester's to the list of vegan hot spots in Little Rock - Arkansas Times