[00:00:00] Welcome to Salad with a side of Fries. I'm your host, Jenn Trepeck, talking wellness and weight loss for real life. We're here to clear up the myths, misinformation, bad science and marketing to teach you how to eat and how to cheat. Are you ready? I'm having salad with a side of fries. This week we're talking about Neap Foods protein gel.

[00:00:27] Shout out to Dawn who is on my podcast post-production team. She emailed this one to me and said, I saw a video about these protein gel packs and thought they sounded interesting. I haven't tried them yet, but figured I'd share. Well, thank you Dawn. By the way, if you have an idea for a nutrition nugget or even a question, submit it on social media at Jenn Trepeck, J-E-N-N-T-R-E-P-E-C-K, or Instagram.

[00:00:54] You can also message at salad with a side of fries pod, or go to the website, [00:01:00] a salad with a side of fries.com and that contact form, you can submit it there. Anyway. Dawn, we are thrilled that you submitted this one. I haven't tried them either. And my first thought when you said protein gel, and it kind of remind me of like, you know, goo that runners eat for intra workout fuel.

[00:01:22] Now the goo and those gels are usually carbs versus protein, and this one is apparently protein. So I'm curious. As usual, I'm gonna start with their website. So they say the first protein gel ever made 20 grams of protein as easy as a squeeze. The easiest way to get more protein without compromising a nutrition or convenience.

[00:01:44] Then they tell lightweight, portable, FDA food label, functional shelf stable. So all function, no filler ingredients. They say 20 grams of protein, 80 calories, one gram of carbs, zero grams of sugar, zero grams of [00:02:00] fat, zero allergens, 100% of the calories from protein. So it's interesting to me, we'll have to read the ingredients and all the nutrition facts to see, you know, how they're getting to all this.

[00:02:11] But on their website, they compare themselves to other protein supplements and frankly, how they differentiate themselves. It goes back to this idea of like no fillers, no sugar, better absorption, and I'm still curious to see more about the company. We'll get to the food label in a second, but I went to their about page, so this Ne Foods was founded by a woman named Sandra.

[00:02:36] Sure enough, I was right. She was a runner and she changed her workouts to from running to more strength training. And so then she was looking for more protein, and she says in there that she felt like she had to compromise with all the options, and I'm just gonna quote her here. She said, shakes were chalky and gross bars were dense and heavy.

[00:02:58] Powders were [00:03:00] inconvenient and messy. Nothing made me feel good and none of it fit into my life. So she took from her running days the energy gels that were light, quick and easy, and that is where NE was born. So she says it's the first protein gel of its kind, designed to be eaten on the go anytime. No mixing, no extra calories.

[00:03:19] No miss. Now she says it's the first of its kind. Full disclosure, I used to have a collagen. Gel basically. So I've had it before. The one that I liked was discontinued, so maybe it's the first one or the only one still available, but I've had one. I have no idea which one came out first. But anyway, let's see.

[00:03:43] For ourselves, let's go to the label. So the flavor options are strawberry, peach, mango, and watermelon, and then they have a variety pack. Personally, I think I'm probably most likely to try the peach, so we'll look at that one. By the way, tear and [00:04:00] enjoy straight from the pouch or mix into your favorite drinks and snacks.

[00:04:03] Store in a cool dry place. Best at room temperature are chilled. So I am hoping that this is like the collagen that I used to have. So like I said, it was a collagen gel. It had like a berry ish flavor and I would add it to my trim tea, which is a functional tea, and I would add the collagen gel to it that had this berry flavor and it sort of became like this flavored iced tea, but way better for you than Snapple.

[00:04:29] But it kind of had that flavor thing. So I am very hopeful here. Okay, the label. Serving size, one pouch, 80 calories, zero grams of fat, one gram of carbs, which says zero grams of fiber, zero grams of sugar, and then 20 grams of protein. Micronutrients are just seven milligrams of calcium. So, so far we're seeing what they said we would.

[00:04:54] Now let's look at the ingredients. So it's bovine collagen. Water, citric [00:05:00] acid, natural flavors, el tryptophan, el methionine, monk, fruit extract, and sivia extract. So I wonder if it's hydrolyzed collagen. There are some ingredients in here that may be deal breakers for some people. Specifically the natural flavors, the citric acid and the stevia.

[00:05:18] In my personal humble opinion on all of these, I think it's about volume and how much we're getting on the whole of all of the things that we're eating most of the time. So think about how often are these included in the ingredients of the stuff that you're getting most of the time. And then you can pick and choose.

[00:05:40] I like that the sweeteners are at the end of the list. The L tryptophan and the el methionine are both amino acids, so we often hear about el tryptophan with like, you know, Turkey at Thanksgiving, the el tryptophan making you sleepy, but it can support mood [00:06:00] because, okay, so geek out with me for a second.

[00:06:03] El tryptophan is converted into five hydroxy tryptophan, which is then converted or can then be converted into serotonin. Then El methionine can function kind of like an antioxidant in the body. It can also support tissue repair. Now we really don't know how much of either of these are in this product, and frankly, given the benefits that she touts.

[00:06:30] I'm not sure there's much of them because she doesn't really talk about their benefits, at least that I could find. As I think about some of the things that I often look for, like the L methionine could be functioning like an antioxidant to help with absorption. Like often I see vitamin C and antioxidants with collagen.

[00:06:53] So that it helps with absorption and utilization. So maybe that's why the Al Methionine is in there. I just wish, I don't know, [00:07:00] maybe there's not even enough of it for her to tout those benefits, but it's interesting. I think all in, I'm okay with these ingredients on balance with the rest of the things that we have in the majority of our days and our lives.

[00:07:14] I think the caveat to that. Is, you know, it's collagen and while collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, I'm not totally sure that collagen is really the best source for building muscle. So that's why we often turn to way for those. Uses. And then if we compare this then to other collagen options, this one to me has more protein than many others.

[00:07:43] Like one that I use has nine grams of protein per serving. And then this, the Neat Foods protein gel has 20, I wish they told us the type of collagen, like type one, type three. I'm guessing that's probably what it is, but I don't really know for sure. And [00:08:00] then, I mean, the one that I have has fewer additives.

[00:08:03] But also certainly not the flavor and sort of a different function. Like the one that I have is a powder that I mix with other protein or other drinks to beef 'em up. I also respect in the FAQ, she says very clearly, it is not a meal replacement. I respect that. And also in the FAQ, she mentions that this could be a pre or post-workout anytime you need extra protein without a sugar spike or kind of bulk in your system.

[00:08:31] So. I think I'd tried this one. I'm curious if you've tried it. I'm curious to taste it. Frankly, if it means that I can have my flavored functional iced tea again, I am very excited about it. So thank you again to Dawn for sending this one in. There you have it. Friends. NE Foods protein gels. Well, as always, everybody, I'm Jenn Trepeck.

[00:08:57] Connect with me on Instagram or all social media. I am at [00:09:00] Jenn Trepeck. J-E-N-N-T-R-E-P-E-C-K. Website is a salad with the side of fries.com. Pick your platform, send a message, send your takeaways, your ideas, your questions. Hearing from you is the highlight of my day. And Dr. Sherry Price. Thank you again for being here.

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