ASAP M*LK Shakes Super Ingredients

 

We at ASAP HQ are so proud of our “super” ingredients that we just had to write an article to share with you (and to show off 😊). Throughout our creation process we ensured that we searched near and far for the best possible ingredients to put into our products. We were fed up with products that hid nasty ingredients behind smart marketing and so we promise to be as transparent as we can.

We have a belief that we should always know what it is in what we’re eating and to better understand how it impacts our body. We hope that by reading this article you can understand the benefits our drinks bring to you. Lots of our ingredients are foods that are advised to be eaten daily – just another reason to pick up one of our m*lkshakes.

 

Pea Protein

First up on the list is our main protein source - Pea protein isolate. It contains all 9 of the essential amino acids and naturally occurring BCAAs. Each of our drinks contain 20g of protein which gives a great protein hit for the amount of calories (less than 173 per bottle – now we’re really showing off 😉 ).

Our pea protein is derived form an actual super food – yellow split peas. These are also one of the most sustainable foods in the world as they recycle their own nitrogen in the soil meaning no artificial fertilisers are needed in the growth of these peas [1]. This helps in reducing the carbon footprint of our drinks even further from our dairy counterparts.

 

Chicory Root Fibre

Fibre is trending hugely at the moment because of all of the health benefits it brings to one’s diet. Chicory root fibre helps to support a healthy and happy gut. It acts as a prebiotic meaning it feeds the beneficial and helpful bacteria in your gut [2]. The knock-on impact of this is that it helps in reducing inflammation, improving the minerals absorbed and acting against harmful bacteria.

Because it is a prebiotic, chicory root fibre has also been linked to other benefits including aiding bowel movements, improving blood sugar control, and supporting weight loss.

 

Cocao Powder

Cocoa powder is derived from cacao beans that are fermented, roasted, and then pressed to remove most of the cocoa butter. It has a rich taste which can work beautifully in many formulations.

On top of its taste, it has been known to produce some health benefits. It is a rich source of dietary flavonoids which are known to play an important role in the prevention of coronary heart disease. The cacao beans have been related to reduced blood pressure and their capability to improve the lipid profile and insulin sensitivity [3].

Cocoa powder is also high in theobromine. This alkaloid can help lower inflammation, give increased energy, and keep one in a good mood.

How couldn’t we love it?

 

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil comes from the seeds of sunflowers and is 100% fat. It has many health benefits because it is low in saturated fat and high in both polyunsaturated (PUFAS) and monounsaturated (MUFAs) fatty acids. PUFAs, include omega-3s and omega-6s which can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. MUFAs may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Sunflower oil also contains vitamin E which can help fight age-related damage to skin and eyes [4].

 

Coconut Cream

Coconut cream is a thick cream made from coconuts. It is similar to coconut milk, but it has a higher fat percentage (usually between 19% and 22%). This means that coconut milk can be easily derived from the cream by adding water. It is key in giving our ASAP m*lks their creamy texture that makes it so smooth.

Coconut cream is high in healthier saturated fats which we can use as energy. We are also less likely to store this as fat. Coconut fats (medium-chain triglycerides – MCTs) also appear to have a positive impact on good HDL cholesterol which is associated with good heart health. Just to solidify their benefits, they are also thought to kill pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi which results in giving us an immunity boost and preventing us from getting sick.

 

Stevia

We have used stevia as a no-calorie natural sweetener in our drinks. Recent studies have shown the negative impacts of unnatural sweeteners such as sucralose and so we wanted to avoid these at all costs.

Having been derived from the stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) plant, we found it to be the healthiest sweetener that we could use. Stevia is made from extracting steviol glycosides from the leaves of the stevia plant. It is at least 200 times sweeter than sugar and so has allowed us to add that sweet craving we all have without adding any of the nasty subsequence’s that too much sugar has.

As well as reducing the amount of sugar needed for sweetness, stevia has been linked with health benefits such as it’s ability to regulate heartbeat and normalise blood pressure levels [5]. Just another reason we wanted to toss it in!

 

Cane Sugar

We have made our drinks low in sugar, but with just enough to give that extra sweetness. We wanted to make a product that was healthier than their dairy counterparts which in fact, have at least 30% more sugar than our tastier m*lks. On top of the reduced environmental impact that our drinks have, the extra health benefits are just another reason to pick us up instead. Why milk cows when you can milk coconuts?

 

Calcium Carbonate

We've packed our milkshakes full of calcium so you can build and maintain healthy strong bones [6]. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly, so you can count on us for your calcium fix. One of our shakes a day contains 50% of your daily calcium needs. Who needs dairy?

Salt

Salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride. It is used to flavour food and also as a stabilizer. On top of this, one of it’s main uses throughout history has been as a preservative. Sodium is used to contract and relax muscles, maintain the proper balance of water and minerals as well as conducting nerve impulses.

 

We also have an article here which goes through all of the vitamins that we fortified our milkshakes with. Here’s some quick facts about them also:

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is essential for many functions in the body, namely our vision, reproduction, the immune systems and preventing infections as well as tooth and bone development.

 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is involved in helping our bodies absorb calcium, boosting our immune systems and protecting bones, muscles, and hearts. It is also known for decreasing the risk of depression [7]. Our bodies produce it when we go out in the sun, but as Irish people this is few and far between, so vitamin D is so important for us to include in our diets. That’s why we have included 100% of your recommended daily amount in one of our shakes.

 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps to keep our skin and eyes healthy. It also has a role in supporting our immune system [8].

 

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is important for helping blood to clot which prevents excessive bleeding [9].

 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in the formation of collagen [10], the absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

 

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 (also known as Thiamin) is essential in breaking down carbohydrates to produce energy [11]. It also allows oxygen to be used by the body which in turn helps us to turn food into energy.

 

Vitamin B2

Riboflavin, as vitamin B2 is also known, helps the body break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to produce energy, and it allows oxygen to be used by the body.

 

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3 (Niacin) plays a similar role to vitamins B1 and B2 but it also creates cholesterol and fats and repairs our DNA [12].

 

Vitamin B5

Vitamin B5, also called Pantothenic acid, is involved in releasing energy from food and in particular it plays a pivotal role in fatty acid synthesis [13].

 

 

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 helps maintain a normal amount amino acids in your blood. Eating foods rich in vitamin B6 will help your body to guard against infection by boosting your immune system. B6 may also improve your mood [14] and reduce symptoms of depression by helping in making serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine (the “happy hormone”).

 

Vitamin B7

Biotin (vitamin B7) is commonly advised to support healthy hair and nails. It also used in many skin care applications.

 

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

Did you know, folic acid is extremely important in helping the body produce and maintain new cells (by playing a role in the production of DNA and RNA). Folic acid also helps in preventing birth defects in new-born babies as their cells and tissues grow rapidly. It also helps to promote hair growth.

 

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy. For people who don't eat meat or little animal products, there is a real risk of being deficient in B12. Proper B12 supplementation can help prevent muscle weakness and depression.

In other cases, a lack of vitamin B12 can actually cause pernicious anaemia [15] which is extreme tiredness and lack of energy. Because it’s something that vegans need to supplement daily, we have added in 100% of your daily recommended amount into one of our shakes. We’ve got you covered 😉

 

That has taken us to the end of this article on our ASAP ingredients, which I am sure you now agree are super 😊

We care about what you put into your body and so we made sure to use the best possible ingredients. The benefits above speak for themselves in keeping us all healthy together.

 

 

1. Nelson, L.M., 1983. Hydrogen recycling by Rhizobium leguminosarum isolates and growth and nitrogen contents of pea plants (Pisum sativum L.). Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 45(3), pp.856-861.
2. Bindels, L.B., Delzenne, N.M., Cani, P.D. and Walter, J., 2015. Towards a more comprehensive concept for prebiotics. Nature reviews Gastroenterology & hepatology, 12(5), pp.303-310.
3. Monagas, M., Khan, N., Andres-Lacueva, C., Casas, R., Urpi-Sarda, M., Llorach, R., Lamuela-Raventos, R.M. and Estruch, R., 2009. Effect of cocoa powder on the modulation of inflammatory biomarkers in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 90(5), pp.1144-1150.
4. Stoia, M. and Oancea, S., 2015. Selected evidence-based health benefits of topically applied sunflower oil.  Sci. Rep, 10, pp.45-49.
5. Ena, G., Shalini, P. and Shanthy, S., 2013. Nutritional and therapeutic values of Stevia rebaudiana: A review. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 7(46), pp.3343-3353.
6. Shin, C.S. and Kim, K.M., 2015. The risks and benefits of calcium supplementation. Endocrinology and Metabolism, 30(1), pp.27-34.
7. TILDA (2020). Vitamin D deficiency in Ireland – implications for COVID-19. Available at: https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/Report_Covid19VitaminD.pdf (Assessed: April 2020)
8. HSE (2022). Vitamin E. Vitamins and Minerals. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-e/
9. HSE (2022). Vitamin K. Vitamins and Minerals. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-k/
10. HSE (2022). Vitamin E. Vitamins and Minerals. Available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/
11. National Institutes of Health (2021). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Thiamin. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional/ (Assessed at March 2021)
12. Harvard T.H Chan (2022). The Nutrition Source. Niacin – Vitamin B3. Available at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/niacin-vitamin-b3/)
13. National Institutes of Health (2021). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Pantothenic Acid. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/PantothenicAcid-HealthProfessional/ (Assessed at March 2021)
14. Malouf, R. and Evans, J.G., 2003. Vitamin B6 for cognition. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4).