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Discover The Best Supplements For Running

23rd January 2023

Fitness Health

23rd January 2023

By Adele Webb

So…as January is slowly creeping towards February, we expect that you have already grabbed this new year by the horns and thrown yourself headfirst into a running regime. Everyone’s running style is different, we know this, but have you ever considered taking supplements to boost performance?

Sprinting your way to victory every day can be both physically and mentally draining…not to mention challenging, especially with this freezing cold climate – oh Summer where are you! Maybe you are a casual runner and lace up for a mile or two, or maybe you are training for an up-and-coming marathon? Stamina is required for both of these and taking care of your body is vital. Alongside a healthy diet, you can utilise supplements to your advantage to give you that extra spring in your step either as a pre-workout treat, or to replenish your system after the strenuous activity. Obviously, you shouldn’t use these as a food replacement, after all, you need to be making sure you consume enough calories. However, here at Innermost, we have some of the best supplements for running on the market - full of all the good vitamins to help you go that extra mile! Without further ado, let’s introduce you to these…

Pre-Workout Supplement

Some of you may quickly grab the nearest snack bar you can find as you head out the door – but have you ever considered an alternative option?  Running can be high-intensity, especially if you are frequently taking on steep terrains. Well, fear not here - pre-workout supplements will ensure you gain enough energy, power, and stamina to easily tackle the hilliest of environments. Generally speaking, these are best taken about half an hour before your run to really allow the ingredients to set in. Looking for a new pre-workout supplement? Discover our very own Energy Booster powder. Not only is it vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and lactose-free…as well as winning awards (just bigging ourselves up here), but it is also full of the essential active ingredients needed to increase endurance and stamina, and reduce the stress caused by an intense running session. The active ingredients include:

  • BCCA Complex: There are nine essential amino acids of the twenty, and three of these are called branched-chain amino acids or otherwise known as BCAAs. The most important ones, taking these will improve muscle growth.

  • Citrulline Malate: This is another amino acid but this time it is combined with an organic salt called malic acid. Once consumed, it can enhance performance by reducing tiredness and increasing the body’s nitric oxide. In return, oxygen is pumped more thoroughly through the body due to heightened blood flow.
  • Maca: Maca has a rich history, with its roots spanning back to Peru. Fast forward to today, and it is now being used to reduce physical and mental workout stress.
  • Guarana: This ingredient has a whole host of benefits – not only does it have a caffeine content to keep you prepped, but it also is known to improve memory, mood, performance, and reaction time. A real Amazonian gem!
  • Caffeine: Now we all know what caffeine can do to the body, but have you ever thought that it can also work as a pre-run supplement too? Best taken black without the extra dairy and caffeine – a cup of this will give you that extra buzz of energy to perform for longer and harder.
  • Vitamin B Complex: The complex vitamin B – we won’t list out all the different b’s here. However, these eight essential vitamins are not only great for combating workout fatigue, but also improve both hair and skin health. A win-win situation.

For those who are eager to try this tasty supplement, we suggest adding about 10g to 300-400ml of cold water, shaking to your heart’s content in a shaker – or our Innermost shaker, and enjoy!

Post-Recovery Supplement

You don’t just have to consider your pre-workout fuel when running, as when your body finishes its gruelling exercise, it needs something to bring it back from its exhausted state. Yes, after an intense workout, it is always vital to gradually wind down with a soothing stretch, but you need to consider that many of the calories you consumed before have now been used up in the process. Fuel, fuel, fuel. Yes, your stomach may instantly rumble and all you can think about is a takeaway, chocolate, or crisps…but this will get you nowhere. Ignore your brain, and instead combat this thought with a nice plate of wholesome protein and veggies whilst rehydrating with our Fit Protein powder. Again, this protein-packed supplement is suitable for many dietary needs, not only is it vegan but it is also GMO-free, gluten-free, palm oil-free, and soy free. Available in a variety of flavours, the following active ingredients will replenish lost energy whilst repairing and supporting muscles:

  • Vegan Protein: Protein is important for recovery – it accelerates muscle growth and also helps to rebuild muscle fibers from the stressful nature of the run. So, for those runners who consume high amounts of the stuff, in the long run (pardon the pun) they are less likely to experience a sprinting-induced injury.
  • Cocomineral: We need a lot of water to keep our bodies functioning, and this powdered coconut water will ensure you get the right amount of rehydration. This tasty powder contains copious amounts of potassium which is great for toping up those essential electrolytes lost through sweating.
  • Magnesium: Another key mineral, magnesium keeps the heart healthy and beating steady, improves bones strength…and helps to reduce blood pressure. In general, it balances and normalises the body.
  • Rhodiola Root: This flowering plant has been known to relieve the effects of exertion whilst reducing the amount of stress and tiredness in the body. Mentally it is also great for the brain as in a study it was known to improve both learning and memory function. Body and mind are in check here.
  • Pink Himalayan Salt: It is like normal salt…but pink, and better! Interestingly enough, this small piece of rock actually contains an incredible 84 traces of minerals – who would have thought huh? Some of these include magnesium, calcium, and potassium.

To consume this, we suggest doing so within 45 minutes of your run. Add 40g of this powder to 250-350ml of water…or milk if you prefer a milkshake, and shake. Not only this, but this convenient protein supplement can also be a tasty addition to your porridge to liven up your morning routine, or even baked into your healthy protein bars.

Other Innermost Supplements For Running Recovery

Surprise, it does not stop there and at Innermost we have some other supporting supplements to ensure you get the most out of your run whilst springing back fit and healthy after:

  • The Power Booster – Use for high-intensity runs, and great for sprinters!
  • The Recovery Capsules – What it says on the tin, for those wanting a fast recovery why not try these?
  • The Health Protein – This supports overall health and will ensure your body is prepped and rearing to go!
  • The Focus Capsules – To combat the blues and get your mind in the right head space for exercise, fix this with these nifty capsules. 

Summary

There’s no defeat in admitting that we all need a little help along the way – right? Here at Innermost, we stand behind those wanting to commit wholeheartedly to a running plan, and that’s why we support the use of supplements to ensure these sessions are combated head-on and with full force. Yes, please don’t take pre-workout and after-workout supplements in replace of your three meals a day…with snacks of course, but when consumed in the right way the results can be uplifting. So, put your best foot forward, fuel your body with the right nutrients and vitamins, and get sprinting. We are behind you every step of the way

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The Energy Booster. Award winning pre-workout. Formulated to raise energy, improve stamina and to help push yourself further.

The Energy Booster
The Energy Booster is our award-winning pre-workout protein that boosts energy levels, increases endurance and helps you get the most out of your workout.
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The Complete Guide To Halal Protein Powder

When it comes to improving your fitness levels, lifestyle and nutrition are key. From the number of hours of sleep you get each night to your daily nutrition and everything in between, each is as important as the other. This extends to finding the right protein powder to fuel your workout routine. Yet today more than ever, what goes into that shaker bottle now goes beyond macros and muscle; more and more people are asking themselves – ‘how does this protein powder align with my religious values and beliefs?’ While we’ve spoken before about our clean, research based and ethically sourced ingredients here at Innermost, this time we want to get a little more specific with a focus on halal and halal protein powder. With so many voices and fluff information around, it can be difficult to know exactly what protein is and isn’t halal friendly. That’s why we’ve put together this nifty guide. We’re going to break down all the myths and everything you need to know about halal protein. What you should be looking out for, what makes proteins like whey halal friendly as well as the benefits that halal friendly protein can offer to your body.  Right, let’s get into it. What is halal protein? I’m sure most of you are already aware of halal, but for the 1% of you that might not be, let’s take a step back and ask: what is halal protein? Halal – meaning ‘permissible’ in Arabic – refers to any food product that complies with Islamic dietary laws as stated within the Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence. This makes it a core element of Islamic faith and a key cornerstone of their commitment to leading a pure and disciplined life under the guidance of Allah. Some of the key guidelines for halal foods include: Halal friendly ingredients – certain ingredients are not permissible under a halal diet, including pork (and any byproducts), alcohol and blood. Other animal products can be halal as long as they are killed in accordance with the ethical treatment guidelines below. Ethical treatment of animals – For non-pork meats to be considered halal, animals must be treated humanly and responsibly during their life. This includes: Having access to clean water and nutritious food. Being raised in a free-range and stress-free environment. Not being subjected to cruelty, abuse, or unnecessary suffering. The process of killing any animal must also be quick and humane to be considered halal, with any suffering kept to the complete minimum. Importantly, to be considered halal, the name of Allah must be pronounced during the humane killing to ensure the sanctity of life is recognised throughout the process. No cross contamination - During the preparation process, halal foods must never come into contact with non halal foods. This means no cross contamination between preparation surfaces, equipment used, the handling of foods and storage. As such, ingredients such as milk can be halal however it depends on the production process and if additional non-halal additives (such as gelatin) are added. So, what does this mean for protein?  Essentially any animal protein is halal as long as it adheres to the guidelines we’ve mentioned. The best way to tell is that products – such as Innermost proteins - will be certified halal friendly on the packaging. Is protein powder halal? So, with that said you might be wondering: is my choice of protein powder halal? The truth is that protein powder can absolutely be halal, however it entirely depends on the ingredients used as well as the overall production process. Common protein sources like whey, casein, egg white, and plant-based proteins (such as pea, soy, or rice) can all be halal if they are sourced and manufactured in compliance with halal standards. While many of the larger brands do not meet these standards and cannot claim to offer halal protein, our range of Innermost protein powders and supplements are all certified halal, emphasising our dedication to ethical sourcing our use of clean sourcing without additives. From our pea protein fuelled (and vegan) The Health Protein, The Fit Protein, to our whey protein powered The Strong Protein and The Lean Protein, all our products are sourced in a halal-compliant manner. Benefits of halal protein powder You hear it all the time when it comes to ethical and dietary beliefs – ‘a vegan diet isn’t good for you’ or ‘a vegetarian mix can’t possibly have the nutrients you need. The reality is, that adhering to these sorts of values within your fitness routine and diet can have great benefits for the body. Halal protein powders are no different; they offer a range of benefits for individuals who are conscious of both their health and dietary requirements. Just some of the benefits of halal protein powder are: Clean ingredients: With halal protein powders, you can be confident that there will be no harmful or questionable ingredients/ additives such as silica. What does this mean? Your body has an easier job digesting and absorbing all the good stuff, ensuring you get the most out of your supplements. Quality protein: Halal protein powders use complete protein sources, ensuring your body gets all the amino acids it needs for effective muscle repair and growth.  Ethical production: We’ve mentioned plenty of times already, but that’s just how key ethical and clean production is to making protein halal. By avoiding things such as additional additives and cross contamination, your body is fuelled with a safer and more trustworthy supplement. Supports fitness and wellness goals: Whatever your fitness goals; halal protein has you covered. From building muscle to losing weight, the absence of excess sugars or fillers ensures you are best placed to smash your targets. Common misconceptions about halal protein powders With so much noise and no real answers around halal proteins, we thought it would be helpful to list of some of the key misconceptions regarding the diet and what the actual truths are. All vegan protein powders are halal Given that so much of halal is driven by animals and their ethical treatment, you might just assume every vegan protein powder is halal because it is made of.. well, plants. The reality however is that vegan proteins aren’t necessarily halal – it all comes down to the production process. While Innermost vegan proteins are proudly halal certified, other protein powders can be produced with alcohol-based flavourings, non-halal emulsifiers, or might be processed in facilities that handle haram products – leading to cross contamination – not good! Is whey protein halal? On the other side of the spectrum, whey protein – being a byproduct of milk – is generally considered to be haram. Again, the truth is that whey protein can be halal provided that the milk is taken from cows that were treated ethically and within halal principles. Today, there are many halal-certified whey protein powders that are safe and effective for Muslim consumers. Halal certification doesn’t matter There is often an assumption made that if the ingredients look clean then the protein must be halal – regardless of certification. The truth is that what makes something halal goes beyond ingredients. Production and sourcing our also key factors that many companies do not consider. With halal certification on your favourite protein powders, you can be sure that every step—from sourcing and production to packaging and distribution—has been reviewed and approved according to strict halal standards.  Is Innermost protein powder halal? In short, yes. We at Innermost make it our mission to not only aid in muscle growth and recovery, but also to create protein supplements that are ethically sourced and rigorously tested to ensure individuals of any faith can smash their fitness goals.  Unlike competitors, our proteins are clean and built with the highest quality of ingredients and free from unnecessary additives and artificial ingredients.   We are proud to say that all our products are officially halal certified making them a suitable choice for those following the halal beliefs. This certification ensures that all ingredients and manufacturing processes meet Islamic dietary laws, with no use of haram substances such as pork derivatives or alcohol. With this in mind, why not check out our range of Innermost supplements to find out more about our halal proteins?    
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