9 Things About Our Smoothies You'll Wish You Had Known Sooner

How Our Smoothie Bar Caters To Everybody And Every Body

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If you’ve ever been into one of our Body Energy Club stores, chances are you’ve tried one of our famous Body Energy Club smoothies…. and if you haven’t, brace yourself because you’re in for a treat! We want everyone to be able to enjoy our smoothies, so no matter your lifestyle, we’ve always got you covered. This month we’re peeling back the curtain of our smoothie bar to give you some helpful tips when ordering your smoothie.

We have an inclusive culture at Body Energy Club

We recognize that diet and nutrition is a deeply personal choice, so we’ve made it our mission to provide solutions to meet all dietary and lifestyle needs. Yep, we cater for every body and everybody.

Besides, there’s nothing worse than committing to an eating plan or lifestyle, only to realize some of your favourite places to eat aren’t ‘you-friendly’ anymore.

We support everyone on their journey

At Body Energy Club, we want to give you the peace of mind that you'll always have a place to go that meets your nutritional needs. There’s also a myth that when you overhaul your diet, you can’t enjoy delicious food anymore, or that you have to give up some of the things you may have loved in the past, right? WRONG! Our delicious smoothies can still be on your own personal menu and we’re going to show you how.

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Lettuce break it down for you...

VEGAN | PLANT-BASED SMOOTHIES

Good news! Most smoothies on our menu can be made Vegan thanks to our very own BEC CLEAN VEGAN PROTEIN POWDER as well as offering Hemp Protein and Brown Rice Protein.
You also won’t find any dairy milk behind our smoothie bar. All our smoothies are made with an Almond Milk, Coconut Milk or Coconut Water base.
Smoothies to be aware of: Thunder Coffee (it contains ghee and collagen) and any smoothies containing collagen.
How to modify: The Thunder Coffee cannot be made vegan, but if you need a caffeine fix, try the Mocha Madness or Cashew Latte instead with Clean Vegan Protein.  
Acai Bowls to be aware of: The Superfood Acai bowl contains Bee Pollen. This can easily be removed from your order by request. 
Staff pick: Call us predictable, but we have to choose this crowd-pleaser: the Almond Butter Dream with Clean Vegan Protein.

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KETO SMOOTHIES

Keto friends, we have smoothies on our menu that tick all boxes and others that can easily be modified to satisfy your needs.  
Smoothies to be aware of: Any smoothies containing dates or fruit.
How to modify: Got your heart set on a smoothie that doesn’t scream Keto? Customize your order by adding in MCT oil, avocado or coconut meat
Staff pick: Try our tasty Thunder Coffee or it’s cool cousin, the Cashew Latte - just omit the dates. 
Doing Keto but don’t want the caffeine? No problem. Try a decadent Chocolate Lovers or a creamy Coconut Bliss (both minus the dates).

And if you’re following us on social media, you’ll be the first to know about the latest, upcoming addition to our menu. We’ll give you a hint - it’s specifically designed with the Keto conscious in mind. Watch this space. 

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keto-smoothie

VEGETARIAN SMOOTHIES

We know there’s more to Vegetarianism than meets the eye, but the majority of our smoothies are Vegetarian-friendly.
Smoothies to be aware of: The Matcha Collagen smoothie (it contains Marine Collagen) or the Thunder Coffee (contains ghee and collagen).
Staff pick: It’s a toss-up between a thirst-quenching King Kale or a luscious Blueberry Acai Smoothie. Try ‘em both and let us know which one's your favourite.
Helpful hint: You can also choose to add on spinach or kale to any smoothie if you’re needing a higher dose of veg in your life. Just let us know at checkout.

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PALEO SMOOTHIES

Ok, we know that cavemen weren’t drinking smoothies, but there’s no reason why you can’t. Our smoothies are paleo-friendly, you’ll just need to make a few small adjustments.

  • Milk - stick to unsweetened coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk or coconut water as your base.
  • Protein - choose a plant-based protein or collagen substitute for Whey Protein. For strict Paleo eaters avoiding artificial sweeteners, rest assured that our BEC Clean Vegan Protein contains zero artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners and preservatives. 
  • Fruits - some of our Paleo-approved fruits include; apples, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, mango, pineapple, raspberries and oranges. 
  • Butters - Almond butter, cashew butter and coconut butter are all safe, but you’ll have to skip the peanut butter (it’s a legume).

Staff Picks: It’s too hard to pick just one. For an all-time staff favourite, go with the Greena Colada. For a taste of summer, try the Tumeric Mango Smoothie and if you’re a chocolate fan, you can’t go past a Junior Mint (just ask for an unsweetened milk option).

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vegetarian-smoothies

WHOLE30 SMOOTHIES

Ah yes, the Whole30 - a full-body rest including 30 days of no sugar, sweeteners (even the natural stuff), alcohol, dairy, legumes (including peanut butter) and grains. It’s just good ol’ fashioned real food.
What’s safe: Berries, fruits, vegetables, coconut water (or a water-based smoothie if you’re playing it really safe) goji berries and coconut.
Smoothies to be aware of:  - anything containing peanut butter, sweeteners (yes, including the almond milk), dates, mesquite, ghee and Grass-Fed collagen (dairy is off-limits)
Staff picks: A flavour bursting Berry Delicious or a mouth-watering Menage a Troise.  

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PESCETARIAN SMOOTHIES

Any smoothie you order is going to be a safe choice, but here’s a tip from our Smoothie Bar team - choose a plant-based protein powder and when ordering a smoothie that contains collagen, make sure you ask for Marine Collagen instead of Grass-fed.
Smoothies to be aware of: Thunder Coffee (it contains ghee and collagen)
How to modify: If you want a caffeine hit, stick with a Cashew Latte or Mocha Madness. 
Staff Pick: A deliciously smooth Maca Rush - it always goes down a treat! 
Helpful Hint: You can add on fish oil to any smoothie, just request it when putting through your order.

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whole30-approved-smoothie

Low FODMAP SMOOTHIES

What’s safe: Baby spinach, blueberries, dragon fruit, orange, pineapple, strawberry, raspberries, coconut milk, almond butter & peanut butter.
Smoothies to be aware of: Any smoothies that contain bananas, beetroot, apples, avocado, dates, goji berries, mango, granola cereal, cashew butter, sweeteners, coconut water, whey protein powder & dates.
Staff Pick: Try a new Low FODMAP spin on an old classic: the Blueberry Thrill. Order it with unsweetened coconut milk, plant-based protein powder and ditch the dates.  

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ALLERGIES

We take allergies seriously. Our Smoothie Bar team will sanitize a blender for you and take every precaution to avoid cross-contamination.
Gluten Allergy - to be safe, omit dates from your smoothie order and sub the Hemp Granola for our Gluten Free Peanut Butter Granola. It’s delish! 
Lactose Allergy - our milks are all lactose friendly, but to be safe, avoid the Thunder Coffee (it contains ghee) and sub any smoothie containing Whey Protein Powder and Grass-fed Collagen for a plant-based protein powder and Marine Collagen. 
Nut allergies - don’t worry, we can still serve you. Any Fruit & Veggie smoothies will be perfect.
If you have a peanut allergy - avoid any smoothies that contain peanuts.
Almond allergy - avoid any smoothies containing almonds.
Cashew allergy - avoid any smoothies containing cashew butter.
Tree nut allergy - avoid smoothies containing almond and cashew butter.
Shellfish allergy - avoid any smoothies containing marine collagen
The great news is any butter can be substituted for another. So if you want the Chocoberry Acai smoothie (which contains peanut butter) just sub it for coconut or almond butter instead. Easy!
If you have an allergy, no matter how severe, please alert our staff when making your order so that we can act accordingly. It’s never a hassle.

allergy-friendly-smoothies

 

LOW-CALORIE SMOOTHIES 

Whether you’ve got a bodybuilding competition coming up, a photo shoot or just trying to slim down for summerwe’ve got some great low cal options to keep things interesting and delicious for you.
  • Skinny PB Dream - unsweetened chocolate almond milk, protein powder of your choice, cocoa, bananas & powdered peanut butter.
  • Skinny Peanut Butter and Jelly - coconut milk, protein powder of your choice, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and powdered peanut butter.
  • Skinny Mocha - unsweetened chocolate almond milk, protein powder of your choice, cold brew, cocoa and bananas.

Staff Pick: Skinny PB Dream. It’s as lush as the Peanut Butter Dream, only lighter.

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Are our mouth-watering Body Energy Club smoothies making you hungry?

Skip the line and order online through our Chow Now app 

Didn’t see what you were after? We tried to cover all the bases, but let us know what we can help you with specifically. Come in and chat with our friendly staff and we can work it out together. 

gut-health-supplements

Gut Health Supplements - Do You Know Which Ones Are Right For You?

We give you the lowdown on which supplements are best for improving your gut health.

 

Unless you’ve been living off the grid, you’ve probably heard about the ‘importance of gut health’ conversation. Or have seen the slew of gut health supplements and brands popping up. Everyone’s getting on board and for good reason - having a happy gut is not only crucial for your health but can also be the very thing that gives you the edge in your training and performance. Just like your muscles need daily maintenance with exercise, your gut needs the same level of attention to improve and thrive.

But I’m healthy - why do I need to pay attention to my gut health?

 

Doing a little gut investigation isn’t just for people suffering with IBS symptoms - everyone stands to gain something from a gut overhaul (yep, even if you’re super-duper healthy). Having a healthy gut can help fight infection, decrease the risk of getting sick, boost our energy levels, improve sleep, nutrient absorption and even lead to better-looking skin. If you’re someone who’s pretty keen on maximising your health and training, taking a deeper look at your gut microbiome could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

Micro-whaaaaat?

 

Heard of ‘microbiome’, but no idea what it means? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Simply put, a microbiome is the community of microbes that live inside the human body. Your gut is home to thousands of living bacteria and trillions (yes, trillions) of microorganisms that help break down the foods you eat, plus keep your immune system and digestive tract happy. However, your gut microbiome is pretty darn sensitive - even a slight imbalance can cause an array of issues. Sometimes simple things like food, stress and medication can introduce chaos into a very delicate environment. So, what should you do?

Improving your gut health requires awareness, continual tweaking and support through supplementation. But before you run out and grab every game-changing gut health supplement, we’ll help you figure out which one is the best fit for you.

The 6 supplements you should be investing in

Probiotics aren’t mandatory in order to promote good gut health, but they can be a great support for getting things back on track. Gone through an emotionally stressful time and noticed how ‘sensitive’ your stomach is? Had a bout of antibiotics recently? Perhaps an excess of sugar or alcohol and now your digestion feels out of whack?

If you’ve experienced a general hiccup in your digestive system due to an unhealthy balance of bad bacteria, a probiotic can swoop in and get everything back in balance. But bear in mind, there’s no one size fits all with probiotics. If you’re needing them for a specific purpose, have a chat to your doctor before beginning a regime.

When most of us hear ‘collagen’, we tend to think it’s just for hair, skin, and nails. Don’t be fooled, friends! Collagen does a heck of a lot more than just making your hair grow. Collagen is a protein, containing the amino acids perfect for digestion, reducing inflammation and creating a gut barrier to keep the nasties out. Not only that, but collagen helps protects our joints and prevents bone loss. This is crucial as we get older, but also for those of us smashing out our daily workouts. Unfortunately, not enough of us are able to get adequate collagen from food, so investing in a collagen supplement is one of the best things you can do for your gut this year.  Add it to a smoothie, your morning coffee, or even your overnight oats! 

Another gem in the amino acid family, Glutamine supports our intestines and supported intestines = happy intestines. Glutamine’s main function is providing fuel for our immune cells - meaning it strengthens our immune system. It’s also an excellent recovery booster - helping combat muscle soreness after intense exercise. If you’re looking to get just one gut health supplement, Glutamine is a great place to start. You can get more out of your time in the gym without worrying about burn out! Mix it with water or add it to your post-workout shake - and if you’re ordering one of our smoothies, you can add it on to your order. 

Whether you add the root to your cooking, sip on ginger tea, or swallow a concentrated capsule, ginger is an undeniable powerhouse for digestive issues because it helps reduce the growth of unwanted bacteria. Ginger is also the tried and tested go-to for combating an upset stomach, nausea, digestion, reducing muscle soreness, and inflammation as well as boosting immunity. If you want to say adios to a sore tummy without the strong aftertaste check out Galenic Health Charred Ginger - it contains activated charcoal, perfect for eliminating toxins, especially in the intestinal tract. 

Pre and probiotics are a match made in bacterial heaven. Prebiotics are types of non-digestible carbs that help the growth and development of probiotics (the good bacteria). However, not all prebiotics are created equal. Many feed the good and bad bacteria in our gut, causing gas, bloating, and can irritate the stomach lining.

That’s where Genuine Health Fermented Organic Gut Superfoods mix comes in. It’s made from 21 organic plant-based superfoods, doesn’t irritate the gut, and is fully fermented for easy digestion. 

If you’ve worked out the probiotic part of the equation, but are neglecting the prebiotic’s, this is an easy fix!

If you’re dealing with food sensitivities or digestion issues, we’ve got the extra support you might need. Digestive Enzymes help your gut properly break down food that’s harder to digest. They make it possible to absorb all the nutrients from your food - so you can have peace of mind knowing all the effort you’re putting in with healthy eating, is actually paying off.

Digestive Enzymes also help relieve some uncomfortable symptoms caused by digestion - gas, bloating, constipation and all that other ‘fun stuff’.

If your nutrition is on track, but you’re having trouble breaking down those fats, carbs and proteins, try these. Something little really can go a long way - they’re a gut saver!

 Still deciding which gut health supplement is right for you?

Drop into one of our stores for a chat with our friendly floor staff. We’ve got plenty of products and would love to help you find your perfect match.

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MASC X BEC Business Highlight

MASC 

Meet Patrick and Jamie, the co-founders of MASC Skincare & Grooming in Vancouver.  Since 2007, MASC has become a beloved staple on Davie Street, not just for the quality of the ethical products they bring to the community, but for the genuine care and sound advice they are able to offer to each and every one of their customers. We asked them to share their approach to entrepreneurship over a couple of signature Body Energy Club smoothies:

Q. How did MASC get started?

A. Back in the early 2000s, we recognized an opportunity to take the market of men’s grooming and skincare to another level. An assortment of quality products in an environment catering to men with a focus on customer service and relationships was lacking. In 2007, after sitting on a business plan for a couple years, the stars aligned and allowed us to bring our vision to life through our retail location on Davie, and online shortly thereafter.

Q. What makes MASC so much more than another retail store? What is your mission in the community?

A. Firstly, the products are handpicked by us because we believe in them - it is a curated selection of the best brands on the market. Our brands are from all over the world and cover a wide range of categories including skincare, shaving, beard care, hair care & styling, fragrances, and much more. Secondly, our focus is on helping customers find the best products to meet their needs rather than “selling” to them. By educating customers about the best products to match their needs, we are able to help them improve their confidence in their own routines and in their daily lives - and this is the most rewarding aspects of our business.

Q. What's your vision for MASC?

A. We wish to maintain our role as leaders in the men’s skincare and grooming industry.

Q. What was your biggest accomplishment as a business? Is there a moment that stands out to you?

A. In 2011 we appeared on Dragon’s Den and turned down two offers to buy into the company. We are proud to have grown MASC to the level that it is today without having to give up a piece of the business to do so. Additionally, we are proud to have been open for 12 years. The retail industry is tough to survive in and we have persevered through many changes and challenges over the years.  

Q. What was your biggest "failure"? How did you overcome it?

A. We are fortunate to have not had any major setbacks, but in retrospect we could’ve taken greater risks from the onset to grow the business faster.  

Q. What's your biggest piece of advice for other local businesses and entrepreneurs in Vancouver?

A. Be prepared to make big sacrifices in the beginning if you want the business to succeed. Most importantly, never forget that without your customers the business would not exist.

Q. What's your relationship with Body Energy Club?

A. We have both been customers at BEC since moving to Vancouver in 2002. We share a lot of customers; both of our businesses are focused on providing products that make our customers lives better.

Q. Do you have a favourite Body Energy Club smoothie you would recommend?
 
A. We both love the Vegan Coconut Bliss! Although there are many delicious flavours, we love the Coconut Bliss because it’s a great summer drink - refreshing and sweet, but not overly sweet. Great fuel for your body and a vacation for your senses.

June 16, 2019

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Marine collagen is a highly bio-available supplement that aids in the improvement of your skin, joints, hair and bone health.