Why I Recommend Solar Synergy
By Professional Athlete & Fitness Expert
Ben Greenfield, MS, CSCS
The following is an article by
professional athlete and fitness expert Ben Greenfield, MS, CSCS, when
he was asked to review the new Solar Synergy by Mt. Capra.
There occasionally comes a time in my hectic lifestyle
of endurance sports coaching, training and racing where I stumble upon
something that truly alters my performance and recovery in a
significantly positive way. But for each of these instances, there are a
thousand examples of products that just don’t seem to work, and waste
time and money for my athletes and myself. So when Mt. Capra called me
on the phone and asked me to try their new “sports recovery” product, I
was naturally skeptical, since the market is saturated with literally
hundreds of recovery compounds. What arrived in the mail the next day
was a canister of something called “Solar Synergy”. When I opened the lid, the container revealed a dark
golden powder that smelled like a mix of sweet tropical aromas and salty
minerals. I was instructed to take about 1 tablespoon per day, mixed
into a glass of water or smoothie – preferably after a workout.
My experience with recovery powders and drinks up to
this point had taught me that all sports recovery products currently on
the market are either :
- electrolyte drinks, such as the popular Gatorade
and it’s various competitors
- protein drinks, such as the various protein powders
you see lining the shelves of a grocery store
- anti-oxidant beverages typically comprised of
various densely concentrated blends of fruits and vegetable compounds.
Now, here was my primary problem with the three
choices listed above:
- The first two are calorie dense, meaning that if an
athlete were trying to maintain weight or lose fat for a competition,
they couldn’t sit down with a big glass and consume along with a
post-workout meal without risking mass gain.
- The second two don’t replace any of the extremely
valuable salts and electrolytes that an athlete loses from
perspiration and sweat during competition.
Upon inspection of the ingredients, I realized that
the
Solar Synergy from
Mt. Capra was highly unique. Not only did it contain the very
same high-quality goat-milk based minerals that are the defining
characteristic of Mt. Capra’s nutritional products, but it also boasted
a blend of some of the most incredibly powerful recovery aids that I had
only before seen in expensive isolated forms, but never before seen
gathered together in one single powdered compound. These ingredients
include:
Grape Seed Extract – (Via VitaGrape) Perhaps
you’ve heard of resveratrol, the potent anti-aging compound found in
red wine. What most people don’t know is that it can be just as high
in grapes, which are also loaded with potent phytonutrients that
support healthy brain function, cardiovascular health,
anti-inflammatory action, cell function and immune response.
Goji berry – This berry has one of the
highest antioxidant ratings of any fruit or berry, many times more
iron than spinach, more amino acids than bee pollen, more beta
carotene than oranges, cancer-fighting selenium and germanium, and
even a unique polysaccharide found in no other food source that is
known for its potential to increase human growth hormone production.
Acai berry – Similar to the goji berry, the
acai berry is known as a “superfood”, and is another rich source of
the compounds called anthocyanins, which are the same compounds that
give red wine its health benefits (with none of the health risks
associated with alcohol). The acai berry is also a rich source of
protein and dietary fiber, and uniquely high levels of both omega-6
and omega-9 fatty acids, which have a protective effect on the heart
and cardiovascular system.
Sea Buckthorn – Sea buckthorn is yet another powerful
antioxidant, scavenging the damage produced by exercise with its very
high vitamin C, carotenoid, and phenolic content. As a result of the
powerful antioxidant levels, its ability to protect against aging of
the skin and the effects of environmental pollution have also been
noted. Its berries contain more than 100 different kinds of nutrients
and bio-active substances, including vitamins, fatty acids and amino
acids.
Sensoril – Sensoril is an extract of
Ashwagandha, a plant grown in India that is revered for its ability to
balance, energize, rejuvenate, and revitalize. Sensoril’s energizing
and restorative characteristics result from unique bioactive compounds
that are extracted from specially grown Ashwagandha roots and leaves.
Not only can it assist with physical energy, but it also helps reduce
stress-induced appetite cravings and weight gain, inhibits cellular
oxidative stress and helps slow the effects of aging by inhibiting
free radical damage.
Yacón – Another antioxidant “superfood”, the
Yacón is a perennial plant grown in the Andes of Perú for its crisp,
sweet-tasting tubers. The texture and flavor have been described as a
cross between a fresh apple and watermelon which is why it is
sometimes referred to as the apple of the earth. This is yet another
incredibly unique component of Solar Synergy™ that you’ll never find
blended with the other compounds in this list.
Aronia Berry – Also known as chokeberries,
the rich antioxidant content of this fruit is highly beneficial as a
dietary preventative for reducing the risk of diseases caused by
oxidative stress and heavy exercise. The dense anthocyanins in the
Aronia Berry may protect against colorectal cancer, cardiovascular
disease, chronic inflammation, ulcers, eye and liver failure. It also
contains high levels of quercetin, the same compound that Lance
Armstrong consumes in his energy drinks.
There is nothing like it in the sports recovery drink
market or popular health juice industry. You can literally feel the
damage of exercise being reversed as you sip this post-workout blend.
And what about the electrolytes in
Solar Synergy? Not only is sodium crucial to counteract the acid
build-up that occurs during exercise, but also to maintain the
solubility of calcium so that an athlete’s joints can withstand daily
pounding. But compared to the other important electrolytes, sodium is
often overemphasized in popular electrolyte blends. This is why the
Solar Synergy has sufficient sodium for any serious athlete’s needs, but
just half the sodium of a drink like Gatorade.
On the other hand, consider potassium, another equally
important electrolyte that affects an enormous range of physiological
activities, including muscle integrity, protein metabolism, kidney
function, hydration, acid balance, heart rhythm, and calcium deposition.
Solar Synergy contains 315mg of potassium, compared to
Gatorade’s 36.6mg! And magnesium, one of the body’s most important
salts, and one which is deficient in over 75% of the athletic
population, is present at 11mg per serving in Solar Synergy™, compared
to 0mg in Gatorade!
It has been nearly 3 months now since I’ve been using
Solar Synergy on a daily basis, adding a serving of the tasty,
low-calorie powder into a tall, refreshing glass of water and consuming
it along with my post-workout meal. Not only do I feel an instant boost
in energy levels and mental clarity following my triathlon training
routines, but I also find myself earnestly missing my “magic elixir” if
I ever skip a day of using Solar Synergy. It has quickly risen in the
ranks to join massage, baths, stretching, and spa as one of my favorite
post-workout recovery protocols – and in my work as a coach, sports
nutritionist and athlete, I have never come across any recovery blend
this potent, especially one that you can instantly feel. Try
Solar Synergy - I am certain you’ll experience the same
impressive results that I have.
Author’s Biography: Ben Greenfield is one of the
top fitness, triathlon, nutrition and metabolism experts in the nation.
An athlete and trainer, Ben was named the “Personal Trainer of the Year”
by the NSCA in 2008. He also runs the
Rock Star Triathlete
Academy, the internet’s top school for learning the sport of
triathlon and how to be a better triathlete. He was voted in 2008 as the
Personal Trainer of the Year, by the National Strength and Conditioning
Association, an internationally recognized and respected certifying
agency. Ben is also Director of Sports Performance and oversees the
physiology and biomechanics laboratory at Champions Sports Medicine in
Spokane, WA, which offers metabolic-based weight loss, bicycle fitting,
running gait analysis, swim stroke analysis, VO2 max testing, blood
lactate testing, resting metabolic rate analysis, and other cutting-edge
procedures for weight loss and performance.
For more information about the Solar Synergy by Mt. Capra, click here. |
