June 10, 2025 • 39 mins
Are you paying $90 for "influencer-approved" collagen or magnesium blends (that cost just cents to make)?
In this explosive episode of The Nutrition Couch, dietitians Leanne Ward and Susie Burrell expose the truth behind overpriced wellness supplements — including why some $90 “hot chocolates” and $5-per-serve hydration drinks are nothing more than marketing spin.
Then, they unpack new research that’s a game-changer for women’s health: a study just published in The Journal of Nutrition shows that PMS symptoms can be reduced by up to 41% — simply by adding more nuts, seeds, and legumes into your diet. Meanwhile, giving in to PMS sugar cravings might make symptoms 33% worse.
Also in this episode:
-
Aldi soup review: The $2.99 pantry staple that punches above its weight
-
High-protein milk drinks: convenient or ultra-processed minefield?
-
The supplement ingredients you should never overpay for
-
Why Designed by Dietitians keeps ingredient sourcing and clinical doses transparent — unlike many trending brands
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the supplement aisle or frustrated by the health promises plastered across social media, this is your no-BS guide to smarter, evidence-based choices.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Do you take a greens powder each day, or maybe
you combine collagen creating and protein into a smoothie, or
maybe you have a special hot chocolate that you enjoy
before bed. For full transparency, Leanne and I do sell
formulated nutritional supplements via our brand designed by dietitians, but
even we are shopped as some of the prices women
are paying for dietary additions like collagen and magnesium. And
(00:24):
today we share with you how you can tell if
you're investing in your health or getting ripped off.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Hi, I'm Susy Burrow.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And I'm Liam Water, and together we bring you The
Nutrition Couch, the weekly podcast that keeps you up to
date on everything you need to know in the world
of nutrition, as well as supplements spend. We have some
brand new research that looks at the best foods you
can eat for PMS. We have a cheap suit from
audio that is pretty good nutritionally, and our listener question
is all about high protein chocolate milk.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
So Leanne.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Recently, I was milling the aisles of none other than
Chemist Warehouse, which is kind of a mecca, isn't it
Like when I go overseas? I love nothing more and
going to those twenty for hour drug stores. They've got
so much stuff. But you know, we're busy in life.
I don't have that much time to go around shops.
But I was waiting for a script and I was
having a look at some of the products. Now, you know,
we launched design Bi Dietitians about fifteen months ago because
(01:15):
we had been recommending certain supplements for women and we thought, well,
we should just formulate our own because we are qualified
to do so. But I think what we've really observed
in the last five to ten years is a growing
number of wellness influencers who are really using their genetics,
good looks and high profile that may inevitably come from
reality television, and basically selling dietary supplements. You know, it's
(01:39):
I guess tricky because everyone's got a right to go
into business. You know, that's not I guess the concern
we're raising. The concern I have is when I see
products like a very simple hot chocolate with three to
five grams of collagen added, or a greens powder which
is basically just dehydrated vegetables and a few vitamins thrown in,
(02:00):
or magnesium which is really an electrolyte, which yes we
can need and yes we can supplement, but it's not
overly expensive, you know when you formulate it.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
When I see them.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Being sold for sixty ninety dollars, you know, and I'm like, really,
because it's just basically ripping people off, because there's nothing
in those drinks in general that is so super special
that justifies paying double what the average brand is paying.
So I want it just for people to be aware.
(02:35):
And I think deep down we all know this to
be true there and just because it costs more doesn't
always mean it's better. So if you go into a
luxury car market and there is evidence that the Porsche
or the Lexus performs better, drives better, resells better, and
you can justify paying double for a car, no drama.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But I want our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
To be aware that when you read a nutritional label
and you see three or five grams of collagen, and
basically that's the main ingredient in a supplement, there is
no justification to be paying double for that same active
ingredient just because someone beautiful selling it. Generally speaking, they
are not qualified to be selling nutritional supplements. I think
(03:21):
that's actually a fundamental issue. In most cases, they will
have someone formulating it, but when they're up there on
podcasts talking about it, they have no credentials to be
talking about applied nutrition. And when they're charging women, hard
working women double for at five grams of collagen or
one hundred and fifty grams of magnesium, I'm just appalled
(03:45):
because basically you are taking advantage of people, and I
just want people to be aware that when it is double,
really check those active ingredients, because when I have a
look at them, often they're quite simple products with very
simple things out it, like herbals, maybe magnesium zinc, and
they're charging double because they're famous as supermodel, reality TV
(04:07):
star or naturally very beautiful, and I just think, come on, like,
it really takes advantage a little bit. So that's the
main thing. I would be always looking at what is
in that product and does it justify that spend? So
and I guess it's not dissimilar to skin care in
a different way because skin care, you can see a moisturizer,
and a moisturizer might be two or three times the
(04:29):
amount of a normal moisturizer, and in the case of
more boutique kind of brands. Yes, you'd say they've got
higher level ingredients, or they might have studies to show
that it reduces aging.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
You know, they try and justify that.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
The issue with nutritional supplements is that there's often no justification.
Some of the supplements are obscure. So when you're basically buying,
you know, if we're looking at what is generally in
a hot chocolate powder, it's probably magnesium, maybe some amino acids.
What's in a skin supplement, it's usually cold religion, what's
in a creatin you know how much is in there,
(05:04):
and if it's basically the same stuff, you've got to
make sure you're not basically getting hugely ripped off just
because someone will know you is selling it.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
So I think it's buyer beware.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
But yeah, when I see people paying sixty ninety more
one hundred dollars plus for special Greens powder, I'm like,
come on, you are just basically lining the pockets of
the influencer who's flogging it to you.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And when you sent me that hot chocolate which I'm
retailed for like ninety dollars, I was like, is anybody
actually paying that? And again like it's they're trading off
their good looks in their genetics. So basically say like
I'm so beautiful, I take this hot chocolate every night,
buy my brand basically, and so I think, like you said,
it's consumer beware. We have to do our due diligence.
We have to understand what are the products we're buying.
(05:48):
What is the clinical ingredient in there? If it is skincare, yes,
there is some research to show that collagen can improve
skin elasticity skin hydration in the serving size of about
three to five gram perserve. But again that research is
a daily target. So if you're going to take collagen
and you want some improvements in terms of fine lines,
skin elasticity, hydration, you need to be taking three to
(06:11):
five grams absolutely daily to actually have that impact. If
you're going to pay ninety dollars for a hot chocolate
and have it a couple of times a week or
sporadically when you remember, or only in winter when it's
a little bit cooler, or only every Friday and Saturday night,
you're not actually going to get the benefits from the collagen.
So it is really important to understand what is the
active ingredient, What are other people on the market sort
(06:33):
of selling it for because that'll give you a broader
implication of sort of the worth or the value of
that ingredient. And then how often do I actually need
to take it and in what dose? And that's the
same thing with vitamins and minerals basically.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Right, if you've got.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
An iron deficiency but you only sporadically take your iron
supplement whenever you remember to do that, and you always
wash it down with your morning coffee, you're probably never
really going to increase your blood iron levels and you're
probably always going to be a kneemic.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So it is really important to.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Actually have an understanding and if you don't go and
see a dietitian and cross check your supplements, cross check
your you know, go and see a doctor or a
pharmacist and cross check your medications and make sure that
you're actually taking the amount in the vitamin in the
correct amount to actually have a clinical effect. Basically, so
I think it is really important to do some research.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
But also the other one you sent.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Me was a brand of Creating, and we know you
know in designed by dietitians. We sell the highest quality
creating in the world. It's German sourced, it's Create Pure,
It's ninety nine percent purity. You cannot get better purity
in the world. If a brand does not advertise that
they are using German source creating or Create Pure, hands down,
it is from China. Even if the brand says it's
one hundred percent creating monohydrate, it is from China, because
(07:44):
we are paying so much more as a brand to
source that from Germany to have that nine point nine
percent purity basically, and so many brands out there are
using Chinese source creating, which is significantly cheaper and actually
charging more than we do. It designed by dietitians. You
sent me one Susie and we're charging over fifty dollars
for the same amount for Chinese source creatine.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
So it's just a bit of a rought.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
And if you're following your favorite influences, by all means,
buy the products if you want to, but really make
sure that you understand how much is in it, how
much you need to take, and where are those ingredients
sourced from, because half the time these influencers or these
models have absolutely no idea where these ingredients are coming from,
what the quality of the ingredients are, how much needs
(08:25):
to be in that active ingredient or in that product
to actually have a clinical dose or a clinical effect.
So it is something that definitely bubs us up the
wrong way because we don't Yes we run a business,
Yes we are business women, Yes we have mortgages to
pay like everybody else, but we're not out here trying
to rout people. We don't want to charge four times
what we could for our products just because they're great
(08:46):
products and formulated by dieticians. We're not going to do
that to our customers. But there are some brands out
there doing that. So I think you just need to
be careful what you're buying and make sure that it
truly is worth the value, not just because somebody beautiful
sells that, you know, can it get unfortunately the same
results because their results are based on genetics, not their
you know, overpriced supplement range.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Basically, there is nothing in a hot chocolate that warrants
a month's worth being ninety dollars. Like it's just doesn't
pass the pop test, you know. And when, as I said,
when I looked at it and then I looked what
was in it, I was like, are you joking? Like
there is actually not even a couple of active ingredients
in there because there is only there's only collagen.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, you know, that is double.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
What baseline collagen should be at a high price level,
you know. And in terms of how do you you know,
we as you know a brand, you know, we basically
look at the raw ingredients and then we look and
think what would is a reasonable amount to pay for
that as part of a balanced diet. And when I'm
looking at it going there is no way, you know,
people should be paying three or four dollars to serve
(09:50):
for a nightly hot chocolate at home with five grams
of collagen. So I think, you know, with those kind
of formulated drinks, you know, look at the raw ingredient,
what are you actually paying for for? And you know,
sure if you're stacking something, so for example, if that
hot chocolate had in that creating it had collageen had,
you know, then you can start to justify our well,
instead of using two or three, you're using one. But
(10:12):
often when I'm seeing these influencers doing it's got one
or two basic ingredients with a massive markup, and that
is just taking advantage of consumers because I think if
you step back and think, right, you know, we are
dietitians in the sense that our craft is to you know,
educate supply in the case of supplements, nutrition, evidence based nutrition,
(10:33):
that is our craft, that is our skill, that is
our profession. So in the case of an influencer, a supermodel,
you know, they've got a limited time span of being
well known to get a brand up, so they're there
in many cases to get it out quickly, to make
their money, get in and out. You know, the money's
running low. Supermodel is not paying much anymore. You can
(10:54):
kind of see from a business perspective how it works,
but it doesn't change the fact you're basically taking advantage
of consumers in some cases. And I think as health
professionals we deal and talk to women every day. Ethically,
we don't feel comfortable doing that. I couldn't be selling
something like we could make a lot more money and
double the dose, double the price of our hot chocolate.
Absolutely we could, but I couldn't be ripping people.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Off like that. I couldn't sleep at night.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
I'd be like feeling too guilty because I know I'm
basically just ripping people off. So yeah, I think, just
be aware of it. Check your active ingredients and if
it fails the pub test, if someone is like that
is a ridiculous amount to be paying for a powder
that you're sticking into a drink each night, you know,
because you could say, oh, well, I'm paying three dollars
at the coffee shop for a coffee or five dollars. Yeah,
but you're paying for the barista to make it, you're
(11:40):
paying for the service, you're paying for the In these cases.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
You've just got the raw powder. So just be a
little bit aware.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And I think in this day and age, you know,
there's some ethical questions around who's formulating and selling and when.
These markups are just beyond so they're the ones I'd
be particularly aware of. The hot chocolate formulations, the greens powders,
the collagen and magnesium like as a war ingredient.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
These are not overly expensive.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Probably the most expensive collagen can be expensive depending on
the source. And also you know, the German creation is
more expensive, so you should see a slight price increase
on that. But yeah, just as I said, please don't
ever think for a second that paying more in these
instances is better. You know, like leanne ninety dollars, I
can pay for three or four family meals for ninety bucks.
Like that's a serious amount to be spending on a
(12:27):
hot chocolate drink. So yeah, I think just be aware
and just don't get ripped off and think that they're
better just because they're charging a lot more and they've
just got bigger profile, and the reason to make bigger margins,
you know, in their businesses is coming from a more
personal one rather than a professional stance as we are.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
And the other one i'll just add to that less
that you mentioned the Greens powders, the hot chocolates is
the growing range of hydration supplements on the market. So
I saw another you could call it an influencer, like
in the fitness space, launch a brand of like hydration
supplements basically, and it worked out to be five.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Dollars something a serve.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
And I was reading a forum about people complaining and
saying is this justified? And people were like, it's a
bit of sodium and potassium. How is it five dollars
a serve? Like absolutely ridiculous. But when you look at
it and you go in to say coals or wall words,
if you did buy a bottle of parade off the shelf,
I mean, yeah, it's four or five dollars, but nobody
actually does that daily because you wait for it to
become half priced if you really need it, or I
(13:21):
buy a range of hydration supplements from the chemists that
it's just a powder I mixed into water myself for
my really heavy workout days, and that works out to
be like a couple of dollars a serve.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So again, this influence.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Is charging more than double really for just a bit
of salt and potassium and a tiny bit of flavoring.
And then she still had artificial flavors and malto dexterro.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Mixed through it as well. So I just think it
is a bit of a rut.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So just be careful what you're paying for and really
do a bit of research in terms of what's comparable,
and just don't fall for yeah, big influencers and big
models with big supplement brands, because often your money is
probably better spent on better quality ingredients and for cheaper
prices somewhere else. All right, Well, that leads us nicely
into our next section. Well, actually not really doesn't lead
(14:04):
us directly at all, but we have a list new
section for our listeners for the next few section, which
is all about PMS research.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
We'll get off our ranty pants.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
At the moment, Susy and we get on a rant
we can really go for hours, but we'll come off
that and we'll talk about some nice new research about PMS,
because I came across this one online and I really
liked it.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
It's a brand new study actually published this.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Month in May in the Journal of Nutrition, which is
a very reputable journal, and the study was titled the
Dietary Predictors of pre Menstrual Syndrome or PMS and the
Protective role of nuts, seeds, and legumes and the Adverse
role of sugar and sweets. So essentially the article was
investigating the specific dietary components that actually influence PMS in women.
(14:47):
And Susie and I have so many clients that really
do suffer with quite debilitating PMS, generally you know, before
their cycles and sometimes during. So I think anything that
as women, particularly when research is focused around women, because
so much much is it, And I think when it
comes down to our cycles and our hormones and even
different things like fertility and metopause, like all of these
(15:08):
things are really really important topics for women. So when
we do see some new research, it's very very exciting
because we do know that about eighty percent of Australian
women eighty percent age between eighteen and forty five have
experienced problematic periods in the past five years. That is
a massive amount of Australian women eighty percent that have
(15:30):
had issues or have had problems with you know, period
and period pain in PMS, and this has actually ended
up costing the economy and estimated fourteen billion dollars every
single year. So if we have some research that can
show that dietary and lifestyle modifications could actually help millions
of women, not only just in Australia but around the
world lessen the risk of PMS, we are certainly going
(15:53):
to be talking about it. And this research was really
really exciting. So essentially what it found was that women
who experience painful PMS symptoms could be making their symptoms
up to thirty three percent worse by actually indulging in
their sugar craving. So a lot of women, Susie and
I included, like, we're not we're not unicorns here, We're
not the.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Exception to it.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
We crave sugar before and during our periods, and particularly
a lot of that PMS is sooths by some sugar,
some sweets, some chocolate, so that could actually be making
your symptoms thirty three percent worse. Instead, what this research
is found that a handful of nuts and seeds a day,
around about thirty to forty grams could actually reduce PMS
(16:36):
symptoms by forty one percent.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
That is a huge, huge amount.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So basically it found that there was a protective factor,
so a higher intake of nut seeds and also legume
so Q, a more plant based or plant focused diet
was associated with a reduced risk of experiencing PMS symptoms.
And I think that all the research is sort of
pointing towards the fact that these foods, these nutsy seeds, legumes,
whole grains as well, are really rich and essential nutrients,
(17:04):
things like magnesium, vitamin B six, healthy fats, and that
actually may play a role in hormonal regulation and also
mood stabilization. And so many of our clients do not
eat anywhere near enough nuts, seeds and legumes.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's something that both.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Susie and I are immediately when we start working with
a client, we do a full diet sort of overview
look at what they're currently eating, and of course we
up the vegetables and the fruit and the fresh foods,
but often we're adding in good quality nut seeds and
legumes because they're just missing from most busy women's diets.
And a lot of us want to supplement with B
vitamins for energy, we want magnesium to help us sleep,
(17:39):
and for our muscles, we want you know, we're taking
all of these supplements, but if we can actually get
them in through food, of course we always want to
have a food first approach. So nuts, seeds and legumes
here were really the key protective factor in PMS. And
what was really interesting was that people with an increased
consumption of sugar and sweets that actually correlated to a
(18:00):
higher incidence of PMS symptoms. So those who had more
sugar and sweets had worse PMS symptoms and a higher incidence,
and those who consume more nut seas and leggames had
a lower incidence and experience less painful PMS symptoms.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And they did find that the.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Sugar in the sweets, or what they were sort of
implying was that diets high and refined carbohydrates and refined
sugars chocolates, sweets, you know, sugary drinks like soft drinks
that can lead to a lot of blood sugar fluctuations
and then potentially exacerbate mood swings and other sort of
PMS related discomforts as well.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
So it's really really interesting research.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
I wouldn't say that it's something that we didn't kind
of know indirectly, right, Like it's basically general healthy eating,
but I think it's always nice for our general healthy
eating dips as dieticians to be backed up by some
solid research.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So how do you feel about this article?
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Suits?
Speaker 4 (18:52):
It's a really interesting one, but it definitely highlights a
significant need in terms of women's health and women's hormones
and just continuing to advocate the balanced nutrition and not letting,
I guess women get into that mindset of oh, I've
got PMS, all, I've got my period. I deserve to
eat all of the chocolate, which certainly you can have some,
but I think when we're just riding off a couple
(19:14):
of days and going through you know, rose and rose
or blocks of chocolate, it could actually be potentially having
a negative impact on us, which we haven't really seen
in the research before.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Have we well, it just shows more rationale for including
those good fats proactively because those symptoms, the bloating, the pain,
the emotional dysregulation, whilst the body is craving the sweet foods,
the underlying nutrition will be of benefit. And I think
busy women, particularly twenties and thirty or old women, like
(19:44):
they're rushing around with jobs, dating, partying, or in their
thirties probably planning families. In some cases, they're often sacrificing
their own nutrition. So certainly superfoods in that space. Walnuts are,
pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, LSA, and just making that a
part of your day and being aware that whilst you
might crave extra chocolate, and I think previously on the
(20:05):
potty we've spoken about needing about one hundred to two
hundred extra calories around the timing period, you know, make
sure you're still getting those nuts and seeds regularly and
more plant based foods because it will naturally reduce inflammation.
So I just thought it was nice data specifically looking
at something that does affect most women or you know,
like you said eighty percent of women, because I liked
the data, like, did you read this out? Thirty three
(20:27):
percent worse by include indulging sugar cravings compared to a
handful of nuts can reduce PMS by forty one percent.
That's significant, Like that is really significant.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And one of the most.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Common questions we have is what type of nut? And
I always say a mix is good. You know, like
often we're reaching for almonds, but if you can get
things like the more obscure nuts, like the walnuts, the
pumpkin seeds, you know, you get different fats from those
rather than just the almonds. So I think mixing up
which is why we love the munch snacks, because you
get portion control of that different range of nuts and seeds.
(20:59):
And if you look at nut bars, they're often having
a heavily peanut base, which is where there's not as
many benefits to that. So you're really wanting to look
for those more variety cashew, walnut, alm and a range
if you can, or even I like, rather than just
there's a lot of good peanut butter, which are a
hundred percent nuts, but I prefer the seeded mixes which
you get a whole range, so they're a good addition,
(21:21):
or you know, flax seed LSA in a smoothie each
day but yeah, I thought it was just some nice
starter to talk about and a reminder because I would
argue that often busy people.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Are not getting those fats on a day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I'll just have a lot of quick tip for our listeners.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
And because we are certainly as women, we are not
saying don't eat chocolate if you're on your period or
you have some PMS, but really be particular with the
type of chocolate. Really go for that darker you know,
seventy percent or higher, so it's higher and antioxidants. You're
getting more benefit from that. It's also not so much
of an ultra processed food either. A lot of milk
type chocolates have a lot of added you know, different
(21:53):
vegetable oils and stuff in them. So if you can
grab a handful of nuts or seed, some pistachios, some walnuts,
some pecan, some almonds, lay them onto a bit of
baking paper, even put some fresh berries in there for
some extra fiber and antioxidants, and drizzle that with some
good quality dark chocolate. You can basically make like a
nut and seed bark and that's a much better I guess. Addition,
you're getting the you're hitting the cravings from the chocolate perspective,
(22:16):
but you're also getting the protective benefits of the nuts
and seeds with the researchers shown, and again legumes. So
many of our ladies eat a salad for lunch, which
is amazing, but when was the last time you put
some black beans or some brown lentils or some chickpeas
into that salad as well, So really focusing on your
beans and legumes. And again, if you need that little
bit of a chocolate fixed, totally fine. There is actually
(22:37):
a growing range of things like roasted chickpeas, and there's
a brand out there. I think it's Happy Snack Company,
isn't it Susi that does the dark chocolate coated chickpeas
as well. So again you're getting the benefits of the
sweetness from the chocolate, but also the additional benefits of
legumes too, So it's not all or nothing. You don't
have to give up chocolate and replace it with nuts
and seas. You can do a combination of both. And
that's the message that Susi and I for the last
(22:59):
four or five years i've had the podcast, we've always
tried to say to our listeners it's about balance. It's
not black or white, it's not about all or nothing.
You don't have to give anything up, but really focus
on what you can add into your diet, which particularly
from a PMS perspective, is going to be really really.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Beneficial for women.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
So NATSI dark chocolate, bark, bitter berries for antioxidants, absolutely
wonderful to hit those sweet cravings but also give you
some additional benefits to hopefully reduce some of those PMS
type symptoms.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
True, and I had just recently reviewed the dark chocolate
brands for an article I inkerret for nine honey, and
I would say seventy to eighty percent of dark chocolate
in the supermarket has the first ingredient sugar as opposed
to cocoa beans, which means that it's less equality. So
just if you are a dark chocolate eater, So for example,
that Audi which we do love their portion control chocolate,
(23:49):
the General brand definitely even their dark chocolate is still
sugar base, whereas when you go to that mond one,
the thin one that's more blocked like a lint with.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
The five serves. Their pure dark is first ingredient cocoa butter.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So your best to seek out dark chocolate has that
higher proportion of antioxidants if you're doing a kind of
bark or if you are having it because it is
a better quality product. And there's only a small handful
that do have that base as opposed to sugar. All
rightly and well, I have been to Audi, as you
might have inferred, I don't go. I love Audi because
I get a few key things there, but I don't
go that often. It's not in my sort of normal
(24:25):
grocery rum. Keep in mind if I go to most
both supermarkets in most days. But I did have to
go for something else recently, and I did a little
bit of a look over pantry staples there, and I
remember that when I had a colonoscopy, I used the
chicken soup and I really quite liked it, And when
I had to look at nutritionally, it's actually pretty good.
And it's only retails for three dollars the pouch, So
(24:46):
I thought that was quite a good one coming into winter,
and you know, we're back into soup season now. No
one is saying that it's not better to make your own.
My issue or not feedback on making your own? Is
that a good soup? That's got in it, say chicken legumes,
a good quality stock, a base of celery, onion, galic
leak can cost twenty at least, not thirty dollars of
(25:09):
base ingredients. Now, sure you'll get four or five six
serves out of that, but it's still quite a big
spin for a bowl of soup. Whereas if you can
buy them at reasonably cheap prices and nutritionally they're pretty good,
you'd argue for busy people like you don't have to
feel guilty about different soups. Now, I'm not saying that
this soup is the best in a supermarket. There are
(25:29):
chicken soups that are so pristine nutritionally that, as I said,
you'd be pushed to make your own Potango Chicken and
vegetable is an example of that. It is so strong nutritionally,
I can't really fault it. But I thought I would
just talk about an Aldi product because I know some
of our listeners enjoy shopping Aldi, and I think this
one's not too bad, particularly keeping the cupboard as a
bit of a backup. So this is an old fashioned
(25:50):
chicken soup, and it retails for two dollars ninety nine,
which is incredibly inexpensive for a product. Also, Leanne Audio
remo good books at the moment because for a long
time I couldn't get any.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Of the nutritionals of the products online.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
They just didn't put them there, And now they've added
them all in, which really makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So they're in my good books.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
So it recommends two serves a pack now, to be honest,
I ate it in one, so I think it Stretching
it to two serves is a bit of extreme, but
you know you could as a side dish, so perseve
if you're basing it on tuo per packets one hundred
and eight calories. It's got five point eight grams of protein,
three point seven grams are fat, only one point five
saturated as you would expect in a soup. Three point
(26:31):
seven sugars per serve, which is actually pretty low for
a soup because you do get some natural sugars from
a vegetable based soup. And the sodium is three forty four,
which is actually quite low. Even if you double that,
you're coming in less than seven hundred. That is low
for a soup. So that's one of the reasons I
quite like it. The ingredients are water, and someone asked
me if I should be concerned water is the first
(26:51):
ingredient in a soup. Absolutely not, It probably should be
in most cases. Dice chicken thigh. Now we'd prefer chicken breast,
but chicken thig is not too bad. Five percent not
overly high, but not loverly low. Five percent potatoes skim
milk powder, so they're using that to cream it up, celery, carrot,
sweet corn, so you're getting another sort of five percent
vegetables there, which adds it to about ten, including the potato,
(27:13):
natural flavored corn starch for thickening, cream powder, onion, potato starches, extract,
canola oil, thickener, spices, and herbs. Now, yes, it's not
as clean as some of them, but it's pretty clean.
It doesn't have any added sugars really, and it's not
a bad percentage of vegetables for a soup that retails at.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Two ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So I would give it a seven eight out of ten,
and I think at the price point it's just quite
a good product that because some of the soups, if
it's a cup of soup, for example, or a more
broth baited soup, they're not overly tasty, so you're not
going to have it. The reason I like this is
it is quite creamy without being too high in calories.
So I think it just is a nice middle ground
option to keep in the cupboard and just say you
(27:55):
make yourself a toasted sandwich, you make yourself a wrap
for lunch, or some crackers, and you're wants some extra
box to go with it. The three bucks. I think
it's a pretty good option. So yeah, I quite liked it.
What do you think I like it?
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I like this as no artificial colors, flavors, there's no preservative. So,
like you said, like it's a good ingredient list I
would use this more as a snack, I guess, like
particularly one hundred cows of serve, six grams of protein,
it's more a snack.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
It's not a meal, let's be honest.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
But as you said, you use it as a bit
of a side dish or even for really active listeners,
like that's a good stack. Even the whole pouch, like
two hundred calories, twelve grams of protein, it's good. Particular
if you're active. Six hundred milligrams are sodium. I wouldn't
really be concerned about him someone who's active, Like, I'm
not that concerned unless you've really got issues with blood
pressure or you know, heart or something like that.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
So I think it's good.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
I think Aldi is definitely competing with the bigger supermarkets.
They're bringing out more and more products which are very
very similar to some of our favorite brands in more
the big giant supermarkets as well. But I do think
we're definitely heading into soup season and a lot of
I had a favorite range of fresh soups and coals,
but they.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Just seem to have been gone in the last year
or so.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
And I'm just not so much a fan of the
fresh ones in Wulworest that I am in Coals, So
I think a lot of the fresh soups have kind
of gone off the market.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Maybe it's due to the expiry dates or something.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Yeah, I can't find the Potango, which was the best
chicken and vegetable soup.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
I don't know what's happening.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
My favorite ones were the Coals Perform range. At Coals,
they had really strong nutritionally, is like between three to
four hundred calories like of course to thirty grams of protein,
really great fiber, and they're just they've mostly gone.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I can't find them at my local, so it's very upsetting.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
But a lot of the better quality soups have been
replaced the fresh ones with these more pouches, so you
find them on the shelf in the canned soups out
of sort of section and their pouches. So just making
sure of course you're decanning it out of the plastic
pouch and you're putting it into like a saucement or
something and warming it up on the on the stove top.
But yeah, I think it's I think it's pretty strong nutritionally.
It's just it's to me, it's a lot. It's a
(29:47):
snack or it's a very very very light addition to
a meal, like you said, a bit of a toasted
sandwich or a nice you know, a bit of leftovers
we might not quite have enough and you can have
a bit of sort of soup on the side.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah, Like I love sandwich and a soup when you
go to the States. I think it's such a good combo.
It's even a piece of leftover chicken or Yeah, I
think it's a nice one just to keep one hand
for three dollars, really nice price point.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Alrighty, and that brings us to our final segment of
the show, Susie our listener question. So today the listener
question is there are a growing range of high protein
flavored milk drinks on the market. Yes, there are? Are
they a good choice? So this is an interesting question
because my first question back to you, listener, would be
a good choice for what as a meal or as
(30:30):
a snack? Because some of these higher protein flavored milk
drinks can be upwards of three hundred calories and for
somebody who's actively trying to lose weight, who's not really
that tall and who's not really living in a larger body,
say for example, someone's you know, five foot four, they're
about you know, sixty eight kilos. They just want to
drop a couple of kilos that you don't really need
a huge amount of calories, you know, per meal. So
(30:51):
I think for some of these, I think a lot
of us are using them as snacks, whereas I think
some of them are pretty high calorie you just need
to be careful.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
A lot of them are also very ultra process.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Particularly if you look at the ones that are more
I guess like the mere replacement formulated ones. But if
you're thinking what I'm thinking, Susie more the ones in
the cold iced coffee kind of section.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
The Rookby Farms Pools has a new one as well.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
I think they have a time and place like I
certainly don't write them into my client meal plans. But
if they're busy, they might have left their lunch at home.
They just, you know, want to quick and easy kind
of lunch. They're going in and they're going to grab
something like that soup and one of the high protein
milk drinks to go with them. I don't really have
a problem with that, but I certainly don't use them
on a regular basis or really write them into my
(31:36):
client's meal plans. I really think they're more of a
convenient a kid's sports. I'm just going to duck into
the local supermarket and grab one of these protein drinks
to kind of get me through, so I'm not snacking
on the sausages or the pies or the hot chips
at you know, the kids sports or you know, during
the work afternoon tea when all the pastries are out,
I'm going to have one of these instead. And I
went to a business conference a couple of weeks ago,
(31:57):
and the girls sitting in front of me had one
of them high protein milk drinks on her desk. Where
was When I looked around me, me being a dietitian,
I had my coffee.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I went out to the local coffee shop, got a coffee.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
I had my apple, I had my veggie sticks, and
I had my nuts and seas and a little kind
of container.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
But that's me being a shot off dietitian.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
But I was looking around me and there was just
bags of lollies and you know, big bags of chips
everywhere on blocks of chocolate, and I just kind of thought,
she's done really well. Like she's got a higher protein
flavored milk drink, it's got some calcium, it's got some protein.
It's really going to help stabilize her blood sugar levels.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Like I was, like, it's a great choice.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
It was about three pm in the afternoon, so I'm
guessing that she, you know, ducked out and went to
one of the little, you know, metro supermarkets or something
in the city to grab that, because I had come
from home and I hadn't gone to the supermarkets by
the coffee shop all day, and that wouldn't have lasted
because I left home about seven am that morning. So
I think it's a really great option. I think there's
a time and a place for them. But I think
(32:51):
in terms of convenience when you're out here on the run,
I think they can be.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Really, really great.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
But I wouldn't be using them as a regular option
basically just for the price point and the fact that
there are some different types of emulsifiers and additives in
there that we would deem them generally ultra process foods.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
But yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Think that they have a time and a place for
convenience occasionally.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
That's probably my two cents on them. What do you think?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
A little bit upset about them, to be honest, because
they're doing a lot of roundstututionally as a thirty grand
of protein products and supermarket. But they've got artificial sweetener
in them, They've got a spar tame, and I just
think in this day.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
And age, we're beyond that.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
You know, Coca Cola is pulling dit coke off the
shelves for a reason. A spar tame has been banned
in Europe. Why are we now still proactively adding it
to these drinks?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Now?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
The target market usually for flavored milk is a tradey
teenage market, so they're the biggest consumers of flavored milk
in convenience which is petrol stations, convenient quickie stores, and
then even in supermarkets. So tradesmen who are eating three
four meals a day and going through a lot of calories,
and also teenage boys. So for them, like you said,
(34:02):
there are a breakfast meal. In a way, they've increased
the protein. They're really high in calcium. Some of them
have got eight hundred milligrams of calcium, which is incredibly high.
So nutritionally they kind of tick the macro nutrient boxes.
But my issue is the artificial sweetener.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I don't like it.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
You know, we had quite a discussion when we were
formulating our hot chocolate because Jara sort of was the
hot chocolate I had always consumed and enjoyed because it
had a really nice, creamy flavor. But ultimately it's got
a spartan in it nine to five to one, which
is the same as the diet chocolate moose. So as
a dietician, I've had to say, right, I actually have
to stop recommending these products because we are telling clients
(34:41):
to have a product that we know has got a
product that's an ingredient that's band overseas, Like there's a
reason for this that it just banned things because of
a whim. There's got to be strong evidence that they
should be. So when we have Australian foods that are
newly formulated to contain it, I'm like, come on, there
are so many sweetener alternatives that are natural now. There
is stevia, there is natvia, there are the alcohol sugars.
(35:03):
There are so many options now, highly likely the more
expensive they're in the spar tame. But I just think
in this day and age, we are beyond it, and
I feel like we have to be honest to say, look,
those products will not be in our newly updated to
top two hundred supermarket products coming out in a month
or two, because we cannot be recommending products that still
contain the spar tame, particularly as a new product entering
(35:24):
the supermarket shelves. So I'm seeing all these dieticians posting
them because they've done a massive mail out of them,
and I'm like, really, like, look at your ingredient lists.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Refused them as a side to say, no.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
I think we should. They're strong, but I can't. And
I said this to the brand manager of one of them,
what's the go with your spar tame? Like we are
beyond we have to be saying these things.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Leanne and I've had some heightened discussions recently about calling
products out in supermarket and I said to her like,
if we don't, who is if we don't say.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
The food industry this is not good. You shouldn't be
doing this.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
You know, everyone thinks it's okay and because they've got
mas market support or they're in Colls and Woolies. But
I think as leading dieticians in Australia, we need to
say they're not good. And so if you see nine
to five one, my recommendation is we shouldn't be having it.
And I believe it will be eventually banned in the
austra and food supply as well, and I think we're
at that stage now. These are not a one off product.
This isn't a piece of chewing gum you consume occasionally.
(36:17):
This is a product that people think is healthy and
when they've got attitudes in it that shouldn't be in there,
I think we need to pull that out and be
quite blunts.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
So even for children.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
If it's got nine to five to one, I can't
be proactively recommending it. So yeah, that's where I sit
on them.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, and I agree with you in terms of the
artificial sweeteners and the other brand that i'd say that
doesn't have the artificial sweetener that I use occasionally for
my clients, or I did up until sort of the
end of last year when I read some of this
newer research coming out about emulsifies with different types of
bower diseases like IBD in plummatory bow disease sensitive tummy's IBS,
(36:51):
there has been some new research that a few of
the different types of emulsifiers can actually worsen gut health
and that leakiness in the gut.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
So for any of my clients that have.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
Celiac disease IBD, I don't recommend these. And one of
the big brands in the market actually has carriaging and
which is a specific type of added emulsifier that can
have negative implications from a gut health perspective in it.
So it doesn't have the artificial sweetener, but it does
have a mulcifier carriaging in it. So I actually don't
generally recommend any of the brands because they've either got
(37:20):
these added emulsifiers which we know aren't great for our
gut health long term, or they've got added artificial sweetness.
So I'm like you, I use them occasionally if I
was in a pinch, Yes, i'd go buy one myself
if I really needed a bit of a protein hit
to get me through to my next meal or something.
But to be honest, i'd probably pick up one of
the higher protein yogurts on the market before i'd reach
for something like this. But if a you know, if
your husband a trader or whatever, or your teenage son
(37:43):
is having one of these massive, you know, sugary type
ic coffees or chocolate, you know, cold drinks, and you're
gonna swap them over to something with a bit of
protein in it, it's probably a good thing, but it's
not something that I would actively be adding into the
diets of my ladies, just due to the fact that
they are ultimately most of them are an ultra processed
food due to the added emulsifiers in them as well,
(38:04):
which you're not going to get in fresh milk, and
you generally don't find in some of the higher protein yogurts.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Yeah, a good point.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Actually hadn't picked up on that, but absolutely right, good,
good point. Thank you for listening to us today on
the Nutrition Catch. Thanks keep telling your friends about us.
We have hit five million downloads. I think I said
this for about six months. Finally we did then I
was actually at five point two.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Were nearly five point three. Actually we're a bit yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
That we did miss it. Yeah, which is a lot
of downloads about nutrition. So we are so thrilled to
be bringing evidence based nutrition that is hopefully helping you
achieve your health goals. Thank you for your support of
our brands, particularly are designed by dieticians, and we will
see you same time next week for our regular episode
drop see
Speaker 3 (38:42):
You then, thank you for your ongoing support.
Do you take a greens powder each day, or maybe
you combine collagen creating and protein into a smoothie, or
maybe you have a special hot chocolate that you enjoy
before bed. For full transparency, Leanne and I do sell
formulated nutritional supplements via our brand designed by dietitians, but
even we are shopped as some of the prices women
are paying for dietary additions like collagen and magnesium. And
(00:24):
today we share with you how you can tell if
you're investing in your health or getting ripped off.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Hi, I'm Susy Burrow.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And I'm Liam Water, and together we bring you The
Nutrition Couch, the weekly podcast that keeps you up to
date on everything you need to know in the world
of nutrition, as well as supplements spend. We have some
brand new research that looks at the best foods you
can eat for PMS. We have a cheap suit from
audio that is pretty good nutritionally, and our listener question
is all about high protein chocolate milk.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
So Leanne.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Recently, I was milling the aisles of none other than
Chemist Warehouse, which is kind of a mecca, isn't it
Like when I go overseas? I love nothing more and
going to those twenty for hour drug stores. They've got
so much stuff. But you know, we're busy in life.
I don't have that much time to go around shops.
But I was waiting for a script and I was
having a look at some of the products. Now, you know,
we launched design Bi Dietitians about fifteen months ago because
(01:15):
we had been recommending certain supplements for women and we thought, well,
we should just formulate our own because we are qualified
to do so. But I think what we've really observed
in the last five to ten years is a growing
number of wellness influencers who are really using their genetics,
good looks and high profile that may inevitably come from
reality television, and basically selling dietary supplements. You know, it's
(01:39):
I guess tricky because everyone's got a right to go
into business. You know, that's not I guess the concern
we're raising. The concern I have is when I see
products like a very simple hot chocolate with three to
five grams of collagen added, or a greens powder which
is basically just dehydrated vegetables and a few vitamins thrown in,
(02:00):
or magnesium which is really an electrolyte, which yes we
can need and yes we can supplement, but it's not
overly expensive, you know when you formulate it.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
When I see them.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Being sold for sixty ninety dollars, you know, and I'm like, really,
because it's just basically ripping people off, because there's nothing
in those drinks in general that is so super special
that justifies paying double what the average brand is paying.
So I want it just for people to be aware.
(02:35):
And I think deep down we all know this to
be true there and just because it costs more doesn't
always mean it's better. So if you go into a
luxury car market and there is evidence that the Porsche
or the Lexus performs better, drives better, resells better, and
you can justify paying double for a car, no drama.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
But I want our listeners.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
To be aware that when you read a nutritional label
and you see three or five grams of collagen, and
basically that's the main ingredient in a supplement, there is
no justification to be paying double for that same active
ingredient just because someone beautiful selling it. Generally speaking, they
are not qualified to be selling nutritional supplements. I think
(03:21):
that's actually a fundamental issue. In most cases, they will
have someone formulating it, but when they're up there on
podcasts talking about it, they have no credentials to be
talking about applied nutrition. And when they're charging women, hard
working women double for at five grams of collagen or
one hundred and fifty grams of magnesium, I'm just appalled
(03:45):
because basically you are taking advantage of people, and I
just want people to be aware that when it is double,
really check those active ingredients, because when I have a
look at them, often they're quite simple products with very
simple things out it, like herbals, maybe magnesium zinc, and
they're charging double because they're famous as supermodel, reality TV
(04:07):
star or naturally very beautiful, and I just think, come on, like,
it really takes advantage a little bit. So that's the
main thing. I would be always looking at what is
in that product and does it justify that spend? So
and I guess it's not dissimilar to skin care in
a different way because skin care, you can see a moisturizer,
and a moisturizer might be two or three times the
(04:29):
amount of a normal moisturizer, and in the case of
more boutique kind of brands. Yes, you'd say they've got
higher level ingredients, or they might have studies to show
that it reduces aging.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
You know, they try and justify that.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
The issue with nutritional supplements is that there's often no justification.
Some of the supplements are obscure. So when you're basically buying,
you know, if we're looking at what is generally in
a hot chocolate powder, it's probably magnesium, maybe some amino acids.
What's in a skin supplement, it's usually cold religion, what's
in a creatin you know how much is in there,
(05:04):
and if it's basically the same stuff, you've got to
make sure you're not basically getting hugely ripped off just
because someone will know you is selling it.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
So I think it's buyer beware.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
But yeah, when I see people paying sixty ninety more
one hundred dollars plus for special Greens powder, I'm like,
come on, you are just basically lining the pockets of
the influencer who's flogging it to you.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
And when you sent me that hot chocolate which I'm
retailed for like ninety dollars, I was like, is anybody
actually paying that? And again like it's they're trading off
their good looks in their genetics. So basically say like
I'm so beautiful, I take this hot chocolate every night,
buy my brand basically, and so I think, like you said,
it's consumer beware. We have to do our due diligence.
We have to understand what are the products we're buying.
(05:48):
What is the clinical ingredient in there? If it is skincare, yes,
there is some research to show that collagen can improve
skin elasticity skin hydration in the serving size of about
three to five gram perserve. But again that research is
a daily target. So if you're going to take collagen
and you want some improvements in terms of fine lines,
skin elasticity, hydration, you need to be taking three to
(06:11):
five grams absolutely daily to actually have that impact. If
you're going to pay ninety dollars for a hot chocolate
and have it a couple of times a week or
sporadically when you remember, or only in winter when it's
a little bit cooler, or only every Friday and Saturday night,
you're not actually going to get the benefits from the collagen.
So it is really important to understand what is the
active ingredient, What are other people on the market sort
(06:33):
of selling it for because that'll give you a broader
implication of sort of the worth or the value of
that ingredient. And then how often do I actually need
to take it and in what dose? And that's the
same thing with vitamins and minerals basically.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Right, if you've got.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
An iron deficiency but you only sporadically take your iron
supplement whenever you remember to do that, and you always
wash it down with your morning coffee, you're probably never
really going to increase your blood iron levels and you're
probably always going to be a kneemic.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So it is really important to.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Actually have an understanding and if you don't go and
see a dietitian and cross check your supplements, cross check
your you know, go and see a doctor or a
pharmacist and cross check your medications and make sure that
you're actually taking the amount in the vitamin in the
correct amount to actually have a clinical effect. Basically, so
I think it is really important to do some research.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
But also the other one you sent.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Me was a brand of Creating, and we know you
know in designed by dietitians. We sell the highest quality
creating in the world. It's German sourced, it's Create Pure,
It's ninety nine percent purity. You cannot get better purity
in the world. If a brand does not advertise that
they are using German source creating or Create Pure, hands down,
it is from China. Even if the brand says it's
one hundred percent creating monohydrate, it is from China, because
(07:44):
we are paying so much more as a brand to
source that from Germany to have that nine point nine
percent purity basically, and so many brands out there are
using Chinese source creating, which is significantly cheaper and actually
charging more than we do. It designed by dietitians. You
sent me one Susie and we're charging over fifty dollars
for the same amount for Chinese source creatine.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
So it's just a bit of a rought.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
And if you're following your favorite influences, by all means,
buy the products if you want to, but really make
sure that you understand how much is in it, how
much you need to take, and where are those ingredients
sourced from, because half the time these influencers or these
models have absolutely no idea where these ingredients are coming from,
what the quality of the ingredients are, how much needs
(08:25):
to be in that active ingredient or in that product
to actually have a clinical dose or a clinical effect.
So it is something that definitely bubs us up the
wrong way because we don't Yes we run a business,
Yes we are business women, Yes we have mortgages to
pay like everybody else, but we're not out here trying
to rout people. We don't want to charge four times
what we could for our products just because they're great
(08:46):
products and formulated by dieticians. We're not going to do
that to our customers. But there are some brands out
there doing that. So I think you just need to
be careful what you're buying and make sure that it
truly is worth the value, not just because somebody beautiful
sells that, you know, can it get unfortunately the same
results because their results are based on genetics, not their
you know, overpriced supplement range.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Basically, there is nothing in a hot chocolate that warrants
a month's worth being ninety dollars. Like it's just doesn't
pass the pop test, you know. And when, as I said,
when I looked at it and then I looked what
was in it, I was like, are you joking? Like
there is actually not even a couple of active ingredients
in there because there is only there's only collagen.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, you know, that is double.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
What baseline collagen should be at a high price level,
you know. And in terms of how do you you know,
we as you know a brand, you know, we basically
look at the raw ingredients and then we look and
think what would is a reasonable amount to pay for
that as part of a balanced diet. And when I'm
looking at it going there is no way, you know,
people should be paying three or four dollars to serve
(09:50):
for a nightly hot chocolate at home with five grams
of collagen. So I think, you know, with those kind
of formulated drinks, you know, look at the raw ingredient,
what are you actually paying for for? And you know,
sure if you're stacking something, so for example, if that
hot chocolate had in that creating it had collageen had,
you know, then you can start to justify our well,
instead of using two or three, you're using one. But
(10:12):
often when I'm seeing these influencers doing it's got one
or two basic ingredients with a massive markup, and that
is just taking advantage of consumers because I think if
you step back and think, right, you know, we are
dietitians in the sense that our craft is to you know,
educate supply in the case of supplements, nutrition, evidence based nutrition,
(10:33):
that is our craft, that is our skill, that is
our profession. So in the case of an influencer, a supermodel,
you know, they've got a limited time span of being
well known to get a brand up, so they're there
in many cases to get it out quickly, to make
their money, get in and out. You know, the money's
running low. Supermodel is not paying much anymore. You can
(10:54):
kind of see from a business perspective how it works,
but it doesn't change the fact you're basically taking advantage
of consumers in some cases. And I think as health
professionals we deal and talk to women every day. Ethically,
we don't feel comfortable doing that. I couldn't be selling
something like we could make a lot more money and
double the dose, double the price of our hot chocolate.
Absolutely we could, but I couldn't be ripping people.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Off like that. I couldn't sleep at night.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
I'd be like feeling too guilty because I know I'm
basically just ripping people off. So yeah, I think, just
be aware of it. Check your active ingredients and if
it fails the pub test, if someone is like that
is a ridiculous amount to be paying for a powder
that you're sticking into a drink each night, you know,
because you could say, oh, well, I'm paying three dollars
at the coffee shop for a coffee or five dollars. Yeah,
but you're paying for the barista to make it, you're
(11:40):
paying for the service, you're paying for the In these cases.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
You've just got the raw powder. So just be a
little bit aware.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And I think in this day and age, you know,
there's some ethical questions around who's formulating and selling and when.
These markups are just beyond so they're the ones I'd
be particularly aware of. The hot chocolate formulations, the greens powders,
the collagen and magnesium like as a war ingredient.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
These are not overly expensive.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Probably the most expensive collagen can be expensive depending on
the source. And also you know, the German creation is
more expensive, so you should see a slight price increase
on that. But yeah, just as I said, please don't
ever think for a second that paying more in these
instances is better. You know, like leanne ninety dollars, I
can pay for three or four family meals for ninety bucks.
Like that's a serious amount to be spending on a
(12:27):
hot chocolate drink. So yeah, I think just be aware
and just don't get ripped off and think that they're
better just because they're charging a lot more and they've
just got bigger profile, and the reason to make bigger margins,
you know, in their businesses is coming from a more
personal one rather than a professional stance as we are.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
And the other one i'll just add to that less
that you mentioned the Greens powders, the hot chocolates is
the growing range of hydration supplements on the market. So
I saw another you could call it an influencer, like
in the fitness space, launch a brand of like hydration
supplements basically, and it worked out to be five.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Dollars something a serve.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
And I was reading a forum about people complaining and
saying is this justified? And people were like, it's a
bit of sodium and potassium. How is it five dollars
a serve? Like absolutely ridiculous. But when you look at
it and you go in to say coals or wall words,
if you did buy a bottle of parade off the shelf,
I mean, yeah, it's four or five dollars, but nobody
actually does that daily because you wait for it to
become half priced if you really need it, or I
(13:21):
buy a range of hydration supplements from the chemists that
it's just a powder I mixed into water myself for
my really heavy workout days, and that works out to
be like a couple of dollars a serve.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
So again, this influence.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Is charging more than double really for just a bit
of salt and potassium and a tiny bit of flavoring.
And then she still had artificial flavors and malto dexterro.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Mixed through it as well. So I just think it
is a bit of a rut.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
So just be careful what you're paying for and really
do a bit of research in terms of what's comparable,
and just don't fall for yeah, big influencers and big
models with big supplement brands, because often your money is
probably better spent on better quality ingredients and for cheaper
prices somewhere else. All right, Well, that leads us nicely
into our next section. Well, actually not really doesn't lead
(14:04):
us directly at all, but we have a list new
section for our listeners for the next few section, which
is all about PMS research.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
We'll get off our ranty pants.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
At the moment, Susy and we get on a rant
we can really go for hours, but we'll come off
that and we'll talk about some nice new research about PMS,
because I came across this one online and I really
liked it.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
It's a brand new study actually published this.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Month in May in the Journal of Nutrition, which is
a very reputable journal, and the study was titled the
Dietary Predictors of pre Menstrual Syndrome or PMS and the
Protective role of nuts, seeds, and legumes and the Adverse
role of sugar and sweets. So essentially the article was
investigating the specific dietary components that actually influence PMS in women.
(14:47):
And Susie and I have so many clients that really
do suffer with quite debilitating PMS, generally you know, before
their cycles and sometimes during. So I think anything that
as women, particularly when research is focused around women, because
so much much is it, And I think when it
comes down to our cycles and our hormones and even
different things like fertility and metopause, like all of these
(15:08):
things are really really important topics for women. So when
we do see some new research, it's very very exciting
because we do know that about eighty percent of Australian
women eighty percent age between eighteen and forty five have
experienced problematic periods in the past five years. That is
a massive amount of Australian women eighty percent that have
(15:30):
had issues or have had problems with you know, period
and period pain in PMS, and this has actually ended
up costing the economy and estimated fourteen billion dollars every
single year. So if we have some research that can
show that dietary and lifestyle modifications could actually help millions
of women, not only just in Australia but around the
world lessen the risk of PMS, we are certainly going
(15:53):
to be talking about it. And this research was really
really exciting. So essentially what it found was that women
who experience painful PMS symptoms could be making their symptoms
up to thirty three percent worse by actually indulging in
their sugar craving. So a lot of women, Susie and
I included, like, we're not we're not unicorns here, We're
not the.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Exception to it.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
We crave sugar before and during our periods, and particularly
a lot of that PMS is sooths by some sugar,
some sweets, some chocolate, so that could actually be making
your symptoms thirty three percent worse. Instead, what this research
is found that a handful of nuts and seeds a day,
around about thirty to forty grams could actually reduce PMS
(16:36):
symptoms by forty one percent.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
That is a huge, huge amount.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So basically it found that there was a protective factor,
so a higher intake of nut seeds and also legume
so Q, a more plant based or plant focused diet
was associated with a reduced risk of experiencing PMS symptoms.
And I think that all the research is sort of
pointing towards the fact that these foods, these nutsy seeds, legumes,
whole grains as well, are really rich and essential nutrients,
(17:04):
things like magnesium, vitamin B six, healthy fats, and that
actually may play a role in hormonal regulation and also
mood stabilization. And so many of our clients do not
eat anywhere near enough nuts, seeds and legumes.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It's something that both.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
Susie and I are immediately when we start working with
a client, we do a full diet sort of overview
look at what they're currently eating, and of course we
up the vegetables and the fruit and the fresh foods,
but often we're adding in good quality nut seeds and
legumes because they're just missing from most busy women's diets.
And a lot of us want to supplement with B
vitamins for energy, we want magnesium to help us sleep,
(17:39):
and for our muscles, we want you know, we're taking
all of these supplements, but if we can actually get
them in through food, of course we always want to
have a food first approach. So nuts, seeds and legumes
here were really the key protective factor in PMS. And
what was really interesting was that people with an increased
consumption of sugar and sweets that actually correlated to a
(18:00):
higher incidence of PMS symptoms. So those who had more
sugar and sweets had worse PMS symptoms and a higher incidence,
and those who consume more nut seas and leggames had
a lower incidence and experience less painful PMS symptoms.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
And they did find that the.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Sugar in the sweets, or what they were sort of
implying was that diets high and refined carbohydrates and refined
sugars chocolates, sweets, you know, sugary drinks like soft drinks
that can lead to a lot of blood sugar fluctuations
and then potentially exacerbate mood swings and other sort of
PMS related discomforts as well.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
So it's really really interesting research.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
I wouldn't say that it's something that we didn't kind
of know indirectly, right, Like it's basically general healthy eating,
but I think it's always nice for our general healthy
eating dips as dieticians to be backed up by some
solid research.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
So how do you feel about this article?
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Suits?
Speaker 4 (18:52):
It's a really interesting one, but it definitely highlights a
significant need in terms of women's health and women's hormones
and just continuing to advocate the balanced nutrition and not letting,
I guess women get into that mindset of oh, I've
got PMS, all, I've got my period. I deserve to
eat all of the chocolate, which certainly you can have some,
but I think when we're just riding off a couple
(19:14):
of days and going through you know, rose and rose
or blocks of chocolate, it could actually be potentially having
a negative impact on us, which we haven't really seen
in the research before.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Have we well, it just shows more rationale for including
those good fats proactively because those symptoms, the bloating, the pain,
the emotional dysregulation, whilst the body is craving the sweet foods,
the underlying nutrition will be of benefit. And I think
busy women, particularly twenties and thirty or old women, like
(19:44):
they're rushing around with jobs, dating, partying, or in their
thirties probably planning families. In some cases, they're often sacrificing
their own nutrition. So certainly superfoods in that space. Walnuts are,
pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, LSA, and just making that a
part of your day and being aware that whilst you
might crave extra chocolate, and I think previously on the
(20:05):
potty we've spoken about needing about one hundred to two
hundred extra calories around the timing period, you know, make
sure you're still getting those nuts and seeds regularly and
more plant based foods because it will naturally reduce inflammation.
So I just thought it was nice data specifically looking
at something that does affect most women or you know,
like you said eighty percent of women, because I liked
the data, like, did you read this out? Thirty three
(20:27):
percent worse by include indulging sugar cravings compared to a
handful of nuts can reduce PMS by forty one percent.
That's significant, Like that is really significant.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And one of the most.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Common questions we have is what type of nut? And
I always say a mix is good. You know, like
often we're reaching for almonds, but if you can get
things like the more obscure nuts, like the walnuts, the
pumpkin seeds, you know, you get different fats from those
rather than just the almonds. So I think mixing up
which is why we love the munch snacks, because you
get portion control of that different range of nuts and seeds.
(20:59):
And if you look at nut bars, they're often having
a heavily peanut base, which is where there's not as
many benefits to that. So you're really wanting to look
for those more variety cashew, walnut, alm and a range
if you can, or even I like, rather than just
there's a lot of good peanut butter, which are a
hundred percent nuts, but I prefer the seeded mixes which
you get a whole range, so they're a good addition,
(21:21):
or you know, flax seed LSA in a smoothie each
day but yeah, I thought it was just some nice
starter to talk about and a reminder because I would
argue that often busy people.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Are not getting those fats on a day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
I'll just have a lot of quick tip for our listeners.
Speaker 4 (21:33):
And because we are certainly as women, we are not
saying don't eat chocolate if you're on your period or
you have some PMS, but really be particular with the
type of chocolate. Really go for that darker you know,
seventy percent or higher, so it's higher and antioxidants. You're
getting more benefit from that. It's also not so much
of an ultra processed food either. A lot of milk
type chocolates have a lot of added you know, different
(21:53):
vegetable oils and stuff in them. So if you can
grab a handful of nuts or seed, some pistachios, some walnuts,
some pecan, some almonds, lay them onto a bit of
baking paper, even put some fresh berries in there for
some extra fiber and antioxidants, and drizzle that with some
good quality dark chocolate. You can basically make like a
nut and seed bark and that's a much better I guess. Addition,
you're getting the you're hitting the cravings from the chocolate perspective,
(22:16):
but you're also getting the protective benefits of the nuts
and seeds with the researchers shown, and again legumes. So
many of our ladies eat a salad for lunch, which
is amazing, but when was the last time you put
some black beans or some brown lentils or some chickpeas
into that salad as well, So really focusing on your
beans and legumes. And again, if you need that little
bit of a chocolate fixed, totally fine. There is actually
(22:37):
a growing range of things like roasted chickpeas, and there's
a brand out there. I think it's Happy Snack Company,
isn't it Susi that does the dark chocolate coated chickpeas
as well. So again you're getting the benefits of the
sweetness from the chocolate, but also the additional benefits of
legumes too, So it's not all or nothing. You don't
have to give up chocolate and replace it with nuts
and seas. You can do a combination of both. And
that's the message that Susi and I for the last
(22:59):
four or five years i've had the podcast, we've always
tried to say to our listeners it's about balance. It's
not black or white, it's not about all or nothing.
You don't have to give anything up, but really focus
on what you can add into your diet, which particularly
from a PMS perspective, is going to be really really.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Beneficial for women.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
So NATSI dark chocolate, bark, bitter berries for antioxidants, absolutely
wonderful to hit those sweet cravings but also give you
some additional benefits to hopefully reduce some of those PMS
type symptoms.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
True, and I had just recently reviewed the dark chocolate
brands for an article I inkerret for nine honey, and
I would say seventy to eighty percent of dark chocolate
in the supermarket has the first ingredient sugar as opposed
to cocoa beans, which means that it's less equality. So
just if you are a dark chocolate eater, So for example,
that Audi which we do love their portion control chocolate,
(23:49):
the General brand definitely even their dark chocolate is still
sugar base, whereas when you go to that mond one,
the thin one that's more blocked like a lint with.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
The five serves. Their pure dark is first ingredient cocoa butter.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So your best to seek out dark chocolate has that
higher proportion of antioxidants if you're doing a kind of
bark or if you are having it because it is
a better quality product. And there's only a small handful
that do have that base as opposed to sugar. All
rightly and well, I have been to Audi, as you
might have inferred, I don't go. I love Audi because
I get a few key things there, but I don't
go that often. It's not in my sort of normal
(24:25):
grocery rum. Keep in mind if I go to most
both supermarkets in most days. But I did have to
go for something else recently, and I did a little
bit of a look over pantry staples there, and I
remember that when I had a colonoscopy, I used the
chicken soup and I really quite liked it, And when
I had to look at nutritionally, it's actually pretty good.
And it's only retails for three dollars the pouch, So
(24:46):
I thought that was quite a good one coming into winter,
and you know, we're back into soup season now. No
one is saying that it's not better to make your own.
My issue or not feedback on making your own? Is
that a good soup? That's got in it, say chicken legumes,
a good quality stock, a base of celery, onion, galic
leak can cost twenty at least, not thirty dollars of
(25:09):
base ingredients. Now, sure you'll get four or five six
serves out of that, but it's still quite a big
spin for a bowl of soup. Whereas if you can
buy them at reasonably cheap prices and nutritionally they're pretty good,
you'd argue for busy people like you don't have to
feel guilty about different soups. Now, I'm not saying that
this soup is the best in a supermarket. There are
(25:29):
chicken soups that are so pristine nutritionally that, as I said,
you'd be pushed to make your own Potango Chicken and
vegetable is an example of that. It is so strong nutritionally,
I can't really fault it. But I thought I would
just talk about an Aldi product because I know some
of our listeners enjoy shopping Aldi, and I think this
one's not too bad, particularly keeping the cupboard as a
bit of a backup. So this is an old fashioned
(25:50):
chicken soup, and it retails for two dollars ninety nine,
which is incredibly inexpensive for a product. Also, Leanne Audio
remo good books at the moment because for a long
time I couldn't get any.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Of the nutritionals of the products online.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
They just didn't put them there, And now they've added
them all in, which really makes me happy.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
So they're in my good books.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
So it recommends two serves a pack now, to be honest,
I ate it in one, so I think it Stretching
it to two serves is a bit of extreme, but
you know you could as a side dish, so perseve
if you're basing it on tuo per packets one hundred
and eight calories. It's got five point eight grams of protein,
three point seven grams are fat, only one point five
saturated as you would expect in a soup. Three point
(26:31):
seven sugars per serve, which is actually pretty low for
a soup because you do get some natural sugars from
a vegetable based soup. And the sodium is three forty four,
which is actually quite low. Even if you double that,
you're coming in less than seven hundred. That is low
for a soup. So that's one of the reasons I
quite like it. The ingredients are water, and someone asked
me if I should be concerned water is the first
(26:51):
ingredient in a soup. Absolutely not, It probably should be
in most cases. Dice chicken thigh. Now we'd prefer chicken breast,
but chicken thig is not too bad. Five percent not
overly high, but not loverly low. Five percent potatoes skim
milk powder, so they're using that to cream it up, celery, carrot,
sweet corn, so you're getting another sort of five percent
vegetables there, which adds it to about ten, including the potato,
(27:13):
natural flavored corn starch for thickening, cream powder, onion, potato starches, extract,
canola oil, thickener, spices, and herbs. Now, yes, it's not
as clean as some of them, but it's pretty clean.
It doesn't have any added sugars really, and it's not
a bad percentage of vegetables for a soup that retails at.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Two ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So I would give it a seven eight out of ten,
and I think at the price point it's just quite
a good product that because some of the soups, if
it's a cup of soup, for example, or a more
broth baited soup, they're not overly tasty, so you're not
going to have it. The reason I like this is
it is quite creamy without being too high in calories.
So I think it just is a nice middle ground
option to keep in the cupboard and just say you
(27:55):
make yourself a toasted sandwich, you make yourself a wrap
for lunch, or some crackers, and you're wants some extra
box to go with it. The three bucks. I think
it's a pretty good option. So yeah, I quite liked it.
What do you think I like it?
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I like this as no artificial colors, flavors, there's no preservative. So,
like you said, like it's a good ingredient list I
would use this more as a snack, I guess, like
particularly one hundred cows of serve, six grams of protein,
it's more a snack.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
It's not a meal, let's be honest.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
But as you said, you use it as a bit
of a side dish or even for really active listeners,
like that's a good stack. Even the whole pouch, like
two hundred calories, twelve grams of protein, it's good. Particular
if you're active. Six hundred milligrams are sodium. I wouldn't
really be concerned about him someone who's active, Like, I'm
not that concerned unless you've really got issues with blood
pressure or you know, heart or something like that.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
So I think it's good.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
I think Aldi is definitely competing with the bigger supermarkets.
They're bringing out more and more products which are very
very similar to some of our favorite brands in more
the big giant supermarkets as well. But I do think
we're definitely heading into soup season and a lot of
I had a favorite range of fresh soups and coals,
but they.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Just seem to have been gone in the last year
or so.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
And I'm just not so much a fan of the
fresh ones in Wulworest that I am in Coals, So
I think a lot of the fresh soups have kind
of gone off the market.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Maybe it's due to the expiry dates or something.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Yeah, I can't find the Potango, which was the best
chicken and vegetable soup.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
I don't know what's happening.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
My favorite ones were the Coals Perform range. At Coals,
they had really strong nutritionally, is like between three to
four hundred calories like of course to thirty grams of protein,
really great fiber, and they're just they've mostly gone.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I can't find them at my local, so it's very upsetting.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
But a lot of the better quality soups have been
replaced the fresh ones with these more pouches, so you
find them on the shelf in the canned soups out
of sort of section and their pouches. So just making
sure of course you're decanning it out of the plastic
pouch and you're putting it into like a saucement or
something and warming it up on the on the stove top.
But yeah, I think it's I think it's pretty strong nutritionally.
It's just it's to me, it's a lot. It's a
(29:47):
snack or it's a very very very light addition to
a meal, like you said, a bit of a toasted
sandwich or a nice you know, a bit of leftovers
we might not quite have enough and you can have
a bit of sort of soup on the side.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
Yeah, Like I love sandwich and a soup when you
go to the States. I think it's such a good combo.
It's even a piece of leftover chicken or Yeah, I
think it's a nice one just to keep one hand
for three dollars, really nice price point.
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Alrighty, and that brings us to our final segment of
the show, Susie our listener question. So today the listener
question is there are a growing range of high protein
flavored milk drinks on the market. Yes, there are? Are
they a good choice? So this is an interesting question
because my first question back to you, listener, would be
a good choice for what as a meal or as
(30:30):
a snack? Because some of these higher protein flavored milk
drinks can be upwards of three hundred calories and for
somebody who's actively trying to lose weight, who's not really
that tall and who's not really living in a larger body,
say for example, someone's you know, five foot four, they're
about you know, sixty eight kilos. They just want to
drop a couple of kilos that you don't really need
a huge amount of calories, you know, per meal. So
(30:51):
I think for some of these, I think a lot
of us are using them as snacks, whereas I think
some of them are pretty high calorie you just need
to be careful.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
A lot of them are also very ultra process.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Particularly if you look at the ones that are more
I guess like the mere replacement formulated ones. But if
you're thinking what I'm thinking, Susie more the ones in
the cold iced coffee kind of section.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
The Rookby Farms Pools has a new one as well.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
I think they have a time and place like I
certainly don't write them into my client meal plans. But
if they're busy, they might have left their lunch at home.
They just, you know, want to quick and easy kind
of lunch. They're going in and they're going to grab
something like that soup and one of the high protein
milk drinks to go with them. I don't really have
a problem with that, but I certainly don't use them
on a regular basis or really write them into my
(31:36):
client's meal plans. I really think they're more of a
convenient a kid's sports. I'm just going to duck into
the local supermarket and grab one of these protein drinks
to kind of get me through, so I'm not snacking
on the sausages or the pies or the hot chips
at you know, the kids sports or you know, during
the work afternoon tea when all the pastries are out,
I'm going to have one of these instead. And I
went to a business conference a couple of weeks ago,
(31:57):
and the girls sitting in front of me had one
of them high protein milk drinks on her desk. Where
was When I looked around me, me being a dietitian,
I had my coffee.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
I went out to the local coffee shop, got a coffee.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
I had my apple, I had my veggie sticks, and
I had my nuts and seas and a little kind
of container.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
But that's me being a shot off dietitian.
Speaker 4 (32:14):
But I was looking around me and there was just
bags of lollies and you know, big bags of chips
everywhere on blocks of chocolate, and I just kind of thought,
she's done really well. Like she's got a higher protein
flavored milk drink, it's got some calcium, it's got some protein.
It's really going to help stabilize her blood sugar levels.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Like I was, like, it's a great choice.
Speaker 4 (32:30):
It was about three pm in the afternoon, so I'm
guessing that she, you know, ducked out and went to
one of the little, you know, metro supermarkets or something
in the city to grab that, because I had come
from home and I hadn't gone to the supermarkets by
the coffee shop all day, and that wouldn't have lasted
because I left home about seven am that morning. So
I think it's a really great option. I think there's
a time and a place for them. But I think
(32:51):
in terms of convenience when you're out here on the run,
I think they can be.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Really, really great.
Speaker 4 (32:55):
But I wouldn't be using them as a regular option
basically just for the price point and the fact that
there are some different types of emulsifiers and additives in
there that we would deem them generally ultra process foods.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
But yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Think that they have a time and a place for
convenience occasionally.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
That's probably my two cents on them. What do you think?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
A little bit upset about them, to be honest, because
they're doing a lot of roundstututionally as a thirty grand
of protein products and supermarket. But they've got artificial sweetener
in them, They've got a spar tame, and I just
think in this day.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
And age, we're beyond that.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
You know, Coca Cola is pulling dit coke off the
shelves for a reason. A spar tame has been banned
in Europe. Why are we now still proactively adding it
to these drinks?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Now?
Speaker 1 (33:41):
The target market usually for flavored milk is a tradey
teenage market, so they're the biggest consumers of flavored milk
in convenience which is petrol stations, convenient quickie stores, and
then even in supermarkets. So tradesmen who are eating three
four meals a day and going through a lot of calories,
and also teenage boys. So for them, like you said,
(34:02):
there are a breakfast meal. In a way, they've increased
the protein. They're really high in calcium. Some of them
have got eight hundred milligrams of calcium, which is incredibly high.
So nutritionally they kind of tick the macro nutrient boxes.
But my issue is the artificial sweetener.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
I don't like it.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
You know, we had quite a discussion when we were
formulating our hot chocolate because Jara sort of was the
hot chocolate I had always consumed and enjoyed because it
had a really nice, creamy flavor. But ultimately it's got
a spartan in it nine to five to one, which
is the same as the diet chocolate moose. So as
a dietician, I've had to say, right, I actually have
to stop recommending these products because we are telling clients
(34:41):
to have a product that we know has got a
product that's an ingredient that's band overseas, Like there's a
reason for this that it just banned things because of
a whim. There's got to be strong evidence that they
should be. So when we have Australian foods that are
newly formulated to contain it, I'm like, come on, there
are so many sweetener alternatives that are natural now. There
is stevia, there is natvia, there are the alcohol sugars.
(35:03):
There are so many options now, highly likely the more
expensive they're in the spar tame. But I just think
in this day and age, we are beyond it, and
I feel like we have to be honest to say, look,
those products will not be in our newly updated to
top two hundred supermarket products coming out in a month
or two, because we cannot be recommending products that still
contain the spar tame, particularly as a new product entering
(35:24):
the supermarket shelves. So I'm seeing all these dieticians posting
them because they've done a massive mail out of them,
and I'm like, really, like, look at your ingredient lists.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Refused them as a side to say, no.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
I think we should. They're strong, but I can't. And
I said this to the brand manager of one of them,
what's the go with your spar tame? Like we are
beyond we have to be saying these things.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Leanne and I've had some heightened discussions recently about calling
products out in supermarket and I said to her like,
if we don't, who is if we don't say.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
The food industry this is not good. You shouldn't be
doing this.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
You know, everyone thinks it's okay and because they've got
mas market support or they're in Colls and Woolies. But
I think as leading dieticians in Australia, we need to
say they're not good. And so if you see nine
to five one, my recommendation is we shouldn't be having it.
And I believe it will be eventually banned in the
austra and food supply as well, and I think we're
at that stage now. These are not a one off product.
This isn't a piece of chewing gum you consume occasionally.
(36:17):
This is a product that people think is healthy and
when they've got attitudes in it that shouldn't be in there,
I think we need to pull that out and be
quite blunts.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
So even for children.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
If it's got nine to five to one, I can't
be proactively recommending it. So yeah, that's where I sit
on them.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, and I agree with you in terms of the
artificial sweeteners and the other brand that i'd say that
doesn't have the artificial sweetener that I use occasionally for
my clients, or I did up until sort of the
end of last year when I read some of this
newer research coming out about emulsifies with different types of
bower diseases like IBD in plummatory bow disease sensitive tummy's IBS,
(36:51):
there has been some new research that a few of
the different types of emulsifiers can actually worsen gut health
and that leakiness in the gut.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
So for any of my clients that have.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
Celiac disease IBD, I don't recommend these. And one of
the big brands in the market actually has carriaging and
which is a specific type of added emulsifier that can
have negative implications from a gut health perspective in it.
So it doesn't have the artificial sweetener, but it does
have a mulcifier carriaging in it. So I actually don't
generally recommend any of the brands because they've either got
(37:20):
these added emulsifiers which we know aren't great for our
gut health long term, or they've got added artificial sweetness.
So I'm like you, I use them occasionally if I
was in a pinch, Yes, i'd go buy one myself
if I really needed a bit of a protein hit
to get me through to my next meal or something.
But to be honest, i'd probably pick up one of
the higher protein yogurts on the market before i'd reach
for something like this. But if a you know, if
your husband a trader or whatever, or your teenage son
(37:43):
is having one of these massive, you know, sugary type
ic coffees or chocolate, you know, cold drinks, and you're
gonna swap them over to something with a bit of
protein in it, it's probably a good thing, but it's
not something that I would actively be adding into the
diets of my ladies, just due to the fact that
they are ultimately most of them are an ultra processed
food due to the added emulsifiers in them as well,
(38:04):
which you're not going to get in fresh milk, and
you generally don't find in some of the higher protein yogurts.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
Yeah, a good point.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Actually hadn't picked up on that, but absolutely right, good,
good point. Thank you for listening to us today on
the Nutrition Catch. Thanks keep telling your friends about us.
We have hit five million downloads. I think I said
this for about six months. Finally we did then I
was actually at five point two.
Speaker 3 (38:23):
Were nearly five point three. Actually we're a bit yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
That we did miss it. Yeah, which is a lot
of downloads about nutrition. So we are so thrilled to
be bringing evidence based nutrition that is hopefully helping you
achieve your health goals. Thank you for your support of
our brands, particularly are designed by dieticians, and we will
see you same time next week for our regular episode
drop see
Speaker 3 (38:42):
You then, thank you for your ongoing support.
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