Navitas Organics Blog

As B Corp Month and the start of February kick off, we at Navitas thought this would be a great opportunity to discuss our commitment to a movement we wholeheartedly believe in and are proud to be a part of. In the words of Ghandi, we must all seek to “Be the Change that we wish to see in the world” – for if not, what hope is there for future generations? This is the inspiration to our commitment to B Corp.

Conventional business wisdom is often narrow in its focus on profit-driven outcomes, frequently leaving commitments to sustainability and longevity behind. But we believe that considering a long-term, sustainability-based vision of a company can create resiliency and loyalty, while also securing profits for the lifetime of the brand. Being a B Corp certified company is part of how we do this. Our hope is to change that short-sighted mentality by showing firsthand that strong values and a commitment to our stakeholders; customers, employees, partners, environment and society can be profitable and reformative.

So, what does B Corp mean? It means we’re held to standards by an unbiased, third-party entity (B Corp) that holds us accountable for our impacts on social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance our profit with our purpose. At Navitas Organics, that means our commitment to Fairtrade, our commitment to organic and non-GMO products, our partnerships with environmental organizations such as A Growing Culture, our commitments to healthy living and non-profits like Ceres Project and Conscious Kitchen, and last but not least, our amazing Wellness Program for our employees.

We’re in the midst of a cultural change that’s using business as a way to transform the economic engine. Consumers are the ones that play the most important role, as they hold the power to tip the scale and demand business and government accountability. Labels certifications like B Corp and so many others help consumers make the right decisions. “The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities and the environment.” As leaders in the superfood category, we want to make sure we’re using our business as a beacon for positive change and showing that corporate social responsibility can be achieved while making profits.

We were thrilled when we became B Corp certified two and a half years ago, but it was no easy walk in the park to get there. There were many challenges and lessons learned along the way to getting our assessment completed and approved, but looking back now, we can truly appreciate the level of detail and scrutiny involved in this process, because it helps create a level of transparency and authenticity that consumers and all shareholders can trust.
There’s so much energy out there surrounding this new model of business thinking and we’re inspired by the growing numbers of companies joining the movement. The future is bright and we’re so proud that we can take a hand in shaping a brighter tomorrow.

Not sure if your favorite brand is B Corp Certified? Click here to search the directory.

When you ask most people what they wish they had more of throughout the day, one of the leading responses is always energy. Lots of things in life zap our energy, including stress, poor nutrition, not getting enough exercise and chronic health conditions – all of which affect daily wellness. However, one of the best (and easiest) ways to feel full-of-life from morning to night is to add superfoods to your diet, which boost your nutrition without a hassle or major commitment.

All superfoods will enhance how you feel in some way, but some really help you go the extra mile…or at least feel like you could! So, if you’re looking to feel a bit more energetic, here are the three superfoods to consider including more of in your diet.

1. Matcha
If you’re looking for a healthier and more nutrient-rich alternative to coffee, look no further than Matcha. This superfood is a finely ground powder made from high-quality green tea leaves that's packed with a delicate tea-like flavor and high nutrient density. In fact, just one cup of Matcha has the antioxidant and nutritional content of about 10 full glasses of regular green tea!

Matcha is a top pick for energy because it contains both caffeine and L-theanine to provide your body with calm energy and focus. The caffeine content of Matcha is minimal (only 16 mg per serving), which is just enough to get you going in the morning without making you jittery. Meanwhile, the L-theanine balances your body out by helping you remain calm and enhancing your concentration and memory. Warm up this winter with a Matcha Latte, and enjoy the cool-calm energy of Matcha all day.

2. Cacao
Cacao is another wonderful energy-boosting food, primarily because of its high theobromine content. Researchers have found that theobromine is associated with energy increases, while also decreasing the risk of high blood pressure. When combined with safe amounts of caffeine, such as that contained in Matcha, theobromine has also shown great promise in supplying the body with long-lasting energy during exercise.

This powerful superfood comes in many forms, including Cacao Powder, Cacao Nibs and even Cacao Butter – all of which have a rich chocolate taste with no added sugar. Energize your mind, body and spirit with a Cacao-rich Chocolate Cinnamon Latte in the morning or a bowl of Nutty Chocolate Oats to warm you up and help you feel satisfyingly full all morning long.

3. Maca
If you can only add one superfood to your regular diet for more energy, you may want to make it Maca. Maca is an amazing adaptogen that helps you fight stress – an important feature considering stress is one of the biggest causes of energy loss throughout the day. Also called Peruvian ginseng, Maca supports your body’s natural resilience and boosts the function of your endocrine system, making this ingredient the perfect food for an energizing breakfast.
Navitas’ easy-to-digest Maca Powder comes from finely milled whole Maca root that has been slow-dried at low temperatures. It can be added to pancake batter, cereals, nut butters and yogurt to give your favorite meals a superfood punch. Other fun ways to incorporate more Maca into your days is to embrace the smoothie trend and whip up an energizing Pitaya Maca Smoothie Bowl or a Crazy Monkey Smoothie for breakfast or as a quick pick-me-up snack.

We've all heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Instinctively, most people understand eating something healthy at the beginning of the day can help them feel strong and energized. Unfortunately, many people still fill up on sugary cereals or skip breakfast altogether. Though it may be tempting to ditch a traditional breakfast and pick up coffee on the way to work, poor choices could be holding you back from your best potential.
No, but really, it’s true! Making a healthy breakfast takes more effort than skipping your morning meal, but the effort pays off by keeping you full, boosting your energy and providing multiple health benefits. Let's look at why breakfast matters and how you can create meals to make your whole day better.

If you're currently using superfoods, you're already in the know of some of the best wellness tricks of the trade. Here's what to look for in the upcoming year and how to make the most out of your healthy efforts.

Simplification with Specialty Blends
Long gone is the dubious time where learning about which superfoods to use – and in what perfect combination – meant locking yourself up in the library with mountain-sized stacks of research books. These days, there's a vast amount of scientific exploration on how various individual nutrients (and the superfoods that contain them) can work together in harmony to produce a greater whole effect…and this summation has been realized in a variety of easy-to-use products. For example, every serving of Navitas Organics Protein & Greens Essential Superfood Blend offers 20 grams of plant-based protein, the healthy benefits of green vegetables, antioxidant-rich superfoods and even probiotics to help you digest everything. It's no wonder they're on the rise: specialty blends make eating healthier simpler than ever with a one-and-done approach to nutrition that's immensely attractive for those with busy lifestyles.

Prioritizing a Happy Gut
As it turns out, your stomach does far more than serve as just a biological fuel tank, alerting you of “empty” or “full” status. Your gut, and specifically the microbiome (which is like the inner environment of your gut), is of increasing interest to many health professionals as a key element of whole-body health, affecting everything from your immunity prowess to your energy to your mood. Furthermore, a healthy microbiome is key to properly absorb and utilize all other foods and nutrients you consume, and without a healthy gut balance, your healthy efforts literally go to waste. That's why you'll often see prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, as well as fiber – all core components of a happy gut – included in so many Navitas products, such as the Daily Superfood Detox Boost or the Vanilla & Greens Essential Superfood Blend.

Choosing the “Quality Matters” Credo
Marketing can be pretty savvy at times, and while superfoods have become more popular, it's sometimes the uses of these ingredients that have not always been so credible. Often scribbled onto packages of products with high amounts of sugar, additives or other highly processed ingredients, some superfood products certainly don't offer the kind of health benefits most of us would hope for. But consumers are wising up, and there's a significant uptick in truly conscious products that are clean from start to finish and packed with functional foods every step of the way. Of course, Navitas has been a “quality matters” company since day one, which is why you'll find that every ingredient is always 100 percent organic, minimally processed and rigorously reviewed for quality – and without added sugars, fillers or artificial additives, of course!

Food for Thought
Newly emerging is a class of superfoods and healthy ingredients that can actually help improve the performance of your mind. As mindfulness, meditation, productivity, mood and mental health continue to be a more widely discussed point of overall health, new foods are rising to the surface that can help the process of enhancing these cognitive points of interest, too. While many superfoods are considered in the “best-of-class” of brain foods already (such as Acai and Chia), Navitas Organics' Daily Superfood Focus Boost is rapidly becoming a fan favorite for helping build a better mind and enjoying a more optimum state.

Going Beyond Smoothies
If you love superfoods, chances are you're a fan of smoothies, too. And why not? Smoothies are undeniably once of the easiest and healthiest ways to incorporate so many of our most choice power ingredients. But with superfood's rise of popularity, we're also seeing an increase in culinary creativity, and it's safe to say superfoods are no longer just reserved for the blender. The New Year promises an influx in this trend, taking superfoods to new, delicious heights. Look out for irresistible superfood items you can make and buy like bars, lattes, soups, salads, dressings, dips and desserts. We have a feeling superfood cuisine is just getting started!

The “winter blues” aren’t just a hypothetical idea or something you hear about in country songs. Wintertime depression can be a very real and devastating condition, and many people find themselves affected when the days are shorter, drearier and colder. In fact, it's estimated that at least 10 million Americans experience some form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and an additional 10 to 20 percent of people have mild symptoms of SAD. These symptoms may include feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite, a dip in energy levels, avoiding social situations and weight gain.

Luckily, there are many ways to alleviate seasonal depressive symptoms and a nutrient-rich diet is certainly high among these remedies. Here are three foods you can incorporate into your everyday meals to help treat the winter blues, benefiting both your mind and body in the process.

1. Acai
One particularly tasty way to fight the symptoms of SAD is to incorporate more Acai into your winter diet. Acai is one of the healthiest berries on the planet, best known for its high content of antioxidants, which also support and protect the brain. These special antioxidants have been shown in numerous studies to improve mental function, boost energy, reduce irritation and even encourage a healthy libido. All these benefits contribute to better mental health in the winter and throughout the year, for that matter! Some winter Acai Powder recipe favorites include Acai Berry Truffles for a sweet after-dinner treat and Acai Energy Bowls to get a super start to the morning.

2. Maca
Hormones also play a key role in mental health and really affect how you feel emotionally during the winter season, which is why the adaptogen Maca is such a great ingredient to eat in the winter time. Maca helps balance your endocrine system, thereby encouraging your body to achieve a natural state of hormonal equilibrium and overall health. Maca Powder is rich in micronutrients that aren’t found in most other foods, including trace minerals and protective flavonoid compounds. Some scientific evidence even suggests that Maca is an effective anti-anxiety supplement, and even boosts your brain’s capacity to learn and remember new things. Regular consumption of Maca is also helpful in maintaining a healthy libido in both men and women! Try packing some of these tasty Protein Bars in your travel bag this winter or create a Cacao Maca Energy Elixir to warm up on a cold winter’s day.

3. Chia
Chia serves as a mood-improving hero because of its high amounts of omega-3s and important minerals, such as iron and magnesium. These nutrients are essential for brain health and a better brain translates to lowered risk of depression and happier days ahead. Meanwhile, both Chia Seeds and Chia Powder are high in fiber, which helps to support a healthy gut – yet another essential component of maintaining a positive mood. Best of all, Chia is such a versatile superfood that it’s impressively easy to incorporate more Chia into your daily life: simply toss it into soups, oats or smoothies for a recipe-free boost. For a special winter indulgence, try making a loaf of Zucchini Protein Bread, which contains a quarter cup of Navitas Organics Chia Powder to treat yourself and your loved ones to better mental health this winter!