When it comes to running, exercise tips are in no short supply. So we'll keep it simple and get right down to why your running plan should always include this important component: intervals. Whether you've just started running or you have more miles under your belt than you can count, there's never a bad time to integrate running intervals into your training plan.

A common misconception is that intervals are only for track stars or elite marathoners, but you don't have to be Usain Bolt to reap the benefits of a weekly interval session. 

So what is interval running? Essentially it is a quick, high intensity effort followed by easy jogging. The length of each interval and the number of repetitions is up to you, which makes interval sessions perfect for the busy runner who might not have time for an hour-long treadmill session. 

For example, if you're training for a virtual 5k, this article from the Herald suggests 4 minutes of hard running (meaning you should push yourself to run faster than your normal 5k pace), followed by 2-3 minutes of a slow jog. You can then repeat this cycle 5 times for a full workout.

With most treadmills even having an interval setting, you can explore many different lengths and types of intervals, making it a great option for those days when you just don't feel like pounding out yet another typical run on the machine.

But most importantly, why should you make an effort to include intervals in your training plan? Well, other than being an exciting way to mix up the classic daily run, intervals will make you faster! Your body works harder during the high intensity parts of the interval, and then recovers during the "slow jog" portions. This allows you to get your muscles used to running faster, so that eventually you can hit that goal race pace. 

So, whether you're bored with your current training plan, you're looking to gain a little speed, or you've hit a plateau and need a little extra something to reach your next running goal, running intervals is the answer.

Breakfast isn't just about filling your empty stomach, it's about filling up with the right things to give yourself a natural energy boost that will sustain you rather than peaking suddenly and then falling off.

FITtrition's Almond Butter, Green Tea & Cinnamon Breakfast Energy Bar was custom formulated for the active person who wants to start their day with some healthy energy. You can see why from our ingredients:

• Organic Almond Butter. Packed with protein and fiber, this nut butter also promotes healthy gut function.
• Green Tea. Plant compounds + caffeine = increased energy and fat oxidation. This is just a small taste of what green tea offers.
• Cinnamon. A powerful anti-oxidant that also helps control blood sugar.
• Egg White Protein. Rich in essential amino acids that help the body synthesize new proteins.
• Organic Dates and Honey. Great fuel-producing carb sources that are easy on the digestion, you get the added benefits of vitamins, minerals, and an immune boost.
• Low-Fat Granola and Macadamia Nuts. The cardiovascular benefits of these ingredients can help lower overall and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
• Flaxseed. An excellent source of EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) that contributes to heart health.
• Cocoa. Known for its anti-oxidant benefits, this great tasting ingredient can help protect the heart.

But FITtrition doesn't stop there - their Breakfast Energy Bar is a whole food that's gluten free and 100 percent natural. Couple all of these benefits with great taste, and you have a winning combination.

If you're ready to get serious about getting healthy, contact us; we welcome your input on our products, and we'd love to hear your #getfitt story.

Savvy, health-conscious consumers know that all protein bars are not equal, but many are unaware that all proteins that go into food bars are also not the same.  If you are unfamiliar with the world of nutritionally superior grass-fed products, which we use in our Grass-fed Protein Bars, read on.

The growing natural food movement in the United States over the past decade has fueled a swell in the number of ranchers who are adopting grass-fed and grass-finished livestock rearing models, especially for beef.  This, in turn, has raised consumer awareness about the superior nutritional profile of grass-fed proteins over that of animals fed a grain- and legume-based diet.  Pastured pork, free range fowl, and wild caught fish are just some of the other nutritionally superior protein sources on the market that have had the benefit of natural diets.

"What's wrong with animals raised on commercial feed?," you might ask.  Simply put, most animals cannot thrive on a diet of cheap, mass-produced meal made from corn and soybeans and, when fed such a diet, they require antibiotics (to combat resulting digestive system infections) and nutritional supplements (to make up for the lack of vitamins and minerals in their food).  Although the feed is artificially fortified to help the animal grow, those nutrients do not make it into the meat and milk the same way naturally acquired, broad spectrum vitamins and minerals do in grass-fed livestock.  Nature--the biology of the animals--just does not work that way. 

The benefits of grass-fed products fall into three areas.  First is the ratio of healthful omega-3 fatty acids to the less beneficial omega-6 fatty acids, with grass-fed products having up to six times more omega-3 than grain-fed counterparts, and considerably more of the heart-healthful conjugated linoleic acid.

Next is fat content.  Animals that eat a natural diet--grass, in the case of ungulates like cattle, sheep, and goats--have leaner muscle, which translates to less fatty meat.  On the other hand, conventional livestock rearers rely on grains, such as corn, to purposefully fatten animals with less healthful omega-6 heavy fats.

Finally is vitamin and mineral content.  Animals raised on their natural food stuffs consistently ingest a broader spectrum of nutrients, particularly micronutrients, than animals given commercial feed.  That improved vitamin and mineral intake goes straight into the meat and milk, providing a superior end product for the consumer. Vitamin A and E (both considered heart-healthy antioxidants) and B12 are just some of the healthful dietary elements that you find in higher quantities in grass-fed products.

At Fittrition, our Grass-fed Protein Bars contain only the best, most naturally produced protein available on the market.  Give them a try!