Intermittent fasting

Some people find that the last few hours of their fasting window, which is typically the first few hours of their day, tend to be the most challenging. Many fasting protocols allow a small amount of calories to help and this is where the Ancient + Brave blends and vegan Collagyn range come in handy. Coffee + Collagen and Cacao + Collagen both contain a natural source of caffeine to help kick start your morning, and hydrolysed collagen peptides (units of protein) for nutritional sustenance to help you extend your fast to the finish line. If you are following a plant-based diet, then the vegan Collagyn contains vegan sourced key amino acids as an alternative to our bovine collagen. Coffee + Collagen, Cacao + Collagen and Inspired Collagyn also contain botanical adaptogens which help build stress resilience offering up support during busy and demanding mornings. All of these drinks are delicious with hot water. On a fat fast, adding a teaspoon of True MCT oil provides a source of fat that helps you feel fuller for longer and which cells can readily convert into energy and ketones.

Full fat, semi and skimmed cow’s milk all contain too many calories to keep you in fast. But if you use an unsweetened plant mylk, avoid ones that come fortified with extra protein and if you’re not adding half a cup at a time, then a little plant mylk shouldn’t make a big difference. As a general guideline, keep the total calories (of your brew + mylk) within the 50 kcal limit, so we recommend no more than 50mls of any milk providing the nutrition information states :Under 28 Kcal per 100ml, Under 2.5g of total carbs per 100ml, Under 2.5g sugar per 100ml, Under 0.5g of protein per 100ml.

Taking hydrolysed collagen is a popular health ritual so we totally understand why you would want to add some to your brew. There’s a limit to how much you can add before you end up disrupting your fast. In many fasting protocols, it’s generally considered that anything over 50 Kcal is likely to take you out of a fast and both True and Wild Collagen contains 18Kcal per 5g (approx. 1 tsp). Coffee+Collagen contains 35 kcal so you could add just under a teaspoon of extra True or Wild Collagen. Cacao+Collagen contains 32 kcal so you could add an additional teaspoon of True or Wild Collagen. Adding True or Wild Collagen to water, then you can add 3 teaspoons (15g) before you hit your 50kcal fasting limit. Adding extra True or Wild Collagen could give you that extra nutrition to help you feel full and satisfied until your next eating window depending on the protocol you follow. It is also a useful tool to help avoid snacking during your eating window. Read our Intermittent fasting page to find the right protocol to suit your needs.

Absolutely, although we recommend you listen to your own body whilst doing this. Some people swear by the benefits of fasted exercise, whilst it leaves others lethargic and unable to perform at their optimum. 

The theory behind fasted exercise is that fasting depletes your body of carbs, forcing it to use alternative sources of energy to power your workout such as fat. However some people find fasted exercise leads to symptoms of low blood sugar, such as dizziness or shaking.

Many people like to have something small and easy to digest before a workout to help with their endurance which is why True MCT and our True and Wild Collagen blended with a coffee has become a cult-favourite pre-workout drink

Muscle loss is another key consideration that could also be impacted by fasting during exercise. One review of early studies reported that pairing intermittent fasting with resistance training may help maintain or possibly even increase lean body mass; however we still need more science to support this benefit.

In this case fasting may not be your tool of choice. Instead we recommend nourishing your body, especially an hour after waking and enjoying our range of products across the day.  Many of our blends contain Ashwagandha, which is a fantastic adaptogen for adrenal stress. We recommend you engage in the Brave Lifestyle by spending more time outdoors and getting your required daily dose of sunshine, ideally with your shoes off on the earth. Eat nourishing and warming seasonal foods and try to reset your circadian rhythms by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.

Of course! Our products are designed to make nutrition and nourishment simple, easy and delicious. Many of our products contain botanicals and adaptogens which help build resilience to stress, so these products may be helpful when your to-do list is looking pretty stacked up. The vegan Collagyn range also contains essential vegan nutrients that are hard to achieve through diet alone, this range provides an excellent daily supply of vegan vitamin D, and choline.