Intro
Naak is a sports nutrition company based in Quebec, Canada. Naak believes in not only fueling athletes properly, but also in preserving our environment. Naak is known for its use of the ingredient cricket powder in their products. Before the questioning begins, crickets and other insects have already been consumed all over the world for years(Yurtoğlu, 2018). In fact, edible insects are considered “future prospects for food and feed security” (Yurtoğlu, 2018). Crickets are a superfood, containing multiple more servings of protein, iron, calcium, and B12 than beef (Figure 1), as well as do wonders for the gases being emitted into our environment, saving food and water usages (Figure 2). Naak offers protein bars, powder, energy bars and bites that are full of only recognizable ingredients and natural sugars.
My Story
My story with Naak began in 2016 at the World Triathlon Championships in Cozumel, Mexico. As I was getting to know some of the other Canadian athletes I met the two co-founders of Naak. They told me they had been searching for a nutrition bar that could fuel them for long triathlon training that had real food as ingredients that they can trust, and in this process created their own bar. I was weary of the fact that cricket powder was an ingredient, but tried a bite and was delighted. I had bitten into a delicious chocolate-orange brownie; that was healthy.
Obviously during this time I was also in high training and had been for years. In my own experience anything solid was impossible for me to consume any time within two hours before and through my races (and most training). I had also been trying many electrolyte mixes and was surprisingly sensitive to consuming most brands during my training. After worlds, when Naak had launched their website and I made an order. I began using Naaks unwrapped environmentally friendly energy bars for performance. This use grew until I actually began consuming the bars during long rides, and finally, in my first standard distance event.
Recently Naak has released some new products including the protein bars and the bites - which I am a big fan of. During off season training I do a lot of strength/calisthenic work and these products are just what I need to get through a long stretch of workouts!
Want to know more? Click on the figures used above to open up Naak's website.
References
Naak. (2019). Retrieved from https://naakbar.com/
Yurtoğlu, N. (2018). Http://www.historystudies.net/dergi//birinci-dunya-savasinda-bir-asayis-sorunu-sebinkar
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