Can I eat berries instead of plants? FundAminos Taste? FundAminos Just Marketing? FundAminos Sipping? Is Beer Good?

Welcome to the Ask Dr. Cohen series, part #13!

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Can I get all same or better nutrition from berries instead of plants?

The short answer is, yes. You can get the same nutrients (including vitamins and minerals) and more from eating berries than eating plants. I would not eat just berries, however. If you choose to completely rid your diet of plants, still keep caution on high carbs and sugars. I still would eat some plants (mostly root veggies), if it was personally me for flavor and diet variability but, no you don't have to eat plants or worry you are not healthy if you don't eat veggies if you get the nutrients from other primal sources like berries, beef liver, honey.

How does the FundAminos taste?

We virtually never get returns if you have concerns and are very taste sensitive, may I suggest we send you a sample to try out. It is berry flavored and actually quite palatable as this our 8th version over 15 years. Amino acids are quite bad tasting unflavored! We recommend 2 scoops daily of FUNDAMINOS so each bag will last 30 days. You will want to take FUNDAMINOS away from meals as other proteins will affect absorption.

Regarding the vitamin packs, we are phasing those out and will just be providing bundles of recommended products. This way people can individualize to meet their needs. If there is any reason you are not satisfied with one of our products we do offer return within 60 days of the purchase.

Check out this recent review on FundAminos:

Can I sip FundAminos throughout the day?

It is best to drink FundAminos all at once! The signal for muscle growth requires a certain amount of amino acids at one time. Sipping it won't let that happen.

Second question, it's hard for me to get enough protein even though I'd prefer to get it from food. My family uses PureClean Protein 25 g daily to get collagen based amino acids plus 2 scoops FUNDAMINOS at some point plus 2 meals of whole food based protein eggs, beef, chicken and fish. Each provides an additional benefit. The powder which I am drinking now is tasty and part of a meal. FundAminos provided the additional amino acids that would be hard to get without.

Is FundAminos just marketing?

I just received my first purchase of Fundaminos. It was recommended by a trusted friend. But as I look at the list of ingredients, my confidence is waning. What is a "complete amino acid blend"? You only list three on the instruction sheet, and then say that there is no need to supplement with any additional ones. I thought that about 22 are needed to make a complete protein. And while I see on your research page that many studies are listed, I do not see any research that specifically addresses your product alone, rather there are studies about individual ingredients. It just looks to me like pure marketing...

Thanks for the questions and yes you are missing some key points and FUNDAMINOS is absolutely something that should be a foundational part of your protocol. See below. PureClean Protein is also a great addition.

Only 8 amino acids are essential for anabolic purposes. The body makes the other 14 aminos from these essential 8 aminos in FundAminos. Of the 8 essential, 3 of these are called branched chained with leucine being the most anabolic. But it is the 8 and the key ratios that are critical, and this is what a big part of what makes FundAminos one of the most complete amino acids blend on the market!

The formula breakdown (proprietary) was verified through urine nitrogen loss to verify 99% anabolic purposes and has been in use for over 14 years with very good success. We have had ultrarunners running for days only use FUNDAMINOS as their "protein" source to avoid muscle wasting and getting enough amino acids. We also have had top power and speed athletes use FundAminos for quicker recovery and more power and strength.

FUNDAMINOS will allow you to curtail your meat eating as it will provide effectively 40g of meat equivalent protein per 2 scoops! I regularly eat red meat but here are a couple of experiential caveats with carnivore red meat. It is important to eat the whole animal including: Collagen and organs to balance muscle meat which is deficient in non-essential amino acids such as glycine and proline found in connective tissue. This why we also offer PURECLEAN PROTEIN Hydrobeef protein in addition to FundAminos complete essential amino acid blend.

Organs such as liver provide needed amounts of copper and vitamin A which are needed to regulate the iron intake from the meat.

It is important to monitor iron status. CBC with the goal of having hemoglobin levels not higher than 14.5, Iron Saturation with the goal of 25%, Ferritin with the goal of 30–40.

It is important to add vitamin K, and use grass-fed dairy and eggs for the K and vitamin A content. Avoid oral D which can compete with K and A and consume cod liver oil with natural A and get sun exposure.

Is it okay to drink beer?

In general, we don't recommend drinking alcohol. If you want to drink a beer, treat it as a medicine in that you should try to choose one from fresh mineral rich water sources, clean production and high in essential nutrients. Light beers or low calorie may seem like a great choice, but they generally are lowest in nutrition. I'd opt for a low to medium abv content dark rich organic malt beer for its rich flavor and nutrition, and also more healthy blend of complex carbohydrates and antioxidants from the hops, like a "beer kombucha". If you want to drink the beer, it is better to drink it after a meal as carb-based glucose spikes are less after a meal, especially rich-protein meal.