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Dirk Baelus is a former top triathlete and founder of the sports nutrition brand Innerme, which stands for natural, plant-based, and organic sports nutrition. We talk about the power of natural ingredients and balance in life.
About Dirk Baelus
Dirk is a professional triathlete, author of 2 books, and the founder of the sports nutrition brand Innerme. At the start of his triathlon career and after numerous health problems, Dirk took a completely different approach. He decisively chose natural nutrition. This turnaround resulted in more energy, vitality, better recovery, and less illness. Dirk shares his story.
Innerme, a strong brand with a strong story
Inspired by his natural lifestyle, Dirk began experimenting with natural nutrition for sports as an alternative to traditional sports nutrition. He started with an energy bar made from powerful, natural, and organic ingredients. Later, energy gels, sports drinks, recovery products... and also 2 classic and healthy snacks followed. The result is a complete range of products that are easy to digest and therefore require little energy from the body to absorb.
Healthy snacks as an addition to the range
In addition to the range of sports products, Innerme has also added 2 healthy snacks to the offer. One based on oats and one based on superfoods. Two very accessible products made from seeds, nuts, kernels, berries, oats, buckwheat, cocoa... Powerful ingredients that contain the necessary nutrients and are therefore ideal to eat between main meals, both for sports purposes and certainly for people who are a bit less active.
Dirk deliberately chose the ingredient buckwheat. "It is a little-used product that has a very strengthening effect," says Dirk.
Just like us, refined sugars are strictly avoided. Dirk consciously chose agave and rice syrup as alternatives. Two syrups that each have a different effect on the body. Rice syrup consists of glucose and maltose, so no fructose. Agave syrup, on the other hand, contains fructose and has a low glycemic index. The syrup is therefore slowly processed and released by the body, so there is no spike in blood sugar levels.
Those who are physically and mentally active burn calories. It is best to replenish those calories by consuming healthy calories; foods or snacks with high nutritional value, the necessary healthy fats, and fibers that also provide a feeling of fullness. "By reaching for unhealthy food, the body uses minerals from the body to absorb the food. On the one hand, they have no value, and on the other hand, they deplete the body by drawing on valuable substances," says Dirk.
Balance in life
According to Dirk, everything in life must be in balance. Even if you are not actively working on balance, the body will still strive to find an equilibrium between "too much" and "not enough." Alternate intensive sports/work with sufficient rest and time for relaxation.
Tips
Dirk feels more energetic and experiences better recovery by not eating after the last meal in the evening. Another tip we can give is that every person is different. It is therefore important to experience for yourself whether something works or not. If you experience a positive effect, it will naturally become a habit and a matter of course.
Good luck!