We caught up with former TV presenter Laura Beckford to hear more about her journey towards creating vegan protein brand Supernova Living. Laura and her husband, former Premier League footballer Jermaine Beckford, began trying different organic vegan proteins in search of health lifestyle changes. They both quickly reaped the benefits of swapping whey for vegan alternatives. They soon turned their experience into a business idea. This was the beginning of Supernova..
HOW DID SUPERNOVA LIVING COME ABOUT?
My passion has always been how magical and powerful plants can be. Throughout my 20’s and 30’s, especially after having children, wellness, staying well and feeling the very best I can has been my priority for my whole family and how to achieve that holistically. We knew my husband would retire from professional football at an early age, after playing for clubs such as Everton, Leicester City, Leeds and Bolton to name a few, and we were conscious of creating a life we really loved, being together, travelling, prioritising our children and working on something we’re passionate about whilst having purpose. That was the start of Supernova Living, essentially a holistic vegan wellness company, to create awareness and educate about holistic health in an elegant way and develop the purest, most effective plant based products on the market.
WHAT MAKES SUPERNOVA PROTEIN DIFFERENT TO OTHER VEGAN PROTEIN POWDERS?
TASTES AMAZING - It tastes clean and delicious and not of artificial ‘strawberry cheesecake’ or ‘caramel shortbread’!
ADAPTOGENS - Quite simply because the protein part of it is superfluous in a way to the other 50% of the blend that is made up of the finest, incredibly powerful organic adaptogens that have the qualities to reduce stress and anxiety, increase focus and balance hormones (which cause PMT). They are high in antioxidants to reduce free radicals that cause ageing and disease. We have also included ingredients that detox at a cellular level, increase immunity and so much more. These are included at therapeutic levels, not just a ‘token’ of maca or ashwagandha for marketing purposes, but at least 100% of the RDA, developed with Naturopathic Nutritionists to ensure they really have a significant effect on the body and mind.
EXCLUSIVE INGREDIENTS - Our exclusive ingredient, Golden Chlorella, which no other brands use in their blends. The proteins are high in B vitamins, omega 3, 6 and 9 and offer all the benefits of chlorella, without the awful pond-water taste! We also have other ingredients that aren’t included in any other protein powder, such as plant-derived MSM, wild organic chaga + cordyceps (in levels five time more than the Four Stigmatic) and organic camu camu berries.
ORGANIC - The fact all our blends are organic is often overlooked, but it was imperative to us, as nobody actually sees the crops being sprayed with hundreds of toxic chemicals. It's easy to forget that you ingest them, but we set out to make the very best, so organic ingredients were a must for us.
QUALITY - The quality of the ingredients is also a USP - I know first hand it’s the best you can buy. We spent two years researching and personally speaking to the suppliers, which are cooperative and small farms. We’ve seen every certification, that most don’t request, demanded the powders be ground finer than ever before and not processed with chemicals. Many are simply dried in the sun and ground down. Our aim is to travel to every supplier around the world and visit where our ingredients grow, see and meet the people who cultivate these plants. We were due to go to Mexico to see where our raw organic agave inulin is farmed in March/April but it was obviously cancelled due to COVID-189, which was such a shame.
ELITE ATHLETE TESTING - We’ve also been able to test the powders on professional athletes, who are pushing their body’s to the max every day. The powder increased performance with quantitative results and the athletes saw better recovery, more stamina and endurance, larger V02 max levels. The powders truly work.
WHAT ARE THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SUPERNOVA NAKED, WOMAN AND MAN PROTEIN POWDERS?
When developing the Supernova Life Powders we did a lot of market research and found a big difference between what men and women wanted in a powder, so we included slightly different ingredients for the differing needs. Women wanted anti-ageing, de-bloating and hormone balancing. For this, we added red maca, psyllium husk, wild chaga, MSM and camu camu. Men preferred higher protein content, endurance stamina as well as ingredients to help with gut health and stress. We then developed the Supernova NAKED 00 as an option for those who don’t want any flavour or sweetener so you can add it to baking, smoothies etc etc. It’s super powerful.
WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE ARGUMENT FOR CHOOSING PLANT PROTEIN OVER WHEY PROTEIN?
It’s far less inflammatory, which I believe is the route of all disease.
CUSTOMERS ASK US FOR ADVICE ON WHETHER TO HAVE PROTEIN BEFORE OR AFTER WORKOUT. WHAT'S YOUR VIEW ON THIS?
The standardised view of taking protein powders is to replenish muscles after a workout, but we now know the abundance of other benefits from taking plant protein - from making hormones to encouraging healthy hair and skin. Our powders are a whole wellness supplement with 40-50% being superfoods, medicinal mushrooms and adaptogens, so you can take it everyday even when you don’t workout. I personally, fill one of our Supernova Cans with ice-cold almond milk plus one scoop of WOMAN 01 and take a few sips before a workout to energise and keep focussed. This is especially helpful if I am lacking in motivation as the raw cacao and organic matcha kicks in! I then finish the can post-workout, when I’m exhausted, wanting some energy and not to reach for the nearest carbs in sight! It also provides great anti-inflammatory properties and reduces fatigue so you won’t be as stiff the next day.
CAN WE EXPECT ANY EXCITING PRODUCT EXPANSIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
Yes!! We’re working so hard on new products, hopefully to launch in the next few months. Everything has slowed down recently with people we work with, inevitably, which is frustrating, but equally we want to get it right and we’re not prepared to rush or compromise. Our ethos is to create the highest quality products that really work, whilst educating and inspiring people towards a more holistic lifestyle. Developing products is one of my favourite things to do, but as a founder I obviously have to do it all!
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THOSE LOOKING TO START THEIR WELLNESS JOURNEY?
Look at why you want to do it or you won’t stick at it. Start with tiny little positive actions or changes. Don’t put pressure on yourself and do it for you. Keep a journal and notice how you feel after these changes as you will have setbacks and bad days. Looking at a journal and notes from when you felt great will keep you motivated. Say positive affirmations to yourself every day to change your inner voice. Keep things in balance, there’s no quick fix. So many ‘health products’ are filled with such rubbish or laxatives to make you think you’ve lost so much weight in such a short time. It’s worrying how much negative nutrition is actually in ‘health’ products, even in the pesticides, herbicides and chemicals used in processing if they’re not organic.
FINALLY, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF
Your hometown?
I was born in Blackpool, Lancashire and moved to London to work as a children’s TV presenter on GMTV when I was 17! I now live back in Lancashire.
Favourite way to sweat?
Playing tennis.
Favourite way to chill out?
Doing yoga, meditating or going on a bike ride through the woods or along the canal at sunset near our house.
