Plant Chat: Ashley Parker Angel, Co-Founder of High Level
Welcome Ashley Parker Angel to my Plant Chat! It’s really fun having Ashley here today, as he is so much more than just a successful Broadway actor and singer—he’s also the co-founder of High Level, a nutritional supplement company. Check out my interview with Ashley, as we learn about his journey to a healthful, plant-based lifestyle.
How did you become interested in nutrition and wellness?
My interest in nutrition and wellness definitely comes from having salt-of-the-earth parents who believe in growing your own garden and eating fresh fruits and veggies daily. My Grandmother was a holistic doctor, so using whole, plant-based foods and herbs for health was a large part of my upbringing. I find the subject of nutrition and it’s potential to extend life span, promote anti-aging and fight disease to be fascinating.
How did your background and career merge into this area?
From a young age I’ve had an intense passion for fitness and health. Being a so-called “teen-idol” in a multi-platinum selling pop group (O-TOWN), traveling around the world on tour, I spent years living out of a suitcase. During that time, I was the guy on the tour bus cooking my own food and everyone hated me because it constantly smelled like a bit like broccoli. Being a traveling performer can make it challenging to eat healthy, but I always found a way to keep nutrition a priority for me. When my career merged into starring in Broadway shows along with the daily demands of performing at such a high level, my understanding of nutrition and supplements really helped me. When I got into my 30’s, I realized that my expanding knowledge of fitness, nutrition, herbs and plant-medicines was something I wanted to share on a much bigger level.
What is your goal with your company High Level?
I co-founded High Level because I believe health and wellness should be fun and easy, so everyone can unlock their unique potential. We also believe strongly in giving back, so each one of our products benefits a corresponding charity. For example, our product Next Level Focus is a top selling product on Amazon for all-natural energy and focus and we give a portion of all proceeds to organizations helping individuals overcome addiction. Our sleep product, Hibernate, benefits the World Wildlife Fund in protecting and preserving endangered species, while our natural pain-relief product’s official beneficiary is the Semper Fi Fund which supports post 9/11 war veterans. I’ve always been inspired by companies like Tom’s Shoes and others who make giving back a fundamental part of their brand identity. A philanthropic focus is at the heart of our company motto “Live High Level” and we aim to become an industry leader in this endeavor. We have a catchy little phrase for that; we call it Feel Good, Do Good.
What sets High Level’s products apart from others on the market?
Not all supplements are created equal. At High Level, the goal from day one was to offer the healthiest ingredients with the newest breakthroughs in research and science. When you start reading labels, you begin to realize there’s still a lot of outdated manufacturing methods in the supplement industry and can be filled with a lot of unhealthy additives. It’s crazy. You think you’re buying something healthy and you’d be surprised to learn some of the biggest, well-known brand name products are full of all kinds of cheap fillers, binders and artificial preservatives that extend shelf life, etc. We use only expert formulators and premium ingredients so that High Level supplements are the healthiest and most bio-available. We use all-natural vegetable capsules and organically sourced plants. Our products are Vegan friendly and contain no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors. When we do use a sweetener, it’s Stevia. In a generation that’s starting to truly understand how nutrition plays such a significant role in longevity and life span, we’ve embraced a holistic, all-natural approach to supplements that I believe is the future of the industry.
What is your personal nutrition and wellness philosophy? What does a typical day or eating and fitness look like for you?
My personal approach to health and nutrition has always been that “consistently good” beats “occasionally perfect”. In other words, it’s what you do in the long run that counts. I shop organic whenever possible. I like to make sure people know about the Dirty Dozen; the list of the 12 dirtiest fruits and veggies that you should buy organic to avoid pesticides. I avoid pre-packaged foods and opt for fresh, locally or organically sourced ingredients that I prepare at home. I find cooking to be therapeutic and I like the control it gives me over what I put inside my body. Each week, I typically meal prep so I have a staple of healthy foods in the fridge like brown rice or quinoa, nuts and nut butters, organic berries, spinach and steamed veggies. Controlling every food that goes into your mouth on a daily basis can be a never-ending obstacle course so enjoying the occasional “cheat meal” can actually be healthy when you’re doing it right. For guilty pleasures I stick to organic dark chocolates with raisins /nuts or coconut ice cream with fresh berries. I’ve gone through phases where I meticulously counted and tracked every calorie and macro-nutrient. I’ve gone through times where I’ve relied on portion control and intuitive eating. I think the best approach is somewhere in the middle; have a clear target or goal in mind and then focus on progress, not perfection. Even if you’re only hitting 75% to 80% of your fitness or nutrition goals you will see and feel the results. Personally, I try to do some form of resistance training 4 or 5 times per week on a Monday thru Friday routine, so I can keep the weekends for rest and recovery. When I’m focused on fat loss, I’ll add fasted cardio sessions of 20 to 30 minutes in the morning that I perform on an empty stomach to promote fat loss.
Please share some of your favorite, plant-based foods and meals.
One of my favorite plant-based soups during the Fall season is Three Bean Sweet Potato Chili, which I make in a slow cooker. The leftovers taste even better so throw some in the freezer and you’ll have a lot left for nights when you don’t have the energy to make something fresh.
I’m a fan of Mashed Cauliflower Green Bean Casserole which you can make with just six ingredients and three easy steps. It’s a dish you can serve the whole year because it’s so satisfying. It makes a great plant-based appetizer, side or even a main dish. You can serve it plain or with other veggies, lentil meatballs or get creative with your own ideas.
For a quicker dish, I like to chop up a veggie blend of zucchini, squash, peppers and onions sauté in 1 tbsp coconut oil and water with a pinch of salt and pepper.
ashley angel parker long time no see i am glad your doing well hard to contact you but i got you i hope all your work outs are well and i hope your acting is going well i know you were going to go do that acting stuff and check it out make sure you take care of yourself and know all that matters in the end is whats in your heart and soul god bless you always sister of god always rachael ann badham