Nutty Bites: Kombucha

Kombucha

Kombucha... could be the title of a meditation song or yoga pose, don't you think? Well, it's not.  It is actually a fermented drink that some say provides health benefits & medicinal properties.  I chose it as a "nutty bite" because it is fun to say, was recommended to me, AND has been around for centuries!!  In fact, the first recorded use of kombucha dates back to 221 BC during the Tsin Dynasty.

I am trying it for the first time.  I am skeptical.  Taste means A LOT to me.  I mean, I love all things health, but if food tastes like a cardboard box or I feel like I am drinking chopped up grass right out of the ground I just can't stomach it.  Eating healthy is about blending taste and nutrition!  So anyway, back to the first sip.  I try it.  Wow, I actually can dig this.  It tastes like flavored champagne.  And truth be told, I do love champagne!  Mine has a fun name too-  Cosmic Cranberry. 

So what exactly is beneficial about this stuff?  Well, straight from my bottle to yours... "With a unique blend of proprietary probiotics and powerful antioxidants, each bottle is designed to nourish your body from the inside out."  It has many B vitamins & folate in it as well.  

The ingredients list of the Synergy brand I am drinking made me laugh.  I love it when a company writes whatever the heck they want on their bottle.  Ingredients: 95% GT's organic raw kombucha, pure unsweetened cranberry juice, and 100% pure love!!!  Giving me 100% pure love for my $3.19?  I think I will take it.  This world could use a little more love, that's for sure.

So, one word of caution.  If you are weary about having little particles floating around in your drink, this may not be for you.  This is a raw food so strands of the culture may appear.  It doesn't bother me any, but I know we all have our quirks!

Probiotics, antioxidants, B vitamins, folate, & pure love.  Give it a try... it won't hurt you!  If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor beforehand.

And I really think yogi's should come up with a kombucha pose! Just sayin'!

Eat well,

Bri

Nutty Bites: Acai

Acai is good for the heart!

Okay, truth be told, I am having a hard time concentrating to write the blog post today.  Why?  3 reasons: 1) Matt is making up an "Adam-Sandler-like" song in the next room that keeps me laughing my butt of this chair, 2) I have had a long week at work so am not in the mood to sit in this chair, & last but definitely not least 3) I leave for California in less than 36 hours so am too excited to sit in this chair. 

But... back to it.  Today's "nutty bite" is Acai.  Why did I choose Acai?  Well, first of all, it is very complicated to say.  I hear all sorts of pronunciations on this one.  Here is the one I prefer and even though I confirmed it with Merriam-Webster, I am putting my own spin to the spelling of the pronunciation: aw-sigh-ee.  You dig?

Now to the good part... acai is a berry you can find in some juices or smoothies now.  It's a purple (hello favorite color!) fruit that comes from the acai palm tree, which is native to Central & South America.  The antioxidants in acai can help prevent diseases like heart disease and cancer.  The jury is still out on whether or not acai is a tool for weight loss, but come on... it IS a fruit.  And if you are eating more fruits & less cookies, heck you just might lose a few.  Here's a little secret I bet you didn't realize: since acai oil is high in antioxidant content, you may find it in beauty products as well.  Hello pretty skin!

Ready to try a little acai?  Ditch the pill, but try it in juice.  Or buy dried, frozen, or fresh acai berries & toss them into a salad or your morning oatmeal.

And off the chair I go to grab some juice with acai of my own.... 

Eat well,
Bri

The Truth About Chocolate

Chocolate, chocolate, oh my!

 With Valentine’s Day around the corner and a heart of chocolates possibly coming your way soon, let me share with you the truth about chocolate.  I know you have all heard it before, but it sure is true that dark chocolate is the most nutritious pick when it comes to chocolate. 

Before all you milk chocolate lovers start to sigh and dream of regular Hershey kisses dancing in your head, hear me out.  Dark chocolate does not only offer more benefits than milk chocolate, but it also tastes good.  Not a believer?  You may have to try a few until you find the one you like best!  And besides, I am not a proponent of deprivation.  If you like milk chocolate and want it every so often, so be it.  But consider trading in a few pieces for dark when you can!

Notice the "cocoa processed with alkali"

The Scoop:  What’s so great about dark chocolate versus milk chocolate?  According to the Mayo Clinic, dark chocolate contains a higher amount of antioxidants (flavanols to be exact) and has been linked with improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  The raw cacao beans used to make chocolate products are of course the source of these flavanols, but sugar and processing make chocolate products tastier.  The more processing that occurs the less the flavanol content.  The best options for high flavanol content are dark chocolate that does not list sugar as the first ingredient and unsweetened 100 percent cocoa powder that has not been alkalized (or Dutch processed).    

A study done at Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome showed that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate and may negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate.  What this means for you?  Don't drink milk with your dark chocolate or you will decrease the health benefits of that dark chocolate you are eating.  And yes, milk chocolate contains milk as well (hence the name) so the antioxidant content is much lower.

Bri’s Take: I love having a square of dark chocolate whenever a sweet craving arises.  However, for me it has always been hard deciphering whether or not all dark chocolate is created equal.   It’s far too easy to grab the first “dark chocolate” bag or bar that you see, but here are a few tips to make sure you grab a good one:

My fave- Endangered Species brand!

• Sugar should not be the first ingredient
• Choose a cocoa content of 65% or higher (I like to go even higher- 75% or above)
• Some dark chocolate bars even help a cause (Endangered Species brand is a GREAT one!)
• Most bars also come in bag options with individually- packaged squares, which are perfect for those of you who have a hard time resisting temptation & need the built- in portion control
• If taste is a barrier, choose a dark chocolate with something in it (like almonds, mint flavor, espresso beans, or sea salt) or eat a square with a few raw almonds if you already bought the plain version

No need to go overboard either.  Dark chocolate still is high in calories so if you treat yourself daily, keep the calories to around 100 by choosing just 2 squares or breaking off a few smaller squares on a chocolate bar!  Yum!

Eat well,

Bri

What a Berry!

It was a sad day when you finally had to take down your Christmas tree (and some of you probably STILL haven't gotten to it).  You are no longer trading candy canes at work or buying clever gifts for your Secret Santa.  Nope, holiday season has come and gone.  But, what if I told you that there is a holiday staple that can stick around all year long? I am talking about a lovely, maroon-colored fruit.  Any guesses?

Drum roll please..... Cranberries!!!!!

Holly is in the back!

The Scoop:  I am willing to bet that whenever you had your first (yes, I am about to say it) Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), your mom told you to drink Cranberry Juice.  Am I right?  Heck, my mother has even been using cranberries (in pill form) for her dog Holly who gets UTI's regularly.  Cranberries have long been known for their role in promoting Urinary Tract health.

Did you know cranberries are also one of the top 5 foods with the highest antioxidant content per serving?  So cool!  And guess what? They are also heart healthy since they have no fat, no cholesterol, very little sodium, and are a good source of fiber.

Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have strong bacterial anti-adhesion properties.  In non-scientific terms, what this means is that whenever bacteria want to stick to the bladder wall and cause infection, PACs interfere with bacteria's ability to stick and instead force the bacteria to be flushed out in the urine.  According to a webinar I recently viewed, cranberries are also being studied for their effect on other other bacterial infections.  Cranberry products are now thought to help reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers and promote dental health!    

Don't they look yummy?

Bri's Take:  My boyfriend has experience with stomach ulcers so have I been touting cranberries to him recently?  Absolutely!  Has he tried them yet?  Not quite.  But, I am still excited about incorporating more cranberries into our meals.  Like I said, many holiday dishes incorporate cranberries, but there is no reason why they can't be incorporated year round. 

I found two recipes that I can't wait to try.  Hopefully, you will be motivated to try them too OR find your own recipes.  And just to give you a few easy, quick options too, you can ALWAYS put dried cranberries in your morning oatmeal, your lunch time salad, or your go-to snack of homemade trail mix (think almonds, cranberries, pistachios, & dark chocolate chips).

Recipe #1: 

Couscous and Cranberry Salad

Ingredients

• 1 Pack Couscous
• 2 tablespoons Chives
• 1 twig Peppermint, the leaves only
• 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• Dressing:
• ½ cup Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 Peppermint sprigs, to decorate

Directions

1. Prepare the couscous following the pack directions, add a bit of olive oil and add the peppermint leaves; let cook.
2. Mix the dressing ingredients.
3. Place the couscous in a container and add chives and cranberries, pour the dressing. Serve and decorate with peppermint sprigs.

Serves 4 portions

Recipe #2

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Serve on butter lettuce leaves for a simple salad, in a tomato that has been cut open for a stuffed tomato, or on whole grain bread for a chicken salad sandwich.

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast meat
• ½ cup sweetened, dried cranberries, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• ½ cup bottled poppy seed dressing
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped tarragon Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Poach about 1 ½ lbs of boneless/ skinless chicken breasts in a quart of salted (1 teaspoon) water, for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from water, let cool, and then chop the meat into small chunks
2. In a small mixing bowl combine chicken with other ingredients. Adjust seasoning and serve.

4 servings

Eat well,
Bri

Resource & Recipes came from www.uscranberries.com