Phenom Coconut Drinks Giveaway

This post was originally published as Phenom Coconut Drinks Giveaway by Laurel on Health Food.

Over the past year I became a little obsessed with coconuts. I’ve been using coconut milk in my soups and stews or anytime I need a milk substitute. I’ve been eating coconut ice cream for treats and even made my own chocolate ice cream last summer using coconut meat and cashews. I’m also crazy for coconut waters and rely on them to rehydrate me after long walks in the city or dance and pilates classes.

I recently tried a new brand of coconut drinks from GNC. Phenom is a little different than other coconut waters on the market because it’s fortified with GNC vitamins and minerals. It’s kind of like drinking a vitamin water and a coconut water mixed together. I tried 4 flavors: Blueberry Pomme, Pineapple Punch, Acai Peach, and Orange Guava Passion. Pineapple Punch was definitely my favorite. The pineapple flavor worked best with the flavor of the coconut water and also masked the chemical taste of the added vitamins and minerals. I could definitely see myself drinking this one again. The Orange Guava Passion was also good, having a similar tropical flavor that goes well with coconut. I have to say, I didn’t really like Acai Peach or Blueberry Pomme. The flavor of vitamins and minerals was too strong in these drinks, and I really couldn’t taste the coconut water any more.

I love that the Phenom drinks don’t have added sugars or preservatives. They’re also pretty low in calories. Check out the calories in coconut water here. Something I would love to see in the future? I’d like to see Phenom use pure coconut water instead of concentrate in their drinks. This is something many of us health nuts look for. You can really taste the difference.

Announcing a giveaway! To submit your entry to win two free bottles of Phenom coconut drinks, leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you’d love to try them out. I’ll choose two winners to each receive two bottles of Phenom drinks. All entries must be complete by Sunday June 5th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. If you’re chosen as one of the 2 winners, I’ll contact you by email to ask for your full name and address to send you the coconut drinks. Open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

p.s. Be sure to include what flavors you’d like to try. If you win I’ll do my best to send you those flavors!

Summer Dessert!

This post was originally published as Healthy Summer Dessert by Laurel on Health Food.

Do you feel like you always avoid desserts because you’re afraid of gaining weight? If so, I know how ya feel. Many popular desserts are loaded with unhealthy ingredients and tons of calories. But, here’s the good news. Having something sweet every once in awhile can feel really good, especially when you can have something that’s delicious AND healthy.

I’m not talking about fat-free cakes and crazy no-carb stuff. That stuff is scary (and not really healthy)! I’m talking about using high-quality, real ingredients and eating desserts in small portions. Makes sense, right? Choose something you really love and take your time to savor each bite.

My favorite sweet treat right now is grilled peaches with coconut milk ice cream. I’ve tried rice milk and soy milk ice creams, and they usually leave something to be desired on taste and texture. But coconut milk ice cream is creamy, dreamy, and just right.

Grilled Peaches w/ Coconut Milk Ice Cream
(serves 2)

 

1 peach
1 cup coconut milk ice cream (approx.)
½ tsp. honey (approx.)

Cut a peach in half from top to bottom, and remove the pit. Place the peaches on the grill, cut side down. Cook for one minute, turn over, and cook for another minute on the other side. Remove peaches and set aside in two bowls. Drizzle a thin stream of honey on top of each peach half. Add a small scoop of coconut milk ice cream in each bowl. Serve immediately.

Tip 1: If you don’t have a grill, you can use a grill pan (such as the Calphalon non-stick grill pan) on your stovetop. I use a little bit of coconut oil to coat the pan before putting the peaches on. Tip 2: The brand of coconut milk ice cream I use is called Coconut Bliss, and you can find it at most health food stores. It’s organic and uses only a few simple ingredients, including the low-glycemic sweetener, agave nectar. Choose whatever flavor you like, but I recommend Vanilla Island to go perfect with this dish.

For more dessert ideas, please check out my post on Healthy Desserts for Kids. They are great for adults too.

Big Portobello Mushroom Burger

This post was originally published as Portobello Mushroom Burger by Laurel on Health Food.

I found some huge organic portobello mushrooms at Whole Foods over the weekend, and my first thought was BURGER! As you know, a portobello mushroom burger is probably the most common vegetarian dish on restaurant menus. Everyone loves burgers, and while mushroom burgers are a veggie dish, most omnivores enjoy them because they taste great and have a “meaty” texture. A big portobello mushroom is a wonderful healthy hamburger substitute because it’s low in calories and obviously doesn’t contain any fat or cholesterol.

I made a portobello mushroom burger for lunch today and used my stovetop grill pan with a small drizzle of olive oil to grill the mushroom for about 5 minutes on each side. For toppings, I had slices of roasted red bell pepper, fresh arugula, yellow mustard, and grapeseed oil vegenaise.  The bun was a fluffy vegan sesame kaiser roll from Bread Alone Bakery. It was so satisfying!

I’m definitely looking forward to eating another one for lunch tomorrow. Maybe I’ll try some leftover pesto on there.

Foods nutritionists recommend

This post was originally published as The Food-Mood Connection by Laurel on Health Food.

The Seattle Times reports that the food we eat directly affects the mood we’re in. In her book, “The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight”, registered dietician Susan Kleiner writes that, “what and when we eat directly affects mood. And our mood not only affects what we choose to eat, but how our body responds to that food.” Then ten foods nutritionists recommend eating to enhance your mood are: milk, oily fish, strawberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, turkey, brazil nuts, low-fat yogurt, foods or drinks with caffeine, and cottage cheese.

Kombucha! improved digestion

This post was originally published as Kombucha! by Laurel on Health Food.

I was always kind of “eh” about kombucha tea, until I tried some great local brands here in NYC. Now I’m crazy for the stuff. Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s been praised for its health benefits for centuries including increased energy, improved digestion, and prevention/treatment of illnesses including common flu and cancer.

I started drinking more kombucha over the last month or two after I stocked up on a bunch of bottles at the NYC Veg Food Fest. This is my personal opinion, but I definitely feel like a get an energy boost after drinking it and I especially love how it eases my digestion.

A few my local favorites are Kombucha Brooklyn’s grape flavor (kombucha mixed with a little concord grape juice) and Bao Fresh Kombucha’s mango flavor. I’ve even been thinking of buying one of the brew kits from Kombucha Brooklyn to make my own ‘buch at home. Hmm.

What’s your thoughts on kombucha? You like it? Or think it’s gross? Never tried it?

 

Risk of cardiovascular disease

This post was originally published as Cut Belly Fat w/ Tart Cherries by Laurel on Health Food.

Natural News posted a new cherry study from the University of Michigan. Researchers found that adding tart cherries to your diet may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The study fed mice one of two diets: a high fat, moderate carbs diet (45% calories from fat, 40% calories from carbs) OR a low fat, high carbs diet (10% calories from fat, 75% calories from carbs).

Mice that were given added cherry powder to either diet had an 11% reduction in cholesterol after three months. In addition, the mice who had cherry powder had 54% body fat compared to 63% body fat in the mice that did not eat cherry powder. Most of the fat reduction was around the belly area of the mice.

The mice that ate cherry also had a 40% reduction in the TNF-alpha inflammation marker and 31% reduction in the IL-6 inflammation marker. The researchers found that “the activity of the genes producing these two compounds was reduced in the mice, suggesting that tart cherries may reduce inflammation at a systemic level.” (Natural News)

If you’re interested in learning more about tart cherries, check out this great informational page on About.com’s alternative medicine site: What are Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice?

You can probably find tart cherries at your local health food store. I also searched online and found them on Amazon. You can get dried tart cherries, tart cherry juice, etc. I also wasn’t surprised to find tart cherries in a pill form.

Update: This article was featured on the Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival 98.

Improve digestion

This post was originally published as Almonds for Digestion and Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

I feel like I keep talking about almonds lately…but there’s a good reason for it. They’re so good for you and they’re one of the easiest foods to keep at your desk, in your car, or anytime you need something filling and fast.

A study published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal found that almonds may give your immune system a boost and also improve digestion. But how? Almonds increase the amount of good bacteria in your digestive tract. Women’s Health Magazine recommends eating one large handful a day to reap these benefits. (Ref: Nov 2008, p. 28)

To keep your portion in check, count out about 25 almonds before you leave the house for the day and take them in a small tupperware container or bag. For me, I spend long hours sitting at a desk during the week, so I keep a big jar at work. I count them out in a pile next to me so I can grab a few at a time when I want something to munch on.

If you were already trying to add a handful of walnuts into your diet, maybe try mixing the two up for your daily dose. About 10-15 of each on a daily basis.

Boost your immune system

This post was originally published as Boost Your Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

Women’s Health Magazine reports that some food and drinks will boost your immune system and help you avoid getting sick.

• Chamomile tea – polyphenols in the tea increase antibacterial blood activity
• Steel-cut oats – packed with beta-glucans (fiber) that activate white blood cell activity
• Salad dressing w/healthy fats (ex. olive oil & balsamic vinegar) – fat is essential for the body to absorb cartenoids (the antioxidants that improve your immunity)
  Tip: Do not choose “fat free” dressings. Your body needs healthy fats to absorb the powerful antioxidants.
• Whey protein (ex. whey protein powder or yogurt) – contains an amino acid called cysteine which converts into an antioxidant (glutathione) to protect your cells against bacterial or viral infections
  Tip: Don’t drain the clear liquid at the top of your yogurt carton, just stir it back in. The liquid is pure whey protein!
• Tomato – lycopene acts as an antioxidant to protect white blood cells from free radical damage
• Butterbur - herbal supplement that helps fight allergies
• Gatorade – increases immune response during intense exercise
• Wine – ethanol, organic acids, and low pH in wine can stop E. coli, listeria, and salmonella before they make you sick
• Hot sauce – capsaicin, a compoind in chili peppers, may improve immunity by increasing your number of antibodies and helping to remove toxins from your system

Read the entire “Immunity Diet” article here. Women’s Health includes reputable studies to back up their choices of immunity-boosting food and drinks.