If you want more energy, better sexual stamina, increased circulation and immune response…plus a variety of other benefits…you should really add a quality ginseng to your diet. This ancient root has been studied for its beneficial affects on so many illnesses and maladies it’s hard to even begin…from brain health to heart health to cancer-fighting qualities and much more. And it’s one of the best natural energy boosters you’ll find anywhere.
Continue Reading March 12th, 2011
UPDATED November 27, 2010
by Christopher Van Buren
The number of green superfood powders that have sprouted up lately is astonishing. Now there are more than 150 brands on the market and they all have different formulas and offer different health benefits. But not only are there numerous products…but the number of herbs, veggie powders, grasses and grains used in these mixtures is nearly endless. So this article is your first stop for making some sense of this chaos. Here, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the green drink market and what you should look for in a product. See the list of related articles at the end to take your investigation to the next level.
Continue Reading November 27th, 2010
This is a quick view of sweeteners for those of you who want to enhance the taste of your green drinks, while remaining healthy. I’m not even going to talk about artificial sweeteners, such as saccharine and Aspartame. These are highly toxic chemicals and should never EVER be considered as a sweetener. In fact, you should never ingest any of these toxic chemicals for any reason. You’d be better off with ANY of the sweeteners listed below.
Sugar, Evaporated Cane Juice, Unprocessed Sugar, Maple Syrup, Molasses
Sucrose sugar, which is made from sugar cane and sugar beets is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. The glucose is a simple sugar that gets processed quickly by the body into energy. Thus the energy spike when you eat sugar. If your blood-sugar metabolism is normal, then your body processes half of the sugar (the glucose) into energy quickly, while the other half (the fructose) is probably stored as fat. Sugar is high on the glycemic index, so it’s not good for diabetics and should not be eaten in excess.
When it comes to sucrose sugar, I prefer the least amount of processing, which means the evaporated cane juice (pure cane sugar) and maple syrup are the best. Molasses is basically cane juice that is cooked down into a dark syrup and unprocessed sugar is actually semi-processed sugar. You can also find pure sugarcane sugar in block form and grind it or cut it into chunks for your various needs.
Fructose, Corn Syrup
Fructose is the sugar that comes from corn (high fructose corn syrup) and many types of fruit. When we eat fructose, the liver and digestive system converts some of it into energy, but store much of it as fat. In fact, fructose is practically all carbs, so it can lead to weight gain quite easily. It is low on the glycemic index, so it does not cause blood sugar spikes, but that’s offset (for diabetics) by the growing evidence that it enhances the body’s resistance to insulin, thus increasing risk of diabetes. So the truth about fructose is that it comes from corn and it has the same nutrients as sugar (practically none) and it’s stored as fat when sugar is burned as energy. Sugar gets burned first. Then fructose.
Xylitol
A derivative of birch wood, Xylitol is not actually a sugar, but a sugar alcohol. Its chemical properties are different than sugar, which makes it safe for diabetics and less harmful on the teeth and on the waistline. It was discovered in Germany in the 1970s and is studied for its use as a sugar substitute.
Sweet as Stevia…er, uh, Honey
Honey is a combination of glucose and fructose, but it has more fructose than sugar, so while the sucrose gets converted into energy, the fructose is most likely stored as fat. What makes honey a terrific alternative as a sweetener is that it also contains nutrients–mostly in the form of minerals. Of course, that’s only if you get real honey that has not been made from corn syrup. Oh, and also if you get honey from other countries because most American honey is now bereft of nutrients due to migrational bee-keeping practices that have weakened our bees to the point that many hives have been abandoned. Honey also tastes great and is sweeter than sugar. But while I use honey quite often, I also have no problem using sucrose sugar in moderation to sweeten my green drinks from time to time.
Stevia
Let’s face it. Stevia tastes like…well…artificial sweetener. It has a bitter, almost chemical taste on the back of your tongue and it’s often over-used. Since stevia is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, it’s very easy to over do it…and I honestly have never tasted a green drink formulation that uses stevia that I like. If you’ve tried stevia and you like it…you’re in great shape. Stevia has no negative health effects and is not a sugar, so it’s ok for diabetics. Personally, I’d rather go without sweetener than put stevia in my food. Now, I know that many companies claim to have solved the stevia after-taste problem, but I have yet to try one that delivers on the promise.
Agave Nectar
Lately, agave nectar has been getting a lot of attention. It has a low glycemic index, so it’s great for diebetics. It is easy to use, being much like honey in consistency, but “thinner”–and it tastes great. It is being used quite often in protein bars, drinks, and sauces, because it dissolves easily and goes well with these foods. Much like honey in its chemistry, it’s made up of mostly fructose and some glucose. From a health perspective, it’s much like honey, but has the added advantage of being low on the glycemic index.
Brown Rice Syrup & Barley Malt Syrup
Brown rice syrup, which is often made with barley malt syrup, a series of sugars, with very little glucose, which means it does not spike the blood sugar and is low on the glycemic index. It can be used as a time-release source of energy, because the combination of Maltose and carbohydrates burn off at different rates–usually giving energy for hours, if you remain active. It has a bit of protein and is made much like the process of honey–by adding enzymes to the starchy sugars.
Summary
If you are interested in fast energy for a workout or if you are active and plan to burn up that energy…then you should just use sugar in some kind of natural or raw form (provided you’re not diabetic). If you’re interested in a longer-lasting form of energy, then go for brown rice syrup. If you like sweet things and want to get as much of it as possible…and want to know what you should use to minimize your health risks, then I suggest a variety of all of these, with a focus on the non-sugar alternatives (Xylitol and stevia). The truth is, excess is more dangerous to your health than any of these sugars when eaten in moderation.
October 25th, 2008
UPDATED August 24, 2008
In this third installment on green superfood powders, I’ve prepared a handy comparison chart that shows the ingredients of several products side-by-side. This makes it easier to compare and contrast the different products. Although this completes my series on green superfood powders for the time being, I will update these various comparisons and listings as needed, so check back from time to time to see the new additions and updates.
As for the chart, you can view it in pdf format (Adobe Reader required) or download it using this link: Green Superfood Comparison Chart or the link in the right column at the bottom of the list of green drinks.
I’ve also created a quick-view Green Drink Price Comparison Chart. When viewing this chart, remember that this only shows the price and does not compare the quality. You can see this chart using the link: Green Drink Price Comparison Chart. More to come.
Send me your comments and additional information about green drinks you want added to the chart (use the response form on the About page).
August 24th, 2008
If you’ve read a few of the posts in this blog, you’ll see that I’m a fan of certain super foods and health formulas. There are certain health supplements (or non-supplement enhancement products) that I think benefit just about anyone who might adopt them. One of these is a good green superfood drink. A good green drink is made from freeze-dried plants and vegetables (and often fruit or fruit juices) and is actually a food product — not a supplement, like a vitamin or mineral supplement. Green drinks are basically food in concentrated, powdered form. The best ones use organic ingredients and combine a variety of food sources, which may include the following super ingredients:
Continue Reading August 14th, 2007
A tasty way to cure the blues
Here’s a recipe for a tasty chocolate smoothie that combats depression. The ingredients in this concoction are selected for their antidepressant qualities and for their ability to work together in this mixture. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 capsule of dry St. Johns wort (anti-anxiety, mood enhancer, antiviral, antibacterial)
- 1 capsule of Unha de Gato (Cat’s Claw) (circulation enhancer, blood purifier, immune system enhancer)
- 1 capsule of powdered DHEA (mood control through brain cell membranes)
- 1 tsp glutamine powder (stimulates metabolism, growth hormone and protein assimilation)
- 1 tsp powdered cinnamon (circulation stimulator)
- 1/8 cup pure, unsweetened chocolate or cocoa (antioxidants, endorphin stimulation, circulation regulator)
- 1/8 cup chopped mint leaves or 20 drops of mint essential oil (antispasmotic and anti-anxiety)
- 1/8 cup chilled flaxseed oil (omega-3 fatty acids)
- 1/4 cup walnuts (tannins, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids)
- 2 cups crushed ice
- honey or sugar to taste
Mix all ingredients in a blender (emptying the powder from the supplement capsules into the blender) and liquefy until fully mixed and smooth. Drink immediately.
Chocolate photo byhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/whitewizard_studio/147401275
November 7th, 2006
The number of Americans suffering from thyroid imbalance is reaching epidemic proportions. An estimated 15 million individuals are living with this imbalance, but the number is probably much higher. The most common imbalance is Hypothyroidism, which is an under-active thyroid. Symptoms include low energy, sensitivity to cold, slow digestion and elimination, weight gain, slow heartbeat, and even depression.
Sound like you?
Maybe you should pamper your thyroid a bit. The first step is to stop drinking caffeinated beverages. The caffeine causes your adrenal gland to secrete adrenaline, which increases blood sugar levels and therefore energy. But this has negative effects on the thyroid. With the increased energy, the thyroid re-regulates the metabolism and, if repeated every day (from your daily pot of coffee?) then the thyroid goes into hibernation. Take Panax ginseng to help counter this. Ginseng is reported to mitigate the effects of caffeine and stress on the system, including the adrenal gland and thyroid.
Another way to support the thyroid is with sea kelp. Kelp is rich in natural iodine, which supports your thyroid. Another excellent source of natural iodine is in walnuts.
The thyroid is the regulator of metabolism, which is like the gas pedal of the car. No matter what kind of fuel you put into the car, it won’t go well if the throttle is broken. Use kelp, ginseng, and walnuts to help it out…and go easy on the caffeine.
walnut photo by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Fir0002
Kelp phot by http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lyzzy
October 13th, 2006
