Beverages Archives | Page 4 of 6

Xocoatl

March 10, 2009

I love it when interesting little things pop up while I’m shopping; those little unexpected pleasures that fully warrant somewhat of a splurge in order to gain a new culinary experience.

The most recent occurrence that that fits these criteria involves chocolate. I love chocolate – big deal, I know. So do a lot of other people. I will admit when I hear people utter the words “I don’t like chocolate” it is followed by a jaw drop and gasp. Then I think – are you sure? I mean, it is chocolate.

When I delve into the history and health benefits of chocolate I often grow amazed at how this perfect, natural substance ever became what we’ve come to know as chocolate in the US – a candy, full of fat and sugar. What stares back at us on our store shelves barely resembles that from which it was made.

Now I’ve enjoyed my fair share of milk chocolate, but it is the dark stuff that has my heart. I like it dark and bitter, just barely sweet. The type of chocolate where you only need a small bite to feel fully satisfied.

So let me bring you back to my unexpected find. Browsing the food selection at a local bakery a few weeks ago I came across a rather intriguing drinking chocolate – Xocoatl. I became even more interested when I read the back of the package, which, lucky for me, was also printed in English so I didn’t have to worry with translating.

This is what it said:

Long before Columbus reached America, Aztecs roasted and ground cocoa beans and
mixed them with water, honey, vanilla and pepper. This ceremonial drink, called
Xocoatl, was available only to the nobles and priests. During the 16th century,
Xocoatl was taken to Spain, where spices from the East Indies were added to the
drink. Nugali Xocoatl is prepared according to this 400-year-old recipe, which quickly became a success among
European courts.

Well, noble or priest or I am not, but I did by up a bag of these tasty little disks for making drinking chocolate. I didn’t have to think twice after the description – honey, vanilla, pepper and chocolate – I knew I would love it.

The directions indicated that you should melt 3 to 5 tablets in a cup of hot milk. A bit difficult to melt down, it did not become a thick, dark drinking chocolate that most of us think of. However, this was its only fault.

The warm drink gave the sweet, yet bitter taste of fine chocolate and left a warm heat in the back of the throat. Such a combination of flavors that you know this is a rich drink meant for the most special of occasions.

This was certainly a new find for me. Have you ever heard of or had Xocoatl?

The Whole Cashew – Apple, Fruit and Nut

March 5, 2009

Cashew Fruit for sale at the farmers market in Maringa, PR Brazil | Fake Food Free

Cashews have always been a favorite in our house. They are the first thing to disappear when a can of mixed nuts happens to show up at a party. Before moving to Brazil, I knew cashews were quite popular due to the fact that they are native to the country. What I didn’t know was that the cashew is popular for a very different reason than the nut we often associate it with. While the nuts can be found; here, cashew is known for its juice.

I was relatively surprised the first time I saw a whole cashew. You see, the picture to the right is of cashews from the farmer’s market in town. Being a plant/tree that is native to the northeast of Brazil the fruit is somewhat rare around here, but for a few weeks in February they do show up at one or two booths among the vendors.

When not speaking of the nut, the cashew is often called a cashew fruit, but in actuality it is made up of three distinct parts. That orange yellow part that I first thought looked like a bell pepper is called the cashew apple. It is referred to as a false fruit or pseudo-fruit in the plant world.
The cashew apple contains a high concentration of tannins which are the same substances found in tea and wine. They give the apple a very distinct taste which I’ll discuss a little later.

The kidney-shaped green stem is the fruit of the cashew and it encases the nut; the same nut that we eat and refer to in the US as simply “cashews”, called castanha de cajú in Brazil.

The green fruit contains urushiol oil, the same substance found in poison ivy and poison oak which irritate the skin. You have to be very careful when removing the nut and it is for this reason that I have never purchased a whole, fresh cashew for myself and experimented with it. In an older article from Purdue University Horticulture I read that in some countries at one point the nut was simply thrown out with the fruit due to this toxin and much more emphasis was placed on the apple.

Cashews are grown in other tropical places throughout the world such as Vietnam and India. However, unless you live very close to one of those places it is likely you will never see a whole cashew. The fruit is juicy, fragile and spoils very quickly so extended transport is not an option.

Cashew Juice served at a local cafe in Maringa-PR Brazil | Fake Food Free

I have grown to love cashew juice which is made from the cashew apple. It has a sweet flavor with a richness that resembles that of the nut. The tannins leave that familiar drying feel in the mouth which they are known for. This is the reason my husband does not prefer it, but for me it gives the juice a unique appeal.

I have noticed a difference in the juice when I order it in a restaurant versus purchasing it prepackaged in the store. I should mention that you can buy bottled pulp without sugar in the supermarket and add your own water and sweetener if desired. The fresher juice is much more astringent than the packaged.

There are ways to remove tannins and I’m wondering if this has been done to the packaged juice to make it more appealing, as I came across some research from India where they were discussing processes to reduce tannins to get more people to drink the juice for its nutritional content.

Juice from the cashew apple contains about 205 to 220 mg of vitamin C per 100 ml. During my research I found a few sources online in the UK for the cashew apple pulp to make juice.

So even if you may never have the chance to see a whole cashew in person, it is looking like you may still be able to enjoy its flavor and nutrients as the news about cashew juice begins to spread to the rest of the world.

Cashew Fruit for sale at a market in Brazil | Fake Food Free

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Book Review: First in Thirst

February 25, 2009

If you participated in any sport as a kid, are involved in them now or take part in more vigorous exercise there is no way you escaped the influences of Gatorade. I just recently finished reading the book First in Thirst: How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon by Darren Rovell.

It is a short, to-the-point book about the history of Gatorade including its creation and marketing throughout the years. My husband read it first and knowing my conflicting views of the product encouraged me to read it.

I don’t mean conflicting to be negative. I’ve always felt the drink had its purpose, however, in many of the publications I’ve written, especially, those about physical activity in youth, I’ve felt the need to identify just when it is necessary and when it isn’t. For example, I, and many other nutrition professionals I know, feel that for exercise less than one hour water is sufficient to rehydrate the body. For exercise lasting more than an hour a drink, such as Gatorade, that replenishes and restores electrolyte balance can be beneficial.

The book provides an eye opening account of the marketing of the product. While certain characteristics are necessary for promoting and selling a drink, Gatorade has remained relatively true to their original purpose, although things have changed and progressed throughout the years. According to the book, it is important to keep the drink only in the sports arena and not open it up as a casual beverage such as a soft drink or fruit drink. I personally find this pretty respectable considering how they may be able to increase sales by promoting the drink to the general public in addition to athletes and exercisers.

Upon finishing the book my husband asked me right away what I now thought of Gatorade. He drinks it during his long runs, especially in the intense heat we experience in Brazil. He knows my concern with processed, fake foods and how I’m trying to eliminate packaged goods from my diet. My response has remained the same – Gatorade serves a purpose in the exercise and athletic world.

My main concern, which was addressed in the book, is with the calories. I’m talking about the average exerciser who puts in a 30 minute session a few days a week and wishes to lose weight. Drinking back your calories isn’t beneficial in this type of situation. However, when you are working up a sweat through hours of training, the few calories the drink adds isn’t going to matter much. Again, it has its purpose.

I think this book is a good read for anyone who is an avid exerciser or athlete. The book provides the positive details of the brand, but also covers concerns of critics. I am big believer in learning more about what we put into our bodies and this book is a good resource for doing just that.

If you’ve read the book or have an opinion about sports drinks, I’d love to hear about it.

Update: Okay, I knew I had read this somewhere and Andrea brought it up in the comments. Liquid Gatorade in the US now contains HFCS. I searched for this post by a Life Less Sweet, but couldn’t find it when I was doing my research for this post. There is no HFCS in what we buy in Brazil and the powdered does not contain it. I’m definitely not going to promote something with HFCS (not that I’m promoting the drink at all), but if you are going to drink it go for the powdered….or buy it in another country. Just kidding.

(Cross-posted at Charity Mile)

Cucumber, Ginger and Pineapple

February 19, 2009

While in Jamaica we stumbled upon a very interesting juice combo. You know I love making my own juice and the inexpensive fruits of Brazil allow me to live on a diet full of great combinations. I know there is a lot of talk about not getting enough fiber in juice, but if you drink (fresh) juice in addition to, not instead of, whole fruit it provides a lot of benefit.

This juice combo was cucumber and ginger. I was intrigued. I’ve tried making juice with cucumber before and I wasn’t thrilled with the flavor, although, I love cucumber infused water. I wasn’t brave enough to try this combo on its own so I mixed it with a bit of fresh pineapple juice to add sweetness.

An amazing juice combination was born. Well, maybe not born. I’m sure someone out there has done this combo before, but it was new to me. I tried it myself when we came back from our trip and it will become a regular in my juice line up.

I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to some of the freshest ginger possible. I never bought it in the States because all I could ever find were dried up little pieces at the very top shelf in the produce section. However, I have learned that fresh ginger is better. It contains more of the active gingerol which gives ginger its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is also linked to the relief of gastrointestinal problems such as gas and bloating, and is well known for its reduction of the symptoms of motion sickness.

Pineapple is full of vitamin C, an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory component and an aid in the function of a healthy immune system. This fruit is also an excellent source of manganese which plays a role in antioxidant function and energy production. In addition, pineapple gives you a nice dose of thiamin also important in energy production.

The cucumber adds a light and refreshing flavor to the juice. With cucumber you will get vitamin C, molybdenum, silica (important for connective tissues), potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin A and folate; quite a nutritional punch for such a low calorie food. Do pay special attention to the skin. It is the part that contains many of these nutrients, but often comes waxed with substances that may or may not be natural. I find the unwaxed variety at our farmer’s market.

Okay, so that is enough of the nutrition stuff. You get the idea. It is a great combo of a lot of different, important nutrients. Grab your juicer and toss in:

One unwaxed cucumber
About 1 cup fresh pineapple
1 small piece (about ¼ to ½ in) fresh ginger

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

January 20, 2009

As you know I recently returned from a trip to Jamaica. There are many things I love about visiting Jamaica, but one that tops the list is Blue Mountain Coffee. When we go I have to bring back some of this amazing stuff. To me, it is truly the best in the world. I’ve had a lot of different coffees including 100% Kona and none can compare to real Blue Mountain Coffee.

Some quick facts on this variety:

The name Blue Mountain Coffee can only be given to coffee grown in at the highest elevation in the Blue Mountains and it must be board certified.

This bean comes from the Arabica variety and the Blue Mountains produce the perfect location for its growth.

It is known for its non-bitter taste and mild flavor.

Most of this coffee exported from Jamaica goes to Japan.

You can order it online from various brands (or take a trip to Jamaica!). It is well worth an occasional splurge if you are a true coffee lover.

I love coffee of all kinds and it is one of those things that I believe can benefit our health. I’m not saying you should drink it if you simply don’t like it (tea is great too), but those of us who enjoy it shouldn’t be worried.

There is so much research out there and more coming everyday about how coffee can help your health. Many of the negative views of coffee are now being dispelled as myths. For me, coffee is like white rice. Many cultures have enjoyed it for many years as a staple in their diets.

I would need much more hard evidence to eliminate coffee from my daily routine. It is as much about the ritual for me as it is the flavor. I love my mornings working at my laptop with warm coffee nearby in my favorite mug. I do exercise moderation having about 2 to 3 cups a day.

I’ve gone through phases where I’ve had a lot more and I don’t think this is healthy. Especially considering how it makes me feel. At the level I consume right now I look forward to it, but I do not suffer from withdraw headaches if I don’t have it. This is what has made me realize I’m at a healthy balance now.

Here are a few things studies have suggested regarding the moderate intake of coffee. Keep in mind that these are findings, and of course, as with most science, not exactly hard fact yet. For me, they are enough evidence to hang on to my coffee habit, though.

It may reduce the risk for Type II diabetes.
It may reduce the risk for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
It may have a protective effect against some cancers.

These kinds of things really don’t surprise me because coffee is a real, natural food. Now that I live in Brazil I see coffee plants all the time. Did you know that decaffeinated coffee is totally foreign in Brazil? I’ve had friends here ask me about it and they don’t understand it at all.

Many times I think the ritual of coffee drinking may be what can help us mentally. While I know it is perking my body up, the act of drinking it is comforting and stress reducing for me. Maybe you feel the same way. Let me know in the comments.

Back to the Blue Mountain stuff. A few years ago I had the chance to go on a bike tour of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica and check out this coffee for myself. I’ve posted a few pictures below.

And I just couldn’t leave this post without giving you a recipe. I made these late last year for a friend here in Brazil. I didn’t have Blue Mountain coffee at the time so any finely ground variety will work well. Careful! They pack a huge coffee punch. I was amazed at how good they are and plan to make them again soon. Enjoy!!

Jamaican Coffee Brownies
Taken and slightly adapted from epicurious.com

2 cups sugar
15 tablespoons (2 sticks minus 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons finely ground Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9x2-inch metal pan with nonstick spray. Combine sugar, butter, cocoa, ground coffee, and salt in large bowl. Place bowl over saucepan of simmering water and whisk until butter melts and ingredients are blended (texture will be grainy). Remove bowl from over water; cool mixture to lukewarm if necessary. Whisk in eggs and vanilla. Add flour over and fold in.

Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake brownies until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool brownies in pan. Makes about 15 brownies.

Well, It Is Here

January 19, 2009

There has been a repetitive ad in every single health magazine I have read in the New Year. (It has been a lot of magazines, by the way. It was a long flight to Brazil!)

What is that ad, you ask? Truvia™

If you remember back in October I did a post about the Great Sweetener Debate where I talked about the sweetener stevia and some of the concerns that exist at the moment regarding its safety.

We knew it was coming and here it is. Truvia™ is the commercial name they have given to stevia rebiana. It is likely you are going to see it popping up in products a lot now if you haven’t already.

It looks like our FDA gave the company the thumbs up on safety in foods. However, the product is still quite controversial around the world. It is widely used in Japan, some countries have put a limit on what can be considered safe intake amounts and it is still banned in Europe. The bans result from early studies suggesting it could negatively influence reproduction and be carcinogenic.

Is that really any surprise? I mean, look at all the controversy surround aspartame, saccharin and sucralose.

I guess we’ll all just have to decide for ourselves. I’m planning to stick with my regular sweeteners of plain ol’ white sugar, brown sugar and honey. No, chemicals for me thanks. Even if it comes from a plant and is termed “natural” there always has to be something going on to mass produce it commercially.

If you want to read more about it there is a great article on treehugger, including some info about how the tribes of Brazil and Paraguay used to chew on the leaves believing it was a method of birth control. Yikes!

Tell me what you think.

Photo by Pat Her, www.morguefile.com

A Nighttime Treat

December 11, 2008

I enjoy reading diet and food related books. While I tend to dislike most uses of the word “diet”, over the years I’ve developed my own health philosophy by taking bits and pieces from the different things I read. I rarely agree with everything in a single book, but there is usually something even in the most farfetched that I can gain from.

A few years ago I read The Good Mood Diet by Dr. Susan Kleiner, a sports nutritionist, modern dancer who used her knowledge to examine the links between food, mood and weight loss.

I am a big believer that the foods we eat directly affect our mood and mental wellbeing so I found many parts of the book interesting.

There was one particular practice she spoke of in the book that stuck with me. I have incorporated it into most of my days – nightly hot chocolate.

In the book Dr. Kleiner recommends a nightly cup of homemade hot chocolate for a few reasons.

– The whey protein in milk contains tryptophan which raises serotonin levels and can help relax you.

– The cocoa is a treat and has natural phytochemicals.

– Drinking the hot chocolate creates a bedtime ritual.

The book recommends non-dutched cocoa powder and sweetener. You know how I feel about artificial sweeteners so I simply use sugar. I’m sure any other natural sweetener would work too.

I take the easy route and put about 2 T of cocoa in a mug with about ½ t sugar. I add a little milk and mix it well, creating a paste. A milk frother works great for this. I have the Aerolatte Milk Frother and it is one of my most used kitchen gadgets.

I then heat up the rest of my milk, about 1 cup in the microwave. I add it to my mug and mix well.

This is an especially great treat during the winter when I tend to drink it more. It really does have a calming effect and I am glad to know what ingredients are in it as opposed to when using a packaged mix.

Have you picked up any good habits from the health/nutrition books you’ve come across?

Photo by Chance Agrella, www.freerangestock.com

A Tasty Tea

December 1, 2008

Happy December! I can’t believe the last month of 2008 is here. It doesn’t seem possible. I am glad to see it though. December is always filled with so much excitement for the holidays and thoughtful reflection regarding the past year.

I will start this post by saying I am coffee-crazy. I love coffee of all kinds. As you can imagine this interest has grown even more with moving to Brazil. Now I can purchase coffee that is grown right outside of the town we live in. It is so cool to buy local with coffee. Something I could never do in the US for sure.

But let me get to my point. This post is about tea this time around, not coffee.

Aside from growing up on sweet tea I’ve never been a regular tea drinker, although, my interest in hot tea has grown in recent years. In grad school I did a research review of green tea. The health benefits are quite amazing. However, I will say I was a bit discouraged to learn that these major benefits come from amounts that would be equivalent to about 12 cups of tea a day.

Of course, this is the reason that they decided to conveniently put the extract into a capsule. As you probably know by now, I am not in favor of getting from a pill what I can get from food and drink whether it is in higher doses or not.

My thinking is even if you don’t consume the amounts which research indicates is necessary, habitually taking in something that is good for us will add up over time. This is how I feel about tea.

My husband went to Beijing for work a few years ago and found their green tea to be amazing. The variety he brought back with him is definitely the best I have had. Now I find myself exploring the tea aisle for different varieties of both green and black tea.

Tea is one of those – “Well duh,” – drinks for me. You know, the kind of food or drink that has been used in cultures throughout history with proven health benefits. Then the rest of us finally catch on that it might be a healthy thing to incorporate into our diets.

Thanks to the catechin polyphenols in green tea, specifically the unpronounceable epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), tea gives us antioxidants that are thought to have the power to kill cancer cells. It is also quite handy for decreasing cholesterol and reducing risk of heart attack.

I enjoy green tea, but I like black tea too. I’m glad that more research is going into black tea. So far we know it has many of the same benefits as green tea, it just has a slightly lower antioxidant level. So don’t be concerned if black tea is your drink of choice.

So speaking of tea I wanted to tell you about this awesome variety I found at my grocery store since I’ve been back in the US. Celestial Seasonings Sweet Coconut Thai Chai. Have you seen it or tried it?

I couldn’t pass it up simply due to the name and I wasn’t disappointed. As the hot water combines with the tea you can smell the sweet aroma of coconut. I loved the spicy aftertaste of black pepper too. It is such a unique combination.

So now I’m a coffee drinker in the morning and a tea drinker at night.

How about you are you a coffee drinker, a tea drinker or both like me?

Water Intake Is Not a Myth to Me

November 10, 2008

If you’ve kept up with current health news over the past year you’ve probably come across all the hype about the need for 8 – 8oz glasses of water a day being a myth.

I talked a little about this when I commented on the popularity of tap water in Ireland during my travels this summer. However, I have some new readers so I thought I’d introduce the topic again and get your thoughts.

There was a review of studies that came out mid-year saying most of the things we believe that water does for us aren’t scientifically supported. I am an 8 – 8oz glasses a day girl and I routinely come back to thoughts of these claims when I see them mentioned in magazines and on web-sites.

The truth is most people working in the nutrition field were well aware that the original recommendation was simply 8 glasses of fluid a day, not specifically water. As we began to see that the most popular drinks were sugar-laden fruit juices and soda, the recommendation moved to water because it is a healthier choice.

I think many of us reach the point in areas of health where personal experience overrides some of the research we come across. This is one of those areas for me. I know the placebo effect is alive and well, and some things can be all in our heads, but I am a firm believer in water being a healthy and beneficial drink.

The reasons I drink water don’t have anything to do with many of the things the research points out as being false. I mean, I had kidney function on the back of my mind, but it wasn’t my main motivator.

Drinking water makes me feel good. It gives me energy, clears up my skin, makes me feel less bloated and helps prevent headaches. When I don’t have enough, for example when I am traveling or out all day running errands without a bottle near me, I can definitely tell. I get dehydrated quickly and it greatly affects my energy levels.

So I say listen to how water makes you feel before you listen to the media’s twist on some research.

Is drinking water an important part of your health routine? How do you feel about all these claims of 8 x 8 being a myth?

By the way, I was able to find the editorial article on this in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Yay!!

Photo by David Ellis, morguefile.com

How Does Your Juice Rank?

November 5, 2008

1. Pomegranate juice
2. Red wine
3. Concord grape juice
4. Blueberry juice
5. Black cherry juice
6. Açaí juice
7. Cranberry juice
8. Orange juice
9. Tea
10. Apple juice

I was looking through some of my magazines this past weekend and came across this article about a recent study that looked at the antioxidant level of popular drinks and juices.

After my post about my fortunate access to açaí I had to write a post about this. I was so amazed to see it so far down on the list. However, I was very happy to see red wine up there and to know that cranberry juice made the top 10. I love cranberries!

Normally I like to go back and read through a study when I find research like this which brings me to one my biggest pet peeves in the research world. I understand that it is a money making business, but the prices of access to research journals are absolutely ridiculous.

What good are you doing for society when you produce great research, but no one can find it due to it costing a fortune? It does make me miss the days when I worked for academia and had free access to just about any research journal I wanted.

Anyway, I thought I’d also give a little update on açaí. I had heard that it is really caloric. Now, I know a ton of foods that have nutrient benefits that far outweigh the calorie content, meaning it is worth it because they are so healthy.

They often sell little packets of natural fruit pulp here to be made into juices. A friend of mine bought one pack of pineapple and one pack of açaí. This was just natural pulp, no sugar or anything.

The pineapple had 60 calories. The açaí…250 calories!! That is just in the berry itself. I found it quite amazing. The health benefits are probably worth it and I’m not giving it up, but I might need some extra time at the gym!

Did your favorite natural fruit juice make the list?

By the way, I didn’t have access to the whole research article, but here is the abstract if you want to take a look.
Comparison of Antioxidant Potency of Commonly Consumed Polyphenol-Rich Beverages in the United States

Photo by Emily Roesly, morguefile.com