What do we mean by fresh? These six drink recipes use novel ingredients or ingredient combinations for cocktails you’re unlikely to find at your local bar (unless you’re local to, say, Portland or Brooklyn). But they’re also “fresh” in the sense that none of these recipes uses soda, sugary juices or any of the typical artificial ingredients that plague mixed drinks Plus, I promise you no muddling is involved; most of the recipes require little more than a little shaking and a little stirring.

Photo: Six in the Suburbs

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Post from: Blisstree

Jello salad is an American picnic and barbecue staple from Memorial Day until Labor Day (and beyond). But if you’re a vegetarian or vegan, the gelatin that makes Jello, well, a gel doesn’t exactly jive with your lifestyle. This weekend, why not try out one of these crowd-pleasing vegan gelatin alternatives to add to the spread?

First, there is such a thing as kosher gelatin, which is made in keeping with kosher laws and without animal products (I don’t know how they do it, but they do). Unfortunately, it can be hard to find; you can order it online, but that’s not very helpful if you’re looking to make something this weekend.

There’s also carrageenan, a soft seaweed derivative that isn’t perfect for Jello salads, but does work well for, say, pudding or custard.

But by far the most popular vegan alternative for making a Jello-esque dessert is agar-agar (or just agar). The gelling ingredient so nice they named it twice, this flavorless, often colorless is also made from seaweed, but is much firmer and comes in flakes, bar form, or powder like gelatin.

It’s loaded with protein, and though it’s not exactly a health food, you can easily find it at health food stores or Asian food markets. Then follow the directions that it comes with, exactly substitute agar for gelatin, and use the finished product it just like you’d use Jello (with fruit and yogurt, or whatever else you like). But if, for some reason, the package you get doesn’t have instructions, here’s basically what you need to know:

According to The Cook’s Thesaurus, 3 Tbsp of agar flakes is equal to 2 tsps of agar powder, which is equal to about one bar. Each of these measurements will set to a firm gel (even at room temperature!) after disolved in two cups of warm liquid (like water). Try out a few batches–and note that if you’re using an acidic fruit or flavor (like lemon), you may want a little extra agar to make sure your creation stays firm.

If you’re really pressed for time–or just feeling a little lazy–you can go on a hunt for pre-made vegan “gelatin” desserts, which come in boxes just like the real deal. Natural Desserts is a tried-and-true choice that vegans and vegetarians have been turning to for years, and available at a lot of natural foods stores.

Now go forth and create the vegetarian and vegan versions of all your Midwest summer salads.

Image:  jon le-bon via Shutterstock

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Post from: Blisstree

The organic baby spinach came from Taylor Farms in Salinas, California and is sold under the brand names Private Selections and Marketside.

The specific products being recalled are: Private Selections Organic Baby Spinach 5 oz clamshell with a “best by” date of 5-25-12, which was distributed to stores in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Marketside Baby Spinach Organic 10 oz clamshell with the same “best by” date went to stores in Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. All were distributed on May 9th and 10th.

No illnesses have been reported yet, but that doesn’t mean we should relax. Check your refrigerators, toss any baby spinach from these brands, and if you have consumed any, be on the lookout for the symptoms of salmonella contamination. Report any concerns to your doctor and to the FDA, says their spokesperson, Pat El-Hinnawy:

Taylor Farms is working with FDA to ensure that any products that could be harmful to the public are removed from the marketplace. Consumers are urged not to buy or eat organic baby spinach from any of these labels… No illnesses have been associated to date with Taylor Farms products.

Illnesses or adverse events related to use of these products should be emailed to the FDA at CAERS@fda.hhs.gov or by calling 240-402-2405.

Photo: shutterstock.com

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Post from: Blisstree

Judging by weekly headlines about our growing obesity crisis, you might assume that there’s not much of a market for healthy food; you’d be wrong. That’s what Nicole Culver found when she started looking to grow her small online bakery, Pure Bliss Eats, which sells gluten-free, vegan, organic specialty snacks made out of real ingredients. But while the market exists for her products, it’s costly and difficult to get all the right certifications to let consumers know that she’s selling them good stuff, so businesses like hers are edged out by bigger companies and corporations that can afford to gussy up junk food with an “organic” or “gluten-free” label, instead of actually making healthy, whole foods. But Culver is doing something interesting and awesome in response: She’s using Kickstarter.

So far, all signs indicate that there’s a significant market for her products–so she’s asking them to help her grow the business to get them more of it:

It kind of stemmed from my husband, who wouldn’t eat breakfast. I started coming up with all these recipes, and finally I got him to eat breakfast, because he liked what I was making. And after going around and giving food away to yoga studios and Pilates studios, I saw that it was really working. People want healthy food that tastes good. And they don’t want to always buy from big companies.

When we (health bloggers, media outlets, individuals) talk about the obesity crisis, one of the biggest points of discussion continues to be that large corporations seem more interested in making unhealthy food seem good for us than making food that’s actually good for us.

And as consumers, it’s easy to feel powerless–if we really want to eat clean, wholesome stuff, we’ve either got to do tons of research, or carve out time to cook everything ourselves. Finding convenient, quick options that are also healthy seems impossible, but for Culver and others (like The Beet Box, a project by college students to create a healthy food cart, or Goodie Monster, a healthy vending machine) who have a great, healthy product and consumers ready to buy, new fundraising and communication technologies are helping to make it a reality.

Culver, who’s a health counselor and popular blogger, says a lot of people wanted to support her when she made the decision to expand Pure Bliss from a local company to a larger one. But many of them could only pitch in a little, rather than adhering to traditional investment models (which require large sums upfront).

We were looking for investors to get money, because it kind of takes a lot of money to go from the kitchen to the co-packer, so we had to raise capital. And we had a lot of people say to us, “We would love to help you out, but…” because it’s way different for someone to give you $25, versus an actual investment. You don’t want to ask for handouts from people, but we had so many people who wanted to support us–they just couldn’t make an investment.

So Pure Bliss (and many other small businesses) are figuring out a way to make real, healthy food available to more people, despite the logistical and financial barriers (like certification and shipping) that typically stand in the way, and allow large manufacturers to maintain a monopoly on the market.

Kickstarter isn’t the only tool they’re using: Culver also noted that IndieGoGo was a good one for others looking to get a leg up. But whichever program small businesses choose, fundraising on this level is empowering makers and shakers to stop wishing for healthier options, and either come up with them themselves, or fund the things they want to see. Which, according to Culver, is great for both sides of the transaction:

It gives you a platform to put your business on. My husband is a big supporter of [the idea that] every dollar you spend on food counts, and it’s just another way to be able to do that, and support the people you really believe it, and say “Ok, I want this in my store.”

And who knows? Maybe through Kickstarter and other programs, enough small companies will be able to get the certification and capitol they need to create competition that will convince big food manufacturers to change their tune and clean up their food.

Want to vote with your dollar (and help Pure Bliss Eats wind up on your grocery store shelves)? Check them out on Kickstarter and on Facebook.

Image via Pure Bliss Eats

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• ‘Weight Of The Nation’ Isn’t The Fat-Shaming Debacle You Think It Is

Post from: Blisstree

Frito-Lay is jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon, making their junk food even easier to eat for people who are trying to avoid wheat and gluten for health reasons. Yay?

The food manufacturer, which is responsible for Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles, Tostitos and Sunchips, among other popular brands, announced a multi-year plan to develop a gluten-free validation process for some of their North American products.

This is good news for people who have a gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease, and want an occasional junky snack. Or for parents who worry about keeping their kids gluten-free at a birthday party where potato chips are the main dish. Anyone who’s discovered they have a gluten sensitivity (or Celiac disease) knows that gluten hides in a lot of unexpected places, particularly among processed foods. So assuming that corn chips or potato chips are safe to eat could land fairly undesirable results.

But the gluten-free diet hasn’t become popular because of a widespread Celiac epidemic. Many argue that commercial agriculture is responsible for the rise in non-Celiac gluten sensitivity, but in reality, a lot of people are going gluten-free as part of a healthy lifestyle…which shouldn’t include buttloads of potato chips, even if they are gluten-free or made of simple ingredients.

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• Domino’s Goes Gluten-Free, Makes Disease-Inducing Junk Food Equal Opportunity
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Post from: Blisstree

• Endocrine disruptors aren’t just in bottled water and canned food; they could also be in your sofa. (No More Dirty Looks)

• 45 ways to make your barbecue healthy. (Fitsugar)

• Sadly, some marathoners have died of heart attacks while running. But does it mean marathons are bad for our hearts? (Well Blog)

• 5 steps to great lips this summer. (Divine Caroline)

• How to be nice when you’re getting a manicure. (The Frisky)

• Science says female underwear models are even more objectified than their male counterparts. (YourTango)

Post from: Blisstree

What is in most energy drinks?

Drinks like Red Bull, Full Throttle, Jolt, Amp contain caffeine plus sweeteners in the forms of glucuronolactone, sucrose and/or glucose. Some contain an extract from guarana seeds, a berry that has a stimulating effect on the body. Some also contain the amino acid taurine, which is beneficial for many people, but cannot possibly compensate for the low nutritional value of the remaining ingredient or the risk factor of extremely high caffeine content.

The biggest problem is we have no way of knowing how much caffeine is in these drinks. The labels don’t include this info. Because energy drinks are marketed as supplements, not food products, manufacturers can apparently load them up with caffeine without properly informing consumers. My understanding is the caffeine content of these drinks ranges from 100 to a whopping 430 mg per 12 ounces, which is considerably more than the 35 mg found in the usual can of Coca Cola. A study out of Johns Hopkins published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2008 includes the statement, “The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are unlabeled and few include warnings about potential health risks of caffeine intoxification.”

Wow,that’s a ton of caffeine. What happens to your body when you drink one of these?

The sugar and caffeine provoke a quick burst of energy. It’s not a lasting effect, but rather leads to rising and crashing blood sugar levels, adversely affecting both physical energy and mental balance.

These products are heavily promoted to college students who may wish to forgo sleep for late night studying or partying. The highest risk comes from their use energy drinks along with alcohol for partying. Going to a bar and drinking alcohol and then consuming energy drinks to enhance concentration, performance, reaction speed etc is a prescription for disaster. The alcohol would be a depressant; the energy drink a stimulant. That creates a push-pull on the body that is extremely stressful, can create heart arrhythmias and could conceivably lead to heart failure.

Students who drink alcohol along with energy drinks are also more likely to get drunk much more often. This increases the likelihood of risky behavior, including violence. A study out of Johns Hopkins found that 27 % of college students mix energy drinks & alcohol once a month.

What are the possible mental and physical health consequences of drinking these regularly?

No one really knows as energy drinks are comparatively new in the marketplace. This is definitely not a case of Mother Nature’s traditional wisdom, but rather of Father Technology’s profit making and experimentation.

The ads target college students and twenty somethings so it may be years before the long-term cause and effect become apparent. On a more immediate level, caffeine intoxication is a recognized clinical syndrome, marked by anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, tremors, rapid heartbeat, pacing, insomnia etc. Caffeine intoxication occasionally causes arrhythmias leading to death.

Gastrointestinal upset is also commonplace, with excess caffeine damaging the gut lining, leading to severe pain.

Can energy drinks contribute to anxiety or depression? And if so, how?

Sure, and in much the same way sugar and/or caffeine would. People who go off the drug caffeine can become depressed as part of the withdrawal reaction. Irritability, fatigue and headaches are other withdrawal symptoms.

Can they make an existing case of anxiety or depression worse?

I would think the caffeine and sugar in such beverages would exacerbate existing anxiety, paranoia etc. Depressed people would feel very bad indeed when the crash follows the energy boost.

Caffeine is a “wake up” chemical. People start drinking beverages with caffeine for mental clarity and alertness, but chronic use can lead to lethargy, fatigue and malaise. The caffeine depletes the B vitamins, which are already depleted in most people who are anxious or depressed. People who “need” caffeine to get moving tend to have exhausted or burned out thyroid and adrenal glands.

Have you heard about cases where people drank energy drinks and suffered mental health issues? There have been stories in the news about kids/teens committing suicide as a result of these drinks…true?

It makes sense that energy drinks could be a contributing factor for kids and teens feeling suicidal. Caffeine intoxication keeps the body in “fight or flight” mode. This can leave people feeling very frightened and threatened. People taking in too much caffeine feel the physical symptoms of increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and panic akin to an outside “emergency.”

If someone has a mental health condition, should they avoid energy drinks?

I advise everyone to avoid energy drinks and also soda, regular or diet. Those with mental or physical health problems would suffer the worst effects. As a nutritionist, I strive to address underlying nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, and advise clients against sugar, caffeine and other quick “feel good” attempted fixes. People who rely on energy drinks need to take a good look at their diet and lifestyle and quit falling for a quick fix. Fatigue and lethargy can only properly be addressed with an optimum diet (including high-quality real foods, whole foods and slow foods, not fast foods and junk foods), less stressful lifestyle, adequate sleep and sufficient exercise. People who seek the quick fix of energy drinks but fail to address these issues are going to skid off their fast track into a ditch.

Any other mental health dangers of these drinks?

Caffeine is a legal drug. Some think it is a gateway drug. Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins thinks energy drinks can serve as a “gateway product” to drug abuse.

Photo: worldtv.com

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• My Postpartum Depression: From Feeling Like A Horrible ‘Monster’ To Empowering Women

Post from: Blisstree

From the way veganism is discussed in mainstream media (I’m looking at you, New York Times), you might think there are just two kinds of eaters: normal ones, and…vegans. Even as the animal-free lifestyle grows in popularity, veganism still gets depicted as crazy, restrictive, unhealthy, unnatural, and for weird, crunchy hippies. But in fact, there are many stealth vegans among us, proving that you can go vegan without turning into a crusty, twigs-and-bark eating social outcast.

Enter Kourtney Campbell and her friend Katie Charos, who run an adorable lifestyle blog called the Vegan Housewives. It’s full of cute craft ideas, yummy recipes, pretty Instagram photos, and stories about their lives and families—much like any other popular, Pinterest-ready blog—along with some vegan stuff, like beauty products and recipes. And yet–here comes the kicker–even non-vegans read it, because it’s great. Even Charos herself isn’t vegan (she’s vegetarian).

Which is what makes Campbell living proof of the fact that veganism doesn’t define a single type of person; nor is it always accompanied by tie-dye and dreadlocks. Not that there’s anything wrong with tie-dye or dreadlocks (hey, I’m from Eugene, ok?), but they are not a prerequisite for veganism. Some people think they are. They are not. Vegans can be anyone. They can walk among us. They can, in fact, have excellent taste and be super-cute.

We spoke with Campbell in hopes of learning how to go vegan, while still maintaining a love of traditional things, or at least, things that aren’t made . Which, again, is not to say that traditional things are “normal,” or that one lifestyle is better for everyone than another–but Campbell is an example that veganism, just like every other thing, comes in all styles.

Here’s what she had to say:

First things first. Living a life without animal products is a big step–what made you decide to become a vegan?

I grew up in a SUPER southern family—we sometimes ate fried parts of animals that I don’t even want to mention. I was always extremely overweight and had constant stomach problems. In college, I studied Fitness & Nutrition, which caused me to completely turn my life around. I started eating really healthy, exercising daily and went on to become a personal trainer, but the stomach problems were still there.

I slowly began cutting out animal products (first dairy, which I found I was border-line allergic to, then land animals). I felt like a new person, but I was having a really hard time giving up sushi. I ended up meeting some kids on tour with peta2 who encouraged me to try out a vegan diet and I did it and have never looked back. I had never really looked at the cruelty that went into the meat and dairy industry until that time, but as an animal lover, it was horrifying. I knew I would never again contribute to an industry so cruel and unnatural.

Recently, veganism has gotten a lot more attention in the media–but it seems  like it’s still perceived as very “crunchy” and “out there”–or, as you say on your site, “ridiculous.” How  does being a vegan intersect with the rest of your life? 

I compare veganism to my religious beliefs in many ways. I myself am a Christian. However, when I see how other “Christians” portray themselves with such hatred towards other people (and animals) just because they live a way they disagree with, it mortifies me that someone may lump me in that category and breaks my heart that the actions of those people are turning people away from the true root of their religion out of pure disgust.

I think many vegans feel they need to be extremely out there in order to live a cruelty-free lifestyle, and if you aren’t as “hard-core” as they are, then you don’t deserve to call yourself a vegan. It’s a huge turnoff, not only to carnivores, but for many other vegans as well.

I know a lot of vegans that interrogate restaurants. Some even go as far as to ask if meat has ever been cooked in the pans or if you use a different part of the kitchen for the vegan food, etc. When I see this, I immediately think “this makes restaurants NOT want to cater to a vegan lifestyle.” If all vegans are this difficult, then why in the world would we ever want to serve them? And I would really like to know how an animal is being harmed by using the same utensils that were used to cook a non-vegan meal.

The bottom line is that you aren’t helping by being difficult. I personally use the same kitchenware I used before going vegan and every so often, my husband even cooks eggs in them.

After I became vegan, I went on tour with peta2 and I actually made friends with a girl because she came up to me to tell me that she hates vegans (because of similar reasons listed above). She was completely shocked to hear that we were both on the same page with thinking some people take it to the extreme and gained a lot of respect for the vegan population.

It’s so much easier to win people over with compassion (and vegan sweets) than it is to criticize them for what you believe they’re doing “wrong.” You have to show them that there is another option and it’s even better than what they’re used to!

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• Finding Ultra: From Overweight And Unhappy To Being An Elite (Vegan) Athlete
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Post from: Blisstree

Yesterday, we wrote about Rich Roll—the author of Finding Ultra (which was released today) who went from unhappy and overweight to competing in endurance events that most people would never dream of. But when we asked him how he made the change, he said the thing that put his transformation into motion was really switching to a plant-based, vegan diet:

It all started with changing my diet. Adopting a whole food, plant-based is really the basis of everything that followed. As a result of doing this complete dietary overhaul, I experienced such a resurgence in vitality and energy that it sort of opened me up on a physical and spiritual level to ask “what comes next?” and I just had a deep yearning to get fit again. I didn’t have any aspirations or fantastical goals about competing or doing anything crazy, I just wanted to feel better. All the energy I was experiencing from this dietary shift just naturally led me to exercising again.

So naturally, we wanted to know what he actually eats. When we asked about his favorite ways to fuel an active lifestyle on a vegan diet, Roll told us that he relies heavily on his Vitamix (a high-powered blender that’s a key kitchen gadget for many a health-nut). Getting the calories and carbs to fuel hard-core workouts like his can seem impossible without the help of processed foods, but Roll says that the Vitamix helps him turn whole foods into instant energy:

For breakfast I prefer to “drink a salad” rather that eat a more traditional grain-based meal like cereal, granola or waffles. Instead I blend a variety of raw organic and nutrient dense vegetables, fruits and nuts in my Vitamix. This high-powered blender breaks down the foods so thoroughly that they are easily absorbed by my body, providing an immediate energy boost without the typical post-meal lethargy.

Rich told us what goes into his Vitamix; he says he starts with a base of dark, leafy greens, and adds the following favorite ingredients for a nutrient-dense blend of micro-nutrients, vitamins, minerals, protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids:

To find out more about Rich’s inspiring story, check out his new book, Finding Ultra. To get more of his favorite recipes and meal ideas, check out the digital cookbook “JAI SEED,” by Rich and his wife, Julie Piatt.

Related posts:

• Finding Ultra: From Overweight And Unhappy To Being An Elite (Vegan) Athlete
• 5 Simple Green Smoothie Recipes (That Actually Taste Good)
• Happy Friday! Here Are 3 Delicious Vegan Fruit Smoothie Recipes (Blueberry, Mango and Green)
• 10 Ingredients to Always Put In Your Smoothies
• 8 Ingredients to Never Put In Your Smoothies

Post from: Blisstree

The FTC filed a complaint against POM Wonderful in 2010, objecting to three main health claims on the following grounds:

a) Scientific studies didn’t show that POM prevented heart disease or had any heart health benefits.

b) The study POM cited for their prostate cancer claims weren’t blinded or controlled.

c) POM’s erectile dysfunction study showed that the juice wasn’t any more effective than a placebo.

Yesterday, Chief Administrative Law Judge Michael Chappell ordered POM to put a lid on all medical claims unless they were not misleading, but Chappell wasn’t 100% on board with the FTC’s complaint, which argued that the company should provide the same kinds of medical trials that pharmaceutical companies use to support their claims. He says they can provide “competent reliable scientific evidence” for the health claims on their products.

For a company who was just slapped on the wrist for flat-out lying to consumers in a federal court, POM is pretty happy. Craig Cooper, Chief Legal Officer for POM Wonderful LLC, wrote in a company statement:

While we are still analyzing the ruling, it is clear that we will be able to continue to promote the health benefits of our safe, food products without having our advertisements, marketing or public relations efforts preapproved by the FDA and without having to rely on double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies, the standard required for pharmaceuticals. We consider this not only to be a huge win for us, but for the natural food products industry.

Which seems to be like a huge “lose” for consumers, who already face enough convoluted health claims and misleading advertising in the “natural food products industry.”

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• New POM Wonderful Commercials: Powerful Then. POM-What Now?
• Skechers To Pay Out $40 Million Settlement For Sketchy Toning Shoe Claims

Post from: Blisstree