Pineapple’s bromelain enzyme provides amazing health benefits
Pineapple – Bromelain Benefits
You’ve probably heard of an enzyme found in pineapple called Bromelain. This enzyme is often used by itself as a supplement to aid in various ailments and boost general health. It is also added to natural digestion aids, anti inflammatory remedies, and general health supplements.
There are also quite a few additional health benefits that may be lesser known than its most common uses. It has been linked to better heart and circulatory health, improvement in asthma and other breathing conditions and improved immunity.
Improved blood circulation, heart health and breathing conditions
Bromelain is particularly known for being very efficient at breaking down proteins which accounts for its common use as a digestive aid. Fibrin is a protein that is used in the clotting and thickening of blood. Bromelain works as a blood thinner since it assists in breaking down this substance.
This means it may allow blood to flow more freely through the circulatory system. Thinner blood is associated with lower chances of stroke, heart attack, and other heart and circulatory issues.
Pineapple
Bromelain has also been linked to the improvement of breathing conditions that occur due to thicker mucus such as asthma. It has the same effect on mucus as it does on blood in that it thins the consistency. This makes it easier for asthma patients to breathe since the mucus is thinner and therefore not clogging their bronchial tubes.
Anti-inflammatory benefits
It is bromelain’s ability to keep blood thin and prevent it from clotting, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties that makes it a good supplement for bruise prevention. It is also thought to be a good supplement for swelling and redness.
For this reason it is often recommended after surgery to help ease the trauma caused by incisions or injections. Research also indicates that supplementing with 200 to 400 milligrams of bromelain per day can significantly ease the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis.
It has also been implicated in the improvement of certain inflammatory skin conditions. This could include acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
While most people think bromelain is found in the fruit of the pineapple, it is primarily found in the stem. This is why it may be preferable to buy a supplement if you are looking for the specific therapeutic benefits this enzyme can offer.
Bromelain implicated in improved immunity
In addition to the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant properties bromelain exhibits in the human body, it has also shown promise as an immunity booster. Studies have indicated it may enable certain immunity enhancing receptors in the body.
This in turn may strengthen the immune response by enhancing the response of the body’s front line immune defense, T-cells. In other words the enzyme has an enhancing effect on the immune response already in place. It helps by enabling the other mechanisms to work more efficiently together and “communicate” better with one another. For more information. <—
Juice Recipes With Pineapple
PINEAPPLE JUICE RECIPE
Hope you enjoy these pineapple recipes FitLifer. Please feel free to share this article with your friends and family.
Remember, we’re in this together
Drew
Drew Canole
Pin It Read More »
Green Juice 101
GREEN JUICE I LOVE YOU SO, GREEN JUICE YOU ARE MY AMIGO…
My personal favorite. It’s just so good for you…loaded with chlorophyl, magnesium and zinc and a whole host of other phytonutrients.
You’ve probably seen a lot of people turning towards green juice drinks recently. I started my green juice/drink career about 5 years ago. I had an older gentlemen present a little gift to me. (It looked like a glass of swamp water.) I’ve always had a fear of swamps, so this was a little bit awkward for me. That day, I decided to drink my fear and slam this giant glass of gobblie goop. (Green Juice)
Let’s just say I’m glad I did. I felt like the AMAZING after chuggin’ this thing. My body was so nutrient deprived, it soaked up every last drop of the green juice madness and I became the HULK. I know, it’s a cartoon pic… the real pic is too graphic for your young virgin eyes.
Drew Transforming
“Green Juice” has an alluring level of mystery to it.
Green Potion. Green Mystery. Green Machine. Green Lantern. Green
something else…
The term green juice, is meant to describe any juice – that is in fact some shade of the color green. Green juice may be a combination of fruit and veggies or it may be 100% veggies. Green Juice ingredients may be 100% crisp green, or a rainbow of colors. I’m a personal fan of using all greens.
ALL YOU VEGGIE HATERS DRINK UP! 
Most people assume that if they hate veggies, they will dislike green juice. (Sorry to through you under the bus dad.) Not so. Green juice, when properly prepared delivers delightful intermingling flavors: salty and sweet. Spicy and sour. Pungent and mild. Tart and warm. Each ingredient produces a unique flavor property – and with a little creative license, you can easily craft your perfect variation of “Green Juice”. Here are my favorite recipes – and a few steps to creating your own…
Also, don’t be affraid to add weeds to your green drinks. Personally I love juicing recipes with dandelion greens, comfrey and nettle leaf. For more info on them go here. <—
Ginger.... mmmmm
Parsley - So Good
Silly Cilantro
Green Juice Ingredients. Here are a few of my faves and my flavor analysis of them:
Green Juice
Green Juice Ingredients:
Arugula juice- spicy, grassy
Basil juice – sweet, spicy
Bell Pepper juice- hydrating, sweet, zesty
Cabbage juice – mildly grassy
Celery juice - zesty, hydrating
Green Chard juice- grassy, sweet
Cilantro juice – sweet, fragrant
Collard greens juiced – grassy
Cucumber juice – hydrating, sweet/sour
Endive juice – bitter
Fennel juice - anise, zesty
Green apples juiced – very sweet, tart
Green grapes juiced – very sweet, tart
Green onion juiced – zesty, spicy
Green pears juiced – very sweet
Honeydew juice- sweet, hydrating
Jalapeno juice- spicy, zesty
Kale juice- grassy, dark
Kiwifruit juice – tart, sweet, zesty
romaine juice – hydrating, mild, grassy
Lime juice – sour, zesty
Mache juice- grassy, dark
Parsley juice – grassy, zesty
Spinach juice – grassy, dark, pungent
Watercress juice – spicy, grassy, hydrating
Wheatgrass juice – very grassy
Zucchini juice- hydrating, mildly bitter
Mint juice- vibrant, minty, cooling
assorted green herbs
Non Green Ingredients
Pears – very sweet
Apples – sweet/tart
Ginger – very spicy
Orange – zesty, sweet
Lemon – tart, zesty (remove seeds)
Pineapple – zesty, very sweet
Carrots – sweet, thick
Grapefruit – sweet/tart, mildly bitter
Blueberries – sweet, thick
Jicama – thin, mild, cooling
Radish – zesty
Beet – sweet, dark
Garlic – zesty, spicy
Tomato – sweet, zesty
Other Green Juice Add-in’s:
Black Pepper – spicy
Spirulina – seaweed/nutrients
Cayenne – spicy
Wild Oregano Oil – Spicy
Habanero Powder – Man Up
Pine Polen – Salty
(I have more add in’s – at the membership website)
In conclusion, get yo’ greens dude. Stop messing around with your health. You can either pay for your health now or sickness later. Share this with all your friends and people you care about. Let’s get this message out! 
12 ways to naturally lower your blood pressure
Beat high blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most preventable conditions.
But it plays a contributing role in more than 15% of deaths in the United States, according to a new Harvard study. Although it causes no symptoms, HBP boosts the risks of leading killers such as heart attack and stroke, as well as aneurysms, cognitive decline, and kidney failure. 28% of Americans have high blood pressure and don’t know it, according to the American Heart Association. If you haven’t had yours checked in 2 years, see a doctor.
While medication can bring down blood pressure, it may cause side effects such as leg cramps, dizziness, and insomnia. Fortunately, most people can reduce their blood pressure without medication. First get to a healthy weight. Then add these strategies.
Losing weight is easy, maintaining it is the hard part. Try going on a juice fast like Alpha Reset and incorporate juicing into your daily life.
1. Go for power walks
Hypertensive patients who went for fitness walks at a brisk pace lowered pressure by almost 8 mmhg over 6 mmhg. Exercise helps the heart use oxygen more efficiently, so it doesn’t work as hard to pump blood. Get a vigorous cardio workout of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Try increasing speed or distance so you keep challenging your ticker.
2. Breathe deeply
Slow breathing and meditative practices such as qigong, yoga, and tai chi decrease stress hormones, which elevate renin, a kidney enzyme that raises blood pressure. Try 5 minutes in the morning and at night. Inhale deeply and expand your belly. Exhale and release all of your tension.
3. Pick potassium-rich produce
Loading up on potassium-rich fruits and vegetables is an important part of any blood pressure‚ says Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medical. Aim for potassium levels of 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day, she says. Top sources of potassium-rich produce include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and dried fruits such as prunes and raisins.
4. Read food labels for sodium
Certain groups of people—the elderly, African Americans, and those with a family history of high blood pressure—are more likely than others to have blood pressure that’s particularly salt (or sodium) sensitive. But because there’s no way to tell whether any one individual is sodium sensitive, everyone should lower his sodium intake, says Eva Obarzanek, PhD, a research nutritionist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. How far? To 1,500 mg daily, about half the average 
American intake, she says. (Half a teaspoon of salt contains about 1,200 mg of sodium.)
Cutting sodium means more than going easy on the saltshaker, which contributes just 15% of the sodium in the typical American diet. Watch for sodium in processed foods, Obarzanek warns. That’s where most of the sodium in your diet comes from, she says. Season foods with spices, herbs, lemon, and salt-free seasoning blends.
5. Indulge in dark chocolate
Dark chocolate varieties contain flavanols that make blood vessels more elastic. In one study, 18% of patients who ate it every day saw blood pressure decrease. Have 1/2 ounce daily (make sure it contains at least 70% cocoa).
6. Take a supplement
In a review of 12 studies, researchers found that coenzyme Q10reduced blood pressure by up to 17 mmhg over 10 mmhg. The antioxidant, required for energy production, dilates blood vessels. Ask your doctor about taking a 60 to 100 mg supplement up to 3 times a day.
7. Drink alcohol–but not too much
According to a review of 15 studies, the less you drink, the lower your blood pressure will drop—to a point. A study of women at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, for example, found that light drinking (defined as one-quarter to one-half a drink per day for a woman) may actually reduce blood pressure more than no drinks per day. One “drink” is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits.
Other studies have also found that moderate drinking—up to one drink a day for a woman, two for a man—can lower risks of heart disease. “High levels of alcohol are clearly detrimental,” says Obarzanek. “But moderate alcohol is protective of the heart. If you are going to drink, drink moderately.”
8. Switch to decaf coffee
Scientists have long debated the effects of caffeine on blood pressure. Some studies have shown no effect, but one from Duke University Medical Center found that caffeine consumption of 500 mg—roughly three 8-ounce cups of coffee—increased blood pressure by 4 mmhg, and that effect lasted until bedtime. For reference, 8 ounces of drip coffee contain 100 to 125 mg; the same amount of tea, 50 mg; an equal quantity of cola, about 40 mg.
Caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress, says Jim Lane, PhD, associate research professor at Duke and the lead author of the study. “When you’re under stress, your heart starts pumping a lot more blood, boosting blood pressure,” he says. “And caffeine exaggerates that effect.” If you drink a lot of joe, pour more decaf to protect your ticker.
9. Take up tea
Lowering high blood pressure is as easy as one, two, tea: Study participants who sipped 3 cups of a hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure by 7 points in 6 weeks on average, say researchers from Tufts University—results on par with many 
prescription medications. Those who received a placebo drink improved their reading by only 1 point.
The phytochemicals in hibiscus are probably responsible for the large reduction in high blood pressure, say the study authors. Many herbal teas contain hibiscus; look for blends that list it near the top of the chart of ingredients—this often indicates a higher concentration per serving.
10. Work (a little) less
Putting in more than 41 hours per week at the office raises your risk of hypertension by 15%, according to a University of California, Irvine, study of 24,205 California residents. Overtime makes it hard to exercise and eat healthy, says Haiou Yang, PhD, the lead researcher. It may be difficult to clock out super early in today’s tough economic times, but try to leave at a decent hour—so you can go to the gym or cook a healthy meal—as often as possible. Set an end-of-day message on your computer as a reminder to turn it off and go home.
11. Relax with music
Need to bring down your blood pressure a bit more than medication or lifestyle changes can do alone? The right tunes can help, according to researchers at the University of Florence in Italy. They asked 28 adults who were already taking hypertension pills to listen to soothing classical, Celtic, or Indian music for 30 minutes daily while breathing slowly. After a week, the listeners had lowered their average systolic reading by 3.2 points; a month later, readings were down 4.4 points.
12. Seek help for snoring
It’s time to heed your partner’s complaints and get that snoring checked out. Loud, incessant snores are one of the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). University of Alabama researchers found that many sleep apnea sufferers also had high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. In fact, it’s estimated that half of all people with sleep apnea have high blood pressure.
If you have sleep apnea, you may experience many brief yet potentially life-threatening interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. In addition to loud snoring, excessive daytime tiredness and early morning headaches are also good clues. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if OSA could be behind it; treating sleep apnea may lower aldosterone levels and improve BP.
Source: Prevention Magazine
Check out this amazing juice recipe that is great for lowering blood pressure.
Why Flabby Abs Grow From The Inside-Out
Building rock-hard abs is like building a house. You need a solid foundation.
That “foundation” is your large intestine. Your colon.
If it’s inflamed because of, well, poop build-up, all kinds of bad things can happen. Viscera somatic inhibition, for one. That’s science-speak for a muscle that shuts down when it’s on the same neurologic loop as an organ that’s inflamed.
You’ve heard of left-arm numbness when someone is having a heart attack? Same deal.
So, what can cause your colon to become inflamed? Naturally, it all starts with your diet. Add it to your list of reasons to start juicing.
Dehydration. Eating processed foods that are loaded with chemicals. Eating grains that are high in gluten. Drinking too much alcohol.
Any of those triggers can lead to constipation and an inflamed colon, which, in turn, can make it nearly impossible to erase flabby abs.
Why does this matter?
No. 1, nobody wants flabby abs.
And No. 2, having a strong core is critical to stabilizing your hips and rib cage. Without it, forget about reaching your full strength potential. Not to mention you’ll probably have to deal with a number of other recurring injuries as a result.
The lesson here is simple, but often misunderstood.
Sit-ups and ab crunches are a great way to get a six-pack. But until you correct the less visible issue of colon inflammation, a lot of your work in the gym will be time wasted. You won’t see the results you want.
Take a close look at your diet and make changes. Cut out the nasty processed foods. Stay hydrated.
And try a glass of Zip-Zap-Zing.
Here is the recipe…
Zip Zap Zing Juice
This a powerful juice to drink before a meeting and when you need extra brain power. This will give your brain the zip- zing that it needs to focus on the task at hand and get stuff done.
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 beet
• 2 stalks of celery
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 ginger root
• 1 handful cilantro
• 1 handful of chard
Wash your vegetables. Place the herbs in the juicer halfway through to get the maximum benefit of the nutrients. Peel the lemon and cucumber if they are not organic. Cut the tops off of the cucumber and the beet. Process in the juicer.
Your life’s about to change.
Check out our FREE PRESENTATION on juicing.
Read More »Say Hello to Garlic
Garlic is a powerful ingredient.
It has been used for coughs, colds, toothaches, dandruff, and many other symptoms.
Research conducted has shown that garlic lowers blood sugar, eliminates lead in the body, has detoxification properties, strengths the immune system, has anticancer properties, has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Garlic also has sulfur containing compounds such as allicin (also responsible for the potent odor of garlic), diallyl trisulfide and others that create a therapeutic effect.
The best way to take garlic is raw. When garlic is cooked it losses some of its therapeutic effects. Research suggests that 3 cloves of garlic are recommended per day.
Best garlic to buy is fresh and firm garlic. Avoid garlic that has evidence of decay or mildew.
Adios Coffee
Juice: handful of parsley wrapped in garlic (add 2 cloves of garlic for this juice), 6 carrots
(This juice will give you tons of energy).
Get Low Low Low LDL
Juice: thumb size piece of ginger, 1 clove of garlic, 4 carrots, 1 apple, splash of Tabasco sauce for an extra zing
* Wrapping the garlic in parsley helps absorb some of the garlic odor
Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Love,
Fit Life
Read More »
Juicing and Weight Loss
Juicing is an amazing way to lose weight and gain energy!
Knowing which vegetables to juice for optimal weight loss is essential.
The most effective vegetables that should be juiced when trying to lose weight are nutrient-dense vegetables. The top five nutrient-dense vegetables are bell peppers, parsley, kale, broccoli and spinach.
Bell peppers are one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables that you will find, also they are packed with vitamin C. One thing to remember when purchasing bell peppers is that organic is the way to go!
Red bell peppers have higher levels of nutrients compared to green bell peppers.
According to research, bell peppers contain substances that have been shown to prevent blood clot formation which reduces chances of heart attack and stroke.
Check out this great recipe. It’s called “Better than a Salad.”
Juice:
4 parsley springs
3 tomatoes
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 cucumber
1 scallion
1 lemon wedge
First wrap the parsley around the tomato and add it into the juicer, then the green bell pepper, cucumber, scallion, and lemon.
Enjoy drinking this amazing juice and remember to leave a comment below.
Happy Juicing,
Fit Life
Read More »
Juice Recipe – Apple Spice And Everything Nice!
Good morning juicers. Here is a great juice. I like to call it Apple Spice and Everything Nice.
Juice: 1/4 slice of ginger,
3 apples (take the seeds out),
then mix in 1/4 of a teaspoon of cinnamon into your juice…it tastes amazing!
Nutritional facts: unpeeled apples are high in non-provitamin A carotenes and pectin. Pectin is a type of fiber which binds to and eliminates toxins in the gut which will in turn lowers cholesterol levels.
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think?
Love Fit Life
Read More »Refuel With Juicing
You may be asking yourself what the heck juicing is or even questioning the true benefits of drinking pure juice after a workout. But after reading this article you’ll be surprised by the amazing advantages juicing has in improving your overall health and lifestyle!
Benefits of Juicing After Working Out
1. quick absorption
2. no fiber
3. easy to digest
4. completely pure energy
5. nourish, alkalize and energize the body
After you a tough workout your body is craving essential nutrients and enzymes that you inevitably sweated out and lost during exercise. Juicing can be a vital ingredient in refueling your body by giving it the perfect amount of nutrients it needs to stabilize and recover as quickly as possible.
Quick Absorption
The juicing process allows for fruits and vegetables to be broken down to become easily digestible. This allows your body to get the nutrients it needs immediately. This is essential in recovering after a tough workout because your body is craving nutrients and enzymes to regain strength.
Increased Metabolic Rate
The enzymes that are present in raw fruits and vegetables help with digestion and absorption of food into your body. The enzymes also give your body energy, which has been lost after exercising. To regain strength and stamina after your workout it is important to refuel with raw fruits and vegetables by juicing. By increasing your metabolic rate you are more likely to maintain and lose weight by drinking different types of juices.
Why Not Eat the Whole Fruit?
Many people don’t want to go through the process of juicing but they must realize it is so much easier and versatile than they think! After working out it is much more beneficial to drink the vegetables and fruits rather than eat them whole. This is because juicing removes the indigestible fiber so the nutrients will be able to go directly into the body in much larger quantities. For instance, in a carrot the main nutrient is beta carotene. When eating raw carrots your body is only able to convert about 1% of the nutrient whereas juicing allows the body to assimilate 100% of the beta carotene!
By using your own juicer you are not only saving money but also helping your body by saving it from drinking store bought juice, which is normally full of sugar and artificial preservatives. By drinking juice immediately after exercising you are supplying your body with the nutrients lost during the stress of exercise. Juicing is the quickest and most natural way to get the nutrients your body needs to recover so you can kick butt even sooner!
We’ve seen some amazing transformations at Fit Life as a result of just this 1 simple thing. If you are looking to take your body to the next level then this is a good place to start. Free Video Presentation <—
-Jill Heindel
Read More »Healing Common Cold With Vegetable Juice
Remedy Common Ailments with Juice!
After swigging back a strange concoction of fennel and apples your once aching head seems to finally feel a sense of relief. You probably were a little hesitant when told to combine fennel and apples to cure your headache however the enzymes and nutrients present in many fruits and vegetables seem to have amazing power to cure many common ailments.
We all suffer from nagging problems in our day to day lives however many of us do not know the proper way to go about preventing and relieving these pains. Some of our go to prevention and healing routines are actually hindering us in the long run. Rather than waking up and immediately popping 4 Advil to ease your aching back or pestering headache begin thinking of a different and more natural way of healing in the form of…JUICE!
Below are some common and serious illnesses many of us are fighting and by drinking natural juice we help combat these ailments!
Insomnia
The worst feeling in the world is trying to fall asleep while your mind feels like it is going a million times a minute. By combining 125g pineapple, 125g grapes, 50g lettuce, 50g celery you will immediately feel a sense of calmness. The nutrients in these fruits and vegetables help stabilize blood sugar and relax nerves and muscles. This juice allows for you to feel a sense of relaxation without popping a sleeping pill. Juice Recipes
High Blood Pressure
First try combining 6 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, handful of parsley, and 2 cloves of garlic. This mixture not only helps build your immune system but also helps develop strong blood vessels, and capillaries and protect the body against stroke.
Common Cold
We’ve all dealt with the annoying symptoms of the common cold and different types of natural juices can be the perfect remedy. Before popping over the counter drugs that never seem to work try combining different citrus fruits (pineapple, grape and cranberries) to combat the cold from the start. Another great remedy to add to these types of juices is ginger. Ginger acts as a mucus expectorant and also helps clear sinus cavities and strengthen mucus membranes.
Aching Bones/Muscles
After that difficult workout or even an uncomfortable night of sleep we have all woken up a bit sore. By juicing vegetables such as broccoli, kale and other greens you will start to feel a great sense of relief. This is because these leafy greens are high in calcium and contain vitamins and minerals that promote strong bones and teeth. By making this a daily routine you are protecting your bones and muscles from early deterioration as well.
Though those are just a couple of common juices to help combat various ailments there are hundreds more! Remember to do some research before and do not solely base your diet on juices but realize that amazing benefits it does have! Stop relying on the “quick fixes” by popping pills to ease the pain. There is a much more natural and healthier way out there in the form of juicing! When beginning to juice you will start to have much more energy and begin a path down a healthier and longer life!
When juicing it’s important to know what to mix and what NOT to. Check out are book here for more information. Video Presentation <----
Better And Better!
-Jill Heindel
Read More »The Energy Drink Crisis: Do They Give You Energy Or Crush Your Sex Drive?
The Energy Drink Crisis: Do They Give You Energy Or Crush Your “Sexy Time.”
“How could I let it go this far?” I thought to myself.
My girlfriend and I had such an amazing night. Everything was perfect. Well, almost everything. We were celebrating a friend’s birthday over a healthy dinner that included not a drop of alcohol. It was an incredibly long day, but I was fired up and ready to go, stoked with tons of “energy” from an energy drink. It was a healthy one, with vitamins.
Pfft.
We got back to my house around 9:30 and I set the mood with my Pandora channel dialed in to a little Marvin Gaye.
“Come on, come on, let’s make love tonight. When I get that feeling, I want sexual healing.”
The moment was perfect. Our clothes ripped off quickly. My heart was racing.
And then it happened.
Or rather, it didn’t happen. I tried and tried again, but to no avail. I was so embarrassed. How could this happen to me? I thought I was healthy?
Aside from an energy drink in the morning, I’d had three cups of coffee to help make it through the day. This was a normal part of my diet, which didn’t seem alarming, especially considering the guy working at the cubicle next to me had ordered a quad Hammerhead – a coffee with four shots of espresso in it!
Was I doomed? Was it time to go on Cialis? Hell, I was only 12 years old. (OK, I was 22. Just making sure you are paying attention.)
What was I to do next?
With Google at my fingertips, I was on a mission to find out what in the world this so-called vitamin- packed, pure-positive energy drink was doing to my manhood. Research is one way I think we should all tackle our problems, at least in part. When in doubt, do research to form your own opinion; don’t just accept what someone else tells you.
I receive a ton of questions on the wildly popular energy drinks that line shelves in every gas station and grocery store. They promise the world and then some, with lofty claims such as, “Enjoy 78 gazillion hours of unlimited energy with no crash!” and “You will feel like you are part of the sun, emitting massive volts of electricity upon anything you touch.” and “You will have unlimited energy, the focus of Einstein and the sex appeal of Brad Pitt and Angelina on their sexiest day.”
How could you crash if it’s just a sip of B1, B2 and B1232 vitamins, right?
I delved into my research looking for answers to a few key questions. Are energy drinks really any good for you? Do they actually increase your energy? Do they really have some sort of magical energy formula? Will they help you lose weight?
Digging For Answers
The answers lie in the ingredients, so let’s take a look. Most energy drinks are nothing more than carbonated water mixed with gut-popping, penis-dropping, high-fructose corn syrup (or other man-made sugars), amino acids, about 200mg of caffeine (equivalent to about five cups of coffee), taurine, and some worthless artificially derived vitamins that make you think they are really doing something good for you.
Let me take a whack at the ingredients one by one.
I’ll start with one of my worst enemies – high-fructose corn syrup. HFCS is loaded with empty calories that turn your mid-section into a life-robbing muffin top. Even worse, some energy drinks contain plain-old refined sugar. Either one will wipe out a six-pack faster than a pack of frat boys tailgating around a beer bong. There is absolutely no nutritional benefit to hanging out with HFCS. Kick it to the curb immediately; you’ll thank me later.
What about sugar-free or sugar alternatives, you ask?
Getting rid of HFCS for a sugar alternative is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Research shows that when you consume artificial sweeteners, you actually crave more sweet foods. Now you know why one packet of Sweet’N Low often leads to two cakes, a dozen brownies and four cases of Ho-Ho’s.
Now my favorite ingredient: caffeine.
Many people mistakenly believe that it delivers unadulterated raw power. It must have some redeeming qualities, right? Not really.
First of all, caffeine doesn’t provide energy. Technically, the only substances that actually provide energy are calories from carbs, protein and fat.
Caffeine can be an aid for livening or waking some people up by means of stimulating the central nervous system. Most people use it to get amped up and ready to take on the day. There was a time when I had to have coffee as soon as I woke up in the morning. (By the way, did you know a cold shower has the same effect but lasts much longer?)
Instead of getting caffeine from an energy drink or coffee, try one of the many types of green teas or yerba, one of my personal favorites. I love the China Green Tips mixed with a bag of Yerba Mate Mint. It’s amazing. You get the burst of caffeine to start your day, and the added benefit of antioxidents. Tim Ferriss, in his book “The 4-Hour Body,” writes about the PAGG stack and describes how green tea is one of the essential elements in speeding up your metabolism for fat loss.
One important thing to remember regarding caffeine and energy drinks is this: if you’re already a daily coffee drinker, you probably have some level of addiction to caffeine and therefore aren’t likely to get too much benefit from the caffeine in an energy drink anyway.
Quench Your Real Thirst
Most people are in a state of chronic dehydration. It can be disguised as hunger. Sometimes sleepiness. When two o’clock in the afternoon rolls around and you start to feel groggy, like passing out on your desk, go for a glass or two of cold H20. If you don’t like the taste, add lemon or something else to it.
Or better yet, go for some liquid greens, like one of my favorite juices or blended green drinks loaded with nutrients and pure positive energy. One of my favorite afternoon juices is simple. It is a mix of cucumber, lemon, celery and a dash of cayenne pepper. One cup of this amazing juice has enough life force in it to catapult you into tomorrow like you just strapped on some kind of jet pack.
Interested in seeing how I break this down, and in getting your hands on more free recipes? Click here to watch my free presentation now.
More Energy Drink Myth Busting
A few words about the supposedly magical blend called taurine and all of the other vitamins that are in these cans of false promises.
Do you even know what taurine is? Sounds cool, right? It’s an amino acid found in almost any protein source, and it does provide benefits when ingested in the proper amounts. But the majority of the other vitamins in energy drinks, like Vitamin B6, offer almost nothing. Vitamins are always best taken in their purest form, from a real food source. When these vitamins are packed artificially into a carbonated drink, you store body fat, perform less than add adequately, and become cranky when they’re absent from your diet.
Skip the aisle with the liquid crack and go for water, some type of tea, an occasional coffee, or, of course, one of my tasty juice recipes. Here’s one for the road that I call Zip Zap Zing Juice.
It’s a powerful juice to drink before a meeting and when you need extra brain power and endurance for a long run or intense workout. It gives your brain the zip, zap, zing it needs to focus on the task at hand and get stuff done.
How To Make The Amazing Vegetable Juice Recipe…
To make a Zip Zap Zing, juice a half cucumber, a half beet, two stalks of celery, half of a lemon, one ginger root, one handful of cilantro, and one handful of chard. Place the herbs in the juicer halfway through to get the maximum benefit of their nutrients. Peel the lemon and cucumber if they are not organic, and cut the tops off the cucumber and the beet. Be sure to wash your organic vegetables.
You can also prepare this drink in a blender if you trade the celery for spinach and an apple to sweeten it up a bit. It is actually a delicious and truly healthy energy drink instead of the chemical-laden junk that everybody is getting suckered into buying these days.The immediate digestion process of raw juice causes your body to consume much more nutrients immediately. This means a whole powerhouse of energy delivered right to your body’s doorstep, and it’s an integral part of an effective weight-loss regime.
For More Recipes Like This And A FREE VIDEO PRESENTATION CLICK HERE! <<<<—–
Most diets and quick-fix weight-loss programs leave you feeling exhausted, but not this one. You will have more energy than ever before, which will in turn help you move more, causing you to burn even more calories.
Now, that’s how a real energy drink should perform!
Thinking Man. Drew Canole
