Matcha: Will It Be The Replacement of Coffee For Americans Soon?

Matcha is a powdered green tea made from crushed leaves. Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that relaxes the mind. It is sold in a Japanese cafe in Brooklyn, New York where several people have reported a relaxed energy and ease on their stomachs compared to coffee. The drinks served at the cafe contain 70 milligrams of caffeine which is almost as much as a cup of coffee. The powder is also available online at www.matchabarnyc.com ($22 for a 30-gram tin which makes 20 cups)

Would you substitute this product for your coffee?

Photo credit: http://www.matchabarnyc.com

For more information: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-16/matcha-americas-latest-caffeine-fix

Keep Your Metabolism Going!

Looking for ways to control your metabolism? Here are some simple tips to keep your metabolism going!

• Get enough sleep
• Drink green tea
• Make your workout intensity higher
• Eat breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day!
• Lift weights
• Drink more water!
• Add some spice to your foods– a dash here and there can help boost your metabolism
• Make sure you squeeze in some cardio during the day
• Eat clean, eat wisely
• Grab a cup of coffee or tea in the morning– just watch the amount of sugar and milk you put in your cup!
• SMILE and LAUGH often

For more information: http://greatist.com/health/11-scientifically-proven-ways-boost-metabolism

 

Don’t Reach For A Sports Drink, You Most Likely Don’t Need It

Most sports drinks are loaded with sugar and are not necessary for consumption before, during, or after exercising, unless you are an athlete who does high-intensity workouts over an hour. Here are a list of beverages to keep in mind to skip the high sugary sports drinks the next time you exercise..

• Best drink for hydration: Coconut water–  coconut water is low on the glycemic index, so it won’t dramatically affect your blood sugar, this drink may also promote heart health.

Vita Coco 100% Pure Coconut Water (1 bottle, 17 fl oz) 90 calories, 0 g fat, 22 g sugar

• Best drink for enhanced performance: Coffee– scientific research has linked caffeine consumption with increased endurance and reaction times. The problem is, most caffeine-enhanced energy drinks are loaded with added sugars.

Coffee (8 fl. oz) = 2 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugars [without milk/cream or sugar of course!]

• EBoost: A great way to get green tea on the go: EBoost. Unlike most green-tea based energy beverages, it’s sweetened with natural, zero-calorie Stevia, and it has an impressive antioxidant profile.

EBoost (1 packet): 5 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugars

• Chocolate Milk: Drinking a combination of carbohydrates and protein after a hard workout can help restore your energy and aid in building lean, metabolism-boosting muscle

Low Fat Chocolate Milk (8 fl oz): 158 calories, 2.5g fat, 25g sugars, 8g protein

• WATER!: Nature’s beverage is calorie-free, cost-free, and unless you’re an elite athlete who does high-intensity exercise for more than an hour at a time, it’ll take care of all your workout hydration needs.

Water: 0 calories, 0g fat, 0g sugars

For more information: http://eatthis.menshealth.com/blog/5-sports-drinks-actually-work-0

 

Foods for energy

Looking for a little more energy during the day? Well, the foods you’re eating may have an influence on how you are feeling! Try these foods for more energy:

• Melons–such as cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon
• Icelandic yogurt–also known as skyr
• Polenta–Made from cornmeal; lots of complex carbs!
• Farmers cheese–protein-rich foods can help you stay awake and alert
• Walnuts– contain melatonin
• Coffee– studies show that coffee can help reduce your risk of depression
• Green tea–It’s rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that makes you feel alert
• Crab– It’s packed with vitamin B12, which balances mood and fights fatigue
• Brown rice– top source of magnesium and great source of complex carbs!
• Edamame– fiber and healthy fat
• Whole grain cereal and low fat milk
• Lentils

For more information: http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/foods-for-energy-00412000075711/page16.html

Burning Fat!

Want to know some quick facts to burn fat?.. Here are a few.

• Green tea isn’t only known for its cancer fighting benefits, it may also help boost your metabolism! A study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that those who drink green tea three times a day saw their metabolic rate increase about 4%. This could also mean that an extra 60 calories are burned a day equaling about 6 pounds a year lost!

• Weight training is also a great way to burn fat. A pound of muscle burns up to 9 times the calories of a pound of fat! Weight training also increases your resting metabolic rate.

• Eating iron is also important. If you don’t get enough of this mineral, your body can’t get enough oxygen to your cells, which results in a slower metabolism. Some foods that are rich in iron are lean meats, chicken, fortified cereals and nuts!

• Drink more water! A new German study has shown that when you drink 17 ounces of water within a certain amount of time, your metabolic rate shoots up by about 30%. By drinking 1.5 liters of water a day, you can burn an extra 17,400 calories a year which is about a 5 pound weight loss, just by drinking more water!

• Avoid alcohol as much as possible! Alcohol slows down your metabolism by depressing the central nervous system.

• Add high intensity moves to your workout! Studies show that high intensity interval training burns more fat than regular aerobic exercise.

• Say bye to stress! Learn to deal with stress and relax! When you are stressed, the hormone cortisol stimulates your appetite, slows down your metabolism and encourages fat storage! Find an activity that lowers your stress level such as yoga, listening to soothing music, take deep breaths, exercise! — and do it everyday!

• Do not skip breakfast! Almost 80%  of people who successfully keep weight off have breakfast! Your metabolism slows as your sleeping and starts back up again once you eat again.

• Aim for 5 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Try not to go more than 4 hours without eating. Having snacks throughout the day will trick your body into thinking it is constantly eating so your metabolism won’t slow down.

Want more ideas? Visit this website!