product review – The Clean Eating Mama

Getting Active with Actio 926

February 17, 2015April 27, 2015 CleanEatingMama

This is a sponsored post – SweatPink Ambassadors partnered with Actio926 and was given a workout outfit and compensation for this post. All opinions, thoughts and content are my own.

Well 2015 is OFFICIALLY under way! Can you believe it?!?!

This year I am taking Fit Approach’s advice and taking a NO EXCUSES stand! No excuse to not eat clean, no excuse to not have time to be active… NO EXCUSES! And I want YOU to do the same!

Will you join me in the #noexcuses challenge? Of course you will because you are a ROCKSTAR!

So let’s chat workout clothes for a second, shall we?! We ALL know that you work out harder and longer when you are in comfy and cute attire. You can hold your yoga pose longer, your miles are faster and the weights are heavier. BOOM!

When I open up my drawer to grab a pair of yoga pants or running tights I can either choose between black or black… lol Seriously I have NO colored pants! So I thought “what the heck!”. I NEEEED some new pants! Actio 926 was awesome enough to allow a handful of SweatPink Ambassadors pick out a brand new outfit! YAY!

My pants are the Spin It 3/4 Legging in Solar Eclipse and my hooded top is the Partie Hoodie in Fog. So so so amazing! The pants are a tad snug – I ordered a small because that’s what I usually wear but they may be a bit too small for my booty! But the top fits snug and nice! I can’t wear anything under it (maybe a thin and tight tank top) but that’s ok! My advice is order your normal size but expect them to be fitting or order a size up and you will probably have a little more wiggle room.

There clothes really are amazing, though! High quality, durable and stylish! Owners Stephanie and Mike are natural born athletes who wanted a different kind of clothing line then what was already out there. Starting from scratch in their home, they started to create handcrafted clothes for active people. Actio 926 was BORN! I encourage you to check out their entire clothing line and see the difference! And if you are in the LA / Hollywood area you can check them out in person, too!

SO let’s get back to talking about NO EXCUSES. I get it… I am a mom, a wife, a work and stay at home gal… I wear many hats! But my health is vital so that I can keep up with life’s demands! That is why it is so important to fuel my body properly, to be active and show it self love! Here are some of my very own tips and mantras that I use when I feel excuses seep in:

Have FUN!

Find what you enjoy doing and HAVE FUN with it! I have found that I love yoga and weight lifting and I am pumped up and excited to practice these activities. Tell me to do an hour on the elliptical and I will run the other way! Being active should not be torture so pick and choose activities you enjoy!

Everyone had to start somewhere!

Sometimes my ego gets in the way and tells me that I am not good enough. Will I look like a newbie? Will I do it wrong? Will I make a fool out of myself? Always remember that everyone started somewhere and somehow. Practice, practice, practice!

Create the time!

Ya… we are ALL busy! But you must make the decision to incorporate a healthy lifestyle and do some readjusting of your time. Mark it on your calendar. Set the date. Set the time. DO IT!

Mantras I use to keep me focused:

~ I have a strong, healthy body ~
~ I create my own happiness ~
~ My body is a temple and I feed it nutritious food ~
~ Nothing can stand in my way ~
~ I can do this ~

My biggest advise to anyone eating to start living a healthier life is you have to start slowly and make it personal. Dig deep and find your WHY!

So remember to visit Actio 926 on their website where you can see how amazing they are!

And head on over to my own facebook page where I am hosting a giveaway to receive your very own outfit from Actio 926! Congratulations to Courtney for winning!!!

How do you stay active? Share below!

XxOo Tasha

Giveaway, life, product review, shopping

Saturday Shopping Love!

November 2, 2014 CleanEatingMama

Hello friends!!!

I hope you have all been having an amazing weekend!

Today Jordan and I had to do a little bit of shopping! We ventured out to the mall and then to Target. I was so thankful it wasn’t raining today in Seattle! Makes errands more enjoyable! 😉

:Swoon: I just love him!

Have you smelled or burned a candle from Bath and Body Works? They are AMAZING! I received this scent as a gift last month and it was love at first whiff!

I went to light it this morning and I saw that it was completely burned up! Boo! 😦 But I was happy to see these beautiful candles on the store shelf.

Along with some clearance summer scents – coconut love!

Lunch time! Sandwiches for each of us: Turkey and avocado for me and PB&J for him.

I knew Lorna Jane opened up a new store in this particular mall so walked around until we found it. I just adore Lorna Jane – their mission statement is simply amazing! They are on a mission to empower every woman to lead her best life through Active Living. LOVE!

They had so many cute things – I wanted everything! But I chose this great yoga tank!

NEVER GIVE UP!

Even their bags are encouraging and positive! How can you NOT be happy and inspired by this?!

We spent a good 3 hours in the mall! Walked around for a while and let Jordan play in the big play area.

Then we headed back to the car and made our way to Target! I have been wanting to do a giveaway for you guys for a while now and today felt like a great day to do that!

OOooo look at the fun giveaway I put together for you! A beautiful blue mug, a soy aromatherapy *happiness* candle, a new journal, a pink pen and some dark chocolate! I call this the *happiness box* giveaway!

Would you like to enter to win? Head on over to my
Facebook page!

I also picked up some fun things for me, too!

I love monogram mugs!

I love sending cards to friends!

Bai5 drinks were 3 / $5 – have you ever tried them? They are sweetened with Stevia and Erythritol and have only 5 calories per serving (10 per bottle). I had the dragon fruit flavor tonight and it was very good! Not overly sweet at all! You can find out all about their ingredients here.

And of course some more coffee. I am excited to try this Fall blend tomorrow morning!

Well friends, that was the extent of my day! How did you spend your Saturday?

And remember to head on over to my facebook page to enter my giveaway! ❤

XxOo Tasha

dinner, product review, vegan, vegetarian

Veggetti Review and a Recipe!

August 9, 2014 CleanEatingMama

If you are looking for a new way to incorporate more veggies into your diet, try raw zucchini noodles! I have been eating and incorporating raw zucchini noodles into my dishes for a long time – pasta dishes, salads and cutting them up and eating them with hummus! I have a veggie spiralizer that I normally use for my noodles but a PR rep for Veggetti contacted me and asked if I wanted to try it out – I was pretty excited for this opportunity!

“The Veggetti®, gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Ontel.”

This thing ROCKS!

It has two sides for either wide noodles or thin noodles. And it’s super easy to clean up! The only issue I had was the lid – you are supposed to place your veggie in the spikes on the lid but it never did work for me so I tossed it. Using my own hand worked much better!

I created two dishes – one salad and one pasta dish.

My salad was amazing! I used my spiraled zucchini and combined red cabbage, red bell pepper, green onion, garbanzo beans and cilantro.

I then created this hearty ragu which contains mushrooms, fresh herbs, red bell peppers and red wine. This meal is half raw and 100% vegan. I hope you try it for dinner soon!

1 zucchini, washed and ends trimmed
half of a large yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
6-8 crimini mushrooms sliced, or 2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 half red bell pepper, chopped
6-8 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
handfuls of fresh parsley and basil, chopped
salt/pepper to taste
1/2 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
1/2 cup red wine

Heat a large sauce pan with oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, pepper and a pinch of salt. Let it cook down for 5 minutes, or until onion is somewhat transparent and soft. Add mushrooms, olives and herbs. (I used 4-5 sprigs of Italian parsley and 10 fresh basil leaves, all chopped up). Let cook down for 5 or so minutes.

Now add your wine. Crank up the heat to medium-high and let it cook out. Reduce heat to medium-low and add your half of jar of sauce and simmer. If it’s to thick for you you can always add a little bit of water. Add salt and pepper to taste.

To prepare the noodles, take your zucchini and spiralize/shred/grate the entire thing. No need to warm up or heat.

Here is more information about Veggetti®:

· The Veggetti® turns vegetables into delicious, healthy spaghetti, instantly

· By using zucchini, squash, carrots, cucumbers and potatoes, the Veggetti® creates thick or thin pasta with significantly less calories and carbs than traditional noodles.

· Ordinary pasta has 800 calories and 160 grams of carbs compared to 60 calories and 8 grams of carbs using Veggetti®!

· Great for those who are trying to make healthier food choices, diabetics, or on gluten-free diets

· The Veggetti® is quick & easy to use, has stainless steel blades, and is dishwasher safe

· Veggetti® is available at Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walgreens, CVS and other fine retailers nationwide

Do you want your very own veggetti? Head on over to my facbook page and enter to win!

“The Veggetti®, gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Ontel.”

Healthy Eating!
XxOo Tasha

product review

Product Review – Soul Nourishing Homemade!

July 13, 2014 CleanEatingMama

Disclaimer: This is a product review for Soul Nourishing Handmade. I was compensated to write this post but opinions are 100% my own.

If you suffer from dry skin in the summer (like I do) then this is the post for you! I was so excited when Soul Nourishing Homemade reached out to me and wanted to send me a few products to try! I LOVE handmade bath products!

I was sent their Lemongrass Soap and Nourishing Body Butter:

Triple Body Butter Crème: This is THE ultimate MUST have butter crème! Seriously! Made with unrefined shea butter so you get the benefits of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that help restore, quench and moisturize your skin. Also made with mango butter and cocoa butter, all skin loving and hydrating butters. This is an intensely hydrating butter crème. A little goes a long way. Great for dry skin. It does not “sit” on top of your skin. It instantly melts into your skin providing all day moisturization, well into the next day. Only have to apply once per day because it’s so moisturizing. Leaves a nice glow on the skin. No toxic chemicals you can not pronounce. No filler ingredients, which offer no benefit. No synthetic dyes, no formaldehyde, no parabens, no mineral oil, no petroleum, no phthalate, no animal testing. Ingredients your skin will love and thank you for. We have several varieties of triple body butter crème. Top sellers are Lemongrass and Cashmere & Soft Silk.

Goat Milk Soap: Made with farm fresh goat milk. No powdered or canned milk here! The milk we use is as fresh as you can get…from farm to soap! Goat milk is high in Vitamin A which helps repair damaged skin tissues. Great for all types of skin, especially those with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. No harsh chemicals or irritants. All ingredients are recognizable and unadulterated in their form. It moisturizes while it cleanses. Because of the creaminess of the milk from the fat molecules, it boost the moisturizing qualities of the soap, leaving your skin incredibly moisturized. No synthetic ingredients. Just pure, natural soap, the way nature intended it to be. Free of cancer causing ingredients. Free of toxins. Full of skin loving goodness! We have several varieties of goat milk soap. Top sellers are Lavender & Oat and Peppermint & Tea Tree.

Herbal Healing Salve: The perfect chemical and toxin free alternative to ointments and creams. This can be used for cuts, scrapes, burns, rashes, stings, etc. It’s made with ingredients that have healing properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Calendula flowers, organic slippery elm, organic marshmallow root, and organic neem leaves are infused into extra virgin olive oil over a long period to seep their benefits into the oil.

I noticed a difference in my skin RIGHT AWAY! The soap lathered into a luxurious foam and my skin felt so silky smooth afterwards! And the body butter soaked right into my skin, leaving it hydrated and healthy looking! Soul Nourishing Handmade is such an amazing small company, too! Tiffany, the owner, has been such a pleasure working with! Thank you for this opportunity Tiffany!

Please please PLEASE check their products out today! Let me know in the comments below if you purchase any of their products – I would love to hear your thoughts!

XxOo Tasha

product review

{Product Love}

July 13, 2013July 13, 2013 CleanEatingMama

If you follow me on my social media channels, these products will look familiar!
PSSST – Follow me! I share meals, tips, quotes and sneak peeks into my life 🙂
Instagram Facebook Twitter

These companies were so nice to send me some samples to try. I love supporting healthy companies and help spread the word!

The Bliss Bar

These are AMAZING little disks of goodness!

The Bliss Bars are raw, vegan (some have honey), gluten free and were created to NOURISH, ACTIVATE, and ILLUMINATE your lifestyle experience.

As health and yoga teachers we were continually being asked, “What should I eat?” So in 2005, we turned our life into a superfood experiment. Raising a young child and committed to eating organic, we soon learned the challenges of making healthy choices, especially on the go. Our mission was clear: find the most potent superfoods on the planet to fuel the body, illuminate the mind and feel the bliss. Thus, The Bliss Bar was born, super-mom tested & kid approved!

They sent me five flavors to try: Coconut Goji, Chia Mulberry, Amazon Chocolate, Chocolate Goji and Honey Gold. They were all amazing! But my favorite was the Coconut Goji! And I LOVE that the last ingredient is Love & Light! Every product should have Love & Light on their ingredient list!

They are made in Ashland Oregon. I am not entirely sure what stores you can purchase them at but you can order them online. I would highly recommend ordering some! They are a perfect snack to take to work or when you are traveling. These didn’t last very long in my house – I ate one about an hour before I went to gym in the morning. It was the perfect pre-gym snack!
Check out their website and their facebook page!

——————————————————–

Califia Farms

I have always been a huge fan of almond milk! I have been drinking non-dairy milk for years now. And almond milk has always been my absolute favorite. I do try to make my own when I can – it’s actually really simple! – but there are times when I buy the store bought kind. But beware clean eaters: watch those ingredients lists! Some have added ingredients that you may not want. And I always by the unsweetened kind. If I need to sweeten it up I will add blended dates or maple syrup.

Califia Farms makes delicious almond milk! It has a very pleasant almond taste to it. Almost like the real, homemade stuff! It is soy free, gluten free and non GMO. Great with cookies, added in smoothies or added to your favorite hot or cold cereal!

They even have a new line of iced coffee, too! I believe this will be available in the Seattle area either this month or next. I am excited to try those flavors, too! I will let you know what I think of them!

Califia Farms almond milk is now in ALL Whole Foods so be sure to pick some up the next time you are at the market! You will be pleasantly surprised by how amazing their almond milk is!

Be sure to check out Califia Farms website and be sure to say HI on their facebook page!

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Tipu’s Chai

I LOOOOOOVE Chai! It’s sweet yet spicy and good either iced or hot. It’s a drink that I can enjoy all year long if I am not feeling like having my usual coffee.

Tipu’s Chai is a bit special, though. Bipin Patel created this unique chai based on his Grandmother’s recipe to serve in his Indian restaurant in Montana. It became so popular that he closed his restaurant and focused on his chai. It really is that amazing!

They make 3 flavors: Unsweetened, Sweetened and Chai Latte. I love the Chai Latte blend. It has powdered soy milk in it so all I have to do is add hot water and drink!

I really love what this company stands behind!

Values

We strive to align ourselves with organic, Fair Trade, and sustainable business practices , while working to ensure we are an economically and socially responsible company.Tipu’s Chai aims to promote peace, social welfare, and environmental sustainability.

Cruise on over to their website and spend a few minutes reading about their mission and history. If you see this amazing tea in Whole Foods or any other store please take some home with you! Or feel free to purchase straight from their website! This is by far the best chai I have had!

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I wanted to say THANK YOU to Bliss Bar, Califia Farms and Tipu’s Chai for sharing their wonderful products with me so I could share them with all of you!

NOTE: I was given free product in return for a product review. I was not paid for these reviews and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

product review

Jamba Juice – Live Fruitfully!

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013 CleanEatingMama

You all know how healthy and essential smoothies are… and how much I LOVE them! And while I eat most of my food from home, there are times when I am traveling or out and about and I am craving something healthy to eat and snack on.

Jamba Juice has definetly saved me while I have been on the go. Especially if I am traveling, in between meetings or running errands and need a quick pick me up! Hunger doesn’t stop when you are working! But having a healthier option to choose from is why I love Jamba Juice.

The Fruit and Veggie blends are my favorite!

I switch it up from the Apple n’ Green to the Berry UpBeet. They even have a new flavor called the Tropical Harvest which has a mixture of butternut squash, carrot, sweet potato, peaches, and mangos. It is both gluten free and dairy free AND really delicious!

Jordan also loves his Jamba Juice and they have a great kids menu. He usually chooses the Strawberry Gone Bananas or the Blueberry Strawberry Blast Off. They have a new Beet flavor for kids but he wasn’t game to try it. He is a creature of habit! 🙂
He usually picks out something small to eat with his smoothie, like a banana. I love that they offer fresh fruit and nuts for snacks. Having these options allows families to have more healthy options when eating on the go and traveling.

The whole concept behind Jamba Juice is to provide a healthy option for individuals that are on a time scheduled and want more options than a greasy hamburger to eat. I think that is great! Some may argue that Jamba Juice may not be the cleanest option… but it sure is better than fast food! And I am all for making small changes that last a lifetime! ( My suggestion is to stay away from any flavor that has added sugar, ice cream, yogurt and so on. I always pick full fruit and vegetable blends. Not sure which flavors they have? Check out their website! )

So tell me, what is your favorite smoothie at Jamba Juice?

Also, feel free to check out their interactive website that is jammed with information and fun games for the kiddos!
They also have a very friendly facebook fan page, twitter account and delicious Pinterest profile!

I received this product for free from the
sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media
Group LLC, who received it directly from the
manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed
to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.
My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the
product.

Thanks again Moms MeetSM and Jamba Juice for hooking me up with a giftcard!

Would you like to receive free product for your blog? Check out what we are doing over at Moms Meet and sign up today!

product review

Product Review – Cocomo Joe

May 4, 2012 CleanEatingMama

If you are like me you absolutely love coconut. Coconut water, coconut oil, shredded coconut… not only does it have an amazing sweet, natural taste, the health benefits of coconut are outstanding and limitless. Island societies have relied on coconuts as their primary source of nutrients and a quality food source. They are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and provide a long lit of medicinal healing properties:

Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.

Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.

Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.

Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.

Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.

Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.

Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.

Helps protect against osteoporosis.

Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.

Improves digestion and bowel function.

List provided by Coconut Research Center

The list can go on… coconuts should be an important part of everyone’s diet. Whether it is through coconut water, raw coconut meat or coconut oil, any way you can consume it, the better your health will be.

Speaking of consuming coconuts, Cocomo Joe, a new product line that is centered around coconuts, sent me samples of their product.

There were a few more products… but somehow they ended up in my mouth before I was able to take a picture… 😉

All of their products are vegan, mostly raw, certified organic, paleo diet friendly, gluten free, 100% natural and all have coconut as their main ingredient.

Let me first state that their products are very high quality. The taste is fresh, clean and wholesome. They have a wide variety of bars, JOEBARS, which are all vegan and mostly raw.

Every time I have eaten one I immediately say, “This one is my favorite!” – the fact is, EVERY FLAVOR has been my favorite! And, I think I ate my last two bars on the long flight to Gerogia this week… 😦

They also have some fun items like Caramel Corn. Coconut Caramel corn that is not only healthy but vegan, too? YES PLEASE!

They also make an apple coconut granola. I would be lying if I said I had not scooped handfuls of this granola straight into my hungry mouth. It’s addicting. It’s slightly spicy from the ginger, sweet from the apples and of course the distinct taste of coconut.

Cocomo Joe is located in southern LA and is trying to branch out to stores all around. The next time you are in your local Wholefoods or natural food store, see if they carry Cocomo Joe products. If not, you can always contact them directly.

OR you can enter my giveaway to win FREE product!

There are many ways to enter:

Leave a comment telling me how you like to incorporate coconut into your daily life.
Like Cocomo Joes on Facebook.
Follow Cocomo Joe on Twitter.
Join their email list (towards the bottom of the page)
Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry you complete.

I will be announcing the winners on Friday, May 11th.

Again, thank you Cocomoe Joe for giving me the opportunity to taste your product. It is truly amazing and I wish you nothing by success in the years to come!

give away, product review

Sokenbicha – review and giveaway!

March 26, 2012 CleanEatingMama

A representative of Sokenbicha contacted me asking if it would be possible for The Clean Eating Mama to test some product and possibly do a giveaway. I love new products just as much as you all love giveaways so of course I agreed.

Sokenbicha is a natural tea line with 6 flavors to choose from. They each have their own unique blend of herbal properties, unsweetened and zero calorie. They are very light, crisp and enjoyable – each flavor has their unique blend, see below, and their own healing properties. Whole Foods launched Sokenbicha in October of 2010. Sokenbicha is very popular in Japan as they are the largest tea brand over there.

I have been thoroughly enjoying this product! I find the flavors to be perfectly blended with the right amount of herbal botanicals. If I had to choose one, I think the Replenish is my favorite. It’s very refreshing after a run or if you are simply thirsty.

I highly suggest seeking Sokenbicha in your local Whole Foods.

However, if you cannot find Sokenbicha, you are in luck! I am doing some great giveaways so that you can try this product!

I will be sending out one flavor to 6 winners. You can pick your flavor, too! From left to right:

Revive – Black Tea, Oolong Tea and Rose Hips
Replenish – Aloe, Green Tea and Jasmine Tea
Purify – Green Tea, Chamomile and Aloe
Shape – Barley Tea, Green Tea and Pu’er Tea
Defend – Guava Leaves, Ginseng, Oolong Tea
Skin – Barley Tea, Cinnamon and Ginger

They each have amazing health properties and again, they are all natural with no added sweeteners.

I will also be giving away one GrandPrize – a shopping bag, T-Shirt, pen, post it note and a bottle of tea!

It is easy to enter and you have many chances to win: (leave a SEPERATE comment for each task you complete)

Leave me a comment telling me which flavor you would like to try.
Like me and Sokenbicha on Facebook. (if you already do you can still enter)
Follow me and Sokenbicha on Twitter. (if you already do you can still enter)
Leave a comment telling me what kind of tea YOU like to drink. I am always looking for more tea suggestions – I love tea!

The Giveaway ends March 30th, 2012 at midnight – good luck!

Thank you again Sokenbicha!

(Sokenbicha provided the product free of charge and I was not paid to review the product. Thoughts and opinions are purely my own.)

coconut water, product review

Product Review – ONE Coconut Water

April 24, 2011 CleanEatingMama

Coconut water is nothing new. However, it has gained a massive amount of popularity in the past few years. Not only does it taste amazing, it is very beneficial to your health!

But… what is REALLY the deal with coconut water?

Here is a breakdown:

Coconut Water Health Benefits

helps promote weight loss
boost your immune system
fight viruses
boost poor circulation
aids digestion by removing toxins
boost thyroid health
keep body at proper temperature
carry nutrients and oxygen to cells
help break up kidney stones
great for liver problems such as hepatitis
reduce urinary problems
helps eliminate swelling in hands and feet
good for burns
good for hangovers

ONE Coconut Water was very generous and sent me a few samples of their coconut water.

These little refreshing jewels have been the highlight of my week! Sweet, simple and refreshing. If I start to feel sluggish I pass on the coffee and drink a coconut water.

Why ONE?

O.N.E., One Natural Experience, is an all-natural beverage company with a deep commitment to the Earth and its people. Our products are responsibly sourced and harvested, filtered naturally and packaged in eco-friendly Tetra Paks. O.N.E. is actively helping educate people worldwide about issues of hydration and the prevention of childhood obesity, and we donate the profits from O.N.E. Water to support educational efforts. At O.N.E., we believe that the success of our company can, and will, be in harmony with environmental sustainability and good corporate citizenship.

Our founder, Rodrigo Veloso, is from Brazil, where he grew up drinking coconut water – both for its health benefits and delicious taste. Brazilians give coconut water to their babies when they’re sick, as a treat for kids when they’re hot and tired from playing, and of course everyone on the beautiful beaches of Brazil refreshes by drinking cool, coconut water.

Thanks so much, ONE Coconut Water! You now have a new fan of your product!

guest post, health, product review

Guest Post – Apple Cider Vinegar

November 29, 2010 CleanEatingMama

Apple Cider Vinegar

This old cure-all folk remedy reclaimed its old fame in the late 1950s, when D. C. Jarvis promoted its purported healing properties in best-seller Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health. The medical community has been abuzz ever since, and often with contending viewpoints.

First, let’s begin with the facts: apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a product of pulverized apples’ fermentation—the process of bacteria and yeast breaking down sugars. From here, the claims of ACV run wild: everything from curing warts and head lice to cancer.

Although it is true that vinegar is a disinfectant, and coupled with baking soda or lemon juice and water can serve as a handy all-purpose cleaner, it may not be the cure-all that many home-remedy and holistic medicine fans are hoping for. For example, vinegar-based cleaners, while effective, are no match for bleach-based cleaners, and plain old hot water seems to work better than vinegar with jelly fish stings. Many would take the trade-off, anyway, to avoid the health and ecological damage of bleach, but the fact remains that the benefits of ACV remain contested.

The traditional medical community has, however, admitted to the following medical benefits of ACV.

· Diabetes. ACV helped lower glucose levels in many studies. In a 2007 study, 11 people with type 2 diabetes took 2 tablespoons of ACV before bed and found their glucose levels lowered by 4-6% by morning.

· High cholesterol. A 2006 study done on rats showed that ACV lowered cholesterol, but effects on humans remain contested.

· Blood pressure and heart health. ACV was found to lower high blood pressure in another study on rats, and those on traditional Mediterranean diet (oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week) have lower rates of heart disease than those not on said diet. That vinegar was the cure-all remains unsure.

· Cancer. Some studies show that vinegar can kill cancer cells or at least slow their growth, but studies are inconclusive.

· Weight loss. Vinegar has been a staple of those seeking weight loss for millennia. White vinegar helps people feel fuller longer.

Still, the traditional medical community appears ready to admit to nothing quite yet. All tests are in preliminary stages and were usually conducted on animals rather than people. Those studying holistic or more non-traditional medicine purport the following benefits of ACV (and much more).

· Bad breath. Involves a tablespoon of ACV in a cup of water and gargling.

· Acne. ACV, diluted with water or tea, is used as a toner and disinfectant.

· Yeast infection. Soak in a bath with several cups of ACV.

· Constipation and diarrhea. ACV allegedly has a high pectin concentration that protects the irritated lining of the colon. Drink a glass of water with 2 tablespoons of ACV 3 times daily while symptoms persist.

Even non-traditionalists admit to some unfortunate side-effects of ingesting ACV, however. Dental enamel can deteriorate with excessive use of pure ACV (i.e. not diluting it with water or otherwise) since ACV is highly acidic. Long-term use can also lower potassium levels and bone density, a real problem for those with osteoporosis or those who are prone to it.

No matter the use, individuals with serious diseases like diabetes must consult their physicians before using ACV or any home remedy, as ACV may counteract prescribed medicines or do more harm than good in rare cases. After all, ACV is not a cure-all. It does, however, warrant more attention from the medical community as well as everyday health-conscious individuals.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, where recently she’s been researching different social work degrees and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.