It’s a brisk afternoon and you’re looking for something sweet to quench your thirst and give you a little jolt from the doldrums of paperwork. You might soon be able to grab a bottle of guava juice at the nearest newspaper stand by the office. Guava juice is slowly becoming more mainstream and is a healthier drink compared with other fruit juices.
Guava Juice Is Getting Popular Worldwide
You may have never heard of guava juice, but that may soon change. Did you know most juice products already contain some kind of guava juice additive? It’s also being used in more alcoholic beverages, soda products, and a main ingredient in specialty juice mixes.
In South Africa, the Mos Mag Fruit Juice is starting to spread across the country as a new niche market of fruit and milk blend drinks. One of its three top products is guava juice concentrate infused with milk, creating a unique, juicy beverage.
Coca-Cola India announced the upcoming release of guava juice sodas under their Minute Maid brand by 2022. They say they’re trying to nurture the economy and resources of the naturally grown guava in the region. Soda isn’t very healthy, but Coca-Cola stated they’re planning on using real guava juice in their upcoming products, which means these sodas should be healthier than regular sodas.
In America, Clown Shoes Brewery is selling a guava juice beer mix that tastes more like creamy juice than beer. Their Josh the Guava King beer is being sold in 30 states, including New York and California.
Odd Side Ales has also concocted its own guava juice beer, naming it “Pink Guava Dank Juice.” It’s being sold exclusively around Illinois and Michigan.
The popular healthy juice mix company, Jamba Juice, has also adopted guava juice into their product family. They created their “Gotta Guava” guava juice smoothie and are marketing it as a refreshing, healthy summer drink for people living active lifestyles.
Guava Juice and Diabetes
Guava juice’s mainstream adoption can also help curb the diabetes mellitus epidemic. The World Health Organization states that there are now about 400 percent more people suffering from diabetes mellitus than in 1980. Guava juice has been found to help manage blood sugar levels with similar effectiveness as pharmaceutical diabetes mellitus medications.
If more people are switching out their regular sugary drinks and fruit juices that don’t offer protection from diabetes mellitus, then this could help lower international incidences of diabetes mellitus. Such an effect has already been evidenced in Papau New Guinea. In its Kalo region, residents consume more guava and researchers have linked this consumption with their markedly lower incidences of diabetes mellitus compared with the other regions.
This overall movement to adopt guava juice into mainstream beverages is overall healthy. Guava juice is healthier than most fruit juices and can only boost the nutrition and health benefits of the mainstream products it’s being mixed into. One of these health benefits is helping fight the rising diabetes mellitus epidemic.
Fruits are actually common in many cultural New Year’s traditions. In Turkey, they eat pomegranates at the turn of a new year because of how their vibrant crimson color and round seeds are metaphorically interpreted to represent fertility, the heart, and prosperity. Guava shares similar crimson shades and has abundant seeds, which makes it a viable and better alternative since it also has multiple times more protein and vitamin A. Here are other New Year’s traditions you can use guava juice with for a healthier experience:
1. Eating Round Fruits
Many cultures share the tradition of eating some sort of round fruit for better health and prosperity in the upcoming year. For example, in the Philippines, eating 13 round fruits is considered good luck. In Europe and the United States, people eat 12 round fruits because they look like coins and there are 12 months in the new year – which all symbolize good fortune year-round.
Eating guava is perfect for this tradition because it’s smaller than most fruits. But, it’s also healthier than most fruits because it’s jam-packed with more nutrients – in some cases it even has 100 times more of an important nutrient than one fruit.
2. Toasting With a Ring in Your Drink
In Latin America and other countries, there’s a popular New Year’s tradition where people place a ring in their drink before a New Year’s toast. It doesn’t have to be a ring – it just needs to be made of gold because the act represents prosperity for the new year.
Since the drink isn’t important for this tradition, fill your glass with guava juice or at least an alcoholic beverage infused with guava juice. Drinking guava juice gives you an intense concentration of all of guava’s powerful nutrition. Doing so has also been found to help prevent and fight against diabetes mellitus.
3. Drinking Champagne
Drinking champagne on New Year’s is probably one of the most popular traditions in Europe and America. The tradition dates back to ancient European times when champagne was viewed as a religious alternative to holy water. It was also a wealthy drink due to its production difficulty, which led to a higher price – this led to its exclusivity and appeal by the social elites and high-class Europe. Champagne’s religious and elite connotations made the drink fertile ground for some kind of New Year’s tradition – and it became so.
As religions progressed and as more streamlined, economical production techniques were invented, champagne lost its high price tag and religious affiliations. Although champagne isn’t revered as much today in religious or wealthy circles, the tradition was so widespread that it’s still quite alive today for New Year’s.
You can make your champagne toast healthier by making guava bellini and guava mimosa, which are both guava juice champagne blends. These blends are quite popular and more delicious than regular champagne. The guava juice adds a health boost to your champagne that could be interpreted as adding better health to your new year along with prosperity.
Enjoy some guava juice with your New Year’s tradition. It can only boost your health and add an exotic taste to your annual routine. Adding a health boost at the turn of the new year can only symbolize more health to come!
You probably think that protein powders are just for body builders right? Nope! In fact, doctors found that they’re great for losing weight. Instudies, participants who took whey protein had lower insulin and glucose levels and boosted muscle growth. High insulin and glucose levels are signs of insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), so it seems whey protein can help protect or delay development of diabetes. This also means thatwhey protein may boost your glucose metabolism, since researchers found less sugar in the participants’ bloodstreams.
The good news is,researchersalso found that it doesn’t seem to matter what kind of protein powder you take – they found no notable differences between participants who took whey protein and those who took rice protein for eight weeks.
If you’re interested in trying protein powder for weight loss but feel overwhelmed with all the different choices. Here’s a little breakdown on some different kinds of protein powders and their health benefits:
Animal-based protein powders (casein, whey)are completeand give you all the amino acids your body needs to make your proteins that carry out your essential life processes. But, animal-based protein powders can also have high fat and cholesterol content, which isn’t good for your health. Vegetable-based protein powders (soy, rice) are incomplete and you’ll need to take more than one type daily to get all the amino acids you need for daily life.But doctors recommend vegetable-based protein powders over animal-based protein powders because they’re a cleaner source of protein and don’t put risk on your cardiovascular system. The only drawback is you’ll have to take more than one kind.
Casein Protein Powder
Casein protein powder
Researchers say that if you’re trying to build muscle, casein is the best protein powder to boost your protein production for the long term. It’s because its structure forms a natural, slow-release clot in your stomach, which sends a continuous supply of amino acids into your bloodstream for many hours. If you work out after taking casein, the steady supply supports your muscles throughout your workout, whichhelps you endure longer and helps lessen muscle damage.
From a weight loss perspective,casein’s slow release gives you energy throughout the day, which keeps you feeling full and sated. This means you’ll be less likely to snack or eat when you don’t need to.
If you’re only taking casein to lose weight, you should buyOptimum Nutrition’s 100 Percent Casein Powder. It’s very high quality and economical at about $50. It should last you two or more months. It’s also vanilla-flavored (without adding calories), so it makes it fun and easier to drink.
Whey Protein Powder
Whey, like casein, comes from cow’s milk. It’s also a complete protein that gives you all the amino acids your body needs. It’s not as great at casein at helping you build muscle and lose weight because it doesn’t have the same slow-release properties. That means when you take it, it’ll overwhelm your system for a short period with a burst of protein that your body either uses or stores as fat – depending on whether you work out immediately or not. Because of this, it won’t keep you full throughout the whole day because your body processes all the protein at once.
If you’re lactose intolerant, whey may cause a reaction similar to milk.Experts advise those with lactose intolerance to take the isolate form, likeIsopure’s zero-carb 100 percent whey isolate protein powder. Whey isolate protein powders are lactose-free. But the trade-off is that isolate powders aren’t as effective and won’t deliver the same quality protein.
If you’re diabetic,whey protein has also been found to stimulate insulin production.Researchersfound thattype 2 diabetic patients who took whey protein experienced better management of blood sugar levels.
Egg White Protein Powder
Egg White Protein Powder
Egg white protein powder is another great alternative if you’re lactose intolerant. Like other animal-based protein powders, egg white protein powder is complete, giving you all the daily amino acids your body needs.Researchersfound that female athletes who supplemented with egg white protein experienced an increase in their resistance muscle strength.
But if you’re allergic to eggs, egg white protein might cause reactions. Of course, egg white protein isn’t as effective as casein for weight loss and muscle building.
Unlike most vegetable proteins, soy is complete!It might not be as effective as casein in helping you build muscle and lose weight, butit’s better for your heart and has even been found to directly lower your risk of breast cancer. All vegetable proteins have been found to lower your fat and cholesterol levels. In fact,researchersstudied participants who supplemented with casein versus participants who supplemented with soy and found that the soy group had better overall cholesterol profiles.
If you’ve already got cardiovascular problems or are in poor health, soy protein powder is your healthiest and safest choice because it helps your heart and protects you from cancer. It might not help you lose as much weight as casein, but it still helps as well as most protein powders.
Researchershave found many health benefits from supplementing with hemp proteins. The protein powder may derive these benefits too. Like soy, researchers found that supplementing with hemp leads to better cardiovascular health. In particular, they found thathemp lowers blood clots, which is a huge risk factor of many cardiovascular problems. They also found thatsupplementing with hemp helps the heart recover after an attack.
Researchersalso found that rats with kidney disease who were given casein didn’t see improvement. But, rats with kidney disease given hemp or soy protein had smaller kidney cysts with less fluid and their hearts were less enlarged. They concluded that supplementing with hemp or soy protein protects your kidneys, unlike supplementing with animal-based proteins.
Hemp protein powder could also give you more of an energy boost and improve your immune system.Micewho were supplemented with hemp protein for about two months experienced longer swimming times and an increase in their immune cell count.
If you take hemp protein powder, you’ll be lacking some essential amino acids, which means you’ll have to eat nuts or seeds everyday to get the complete amino acids your body needs. It’s not going to get you as much muscle and make you feel as full as casein or whey, butit will protect your heart and kidneys and boost your immunity.It’s a clean protein that’s definitely healthier but with less effectiveness.
You should chooseNutiva Organic Hemp Proteinbecause not only is it GMO-free, but it’s also got high fiber mixed in. The fiber fills you up, which means you’ll eat less. This helps keep you from overeating and snacking when you shouldn’t.
Pea Protein Powder
Pea protein powder
Pea protein powder is another clean vegetable-based protein source.Researcherscompared casein with pea and found thatpea protein stops your liver from making fat and also lowers your blood fat and cholesterol levels more than casein does.
The good news is,researchersfound thatpea protein powder is as effective as whey protein powder in helping increase your muscle thickness during resistance training. They compared athletes who supplemented with pea protein powder and those who supplemented with whey protein powder and didn’t find any significant difference between muscle thickness increase in the two groups.
One of the best pea protein powder choices isOrgain’s Organic Plant-based Protein Powder. It’s a mix of gluten-free, organic, GMO-free hemp, pea, and seed proteins. That means you’re sure to get all your essential amino acids from such clean, pure vegetable sources. It’s also got cocoa for flavoring so you’re sure to enjoy drinking it.
Rice Protein Powder
Rice protein powder
You’re thinking rice is carbs – what exactly is rice protein? When rice is processed into commercial white rice, the rice bran is separated out. Rice bran has a higher amount of protein than rice grains and is what’s used to make rice protein powder.
If you think rice protein powder is far less effective than “real protein,” like animal-based casein and whey,researchershave found differently.They found that rice protein powder is just as effective as whey and casein at delivering protein to your body.But keep in mind that rice protein powder is not a complete source of protein. You’ll have to supplement your diet with nuts and seeds to get your full amounts of daily vital amino acids.
Rice protein powder is evenbetter than caseinfor helping you lose weight! Researches found that taking rice protein boosts your fat metabolism considerably.Rats fed rice protein for two weeks had lower lipid and sugar levels in their blood than rats fed with casein.
Casein is the best protein powder if you want to build muscle.
If you’re lactose intolerant and your goal is to build muscle, you should take whey protein isolate.
For holistic health and weight loss:
Choose vegetable protein powders because they help prevent diseases. Animal-based proteins can boost your cholesterol levels.
Hemp protein powder gives you more energy and boosts your immunity and protects your kidneys.
Pea protein powder lowers your cholesterol and fat levels in your blood better than casein. It’s also as effective as whey when it comes to increasing your muscle thickness with resistance training.
Rice protein powder boosts your fat burning and lowers your blood sugar and fat levels better than casein.
It seems like the best protein powder for weight loss isrice protein powder, since there’s evidence it trumps casein when it comes to boosting your metabolism.
But weight loss is situational. If the reason you can’t lose weight is because you can’t resist snacking, then casein protein powder would be best for you since it keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time. If your work is hectic and you don’t have enough energy to work out, then hemp protein powder or casein protein powder are your best bets since they’ll give you energy to work out. Remember thatNutiva Organic Hemp Proteinis also high in fiber, which means it’ll help keep you full while energizing you for your workout.
But remember that all protein powders help you lose weight better than not supplementing with protein powders at all. If you’re obese or suffering from health problems, you should go for any vegetable protein powder and skip the animal-based protein powders altogether. It’s better to lose less weight but protect your body than to put your suffering health at risk by taking animal-based protein powders. You’ll lose weight more slowly but these protective vegetable-based protein powders will be healing your conditions and protecting you from further disease. It’s better to sacrifice pounds you could’ve lost for a healthier heart, kidneys, and immune system.
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day – it seems like all major holidays have one thing in common: eating a lot. This is especially true for Halloween, which is more popular for children and young adults. But researchers found that children are at greater risk of getting cavities, which is the most common infection of early childhood.
You don’t have to ruin your kids’ fun. If you take their treats away or tell them to stop eating the cake, you’ll dampen the holiday spirits and have your loved ones spite you. As a good parent, you should be the bad guy if it’s good for them and there’s no other choice. But what if there are ways you could let your kids eat all they want on holidays without endangering their teeth? You’re in luck – here are a few – and the best part is, they’re all about eating yummy foods:
Protect Your Children From Cavities By Feeding Them These Yummy Foods
Cheese! Finally, an excuse to eat pizza. Experts found that eating cheese boosts your saliva’s calcium levels. They found that the more calcium around your teeth, the more they’re protected from cavities. If bacteria start making holes in your kids’ teeth, the calcium around them helps plugs them right up! So have a pizza night or lasagna dinner after you get home with your kids on Halloween. When you’re enjoying the holidays with your family, make sure you give your kids a helpful serving of whatever cheese dish is there. You could also hand your kids some healthy cheese snacks while they’re trick or treating. Most children love eating cheese, so they’ll happily snack on it and you’ll be happy their teeth are being protected. Try pure cheese without any additives, like Igourmet’s high quality pure cheese, because they’re healthier than junk food brands that have sugar or chemicals added.
Raisins. Researchers found that rasins are high in healthy polyphenols and flavonoids, which help fight cavity-causing bacteria. Some dentists disagree. But you can agree that raisins are certainly healthier than sugar-filled junk treats that have not been found to help your teeth at all. A box set of classic Sun Maid Raisins is cheap and in snack-packaging. You can bring some along when you go trick or treating or traveling for the holidays with your children and hand one to them while they’re snacking.
Xylitol lollipops. Dentists found that xylitol actively protects your teeth from cavities. Dr. Shawn Frawley, practicing dentist in Beverly Hills, recommends you eat or chew on xylitol candy three to five times a day if you’re using it for cavity protection. Make sure the candy is sugarless, or it will undo xylitol’s protective effects. You can buy your children sugar-free, xylitol lollipops and happily hand some to them while trick or treating or out with them for the holidays. It’s best to choose xylitol lollipops that are GMO-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free (like Pro-Sys’s sugarless xylitol lollipops) because they have a very low chance of causing food allergies or contain carcinogens.
Xylitol Chewing Gum. Sugar-free xylitol gum is actually better than other xylitol candies because you’ll be chewing it for longer and you’ll be getting all that xylitol all around your teeth as you chew and chew. Gum also promotes saliva production, which also fights cavities. Although sugarless gum is often yucky, you can buy sugar-free xylitol gum with different fruit flavors, which your kids will more likely find a liking to.
Don’t ruin the fun! Offer your children these cavity-fighting snacks instead, and let them go to town on the holidays’ sugary goodies. It’s only one day, and their childhood only lasts once a lifetime – so if there’s a way to let them have fun without harm, then go for it! Remember to make your children brush their teeth afterwards though – these healthy snacks can’t keep that bad bacteria from growing indefinitely. Brushing your teeth is the best, non-physician required way to really protect yourself from cavities.
