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Ginger Aid Smoothie: A Cure All

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

When I get stomach aches or nausea, whether it’s the flu, car sickness, sea sickness or even hangover sickness, one of the first things I turn to is ginger. Because ginger contains gingerols, volatile oils that make up about 3% of the weight of the ginger plant, it has been proven to increase movement in the gut – hence, why it helps when you’re not feeling so hot!

And you know me, I just had to blend.

Ginger Aid Smoothie
• ½ cup lemon or lime Juice (add more for extra tang!)
• 1 cup unsweetened soy or hemp milk
• 1 avocado
• ½ tsp fresh ginger root
• 1 sweet orange pepper, diced
• 1 Sweet Red Pepper, diced
• ¼ cup applesauce

What’s in your blender today? Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com; Twitter @drinkzola

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Tags: Açaí, ginger root, health, healthy, healthy living, home remedies, natural, natural medicine, plant based diets, smoothie recipes, Smoothies, Zola Açaí

The Skinny on Smoothies – How Many Calories are Really in Your Cup?

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Calories. We’re either cutting them, counting them, burning them or obsessing over them. For most, they are worse than a four letter word. And when it comes to smoothies, many of them can cost you over a thousand of those precious calories.

Here are a few smoothie recipes that will cost you far less in calories but still have a big time taste. skinny bitches

Açaí Antioxidant Smoothie

This smoothie should replace the old saying about an apple a day – drink one of these a day and you’re guaranteed to keep the doctor away!

8-10oz Zola Açaí Juice
1 Cup Frozen Blueberries or Strawberries
½ Cup Frozen Banana Chunks

Pear-Ginger Delight:

This smoothie is delicious! I also love that it uses carrot juice, which gives this drink its orange color and lots of vitamin A.

Combine 1 ripe pear-peeled, cored and chopped, ¼ fresh carrot juice, ¼ cup skim milk, ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger and ½ cup crushed ice
Blend until smooth.
You can also add in some wheat germ or flaxseed for a little added fiber or omega-3 fatty acid.

Orange Cherry Smoothie:

I love the combination of oranges and cherries – this smoothie is great when you’re in the mood for something with a little tang to it.

8-10oz Orange Juice
1 Cup Frozen Cherries
½ Cup Frozen Banana Chunks
Blend until smooth

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Tags: Açaí, antioxidants, blender, Brazilian, calories, Chris Cuvelier, counting calories, diet, food, free radicals, health, healthy, lose weight, mixer, natural, skinny, Smoothies, summer drinks, Superfruit, thin, vitamins, weight loss, Zola Açaí

Healthy Summer Drinks

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Ahhh, the joys of summer! My family BBQed with some friends last weekend and while I was lounging on the deck catching some rays and watching the kids play, I noticed how many of them were sipping on sodas or other sugary drinks. One of the kids was even downing a Red Bull – a kid, not older than 8 with a Red Bull!

And while I’m no stranger to the joys of sipping an icy-cold drink while basking in the summer sun, I tend to be a bit more health conscious when it comes to myself and my kids. Because let’s face it, sweet sugary drinks are not good for anyone’s health – not only can they lead to weight gain but also have been linked to several heart conditions.

I say, forget the sugary, artificially sweetened drinks and try one of these heart healthy and waistline friendly summer refreshers.

Smoothies:

Ok, you knew I was going to go here — but seriously, if you have a blender handy, simply combine fruit, yogurt, milk, or juice with ice and voila! Here’s a great summer smoothie recipe to try this weekend: berry smoothie

Berry Blast

2 Cups frozen berries

2 Bananas

1 Cup Kefir

1/4 – 1/2 Can Coconut Milk

Don’t have time to make your own? Come prepared with one of Zola’s great tasting, healthy smoothies and choose from Superfood, Energy, Antioxidant or Immunity.

Flavored Water:

If you don’t have a blender handy or are looking for something a little lighter, try a flavored water. You can make your own naturally flavored water easily by adding slices of strawberries, lemon, mint or basil to a jug of water. If you want to get really creative try some melon pieces – watermelon and cantaloupe will taste great!

Naturally Brewed Iced Tea:

Brew your own favorite tea at home, let it cool and add some ice.

Have some healthy summer drink ideas of your own? Tell me about them! What’s in your blender today?

– Chris

drinkzola@gmail.com; @drinkzola (Twitter)

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Tags: bbq recipes, berry smoothie recipe, blend, blender, Chris Cuvelier, family, family staycation, flavored water, health, healthy heart, healthy kids, healthy summer drinks, heart disease, iced tea, melon, natural, probiotics, refreshments, Smoothies, soda, sugar, summer drinks, Superfood smoothies, Superfruit, sweeteners, weight gain, weight loss, Zola Açaí, Zola smoothies

Sneaky Smoothies: Healthy Smoothies for Picky Eaters

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

As a parent, you have to get accustomed to hearing “ewww gross” in the kitchen from time to time. And while my smoothies are generally a big hit with my kids, an “ewww gross!” or two will occasionally happen when I make a smoothie that’s a bit too healthy tasting.

If you have a picky eater on your hands but want to encourage them to get more fruit or veggies in their diet, smoothies can be a great way. I often use them as nutrition in disguise – blend some fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, with a little yogurt, honey or juice to sweeten the deal – and kids will never know that what they are drinking is actually good for them.

Here are a couple of smoothie recipes that have the official Picky Eater Stamp of Approval:

Vitamin C Slush

1 cup orange juice

2 pineapple rings

1 very ripe banana

2 tbsp. cream of coconut

1 tsp. milled flax seed

1 carrot or sweet potato cube

Antioxidant Rainbow

1 cup Zola Açaí Original Juice

1/4 cup raspberries

2 tbsp. cooked beet pieces

1/4 avocado

3/4 cup orange juice

1tbsp. honey

Directions

Blend together all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Divide among glasses; serve cold.
Enjoy!

Have some good picky eater smoothie recipes? Email me at drinkzola@gmail.com or send me a Tweet @drinkzola.

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Tags: Açaí, blender, blender diaries, food for kids, health, healthy, picky kids, recipe for kids, smoothie, smoothie recipes, summer drinks, Superfoods, superfruits, vegetables, vitamins, Zola

Energy in a Bottle: Fueling up for the Trans Tahoe Swim 2009

Monday, July 27th, 2009

A couple of weeks ago, I participated in the Trans Tahoe Relay Swim which is a relay race across the width of Lake Tahoe (about 12 miles) with Team Zola . This was the second year that Team Zola competed in the race and the team trained really hard by swimming in the PCA masters program in Redwood City. Plus, it was a great excuse for Damon and I to get surf time in as there is no better swim training than paddling out on a board!

Here’s Team Zola gearing up….

Tahoe Swim6

The race is made up of teams of six, each person swims for about 30 minutes and again for 15 until the race is complete – relay style. It was an amazing and somewhat chilly experience – even though it was a perfect 80 degree sunny day on the lake, the water was a very cool 60 degrees (no wetsuits allowed). Brrr!

The big swim…

Tahoe Swim5

Since I knew I wouldn’t be able to blend up some pre-race fuel once I was out on the lake, I brought a cooler full of Zola Energy Smoothies to help our team get fueled up and ready for our big swim. The Energy smoothie is perfect for endurance sports activities because it not only contains 80mg of natural caffeine per bottle to provide sustained energy but also blends exotic Caja Fruit and Açaí using a boost of Yerba Mate, Green Tea and natural Guaraná seed for great taste.

ZolaSmoothie-ES

I definitely felt the boost as I was paddling my way across the lake.

Would love to hear from anyone else who participated in the Trans Tahoe Swim – what did you do to get ready for the race? Check out our race day video here: Trans Tahoe Swim 2009

Email me: drinkzola@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter: @drinkzola.

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Tags: athletics, Brazil, Brazilian, caffeinated, caffeine for sports, Chris Cuvelier, competition, endurance athletes, energy drinks, energy smoothie, energy snacks, fitness, fuel, green tea, health, race, Superfruit, surfing, swim masters, Tahoe, Team Zola, training, Trans Tahoe Swim, triathlon, workout, yerba mate, Zola Açaí

Almond-Banana Flaxseed Smoothie Recipe

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

One of my favorite post surf session (or workout) smoothies is the banana, almond flaxseed smoothie. It packs a nice dose of protein from the flaxseed, probiotics from the Greek yogurt as well as a load of potassium from the bananas.

This is a great morning or afternoon smoothie. Give it a try!

Ingredients

2 large bananas
2 cups almond milk
2 cups ice cubes
1/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain
2 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed (hempseed works as well)

Directions

Blend together all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Divide among glasses; serve cold.
Enjoy!

What’s in your blender today?

Email me at drinkzola@gmail.com or send me a Tweet @drinkzola.

Posted in Smoothie Recipes, The Blender Diaries | 1 Response »
Tags: blender, Brazilian, Chris Cuvelier, fitness, flax, flaxseed, food, health, healthy, nutrients, probiotics, protein, recipe, smoothie, Smoothies, Superfruit, workout, yogurt, Zola Açaí

Beginner’s Guide to Making Smoothies: Proteins, Supplements, and More!

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Sometimes, fruit, juice and ice just aren’t enough. For instance, when I’m recovering from an intense workout or creating a health packed meal replacement, I like to add a little protein and fiber to my smoothies. When I’m coming down with a cold, I like an antioxidant boost and when I’m making a breakfast smoothies, sometimes I like a little added crunch!

If you’re trying to determine whether your smoothie needs a little something extra, here are some guidelines to help you choose: Granola Scoop

PROTEIN
Whey/soy based proteins: these are great if you want to add muscle quickly
Nut Butters: use any type of nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc) for added protein and flavor
Shelled flaxseed or hempseed: seeds are a healthy way to add protein, fiber and omega fatty acids

MEAL REPLACEMENT PACKET
If you’re going to include a meal replacement, you may need to increase your liquid base by 1-2oz and will likely need a bigger glass. Some great meal replacement packets include:
Amazing Grass
Vega
Kashi Go Lean

LIQUID OMEGA OILS
Liquid omega oils are a great source of heart healthy omegas. Some healthy liquid omega oils include:
Hemp Oil: adds healthy protein and omegas without the crunch of hempseed
Flaxseed Oil: adds fiber, protein, and omegas without the crunch of flaxseed

WHEAT GERM
If you don’t have any gluten allergies, wheat germ is a very effective way to add fiber , protein and important nutrients including : iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamins A, B1, and B3.

GREEN TEA POWDER
Green tea powder, also commonly referred to as Matcha is a great source for antioxidants, energy, alertness, stress reduction, and contains anti-aging and calming properties

SWEETENERS
If you need to sweeten up your smoothie, do it in a more healthful way by using one of the following:
Honey: provides an all natural and distinct taste
Splenda: low calorie option
Stevia: low calorie and all natural

TEXTURE
Granola – excellent taste, gives your smoothie a little crunch
Wheat Germ – great for fiber
Shelled Hempseed/Flaxseed – adds crunch, protein, healthy omegas
Coconut – use dried un-sweetened coconut and add to tropical smoothie blends

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Tags: Açaí, add ons, cooking tips, energy boosts, flaxseed, health, healthy, hempseed, how to, nutrition, protein boosts, protein supplements, recipe, smoothie, Smoothies, supplement, whey, Zola Açaí

Beginner’s Guide to Making Smoothies: The Fruit

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Choosing your fruit and flavor combinations is very important and can be surprisingly difficult if you don’t have some guidelines. Because let’s face it, some fruits play nice with others, and others do not. Bananas are generally the nice neighbor and go with just about everything.

To help avoid confusion, I always group smoothie fruits into three categories: berries, tropicals, and exotics. fruit - zola

FRUIT:
Berries: The berries which include everything from strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries & cherries generally go really well with orange and apple juice bases. When mixed with banana, they also go really well with milk and sorbet bases.

Tropicals: The tropicals like mangoes, bananas, pineapple & peaches go really well with pineapple juices and sorbets. They are usually a bit tangier than berry based smoothies. Bananas, as I mentioned before are great for giving all fruit and juice smoothies a smooth texture.

Exotics: The exotics which include Açaí, Goji Berries, and Mangosteen are usually great with fruit juices and sorbets and mix well with bananas and other berries
And further, when choosing between frozen or fresh fruit, always remember that frozen fruit will allow you to thicken smoothies without ice while fresh fruit inevitably makes smoothies thinner. If you do use fresh fruit, lower the juice by 1-2 oz and add approx 2-4 oz ice to taste.

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Tags: Açaí, cooking, health, healthy, how to make smoothies, nutrition, recipe, smoothie, superfood, Superfruit, tropical fruit, Zola Açaí

The Blender Diaries: Dedicated to smoothies, juicing, Superfruits and healthy living.