Tagged with 'caffeine'

Stress, Weight, Appetite, Mood -- they're all interconnected. Read this for smart ways to deal with stress.

An entire day dedicated to coffee! Today is National Coffee Day, and if you stop by the right place, they’ll give you a FREE coffee! Can’t beat that!

Coffee has many health benefits too. The most obvious is the boost in energy levels, which raises your metabolism by 3-11%, and obviously burns more calories. For unknown reasons, coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Coffee appears to lower the risk of developing depression, and some studies show coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of stroke. Coffee also contains a high amount of antioxidants.

I gathered the best deals for tomorrow’s celebration and here are some of the standouts:

Dunkin’ Donuts: Customers can get a free medium cup of Dunkin’ Donuts hot or iced dark roast coffee, limit one per person.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea: Free small cup of Peet’s Major Dickason Blend with the purchase of any baked good, oatmeal, or other food item.

Krispy Kreme: Customers get a free small coffee and a free original glazed donut.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: All sizes of iced coffee, flavored iced coffee, and iced Americanos are half off all day.

Dutch Bros Coffee: Get 9 stamps with any large drink purchase. It only takes 10 stamps for a free drink.

Sheetz: They’re giving away Z-mugs to 150 customers at Sheetz stores all day.

Kahwa Coffee (Bay area): Customers can get a free cup of coffee.

Wawa Coffee (East Coast): Get a free self-serve hot beverage, up to 24 ounces.

Whole Foods: Stores nationwide are offering 12-ounce cups of coffee for $0.25 through September.

Cheers to a delicious coffee today!

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

More than a quarter of migraine sufferers have specific triggers, including food. Pay special attention to these particular foods and ingredients and you could save yourself a headache!

Tyramine

Tyramine is an amino acid, and is one of the most powerful migraine triggers. One of the most common triggers is aged cheese. The longer a food ages, the greater the tyramine content is. Other foods high in tyramine include chocolate, processed meats, pickles, onions, olives, citrus fruits, certain types of beans, raisins, nuts, avocados, canned soups, and red wine. Levels of tyramine increase over time, especially if food is stored improperly, so migraine sufferers should avoid eating leftovers.

Caffeine

Caffeinated beverages, even in small amounts, can trigger a migraine in some people. This includes coffee, green tea, and soft drinks. At the same time, caffeine may also help get rid of a headache.

Alcohol

This is such a bummer for many people, but proceed with caution! Alcoholic beverages especially red wine, beer, vermouth, and sherry contain large amounts of tyramine. Alcohol may also cause dehydration, which is also a major cause of headaches.

Nitrites/Nitrates

Nitrates may intensify headaches in people suffering from migraine. Nitrates are added to food primarily as a preservative and for added flavor. They’re used to cure bacon, hot dogs, deli meat, ham, salami, and other luncheon meats. To find out whether or not a food has nitrites, check out the ingredients. To stay safe, look for nitrite-free varieties of these foods at the grocery store and steer clear of them when dining out.   

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is a food additive used as a flavor intensifier. It’s often found in salty foods, such as canned soups, broths, bouillon, Chinese food, and salty snacks such as nuts and pretzels. MSG is also a component of yeast extract and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. It may stimulate nerve cells to release certain neurochemicals that cause headache and migraine symptoms.

Sulfites

Sulfites, another preservative, are chemicals used to keep cut fruits and vegetables looking fresh. They’re commonly found in dried fruits (ie: apricots, prunes, figs), wine, and many processed foods. Check the ingredients on the label carefully to avoid this sneaky migraine trigger. FYI, the dried fruit in our Live Superfoods brand don't contain this troublesome preservative.

Aspartame

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) and other artificial sweeteners can be a migraine trigger.  It’s often found in diet beverages, light yogurt, sugar-free sweets, and basically anything sweet that’s low-calorie or low-sugar.

Tartrazine Dye

Also known as Yellow dye #5, and gives foods a yellow color. On a label, you may see it as: FD & C yellow #5. The direct link between this yellow dye and headaches is not entirely known, but if you suffer from migraines, ingest with caution.

If you suffer from headaches and don’t know the cause, identifying your triggers is a good place to start. I suggest keeping a headache diary. If you get a headache, write down any food or drink you consumed that day and the day before. Be diligent in recording what you eat, including all the different foods listed above. In the meanwhile, avoid eating the foods and ingredients mentioned.

In Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

Coffee's Allure

Not many of us can say no to the allure of waking up to a piping hot, steaming cup of coffee. The aroma, the comfort... coffee becomes more than a beverage. For some of us, it becomes a ceremony, a ritual. If you have problems getting your day started without a hot cup of coffee every morning, you are not alone. Eight out of ten adults admit to being coffee drinkers!

However, this daily ritual may have some negative side effects on our health. Drinking too much coffee has been linked to elevated blood pressure, increased rate of heart disease, and increased anxiety. The harsh acidity of coffee can cause stomach problems for some.  

Green tea and yerba mate are two coffee alternatives that are gaining popularity due to their reported health benefits. The biggest health benefit of green tea and yerba mate is their high antioxidant levels. 

Now you have another option for your morning ritual - a warm and comforting beverage with all the health benefits of tea and mate, none of the negative effects of coffee, and  that offers a boost of natural, focused energy: guayusa. 

Guayasa - What & Why

Guayusa (pronounced gwy-you-sa) is a native tree leaf that has been brewed like tea by indigenous people in the Ecuadorian Amazon for thousands of years. Like our own morning ritual of waking up to a hot beverage, guayusa was traditionally prepared by families each day before the sun rose. They would sit around the fire drinking guards of guayusa together as the sun rises, sharing stories and myths; village elders teaching the youths about ancestors, social values, and hunting techniques. 

While it is not a tea, guayusa is prepared like one. The dried leaves of the caffeinated Amazonian holly tree (ilex guayusa) are dried and steeped in hot water. Guayusa does not contain the tannins found in tea, which means the flavor is not astringent or bitter; guayusa tastes silky and clean, with a sweet finish. 

Guayusa not only tastes good, it is good for you, with health benefits that range from physical to mental. The antioxidant benefits found in tea are doubled in guayusa. That means twice the free-radical fighting, anti-aging, cancer fighting benefits. Guayusa can boost more than just antioxidant properties, however; it contains a number of health boosting compounds!

Beneficial Compounds Found in Guayusa

• Theobromine

  is a compound found in raw chocolate, it can reduce inflammation and blood pressure while acting as a diuretic.

• Polyphenols, flavonoids, and saponins

  are phyto-chemicals believed to have cancer fighting benefits, and are potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation while stimulating the immune system.

• Chlorogenic acid

  is a phytochemical researched for its ability to aid weight loss by exhibiting anti-obesity properties and improving fat metabolism.

• L-Theanine

  is an amino acid that produces dopamine, the hormone responsible for producing a feeling of wellbeing. L-Theanine calms the mind while increasing alertness. It can increase focus, improve memory, and improve learning ability. 

Not bitter 

Guayusa has added health benefits beyond those of coffee and tea, tastes great, and does not have the bitterness sometimes associated with teas and yerba mates.

Caffeine without jitters  

The benefits of guayusa continue; one cup of guayusa has the same caffeine levels as a cup of coffee, and twice that of a cup of tea, with none of the jitters that can accompany coffee consumption.

Go ahead and smile!  

Guayusa also does not stain teeth like coffee or tea can, so one additional benefit to swapping out coffee for guayusa is whiter teeth!