It seems to me that every single time I turn around, there is new information coming out about the latest food or drink that will perform nutritional miracles in my body. Coconut water, kombucha, chia seeds, bison, vitamins, juicing, acai, green drinks, coconut oil, coffee enemas, placenta, goji berries and the list goes on and on and on. I will be the first to admit that I have used and enjoy some of these products. However, I use them with the understanding that the majority of their health claims are based on consuming ungodly amounts of the suggested product.
For example, green tea is said to boost metabolism and provide antioxidants but what they fail to mention is that you would need to drink 6-10 cups a day in order to see even minute changes. I don't know about you but that seems almost impossible to this coffee loving girl. I could possibly choke down two cups of tea a few times a week but 6-10 cups a day just isn't practical.
Or maybe we should discuss coconut water. Have you ever actually tasted that stuff? I know that there are plenty of people who claim to enjoy coconut water. However, I can only imagine that their taste buds have been destroyed at some point because coconut water literally tastes like licking the inside of a jellyfish. Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. I have tried, God knows I have tried, to learn to like coconut water but I can't even choke that vile stuff down. A few times, I have been able to mix it into a smoothie with success in order to help with electrolyte replacement but to be honest, I think I would rather just stay dehydrated.
How about chia seeds? Those little magical seeds have been everywhere the past few years and they are in everything from beverages to protein bars. There are literally tons of recipes online for chia this and chia that...and of course who can forget the loveable chia pets? Too far? Sorry, sometimes I get carried away. Back to the subject on hand. Chia seeds are huge in the running community and are often given the credit for the success of the Tarahumara runners. Over the past few years, I have eaten tons of chia seeds and although I have never noticed a difference in my running, I have spent way too much time picking those little suckers out of my teeth. I mean, let's be real, for every spoonful of chia seeds I have eaten, I have probably turned around and flossed 80% of them out of my teeth. How am I supposed to reap any benefits from that kind of a ratio?
Kombucha...should we talk about kombucha? Anything that is made to breed bacteria seems like a bad idea to me. And scobies? Really? Have you seen what those things look like? Go ahead google it and then try to tell me you want to drink kombucha. (Sorry Mom. Please don't take that personally.)
I could go on: Green drinks - taste like you just licked the bottom of a lawn mower. Goji berries - wish they tasted half as good as raisins. Coffee enemas - are an insult to everything that makes coffee wonderful. Juicing - An expensive, albeit delicious way to starve yourself into your skinny jeans. Placenta - I mean really? Do I need to say anything about this one?
So what is my point to all of this? Well, to be honest, I don't really have one. I sort of just like to rant about things that interest me. However, if I was forced to come up with something to glean from all of my complaining it would be this: Don't buy into a fad or look for a quick fix when it comes to taking care of your body. You only get one of these things. Find ways to exercise that make you feel alive. Seek out foods and beverages that nourish you. Give your body the rest it deserves and most importantly live a life that makes you feel proud.
For example, green tea is said to boost metabolism and provide antioxidants but what they fail to mention is that you would need to drink 6-10 cups a day in order to see even minute changes. I don't know about you but that seems almost impossible to this coffee loving girl. I could possibly choke down two cups of tea a few times a week but 6-10 cups a day just isn't practical.
Or maybe we should discuss coconut water. Have you ever actually tasted that stuff? I know that there are plenty of people who claim to enjoy coconut water. However, I can only imagine that their taste buds have been destroyed at some point because coconut water literally tastes like licking the inside of a jellyfish. Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. I have tried, God knows I have tried, to learn to like coconut water but I can't even choke that vile stuff down. A few times, I have been able to mix it into a smoothie with success in order to help with electrolyte replacement but to be honest, I think I would rather just stay dehydrated.
How about chia seeds? Those little magical seeds have been everywhere the past few years and they are in everything from beverages to protein bars. There are literally tons of recipes online for chia this and chia that...and of course who can forget the loveable chia pets? Too far? Sorry, sometimes I get carried away. Back to the subject on hand. Chia seeds are huge in the running community and are often given the credit for the success of the Tarahumara runners. Over the past few years, I have eaten tons of chia seeds and although I have never noticed a difference in my running, I have spent way too much time picking those little suckers out of my teeth. I mean, let's be real, for every spoonful of chia seeds I have eaten, I have probably turned around and flossed 80% of them out of my teeth. How am I supposed to reap any benefits from that kind of a ratio?
Kombucha...should we talk about kombucha? Anything that is made to breed bacteria seems like a bad idea to me. And scobies? Really? Have you seen what those things look like? Go ahead google it and then try to tell me you want to drink kombucha. (Sorry Mom. Please don't take that personally.)
I could go on: Green drinks - taste like you just licked the bottom of a lawn mower. Goji berries - wish they tasted half as good as raisins. Coffee enemas - are an insult to everything that makes coffee wonderful. Juicing - An expensive, albeit delicious way to starve yourself into your skinny jeans. Placenta - I mean really? Do I need to say anything about this one?
So what is my point to all of this? Well, to be honest, I don't really have one. I sort of just like to rant about things that interest me. However, if I was forced to come up with something to glean from all of my complaining it would be this: Don't buy into a fad or look for a quick fix when it comes to taking care of your body. You only get one of these things. Find ways to exercise that make you feel alive. Seek out foods and beverages that nourish you. Give your body the rest it deserves and most importantly live a life that makes you feel proud.
~Stacy
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