Oh that blistering heat of summer…It encourages us to drink up all kinds of beverages! But, we shouldn’t drink to simply to stay hydrated; drinks can be healthy too. Beverages like coffee, wine and certain teas allow us to add loads of antioxidants into our diets. As a reminder, antioxidants scavenge our bodies for cell-damaging free radicals, helping to protect us from heart disease, cancer, and even wrinkles! Green tea in particular contains far more antioxidants than even some of our beloved fruits and veggies. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a 46-65% reduced risk of hypertension in regular consumers of green tea.  No need to wait for winter to get on the green tea bandwagon!

NLT: Here’s an idea brewing for you: try Green Tea extracts from Pure Inventions. One dropper full of this delicious extract in your bottle of water allows you to reap the benefits of drinking roughly 8 to 10 cups worth of antioxidant rich green tea. If you’re not already a green tea lover you can experiment with flavors like peach, raspberry, and tropical. Keep it in your purse or drink it on the go. The equation is simple: open + drop = healthy drink. Who knew drinking green tea could be this easy?

Oh that blistering heat of summer…It encourages us to drink up all kinds of beverages! But, we shouldn’t drink to simply to stay hydrated; drinks can be healthy too. Beverages like coffee, wine and certain teas allow us to add loads of antioxidants into our diets. As a reminder, antioxidants scavenge our bodies for cell-damaging free radicals, helping to protect us from heart disease, cancer, and even wrinkles! Green tea in particular contains far more antioxidants than even some of our beloved fruits and veggies. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a 46-65% reduced risk of hypertension in regular consumers of green tea.  No need to wait for winter to get on the green tea bandwagon!

NLT: Here’s an idea brewing for you: try Green Tea extracts from Pure Inventions. One dropper full of this delicious extract in your bottle of water allows you to reap the benefits of drinking roughly 8 to 10 cups worth of antioxidant rich green tea. If you’re not already a green tea lover you can experiment with flavors like peach, raspberry, and tropical. Keep it in your purse or drink it on the go. The equation is simple: open + drop = healthy drink. Who knew drinking green tea could be this easy?

Wanna get on your way to being Slim, Calm, and Sexy? Here is your grocery list for the Slim Calm Sexy Diet Three Day Cleanse…order the book today, hit the grocery store this week, and by the time the book arrives you will be all set!!

Produce

• 2 Grapefruit
• 6 cups greens of your choice or green juice
• 1 avocado
• 2 red cabbages
• 2 green cabbages
• 3 cucumbers

 Eggs

• 9 DHA-fortified eggs

 Nuts, Nut Butters, and Seeds

• 6 tablespoons sunflower seeds or 1/3 cup almonds
• ¾ cup almonds (for Slim Slaw)

 Meat and Seafood

• 24 ounces lean protein of your choice (such as sliced turkey, shrimp, and fish)

 Condiments and Teas

• Green Tea (enough for 6 servings)
• Cinnamon
• Dijon Mustard
• Rice Vinegar

Spring break is just around the corner and visions of sipping cocktails in the sun may already be playing in your mind. We have some thirst-quenching alcoholic treats to share that are lower in calories than the traditional varieties and spiked with a little antioxidant love. Sick of studying? Our cocktails are so simple that you can prepare them without using notes! And don’t worry, we have something here to please everyone’s alcohol palates.

Stormy Spring Beer
This is an offshoot of your traditional “dark & stormy” and here at Nutritious Life, we forecast this will be the only storm cloud rolling in this spring break, so soak up some rays while you sip! Pour 5 oz pale lager, 5 oz ginger beer, and top off with a splash of ginger ale. Benefits? Beer has heart-attack fighting powers along with flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Not only do we love the zingy flavor, but ginger is also an impressive anti-inflammatory and a winner for treating car sickness, nausea and, let’s be honest, easing the pain of the occasional hangover.

Ty-Ku Iced Green Tea
Your spring break may be due for some Asian-infusion! Brew a pitcher of unsweetened green tea and pop it in the fridge to chill overnight. When it’s time for happy hour, fill a pint glass halfway with ice. Over the ice, pour 1 oz Ty-Ku Premium Liqueur and fill to the rim with your green tea. Garnish with a twist of lemon. Benefts? Ty-Ku is low sugar, low in calories and infused with superfruits like honeydew, mangosteen and goji berry. Although there may not be enough melon and goji berries to reap loads of antioxidant benefits, it certainly does make this sulfite-free liquer taste great. And, let’s not neglect green tea’s catechins that may help our bodies burn calories! A perfect cocktail for bathing-suit season. Can you say spring break superstar??

Strawberry-Watermelon Mint Mojito
Fruit Lovers, we did not forget about you. This drink requires minimal muddling. Layer the bottom of a pint glass with fresh mint leaves and cover to the half-way point with crushed ice. Take a spoon and crush the mint and ice together to release the flavor. Add ¼ cup sliced strawberries, ¼ cup cubed watermelon and mix in with ice. Pour 1 oz light rum over the fruity slush and top off the glass with club soda. Garnish with a bright, red strawberry. The benefits? Malic acid in the strawberries may help remove teeth discoloration – a fabulous perk when you have a tan – and you are still getting vitamin C and fiber even if your teeth don’t glow after imbibing! Bonus? The strong, refreshing aroma of mint can help ease nausea and headaches and promote smooth digestion.

Beyond Better Mango Pina Colada
This post would be missing something if we didn’t include this spring break staple. We have great news for you. You don’t need high-cal coconut to make a tasty Pina Colada! In a pint glass, toss in ½ cup soft, cubed pineapple chunks and fill the glass halfway with crushed ice. Pour 1 oz light rum and fill the remainder of the glass with Zico pure premium coconut water in their mango variety. Garnish with a pineapple wedge. The benefits? Zico coconut water has more potassium than a whole banana, supports rapid hydration and contains zero grams of fat or added sugar. Pineapple is also the only known source of bromelain, an enzyme whose anti-inflammatory properties may ease joint pain.

Spiced Sangria Soda
We thought it would be nice to spice up sangria! Start with 5 oz red wine, such as cabernet, as a base. Add ¼ cup sliced green apples and ¼ cup sliced peaches. Top with club soda for a refreshing pop of bubbles. Benefits? Red wine is known for the antioxidant resveratrol, but it can also help raise HDL (good) cholesterol. The fruits provide a variety of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and potassium. For a unique twist, add a dash of ground cinnamon, which is known to ease frustration, curb fatigue and increase alterness. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, add a dash of ground cloves which can contribute another healthy dose of antioxidant power to this cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups whole grain pastry flour
• 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup steeped green tea, cooled to room temperature
• 1/4 cup safflower or canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with canola oil cooking spray.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cloves, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. Whisk the egg whites, yogurt, green tea, oil, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until just combined.
4. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg white mixture. Mix until well combined, then evenly fold in the walnuts.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes on the middle rack in the oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Serve with 1 teaspoon nut butter.

Makes 8 (1-inch-thick) servings

Why we love this recipe:

You know we are huge green tea fans here at Nutritious Life. In case you are still only sipping your green tea and not eating it, we thought you may be inspired by a favorite O2 Diet recipe, Green Tea Loaf. A few fun things to remember about green tea: It may help burn more belly fat than other caffeinated beverages, may reduce the risk of UV damage from the sun, may help keep your teeth healthy and may prevent different forms of cancer including lung. Green tea is the Oscar winner in this recipe, which can be eaten as a satisfying breakfast when topped with 2 tsp. almond butter or as a “conscious indulgence” instead of an afternoon chocolate chip cookie. We suggest baking, slicing into portions and freezing. Freezing in individual portions makes it much easier to resist nibbling away at more. And, of course, feel free to sip some tea as you dive in.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups whole grain pastry flour
• 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup fat-free plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup steeped green tea, cooled to room temperature
• 1/4 cup safflower or canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with canola oil cooking spray.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cloves, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. Whisk the egg whites, yogurt, green tea, oil, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until just combined.
4. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg white mixture. Mix until well combined, then evenly fold in the walnuts.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes on the middle rack in the oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Serve with 1 teaspoon nut butter.

Makes 8 (1-inch-thick) servings

Why we love this recipe:

Ring in the new year with my antioxidant-rich eating plan that will keep you feeling energized, add a youthful glow to your skin, and help you slim down, all while enjoying delicious foods! Not only is this Green Tea Loaf from The O2 Diet super yummy, but it’s loaded with body-boosting ingredients!

You’ll get major health benefits from green tea, an O2 Diet powerfood, which helps mop up nasty little free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to the body, and has been proven to help melt away abdominal fat when incorporated into an exercise routine. Green tea may also decrease the risk of skin and lung cancer as well as help prevent strokes.

Plus, low-fat yogurt not only lends its naturally tangy taste to this quick bread, but it’s packed with bone-building calcium, satisfying protein, and probiotics to keep digestion efficient.

Finally, walnuts are superstars! These tasty nuts contain alpha-linolenic acid–an essential omega-3 fatty acid–and antioxidant polyphenols that have been shown to be protective against memory loss. In fact, researchers at Tufts University found that walnuts may even reverse some signs of brain aging.

To your health in 2011!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups steeped green tea, cooled to room temperature
• 1 cup champagne
• 1 cup 100% cranberry juice
• 2 limes
• 1 red grapefruit
• 2 navel oranges

Directions:

1. Mix tea, champagne, and cranberry juice in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
2. Slice limes, grapefruit, and oranges into thin wedges.
3. Reserve one sliced orange for garnishing glasses.
4. Toss remaining fruit into tea mixture and stir.
5. Chill until ready to serve.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings

Why we love this recipe:

There’s nothing better than mingling with friends and sipping on a delicious cocktail–especially when it’s packed with nutrients! Fresh orange and grapefruit provides a healthy dose of vitamin C to help ward off sniffles during the busy holiday season. These citrus superstars also contain a large amount of water to keep you hydrated and counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Bonus: ORAC-packed green tea kicks your metabolism into gear and may help you speed up your weight loss.

Go ahead and raise your glass to a healthy you!

Cheers!

Green tea is one of my all time fave drinks!

With the amount I drink, it’s a wonder it’s not coming out of my pores! Not only is green tea super tasty but it has so many amazing benefits that it’d be a shame not to start scoring some major ORAC points for yourself! In addition to mopping up those nasty little free radicals running around your body, green tea has also been proven to help melt away abdominal fat (when incorporated into an exercise routine), decrease your risk of skin and lung cancer and help to prevent strokes.

To reap all of these benefits, aim to get in 2-3 cups a day. Not wild about the taste? Try these fun ways to get green tea in daily!

My go-to green tea favorite lately has been adding 2 tsp. matcha with 1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt and sprinkling 1/4 tsp. cinnamon.