apple cider vinegar; FINALLY

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. I have finally figured you out. For weeks and weeks this mysterious liquid has been appearing on my feed and so i took it as a sign to give it a try. After trial and error over and over again, I have finally figured out how to get it down without getting either 1.) severe  heart burn, and or 2.) the urge to projectile vomit and I’m ready to share my not so secret, secret.

So, word on the street is that consuming between 1 to 2 tablespoons could possibly have the following effects;

• Help an upset stomach
  • Pectin in the cider is known to sooth intestinal aches and pains
• Reduce cholesterol
  • The acetic acid in ACV is known to help fight off high cholesterol levels.
• Help fight indigestion
• Lose weight
  • The acid content can help suppress hunger, and also increase your metabolism.
• Help with dry scalp
  • The acidity of the vinegar can prevent harmful bacteria from growing on the scalp that can cause dryness.
• Avoid blemishes
  • The acidity kills bacteria.
• Instant energy boost
• Stop chronic bad breath
  • High acid content kills off germs in the mouth that can cause bad breath.
• Improve blood sugar
  • ACV prevents and slows the break down of starches in the digestion process.

These are just a few benefits off of the long list of possible pros that ACV offers. But why apple cider vinegar you might be wondering? According to LiveStrong,  “Apple cider vinegar contains citric acid, formic acid, malic acid, lactic acid and succinic acid as well as acetic acid. Because apple cider vinegar is made with apples, it also contains multiple types of antioxidants called polyphenols which can have beneficial effects on health.” So in a nut shell, ACV offers more vitamins and minerals over a distilled vinegar. Also, ACV is a fermented food, meaning the enzymes have been preserved. All these potential benefits AND it all makes sense. Whats the catch?? Its  brutal to get down.

The brand I choose to purchase was “Braggs” with the mother. This mother, basically refers to the strands of proteins and enzymes that settle in the bottom. I was able to buy a 32 oz bottle at Kroger for only 5 dollars so it definitely isn’t an investment. But let’s get into the truth of this.

Day One; I woke up SO excited to give this a try. I had no idea what exactly I was getting myself into so i poured about 1 tablespoon and a half into a shot glass and threw it back. LETS GO. Jokes though, it was painful to get down and the pain didn’t go away. Taking the vinegar straight shocked my system and gave me severe heart burn that lasted all day. Day 1 = fail.

Day Two; Lets give this another try. This time, I put another tablespoon and a half into a full cup of water. This was arguably worse. It took approx. 8 gulps to get it down and each one made me want to throw up more. But, I got it down and felt similarly to how I do after a cup of coffee, and went off to class with a boost of energy and no heart burn.

Day Three; Learning from my mistakes, I mixed my usual 1.5 tablespoons but this time with only about 8 oz of water, along with a bit of honey and tossed in the microwave. VICTORY. Not only could I drink it in about two sips, but the honey really did help to mask the flavor. My biggest advice however, do not do not do not smell while you drink it. But otherwise, if you drink ACV drink it with warm water and honey. Otherwise, best of luck to you 🙂

Results; Initially, the only thing that I got from the vinegar was a short burst of energy which could get me through my first three classes of the day.  It wasn’t until about a week in to drinking it that I felt any other changes. I noticed if I drank it first thing in the morning, then I usually wasn’t too hungry until about noon which is nice when I’m running around to classes all morning. I also have noticed significantly less bloating throughout the day as well. It definitely isn’t a magic potion to cure all of your lifes problems, but so far so good. Also, I did try mixing ACV into my shampoo twice, and the results were 10/10. My hair was shiny and silky after only two washes and my split ends did appear less noticeable. This being said, MIX IT IN TO YOUR SHAMPOO. ACV is vinegar, and does smell like it so.. yeah.. you can figure out where this is going.

Rant over. In conclusion, drink your apple cider vinegar every day, but drink it with 8 oz warm water and honey, and be patient.

 

j.c.

http://healthremediesjournal.com/top-9-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/?utm_source=apple%20cider%20vinegar&utm_medium=applecider&utm_campaign=google&gclid=Cj0KEQiA25rFBRC8rfyX1vjeg7YBEiQAFIb3bxeeQ4RA_3BC2pLpdRWMsTLYhhJua-q_efOVmiR9vUIaApeH8P8HAQ

image;

https://www.google.com/search?q=braggs+apple+cider+vinegar&espv=2&biw=1163&bih=559&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5zdfR8pjSAhWm7IMKHXxkBgoQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=A4ck3dy3Qr64UM:

 

Iconic protein shake review

I MAY HAVE FOUND THE HOLY WATER OF PROTEIN SHAKES.

My mom read about these shakes online and sent me a couple different flavors to try and I am arguably an addict after only one flavor. Typically, I try to keep my post workout snacks somewhere between 110-180 calories, and coming in at 130 cals, the shake is perfect. Let me break it down for you.

Taste and texture: The flavor I tried was chocolate truffle. I guess if I could compare the taste to anything it would be similar to the chocolate flavor of muscle milk except a whole world better. I find muscle milk to be way too rich and heavy especially post workout. The flavor was a milky chocolate but light enough to where you don’t feel like you just got a great workout but then ate an entire tub of chocolate ice cream. It was smooth and I didn’t feel any gritty chocolate powder which I usually get when I have a pre made shake. In a nut shell, the chocolate was light enough to where I felt full but not bloated, and sweet enough to where it was a tasty chocolate flavor without being too extra.

Nutrition: Now to the real stuff. Like I said, this shake is only 130 calories.. which makes the perfect post workout snack or honestly even a light breakfast. When I heard 130 calories though I thought hmm… it’ll probably lack in the protein dept. BUT NO. This not so little little guy offers TWENTY (20!!!!!!) grams of protein :’) and que my happy tears because only 3G of sugar. Sign me up for these forever because I’m sold.

Extra: All right, I do have one con.. a 12 pack will run you about 39.99 USD on their website. YIKES. These shakes are also lactose, gluten, soy, GMO, BPA, carrageenan and artificial ingredient free So sadly they are pretty comparable with other shakes in this market but still.. a little pricey if you ask me. The ingredient list is 19 items long, which you can find on the website however most everything is familiar.

So in conclusion, I easily give these a 9/10. Would be 10/10 if the price was lower BUT otherwise, a pretty awesome product.

j.c.

chipotle inspired bowl

i am currently training for a half marathon which means instead of being just hungry all of the time… i’m now VERY hungry all of the time. i often find myself craving not so healthy foods, like chipotle (which is the healthiest non healthy thing i crave) and although i definitely do reward myself more now that i am running such long distances, i am still trying to stick to a clean eating meal plan and be kind to my body!

and so last after my eight mile run, i came home, starving of course, and craving a burrito bowl and that is how this came about.

i have to be honest, i don’t think it gets much easier than this. it’s so refreshing and filling and yet so easy! it doesn’t really get better than that. im not going to post exact measurements for anything becsuse i think it’s just to taste really! you can’t mess this up.

recipe;

grilled chicken

rice

carrots

steamed corn

bell peppers

chopped romaine (any green would work)

avacado

lemon

cilantro flakes

paprika

*combine the brown rice, grilled chicken, peppers, carrots, and corn and mix in paprika and cilantro to taste.

mash avacado with a little water (add as you go) until desired consistency.

top the greens with the rice mixture, avacado dressing and squeeze lemon juice over it all!

rawnola!

                                                                                           

i’ve been seeing loni jane inspired rawnola everywhere for the longest time but i never got around to actually making it because i thought it would be too complicated! i have found that with most granolas, they require a lot of different grains, oils, dried fruits, and nuts, so i never make them. when i started poking around and realized just how easy this rawnola is, i have started making it on a weekly basis… i am obsessed and not at all ashamed.

i feel like this recipe needs to be issued with a warning because you most likely will be tempted to eat all of it at once, but at only three ingredients, i don’t see anything wrong with that 😉

this rawnola is super basic but super yummy! there are so many things that you can do with it! i love to sprinkle it on my smoothie and acai bowls, on top of fruit, and of course, eat it plain!

* please not that this is a basis for a rawnola recipe. you can mess around with the amounts of each thing you add, and you can also totally put in add ins like dried fruits, nuts, or cacao powder!

recipe;

10 dates

1/2 cup of raw oats

1/2 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut

that’s it! just pop it all in a blender and blend until it starts to get a bit clumpy.

kale soup!

                                                                                          

so i have recently been researching the healthiest foods in the world, and of course kale made the list. i decided to give it a shot, and i went to my local supermarket to pick it up where i learned it only comes in huge bags, which would have been really nice if i had any idea  what to do with it.

anyways, i started with the basics, kale  chips. i had made them before and knew i liked them so this wasn’t very exciting. i made a couple batches and after like three i was already sick of them. i then stared at this huge bag of leafy green that i spent my own actual money on and got really mad that it would go to waste. this anger didn’t last for long  though because i channeled all of it into this new mission i was on, which was to put kale in EVERYTHING.

i started with salad, but, found that for the first time in my seventeen years of life, couldn’t finish a salad. it was so gross i cringe just writing about it. the thing about kale is that even when you are reminding yourself in your head how healthy it is and how much good it is doing for your body, it’s still really strong tasting and equally as gross. i have been trying to think of a way to describe it and the only way i think i can is to call it bitter green.. which doesn’t make any sense but well go with it. since the whole salad thing was a bust i went to my next most commonly eaten foods, smoothies. I have ATLEAST one a day with spinach but decided to sub in kale. this was really a learning experience. my biggest advice, use really strong fruits along with it like pineapple, anything to take away from the kale taste. but other than that, i recommend it. plus, the health benefit list is never ending so that’s a plus.

now it’s five degrees out and i STILL have half a bag of kale :’) as i ponder what to make, i look outside at the snow covered everything and decide soup is the only option.  so here it is, kale soup, and i don’t have one complaint about it. warming to your outsides, and kind to your insides, it doesn’t get better than that.

recipe;

one table spoon of olive oil

five cloves of crushed garlic

one medium chopped yellow onion

four cups of chopped kale

four cups chicken veggie broth

two cans of white beans

four chopped plum tomatoes

two teaspoons dried italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

one cup chopped fresh parsley

directions;

heat olive oil in large pot. add in onion and garlic, saute until soft. add kale, stir until soft. add three cups of broth, two cups of beans, all of tomato, all herbs, salt and pepper. simmer five minutes. blend remaining beans and broth. add to soup to thicken. simmer fifteen minutes. ladle until bowls, sprinkle with parsley. enjoy!

first blog post

alright, let’s give this whole “blogging” thing a try. i have never even considered starting a blog until i realized how often i found myself typing ridiculously long comments on pictures of something as simple as celery, and other self explanatory foods. basically, i just like the talk, a lot, and i figured if you like to read, then this could probably work out.

so, first thing  first i should probably talk about what my intentions are and where i want to go with this. i am planning on using this as a branch of my instagram. if i come up with a recipe, or anything that requires more than like two ingredients that i will call a recipe, i will post here, along with all of thoughts about it and what not. i also am in the midst of week six of the kayla itsines bikini body guide, and let me just say, although i have seen progress, week twelve could not come soon enough. that being said, i want to talk about my workouts; things that have worked for me and things that have not. i am also a big reader, so i’ll probably chat about some super interesting nutrition books.

i’ll probably throw some other cool active living odds and ends on here too. i’m excited to see where this will go, and i hope you are too!