Categories: Drinks

22 Apr 2017, Comments (0)

Ion8 Sports Bottle with ionizing technology

Author: Healthnuttxo

 

So before receiving this product and doing a bit of research, I had no idea what it meant to “ionize” your water. To me, I know cations and anions involved in body chemistry and physiology, or what an “ion” is– (which is a molecule that lost or gains electrons to give it a + or – charge)… but what does it mean to IONIZE my water?!

According to the box, I could do that to my water/drink by shaking it. What I am assuming is that you are aerating the beverage, thus ionizing it, which I’m not sure the chemistry behind that (I’m in medicine…not chemistry!) so we will just go with it and talk about the other features of the bottle.

 

The bottle is BPA free, dishwasher friendly (this one is huge for me), can be used with hot or cold beverages, big enough to add ice cubes to, odor resistant, and leak proof. It has a cap that closes snugly, but then also a little lever that you clip so it won’t open up in your bag. Which, let me tell you, I have had many “expensive, great” water bottles open up in my bag and like what is the point of spending good money on a bottle if your beverage leaks everywhere?

NO POINT THAT’S WHAT.

anyway…

 

I used this with water and iced tea mainly. Honestly, I loved it. Loved that I could just throw it in my bag, and the box claims it has a “vented, smooth liquid flow” which is 100% does. You ever go to drink out of a bottle and the flow of water is either so rapid you almost choke or barely streams out of it? Or you get a lot of “glugs” of water (I may have made that word up), where it just doesn’t flow smoothly. I really liked that the flow of water was smooth and just easy to drink.  It’s hard to explain, but I will tell you it’s much different and noticeable than drinking from other bottles.

The bottle also has a rubber portion in the middle making it great for grip, and since it’s a sports bottle (and I am assuming most of you guys get sweaty during sports with sweaty palms…) it’s easy to hold and won’t slip out of your hand. With ice, it kept my beverages cool for a decent amount of time. Unfortunately I don’t drink a lot of hot beverages besides coffee so I did not test how long it would keep something hot.

Overall, a homerun from me. Really loved this product. Solid 5/5, no complaints.

 

 

Disclaimer: i received this bottle for free. This is an unbiased review.
31 Jan 2016, Comments (0)

Telula Organic Juice

Author: Healthnuttxo

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I got some samples from a company I have not heard of before, called Telula. They make organic, NON-GMO, and not from concentrate juices made from fruits and vegetables. They are cold pressed and also are free of added sugar.

They sent me some fun flavored samples to try, in Spicy Lemon, Green Zing, and Coconut Citrus.

Let’s start with Spicy Lemon, which has 3 lemons, 6.5 peppers, and 5 teaspoons of honey in each bottle. Honey is technically sugar, so if they add that to juice, I am a little confused how they can claim no added sugar. Perhaps they meant no CANE sugar, but honey is glucose…aka sugar.
Anyway, this bottle had 70 calories a serving, 17 carbs, 16 sugars, and 0’s across the board for fat, fiber and protein.

This one was actually really good! It is like a tangy lemonade, with the slightest bit of heat, but also sweet. It is very clean and refreshing tasting. I was definitely afraid of this because of the name…I think a more appropriate name would be Zesty Lemonade or something along those lines, because I certainly wouldn’t pick this up in store based off the name alone. However, the taste is delicious! The heat from the peppers leaves a little lingering flavor on your tongue as well. 4 stars.

Next up, Green Zing. This one has 5 spinach bunches, 1.5 cucumbers, 2.5 ginger roots, 1 apple, 2 heads of kale, 1/2 a lemon, and 2.5 celery stalks in one bottle. Dang!! It has 90 calories per 8 ounce serving, with 23 carbs/20 grams of sugar.

This is so, so, SO good! I wish I could drink this all day. It is sweet,much sweeter than I expected, and you can very slightly taste the celery. It is super refreshing, which I think might be from the cucumbers, and tastes like apple juice a bit as well but not as “sugary” tasting and not as tart. This is the best juice I’ve ever had, and you cannot taste the vegetables! A great juice for kids who won’t eat veggies…just don’t tell them it’s in there! 5 stars

Lastly, Coconut Citrus + Chia.  This one has half a coconut, 2 carrots, 3/4 of an orange, 1 lemon, 1 apple, and 5 tsps. of Chia. This has 120 calories per 8 ounce serving, with 1.5 grams of fat, 23 carbs, 5 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar and 3 grams of protein. This one was my least favorite. It was a little tangy, and thicker than any of the other juices. It had coconut flavor, but a bit of an over powering carrot flavor too. The lemon also definitely shines through here. I am not big on consistency in liquids…I don’t like pulp in my OJ and I do not like bubble tea…so the Chia seeds aren’t my favorite. I don’t like “chewing” my drinks.  This almost reminds me of a slightly fruiter V8 tomato juice. Not a huge fan. 3 stars

As a diabetic, I really do not drink juice unless my blood sugar is low. So I may buy a bottle to keep on hand in my fridge, but I will not be drinking on a regular basis. However, I really enjoyed these, ESPECIALLY the Green Zing one, so they are worth a shot!

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I received this product for free, this is an unbiased review.
18 Jan 2016, Comments (0)

New York Organic Smart Beer

Author: Healthnuttxo

SBEER

Picture from Smart Beer Company

Before we begin, please read only if over 21! It’s the rules for alcoholic beverages! 🙂

Smart BEER?! uh…what???

Smart Beer Company is the first organic beer company in New York.  It is made without GMO ingredients, and is certified organic. It is made with licorice root and orange peel, and claims to have “smooth flavor” and a “clean finish”.

The company is founded by Gabriel Heymann, who essentially wanted to create a beer that would allow him to feel a little less guilty to drink while socializing so it wouldn’t be detrimental to all his hard work in the fitness scene. You can read more about him here.

I like the concept, fresh ingredients, non-GMO, and since life is about balance, why not enjoy a beer responsibly, and in moderation, with ingredients that are organic and don’t have hidden additives, etc.?

Now let’s talk taste:

The beer is light, and crisp, and almost has a floral flavor to it. Generally, not a huge fan of floral tasting beers, but this one is actually pretty good. Two samples were sent to me, and both samples were enjoyed.

I think the name needs a little work- it’s a tad deceiving. I thought Smart Beer…hmm…is it hydrating? Does it lead to less of a hangover? etc.  But after reading about the company, it does make more sense. I just think it might appeal to more people if the name was tweaked. I had my brother try it and before he did, he said Smart Beer? and was a little confused. I initially had the same reaction.

Overall, worth a try! If you like a nice beer after a long day of work, or the occasional one for the weekend but don’t want the guilt of “un-doing” your fitness and diet regime, I think this is a good fit. Everything in moderation (responsibly, and legally too, of course!) 3 1/2 stars

 

What do you think…would you be interested in Smart Beer? Leave me a comment below!

 

I received this product for free. This is an unbiased review.
3 Oct 2015, Comments (0)

Celsius Fat Burning Beverage and Flo Fusion Berry Pre-Workout

Author: Healthnuttxo

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Celsius sent me some of their “Fat Burning Beverages” and the Flo Fusion Berry Pre-Workout to try. According to the website, drinking 1 beverage a day can help burn up to an extra 100 calories.  However, if you read the disclaimer on the bottom, it states that people who drank Celsius also participated in proper dieting and exercise, and those who drank the Celsius had better results than those who did not.

I am skeptical if it actually burns extra calories or not, and the beverage also states it is not intended for weight loss without diet or exercise. Anyway, let’s get on to the taste!

I got 3 flavors to try, Sparkling Wild Berry, Peach Mango Green Tea, and Sparkling Cola. All 3 of them had clean energy. No extreme jitters, and mood was elevated. However, it was nothing special. It was a “mild pre workout”, if you will, and I think would be good for someone who doesn’t take those harsh powdered pre workouts all the time, or drinks a lot of caffeine. The two flavors that were intended to be carbonated, were VERY mildly carbonated..almost flat. I don’t know if that was intentional, or because they got banged up in the mail.

The Sparkling Wild Berry was OK. It was not super sweet, and I could tell it was sugar free. It was a blend of like raspberry/blueberry flavors. The Peach Mango Green Tea was not carbonated at all (intentionally). It had equal peach and mango flavors, and did not scream green tea. Again, it was lightly sweetened, but pretty good.

The Cola had a pretty flat coke flavor. It tasted like a commercial Cola, but a lot less sweet, and again, lacking carbonation.

Overall, these were unimpressive. I like that they are Aspartame free, as well as HFCS free, but the flavors were OK and the energy level was mild. 3 stars

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Moving on to the pre-workout, these came in stick form with powder. Again, claims to burn up to 100 extra calories, and has been enriched with vitamins. All you have to do is add it to water, or a beverage of your choice (non  caffeinated). I had a friend try this, who drinks pre workout every day for the gym. He stated 1 packet was mild, and he ended up using 1.5 packets the following workout. He stated it was a mild pre workout, not that intense. There was no pump, and he felt no increase of strength, or that drive he normally feels while on his other pre workouts.
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The flavor…is delicious though. It tastes almost like a watermelon berry, and has a good amount of sweetness. I really enjoyed the flavor.

Again, 3 stars.
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I received these products for free. This is an unbiased review.
9 Jul 2015, Comments (14)

Honest Tea Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea review & Giveaway

Author: Healthnuttxo

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Howdy 🙂

The nice folks over at Honest Tea sent me a case of their new Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea to try! I am not a huge tea drinker, but if I do drink it, it’s always iced. So I was excited to try this, as I thought it would be a new experience.

The Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea is unsweetened, caffeine free,  and 0 calories per serving. It is also certified Organic, and Fair Trade Certified as well.  The ingredients are pretty short…just tea, rooibos tea leaves, cinnamon, and ginger root, amongst some natural flavors.

When you open the bottle, you can smell the cinnamon. It doesn’t give off a “red hot” cinnamon aroma, but more of an “apple pie” cinnamon smell. In fact…this literally kind of smells like apple pie in a bottle 🙂

The tea itself is actually quite yummy. It has a light cinnamon flavor, and light natural sweetness to it.  It leaves the flavor of cinnamon lingering in your mouth, but isn’t overpowering.

I tried it over ice and added a splenda to it, since the ice tends to water down the flavor. Honestly…amazing. Almost like apple pie in a bottle with cinnamon flavor. I would 100% buy this if I saw in stores.  4 1/2 stars

 

GIVEAWAY!!!!

You can win a case of the Honest Tea Cinnamon Sunrise Herbal Tea! Open to US only.
HOW TO ENTER:

1. Leave me a comment below stating your favorite flavor of tea!
2. [optional, but extra entry ]Tweet about this giveaway with the link, and mention me “ @ liisa_tee”
3. [optional, but extra entry]Follow me on instagram for reviews! @lisa_liftsx

PLEASE leave me a comment for EACH thing you do, as each is 1 entry! More entries= more chances to win 🙂

Giveaway CLOSES on July 13th, 12 pm.

 

I received this product for free. This is an unbiased review.
3 Jun 2015, Comments (0)

Three of the Best Green Teas for Beginners to Try

Author: Healthnuttxo

I’ve been paying more attention to my overall health lately and have been reading up on the benefits of green tea. Some scientists suggest that the antioxidants naturally found in green tea may reduce the risk of digestive cancer. It’s also reported to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes as it slows the rise of your blood sugar after eating. I wasn’t sure that green tea alone could do that, but I was willing to try it! Especially since I am a diabetic. The taste is definitely an acquired one, but there’s lots of different flavors to try and most supermarkets stock a wide variety, so you won’t need to go far to find them!

 

I know that green tea alone won’t miraculously make me super healthy, so I’ve combined it with walking 10,000 steps every day and overall, I’m feeling a lot better. I think it’s important to find what works for you and your health, and these two things were great for me. I understand that there’s all different kinds of green tea to choose from and I certainly didn’t know where to start, so I’ve put together a list of three of my favorites. They’re not too strong and two of them contain other flavors such as mint and pomegranate, so hopefully you’ll find something here that you like!

 

Numi Gunpowder Green. This is straight-up green tea with nothing else added, so no additives or artificial flavors and it’s also organic, and Fairtrade. One of the best things about Numi’s green tea is that it has a very delicate taste and won’t overpower your tastebuds, so it’s ideal for beginners to try.

 

Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea. The perfect green tea for people who like a fresh and energizing blend. Depending on the type, I’ve often found that citrus in green tea is too bitter, but this tea gets it right. I suggest you drink this one after a meal because mint is a natural stomach settler , and doesn’t contains sugar which can irritate your stomach. Boo sugar!!!

 

Yogi Tea Green Tea with Pomegranate. I’m a big fan of all Yogi Tea’s products but this is one of my favorites. If you’ve tried green tea before, but found it too strong, and would prefer something more fruity and herbal, try this – it’s much sweeter than standard green tea and is a great everyday choice, especially over the summer months.

 

The teas in this list are just some of my favorites but there’s hundreds of different types of green tea out there and if you’re like me, you’ll end up picking up a new flavor any time you’re in a supermarket. My cupboards are already full of tea but I always have space for more! I do feel that my overall health has improved and it’s really simple to swap out your usual soda for tea, so next time you’re out, pick up a box of green tea and try it for yourself!

 

 

24 May 2015, Comments (0)

Jeju 16 Water

Author: Healthnuttxo

I got a few bottles of new Jeju 16 Water! Starting now, there will be samples of this water available in Fairway Markets in select locations of Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

What makes Jeju 16 Water different? It’s origin is from South Korea, at a volcanic island called Jeju. There, the water is trickled down 16 layers of volcanic bedrock, which explains the “16” in the name.

What’s so special about 16 layers of bedrock? Well, when water passes rocks, it picks up essential minerals from the rock that we ingest. Minerals such as Magnesium, Flourine, Calcium, etc. We need these in trace amounts in order to have a happy, healthy, functioning body!

Here’s what the waters look like.

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And here is a list of the minerals that are in the water. If you are unfamiliar with the symbols:
In parts per million, there is Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium and Fluorine.

In parts per billion, there is Vanadium and Zinc. IMG_1933

The plastic is BPA free which is a plus as well.

I like the design and color scheme of black and white. It gives it almost a “glacial”, “cold” and “icy” type of feel for whatever reason. I can’t describe it, but the color scheme is perfect as well as eye catching.

The water is extremely smooth, absolutely no aftertaste. While I can’t describe the taste of water…can anyone really?…there are certainly bottled waters I prefer over others. Some have this aftertaste or slight tinge of flavor that is just off. That is not the case here. This water is extremely pure and smooth, no aftertaste, and just tastes, well, good!

Really enjoyed it. Would buy if I saw in store. Gotta head to Fairway! 4 ½ stars

 

I received this product for free. This is an unbiased review.
17 Oct 2014, Comments (6)

Nutiva O’Coconut Coconut Treats and Numi Organic Tea

Author: Healthnuttxo

I got some goodies!!! Nutiva sent me some yummy coconut treats to try, and Numi sent me a variety of some organic teas! I thought the idea was cute, since teas and “cookies” often are paired together 🙂

Let’s do the coconut treats first. These treats were individually packaged, and teeny! About a third of the size of my palm each. The hemp & chia coconut treat was yummy. It was lightly sweetened, but still had a nice sweet flavor to it. It reminded me of one of those macaroons you could buy at a bakery, but a lot less sweet. It was very soft, with a predominant coconut flavor, and a vanilla aftertaste. If you don’t enjoy piecy coconut consistency, this would not be for you! The little bite was also rather dense and chewy. As for chia or hemp flavor? I didn’t really detect much, but I wasn’t really complaining because it was still good. 4 stars.

Next up, the classic flavored. This one was also good. I found it to be a tad bit more dry than the other treat, but it wasn’t as flaky/piecy as the hemp & chia flavor. It was also dense and chewy, with a yummy vanilla flavor. I could definitely taste the cane sugar syrup that was used, or the tapioca syrup, but it wasn’t as if it was in excess to where it was gross. I am just familiar with those flavors, and thought it went nicely with the coconut. Overall, I liked it! 4 stars

Next up, the teas! To be fair, I did NOT sweeten any of them or add milk, etc. I had them straight up! First, the Jasmine Green tea. Gotta say, not my favorite. The Jasmine predominated the Green tea flavoring, and was quite strong. The smell was also quite strong, and it almost tasted exactly how Jasmine smells, if that makes sense. However, I passed this tea along to another tea lover, and she loved it, BUT she loves Jasmine. So, safe to say, you may enjoy this one as long as you like Jasmine. I wouldn’t drink it again, but it’s just not for me. Based on both of our ratings- 3 stars

Next, the Moroccan Mint! This one I thought I wouldn’t like, but really enjoyed! It was soothing, with a very faint minty flavor, almost like a peppermint. It was enjoyable, and reminded me of sleepytime tea with the flavoring. Like I said, the mint flavor, VERY subtle, so one a 1-10 scale, 10 being very minty, it was around 1.5. Which I liked! I thought it would be overpowering but was pleasantly surprised. 4.5 stars

Lastly, I got to try the Breakfast Blend Tea. I do not have a picture of this one, however, I can say it was also quite delicious.  I thought it might be harsh since it was a black tea, but it wasn’t at all. Not to say it was light in flavor, but it wasn’t bitter or overpoweringly strong. I let a friend try this one, and she ended up drinking the whole dang box on me! Guess she liked it 🙂 4 stars

OVERALL, enjoyable! Kudos to Nutiva and Numi. Now I have to ask, what is your favorite flavor of tea?

22 Aug 2014, Comments (2)

Bai 5 Antioxidant Infusions beverage

Author: Healthnuttxo

I received some free samples of the Bai 5 Antioxidant Infusions beverages, in 3 different flavors. I received Brasilia Bluberry, Limu Lemon, and Tanzania Lemonade Tea.

I must be honest, I feel like I have definitely seen these in stores before but never thought to buy them for whatever reason. But alas! Now I have no choice but to try them!

Each bottle is made with superfruit, or as the bottle says “the outside” of the coffee fruit…”coffee’s secret superfruit”. The company then “infuse[s] the antioxidant power of the superfruit, add[s] a splash of exotic fruit juices and voila! You have naturally sweetened, free-radical crushing Bai 5”.

Each bottle I received has 35 mg of caffeine in it per serving, and 5 calories per serving, They are sweeteend naturally with organic stevia extract and erythritol.

First up, the Brasilia Blueberry. This one is very tasty. It tastes like you ate a handful of fresh blueberries and that sweet, fruity flavor is left in your mouth. It is sweet, and you could swear it is sweetened with sugar, but alas, it is not! However, it does not have any bitter flavor that stevia can sometimes provide, and leaves your mouth feeling refreshed. I REALLY like this one. I did this review at 8 pm and had to stop myself from guzzling the whole bottle from the caffeine unless I would be up all night! 4 1/2 stars

Next up.  Limu Lemon. This one had a strong scent of lemonade. Again, it was delicious. Tasted almost exactly like a fresh squeezed lemonade, and had just the right amount of tartness. It was sweet, but also irked on the more tart side. I like it because unlike lemon flavored drinks I have had, it did not leave a funky feeling in the back of my throat or on my tongue. Just pure refreshment. 4 stars

Lastly, the Tanzania Lemonade Tea. This one reminded me of those half & half products, where the beverage is half lemonade and half iced tea. It was sweet, and definitely had lemon/lemonade flavor to it, but also a bit of an iced tea flavor. I found it a little duller in sweetness than the other 2, but it was still rather enjoyable. 4 stars

Overall, bravo Bai 5!!! I really like these! If I see these in stores, I will definitely be picking some up. As a diabetic, it’s hard to find “sugar free” alternatives that will not spike my blood sugar that actually taste good and not too chemically. Woo!!

20 May 2014, Comments (0)

AQUAhydrate Electrolyte Enhanced Water

Author: Healthnuttxo

AQUAhydrate reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try their Electrolyte Enhanced Water. I happily obliged- I am an avid gym goer, and even with the warm weather it is easy to have an electrolyte imbalance whether you sweat out a lot of sodium, don’t eat enough potassium, etc. So I got sent a few bottles of their Electrolyte Enhanced Water, along with this cute package of a hat, sunglasses, and a tote! Thanks guys!

This water has a pH of 9+, so it is on the basic side from a pH scale of 1-14. 7 is a neutral rating, and anything below 7 is considered more acidic (think lemon juice!). According to the label, “normal bottled water” has a pH rating of about 7.5, and this water has one in the 9-10 range. If you would like to read more about why they have a higher pH level, please visit their website here.

There are some trace minerals in the water as well. Magnesium, Selenium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Chloride, Chromium, Copper and Zinc are all added but in very teeny amounts.

As for the taste? This water is great! I know, I know… Uh…it’s water? But TRUST ME I have had some nasty bottled water before. You CAN taste the difference. This water tastes super crisp and fresh,and has a very clean feel to it. I loved it. I received about 4 bottles of the water and drank it right away…and then noticed the difference when I went back to my other normal bottled water. Poland Spring..I love you man, but Aqua Hydrate may be your close cousin for top flavor in my opinion.

Overall, I like it! The bottle is thick, so I wonder if that’s to help with the pH at all… or flavor… but if it’s not that should change! However it is 100% recyclable so there’s a plus. I would buy this if I saw it in stores. Now I have two brands of bottled water that I enjoy. Everyone loves a little dihydrogen monoxide! (heh heh, Chem joke)

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