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The Fit Foodie
7) THE NEXT “IT” SUPERFOOD: MATCHA
It’s not new, but Matcha is ready for its debut. Shade-grown and harvested primarily in Japan, this powerhouse of a superfood will rock your world when you discover all of its bene ts, and all the ways you can enjoy it. It’s 10 times more powerful than green tea. Plus, you’re ingesting the whole leaf, which is ground into a ne powder, so you’re getting more of the bene ts. It’ll give you an energy burst without the buzz of co ee because it’s rich in the amino acid, L-theanine. It’s also known to help re- duce stress and lower blood pressure.
Jade Monk, a line of ready-to-drink matcha teas combines coconut water and mint and honey into their varieties to bal-
ance out the ‘earthiness’ of matcha’s grassy notes. Matcha Love Organic Stone Ground Green Tea Powder makes it easy to brew it into an iced latte or blend the powder into your smoothie bowl and combines well with fruit or milks. You can also add matcha to boost the nutritional value of desserts, like chia seed puddings or your favorite baked goods. Maru cha cha offers a delicate, savory cookie crisp colored and flavored with the grassy matcha.
Since it helps boost your metabolism, it’s matcha pancakes, mat- cha brownies and matcha macarons for everyone!
Make your own tonic at home by adding a tablespoon of organic un ltered ACV to 12 oz. of sparkling water and add a squeeze of lime and a few drops of organic stevia.
8) DRINK YOUR VINEGAR
Kombucha, that SCOBY-full drink that might just give you a buzz, has seen an enormous rise in popularity despite its ‘ac- quired taste’ avor. So, if we’ve already primed the taste buds of America to dig sour and bitter drinks, you bet your ‘bucha that beverages made with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) will be next to explode.
e bene ts of ACV abound, including increased carbo- hydrate metabolism, the prevention of insulin spiking and encouraging weight loss. Now, a new crop of ACV ready-to- drink products are boosting the health bene ts and coupling them with fresh new avors in at and sparkling varieties. e popularity of Kevita probiotic tonics put them on the map and just this year, earned them a couple hundred million ac- quisition price tag from Pepsi. Newcomer Mr. Blackwell’s Bo- tonics o ers a sparkling organic ACV drink in a can avored with botanicals and fruit, like Strawberry Rose, Passion Fruit Mango, and Lemon Honey Ginger. Make your own tonic at home by adding a tablespoon of organic un ltered ACV to 12 oz. of sparkling water and add a squeeze of lime and a few drops of organic stevia.
Drinking vinegar may be a bit of an acquired taste but before you know it, you’ll be sipping on your salad dressings, too.
36 Endless Summer 2017
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