Know Your Sugars

Keeping track of and cutting down on your sugar consumption can be the key to your health this year and the years to come. But it’s not always an easy thing to do.

The FDA has recently changed the Nutrition Facts label where the “Total Sugars” section now has a line saying “Includes (amount) Added Sugars”. This has caused confusion among some consumers, leading them to believe that they only need to be concerned with the “added sugars” on the food labels versus the “total sugars” (total sugars often includes what is referred to as natural sugars).

Unfortunately, this is not the case. When natural sugars are highly processed, they will have fundamentally similar properties as added sugars. In this article in Augusta Health, dieticians who advise diabetics gave this example with fruit juice: The food label will tell you that 8 ounces of orange soda has 23 grams of “added sugar” while 8 ounces of orange juice (without pulp) has 23 grams of “natural sugar”. While both will cause a rapid spike in blood sugar and a fall, the juice sounds “healthier”. But that is really not the fact.

Now if you chose to eat a medium orange instead, it would contain 10-13 grams of natural sugar as well as fiber and water. The fiber and water will fill you up and keep you from overeating. Also, your body will have to break down the cells of the orange before the sugar can be released and the sugar is absorbed into your blood more slowly. So eating the whole fruit is healthier than either example above.

When it comes to “added sugars”, per the American Heart Association, the daily goal for women is about 24 grams (6 teaspoons) and for men, it is about 36 grams (9 teaspoons). To put that into perspective, a 12-ounce can of cola contains 10 teaspoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of bottled BBQ sauce contains about 4 teaspoons of sugar. You can see how quickly this can add up, especially if the diet is high in processed foods.

The dieticians in the article give you a few tips to help you start reducing sugars in your diet:

• Cut back on sugary drinks. Instead, drink more water, sparkling water, herbal teas, black tea, or black coffee.
• Change your desserts. Instead of cakes, pies, donuts, and ice cream, try fresh fruit, Greek yogurt with cinnamon, or dark chocolate.
• Limit sauces, condiments, and dressings with added sugars. Choose more herbs and spices, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, pesto, or mayonnaise.
• Choose canned goods without added sugars. Avoid versions that are packed in syrup. Instead, look for “packed in water” or “no added sugar” on the labels.
• Limit sugary breakfast foods. Breakfast cereals, even “healthier” versions, are often loaded with sugar as are muffins and pancakes. Instead, try plain Greek yogurt with added fruit and nuts or eggs with cheese and vegetables, or toast with nut butter (without added sugar).

Understanding the amounts and types of sugar in your diet and cutting back on them where possible will go a long way toward getting off to a healthier start this year. And Syfo Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters and Original Seltzer are a great way to eliminate the unnecessary sugar you get in soft drinks. Made with 100 percent purified water, our products contain no sugar, sodium, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Just pure natural goodness.

You can read the entire Augusta Health article here.

Four Delicious Easter Mocktails

Just in time for Easter, here are four great non-alcoholic drink recipes perfect for the entire family, adapted from a post on beverageuniverse.com:

Virgin Mojito

 Who can resist a refreshing and delicate mojito cocktail? The non-alcoholic, or virgin option offers a one of a kind experience that will convert any skeptic and will leave them savoring this energizing spring beverage. Here’s the famous mocktail recipe:

 Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of sugar; 
  • fresh minty leaves;
  • lime;
  • Syfo Original Seltzer
  • A handful of crushed ice;

Preparation: 

  1. Muddle the minty leaves and a wedge of lime. You’ll sense the great refreshing aroma all around you. 
  2. Add the sugar (you can use agave instead, or any other sweetener of your choice, I prefer brown sugar) and mash it up. 
  3. It’s time to freeze the aroma – fill the glass with crushed ice.
  4. Finally, add seltzer and stir your Easter elixir. 

Virgin Sangria

Are you warming up? Here’s another shortlisted mocktail for your Easter celebration: a Virgin Sangria! Sangria lovers, behold, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of water;
  • 2 black tea bags;
  • 2 cinnamon sticks;
  • ½ cup of sugar;
  • 3 cups of pomegranate juice; 
  • 1 cup of orange juice;
  • 1 medium orange, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium lemon, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium lime, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks;
  • 3 cups Syfo Original Seltzer.

Preparation: 

  1. Boil the water and pour it over the tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Let them steep for a few minutes and remove the teabags. 
  2. Add sugar and stir so that it could dissolve quicker; 
  3. Use a pitcher to mix in the tea, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, orange juice, and sliced fruits. Place it in the fridge to cool down for at least an hour. 
  4. Before serving add the carbonated water. And don’t forget to add ice to your Easter beverage. 

 Shirley Ginger

 Shirley Temple is a classic non-alcoholic cocktail. But to spice it up a bit we’ve picked a recipe that modifies this famous mocktail into a Shirley Ginger- an ideal option for all the ginger beer aficionados at the Easter celebration. 

Here’s how to make it. 

Ingredients:

Preparation: 

  1. Mix all liquid ingredients – the ginger beer, the club soda, the lime juice, and the grenadine in a pitcher and stir well.  
  2. Put ice cubes in tall glasses and pour the mixture in.
  3. Garnish with lime slices and/or maraschino cherries and enjoy. 

Rhubarb-Lime Mocktail

 Have you ever tried a rhubarb? How about rhubarb bitters in a mocktail? The final recipe on our Easter Mocktails list will help you catch up with the trends. If you cannot find fresh rhubarb you can use a frozen one, your drink will still be just as delicious as refreshing, no worries there. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice;
  • 4 tablespoons of basil syrup;
  • 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters; 
  • 1 cup of Syfo Original Seltzer;
  • Ice cubes;
  • Rhubarb stems for decoration;

Preparation:  

  1. In a shaker add the ice cubes, lime juice, basil syrup, and rhubarb bitters and shake vigorously. 
  2. Strain the cooled liquid in a rock glass and top with the seltzer. 
  3. Garnish with the rhubarb stems. 
Sparkling Water Still Healthy as Ever

Every so often Web discussions and articles appear on the health benefits and effects of sparkling water. And the results are always the same, sparkling water is as healthy as ever! One of the latest trending topics is effect of sparkling water on digestive health. According to this article on Healthline.com, sparkling water has many digestive health benefits:

Improves swallowing ability

Studies suggest that sparkling water may improve swallowing ability. In one study, 16 healthy people were asked to repeatedly swallow different liquids. Carbonated water showed the strongest ability to stimulate the nerves responsible for swallowing.

Can make you feel fuller

Carbonated water can make you feel fuller after meals when compared with plain water and help you lose weight (read our customer testimonials of weight loss). According to HealthLine, in a controlled study in 19 healthy young women, fullness scores were higher after the participants drank 8 ounces of sparkling water, compared to when they drank still water.

May help relieve constipation

People who experience constipation may find that drinking sparkling water helps relieve their symptoms. In a two-week study in 40 older individuals who had experienced a stroke, average bowel movement frequency nearly doubled in the group that drank carbonated water, compared with the group that drank tap water. What’s more, participants reported a 58% decrease in constipation symptoms.

Helps to relieve stomach pain

There’s also evidence that sparkling water may improve other symptoms of indigestion, including stomach pain. The Healthline.com article references a controlled study that examined 21 people with chronic digestive issues. After 15 days, those who drank carbonated water experienced significant improvements in digestive symptoms, constipation, and gallbladder emptying.

So there you have it. There is one other issue that has been the subject of online discussions of late, and that is whether carbonated water can aggravate IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome). HealthLine says that sparkling water doesn’t cause IBS, but if you have IBS and are sensitive to carbonated beverages, it may be best to remove them from your diet.

You can read more about the health benefits of sparkling water in our earlier posts here and here.

Sparkle Your Valentine’s Day

Delicious Drinks for Love This Valentine’s Day

Bring a sparkle to your Valentine’s Day celebrations with these delicious drinks made from Syfo Seltzer and Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters.

Liquid Lust

Set the mood this Valentine’s Day with this tantalizing cocktail. Made with sliced fruit and rose-infused tequila, this mouth-watering cocktail is perfect for a day (or night) of romance. Enjoy one with the one you love this Valentine’s Day.

Liquid_Lust_drink

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 bottle of ROSANGEL Tequila
  • 1/2 bottle of White Wine
  • 1/3 cup of White Sugar
  • 1 oz of Orange Juice
  • 2 oz of Cranberry Juice
  • 2 Oranges (sliced)
  • 1 Lemon (sliced)
  • 1 Lime (sliced)
  • 1 bunch of Grapes (sliced)
  • 1 Apple (diced)
  • 1/2 liter of chilled Syfo Original Seltzer

 

 

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients and stir. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Recipe adapted from nochelatina.com.

 

Cherub’s Cup

Here’s a recipe that’s perfect for everyone in love, for Valentine’s Day or at any time of year:

Cherub

Ingredients:

1 part St. Germain elderflower liqueur 2 parts vodka, citrus vodka, or Hendricks Gin

3/4 part fresh lemon juice

optional 1/4 shot simple syrup

1 part muddled strawberry

Top with Syfo Original Seltzer

Strawberry for garnish

Preparation:

Shake and strain over fresh rocks in a collins glass. Top with Brut Rose or Brut Champagne or Syfo Original Seltzer. Garnish with a strawberry.

 

Make Believe Champagne

While you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day, have this non-alcoholic drink on hand for toasting.

Ingredients:
  • 1 (1-liter bottle) Syfo Original Seltzer, chilled
  • 1 (1-liter bottle) ginger ale, chilled
  • 1 (24-ounce) bottle unsweetened white grape juice, chilled
  • Ice cubes

 

 

Preparation:

In a large pitcher combine the seltzer, ginger ale, and white grape juice. Pour over ice cubes in chilled champagne glasses or wine glasses.

Makes 20 servings.

Nutritional facts per serving (1/20 of recipe):

Calories: 37, total fat: 0g, saturated fat: 0g, cholesterol: 0mg, sodium: 14mg, carbohydrate: 9g, fiber: 0g, protein: 0g, vitamin A: 0%, vitamin C: 0%, calcium: 0%, iron: 1%

Recipe provided by Better Homes and Gardens – BHG.com a member of the Home and Family Network for the best of cooking, gardening, decorating and more. (c) 2003 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

Tips for a Healthy Start to the New Year

The start of the New Year is traditionally a time of renewed focus and new beginnings, so that makes it a perfect time to refocus on your health, especially this year. Here are a few simple steps you can take, gathered from sources around the Web, that can help you get off to a healthy start in 2022 and help to put the stress of 2021 behind.

Get a good night’s sleep — According to the American Sleep Foundation, about two-thirds of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week with 15 percent reporting less than six hours per night. Between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is considered optimal for good health.

Eat protein for breakfast – When you rise from that restful sleep, try having a protein-rich breakfast. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating a protein-rich breakfast may help control appetite and curb the urge to snack in the evening. It can also improve alertness, energy and performance throughout the day.

Take time during your day to release stress – According to the Mayo Clinic, simple meditation exercises during the day that can be done practically anytime and anywhere can bring both a sense of calm and balance. This can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Exercise for at least 90 minutes a week – According to this article on Discovery Health, you don’t need to exercise for hours a day or run a marathon to get the weight loss, cardiovascular and overall heath benefits. Studies have shown that walking as little as 10 minutes a day increases the heart’s oxygen consumption rate by more than 4 percent while helping to reduce weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Make the switch to healthy beverages – Sugary soft drinks have been associated with weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, dental problems and even depression. A move toward healthy beverages can improve your overall health and keep you hydrated. We recommend Syfo of course.

More Articles...