Month: July 2019

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Why Shouldn’t You go Gluten Free? Part 1

Why Shouldn’t You Go Gluten Free?

 

Gluten free dieting is the thing.  Why shouldn’t you go gluten free, too? All “health nuts” are doing it. It’s all over social media and the stars are doing it, so it must be legit, right?

Gluten free diets have helped a lot of people feel better. And a lot of people think that going gluten free is a good idea without talking to their doctor first.

Fact is, some of these people may not even be feeling better because of the gluten omission. It could be a wheat allergy or sensitivity, the salt in the bread, a completely different ingredient altogether. Or, it could be the day, hormones, or even a physiological or emotional association.

Unless you are properly diagnosed by a doctor for gluten intolerance specifically, there is absolutely no reason to go on a gluten-free diet.

Gluten doesn’t make you fat. And gluten is good for you if you’re not allergic to it.  Gluten is a protein found in some grains, primarily wheat. It is not a fat. (If you’re truly allergic, gluten can cause inflammation and damage, affecting your intestines mainly, but also other parts of your body. )

Gluten is a protein you need for muscle gains in the gym!

As a server, I witnessed the gluten free diet preference all the time. We even had a special gluten free menu because so many people were “gluten free”.

For those who aren’t aware of much that goes along with this diet, they just characterize gluten free as being healthy, and do it out of a desire to do better with their weight control and overall health.

But why? Do you really know what gluten free means? 

Going gluten free is simply eliminating a protein from your diet. Gluten free dieting should be considered for managing signs and symptoms of celiac disease and other medical conditions associated with gluten.
Celiac disease is when the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food. 

While waitressing, I always asked my gluten free diners, “Is this a preference or an allergy?” (For safety reasons, of course). After working at this restaurant for over a year, out of however many people I asked over this period of time, (and this was a daily thing), I can only specifically remember less than 5 diners saying it was a legitimate allergy.

The gluten free statement comes up a lot in conversations I have when people talk with me about health, dieting and losing weight. Often I find that the term is thrown out there just because they heard it somewhere and want to sound knowledgeable on health and dieting for health.

Sadly, our health is not a common taught subject, and in order to truly be healthy, we have to really dig for the truth if we want it.

What social media determines is healthy isn’t always healthy.

I encourage you to go find out for yourself, talk to health professionals, talk to your doctor, find scientifically proven studies, on what “fad” diets promise to accomplish. Make sure it’s aligning with your specific goals, as well as your complete health, before jumping in with both feet. You need to find out the what and the why for new, emerging fad diets. Because not all diets are fit for all people.

It’s time to stop believing everything you hear and actually educate yourself on what good healthy eating really means.

 

There are so many “diets” circulating through social media and the internet. If you hear it more than once, unless you go research and read up about it yourself, you’ll probably just assume it’s good!

What does good healthy eating look like? Is it the Keto diet? DASH? Nordic? Ketogenic? Mediterranean Diet? Vegan? GFD (Gluten free diet)? (Didn’t yo momma teach you not to believe everything you see on TV?)

An article published in 2018 by Benjamin Niland, MD, and Brooks D. Cash, MD, said that, gluten-related diseases such as celiac disease and gluten ataxia are rare conditions, affecting less than 1% of the population in the United States.

So why would everybody go gluten free if only less than 1% of the population is actually allergic to gluten?

WHY? Because it is popular! 

I’m going to continue this article next week, and I’ll warn you ahead of time, the next article about gluten free eating and why you shouldn’t do it, is going to be more “text book-like” in read-style because I’ll be including a lot of research and clips from studies done by educated people that actually know what they’re talking about!

I’ll be answering the real question on why gluten free dieting isn’t good for everybody.

Stay tuned NEXT WEDNESDAY for the rest of why you shouldn’t go gluten free… for health’s sake. (Unless, of course, you are truly diagnosed by your doctor with a gluten allergy!) 

Part 2 here

If you have comments or questions on this topic, reach out! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life, so wherever you like to hang, you can reach me!

 

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8 Best Protein Sources for Vegans

 

protein sources for vegans

8 Best Protein Sources for Vegans

 

Protein sources for vegans can be easier to find than most people would think.

When I tell people that I am a vegan, the first thing they seem to freak out about is protein; can you even get protein on a vegan diet? Sure you can! In this article, I’m going to show you the 8 best protein sources for vegans. 

Most people equate health and defined muscles to a large intake of protein. It is also common for people to think they aren’t getting enough protein. 

 

First, lets look at protein. How important is it, really? And do you have to have an abundance of it to be healthy? Is “enough” difficult to come by, and can you get enough, or can you even get any protein if you are a vegan?

 

The short answer is, protein is important, but not in abundance. And yes, you can get more than enough protein on a vegan diet. 

The average American consumes too much protein already. Add a liquid, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, and you could be in serious trouble. 

 

protein sources for vegansA high protein diet is toxic to our bodies.

 

 

 

 

Doctor Agatha M. Thrash, M.D. of Preventive Medicine, and founder of Uchee Pines Natural Health Lifestyle Institute, states that,“A high protein diet puts a tax on the liver, breaks down protein tissues, triggers a loss of calcium from bones, and leaves toxic residues which must be eliminated. Before elimination of these toxic residues, however, the body is often damaged so that it is more susceptible to a variety of diseases, including cancer and arthritis.” 

So how do we know when we’re getting too much or not enough protein?

 

Well, the dietary reference intake for protein is 0.8 grams per kilograms of body weight per day (USDA, 2010). When expressed as a percentage of total calories, the recommendation is that 10-35% of an individual’s daily calories should come from protein. 

Here is an example: 200 pounds is 90.7 kilograms. That is approximately 73 grams of protein needed for one single day. A meal that includes a bowl of beans (15gr protein) and brown rice (7grams), a side salad with spinach and quinoa (5 grams) and a few walnuts (4 grams), equals to an approximate amount of 31 grams of complete protein. This is a single meal. You only need that less than three times in your day to get more than enough protein for one day.* 

Protein, in its purest form and within the boundaries of a balanced diet, is important.  Hair and nails are mostly made of protein. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues. Protein gives you muscle mass, makes enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. It also is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

PROTEIN NEED BY ACTIVITY LEVEL:

Activity Level  

No exercise:

Type of Exercise

N/A

Protein Needs (g/kg body weight)

0.8 to 1.2

Light to Moderate

Cardiovascular

Resistance

1.2 to 1.6

1.5 to 2.0

Moderate to Vigerous

Cardiovascular

Resistance

1.5 to 2.0

1.7 to 2.2

But a little bit goes a long way. 

As a fitness professional and a vegan, plus a gym rat, I have done years of studies, research and training to witness and experience first-hand, that meat is not necessary, needed or even healthy, for appropriate protein intake.  

It is easy to get protein. Period. You don’t need as much as you think, nor is it as difficult to come by on a vegan diet, as one would assume. There is protein in almost everything, especially in legume, nut, seed and grain related foods. Accumulated over a day, it is likely to consume more than you thought, and more than your body requires. 

Where do you get adequate protein on a vegan diet? 

 

There are many foods that offer proteins, complete, and incomplete here are my top 8 picks.

 

 

Tofu ~ 27 grams of complete protein

1. Soy is a great source of protein for vegans

Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and Edamame are among the richest sources of protein in a vegan diet with 27 grams of protein in one 14oz block of tofu. In Edamame there are 18 grams of protein in 1 single cup.  

Soy is also a complete protein, which means that it provides all the essential amino acids that our body does not produce on its own, making it essential to acquire them from your diet.

 

 

 

protein sources for vegans
Lentils ~ 24 grams of protein

2. Lentils are a great source of protein for vegans

Lentils combined with a whole grain, (making this a “complete” protein) provides the same quality protein as meat, with 24 grams per 1 cup (cooked).

 

 

 

protein sources for vegans
Quinoa ~ 4.4 grams of complete protein

3. Quinoa is a great source of protein for vegans

Quinoa is also a complete protein source, with 4.4 grams of protein per half a cup cooked. It can be used as a hot cereal, in salads, in casseroles, used in place of rice, and much more. Pinterest has tons of great recipes using quinoa! 

 

 

 

protein sources for vegans
Whole wheat ~ 16 grams of protein

4. 100% whole wheat is a great source of protein for vegans

Wheat has 16 grams of protein per 1 cup. 

In one slice of 100% whole grain bread, there is approximately 3.6 grams of protein per one slice of bread, depending, of course, on the size. Make that a sandwich and you’ve got about 7 grams.

A couple other grains that I often use are millet, which contains 6.1 g per cup and oats, containing 5.9 grams per cup.

 

 

 

Guava fruit ~ 4.2 grams of protein

5. Guava fruit is a great source of protein for vegans

Protein is mostly found in grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. But, some fruits also contain protein, guava being one of the highest, with 4.2 grams per one cup.

Other fruits that offer protein are Apricots (2.2 grams per cup), kiwi (2.1 grams per cup), blackberries (2 grams per cup), oranges (1.7 grams per cup), and bananas (1.3 grams per cup sliced).

 

 

 

Hemp seeds ~ 9 grams of protein

6. Hemp seeds are a great source of protein for vegans

This is one seed considered to be a superfood, containing 9 grams of protein per ounce (about a tablespoon). 

These seeds are a complete source of protein as well, delivering all nine essential amino acids. 

Hemp is high in potassium and magnesium, which are minerals that can help reduce muscle cramping. Perfect for those of us who work out regularly! (I toss these little babies in my shakes allll the time!)

 

 

 

Peas ~ 8.5 grams of protein

7. Peas are a great source of protein for vegans

Green peas contain 8.5 grams of protein per 1 cup. 

In addition to protein, peas are great sources of vitamins, and soluble as well as insoluble fiber.

 

 

 

Mung beans ~ 14 grams of protein

8. Mung beans are a great source of protein for vegans

1 cup of cooked mung beans has 14 grams or protein. 

These beans also have several healthy antioxidants, also have anti-inflammatory properties, are known to lower high cholesterol, thought to aid in reducing high blood pressure, as well as lower blood sugar levels and many, many more amazing health benefits worth their consideration in a balanced, vegan diet. 

BONUS. . . I couldn’t leave out Pumpkin seeds with 8.5 grams of protein per 1 ounce. (Plus BCAA’s! – I put a handful of theses in my shakes, too. Can’t even’t taste them.

So as you can see, protein is abundant in non-meat foods! I only listed 8 foods, but this list could be miles long, so I picked my faves and ones that are on the higher scale, but if you want more, shoot me an email here! I’m also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so wherever it is you like to hang out the most, follow and comment, ask and engage! I love talking about this stuff. 

 

*The amount of protein in vegan meal mentioned above depends on types of legume eaten, and amount of each serving consumed.

If you have comments or questions on this topic, or anything else, reach out! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life, so wherever you like to hang, you can reach me!

 

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A Vegan’s Story

 

Vegan Mac n cheese
Vegan macaroni and cheese, cauliflower, sprouted, whole wheat bread, and salad with vegan nut-based cheese.

A Vegan’s Story

 

“You’re a Vegan?!” Her eyes bulged uncontrollably as a huff slipped from her gawking mouth. “What do you eat? ” She sneers. “Where do you get your protein?!” Her gaze slips away from my face and over my 100-pound body as if she’s searching for part of me to be abnormally … off. “Well, you look good,” she turns up her nose. “And you have 5 kids!? How!? Are they all yours?”

What am I supposed to say? No, I stole them so I could keep this body and have kids, too. “Yup, they’re allll mine,” smiles awkwardly to fill the gap.

“But how?” She’s serious!

I feel kind of guilty for being tiny, but only for a second. Then the feeling shifts into, I could show you how, if you want me to. 

“I exercise regularly and I eat healthy…” Vegan style.

She crosses her arms and stares at me for 5 seconds before her expression softens.

“Yeah, I need to eat better.” She turns and flips her hair over her shoulder and I swear I see her trying to turn her wine into water. But I wish you could have seen her face. I couldn’t tell if it was judgment or doubt, or concern, or maybe a little of all three.

“What do you eat though? Lettuce?”

I get asked this alllll the time. “No. I eat everything you eat, just a healthier, homemade version of it. Pizza, lasagna, casseroles, burgers, ice cream, cake, steak (gluten steaks), chili, salad… tofu –”

Her expression is priceless. Her nose wrinkles and her lips pucker like she just ate a rotten tomato. “I can’t do tofu! But that’s great; you look amazing! I wish I could look like you, and to think you have so many kids! I only have one and look at me!”

There it is. She wishes, but she can’t do…

It’s over. We part ways and we will probably never see each other again.

I have conversations similar to this all the time. People cannot understand how I have so many kids, look so healthy and fit, and am a vegan. It blows their mind.

THEY’RE ALL SECRETLY THINKING:  “WHERE’S THAT PROTEIN? SHE’S PROBABLY MALNOURISHED.” 

First, if you really, truly, want to be healthy and look good, stop saying, “I can’t.”

It’s about what your priorities are. If you really, truly want  to look and feel amazing you can! But you cannot have your cake and eat it too, and expect not to be fluffy. (Haha, see what I did there?) Some things will just have to go, and in the same way, some things you’ll just have to add. Even if you don’t love it…. right now.

Yes, I am a vegan. I’m fit and healthy. Annnd, all 5 kids came from this body. No, I don’t just eat lettuce.

YES, I GET MY PROTEIN.

Along with this woman, and everybody else that asks me this question, protein seems to be the number one concern.

So where do I get my protein?

Honestly, this is the easiest thing in the world to answer. It’s in some veggies, some fruits, all nuts and seeds, and beans, and whole grains are loaded to the hilt with protein.

In all actuality, it’s easy to get enough protein because, for one, our bodies don’t need as much as most people think, to be healthy. And two, it’s not just in meat.

The dietary reference intake for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day (USDA, 2010). In fact, the recommendation is that only 10-35% of our daily calorie intake should come from protein.

That’s not a lot of protein. I’m about to drop a load of wisdom on your heads right now. Protein isn’t the “be all end all”, for good health. It is easy to get enough. It’s easy to get too much, too, if you are not a vegan; and too much, is toxic to our bodies!

So don’t stress. If you eat a balanced diet of nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, you’ll be getting enough protein. Period.

In the next few blog posts coming up, I’ll be going into this topic in much more detail and I will help you along the way. This is just the beginning of the vegan journey. It’s simpler than you think. You won’t have to start eating the grass growing in your lawn or get an extra fridge to store your lettuce. All you’ll have to do is take the things you eat now and substitute a few of them for healthier, vegan, options.

Now that I’ve debunked a couple of the “normal” concerns that I have heard time and time again, when you think vegan, what comes to mind?

I am really excited to launch into this new series on health and fitness (coming soon!). We’re going to dive a little deeper into what it means to be a vegan, how to be balanced on a plant-based diet, and how to see amazing gains in the gym even if you’re a vegan!

I’m also so incredibly stoked right now, because I’ll be featuring special guest, Jim Gurtner, who won championships as a bodybuilder on a vegan, plant-based diet. This is going to be super-duper inspiring, so click the link below and sign up for my emails to be the first to know when his story hits Balance8Life!

By the way – if you’re new to the thought of being healthy, but don’t know where to start, look no further! Setting goals is a good place to start. You can also go to my blog and explore my articles. If you start at the bottom and work your way up, I introduce each of the 8 methods for balancing a healthy lifestyle. I then show you how to set goals, make them last, and be consistent with them.

If you have any questions, please reach out! I love hearing your stories and questions! You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram, too, for daily motivation and healthy tips.

Happy balancing! See you soon!

 

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Consistency Killed the Fat

 

 Ropes 

Consistency Killed the Fat

 

Consistency is the key to success. Whether you are new to a healthy lifestyle or have been doing it for years; Consistency is how we achieve lasting results.

Sometimes it’s just not easy.

Consistency means: steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.

Like I already talked about in my articles, How to Set Goals that Last and Six Steps to Setting Goals that Last, there are steps we have to take in order to reach goals. But just like walking, if you take one step forward and another step backwards then you don’t really reach your goals very quickly, or ever.

This is where consistency comes in. Now when I say consistency, I don’t mean consistently stepping through all your changes one after another. I mean staying consistent with the change you just made. As you take those steps towards your end goal, make each one stick before you go to the next. Once you see you are consistent with that one, add the next change, the next piece in finding balance in your life everyday.

Your goals should be realistic which will boost your ability to be consistent.

If you are 300 pounds and your goal is to be 100 pounds, your realistic “baby step”goal, should be to lose 5 or 10 pounds (first). When your goals are realistic, you get to see obvious, consistent improvement and can celebrate your successes a lot quicker, reaching one small goal at a time.

Consistency depends on solid promises.

Never make a promise to yourself, or anybody else, that you cannot keep. In Six Steps to Setting Goals that Last, the 5th step is TALK ABOUT IT. Talking about it makes you want to continue those good habits so that you don’t disappoint anyone, but we all have moments where we fail. Owning those moments and promising to do better, for yourself, is also important. Consistency isn’t always immediate, it’s a mindset; begin with consistency in your mind and when you miss it don’t lose that mindset, reset and keep pushing.

Once you have decided what you’re going to do, talking about your plans reinforces them and motivates you to take action.  It also creates strength within you to do it again. This gets stronger and stronger every time you do what you said you were going to do.

I’ve seen this recently. My brother and I have been listening to a lot of podcasts about how to change the habits you do on a daily basis. He is a car salesman and the hours are long. Going to the gym can be a struggle. 

My boyfriend and I just recently started going to the gym at 5am. Since Andrew works with my brother, and there just isn’t any better time to hit the weights, I told him he needed to get in the gym with us. Which, to say the least, was the last thing he wanted to do. Sleep or gym? I think we would all want to choose sleep. 

Eventually, my bro did start coming, but he missed a day after his first day, went again, missed another couple days, but kept at it. Now he’s a regular 5am gym rat… who’da thunk?

My point is, he did miss a few days, but he stayed consistent in his mindset and he regularly told people at work that he was doing it, plus he posted every morning on Snapchat that he was. So he had the combined mental consistency, the “talk” and his actions followed. (Plus, he had us, which helped!) 

 

Woman exercising

If you are in the beginning stages of a change in lifestyle, and you SKIP one single day, at this moment, you’re weakening your mental strength.

Sometimes we miss a day because of unavoidable circumstances. Make sure that you are consistent in your thoughts, not just your actions. If you miss a day keep telling yourself “I am doing this thing every day”.

Once you allow yourself to miss a second day during your new habit forming stage, unless you have extremely strong will power, this is a potential set up for a third day, and the rest of your days to come.

Decide, commit, and don’t go back.

Consistency and lazy can’t be friends.

Change sucks. It hurts. It’s difficult. It takes energy. It takes dedication. You have to force yourself to put one baby step in front of another. Once you look back at how those little steps brought you to the top of the mountain, … ain’t nobody ever regretted the pain it took to see the view!

Bad days happen, but consistently push past them.

Get up. Move on. Keep up the momentum! Don’t let one off day ruin your progress and keep you down. Consistency requires you to get up, push past the pain, accept that you’re not perfect, and repeat the times that you did well before.

Focus on the positive. We all have bad days. Life happens. The trick is to accept that life will get in the way sometimes. Recognize when it was really life and when it was a decision to find an excuse not to keep going. I talk about how to turn excuses into positive results in Quit the Routine Start an Excuse.

Set a two-week no break rule to solidify your consistency.

If you are about to take that first baby step, and you’ve done everything you need to set yourself up for the change, make a two-week-no-break rule. Get into the habit of your new decision and change. This way, you’re well on your way and when you take a day off or miss a day, you’re more likely to get back on it than if you take a day off two days in.

If you consistently want it, you’ll consistently go get it.  

Period.

 

The title of this article is “Consistency Killed the Fat”, and I realize that I have mostly been talking about fitness, but, I am talking about any change!

If you are wanting to lose, or gain, weight, eat better, change your entire eating habits in a drastic way, drink more water, etc., any healthy lifestyle habit requires baby steps, and consistency for long-term results. It is very important to stick with it and stay consistent even when you don’t see a change. Change takes time. Without consistent persistence, change won’t happen.

 

Food in blue bowl

Keep it consistently exciting by changing it up. 

Boredom can ruin a great routine. Sometimes we have to break away from the routine, and find something to spice it up. If you’re tired of the gym and finding it difficult to keep going, get involved in something outdoors, or join a class in another location. There are options; Google and Pinterest are great places to find ideas!

Follow balance8lifedotcom, ’cause I am consistently here to motivate! 

I’m here to help! I post something new every Wednesday. Doing things alone, making a change of any kind, takes a lot of work, so finding that someone that can help keep you focused is so invaluable. For quick on-the-go motivation, tips, and reminders, follow balance8life on Instagram here!

No matter where you are in your health-journey, keep up the good work! You’ve got this! I would love to hear from you! You can comment below, or, if you want to follow me on social media, come on over! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life.

 

 

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Five Ways to Yummy-Up Your Water

fruity water

 

Five Ways to Yummy-Up Your Water

 

This post is for my water drinking peeps that don’t drink water. Or, don’t like to drink water. Or… maybe talk about it and intend to and try to but just can’t get over the fact that it’s not tasty and yummy and fizzy… and just can’t stick to it, but know they should.

This is also for you peeps that are on the ball, drink your 96oz of water pretty regularly, but don’t exactly like how it tastes. You’re drinking water to live; you’re not living to drink water.

Water. Is. A. Must. Always. Every. Day. But it just isn’t the most popular drink in the world, nor is it the most exciting.

Sooo…. We’re going to change that right now.

Here are 5 different ways to have fun with water, change up the flavor, the fizz and even the sweetness, without compromising your health.

#1. SODA WATER

If you’re missing the fizz or tang of soda, soda water is a great alternative. Added lemon or lime and a scoop or two of stevia powder extract, and you’ve got yourself a sweet, flavorful and fizzy, yet still healthy glass of water.

Soda water is water infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure, which is why it has bubbles. There have been several studies done on sparkling water and our health. Questions like: how does it affect dental health, bone health, pH levels in our body, etc. But nothing super significant has really come up that makes me feel like I should stay away from it any more than regular, plain ol’ water.

 

#2. LEMONade WATER

 My son absolutely loves making his own “homemade lemonade” he calls it. He started this when he was 7. He pours about ¼ cup of lemon juice into a mason jar and adds several shakes of stevia powder to it. (I don’t know his measurement exactly, it’s his secret) 😉 He then fills the rest of the jar with water and ice and will sit and down an entire quart jar within an hour.

WHAT IS STEVIA?  Stevia is an herb native to South America. The leaves of this plant are a natural source of noncaloric sweetener. It is calorie free and 100% safe for diabetics and people who want the sweet without using sugar and without any of the side effect that come with artificial sweeteners.

Stevia extract is a sweetener that I always keep in the house. If you’ve never used it, you have to get used to the idea that less is more with this stuff.  1/8th of a teaspoon of stevia powder equals 1 teaspoon of sugar in sweetness. 4 Tablespoons is equal to 2 cups of sugar. So you can see how little you really need. And it lasts forever!  Just be careful when buying it in the stores. The packets usually still contain other sweeteners in addition to stevia. I highly recommend Trader Joe’s brand Stevia Extract because it is pure with zero added ingredients.

 

#3 CUCUMBER WATER

When I lived in the country, I grew cucumbers and had an abundance of them. So I started using them for things you’d never think of.

You wouldn’t think a cucumber would make water taste so great, but trust me! My kids love it. It’s refreshing, gives it a light, crisp flavor and the green adds a fun, pretty bit of excitement to boring ol’ water.

 

Directions:

Wash and slice a cucumber, add it to a large pitcher and fill the pitcher with ice before adding water. (The ice kind of keeps the cucumbers from floating to the top and helps them infuse the water with flavor a little more than when they just sit at the top). Let the pitcher sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes to a few hours, and add more ice to a glass, pour up and… ahhhh so good.

I don’t recommend leaving it in the fridge for more than a day, the cucumbers start to disintegrate and the flavor becomes too bitter.

 

#4 HERBAL TEA

Most herbal teas are safe for regular consumption, but some herbs have toxic or allergenic properties, so just be sure you read up on what you’re buying.

My favorites are peppermint and chamomile tea. I also like red tea (rooibos). My kids like the Celestial brand fruit tea sampler. All of these are great just as they are, but if you prefer it sweet, again, add some stevia.

Black tea doesn’t count as “herbal tea” here. I would stay away from black teas and other caffeinated drinks altogether as much as possible. In an article, “How Not To Get Cancer And What To Do If You Do Get It” written by Doctor Agatha M. Thrash, M.D., Preventive Medicine and founder of Uchee Pines Natural Health Lifestyle Institute, she says, “Never use soft drinks, coffees, or teas . . . May use herb teas.” I tend to believe her so I (mostly) stick to this rule.

 

#5 FRUIT INFUSED WATER

I honestly have to admit that, besides lime and lemon, I’m not a huge fan of putting fruit in my water. I have seen several pretty fruit infused water “recipes” on Pinterest, though. If you must add flavor to your water to be able to drink it, fruit is 110% better than any artificial flavor pack loaded with chemicals and words you can’t pronounce along with artificial sweeteners and colors that were created in some lab.

Enjoy! Experiment, search on Pinterest, and explore your options. If you find something you love, please share with me! You can comment below, or, if you want to follow me on social media, come on over! I am on Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, Twitter, Pinterest and balance8life.