Likes: water, espresso, wine, beer & gin

Dislikes: soda, sweetened teas & sugary cocktails (margaritas not included, of course)

I admit, I was a complete skeptic when I was first handed a sample bottle of Inko’s White Tea.  Despite believing that white tea has more antioxidants and less caffeine than green tea, everything else looked totally average.  One sip later and I was a convert.

Inko’s successfully captures a delicious and refreshing drink without all of the sugary additives and artificial flavorings – each infusion of fruit is so subtle instead of overwhelming in taste.  My friends, and even doorman, tried the various flavors with each one commenting that “despite not being a regular tea or juice drinker… I really like this!”

Each 8 oz serving includes only 28 calories, 0 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbs and 7 grams of sugar.  To put this all into perspective, a Snapple Peach Tea has 90 calories, 0 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbs and 23 grams of sugar (!!!) We like the Blueberry, Honeysuckle and Peach flavors, and can’t wait to try the Hint O’ Mint.

Cheers to a better tea!

Lately, I have been on a spicy kick – think dark chocolate with cayenne peppers or fiery hot ginger juice!

One mega spice called capsaicin is so hot that it can literally make your mouth feel like it’s on fire.  Researchers believe that small doses of capsaicin, an active ingredient found in chili peppers, can yield a range of health benefits – including protecting the heart, alleviating stress, aiding circulation, elevating mood, relieving congestion (obviously) and best of all…increasing metabolic activity (i.e. fighting fat).

Prometheus Springs takes the heat one step further in their all-natural, non-alcoholic elixirs.  These capsaicin inspired drinks contain a proprietary blend of chili pepper extract layered with refreshing gourmet flavors.  I love their Lychee Wasabi as well as the Pomegranate Black Pepper.  Take some time to explore their recipe suggestions on their website since each 8oz bottle is loaded with sugar and you’ll want to find creative ways to stretch out each drink – Prometheus Springs offers several ways to enjoy the spice, such as over ice, piping hot or as a cocktail mixer.

…time to spice up your life!

Although it certainly doesn’t feel like it these days, summer is just around the corner (alright Al Gore, we finally believe you!).  What else is quickly approaching…? NYC Marathon training.  Heat, humidity and longer miles make for the worst possible combination…unless you’re someone that looks good working a heavy sweat (don’t count me as part of this population).  The best way for me to maintain my endurance sans dehydration is by using an electrolyte replacement drink.  There are a million out on the market these days so choose wisely – I try to avoid the ones high in sugar and artificial flavoring.

My favorite that I’ve found so far is the lemon-lime HEED powder (also available in strawberry, melon – disgusting, mandarin orange and plain).  So subtle in taste, this all-complex carbohydrate formula is free of citric acid – most sport drinks rely on simple sugar as the carb source, limiting the number of calories that can be efficiently sourced for energy.  The  powder includes a full-spectrum of minerals to buffer lactic acid and stabilize blood glucose levels.  Basically for me, this chemistry smorgasboard translates into being able to better maintain my min/mile pace while avoiding major leg cramps.  As if I would ignore all of my gluten free athletes, the formula is also gluten and MSG free, vegan friendly plus Kosher certified – Mazel Tov!

I get it – it’s been a long week.  You’re psyched to get the weekend started and the happy hour menu is overflowing with appealing options – Pomegranate Margarita, Lemongrass Mohito or a nice cold Magic Hat #9.  I try to enjoy the night without calorie counting, but still take into consideration how quickly drinks add up to avoid unraveling my hard work (don’t worry, this isn’t a mini D.A.R.E class on substance abuse).

As if the drinks weren’t bad enough, alcohol lowers blood sugar levels – this sends signals to the brain that you’re hungry (GREAT, I don’t think anyone needs anymore reminders to eat) – hence the 2am food stop for pizza and fries.  Making matters worse, a small portion of the alcohol you consume is converted into fat (just wait, this get’s better).  The liver turns the rest into acetate which is released into the bloodstream, replacing fat as a source of fuel (i.e. the body stops burning fat and is forced to store the excessive/unburned amount – read as: BEER GUT).

Picking the lesser of the two evils, I go for either gin, wine or light beer (actually a better choice than most of the heavily sugared cocktails out there).  To avoid the massive amounts of sugar and calories packed in tonic or juice mixers, I combine gin with club soda. 

average calories/drink:

• Beer (regular): 150
• Beer (light): 110
• Lager: 180
• 1 ounce of gin/rum/vodka/whisky/tequila: 65 (keep in mind there are 2-5 oz in one regular mixed drink plus whatever mixers are included)
• Red Wine: 70
• White Wine: 65-75
• Champagne: 126
• Martini: up to 800 including syrups and 2-5 oz of liquor
• Margarita: average of 400/regular margarita - add more if it’s a speciality cocktail
• Gin/Tonic: 171

During the Summer, I’m focused on staying hydrated and healthy.  As soon as the cooler months hit my mind wanders to cashmere scarves and weekend ski trips…not re-fueling with boring H2O.  However, it’s important to stay hydrated even when you don’t actively sweat as much or feel the summer heat.

The amount of water each person should guzzle down depends on a few factors: health, activity level and surrounding climate.  Instead of getting scientific, I try to use the 8 x8 rule: eight 8-ounce glasses of water/day (although this leads to A LOT of time in the bathroom for me).  Also, when you have a headache or are feeling hungry, try to drink at least half a bottle of water before reaching for the Tylenol or something to eat.  Many times, this is just your body’s way of telling you that you’re dehydrated and symptoms will clear within the next 15-20 minutes.

Keep in mind that some food and drinks can replenish and hydrate your body as well (think water dense fruit, not beer).  Additionally, be careful (especially during endurance races or while playing sports) that you don’t drink too much water – very rare in healthy adults but a possible condition called hyponatremia (essentially drowning your kidneys).

Despite what most would argue…I’m a cheep date.  Give me half a cup of coffee and my hands will shake for the rest of the day.  One Mountain Dew in the afternoon leave me awake and restless until 3am.  That’s why I love Roobios tea for its taste, health benefits and the fact that its caffeine free.

Roobios tea (pronounced roy-boss) is from the Roobios bush in the Cedarberg region of South Africa.  Low in tannins, this tea is naturally sweet and tastes great without having to add any sugar or artificial sweetener.  Roobios contains many flavonoids (plant nutrients), free-radical fighting antioxidants (protect cells) and is considered to be up to 50 times more effective in antioxidants than those found in Green tea (although both are excellent sources of antioxidants).  Sans oxalic acid, Roobios can be enjoyed by those prone to kidney stones and is also frequently used to sooth the body’s reaction to allergy, rashes, acne and stomach pains.

Roobios Tea is also known by the following names: Red Tea, Redbush Tea, Bush Tea, Mountain Tea, Long Life Tea or Herbal Allergy Tea and can be found in any major grocery store, health market and some corner Bodegas.