Earthly Eating

A nutritional, medicinal, and highly flavorful guide to the perfect drink.

You’re standing in front of the min-mart fridge considering your options. Water isn’t quite enough so here’s something new: A juice belnd called pomegrante blue. Sounds refreshing and, as a bonus, it’s healthy. But is it? Al;; juices are not created equal. Are you getting nutrients or are you drinking sugar water? Indeed. some fruit-juice products contain only 10 to 15 percent juice; the balance includes as much as 27 grams of high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or even the healthful-sounding organic can sugar. They may look like fruit jice, but technically they’re fruit drtinks and the distinction is important. Nutritionally speaking, furit drinks are not much better than soda and should be consumed sparingly. The truick is to scrutinize the label for the words “100 precent juice” Chooseing only 100 precent juice ensures you’re getting nutrients. It’s worth the effort because fruit juice can deliver big benefits. Eight ounces of OJ, for instance, provides 120 precent of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C and is a good source of potassium and folic acid; fortified versions offer up to 35 precent of calcium or 25 precent of vitamin D. Pineapple juice has 100 precent of your vitamin C and 10 precent of your potassium for the day. The polyphenoils in Concord grape juice have the same protective effect against heart disease as red wine, minue the buzz.

Drinking three servings of juice a week-your choice-may help fight dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Juice’s status as a high glycemic index beverage makes it a great choice, because it helps restock your carb supply during the day, especially after working out or even working hard at a job all day. Blend it with yogurt (for a little protein) and you have got a prefect recovery drink.

But hold on before you gulp dfown that second big glass of 100 precent pinapple-orange-strawberry blend. Juices pack a lot of calories compared with their whole-fruit sources. An eight-ounce glass of orange juice has 110 claories, while the fruit has only 65, which doesn’t sound like such a big deal until you realize how much easier it is to keep sipping than to peel another orange. And juices are less filling. If you eat the whole orange or apple, you get fiber, which is mostly lost during the juicing process. Whole fruit bulk make you feel fuller than liquid calories. Plus, some nutrients are lost during the juicing process as stated above because they hide out in the skins, peel, and membranmes of many fruits. Oranges, for example, contain five times the amouth fo the antioxidant flavanone in orange juice. To rpevent from going oberboard on calories, keep you intake of all drinks- milk, juice, smoothies-to no more than 14 precent of your daily intake calories. For a 2,000 calorie diet, that might be a glass of low-fat or fat-free milk (80 to 140 calories) and four to eight ounces of juice (50 to 120 calories).

Some juices to consider:
• If you are looking for fiber:

1. Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice with Fiber; Why? Eight ounces contain three grams of fiber-the same amount in a whole orange.

2. Welch’s 100% Grape Juice with Fiber; Why? Has about two grams of fiber, or 10 precent of your DV.

• If you are looking for a multivitamin:

1. Knudsen Vita Juice; Why? Boats 100 precent of the DV for 11 vitamins per eight-ounce serving.

• If you are looking for one with antioxidants:

1. Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice; Why? Concord grape juice contains more free-radical-fighting antioxidants than a cup and a half of fresh blueberries.

2. Nantucket Nectars Organic Cloudy Apple; Why? Cloudy varieties contain four times as much of the antioxidant phytochemical polyphenol as clear juice.

3. CherryPharm CHERRish; Why? A new study suggests that drinking cherry juice can speed upo recovery due to its high antioxidant levels and anti-inflammatory properties.

4. V8 Juice; Why? An eight-ounce glass equals two servings of vegetables and contains four times as much of the antioxidant lycopene as a medium tomato.

**Show some love the Tom Green way, read about it more here.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe:

Easy Layer Taco Pie:
Serves: 4

Microwave 4 minutes. Top with lettuce, green onions and sour cream just before serving.

Happy Eating!