Growing up in the northeast my summer refresher options were normally iced tea, lemonade or soda - not too much variety and not too many fresh ingredients. After living in California and eating in many tacquerias, I have come to know the agua fresca and I am a better person for it.
Okay, maybe not a better person, but certainly a more refreshed individual. The great thing about agua fresca is that the fruit is pureed (instead of juiced), so you get all of the benefits of the whole food and a more prolonged energy boost (versus a sugar rush). This recipe can be used with any soft fruit (cantelope, strawberry, mango, papaya) but watermelon is by far my favorite. [click to continue…]
A couple of weeks ago I was shopping at the natural foods market in Berkeley and was surprised to see an entire refrigerated section dedicated to kombucha tea. It seems that after a long history of popularity among the alternative health crowd, kombucha tea is going mainstream (although I don’t think it will outsell Pepsi anytime soon).
Often referred to as a mushroom, kombucha is actually a living culture composed of yeasts, bacteria and cellulose living in a symbiotic relationship. During the fermentation process the kombucha culture is introduced to a medium (black tea sweetened with white sugar), and over time the yeasts break down the sugar and the bacteria digests yeast byproducts, resulting in kombucha tea. [click to continue…]
Beet kvass is a digestive tonic that can easily be made at home using raw beets, sea salt, and whey (a by-product of yogurt cheese). In Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon notes, “One four ounce glass in the morning and night, is an excellent blood tonic, promotes regularity, aids digestion, alkalizes the blood, cleanses the liver, and is a good treatment for kidney stones and other ailments.” (p. 610)
In my own practice, I have found that drinking beet kvass in the morning helps me feel energized for the day and has improved my digestion. Spring is a great season to emphasize beets in your diet since they have a cleansing effect on the liver and help rejuvenate the body. [click to continue…]
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