For all your guests who are vegetarians or vegans, who are lactose intolerant, or who are watching their cholesterol, there are eggnog recipes that are both eggless and dairy-free. An added bonus is that they are typically lower in fat and calories than most traditional eggnogs and cholesterol-free.

Eggnog can be healthy and lower in fat

The word “eggnog” literally means “eggs inside a small cup.” Eggnog is often used to toast to one’s health, even though the ingredients in traditional eggnog—cream, milk, eggs, and sugar—result in a drink that is high in fat, calories, and cholesterol. “Nog” is an old English dialect word that once described a strong beer (noggin). Eggnog was first mentioned in the early nineteenth century.

If you choose a traditional eggnog from off the refrigerated shelf at the grocery store, you may be pouring yourself a glass containing more than 400 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 150 mg of cholesterol. Reduced fat and lower calorie versions usually knock off about one-third of the first two values, but the cholesterol lingers.

Or, you could make your own healthier eggnog that is eggless, dairy-less, cholesterol-free, and higher in protein than traditional fare.

• Two 10.5 oz. packages of soft, silken tofu
• 16 oz. vanilla soymilk or almond milk
• 1 Tbs vanilla extract
• 8 to 10 drops stevia liquid
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• ½ cup bourbon, rum, or brandy
• Nutmeg

Combine all the ingredients except the nutmeg in a food processor or blender and process until well mixed. Chill and top with powdered nutmeg.

Regular soft, silken tofu provides 4 to 6 grams of protein, 0 grams saturated fat, and about 40 to 50 calories per 3-ounce serving. You can reduce the calorie count of the tofu in your recipe by about one-third if you use a light tofu.

Regular vanilla soymilk packs about 100 calories per 8-ounce cup, while a light variety has about 70. Almond milk (which is made from nuts, so beware if anyone has a nut allergy) is an even better deal on calories: a mere 35 for unsweetened light and 60 to 90 for regular, depending on the brand.

This recipe uses the herbal no-calorie sweetener stevia instead of sugar, which cuts your sugar and calorie counts. If you prefer to use sugar, ¼ cup is the amount to substitute.

This holiday season, use your noggin and really toast to your health. Try a chilled cup of eggless, dairy-less eggnog and say goodbye to the high fat, high calorie, and high cholesterol eggnogs.

SOURCE:
Kitchen Project

Just in time for the holidays, French researchers clarify the best way to pour heart healthy champagne to preserve taste and fizz., reported in the American Chemical Society’sJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The findings serve to clear up long standing debates, and is also the first scientific evidence showing the importance of chilling before consumption. As for pouring, the way to preserve taste and fizz that transmits the essence of champagne, is by angling the glass and pouring the bubbly beverage down the side, just like beer.

The study authors note the quintessence of fine champagne and sparkling wines come from the tiny bubbles. Gérard Liger-Belair and colleagues say bubbles form when carbon dioxide gas is released, sending the aroma, taste, and the feel of champagne in the mouth.

The scientists suspected the way champagne is poured could have an effect on the quality. Until now, there was no data available, so they studied the behavior of carbon dioxide, using two different pouring methods – straight down or angled and down the side of the glass, using infrared spectography to observe the bubbles.

They found that “During the standard champagne-like way of serving, champagne vertically falls and hits the bottom of the flute (thus usually providing a thick head of foam, which quickly vertically extends and then progressively collapses during serving). This way is the traditional way of serving champagne and sparkling wines in bars, clubs, and restaurants.”

The authors say, “The beer-like way of serving champagne was found to impact its concentration of dissolved CO2 significantly less.” They explain the liquid runs down the side of a flute, producing less turbulence. The champagne then recovers its vertical position progressively during the pour.

Last December, findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, revealed the heart healthy benefits of drinking champagne. One to two glasses a day could help fight heart disease and improve circulation from the effect of polyphenols that relax the blood vessels to keep blood pressure levels normal.

The findings show the way champagne is poured can preserve carbon dioxide. Down the side of an angled glass yielded higher levels of the gas, preserving taste. Chilling the beverage also helps preserve carbon dioxide, and higher temperatures are better.

Last year’s news that champagne is heart healthy, combined with the new study that scientifically proves the best way to pour champagne is the same as pouring beer into a glass, should clear up any debate about sharing some chilled bubbly with friends and family.

Journal of Agricuture and Food Chemistry: DOI: 10.1021/jf101239w

Of the many energy drinks on the market, the one endorsed by Lance Armstrong, FRS Healthy Energy, gets a lot of hype. This should come as no surprise, given Mr. Armstrong’s high profile in the world of bicycling, his courageous battle with cancer, and his strong return to the sport. Many people love Lance, but should they also love FRS?

FRS Healthy Energy (the FRS stands for Free Radical Scavenger) is a beverage that contains antioxidants, substances that fight molecules called free radicals, which cause cell damage and many diseases. According to the makers of FRS, their product can improve athletic performance, fight fatigue, and improve cognitive function without causing shakiness or wide swings in energy. That’s because FRS contains healthful ingredients (catechins, vitamins, and quercetin) instead of sugars and high amounts of caffeine (FRS does contain a minimal amount of caffeine, which helps the body absorb the nutrients).

According to the FRS website, “Lance chose it [FRS] to be the exclusive beverage he represents worldwide,” and “Lance uses FRS to help energize his return to cycling and to juggle is busy schedule off the bike.” Exactly what ingredients in FRS are energizing Mr. Armstrong?

FRS is available in 11.5 ounce cans, as soft chews, a concentrate, and a powder, with the cans being the most convenient and most popular. A review of the ingredient panel shows that each can contains the following nutrients and their %Daily Values: vitamin A, 30% (this can vary); vitamin C, 270%; vitamin E, 270%; thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, and B12, 130% each. The other forms of FRS contain a proportionate amount of these nutrients.

Each can also contains 85 mg catechins (green tea extract) and 325 mg quercetin, a plant pigment extracted from fruit and vegetable skins and a potent antioxidant. Quercetin is the ingredient the manufacturers call their “secret weapon.” According to a study noted on the website and cited from the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, participants who took quercetin increased their endurance by 13.2%. The amount of quercetin used in the study is the same as eating about 100 red apples each day or downing about three cans of FRS daily.

At about $2.59 or more per can of FRS, this is a costly way to get quercetin and a few antioxidants. The other forms of FRS are slightly less costly per serving. A good supplement or two could provide the same or greater levels of these antioxidants and the same benefits. But for the people who choose to drink FRS or other energy drinks, cost may not be a factor, or at least not an important one. Perhaps for a moment, while they are enjoying FRS, they imagine they are riding alongside Lance Armstrong.

SOURCES:
Forbes June 30, 2006
FRS Healthy Energy website

A new study shows that drinking beetroot juice significantly boosted athletic endurance among cyclists by reducing oxygen consumption. The research, led by University of Exeter, revealed that drinking beetroot juice improves athletic stamina to a greater degree than training, reducing fatigue after six days of consuming 500ml.

Previous studies have shown that nitrates in beetroot juice can relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure, also found in the current when participants drank 500ml daily. The newest results showing the health benefits of beetroot juice should generate interest from endurance athletes seeking ways to reduce fatigue and improve athletic endurance.

Cyclists were given 500ml of organic beetroot juice for six days before being tested for endurance. As a control they were tested on a separate occasion after six days of drinking black currant cordial and engaging in the same test of endurance. The study showed a 2 percent reduction in the time it would take to cover a set distance. The athletes also had lower blood pressure readings, attributable to the nitric oxide benefits of beetroot juice.

Study author Professor Andy Jones of the University of Exeter’s School of Sport and Health Sciences, said, “Our study is the first to show that nitrate-rich food can increase exercise endurance. We were amazed by the effects of beetroot juice on oxygen uptake because these effects cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training. I am sure professional and amateur athletes will be interested in the results of this research. I am also keen to explore the relevance of the findings to those people who suffer from poor fitness and may be able to use dietary supplements to help them go about their daily lives.”

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, shows that beetroot juice probably benefits athletic stamina as the result of nitrates that convert to nitric oxide, lowering oxygen consumption. It also highlights the benefits of consuming nitrate rich vegetables such as celery, radishes, and beets for good health. The effect of beetroot juice added 92 seconds of cycling among the study participants.

University of Exeter

Health Canada is warning consumers not to buy or use the unauthorized health product Hardcore Energize Bullet liquid energy drink as it has been reported to Health Canada that a vial of this product was subject to tampering.

The tampering evidently involved a foreign object being inserted into the vial. The manufacturer is investigating this incident and Health Canada has requested Upper 49th Imports to recall all the affected products from the market.

Hardcore Energize Drink is identified as being manufactured for iSatori USA and imported by Upper 49th Imports. Health Canada is following up with Upper 49th Imports to obtain information on the importer’s recall. Upper 49th Imports’ investigation involves the following 4 lot numbers of the two products: 1794, 1961, 1962, and 1963.

Hardcore Energize Bullet liquid energy drink is sold at various retail outlets across Canada. The drink is packaged in 85.7 mL (2.9fl.oz) vials and comes in two flavours, Blue Rage and Black Rush. It is consumed in a shot form.

Authorized health products will bear either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN), or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. This authorization indicates that the product has been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.