Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 101

Have You Tried a Vegan Cleanse?

If you're looking for a cleanse this one is super easy and very affordable and vegan yay! And unlike juice it's easy for travel. Check out their great offer.

Calling All LA Superheroes

Calling all LA Superheroes...or those of you interested in the superhero ways. Warren is coming back into town!

My Take on Kombucha

Kind lifer Jenee posted a question in the forum asking if kombucha is healthy. I wanted to post about it, because this question comes up a lot. What Is Kombucha? Kombucha is a cold carbonated beverage made by fermenting bacteria, yeast, sugar, and tea. Is Kombucha Good For You? Some people believe that kombucha has a variety of

Is Kombucha Healthy?

 

Kind lifer Jenee posted a question in the forum asking if kombucha is healthy. I personally don’t like the taste (except for a homemade batch I tried in Maui) and I’m no convinced it has all the health benefits that people think it does. I wanted to post about it, because this question comes up a lot. 

What Is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a cold carbonated beverage made by fermenting bacteria, yeast, sugar, and tea. 

Is Kombucha Good For You?

Some people believe that kombucha has a variety of health benefits, including improving immune system, cleansing toxins, improving digestion and liver, preventing arthritis, and even preventing cancer. Some also say that it gives them a calm energy. The Chinese have been drinking it since 221 B.C.

There is actually little evidence kombucha is good for you. There hasn’t been any evidence or study that suggests that these believed benefits are real. My husband was on a kick quite a few years back and it didn’t do him any good. On the other hand, there is evidence it can be harmful. I asked Christina Pirello to elaborate, and she said kombucha is too rich in bacteria for the intestines and can cause bloating. It has also been linked to dental and gum problems. 

In general, it’s my understanding that carbonated beverages are not healthy (according to Dr. Fuhrman, soda can cause bone loss). 

Warren Kramer explains, “The effect of carbonation over time will weaken the intestines and will pull calcium out of the body. The reason why people are so attracted to it is because it in fact is so yin or expansive and relaxes people quickly but at the same time is weakening if consumed day to day. Having it now and then is not an issue for most people.”

What Can You Have Instead?

If you are looking for a good source of probiotics, I would not recommend kombucha. Instead, follow a superhero diet, which includes fermented foods such as miso and unpasteurized pickles, kim chi, or sauerkraut. See page 97 of The Kind Diet for more on going superhero. 

For me, kombucha is just not a health food. I’m not afraid of it, but I would never feel like I should be drinking it to be healthy. And you shouldn’t either. If you love the taste and you use it to replace a coke, then go for it! Great choice! 

What do you think about kombucha? Tell me in the comments below.

 

 

 

Photo source: flickr.com / Saucy Salad

 

Why You Shouldn’t Worry

A yoga teacher that I love named Tom shared this quote with me. It’s originally by Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews escape during the Holocaust. I really love this quote because it’s so true and really reminds us to be in the present: Why You Shouldn’t Worry I hope this

Why You Shouldn't Worry

A yoga teacher that I love named Tom shared this quote with me. It’s originally by Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews escape during the Holocaust.

I really love this quote because it’s so true and really reminds us to be in the present:

I hope this speaks to you! 

What are the quotes that inspire you?

 

Do Vegans Need Supplements?

A lot of you Kind Lifers write in to ask whether or not you should be taking supplements. While I don’t personally take a daily vitamin, I do take an occasional B12 supplement and, while I was pregnant with Bear, I took a vegan prenatal vitamin most of the time. And while breastfeeding, I try

Do Vegans Need to Take Supplements?

A lot of you Kind Lifers write in to ask whether or not you should be taking supplements. While I don’t personally take a daily vitamin, I do take an occasional B12 supplement and, while I was pregnant with Bear, I took a vegan prenatal vitamin most of the time. And while breastfeeding, I try to remember to take the prenatal, but I still maintain that I never feel one bit better if I take vitamins than if I don’t. I only feel better from good, superhero food. 

That said, daily supplements are a personal choice, and for some people they are helpful. I asked macrobiotic expert Christina Pirello to weigh in on the topic to help all of you make an informed choice next time you find yourself in the vitamins and supplements section of the grocery store:

Christina says:

I think that everyone needs some supplementing. If you had asked me this question ten years ago, I would have answered differently, but in that short time, our food has changed so much. Our soil is weaker; our water is more polluted, so the result is that food is less nutrient-dense. Unless you are eating a perfect diet of homegrown food, most of us need some supplementing – even superheroes who eat very well most of the time. 

In my view, most people should take an antioxidant for immune function, and for general anti-aging. The one I like best is called astasanthin, and the brand I use is Asta Vita. They have one version of the supplement that is in a vegan gel cap, so us vegans can take it comfortably.  

Vegans and non-vegans alike, but especially vegans, need to take Vitamin B12. It used to be that people who ate animal food were getting the B12 they needed, but with our food becoming more compromised, B12 is not there, and we need to get it. Small amounts to be sure, but still, it should be taken daily. If you are a vegan, I usually say 100-250 mcg daily in sublingual form. If you are not vegan, you can take as little as 50 mcg a day. 

Vitamin D is controversial. Some experts say we do not need to take it, just get it from the sun – but my experience has shown me otherwise. No matter how much sun you get, unless you live in Southern California, or Florida (for example), you are not getting enough sun because of pollution. So many people, the majority in fact, are not getting enough, and are vitamin D deficient. It needs to be taken – at least 1000 iu per day. If a blood test shows your levels are low, you may need more. Keep in mind, Vitamin D2 is vegan while D3 is not. You need to take one of those so your body can use the vitamin well. 

your nutrients should come from food. That said, everyone needs a little help, so I tend to steer people toward supplements that are vegan and made from food. Rainbow Light and Mega Foods are my favorite brands. 

Lastly, if you do not eat fermented foods (like miso and sauerkraut), you may want to take a pro-biotic for digestion. I recommend Essential Formulas. 

*** 

Thank you, Christina!

I hope everyone found this helpful. Do you take supplements? What do you take?

 

 

Photo source: Flickr.com / Martin Cathrae, Flickr.com / Bradley j 

 

The Healthiest Sweetener: Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is a commonly used ingredient in the macrobiotic community, but as this article attests, people from all walks of life are starting to discover it.

The Healthiest Sweetener: Brown Rice Syrup

 

 

Brown rice syrup is a commonly used ingredient in the macrobiotic community, but as this article attests, people from all walks of life are starting to discover it. If I need a sweetner, brown rice syrup is my always my first choice. It is still a sweetner so it’s not a health food and you shouldn’t go out of your way to eat it, but when you need a sweetner, it’s the best choice.

Brown rice syrup raises your blood sugar, but doesn’t make you crash the way other sweeteners do. Because it’s a complex carb, it delivers a more mellow taste that still satisfies your sweet tooth. Every other sweetner, except maybe stevia, makes me feel like I’m jacked up. My heart pounds, my head hurts, and then I crash… it tastes great, but then I feel terrible. Brown rice syrup is nice to me and doesn’t do that and I am very grateful. Check out page 68 of The Kind Diet for more info about how brown rice syrup is made. 

I love to make a sweet kuzu drink with brown rice syrup and Bear loves it too. It’s very relaxing and has a subtle sweet taste. If I’m feeling frisky and am craving something wild, this sweet kuzu drink satisfies my sweet craving and takes the edge off so I don’t need a full-on dessert.

Hot Sweet Kuzu Drink:

Inredients:

1 tsp kuzu
1-2 tsp brown rice syrup

Directions:

In a cup, add about 2 Tbsp of water to the kuzu and stir it until it dissolves. Add water to this mix to fill the cup, about 1 cup of water or a mug-full. Pour into a small pot and heat on medium, stirring constantly, until the liquid becomes translucent. Add the brown rice syrup and continue stirring until it dissolves. Pour back into your mug and then drink it hot. 

Here are some other ways I like to enjoy brown rice syrup:

In my Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips (page 184 in The Kind Diet)
In the topping for my Peach Crumble (page 194 in The Kind Diet)
In my Mom’s Granola recipe (page 201 in The Kind Diet). This is a seriously yum dessert! 
In my Mochi Waffles and Pan-Fried Mochi – this is one of my favorite superhero snacks! It’s also a great breakfast option, especially for kids, athletes, breastfeeding mamas, and pregnant ladies. Plus, it’ssupertasty!
In my Candied Ginger Pears and my Plum Soup (page 280 in The Kind Diet) – both delicious superhero desserts.

How do you like to use brown rice syrup?

Share your favorite recipes in the comments!