by Cascade Ice on October 16, 2020
With the Fall season comes the feeling that life gets back into more of a “routine” again, and even though it hasn’t been a typical year, people are looking for ways to bring a healthy balance to their lives when so much is uncertain. Starting your day off on the right foot with a healthy breakfast is one way to maintain a healthy balance and increase your chances of having a great day!
A healthy breakfast should be high in protein so that it gives you lasting energy throughout the morning, and should also be low in sugar, so that you don’t crash. The first two recipes below can be made in advance, to make your mornings even easier while you’re on the go. Check out our recipes for delicious, healthier options for breakfast:
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
½ cup Old fashioned oats
½ cup almond milk
½ cup chopped apple
Dash of fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon honey
Combine oats and almond milk in a jar. Coat the apple with the lemon juice and add to the jar, sprinkling cinnamon on top. Chill overnight in the refrigerator. When you wake up, stir, top with honey and enjoy!
Veggie Frittata Muffins
8 eggs
⅓ cup almond milk
½ teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 large handfuls of chopped fresh spinach
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup chopped onion
⅓ cup crumbled feta
Set oven to 350°F and prep muffin pan with cooking spray. In a bowl, scramble eggs with almond milk, salt and pepper. Fill each muffin space ½ full, and divide the spinach, tomatoes, onions and feta and pour on top. Bake for 20 minutes. Store extras in the fridge and simply microwave when you’re ready to eat them!
Green Machine Smoothie
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
½ cup of Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Kiwi Strawberry
1 frozen banana
1 cup spinach
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 vanilla protein powder
Blend all ingredients together thoroughly, pour in favorite cup and enjoy!
What’s your favorite go-to healthy breakfast? Tell us in the comments below, or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
by Cascade Ice on October 2, 2020
Are you a self-described soda addict? Or perhaps you have a daily soda (or two) and don’t really know exactly what you’re consuming. We get it – that rush of sugar and caffeine can really help push you through a day where you feel like you’re dragging. But studies have shown that the long-term effects of soda consumption can lead to things like heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
Many Cascade Ice fans have made the leap and nixed soda from their diet with the help of our sparkling waters. We have several different product lines with many different flavors to choose from, with zero sugar or calories. Twist the cap or pop the can open to reveal fizzy, fruity flavor that will never leave you bored. We promise you won’t miss soda one bit!
Want more proof that it’s time to kick sodas to the curb? Check out our scorecard compared to an average soda:
Typical soda
240 calories
75 mg of sodium
65 grams of sugar
57 mg of caffeine
Cascade Ice USDA Organic Sparkling Water
0 calories
0 sodium
0 sugar
0 caffeine
Still want the caffeine? Our Cascade Ice Organic Caffeinated line is for you! Clean caffeine with crisp flavor, and just the right amount of caffeine to keep you going.
Have you kicked your soda habit using Cascade Ice as an alternative? Tell us in the comments below, or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
by Cascade Ice on September 25, 2020
Do you usually crash after your morning coffee and bagel? Do you head for the vending machine to help you get through the afternoon slump? You may need some help managing your sugar intake. Whether we realize it or not, most Americans consume around 70 grams of sugar each day, and the daily recommended limit is 25 grams for women and 38 grams of sugar for men. And unfortunately, it can be a slippery slope – when you consume more sugar in your diet, you end up craving more.
There are many reasons why sugar is so addicting. It can release the “feel good” brain chemical, serotonin. It can also release endorphins, which makes us feel calm and happy. Too much sugar in our diet can lead to issues like heart disease and diabetes. So how can you stop the sugar cravings for good? Here are some easy to implement tips that you can refer to each day, making small changes that add up to a healthier lifestyle overall.
Make a plan
Whenever you’re trying to make changes to your lifestyle, it’s always enlightening to sit down and write everything out. Chronicle your food and activities for a week, taking special care in identifying where you can make small changes. Then, make a plan. Set attainable goals for yourself and celebrate when you’ve achieved them! A lousy diet often results from a lack of planning and reaching for less healthy choices out of convenience. After all, we live fast-paced lives. So slow down, plan, and celebrate your progress.
Get moving
Especially during a pandemic, it’s easy to stay inside and brush off plans to get out and exercise. But now more than ever, it’s important to get your body moving, your blood flowing, and boosting your energy levels. Does this have to be 6 miles of running every day? Absolutely not! Start with a daily neighborhood walk, or taking a flight of stairs instead of the elevator, or even a virtual yoga class. It really doesn’t matter how decide to move your body, just move it! Studies have shown that mild exercise can trigger metabolic processes that make more blood sugar available to the brain, which reduces cravings for sugary, processed foods.
Tackle cravings with fresh fruit
Sugar cravings are unavoidable, especially when you’ve just started your journey to a low-sugar lifestyle. Keep lots of fresh fruit handy for when sugar cravings hit. Unlike processed sugar, with fruit you also get fiber, nutrients, and refreshing, sweet taste. Like we mentioned above, having these things ready at all times make it easy to make better choices.
Stay hydrated
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again … staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staying optimally hydrated in particular can help you manage sugar cravings too. Replace sodas and juices with water or an organic sparkling water to help reduce your added sugar and overall calorie intake each day. Check out what Cascade Ice Sparkling Water has to offer!
Indulge occasionally
We know, it sounds counterintuitive. But making huge, sweeping changes can sometimes backfire if you don’t give yourself a little “wiggle room.” So, our advice is to give in a little when it comes to your sugar cravings. Allow yourself a small amount of what you’re craving, whether it’s a small cookie or some soft serve. Enjoying a little of what you crave can help you avoid binging and failing altogether. So give yourself some love and allow yourself some small treats every so often! You’ll be surprised at how it helps you stay the course.
How do you curb your sugar cravings? Tell us in the comments below, or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
by Cascade Ice on September 10, 2020
With experts predicting that this year’s flu season will be more serious than most, people will be looking for ways to prepare their bodies to fight off infection and even shorten or lessen the severity of seasonal illnesses. And as COVID-19 still looms, now is a great time to do all that you can to stay healthy and keep your body strong. After all, when your body is working well, it can help you avoid illness. But if you let it get run down, you’re more likely to get sick.
Your immune system is a complex system of cells and organs that work in harmony to protect you against disease, and stops bacteria and viruses from entering your body. Here are 5 simple ways to keep your body running the best it can be heading into the Fall season.
Take a probiotic
About 80 percent of your immune system reaction happens in your gut, so it’s very important to keep it healthy. Recent studies concluded that probiotics can boost the body’s immune response, helping it to better prepare to fight infections including the common cold. There are many probiotics available in drug stores or grocery stores near you – choose one with a few different strains of good bacteria.
Eat the Rainbow
We all know that a well-balanced diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, but did you know that the immune system needs nutrients from all kinds of different foods to function at its best? Try to include many different types of foods in your diet that include vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and protein. Red, orange and yellow vegetables contain Vitamin C, and leafy greens include vitamins C, E and K, folate and other minerals.
Go outside
Getting outside each day has too many benefits to name, but the most important benefit during colder months is getting Vitamin D from sunlight. Daily exposure to the sun can also help your body better absorb vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Being in nature and getting fresh air can also reduce anxiety, improve your sleep cycles, and help you to be social during COVID-19 when it’s much safer to interact with others outdoors.
Use a humidifier
Several studies have shown that viruses like the flu may spread more easily in dry air. Humidifiers work to add moisture to the air in your home. Humid air has also been shown to make virus particles more likely to fall out of the air quickly after an infected person has breathed or coughed. And, if you do come down with the sniffles, a humidifier will keep your nasal passages lubricated so there is less discomfort.
Hydrate Your Body
One of the most important but often most overlooked factor in keeping the body functioning its best to prevent illness is staying hydrated daily. Drinking more fluids may even boost immune system function, helping you fend off illness during the fall and winter months. You can even give your water a boost of natural vitamins by adding lemon, honey or even mint. If regular water gets boring, try a zero-calorie Cascade Ice Sparkling Water – available in many flavor options to keep you hydrated each day.
How do you keep your immune system running great? Tell us in the comments below! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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