by Cascade Ice on October 25, 2021
Cold and flu season is upon us, and experts are predicting that it will be more serious than years past. It’s important to be extra cautious and try to adopt some healthy habits to lessen your chances of getting sick. And if you do get sick, it’s nice to be prepared in case getting to your local drug store is too difficult.
While your immune system is a powerhouse that is designed to ward off sickness and disease, there are things you can proactively do to boost its effectiveness, and even minimize the time you suffer from an illness. Below are some top essentials to have on hand and things to do to not only help prepare you for cold and flu season, but also to make things easier if you’re at home with the cold or flu.
Sanitizer
When you sneeze or cough, germs are spread throughout the air and onto surfaces. So, one of the most important ways to keep cold and flu germs at bay is to wash your hands. If soap and water isn’t readily available however, hand sanitizer is a great alternative. Disinfecting wipes can also eliminate viruses and bacteria from surfaces around your home, and help stop the spread of cold and flu germs to others in your home. Make sure you even wipe down “high traffic” surfaces like doorknobs, light switches and even your cell phone!
Blender
Many times, when you’re sick or just feeling under the weather, your appetite suffers too. That’s why a blender can be a lifesaver during cold and flu season. A smoothie is a simple way to pack a bunch of illness-fighting nutrients into something that you’ll be able to stomach even when you’re not feeling your best. Your blender can even double as a food processor for small batches of soup, which is a favorite during those cold Fall and Winter months. Check out our recipes page for more healthy smoothie recipes!
Fruits and veggies
While fighting off a virus involves a lot more than simply eating more fruits and vegetables and there is no single food that will keep you from getting sick, it’s important that you eat a wide range of foods to cover all your bases of antioxidants, vitamins, and probiotics. You’ll also want to take a high-quality daily vitamin to fill in any gaps in your diet. Doctors and dieticians do agree, however, that eating a well-rounded diet that is chock full of fruits and vegetables can significantly boost your immune system function. Specifically, they suggest “eating the rainbow” and striving for brightly colored ones such as citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, papaya, and kiwi. Add them to your grocery list and have them on hand!
Humidifier
With colder temperatures in the Fall and Winter cold and flu season comes dry air, which can suck all the moisture from your skin and sinuses. Anyone who has suffered from illness will tell you that the dry air only makes your symptoms worse. To combat this, experts suggest running a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom. The moisture from the humidifier will bring you relief and ease the symptoms from store throats and dry sinuses.
Water
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to not only prevent illness, but to shorten the duration of your symptoms if you get sick. Drinking water helps flush toxins through your body faster and make you feel better by curbing dehydration symptoms on top of cold and flu symptoms. If the thought of chugging plain old water leaves something to be desired, reach for a Cascade Ice Sparkling Water to liven things up. Perhaps even invest in a refillable water bottle that helps you track how many ounces you’re taking in each day. You want to aim to drink your body weight in ounces when you’re under the weather.
What measures do you take to stay healthy during cold and flu season? 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 20, 2021
Now that the weather is cooling down and the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees, it’s time to start thinking about the perfect low-calorie cocktail to celebrate the new season! This fall cocktail made with vodka, cranberry juice, lime, and Cascade Ice Sparkling Water will inspire you all year round. Toss some fresh cranberries and mint sprigs on the top to jazz it up for an Instagram-worthy cocktail photoshoot.
As always, our cocktail ideas are low calorie and low sugar – this one coming in at less than 150 calories and only 12 grams of sugar. Avoiding alcohol? This easy to make drink can be made as a ‘mocktail’ simply by leaving out the vodka. Try this Autumn-inspired cocktail and share your photos with us – enjoy!
Cascade Ice Sparkling Cranberry Lime Cocktail
2 oz. Vodka
2 oz. low-sugar cranberry juice
1 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice
5 oz. Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Cranberry Pomegranate
Fresh cranberries
Find a tall cocktail glass of your choice and add vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice into a shaker with ice. Shake to combine thoroughly. Pour mixture over ice and top with Cascade Ice Sparkling Water. Garnish with lime slices, cranberries, or mint sprigs – get creative with it!
What cocktails will you be enjoying now that it’s the Fall season? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Recipes
by Cascade Ice on August 25, 2021
There are still a few days left in the month of August, and just a few weeks left of summer. Did you know that August is national orange month? What better way to commemorate the holiday than to raise your glass to a toast with this refreshing citrus cocktail!
If you love finding new recipes to try for happy hour, but you want to keep your daily sugar intake and calorie count low, this is the perfect concoction for you. Using Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in one of our most popular flavors – Orange Mango – we’ve made the perfect combination of sweet and tangy to delight your taste buds and say farewell to summertime. Read on for how to whip up our latest low-calorie cocktail.
Cascade Ice Orange Mango Crush
1 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. lime juice
2 oz. orange-flavored vodka
Ice
2 oz. Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Orange Mango
Fresh orange slices
Combine the simple syrup, lime juice, orange-flavored vodka and ice cubes in a cocktail shaker until well combined. Strain into your glass of choice and fill to the top with Cascade Ice. Garnish with fresh orange slices, if desired. If you’d rather have a mocktail, simply remove the vodka!
Have you tried our Orange Mango flavor yet? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Recipes
by Cascade Ice on August 17, 2021
These days, maintaining a strong immune system is of the utmost importance in warding off sickness and disease. Did you know that what you eat can play a big role in how your body protects you from getting sick?
Americans tend not to eat enough vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals, and while supplements can help fill in the gaps, nothing can fully replace foods that are packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Need some ideas for powerful immune system-boosting foods? Look no further than our list below!
Blueberries
These blue beauties contain antioxidants that can help keep up your defenses against respiratory illness. Research has shown that people who ate foods like blueberries that are high in flavonoids were less likely to suffer from colds. It’s best to eat fresh, but frozen will do if you’re in a pinch. Throw a handful in a yogurt bowl or put in a container to snack on the go.
Fish
We often hear a lot about the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, but what exactly do they do? Fish like tuna, salmon, mackerel and herring are high in this essential vitamin and have been shown to help your body ward off autoimmune conditions (where the immune system mistakenly attacks a healthy part of your body.) Fresh, wild caught versions of the fish are the best to consume, so eat up and aim to get 2-3 servings of fish per week.
Spinach
This green wonder is a powerhouse of essential nutrients that have been proven to keep your body healthy. Spinach contains Vitamins C and E, along with carotenoids and flavonoids. This combination of super vitamins can help prevent sickness in the average healthy person. Don’t like the taste? Add a handful to a smoothie and add some organic protein powder!
Oranges and Kiwi
These two sweet fruits are some of the richest forms of Vitamin C, which is the vitamin that people often turn to at the first signs of a sniffle or sore throat. Some experts believe Vitamin C may even have the power to cut down the length of a common cold, and boost your immune system when it’s under attack from viruses. Other great, natural sources of Vitamin C? Kale, strawberries, papaya, and bell peppers.
Green tea
Need a boost from caffeine first thing in the morning? We don’t blame you! If you’re looking for an alternative to coffee or black tea, reach for green tea instead. It also contains the ever important flavonoids which have been proven to lower your chances of infection and disease, as well as strengthen the immune system. Try it hot or iced!
Water
We hear it all the time – drink more water! But staying hydrated is the most vital way to stay well and fight off illness. Water keeps your organs functioning at optimal performance, and along with a healthy diet and getting adequate sleep, your body’s defenses will work better. Since our bodies are made up mostly of water, if we’re dehydrated, our immune system can suffer greatly. Have a hard time drinking plain water? Switch things up by adding flavored sparkling water to the mix – Cascade Ice Sparkling Water is a great choice with zero calories and sugar free, and so many flavor combinations to choose from.
What’s your favorite immune system-boosting food? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
