by Cascade Ice on March 5, 2021
March is National Nutrition Month, and that means we are focused on the best ways to make our diets packed with more nutrition to feed and nurture our bodies. This sounds daunting – but does it have to be? No way! Below we give you some quick tips on how to make each food and beverage choice more nutritious, so you can live a longer, healthier life!
Choose Whole Grains
Carbs are NOT the enemy, even though we’ve been led to believe that by the diet industry. Instead of focus on eliminating carbs, which are essential to many of the body’s functions, pay attention to specific ingredients. Refined grains have been linked to countless health issues, so when you’re shopping for bread and cereals, read the label to make sure it’s made with whole grains and seeds only, not a mixture of whole and refined grains.
Make an Egg-Cellent Breakfast
Another lie we’ve been told? That eggs have too much cholesterol and should be eliminated from your diet. Eggs are actually a fantastic source of protein, and they’re packed with essential nutrients like choline that keep your body functioning optimally.
Studies have even shown that eating eggs in the morning can increase feelings of “fullness” and can prevent you from consuming too many calories throughout the rest of your day. Cheers for eggs!
Drink Enough Water
We may seem like a broken record, but it truly is one of the most important facets of good health and nutrition – make sure you are properly hydrated! Drinking your daily dose of water may benefit weight loss, reduce appetite, and help your organs function more efficiently to rid the body of waste and toxins. It’s even been shown to increase energy! If plain old water is too boring, try one of the many sparkling water varieties that Cascade Ice has to offer.
Take some High-Quality Supplements
Even if you were 100 percent diligent about eating healthy all the time, you’d still likely be lacking certain nutrients in your diet. A daily multivitamin supplement is a great way to make sure you’re not missing out on any crucial vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is one of the most common deficiencies in our diet, and it’s extremely important for bone health and your immune system function. Omega-3’s is another crucial nutrient that Americans typically lack, so taking high quality supplements daily can really help you achieve your body’s full, healthy potential.
Don’t Overcomplicate it
If a healthy eating or diet plan sounds more complicated than it should be, it’s likely not going to be effective for you in the long term. Instead of trying to make a complete overhaul of your diet, focus instead on making small, daily goals that over time will become lifelong healthy habits that you can stick with. For example, make simple switches like trading that 30-minute TV show for a neighborhood walk, or shutting off your electronics 30 minutes before bedtime and aiming for 8 hours of sleep each night. You’ll be pleased to find out that all of these small daily decisions end up benefiting your overall health, and you’ll feel and look better too!
How do you live a healthier, more nutritious lifestyle? 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 February 26, 2021
Want to try something a little different? Something that will put a pep in your step, and make you really look forward to your next happy hour? We’ve got the perfect, light cocktail made with Cascade Ice Sparkling Water! Based on the classic gin rickey cocktail, this Raspberry Lemonade Gin Seltzer puts a fizzy, fruity spin on the old favorite. It’s perfect for welcoming warmer temperatures that are just around the corner with Spring coming.
Not a big gin fan? No worries! You can easily sub vodka or another clear spirit (even white wine!) or, leave out the alcohol altogether for a fun, fruity “mocktail”! The most important step to bring out the fresh fruit flavor is to remember to muddle the fresh raspberries and mix with honey and lime, which intensifies the raspberry flavor in the drink. Even with these sweet flavors, this cocktail is low-calorie, and low-sugar, so sip away!
Read on to make your own and let us know how you like it!
Raspberry Lemonade Gin Seltzer
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
6 oz. Cascade Ice Sparkling Water in Lemonade
2 oz. Gin
1 tsp. honey
Splash of lime juice
Small handful of ice
Place raspberries at the bottom of your preferred cocktail glass (we prefer a champagne glass), add honey and lime juice. Muddle together until coarsely pureed. Add gin and ice. Slowly pour Cascade Ice Water over the top, and gently stir (it will be fizzy!).
Have you ever tried a cocktail made with Cascade Ice Water? 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 February 20, 2021
A longtime Cascade Ice Sparkling Water fan, Emma Cortes of Emma’s Edition, recently made a trip to the Cascade Mountains and wanted to share her recommended road trip destinations in the area.
Of course, any road trip, no matter what season, needs some hydrating beverages that you can share with friends and family to keep everyone going. Cascade Ice USDA Organic Sparkling Waters offer 8 different flavor combinations and are sold in convenient, recyclable 8-pack cans in select stores across the country. Emma says that she loves having different beverages options and flavored sparkling water is an easy way to change things up. Cascade Ice USDA Organic Sparkling Waters is zero calories, sugars, sodium, or carbs, and it’s gluten-free and non-GMO.
In January, Emma took a local road trip to the Cascade Mountains. Snoqualmie Pass is just one hour outside Seattle, so she recommends it as the perfect place to visit if you want to see snow and take a break from city life. If you’re looking to explore other places in the area, Emma recommends these top areas:
HYAK SNO-PARK
Directions: Use I-90 Exit 54
If you’re coming from Seattle, make a right turn off the freeway. Take the next left, travel 1/8 mile and the Sno-park is on the first right. There’s 150 parking spaces and the park is open from 8:00am-4:30pm. There is a parking meter to buy a day pass.
GOLD CREEK POND
This is an easy 1-mile hike. This trail is ADA-accessible and has a paved loop hike.
Directions: Use I-90 Exit 54 (it’s 2 miles east of Snoqualmie Pass summit)
The road to Gold Creek Pond is not paved. I recommend watching out for potholes and taking a vehicle that can handle the snowy terrain. The parking lot is paved though and requires either the Northwest Forest pass or paying an entry fee.
Please remember to check the road and weather conditions before you head out on your local day trip! If weather conditions are bad, they sometimes close the pass or advise snow tires or chains.
LAKE EASTON STATE PARK
Address: 150 Lake Easton State Park Road
Easton, WA 98925
There are campsites, the lake, hiking trails, and restrooms at Lake Easton State Park. During winter, you can go snowshoeing, snowmobiling, or just play in the snow. Have you been to the Cascade Mountains? What’s your favorite place to road trip? What are your road trip “essentials”? 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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As Seen In
by Cascade Ice on February 12, 2021
It seems like such a simple thing … drinking plenty of water each day. But life gets busy, and we forget to make staying hydrated a priority. Next thing you know, you may start feeling the effects of being dehydrated. Believe it or not, hydration affects most functions inside your body, making it one of the most important things you can do to feel and look your best every day.
When you make it a habit to prioritize drinking water, you’ll notice the benefits right away. Here are some things you’ll notice!
You feel focused
Do you ever feel like you get sidetracked easily, and you can’t focus on the task at hand? Drink a big glass of water and watch what happens! Even mild dehydration can affect your ability to focus, as water is one of the most essential needs in our bodies. Since our bodies are made up mostly of water, it makes it even more important to replenish it to feed and cleanse our system.
You’re less tempted to snack
When hunger strikes, make sure you’re not experiencing thirst instead. Sometimes our body can trick us into thinking we are hungry for food when we simply aren’t getting the recommended amount of water through food and liquids. When you consume plenty of water, you’ll notice right away that your snack habit will subside. Still crave a kick? Try Cascade Ice Sparkling Water for a little something different, while still meeting your daily hydration goals.
You have a glow
Skin benefits greatly from hydration, and for some people – it can prevent aging and make the skin’s surface feel softer and get rid of blemishes. The reason why? Our skin is our largest organ, and it relies on water to produce new cells to give us the appearance of a “glow” or youthful skin. When you add more H20 to your diet, your skin will likely be one of the first parts of your body to notice!
Your mood will change
Feel like you’re always in a funk? Not drinking enough water can really mess with your mood, from shifting hormone levels to making you feel tired. To give yourself a little “treat”, try adding some flavor to your water by cutting up fresh fruit and dropping it in, or try a flavored sparkling water variety to switch things up. Bubbly water offers the same benefits as regular water, so drink up, and watch your mood improve!
With all these immediate benefits to staying hydrated, how do you know how much water you need each day? It varies per person, but experts agree that a minimum of 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water should be your goal. However, some adults may need more or less depending on their health, medications, activity level, climate, etc. Check with your doctor to see about the perfect amount for you.
Have you noticed immediate benefits of being hydrated? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
