The 8 Healthiest Drinks

Sip your way to a stronger immune system and a better mood, and reduce your cancer risk with these 8 healthy drinks.

Green Tea

When you think of good-for-you beverages, water immediately comes to mind, but there are others worth adding to your diet. "Some drinks have tremendous health benefits, from relieving minor ailments like indigestion to protecting against serious ones like osteoporosis," says Dan Nadeau, MD, medical director of Exeter Hospital's HealthReach Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition Center in Exeter, New Hampshire. Here, eight healthy drinks that are packed with disease-fighting nutrients. Now that's easy to swallow.

The Benefit: Helps reduce risk of osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, and cavities. Green tea contains a rich concentration of flavonoids and polyphenols, natural antioxidants that may protect cells from carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and inhibit tumor growth by helping to neutralize free radicals in the body. The tea's antioxidants may also guard against heart disease by relaxing blood vessels, inhibiting the formation of blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes. Green tea also contains fluoride, which strengthens teeth; the flavonoids may build up bones as well, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and tooth decay.

Calories: 0

Mint Tea

The Benefit: Eases cramps and helps ward off indigestion. "Mint is an antispasmodic, so it can relax muscles, which combats stiffness and aches," says Susan Lark, MD, author of The Chemistry of Success (Bay Books, 1999). It also aids in digestion by promoting the movement of food through the digestive tract.


Calories: 0

CHRIS GALLO

One Percent Reduced-Fat Milk
The Benefit: Curbs cravings and helps protect against osteoporosis. Because it has the components of a healthy meal — carbohydrates, protein, and a little fat — you absorb it slowly and stay full longer, says Molly Pelzer, RD, a nutrition educator in Tipton, Iowa. It also stabilizes blood sugar, so you're less susceptible to cravings. Milk is the ideal source of calcium, because it contains vitamin D, which is needed for maximum calcium absorption. It may also help your body stop storing fat. In a recent study, women who consumed three to four servings of low-fat dairy foods (milk being one) lost nearly twice as much weight as those who took in lower amounts. "The calcium causes your body's cells to burn the fat instead of holding on to it," says Pelzer. "This makes it easier to reach and maintain your goal weight."


Calories: 120 for 8 ounces

Soy Milk

The Benefit: Lowers risk of heart disease. Soy milk contains soluble fiber and soy protein, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglycerides, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you're drinking it instead of cow's milk, buy soy milk fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. One caveat: Soy contains phytoestrogens, which may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about drinking soy milk if you have a family history of the disease or have had it yourself.

Calories: 81 for 8 ounces

Hot Chocolate

The Benefit: Improves mood and may help protect against heart disease. Chocolate increases the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for regulating mood. (Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depression.) Cocoa is also rich in polyphenols, plant-derived antioxidants that may protect cells against oxidative damage that can lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels, possibly putting you at higher risk for a heart attack.

Calories: 195 for 8 ounces homemade cocoa; 115 for a powdered mix

Low-Sodium Tomato Juice

The Benefit: May protect against numerous cancers. Processed tomato products are the richest source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been associated with a reduced risk of lung and stomach cancer, as well as pancreatic, colorectal, esophageal, oral, breast, and cervical cancers. Lycopene also appears to protect the lungs and heart against oxidative damage, helping to ward off cardiovascular disease.

Calories: 31 for 6 ounces

Cranberry Juice

The Benefit: Helps prevent gum disease. Research suggests that the same antibacterial properties present in cranberry juice that fight off urinary tract infections may also protect against periodontal disease. Experts theorize that a component of the juice called nondialysable material (NDM) inhibits bacteria from sticking to the gums. Many nutritionists are wary of fruit juices because of their sugar content, so limit your intake to no more than one glass (6 to 8 ounces) daily. "Make sure the label says 100 percent juice, not 'juice drink' or 'cocktail,'" suggests Heidi Reichenberger, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. You can find this type of juice in health-food stores and some supermarkets.

Calories: 140 for 8 ounces

Orange Juice

The Benefit: May ward off cataracts, cancers, and birth defects and boost immunity. An excellent source of vitamin C, orange juice is also a potent antioxidant that may protect against a variety of diseases including cataracts (a clouding of the eye's lens that can lead to blindness) and lung cancer. Vitamin C may prevent oxidative damage that can cause cells to become cancerous, and it improves immune-cell functioning, enabling your body to fight off infections more efficiently. And it's a good source of folate, which protects against neural-tube defects in fetuses. To get the extra benefit of bone protection, try some calcium-fortified orange juice.

Calories: 115 for 8 ounces



Source: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drink/the-8-healthiest-drinks

Read More

The Beer of the Month Club Details

The Beer of the Month Club is the perfect gift for every beer lover.
One of America's longest-running monthly beer clubs, our beer of the month brings the best, finest breweries in America to your home or office. If you truly appreciate the taste of fine, handcrafted craft microbrewed beer, this is the club for you.

Treat yourself or someone special to great taste month after month by joining Clubs of America's craft beer club.

We're committed to your 100% satisfaction. Guaranteed.

Fine Microbrewed Craft Beer Month After Month

Since 1994 it's been our pleasure to share the finest, freshest brews in America with tens of thousands of people just like you— people who appreciate the best that America's small breweries have to offer.

A gift membership in our beer of the month club makes the perfect gift for anyone who loves great taste.

Beer club members receive four different domestic varieties every month. That's a full 12-pack of rare craft beers (3 bottles each and sometimes cans) from all over the United States, freshly brewed in small batches just for you. Every month is an all-out celebration of America's best!

The Best Variety of Any Beer Club in the Country

Join Clubs of America's beer of the month club to enjoy today's rarest, most flavorful microbrewed beers.

Try a crisp, cold Honey Lager from rural Wisconsin. A full-bodied Wheat Ale from Colorado's high plains. Or a rich, extra-dark Porter from East Maine.

Other recent beer club selections include:

• Crown Valley Brewery in Missouri: Big Bison Ale and Gunslinger IPA
• Tommyknocker Brewery in Colorado: Pick Axe Ale and Maple Nut Brown
• Nimbus Brewery in Arizona: Red Ale and Pale Ale
• Bent River Brewery in Illinois: Paddle Wheel Pale and Uncommon Stout

Fine, crisp, hand-selected microbrews— this is the best monthly beer club for the serious beer lover who appreciates great taste.

No Minimums, No Restrictions, No Surprises

Clubs of America's beer of the month club doesn't hold you to any minimum subscription requirement. There's no minimums, no restrictions. You get your choice of flexible delivery (FREE shipping) and billing options to suit your needs. Either pay up front or pay as you go. It's totally up to you.

Your purchase even includes an optional free customizable gift announcement. Have it emailed or mailed, or simply print it yourself from our website, and give loved ones a beer gift they'll never forget.

Beer of the Month Club 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Since our opening in 1994, Clubs of America has worked to ensure your complete satisfaction. We're committed to your happiness. Whether you enjoy your beer of the month yourself or give as a gift for someone else, we know you'll be satisfied. We guarantee it.

Join our Beer of the Month Club by calling 1-800-CLUB-USA and treat yourself to 100% great taste today!

You must be 21 years of age or older to order and receive this product.

Source: http://www.greatclubs.com/beer-of-the-month-club/?imt=1

Read More

Sweet! America's top 10 brands of soda

Whatever happened to 7 UP? And people really actually drink Fanta

It was the biggest victory in the Cola Wars since Michael J. Fox picked up his first can of Pepsi: Diet Coke last year passed Pepsi to move into second place in U.S. soft drink popularity.

But the sales figures — released last week by the trade publication Beverage Digest — brought up many more questions than answers for consumers of sugary carbonated beverages. What ever happened to 7 Up? Are there really enough 13-year-old boys in the U.S. to keep Mountain Dew in fourth place? And who the hell drinks Fanta?

The Top 5 drinks from 2010 were Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper. Soft drink sales are on the decline overall in the U.S., although diet drinks are taking less of a hit. There were four diet sodas in the Top 10 in 2010 — twice as many as 2000.

Accompanying this article are breakdowns of all 10 most popular beverages, including historical facts, great moments in product placement and any presidents or pontiffs who have been seen consuming the drink.

1. Coca Cola

Introduced: 1886

Archrival: Pepsi-Cola

Target market: Pretty much everyone. The 17 percent market share is higher than Pepsi and Mountain Dew combined, and the drink is reportedly recognized by 94 percent of the world’s population.

Product placement: While hundreds of television shows, films and other forms of media have featured Coke as product placement, we’re declaring “American Idol” the winner for its relentlessly awkward Coke drops (narrowly beating out “The Cosby Show”).

Fun fact: Coca Cola was the first soft drink in outer space, consumed by members of the Space Shuttle Challenger in something called a “Coca Cola Space Can.”

Advertise

2. Diet Coke

 Introduced: 1983

Archrival: Diet Pepsi

Target market: After destroying diet soda trailblazer Tab in its first years of existence, Diet Coke has dominated a wide demographic. Diet Coke has always seemed aimed at a slightly older age group, although it has become more popular recently among young adults and teens.

Product placement: Diet Coke benefited from perhaps the ultimate product placement in the U.S. — the hand of the president of the United States. For eight years, President Clinton was frequently photographed holding a can.

Fun fact: Artists ranging from Lady Gaga to Frank Sinatra have included Diet Coke on their touring contract rider.

3. Pepsi-Cola

 Introduced: 1898

Archrival: Coca Cola

Target market: Introduced originally with the far less appetizing name “Brad’s Drink,” Pepsi has reinvented itself several times over the years — and since the 1980s has been aiming at the younger generation.

Product placement: In 1959, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev and then-Vice President Richard Nixon chatted while drinking small goblets of Pepsi at the Moscow World’s Fair.

Fun fact: The original Pepsi advertising tagline was “Exhilarating, Invigorating, Aids Digestion.”

4. Mountain Dew

Introduced: 1948

Archrival: Mello Yello

Target market: Based on the advertising over the past decade-and-a-half, Mountain Dew seems to be aiming squarely at injury-prone 17-year-olds. After the caffeinated, vaguely nuclear-looking beverage gained a reputation as “rocket fuel,” PepsiCo has associated the drink with fast times, all-night video game binges and extreme sports — to great success.

Product placement: Mountain Dew has appeared everywhere from “Men in Black II” to the X Games. But it will forever be in the product placement shadow of Mello Yello, which adorned Tom Cruise’s car in “Days of Thunder.”

Fun fact: The name “Mountain Dew” was apparently a reference to moonshine.

Advertise

5. Dr Pepper

Introduced: 1885

Archrival: Pibb Xtra

Target market: Dr Pepper has a very distinct taste, which tends to attract loyal customers. Most of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s advertising over the years (“I’m a Pepper, you’re a Pepper …”) seems to celebrate its difference from the other colas. It’s the oldest popular soft drink, and was invented in Waco, Texas.

Product placement: In one of the product placement coups of all time, Dr Pepper was the preferred drink of Forrest Gump, who drank about 15 free bottles and told President John F. Kennedy “I gotta pee.”

Fun fact: Randy Newman once wrote a Dr Pepper theme song. Also, even the makers of Dr Pepper don’t claim to know for sure where the name came from.

6. Sprite

Introduced: 1961

Archrival: 7 Up; Sierra Mist

Target market: The Coca Cola Company beverage, created to compete with 7 Up, was originally promoted heavily as a alcoholic drink mixer. But it has since become popular with a much younger demographic, and is marketed with more forceful slogans (“Obey your thirst!”) alongside popular NBA players and hip-hop stars.

Product placement: Sprite had a product placement connection with the TV show “Lost,” which fans seemed to hate.

Fun fact: Sprite released a product called Sprite Zero in 1973 — more than three decades before Coca-Cola Zero was released in 2004.

7. Diet Pepsi

Introduced: 1964

Archrival: Diet Coke

Target market: Diet Pepsi was the third major diet cola (after Diet Rite and Diet Dr Pepper), introduced almost two decades before Diet Coke. The drink has since developed many low calorie competitors, including some distributed by PepsiCo. Pepsi Light was a lemon-flavored diet cola sold in the U.S. during the 1970s and 80s. The company currently distributes Pepsi ONE and Pepsi Max.

Product placement: In the “Back to the Future” movies, the rivers ran brown with Diet Pepsi (and its close cousin, Pepsi Free).

Fun fact: Diet Pepsi was originally called Patio Diet Cola

Advertise

8. Diet Mountain Dew

Introduced: 1988

Archrival: Diet Mello Yello

Target market: Similar to Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew is aimed for young go-getters. From its first few years, commercials have featured young, mostly male, daredevil types. (So look for the drink in “Jackass” sequels, and not so much in Hallmark Hall of Fame movies.)

Product placement: Arguably the most frequently promoted diet drink in recent years. If you believe the advertising/product placement, Diet Mountain Dew is the preferred beverage of Freddy Krueger, the Transformers and Abraham Lincoln.

Fun fact: Diet Mountain Dew contains 55 milligrams of caffeine, compared to about 45 milligrams for Diet Coke and 36 milligrams for Diet Pepsi.

9. Diet Dr Pepper

Introduced: 1963

Archrival: Pibb Zero

Target market: Anyone who thinks Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke just aren’t sweet enough. With the famous “Be a Pepper” campaign in the past, Diet Dr Pepper has unveiled several high-profile ads aimed at younger drinkers. They seem to be working: Diet Dr Pepper enjoyed a 5 percent domestic sales bump in 2010.

Product placement: The drink seems to favor fictional characters with superhuman powers — Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper have appeared in recent Spider-Man, X-Men and Iron Man movies.

Fun fact: The original name of the drink was “Dietetic Dr. Pepper.”

10. Fanta

 Introduced: 1941

Archrivals: Crush, Sunkist

Target market: Fanta, originally created in Germany, was the second product developed by Coca Cola Company. Before the 21st Century, the United States was never a marketing focal point. Fanta does well in Europe, Africa and especially Latin countries, where the Fanta girls (called the Fantanas) are more recognizable than some heads of state.

Product placement: Fanta has appeared in movies including “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.”

Fun fact: Brazil is the country that drinks the most Fanta; Pope Benedict XVI reportedly drinks orange Fanta instead of wine.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42255151/ns/business-us_business/t/sweet-americas-top-brands-soda/

Read More

Top 10 Most Popular Cocktails in the World

Many of today’s most popular cocktails are either variations of iconic drinks or based on old-fashioned remedies for sicknesses that we now cure with injections or pills. The recipes might have changed, the liquors have become more refined and yet the enjoyment of a tasty cocktail remains the same.

From the sophisticated Apple Martini to the powerful punch of a Zombie, there are plenty of well-known cocktails available for patrons of any restaurant or bar. The presentation and experience of a fine cocktail defines the moment and even character of the person enjoying the drink. Much like a brand of beer or a label on a fine bottle of wine, ordering a cocktail can say so much more than just a preference in taste.

There will always be the Martini, Screwdriver, Bloody Mary and even the Tom Collins are ordered with a fair amount of consistency at just about any bar. Even the Mimosa and Bellini have become standard additions to any bartender’s list. The following 10 cocktails, however, have become trendy and popular or have managed to maintain their popularity despite great pressure from fine wine and even craft beer.

10. Apple Martini

An Apple Martini, or “Appletini,” is a trendy cocktail that has gained popularity by adding a big twist to the typical dry martini. Vodka, instead of gin, is the basis of the cocktail and apple schnapps is most often used to add the sweet but slightly sour taste of apple to the trendier version of the cocktail. The Appletini is usually finished with a little lemon juice and garnished with a slice of apple to differentiate it from a normal martini served in the same glass.

The Appletini is a favorite drink of late night host Conan O’Brien and has been featured in several movies and sitcoms. In 2007, an Appletini was a focal point in a Disney movie, Enchanted, where a version of the cocktail made with poisoned apples was presented to the character Giselle in an attempt to harm her.

9. Long Island Iced Tea

Packing quite a punch, the Long Island Iced Tea is one cocktail that never seems to go out of style, especially with men. The potent concoction of rum, vodka, tequila, gin and triple sec is often finished with a mixture of sweet and sour, lemon juice and cola. Traditionally, there is no tea added to the mixture but the ingredients, especially the taste from the cola, provide the flavor profile of a tea with much more flavor and attitude.

The origin of the drink is debatable, but one thing that is known is that it appears to come from the community of Long Island. In 1920, a version was said to be created in the Long Island community of Kingsport, Tennessee, while the modern version was said to be invented in a contest in a bar on Long Island, New York in 1972. Much of the confusion surrounding its origin probably stems from the fact that many variations of the drink exist, including substitutions for tequila, cola and even sweet and sour mix.

8. Californication

A California twist on the Long Island Iced Tea, the Californication is a golden state version of the popular Long Island concoction. The Californication is mixture of run, vodka, tequila and gin finished with orange liqueur, lemon juice and orange juice to taste. Strong and yet sweet. The cocktail is finished with either a slice of orange or a twisted peel of orange rind.

The Californication is not a subtle cocktail, but the citrus flavor imparted by the orange liqueur and orange juice attempt to disguise the punch it packs from the mixture of spirits. The name of the cocktail, Californication, is based on a term that is prominent in the lyrics of a song by the rock group, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. There has also been a television series that has run since August 2007 with the same name.

7. Pina Colada

The classic tropical cocktail with a distinctive look and taste would have to be the Pina Colada. The simple yet exquisite mixture of rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice has been a favorite in the tropics and with the less experienced cocktail drinkers looking for a sweet cocktail that drinks more like a smoothie than an alcoholic beverage. The drink has become a popular drink to enjoy poolside or anywhere offering a glimpse of the ocean or the feel of sand between the toes.

The Pina Colada has roots that can be traced to Puerto Rico and has long been considered the island Country’s national drink. The cocktail was said to be invented by a bartender at the luxurious Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar in 1952 shortly after a key ingredient, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, was developed. Puerto Rico honors the cocktail with a National Pina Colada Day that is celebrated each year on July 10th.

6. Margarita

The margarita is easily the most popular cocktail in the United States made with tequila. The simple mixture of tequila, triple sec and lime juice is often blended with ice but is traditionally served on the rocks. In either instance, the beverage is commonly presented in a salt rimmed glass. Since the basic lime margarita was invented, many other fruity variations of the cocktail have been created that are mostly found in its blended form.

The origin of the margarita dates back to the late 1930’s or early 1940’s and while the exact location of the origin of the drink has been a subject of great debate, the region of Baja California, Mexico somewhere between Tijuana and Ensenada is more than likely the birthplace of the drink. The refreshing cocktail continues to be popular in the sunny and somewhat arid regions of Mexico and San Diego, California as well.

5. Caipirinha

The World Cup is about to introduce the world to the fun-loving country of Brazil and one drink that Brazilians are always delighted to share with others is the slightly intimidating Caipirinha. The national drink of Brazil is made with cachaca (spirit from sugar cane) or white rum, brown sugar and lime juice. Some formulations of cachaca can be over 100 proof and like magic, Caipirinha manages to hide almost all of the alcohol taste.

Caipirinha, has its origin that goes back to 1918 and is based on a remedy that was commonly used to treat Spanish flu. The word “Caipira” refers to a person from the countryside of Brazil who is far from modern or sophisticated in his or her ways. The drink is served from households to restaurants and bars in Brazil and has only recently started to gain popularity outside of Brazil. The inability to find good brands of cachaca in North America and Europe has been the only limiting factor to its growth in popularity.

4. Mint Julep

The official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep, is a symbolic cocktail of the American South. The concoction of Bourbon, a little bit of water, powdered and granulated sugar and plenty of mint has long been a very popular way to drink a cocktail made with Bourbon in the region that produces most of the Bourbon in the United States. Simple and yet refined, the cocktail has gained acclaim elsewhere thanks in large part to its association with the crown jewel of horse racing, the Kentucky Derby.

The origins of the Mint Julep go back as far as the late 18th century. Evidence suggests that it was an established drink by the early 1800’s with gin, brandy and whiskey all used to create different variations of the drink. The current version with Bourbon has been promoted by Churchill Downs to Kentucky Derby fans since 1938. Currently, about 120,000 mint juleps are consumed each year at Churchill Downs during the two days of horse racing over the weekend that includes the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

3. Mai Tai

The Mai Tai is a Polynesian-style cocktail that has a fruity tropical taste indigenous to the Western Region of the United States. The mixture of light and dark rum, orange curacao, orgeat syrup and lime juice has been a symbol of Tiki or Tahitian culture ever since it was first created. The cocktail was very popular in the 50’s and 60’s and was even featured in Blue Hawaii, a film staring Elvis Presley.

The cocktail has over 10 documented recipes and was said to have been invented by the proprietor of Trader Vic’s of Oakland, California in 1944. He created the drink for some friends who were visiting from Tahiti and after one of them exclaimed that the drink was “Maita’i”, or very good in Tahitian, the name stuck. A rival restaurant, Don the Beachcomber, also claims to have invented the cocktail in 1933 with a more complex version of the drink. The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but California was more than likely the birthplace of the popular cocktail.

2. Mojito

The Mojito has become very popular as its fresh minty taste complements warm summer weather much like a cool glass of non-alcoholic lemonade. The mixture of white rum, mint, lime juice, sugar and soda water is crisp and clean with a relatively low alcohol content. Sprite or 7-up can often be used in place of the soda water and a good portion of the sugar. One of the keys to preparing a proper Mojito is to crush, not cut or dice, the mint leaves in order to unlock more of the oils of the mint, thus enhancing the minty flavor.

The origins of the minty mixture with rum go back as far as 1586 when the men aboard Sir Francis Drake’s armada reached out to local Indians in search of a cure for scurvy and dysentery. Drake’s small boarding party returned from the shores of Cuba with the primary ingredients for the modern day Mojito. Several other stories exist regarding the cocktail’s true origins, but most stories simply provide evidence to how long the general recipe has been in existence. The great author, Ernest Hemingway, was known to have developed quite a taste for the refreshing drink.

1. Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan is an ultra modern drink that has surged in popularity during the last 20-30 years. The tangy concoction of vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice has managed to leapfrog the venerable screwdriver as many vodka drinkers prefer the Cosmopolitan’s cleaner and slightly tart taste. The keys to the preparation of a Cosmopolitan are a good brand of cranberry juice and Cointreau Triple Sec, two essential elements to the drink.

The origin of the drink is unclear, but the modern version presented in a sophisticated martini glass is said to be invented in 1985 by a bartender of the Strand restaurant in South Beach, Florida. Other stories place its origin coming from a bar in Minneapolis around 1975. In either case, the cocktail has created quite a following with females and seems to have the perfect name to match its sophisticated taste and traditional martini-like presentation. The shortened name of “Cosmo” and the drink itself exploded in popularity during the 1990’s with frequent mentions on the hit television series, Sex and the City.

Source: http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-popular/top-10-most-popular-cocktails-in-the-world/

Read More