Table of Contents
My name is Shalie Kae Bireta, certified Nutrition and Wellness consultant and the blogger behind Bireta Bites – the real, raw, unedited – all things health and wellness blog.Before my blogging days began, I became the amateur chef and author of the ebook Bireta Bites – food fueling fitness. I grew up learning about the benefits of a natural, organic, and alternative and holistic medicine from my mother, who was a health teacher. I have come to nurture and value this lifestyle, finding myself fascinated by all aspects of health and wellness, but especially nutrition. I like to know exactly where food comes from and what it consists of, which has lead me to find deep satisfaction in the art of cooking.Ultimately, my goal and personal purpose is to hone healthy habits and build you up to be the happiest, healthiest, BEST version of yourself. I look forward to helping you discover that healthy shouldn’t have to be hard.
I’m certain a few of you are thinking been there, DONE THAT.
Fast forward a few years… I am fascinated by the health benefits we can obtain from all of the strange drinks that have over taken health food stores, Instagram, Facebook, ads and magazines. I frequent Trader Joes, Harvest Health, and websites of several specific brands for the sole purpose of supporting their products. In a perfect Shalie world, everyone would read brand mission statements and research on herbs, gut health, and our immune systems …. but I know realistically, many of you have neither the time or interest to do so. That’s where I come in.
I’ve taken the initiative to do some digging and provide you with all the dirty deeds. Today, I’m here to break down some of the most popular health drinks super simple. What are they? And why are they so good for you and me?
What is it?
Kombucha is nothing new, considering its 2,000 year history , It’s is a fermented drink made from live bacteria called “scoby”, yeast mixed with tea and sugar. The amount of sugar depends on the brand, some are sweeter than others.
Health Benefits:
→ probiotic source
→ improved digestion
→ immune function
What is it?
An organic probiotic packed shot for optimal gut health.
Health Benefits:
→ improved digestion
→ immune function
What is it?
Mamma Chia mixes organic chia seeds and organic fruit juices to provide a drink full of healthy omega-3s, dietary fibers, complete protein, calcium, magnesium and more.
Health Benefits:
→ full day of Omega-3s
→ 25% of your dietary fiber
→ 4 grams of complete protein
What is it?
Fermented with apple cider vinegar and a kefir culture, these sweet-tart carbonated probiotic drinks are loved for being low sugar ( real fruit juice and stevia leaf extract – 4g per serving) and only 25 cals.
Health Benefits:
→ probiotic source
What is it?
Ketone supplements provide the body with extra ketones to use when the body is not in a state ketosis. What is ketosis? Ketosis is a metabolic process that occurs when your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates from food for your cells to burn for energy so it is forced to burn fat instead. Ketone supplements help one to get into a state of ketosis at any time and are often used to help one transition into a state of ketosis or enter a time of fasting. They can be taken in between meals to provide a quick punch of ketones or before a workout for additional energy.
Health Benefits:
→ weight loss and reduced hunger
→ improved cognitive performance
→ aide body in regulating blood glucose
→ increasing mental focus
→ reducing risk for disease (heart disease)
→ can help reduce inflammation
What is it?
Spark is conveniently offered in stick grab and go packs or canisters that serve as a healthy and balanced source of energy.* Spark contains an effective amount of caffeine to give you a quick boost, B vitamins to enhance your body’s natural ability to produce and sustain its own energy WITHOUT JITTERS, and neuroactive amino acids that help increase your mental focus and alertness. It is available in 10 different flavors: cherry, limeaid, blue raspberry, green apple, mandrain orange, mango starwberry, pink lemonade, watermelon.
Health Benefits:
→ sugar free
→ 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients
What is it?
Pre-workout supplements are designed to support increased energy, focus, and endurance and are mixed into water to be consumed “pre-workout” approx. a half hour, as the name suggests. Contents depend on the brand but often contain Vitamin B, C and amino acids such as beta-alanine, creatine, and caffeine. They also assist your muscles to withstand fatigue and increase strength. Research has found that
consuming caffeine together with exercising burned 60 calories more compared to exercising alone, due to having the energy to exercise a little longer and harder.
Health Benefits:
→ Builds More Muscle – BCAA is a primary component for muscle gains particularly Leucine. Leucine increases the rate of MPS (Muscle Protein Synthesis) which in turn enables mTOR for more muscle production.
→ Fat Loss – Pre-workout containing caffeine helps in burning fat at a greater rate during a workout.
→ Power, Energy and Focus – Creatine along with caffeine is responsible for that long lasting power. Focus is also usually increased from B-Vitamins and caffeine.
What is it?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body and helps give structure to our hair, skin, nails. Collagen provides the infrastructure of the musculoskeletal system, essential for mobility. However, as we age, the production of collagen levels in our body decreases. The intake of collagen ensures the cohesion, elasticity and regeneration of skin, hair, tendon, cartilage, bones and joints.
Health Benefits:
→ supports skin firmness and elasticity
→ promotes healthy skin cell function
→ helps support natural collagen and elastin fiber production
→ promote younger looking skin;
→ improve skin moisture level;
→ prevent the formation of deep wrinkles
→ improve skin suppleness.
→ replenish moisture levels in hair
→ support nail growth
→ support healthy gut
What is it?
Apple cider vinegar has been used for detoxification for thousands of years. Some claim the father of medicine, Hippocrates, promoted ACV’s health qualities as far back as 400 B.C. Bragg apple cider vinegar has been making known the health advantages since 1912.
Health Benefits:
→ adding ACV to daily routine may help with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol
→ good dose of enzymes
→ potassium source
→ supports a healthy immune system
→ may aide in weight control
→ balances pH of body
→ aides in regulating digestion
→ good gut bacteria
→ internal detox
→ skin support
→ helps with acne when used externally
How to make:
Other options: add lemon juice or dash of cayenne pepper.
With an apple cider vinegar detox, you consume this type of drink regularly for a set period of time — several days to a month or more. Many people choose to consume it three times each day: upon waking, mid-morning, and again mid-afternoon.
What is it?
Bulletproof Coffee – It’s a high-performance drink/ Breakfast beverage that has a massive impact on your energy and cognitive function but you can make just about any hot beverage into a creamy, frothy version of itself by adding butter and Brain Octane to your hot liquid in a blender. ex: hot chocolate, tea, and turmeric tea are just a few options. Brain Octane Oil (which converts to ketones) balances ghrelin and CCK, your hunger hormones, keeping you full until lunch. The saturated fat in grass-fed butter slows the absorption of caffeine, which gives you even energy for several hours instead of a caffeine spike and crash.
The difference between the brand Bulletproof Coffee and other coffee? Moldy coffee beans! They are the cause of brain fog and jitters. Bulletproof beans undergo a stringent quality control process, so they don’t contain the mold toxins and pesticides that can tank your energy and focus.
Health Benefits:
→ protect against disease
→ decrease inflammation
→ decreased hunger
→ lasting energy
→ mental clarity
→ balanced blood sugar
→ decreased stress hormones
→ source of healthy fat
→ essential nutrients like B vitamins, potassium, and manganese
→ tested for mycotoxins and mold
→ antioxidants, which reduce your risk of chronic degenerative diseases
→ bioflavonoids (make you smarter by intensifying neuronal firing in the brain)
→ increased metabolism
→ hormone balance and brain health
→ grass-fed butter also contains omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, CLA (a fatty acid with powerful fat-loss benefits), and antioxidants
How to make:
What is it?
Mushroom Coffee was pioneered by the brand Four Sigmatic, after the founder discovered in Finland that chaga mushrooms have a similar gritty taste to coffee. IT DOES NOT TASTE LIKE MUSHROOMS! He created drinks to use functional mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane, as well as other superfoods and adaptogens like rhodiola, eleuthero, and schisandra to help us live healthier, more enhanced lives.
Health Benefits:
→ gut friendly
Reishi :
→ promotes healthy blood sugar levels
→ reduces risk for infections and viruses
→ fights allergies and asthma
→ helps balance hormones and fight diabetes
→ promotes heart health and balances blood pressure
→ improves liver function and detoxification
→ helps defend against tumor growth and cancer
Chaga :
→ reduces oxidative stress
→ suppresses cancer progression
→ helps protect the immune system
→ reduces inflammation
→ can improve diabetic health
→ increases physical endurance
→ protects against dangerous blood clots
→ promotes cognitive function
→ balances the immune system between th1 and th2
→ relieves pain
→ may help relieve inflammatory bowel disease
→ fights bacteria
Cordyceps :
→ immune boosting superfood !
→ high antioxidants
→ aides energy production
→ supports cardiovascular health
→ supports intestinal and liver health
→ enhances libido
→ anti tumor activity in various cancers
→ fights fatigue and improves exercise performance
Lion’s Mane :
→ antibiotic
→ anticancer
→ neuroprotective
→ fat- and glucose-lowering effects
→ protects against stomach ulcers
→ improves anxiety
→ cognitive function
→ can help depression
→ anti-fatigue properties
→ anti-aging properties
What is it?
Golden milk is a plant based mix that receives its color from one main ingredient, turmeric. Turmeric contains curcumin, the polyphenol identified as its primary active component. There are approx. 600 potential health benefits of turmeric, some of which include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Health Benefits:
→ anti-inflammatory
→ anti-oxidant
→ antiseptic
→ analgesic
→ boosts immunity
→ anti-carcinogenic.
→ helps maintain cholesterol levels.
→ promotes digestive health
→ liver detoxifier
→ regulates metabolism and weight management
→ helps manage high blood pressure
→ assists memory and brain function
→ can improve various skin conditions.
How to make:
Step 1: Tumeric Paste
Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup of turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper
• 1/2 cup of filtered water
Mix all ingredients in a small a small sauce pan and mix well. Turn the heat to medium high and stir constantly until the mixture is a thick paste. This does not take long so don’t walk away from the pan.
Let this mixture cool and then keep it in a small jar in the fridge.
Step 2: Golden Milk
Ingredients:
• 1 cup of almond milk (hemp or coconut are also good options)
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon or more of turmeric paste
• Honey
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients, except honey in a saucepan. Turn the heat to medium. While heating make sure to stir constantly and do not allow the mixture to boil. Add honey to taste.
What is it?
Matcha is powdered green tea. Unlike traditional green tea, components from the leaves ground up into a fine bright green powder rather than steeped into tea and then disregarded.
1 matcha =10 cups of green tea
Matcha 137 times > ntioxidants
Coffee = Matcha ( caffeine content)
Health Benefits:
→ Due to ingesting the whole leaf and the higher quality of matcha, it has a higher content of nutrients in comparison to steeped green tea. Matcha not only provides vitamins and minerals, but also antioxidants called polyphenols, which research links aides in protecting against heart disease and cancer, blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction, and anti-aging. The other polyphenol in matcha called EGCG is also known to boost metabolism, and slow or halt the growth of cancer cells.
How to make:
using a bamboo whisk and tea bowl
What is it?
REBBL is made from real foods and ingredients you can pronounce that come from the earth. What you taste is what you get – the whole ingredients and herbs – that’s it. The company believes that the human body performs best when it is nourished with the foods that it co-evolved with, and that the best guidance we have for how to proactively shape our own diet is to learn primarily from those who came before us. It is: Organic – Fair Trade – Real ingredients and Herbs, Coconut milk based elixir utilizing adaptogens like turmeric and ashwaganden as super herbs. It is not: gums, natural flavors, or thickeners,
They are a mission based company. Rebebl donates 2.5% of the net sales of every bottle sold to Not For Sale to rehabilitate those who’ve already been affected by human sex trafficking.
Health Benefits:
→ Adaptogens! ( What’s an adaptogen? herbs of natural medicine that aide in bringing the body back into balance, known to have positive effects to the nervous system i.e. calm adrenals and decrease stress hormones which often leases to premature aging and a starting point of many diseases) See examples below.
TURMERIC MAY HELP SUPPORT:
Cognitive function and protection
Healthy inflammation response
Rapid physical recovery
REISHI IS USED TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE:
Healthy immune function (high in beta-glucans)
Liver protection and detoxification
Cardiovascular health
Healthy aging
MATCHA MAY HELP ENHANCE AND SUPPORT:
Alert, calm energy (35mg l-theanine per serving)
Healthy memory and cognition
Detoxification (from chlorophyll)
MACA IS USED TO SUPPORT:
Healthy energy levels
Stamina and endurance
Healthy hormone balance
Healthy and balanced adrenal function
ASHWAGANDHA MAY HELP SUPPORT:
Sustained physical endurance
Improved cognitive function
Quick recovery
Enhanced relaxation
There you have it, all the popular drinks on the market in one place! I hope this helps you decipher what these are, who they help and whats in them!
