Oxygen USA – July-August 2019

oxygenmag.com 85

CBD ENERGY BARS
Sales of cannabidiol-
laced foods and drinks
are skyrocketing, and
CBD is reputed to help
with everything from
reducing postworkout
inflammation to
improving sleep — all
without the side effects of
toking up. But the science
is not fully in as to its solid
benefits and is a long
way from validating the
marketing speak, and the
bars are expensive to, say
the least.

OAT MILK
This is a less-watery
counterpart to other nut
milks such as almond,
and it’s a decent source

Also trending

Many other foods are having a moment. Here are some

that are “maybes” on the list of hype or hero.

of cholesterol-busting

soluble fiber. But oat

milk only has a third of

the protein found in dairy

milk, so it’s a toss-up

in terms of benefits,

depending on your dietary

needs. If you want to give

it a go, however, look for

unsweetened products to

keep added sugar at bay.

KIMCHI

This fermented cabbage

can add a fiery kick and

a dose of probiotics to

tacos and burgers. Still,

its funky smell and flavor

could be a deterrent, and

you may want to stick with

your daily yogurt for the

same bacterial benefits

without the stink.

KOMBUCHA

This fizzy drink is

essentially a fermented

tea that is rich with

beneficial gut bugs.

However, kombucha can

be an acquired taste,

and many brands try to

cover its natural tang with

a heavy dose of sugar,

so read labels carefully

before investing your four

bucks in a beverage.

RICED VEGGIES

Pulverized veggies like

cauliflower are now

widely found in the frozen

food section of most

grocery stores and are a

great way to trim calories

and sneak in more

servings of vegetables

when used in place of

starchy sides like rice. But

if you’re training hard,

the quality carbs in rice

give your muscles the

energy boost they need

for recovery and growth,

so weigh the pluses and

minuses of your get-fit

goals before abandoning

regular rice for good.

GOLDEN MILK

This milk gets its slightly

pungent smell and

somewhat shocking color

from turmeric, a spice

that contains an anti-

inflammatory compound

called curcumin, which is

also reputed to help with

digestive ailments such

as leaky gut and irritable

bowel syndrome. Still, it’s

unclear if a manufactured

milk contains enough

curcumin to bring forth

any health benefits, so

you’re probably better off

sprinkling the spice into

your meals and smoothies

to save a bundle on

dubious drinks.

COCONUT YOGURT

For those who are dairy-

sensitive, this can be a

decent probiotic alternative

to regular yogurt. But it

is higher in saturated fat

and much lower in protein

than traditional yogurt, so

unless you’re in dire need of

a probiotic dose, skip it to

save some cash.

DATE SYRUP

While it retains some of

the nutrients found in

whole dates — such as

fiber, potassium and

calcium — this syrup is still

a concentrated source of

sugar and should be used

sparingly in place of things

like honey or maple syrup.

BEAN PASTA