Each year there appears to be a “latest craze” in food, cooking, drinking, and dieting. Some of these trends help us feel better and some fall flat! This year, the trends have spanned dieting with Keto, pain relief with CBD oil and a new way to consume alcohol with hard seltzer
The Keto Diet
There are countless diet plans out there, many of which may be scams. It is important to do your research and talk to your doctor before you dive too deep into any dieting program.
So, what is the Keto diet? Well, the Keto diet is actually called the Ketogenic diet. This program incorporates low-carb, high-fat dishes. You may be thinking, “how is a high-fat diet, going to help me lose weight?” and that is a valid question! We grow up believing that fat is bad and fat will cause weight gain and health problems. The truth is that there are good fats and bad fats. The Keto diet “high-fat” dishes are made with good fats, such as avocados, nuts, seafood, dairy and more! Unfortunately, the diet does not include potato chips or fried chicken as healthy options.
The Keto diet prompts the reduction of carbohydrates in your dishes and replaces them with proteins and good fats. By decreasing your carbohydrate intake you send your body into ketosis, a metabolic state which encourages the burning of fat to be used as energy. Some of the fat is also used to supply energy as ketones in the brain and liver.
The Keto diet is thought to increase weight loss, improve energy, reduce blood sugar, and may even help people with cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.
Foods that work well on the Keto diet include:
- Avocados
- Seafood
- Coffee
- Tea
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Nuts
- Meat
You can also consume some alcohol in moderation as long as it is dry wine or hard liquor. Foods to avoid on the Keto diet are:
- Starch
- Fruit
- Grains
- Beans
- Beer
- Sugar and sweets
- Sauces and dips
- Soft drinks
CBD oil and Products
Cannabidiol or CBD for short, is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It was first discovered in 1940 but has been exclusively researched more recently. In a short time, CBD oil has exploded onto the scene and today is found in oils, gummies, lotions, vapes, capsules and food!
Why is CBD so popular? Simply because studies have found that it offers health benefits especially to those with both mental and physical pain. It is critical to mention that CBD may not work for everyone and it is still being researched. Also, CBD products alone will not get you high.
What are the effects of CBD? The oil and the products are used for a variety of health conditions. They can help relieve pain, improve mental health and even have a positive effect on seizure prone disorders such as epilepsy. It is believed that CBD products have an effect on the brain’s serotonin receptors which will then begin to regulate behavior and mood. CBD may also eliminate nausea which could greatly benefit cancer patients in addition to the mental effects previously mentioned.
Hard Seltzers
Seltzer water or carbonated water has been widely used as a beverage additive for mixed drinks for years. However, this year’s summer craze has been hard seltzer drinks!
Why is alcoholic seltzer so popular? Hard seltzer is specifically formulated and brewed as an alcohol which is good news for those that avoid additives in their food and beverage products. In addition to this, hard seltzer is said to have a lower calorie count and less carbohydrates than other alcoholic choices. This, of course, would be appealing to anyone on a diet.
The explosion of hard seltzer happened in an assortment of brands. Truly is one of the most popular. It burst onto the scene with their fruity flavors such as wild berry and passion fruit. White Claw is so popular that is is often seen “out of stock”. This brand offers 100 calories and 0 carbohydrates per can! Finally, a surprising brand has joined the team, Natural Light! This brand of hard seltzer drinks is super popular with the college crowd for its affordability!
Trends will come and trends will go just as they always have and always will. As long as we have creative researchers out there making the latest discoveries in food and beverages then we will never be bored! Ah, the silver lining!
