Awesome River

Healthy Beverage Bonanza: The New Kids in Town

I am constantly amazed at the plethora of drinks at my local Safeway. There is a whole refrigerated wall next to the deli and another refrigerated section next to the beer…and then there is the actual beverage section itself with 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs, 24-packs, quarts, liters, etc. There are teas, coffee-based drinks, sodas, mixers, sports drinks, as well as the newer “functional” beverages. And I’m not even talking about the juice aisle—that’s a whole other post.

Hard to keep up with all the types, brands and flavors, but recent industry award winners give us a glimpse into those beverages that have garnered peer review and attention. So without further ado, here are the newest beverages that just may make you wake up and take notice:

CytoSport, Inc’s Muscle Milk Light is CSP Magazine’s Retailer Choice Best New Product in the Nutritional Beverages category. Muscle Milk Light is a protein-enhanced formula that promotes healthy sustained energy, lean muscle growth and recovery from exercise. Muscle Milk Light delivers a blend of premium proteins, carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. Several flavors, calorie count ranging from 100-170 per 8 ounce serving.

Celsius Powder Stick Pack caught the attention of Beverage Spectrum Magazine, winning Best New Powder/Tablet. Clesius is a calorie-burning beverage and touted as the “Ultimate Fitness Partner.” It uses a core blend of ingredients to form MetaPlus which enhances metabolism and results in a sustained calorie burn. Only 10 calories per 12-ounce serving, there are no preservatives, flavors or colors and no sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Additionally it has 100% of your daily need of vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and B12, and biotin. Note: Celsius also comes in already prepared 12-ounce cans. For a full review of this beverage check this Daily Diet column.

Code Blue, which is billed as a “recovery drink,” made the top of the hit parade a Best Functional Beverage by Beverage Spectrum Magazines. Code Blue offers both hydration and energy, as well as ample electrolytes, amino acids, antioxidants (including Sustamine), and D-Ribose, but minimal caffeine. This combo energy and sports drink has the potential to break out and become popular, according to the magazine.

Adina’s Holistics line will appeal to many, given the company’s founders, motto and fair trade practices. Named Best New Non-Carbonated Beverage by Beverage Spectrum Magazine, Adina’s was founded by the people behind Odwalla and SoBe. With a vision to create a world that "Drinks No Evil" they endeavor to made healthy beverages that use “natural and/or USDA organic, directly sourced ingredients from around the world.” Seven flavors, including honey eucalyptus, grapefruit goji and peach amalaki, all using adaptogenic herbs and no chemicals.

What you get with Steaz Sparkling Green Tea is microbrewed organic teas, which according to Beverage Spectrum Magazine is the Best New Organic Beverage and the Best New Carbonated Beverage. It is the first USDA Organic-certified zero-calorie carbonated soft drink, that uses natural stevia-based sweetener in their four different flavors (black cherry, blueberry pomegranate, raspberry and orange).

A new twist on vitamin waters comes in the form of Activate, an enhanced water product with different function and flavor combinations. Voted Best New Enhanced Water by Beverage Spectrum Magazine, the difference is in the cap, which holds the nutrients until the time of consumption meaning there is no deterioration in effectiveness. A twist, a shake, and vitamins and minerals are let loose into the filtered water. Eight flavor/function combos including Passion Fruit Workout, Berry Immunity and Lemon-Lime Energy.

Not only is Guayaki’s Lemon Elation the Best New Tea, it was also awarded Best Packaging Design, which I’m not sure I entirely agree with. However, this ready-to-drink yerba mate beverage is low in calories (54 per serving) but high in caffeine (150mg), making it a high-energy tea that is good for afternoon slumps and high-energy workouts. Yerba mate is extracted from the leaves of the South American rainforest holly tree which is known for its rejuvenate properties. And there’s a bonus, the company will use profits to restore 200,000 acres of South American Atlantic Rainforest and create over 1000 living wage jobs by 2020.

Kilauea Volcano in Hawai

Horsetail Horsetail Fall

Mamma Mia in Greece

Go walking in Greece on the beautiful island of Skopelos. The island was the setting for the hit musical ‘Mamma Mia’ and on a walking break you too can sing and dance your way around the island.

Skopelos, located in the Sporades, is one of the best islands for walking in Greece. The cragged landscape and white washed buildings make the scenery among some of the most magnificent in Greece, and it was for perhaps this reason that the island was chosen, as the backdrop for the hit film ‘Mamma Mia’.

When you arrive on the white sand beaches of Kastani Bay, you might be tempted to grab your friends and launch into an all singing, all dancing rendition of ‘Does Your Mother Know?’ as the cast of ‘Mamma Mia’ did on this fantastic beach. The majority of all beach scenes were shot on this bay, and surprisingly the beach is quite hard to reach. Kastani Bay can only be accessed through a steep, pine clad and heavily rutted dirt track. However, the difficult approach is easily worth the splendid views that you’ll be rewarded with when you reach the bottom. Avid viewers of the film will be surprised to see the absence of a wooden jetty. This is because the jetty was only built for the film and, like all the stars, has now disappeared from the island.

Sky and Sophie’s wedding chapel was created on the same site as the monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos, near the town of Glossa. The chapel, built for the movie, still stands and a visit can be arranged when walking in Greece. Its location on a rugged 100 metre high rock formation is extremely picturesque. At night flambeaus lighting leads from the pathway up to the entrance, via 105 stone carved steps.

Villa Donna is located on the north side of the island, in the village of Nisa, near the area of Glisteri. Unfortunately the hotel doesn’t exist in real life, but when walking in Greece there are a number of traditional taverns and guesthouses that you can choose to stay in. You may remember a scene, from Mamma Mia, where dancers skip around olive groves surrounding Villa Donna. These olive groves are not actually located on Skopelos, but belong to one of the other islands on the Pelion Coast, Volos.Although you won’t find a villa or olive groves surrounding the Glisteri region, you can spend a leisurely afternoon sunbathing on Glisteri Beach. This closed cove is easily accessible by bus route and, unlike the other beaches in Skopelos, it has large round pebbles instead of fine sand.

When walking in Greece, tourists often stop at Glisteri for the beachfront tavern, which serves traditional local dishes such as moussaka and spanakopita. Whilst eating at this tavern you’ll notice a small mountainous peninsula in the distance. This is where Sophie leaves from to attend her wedding. The very same peninsula was also used for the famous cliff jumping scene with all Sophie’s fathers.

From the distinctive post box used in the opening credits to the island of Amarantos, you’ll be surprised at the number of locations you recognise when walking in Greece’s Mamma Mia Island. We can guarantee that after spending a week on Skopelos, like the cast of Mamma Mia you too will be singing and dancing like a Super Trouper.

Jellyfish Lake is a famous lake located on Eil Malk island in Palau