When I was an art student, I lived half a block away from a cozy coffee shop, which quickly became my home away from home. I fully counted on coffee to get me through the day, and depending on my level of schoolwork procrastination, often through the night, too. Like most addictions, the more I consumed, the more I needed. The more I needed, the worse I felt, and so the more I consumed. It is my belief that, over time, my excessive caffeine habit is partly to blame for my development of severe adrenal problems and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Eventually, I kicked coffee to the curb and simultaneously began my journey of superfood cuisine, with the pursuit of energy still first in mind.
My food revolution was over 15 years ago, and since then, I’ve stocked up on a ton of simple yet important tricks to feeling pretty darn good most of the time. Arguably, the number one lesson I’ve learned is to seek energy via nourishment … and not through a stimulant. So while energy drinks are still a part of my daily routine, they’re not the traditional kind (that bludgeon your system with massive doses of caffeine). Instead, we’re talking nutrient-dense smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, and superfood-rich elixirs. And when I’m seeking a reboot on the go, recently I’ve been enjoying a dynamic new answer: Amazing Grass Effervescent Greens. To make this snooze-defying elixir, all you have to do is pop a little tablet into some water, and watch the fizzy alchemy take place in a matter of mere minutes as your deliciously flavored drink is “made.” Bottoms up and hello energy!
So, how does it work? While the satisfying fizz from the dissolving tablet may suggest that some kind of pure magic is behind this uplifting potion, the real answer lies in the ingredients. Living up to its name, Amazing Grass packs each tablet full of all the most powerful alkalizing greens: wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, and chlorella. Greens are a first-choice natural energy food, as they help the body get rid of all the gunk that’s slowing down basic functioning, while at the same time helping build red blood cells, so oxygen and nutrients can circulate more efficiently. Also included is a premium litany of revitalizing, antioxidant-rich organic superfoods, ranging from camu to elderberry, garlic to oregano, elderberry to mangosteen … I mean, there’s even Brussels sprout concentrate in here, people! The result is a food-based energy drink (which tastes like lemon-lime or berry, depending on the flavor you choose), that covers a massive amount of your nutritional needs, including 100% of your daily B12, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C. All this goodness clocking in at 15 calories and 1 gram of naturally occurring sugar … maybe it actually is magic after all.
Sure, I still drink coffee on occasion (maybe once a month) – I do love the flavor. I still consume small amounts of natural caffeine through things like matcha or chocolate, as the stimulation of these superfoods is so very gentle. But overall, nothing compares to the clean energy that’s earned from incorporating great nutrition. Stashing a little tube of these Effervescent Greens in my bag wherever I go is a game-changer for those of us hooked on feeling good … for all the right reasons.
* Guest post thanks to Amazing Grass Ambassador Julie Morris – a Los Angeles-based natural foods chef, on-camera personality, and New York Times best-selling cookbook author.
