Well, okay…not really.
But kind of!
My parents are friends with a couple named Tom and Cindy who are VERY health-conscious. They exercise (and do pushups at dinner parties to demonstrate their strength, apparently), eat very healthfully, and always have something to say about the latest supplement, vitamin, or miracle cure. They look amazing for their age…Cindy could pass for 40, and she’s going on 60!
Anyway, every time I come home, my mom has some new supplement that Tom and Cindy have told her that she just HAS to take—last time I came home, my parents were taking CoQ10 thanks to Tom and Cindy, and this morning, my mom opened the fridge and said, “Have you ever heard of Resveratrol? Tom and Cindy told us about it last week!”
Coincidentally, last week, I read this article in my Fitness magazine about the potential health and weight-loss benefits of Resveratrol, so I had it on my list of things I wanted to try! The Fitness article explored the possibility that Resveratrol has for improving endurance and energy. Very interesting. This article by the Mayo Clinic focuses on the potential of Resveratrol for reducing bad cholesterol and reducing inflammation.
Essentially, Resveratrol is supposed to be very “heart healthy.” It contains polyphenols that are thought to explain the “French Paradox”—the finding that the frequent consumption of red wine in France has contributed to better cardiovascular health.
Here’s the bottle mom my has. I think you can buy it in pill form as well.
So, this morning, I made myself a little health cocktail:
Spirulina, Acai juice, Resveratrol, and Amazing Grass Superfood berry blend.
Delicious! I don’t know if Resveratrol is a “miracle cure,” but it can’t hurt, right?
I like going home because my mom always has different foods to try out! I’ve been hooked on millet bread lately, so I was excited to see this millet cereal in the cuboard:
She also had two new types of granola. One, from Bear Naked, had only 4 grams of sugar per serving:
Its bearly (haha) processed ingredients list: whole train oats, brown rice syrup, almonds, evaporated cane juice, whole grain crisp rice, oat bran, ground flax seeds.
Considering that two out of the first four ingredients are essentially sugar, 4 grams ain’t too bad!
On the other hand, the Cascadian Farms organic granola had 14 grams! Sugar was listed as the second ingredient, followed by molasses and honey, so I guess it’s not that surprising. Still, a little disappointing all the same.
The millet rice cereal had 4 grams per serving, but was only sweetened with organic grape and/or pear juice.
All in all, it was an interesting mix!
I finally went with a serving of the Bear Naked Granola (which I thought was good, but not great. It was a little “fake” tasting, which is strange because the ingredient list is so basic), and a serving of the Nature’s Path millet rice cereal. I liked this cereal! Nice and crunchy!
I topped my bowl with soy milk and lots of fresh fruit:
And called it a delicious morning!
I love drinking coffee at my parents’ house because their espresso machine has a fun foam maker that they use to get the milk nice and frothy:
Just like being at Starbuck’s!
I’m not sure what’s on the agenda for today. It’s raining, so we’ll have to stay indoors! I think we’re going to go to the YMCA in a bit…I should have EXTRA endurance thanks to the Resveratrol, right? 
Hope you have a great day! See you later, alligator!
Sophie said,
February 4, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
I am always curious to learn about new supplements…I don’t often take them, but I find it so interesting! You should definitely report back on how you feel =) I love going to visit my parents too, its nice having a cupboard of new and different things than what you normally would buy =)
Anna said,
February 4, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
lol– I couldn’t figure out why my spell check kept marking “cubboard” as incorrect. CUPboard!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday said,
February 4, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
That “health cocktail” seems interesting. Did you mix anything else in it, or just the spirulina, acai, resveratrol, and grass stuff? How did it taste?
Anna said,
February 4, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
I mixed a little orange juice with it, but you wouldn’t have to if you didn’t want to.
How did it taste…hmmmm….
It tasted okay! I mean, you wouldn’t to drink a big jug of it, but on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being delicious and 10 being dirty sock, I’d rate it about a four?
Kelly said,
February 4, 2010 @ 3:36 pm
You breakfast looked yum! I have been on such a weird banana kick lately!
ginamastrog said,
February 4, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
Hmmm, put this in my thinking cap to consider trying…
Everything looks yummy, and good for your Mom for keeping up on her health!
One Healthy Apple said,
February 4, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
I totally raid my parents’ kitchen when I come over. Like your parents, mine are always trying the new supplement or superfood. My dad swears by noni juice and it makes him feel better- placebo, I’m sure, but I love hearing about their new toys!
Katie O. @ Fit to Wed said,
February 4, 2010 @ 4:45 pm
I love the title of your post!
You’ll have to let us know if you feel super energized!
Evan Thomas said,
February 4, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
Haha I really really like the way you think about your juice
Jessica @ How Sweet said,
February 4, 2010 @ 5:22 pm
I need an espresso machine – that coffee looks so good!
eaternotarunner said,
February 4, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
I like the nature’s path corn and quinoa flakes….SO good! I am always nervous about supplements, can’t wait to hear how energized you feel
Karla said,
February 4, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
I’ve haven’t really tried too many supplements. I’m always interested in trying them but they’re so expensive! My broke student self can’t afford to try all these lovely things that go for $15-$20 a pop. I wish companies sold sample sizes. Amazing Grass sells sample sizes with free shipping, which I really appreciated.
Erin said,
February 4, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
That’s great your parents (and their friends) are as into health as you are. It’s fun to share ideas and learn new things — part of the joy of blogging, too!
I really want an espresso maker but definitely can’t justify the cost. The thought occurred to me while downing a latte this morning…
Heather said,
February 4, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
Oh what fun food finds!! A friend asked me about resveratrol after reading that Fitness article too–I didn’t know what to tell her because I’d never tried it!
Heather (Where's the Beach) said,
February 4, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
That fruit looks so good. I love strawberries and bananas!
greensandjeans said,
February 4, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
I always use being home as an excuse to try new things… Maybe it’s because mom picks up the bill?
Anna said,
February 4, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
lol– definitely guilty of that too
kbwood said,
February 4, 2010 @ 7:44 pm
girl that breakfast looks good and FRESH.. like summer! ahh!
Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place said,
February 4, 2010 @ 8:14 pm
I prefer to get my resveratrol from red wine!! yum!
Gelareh @ Nutritious Foodie said,
February 4, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
That’s very intresting.. I have never heard of resveratrol… I guess I will do some reading.
Gabriela said,
February 4, 2010 @ 8:59 pm
I’ve never heard of Resveratrol, but it definitely sounds beneficial! I’ve been meaning to try the Bear Naked Fit granola for awhile, but I’m apprehensive about buying it because I can usually eat the whole bag in one sitting!
Christine said,
February 4, 2010 @ 10:06 pm
Dr. Oz did a bit on resveratrol last week stating he’s trying it as a supplement because he feels it’s safe, but not endorsing it yet. I am still a fan or red wine, kind of hard not to be so close to wine country, but have cut my intake down to 2-3 glasses a week.
Patti said,
February 4, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
So glad you had a good trip home and get to have time with your mom and sister
Everything you have eaten since you got there looks wonderful. I’ll be anxious to see what your mom thinks about the resveratrol after she takes it for awhile. I usually avoid granola since it has so much sugar. Would your recommend the Bare Naked?
Anna said,
February 4, 2010 @ 11:26 pm
Thanks Patti! I like the Bear Naked Granola okay…this vanilla almond crunch wasn’t my favorite, but they have a peanut butter one that I like (but I think it’s pretty high in sugar and calories!). Nature’s Path makes a pumpkin seed granola that is DELICIOUS! It’s one of my favorite cereals, hands down. BUT, it’s also more of a cross between cereal and granola, rather than a full-on granola.
inmytummy said,
February 5, 2010 @ 1:18 am
I read that Fitness article too. It was interesting.
theprocessofhealing said,
February 5, 2010 @ 2:16 am
Very very interesting about the supplement. I LOVE Nature’s Path but I haven’t tried that variety, sounds great!