Watch Out Gatorade, Powerade, Accelerade! Mother Nature's Entered the Game!

I'm convinced more than ever that Mother Nature is a runner. I've recently hailed Mother Nature's "natural sports drink"—coconut water—and its health benefits, especially how its naturally high level of potassium helps keep my calf cramps at bay on long runs. Well, it appears that Mother Nature has expanded her line of sports drinks.

Coconut water handles the hydration and electrolyte replacement end of Mother Nature's line of sports drinks and it appears that tart cherry juice handles the post-run anti-inflammatory department. This isn't brand-new news. Tart cherry juice has been lauded for many years as a natural remedy for pain-relief, but now there's some science to back up the claims.

Oregon Health and Science University gathered two comparable groups of runners both ranging in ages from 18-50. Members of one group drank 10.5oz of tart cherry juice each day for two weeks and the other group drank the same amount of an artificial fruit drink. Then each group participated in a long-distance relay.

The results? The tart cherry group had a 23% lower self-reported pain level after the race than the artificial fruit juice group. Dr. Kerry Kuehl, the sports-medicine specialist at Oregon Health & Science University says that this may suggest that the tart cherry juice works like a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) kind of like Ibuprofen. The upside to this is that using a natural anti-inflammatory like the tart cherry juice may help you avoid some of the bad side effects that result from some NSAIDs. Kuehl said that the anti-inflammatory benefits of tart cherry juice may also benefit non-runners too, such as women with fibromyalgia and he's hopeful that it may benefit people with arthritis as well.

This doesn't mean you have to chunk your sports drinks, as more research is needed, but if you're looking for a more natural way to support your training needs, you may want to check into 100% coconut water for your hydration needs and tart cherry juice for your post-workout anti-inflammatory needs. Thanks Mother Nature!

Homemade Granola: The Perfert Pre- and Post-Workout Snack!

Leigh-Ann Webster of HealthWise Women sent me this great pre-workout breakfast or after workout snack that she made and ate frequently during her training for the San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon. It looked great, so I made a batch and now I'm hooked! It's perfect for providing you with the fuel you'll need during your workout as well as help restock those used-up carbs after your workout. Give it a try! I guarantee you'll say "YUM!"

Homemade Granola topped with Fresh Berries and Milk or Soy
Ingredients:

4 Cups Multi Grain Oatmeal (Bob’s Red Mill or Country Choice Organic Oats)
1 Cup Slivered Almonds (Trader Joes)
2 Cups Raw Pecans (Trader Joes)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
1/4 Cup Organic Brown Sugar (Trader Joes)
2 Tablespoons Organic Honey (Trader Joes)
1/4 Cup Omega 3 Cranberry Pieces (Trader Joes)
1/2 Cup Organic Raisins (Trader Joes)

Directions:
Mix oatmeal and nuts together. Mix canola oil, brown sugar, honey, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon in a microwave safe dish. Warm for 30 seconds and pour over the oatmeal mixture. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and toss in cranberry pieces and raisins. Bake for an additional 5 minutes and remove promptly. Eat plain or top with fresh berries and milk/soy milk. Granola will keep in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Each 1/2 cup serving is 230 calories and 6 grams of fiber. Or, each 1/3 cup serving is 153 calorie sand 4 grams of fiber.