Friday, July 29, 2011

John Cholish: An Ultimate Fighter Serious About Nutrition

If you were ever faced with a situation where you had to defend yourself, would you be able to? John Cholish most definitely would be. A former wrestler turned jiu jitsu, boxing and ultimate fighting champion, John is a fit, well-trained athlete with a passion for physical activity, and a knack for moving fast. Dedicated to his sport, John is gaining momentum as an MMA fighter within his community and beyond, and is on his way to join the higher ranks. 

Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan
Only in his 20s, John Cholish has accomplished more than some people accomplish in a lifetime. Not only did he graduate from Ivy League school Cornell, where he majored in applied economics and management, as well as lead the wrestling team, John has held prestigious professional positions at Morgan Stanley and Intercontinental Exchange, all while training almost daily for his next fight. 

“I’m the kind of person who can’t sit still. My life is busy, but I love my job, and love my sport. There’s no way I’d live my life any differently, “ said John.  “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a challenge to perform my best at work and then give it my all at the gym every night, but it’s what I have to do to accomplish my professional and fighting goals.”   

John didn’t get where he is today on a whim – it has taken years of dedication , hard work, and thousands of hours of rigorous training to be able to hold his own in the ring, in front of thousands of people. As a wrestler for most of his life, John made the transition to jiu jitsu, boxing and fighting after he graduated college. Since then, he has not only gotten serious about training hard six days a week, he has nailed down his nutritional needs to provide his body the proper fuel it needs to perform at its peak.

Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan
“To stay on track, I work with a nutritionist and four specialized fighting coaches,” said John. “I make sure I’m getting proper nutrients by eating a lot of organic and raw foods, as well as drinking cheribundi daily – one in the morning and one after training. I find that when I eat right, and get my cherry juice, I experience less soreness and I’m able to recover more quickly from workouts.”

Nutrition, training and good coaches are imperative to a fighter’s chances of “winning.” However, to really “win,” or fulfill that drive and satisfaction that comes from giving it your all, John says, “you have to be in it for the right reasons. No matter what it is you do, if you are passionate and are truly in love with your practice, that’s when you will go farthest.”

Photos courtesy of Lucas Noonan
Take it from John – if you have a goal in mind, all it takes is a commitment, passion and drive to achieve it. Not only does he aspire to be the best he can be, but he serves as a role model for the rest of us, who are all on our way to achieving our own greatness, one day at a time.

Want to learn more about John Cholish? Check out his story in the news:


Friday, July 22, 2011

Beautiful Cherries: One of Nature’s Anti-Aging Superfuits!

Living in today’s world, with our exposure to environmental pollution, processed foods and high amounts of stress, it’s easy to lose track of how we’re taking care of ourselves. Overtime, exposure to a high-paced lifestyle that lacks sound nutrition will begin to take a toll on our bodies, as well as our looks. Our skin may begin to look sallow, we carry around tired bags under our eyes, and we may even look older than we really are. However, when you eat right and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to fight the age-inducing environmental factors, you will not only feel more energetic and alive, but you will look it as well!

Fruits and vegetables are nature’s defense against aging, and contain powerful antioxidant compounds that help fight free-radicals, molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases, that we are exposed to on a daily basis. According to Natural News, The more color and variety of produce, the more natural antioxidants one can consume. Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables can contribute to a very large extent to our program of antiaging. Why? Because these natural chemical compounds slow or halt oxidative processes that may prevent or deter the onset of many diseases associated with aging, including..wrinkles and sun damage and much more.
 
Cherries are packed with antioxidants, and contain more free radical fighting power than almost any other food out there. According to a new study from the University of Michigan, cherries' unique compounds may work synergystically to deliver a powerful antioxidant punch. In addition, these little red ‘superfruits’ also contain high doses of Vitamin C, which encourages collagen production, and cherries contain anthocyanins, antioxidants that provide the distinctive red color and may hold the key to the health benefits locked inside. Additional studies suggest that these powerful pigments possess anti-inflammatory (Can you say puffiness around the eyes?) and anti-aging properties. For more, click here

The melatonin in cherries also has antiaging effects in that it can promote sleep, and more sound sleep, to give your body the rest it needs to repair itself. As most skin and tissue repair occurs while you sleep, catching the recommended amount (7-9 hours) each night will ensure that your body and skin has the opportunity to repair damage that may occurred during the day due to sun, environmental toxins, etc. For more, click here

When it comes to looks, it’s truly what’s on the inside that counts. What are your natural beauty secrets?



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Take the Cheribundi Challenge - Drink Cheribundi Four Days and Feel the Difference!

Do you have aches and pains, trouble sleeping, slow muscle recovery, or simply looking to feel more energetic and alive?

If you answered yes to any of the above, the Cheribundi Challenge is for you. A four-day contest, the Cheribundi Challenge allows you to fully experience the benefits of tart cherry juice on your health and wellbeing, and experience a difference in the way you feel.
 
Why four days?  

Tart cherries have one of the highest ORAC unit capacities among all superfruits, of fering a high dose of anthocyanins, a specific class of antioxidants shown to battle free-radicals and repair cell damage inside of the body . Drinking 8 oz of tart cherry juice for four days has been shown to increase the body’s anthocyanin level needed to achieve the maximum health benefits, and feel your best.

Try the Challenge, and share your experience for the chance to win!

How to participate in the Cheribundi Challenge, and automatically enter to win cherrylicious prizes, including FREE Cheribundi, t-shirts, gift certificates and more!

1. Drink 8 oz. of Cheribundi for four days
2. “Like” Cheribundi on Facebook and share how you feel when drinking Cheribundi on the Cheribundi Facebook wall
3. Share the Cheribundi Challenge with your friends
4. Stay tuned for the announcement of our monthly winner!
(winner is randomly selected each month to win a fabulous prize, including FREE Cheribundi, t-shirts, gift cards and more!)

Find us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Cheribundi
Find us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Cheribundi

Evaluate Your Challenge Results!

Answer these questions before and after the Cheribundi Challenge to find out how Cheribundi has improved your sense of health and wellbeing.

How is your sleep??
1----------------------5--------------------10L
Light                  Restless                  Deep

How is your athletic recovery??
1----------------------5--------------------10
Slow              Moderate                   Fast

Do you experience aches and pains??
1----------------------5--------------------10
Always           Sometimes             Never

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Pure Food for Peak Performance

Growing up, it seems we all learned the old adage, ‘you are what you eat.’ Whether it was in nutrition class or from mom, the association between food and health has been ingrained in us throughout life. With the availability of so many types of food, healthy or not, sometimes our better “eating judgment” can become impaired by delicious looking dishes, fancy packaging or artificial foods that might not be serving our bodies well. When it comes to athletic activities, food and performance go hand in hand, and our ability to reach our highest athletic potential is directly associated with the ‘fuel,’ or food, we choose to consume.

Whatever lifestyle you choose to follow, numerous athletes find that eating pure, whole foods is the secret of their success (in addition to many hours of training, of course!).  Avoiding foods that contain artificial ingredients is a must, and choosing foods that offer high nutritional quality versus those that do not is an important step in providing ‘smart fuel’ for your body.

When it comes to diet, Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek believes there is a direct link between nutrition and his running performance. As a vegan, Scott takes his food choices very seriously, and is conscious about every bite he eats. In his words, “As a vegan and an ultramarathoner, eating clean, plant-based foods provides the fuel I need to perform my best. I find that when I eat smart, my body has the energy it needs and I run better, and feel better.”

In addition to ‘eating clean,’ with a focus on eating nutritionally dense foods, many athletes find that supplementing a diet of pure foods with tart cherry juice helps them maintain high energy and recover from muscle use more quickly. As Scott puts it, “I notice an improvement in the way I feel when I eat well and drink cheribundi regularly.”

Unlike some other tart cherry juice on the market, cheribundi is 100% natural, and uses the highest quality fruits in every bottle. Our juicing process was developed by Cornell University food scientists to capture as many of the nutrients found naturally in tart cherries as possible. After our cherries are harvested from American orchards, they're processed gently so that when you drink cheribundi™ it's like eating the cherries straight off the tree. Although not organic, our juice is never from concentrate.

Additionally, cheribundi tart cherry juice is regularly tested for pesticides and other impurities by third party verification organizations. These tests have never found pesticide contamination outside of the FDA guidelines, and we continue to strive to provide the highest quality tart cherry juice out there.

What is your ‘food fuel’ for optimum athletic performance?

Friday, July 1, 2011

Easy Breezy Cherry Smoothie Recipe

Looking for a refreshing treat to cool down this summer? Try this delicious, and nutritious, easy-to-make cherry smoothie!

  • YIELD: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
  • COURSE: Beverages
Ingredients
  • 2 cups pitted sweet cherries
  • 1 1/2 cups ice
  • 1 1/2 cups plain fat-free yogurt
  • 1/4 cup honey
Preparation
  • Combine all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Serve immediately.
Recipe courtesy of http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-cherry-smoothie-10000001622454/