Keeping Our Kids Healthy Through Yoga in Schools

The Wellness Initiative’s 4^th Annual Yogathon

Cheribundi is pleased to sponsor The Wellness Initiative’s 4^th annual Yogathon Saturday, April 27 at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. It is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year and goes toward bringing yoga programs to kids in schools throughout Colorado. Mara Rose, Executive Director of The Wellness Initiative (TWI), provided us with some insight on the event and the organization that it supports.

The Wellness Initiative

TWI was founded in 2006 in order to provide low-income area youth with the opportunity to improve physical, social and emotional health, and increase overall academic performance. “TWI was founded to provide yoga to students in Colorado and address the growing concern that students of all ages suffer from increasingly stressful and unhealthy lives,” says Mara. “Because many of the students in our programs lack the opportunities and tools to relax, reflect, strengthen and focus, their self confidence,

physical health and academic performance suffer.”

During the 2012-2013 school year, TWI is providing almost 2,500 students in 37 schools throughout 6 counties with yoga-based wellness programs. The students are introduced to ways to relax, control their anger and gain awareness about their health. These programs helps to keep kids from developing mental health disorders, and off of psychotropic drugs for conditions such as anxiety, ADHD and depression. The program also keeps kids exercising and healthy, which is important considering that more than 9 million children in the US are overweight and will be at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The Yogathon

This is the fourth year that the Yogathon has taken place. The event has been held at Naropa University in Boulder for three years. Mara describes the location as “warm and welcoming with values that align with our values, although the work we do is totally secular.”

Over the year, the event has grown to provide almost double in funding. TWI’s goal this year is $40,000, which will fund almost 600 yoga classes. The Yogathon expects 200 participants this year, and each pledged to raise at least $108. The event’s success is mostly because “awareness among yoga practitioners has grown, corporate sponsorship has increased, and the whole process is much easier now that it was a couple of years ago,” according to Mara. All of the proceeds raised will go towards paying for The Wellness Initiative’s programs.

The event features 108 sun salutations by 10 yoga instructors from around the area, live music, all-levels yoga classes, a silent auction

and food, drinks and other goodies (including Cheribundi!). Cheribundi is proud to be part of this event, and the movement of promoting yoga and wellness in schools. Good work, TWI!

New Cheribundi Flavors!

Our new Refresh juice and tea line is here! 

Cheribundi's new line of Refresh tea and juice blends are a delicious and thirst-quenching alternative to overly sweet sodas or artificially-flavored soft drinks. They're the perfect choice for a lunch on the go, with a convenient size and price to match.

This is not the artificial flavor-filled red sugar water labeled as "cherry juice" that you drank as a kid. It is made from orchard-fresh tart cherries, mixed with some delicious and healthy fruits, teas and juices. 

Together, they create a refreshing, thirst-quenching bounty. The kind of refreshment you'll want to have every day. Which is a good thing when you consider all the phytonutrients and anthocyanins you get from tart cherries. So drink up, and enjoy discovering how cherry juice should really taste.

Our juice blends come in FIVE delicious flavors: Tart Cherry Blueberry, Tart Cherry Pomegranate, Tart Cherry Cranberry, Tart Cherry Lemonade and Tart Cherry Raspberry.  They'll be available in stores starting this month!

The great taste of iced tea with just a hint of tart cherry juice! Our Refresh tea blends are available in FOUR thirst-quenching flavors: Tart Cherry Black Tea, Tart Cherry Green Tea, Tart Cherry Rooibos and Tart Cherry Jasmine. Find them at your local grocer or health food store! Or order them from Amazon.com or by calling us at 1-800-699-0460.

Tart Cherry Sufganiyot for Hanukkah

Hanukkah begins this Saturday at sundown. Did you know that Cheribundi is certified Kosher by Orthodox Union? Cheribundi makes a great holiday drink, on its own or incorporated with seltzer, soda or punch.

You can use Cheribundi in place of liquids in recipes, as well as replace other fruits with dried cherries or cherry preserves in baked goods, salads and dips.

One Hanukkah staple is sufganiyot—small, round jelly donuts. These are delicious with tart cherry filling, which is easily made with rehydrated dried tart cherries mixed with cherry preserves.  Or check out this recipe from Good Housekeeping for easy no-fry sufganiyot.

For a non-traditional, more healthful alternative, try Chocolate Cherry Doughnuffins (made with Cheribundi) by Sarah at The Smart Kitchen blog.  These are made with chia seeds, apple sauce, raisins (or use dried cherries) and pumpkin.  See the whole recipe here.

Will you be serving something special for Hanukkah? Will you try to make it healthier or forget your diet during the holidays?

Cherries and Gout: New Study Released

Gout got you down? Like a railroad-spike-through-the-knee kind of down?

Tart cherries to the rescue!

By Gina Andreucci

A study recently released by Boston University School of Medicine links our favorite cherries with a reduction in gout attacks—between 35 and 75 percent! The study is one of the first to scientifically examine the effects of cherry consumption with the recurrence of gout attacks, although many arthritic patients are well aware of the benefits of cherries for their pain and inflammation.

What is Gout?

Gout is a kind of arthritis characterized by painful joint inflammation, particularly in the big toe, knees and ankles that is due to an excess of uric acid in the blood. It is both an acute and chronic affliction of which the exact cause is unknown. Gout may be genetic and is more commonly found in men, post-menopausal women, and heavy alcohol drinkers.

8.3 million sufferers in the US would all agree: gout is the pits.

A gout attack is extremely painful and may last up to several days, and subsequent attacks may last longer. Treatment of a gout attack may include anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers or corticosteroids to reduce pain and inflammation. Chronic gout sufferers may be prescribed allopurinol, a daily medication designed to keep uric acid levels in the body low.

The Study

During the study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, 633 individuals with gout were followed for one year. Patients provided information on symptoms, onset, risk factors, and whether or not they ate fresh cherries or took cherry extract during the year. Researchers gathered information for 1,247 gout attacks – roughly two per patient.

What they discovered was that the participants that ate cherries for two days were 35% less likely to suffer a gout attack than those who did not consume cherries. Participants who reported that they ate cherries in addition to taking their allopurinol medication were 75% less likely to experience an attack.

But what is the magic number for cherries? The study found that three servings (30-36 cherries) over two days proved the most beneficial.

Tart cherries are excellent for anti-inflammation, and high levels of antioxidant compounds found in cherries as well as vitamin C are two components that scientists believe may contribute to the reduction in gout flares. Arthritis Research UK professor Alan Silman admits “Eating cherries, in fact, is not dissimilar to taking ibuprofen on a daily basis.”

The study does not recommend patients abandon standard medical treatment for gout or arthritis, but scientists look forward to future studies to confirm the power of cherries.

Source:

"Cherry Consumption and the Risk of Recurrent Gout Attacks"; Yuqing Zhang, Tuhina Neogi, Clara Chen, Christine Chaisson, David Hunter, Hyon K. Choi; Arthritis & Rheumatism, anticipated online publication 28 September 2012; DOI: 10.1002/art.34677; Additional sources: Wiley-Blackwell, Arthritis Research UK.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/250862.php

Cheribundi Ambassador: Runner Toni Church

A Cherry A Day For Running Recovery

by Janine Frank

For one Long Island runner, a lifelong goal is now just a month away. Toni Church is training for the New York City Marathon on November 4th. This will be the first marathon for the 34-year-old mother of two who took up running to get back in shape after her first child was born.

Now 15 years later, Church is ready to take the plunge and attempt one of running's biggest challenges. “As long as I've been running I have wanted to run one marathon and that marathon had to be NYC!” Church says.

To finally get to this point, Church, a hospital nurse, has been reliably and singularly focused on this one objective. And in all those years, her conviction never wavered. “The marathon is the ultimate running goal and I want to do it at least once,” Church says confidently.

Her training regimen consists of two runs a week with a running team called We Are Athletes. They do drills, speed work, core work and devote one of those nights to hill running. Church saves her longer runs for the weekend. “On Saturday or Sunday I do my long runs mostly with people from the team,” Church says. “My weekly mileage lands somewhere between 18 and 28 miles per week.”

Church also tries to do yoga three times a week as well as cross training with a spin bike and an elliptical trainer. She also tries to work in two weight training sessions per week. “I believe for balance and injury prevention you need to have a well-rounded workout routine,” Church says.

Unlike some first time marathon runners, Church is careful not to over-train. “Many of the plans out there have first time marathoners running an enormous amount,” Church explains, “And according to my coach it's a recipe for disaster and injury.” She says it's also important to listen to your body. “If something hurts, don't ignore it because it will only get worse.”

Representin' in her Cheribundi tee at FitBloggin' 2012.

Part of Church's daily routine also includes Cheribundi. She says it's how she ends every workout. “Cheribundi has helped me combat muscle soreness. I love having a [Whey] protein Cheribundi after a tough workout to fuel my muscles and help replenish my energy.” In fact, Church says she also drinks Cheribundi on her rest days. For her it's become a daily habit.

Church understands the struggle between achieving a fit lifestyle and raising a family. “I do my best to spend time with the family every day after work and by incorporating fitness and family time together with bike rides, workouts in the park and healthy activities,” Church says. She admits that the balance is challenging, but knows that her own fitness is essential. “Running has changed my life both physically and emotionally for the better and I couldn't imagine my life without it!”

Cheribundi wishes Toni all the best in her first marathon. May it be the beginning of many! 

Editor's Note: Unfortunately, Toni recently went to the doctor and found out she has a stress fracture. She has to rest it for eight weeks, which means she will not be able to run in the NYC Marathon this year.  But she has Cheribundi to help her recover and she says it's "definitely helping with the recovery." Toni will be back to her training routine once the fracture heals, and she plans to train for another marathon in 2013. Read more from Toni at her blog, Running Loving Living: The Road to My Dreams.

Janine Frank lives in Lafayette, Colorado with her husband, two sons and golden retriever. She writes about fitness, natural products and the great outdoors.