Bored with water? Try a new and refreshing drink to cool off

(ARA) - The hot days of summer and even early fall can leave you parched for a refreshing drink. Sure, water is a great hydrator, but there are times when you thirst for a different taste and maybe a little caffeine to give your energy levels a boost.

In the southern states, sweet tea is an item on just about every restaurant menu. And unsweetened iced tea is a popular summery drink across the United States.

Traditionally, teas are always prepared by steeping teabags with hot boiled water to increase the aroma. But cold-brewing tea can bring more of the essence out of the tea leaves.

By cold brewing tea leaves, the resulting drink not only can quench thirst and eliminate grease from your system, but also retains the caffeine and tannic acid found in the tea leaves.

Cold water brings out the amino acid (sweetness) from the tea leaves, and eliminates the chance of the tea being over-steeped and bitter which can happen when bags are prepared with hot water. Cold-brewed tea emphasizes the idea of sweet tea but with no added sugar.

Because caffeine is stored within the leaves, cold-brewed teas do not stimulate the secretion of stomach acid; therefore, people with sensitive stomachs can also enjoy the taste of tea.

Natural tea can help you reduce body fat and increase your metabolism rate. Studies have shown that Oolong tea leaves contain rich amino acids and cellulose, which lower cholesterol and boost metabolism. Green tea leaves contain vitamins C and E, as well as high fiber. And black tea leaves help with digestion. Having a glass of cold-brewed tea - without sugar or cream - after each meal will help you to slowly dissolve fat in your body. Look for cold-brewed tea bags through Teawan, and also browse the quality tea products.

If you're new to making cold-brewed tea, try these tips for your next refreshing drink.

1. Use purified water or premium natural mineral water for the best taste.

2. Use a bottle with a wide opening and sealable lid for storing the tea. Put the cold-brewed teabag in the middle of the container and hang the tag over the edge for easy teabag removal. Pour in cool or cold water until the container is full.

3. Let the tea brew. If you used warm water, steep the bag for one to four hours. If you used cold water, let the tea steep between four to 12 hours.

4. Once steeped, keep the container in the refrigerator or at room temperature, depending on how you prefer your tea.

The next time you head outside into the hot sun, don't forget to carry along your container of iced tea for a refreshing and healthy drink to help keep you cool during your activities.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Saying Yes To Dessert While Staying True To A Healthier Diet

CC Note: Perfect! We give this story our famous four chocolate covered strawberry rating!

(NAPSI)-For many of us, a meal is not complete without a sweet ending. Fortunately, eating a healthier diet does not mean having to give up desserts.

Choose all your ingredients carefully and make a few simple substitutions, and it's easier than you might imagine to create tasty, decadent treats with significantly less calories and fat. Here are a few tips to help:

• Use low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt in place of sour cream.

• Try low-fat versions of half-and-half or cream cheese to reduce fat.

• Use egg substitute in place of fresh eggs to lower calories and fat, or use two egg whites in place of one whole egg.

• Choose recipes with cocoa; it is naturally fat-free.

• Select fresh or frozen fruit for a sweet ending to the day. Serve with fat-free whipped topping and a few toasted nuts for a special touch.

• Traditional recipes for such mouthwatering desserts as cheesecake and Bananas Foster have a high share of calories from sugar and fat. By substituting Karo Lite Syrup for original Karo syrup, you can easily reduce calories. This simple substitution can work in a variety of your favorite Karo recipes with the same great results.

Although Karo Lite Syrup is great for most dessert recipes, for best results in candy and no-bake cereal bars, use original Karo Light or Dark Corn Syrup.

Here are two tantalizing, guilt-free recipes to try the next time you are looking for a little sweet treat:

Lite Frozen Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Freeze Time: 6 to 8 hours

Yield: 8 servings

½ cup Karo Lite Syrup

½ cup fat-free half-and-half

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons cocoa

2 tablespoons sucralose sweetener

1 tablespoon sugar

1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese, softened, cut into cubes

1 teaspoon vanilla

11/2 cups (4 ounces) reduced- calorie whipped topping

1 9-inch chocolate cookie crumb crust

1. Heat syrup and half-and-half in a microwave-safe container for one minute. Stir in chocolate chips and heat for 30 seconds; stir until smooth and well blended. Pour mixture into blender or food processor; add cocoa, sucralose, sugar, cream cheese and vanilla.

2. Blend on medium speed in blender until very smooth. Add whipped topping and mix until uniformly blended.

3. Pour into crust. Cover and freeze for at least six hours. Remove from the freezer and thaw for 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional whipped topping and cocoa, if desired.

Recipe Tip: For a Mocha Pie, stir two teaspoons instant coffee granules into the Karo Lite Syrup mixture before microwaving.

Lite Bananas Foster

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

1 tablespoon trans-fat-free margarine

1 tablespoon sucralose sweetener and brown sugar blend

11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of ground nutmeg

3 firm, ripe, 7-to-8-inch bananas, peeled, halved and sliced lengthwise

¼ cup Karo Lite Syrup

1 tablespoon rum or banana liqueur, optional

Low-fat vanilla ice cream

1. Melt margarine in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar blend, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

2. Add syrup when mixture begins to bubble; gently stir in bananas. Cook bananas for about one minute per side until hot. Add rum, if desired. Remove from heat and serve immediately over ice cream.

For pecan and pumpkin pie recipes, visit www.karosyrup.com.

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