Karen T (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} thepallasathene) wrote,@ 2008-05-06 01:18:00 |
|
When I stopped to grab lunch today at a different dining center than usual, I found that they didn't carry my usual low-calorie yuppie beverage of choice, Kombucha. I appreciate kombucha because it doesn't have artificial sweetener, contains just enough alcohol that I can sometimes pretend I'm drinking a beer, and has as many living organisms as my yogurt. Excellent. Disappointed as I was, I took the opportunity to try Pepsi's new zero-calorie yuppie beverage, Tava. I wish I had saved the bottle for the blurb on the side, which was something to the effect of "Ride a train to an art show. Rock your socks off. Experience the world. Sushi. Is your Tava open?" I was in the store when I read it, and I was pretty sure that qualified as shoplifting. I bought the damn thing anyway.
Much unlike kombucha, Tava is chock-full of artificial sweetener - 5th on the ingredient list, for the inquisitive minds - but it also tries to be healthy. Sure, it's not mold masquerading as a digestion stabilizer, but it's got vitamins! The flavor I decided to inflict upon myself, Mediterranean Fiesta, was a black cherry citrus sprinkled with vitamins E, B6, niacin, and chromium. I'm not entirely sure what any of these have to do with a Mediterranean Fiesta. Quite frankly, I was hoping for a sort of sangria with a light hint of citrus with oakey undertones and just a splash of raspberry. Sushi. But no, I get E, B6, niacin and chromium.
Let's dispense with the additives, shall we? Everyone knows that any lettered vitamin is boring. And niacin is just sounding fancy for vitamin B3. This leaves us with chromium. Why in god's name would anyone advertise putting chromium in a fruit drink, you ask? Fantastic question. According to wikipedia, chromium has some great uses in leather tanning, metallurgy, and is a useful dye. Hell, I use chromium potassium sulfate in the lab to make subbed slides for mounting tissue on. Granted, the MSDS sheet on it lists its health rating as 3 (of 4 possible) or "severe: "Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical attention was given." So you can see why I'm not exactly leaping at the idea of chromium being in my Tava. Sushi. Chromium is useful biologically in sugar metabolism, because it enhances insulin. Most people get all the chromium they need from foods like broccoli, grape juice, and somewhat ironically, red wine. Seriously, have you ever known anyone with a chromium deficiency? Didn't think so. In fact, too much chromium can cause cell damage, but I doubt it'll get you before the aspartame.
I checked out the Tava website to, you know, properly research this post. You'll be pleased to know that the makers of Tava even suggest food pairings for the different flavors. So what goes well with Mediterranean Fiesta Explosion? No, not sushi. BBQ spare ribs and dark chocolate truffles, with recipes already provided. Maybe this is why my Tava experience was less than satisfying - the Brazilian Samba is supposed to go well with a Thai-style shrimp and cucumber salad, which is almost like the garden salad I was munching on. That, or it was a chromium overload with all the broccoli also in my salad.
Sushi.
Much unlike kombucha, Tava is chock-full of artificial sweetener - 5th on the ingredient list, for the inquisitive minds - but it also tries to be healthy. Sure, it's not mold masquerading as a digestion stabilizer, but it's got vitamins! The flavor I decided to inflict upon myself, Mediterranean Fiesta, was a black cherry citrus sprinkled with vitamins E, B6, niacin, and chromium. I'm not entirely sure what any of these have to do with a Mediterranean Fiesta. Quite frankly, I was hoping for a sort of sangria with a light hint of citrus with oakey undertones and just a splash of raspberry. Sushi. But no, I get E, B6, niacin and chromium.
Let's dispense with the additives, shall we? Everyone knows that any lettered vitamin is boring. And niacin is just sounding fancy for vitamin B3. This leaves us with chromium. Why in god's name would anyone advertise putting chromium in a fruit drink, you ask? Fantastic question. According to wikipedia, chromium has some great uses in leather tanning, metallurgy, and is a useful dye. Hell, I use chromium potassium sulfate in the lab to make subbed slides for mounting tissue on. Granted, the MSDS sheet on it lists its health rating as 3 (of 4 possible) or "severe: "Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury even though prompt medical attention was given." So you can see why I'm not exactly leaping at the idea of chromium being in my Tava. Sushi. Chromium is useful biologically in sugar metabolism, because it enhances insulin. Most people get all the chromium they need from foods like broccoli, grape juice, and somewhat ironically, red wine. Seriously, have you ever known anyone with a chromium deficiency? Didn't think so. In fact, too much chromium can cause cell damage, but I doubt it'll get you before the aspartame.
I checked out the Tava website to, you know, properly research this post. You'll be pleased to know that the makers of Tava even suggest food pairings for the different flavors. So what goes well with Mediterranean Fiesta Explosion? No, not sushi. BBQ spare ribs and dark chocolate truffles, with recipes already provided. Maybe this is why my Tava experience was less than satisfying - the Brazilian Samba is supposed to go well with a Thai-style shrimp and cucumber salad, which is almost like the garden salad I was munching on. That, or it was a chromium overload with all the broccoli also in my salad.
Sushi.
