As much as I love ‘ready to drink’ sports drinks for their smooth textures and consistent flavor, I can’t argue with the convenience, cost savings, and space savings offered by powdered energy drinks.

While the powders might be hard to mix or maybe they taste chalky, they are usually palatable. Today we’ll be looking at the powder packets from FRS healthy energy (specifically the lemon-lime flavor,) and we’ll see if it measures up.

But first, in case you missed the previous review of FRS liquid concentrate, here’s an overview of the FRS healthy energy formula:

The FRS energy drinks contain powerful antioxidants, namely quercetin and catechins, which fight off free radicals, boost your immune system, boost metabolism, and of course, boost your energy levels. What they do is actually destroy everything that makes you feel tired, therefore allowing your body to regain and utilize its natural energy.

It goes against the strategy of most other energy drinks (i.e. fill your body with tons of artificial stimulants,) but it works well.

Here are the actual ingredients:

Ingredients: Polydextrose, Citric Acid, Gum Arabic, Natural Flavors, Quercetin, Ascorbic Acid, DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Green Team Extract, Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Silicate, Caffeine, Sucralose, Niacinamide (B3), Panax Ginseng Extract, Locust Bean Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Gingko Biloba Extract, Riboflavin (B2), Thiamine Hydrochloride (B1), FD&C Blue #2, Cyanocobalamin (B12).

One serving of this gives you the same amount of antioxidants as 3 servings of blueberries, 6 servings of red onions, or 8 servings of raspberries!

On top of that, the ingredients provide 15% DV of Vitamin A, 200% DV of Vitamin C, 200% DV of Vitamin E, 100% DV of Thiamin, 100% DV of Riboflavin, 100% DV of Niacin, and 100% DV of both Vitamins B6 and B12.

The one ingredient I don’t care for is the sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener, but that’s the only way they can keep the calorie count down to just 10 calories per packet (and still have it taste good.)

Mixing It Up With a Taste Test

First of all, these packets are really neat. Instead of the typical square packet, these are tubes - they remind me of pixie sticks! (You know, those tubes of flavored sugar… those sure were good!)

The first time I opened one, though, I wasn’t pleased! Even though it has a nifty tear tab, I ended up ripping the tube and almost spilling all the powder on the floor… so I decided to use scissors. But after some careful thought, I got it the second time!

If you hold both sides of the tear tab, basically covering the tube with the width of your fingers, then twist in one strong, straight motion, it should open just fine. The key is to twist the tube into two pieces, rather than just trying to rip the top off.

(It should look just like the picture above - the corner rips off smoothly, leaving a nice pour spout.)

But other than the good looks, it’s just like most other powders, except that it mixes a bit better. You can actually mix it with a spoon in a cup of cold water and dissolve most of the powder. It still looks grainy and there will be some clumps on the bottom, but it did better than I expected.

If you want to do a better job, mix it in warm water and then refrigerate it, or shake it in a water bottle. (I can’t complain about this because virtually every other powdered drink is the same. There is one and only one powder I’ve seen that mixes easily and that’s Emergen-C.)

Either way, it tastes good. It was hard for me to believe (even as I was drinking it,) but despite the chalky appearance, you don’t taste the powder at all. It actually goes down smooth!

It has a pretty typical energy drink taste with the thin, water-like consistency. So it’s totally the opposite texture of the FRS liquid concentrate. It’s not like juice at all. I guess it’s a little more on the Gatorade side, but with more bite, like Red Bull or Monster energy drinks.

Energy Drink = Energy Boost

My first test of the FRS powder was before a kayak trip. I used one packet around 12:30 PM. Within 10 minutes, I felt fully energized. There wasn’t a big kick like a caffeine buzz, rather, you just notice that you have energy.

Then I kayaked from around 1:30 to 4:00 PM, and I had three FRS energy chews along the way. Granted it was a casual pace, but I felt great the whole time. I was paddling nice and strong and wasn’t sore afterwards.

Then I was energetic, wide awake, and alert all through the afternoon and into the evening!

On subsequent uses, I didn’t have that “wide awake super energy” feeling all day, but I still got the moderate energy boost. FRS doesn’t give you super-human strength, so you won’t achieve new physical feats, but you’ll be less sore and tired after your usual workouts.

Not that it doesn’t improve workouts slightly. I think it does let you workout a little longer and harder, but what I really love is how I can do something after a workout instead of just taking a nap because I’m too tired to do anything else. The energy just sticks with you (mentally, at least) even if your muscles are physically worn out.

My final verdict is…

As with the FRS energy chews, the powdered drink mix keeps the calories low thanks to sucralose. I’d prefer plain old sugar and the extra calories that come with it, but I understand lots of people just prefer “low calorie.”

So if you want to avoid artificial sweeteners, you’ll have to avoid this. But if you want a convenient energy drink (in powdered form) that’s fairly easy to mix, tastes pretty good, and provides all day energy, this could be the stuff for you.

It’s also great if you like the energy boost from FRS but don’t like their other products that have a consistency like fruit juice. This gives you that boost and it tastes like you’d expect an energy drink to taste!

Official website: www.healthyenergy.com

Free Trial link: www.healthyenergy.com/tryfree

(You can get a free box of 14 packets in the free trial offer.)

The sheer number of energy drinks out there really amazes me. There must be thousands of crazy, disgusting, unhealthy energy drinks around the world. But I take comfort in the fact that there is a handful of healthy energy drinks out there.

One of these healthy energy drinks is known as FRS (or Free Radical Scavenger) from New Sun Nutrition. It caught my eye because of FRS’ connection to the cycling world, and now I have had a chance to put it to the test!

Today I am going to review the FRS liquid concentrate, which comes in a 32oz bottle that provides 16, 2oz servings.

Recommended dosing is to mix 2oz concentrate with 6oz water to complete a nice 8oz glass. It even includes a nifty FRS measuring cup!

Mixing the FRS Concentrate

The first thing I noticed when mixing was that the concentrate is really thick and likes to stick to the measuring cup, and rinsing it out of the measuring cup without wasting any took too much effort. After that I decided to just dump the concentrate straight into my glass. That saved a lot of time and hassle! (Once you see 2oz poured from the measuring cup, it’s easy to judge the amount by sight, or you could draw a line on your glass or water bottle to make it super easy.)

The thing that’s awesome is how this does not leave clumps of powder at the bottom of the glass. Since this is a liquid concentrate, it mixes easily into one smooth drink. I mix it with a spoon, but you can get by without it - just dump the concentrate in first, pour water over it, and give it a little swirl. Or put it in a water bottle and give it a quick shake, whichever you prefer.

Also, the concentrate is so thick and strong you could probably mix 2oz of it with 16oz of water and still have it taste good. You’ll have to see what works for you.

FRS Concentrate Taste and Texture

Opening the bottle was kind of funny because this stuff looks and smells exactly like frozen orange juice concentrate! I was expecting some funky “energy drink” kind of flavor, but this taste was like a traditional fruit juice! The texture was just like orange juice, too, as it’s very thick (as opposed to thin and watery.)

I would say the taste is practically the same as orange juice but with a little bit of a bite at the end of each sip. It’s not bad, but if this was an OJ taste test, you could tell it is the odd man out. (I’d say it’s like drinking sweet orange juice and then the bite at the end is like a more sour, acidic orange juice taste.)

However, unlike real orange juice, this does not leave an aftertaste! Normally OJ leaves a thick, acidic aftertaste, but this stuff does not. That is awesome! No more disgusting “brushing your teeth after drinking orange juice” feeling!

Ingredients and Nutrition Facts

This is loaded with calories - 120 calories in the 2oz serving. (No wonder FRS does low-calorie options!) However, that just makes it even more like orange juice… I checked a can of frozen orange juice concentrate and a serving of that was listed at 140 calories, so FRS is on par with that.

The FRS is fairly filling, as you’d expect for the caloric content. You could use it as a quick, pre-workout breakfast (assuming you keep refueling if you’re doing a long workout.)

I’ve been drinking this in the morning on an empty stomach with no problems. Some people have trouble with orange juice being too acidic, and some energy supplements can be problematic on an empty stomach, but this didn’t bother me.

Now for the most important part… the ingredients that give you energy! It’s all about the flavonoid antioxidants (especially quercetin and catechins.) A serving of this gives you the same amount of antioxidants as 3 servings of blueberries, 6 servings of red onions, or 8 servings of raspberries!

Sure, I’d love to eat 3 servings of blueberries or even 8 servings of raspberries every day, but that’s not realistic! It’s much easier to get 250mg of quercetin and 100mg of catechins (from the green tea leaf extract) in one simple serving of FRS concentrate.

On top of that, the all-natural ingredients provide:

25% DV of Vitamin A
210% DV of Vitamin C
200% DV of Vitamin E
100% DV of Thiamin
100% DV of Riboflavin
100% DV of Niacin
100% DV of both Vitamins B6 and B12

The Energy Boost

With all these ingredients, I was expecting an insane energy boost… but it didn’t do much. I did notice it lift my mood some and make me feel a little more alert, but there wasn’t an energy rush.

But I went into it all wrong…

I was looking for an instant boost, but you don’t really notice the real energy boost till the end of the day. That’s because FRS lasts all day, delivering just enough energy to keep you active and alert without making you jittery.

So on a day you take this, you’ll go through the day like normal, but at the end of the day you won’t be worn out! Then when you look back on the day, you’ll realize you got a lot of stuff done!

For example, let’s say your routine consists of going to work, coming home and going for a quick ride, then laying on the couch and falling asleep. With FRS, you could put in a day at work, go for a hard ride, and then get some work done at home. It’s a simple concept, but after you see the results, you’ll swear by it!

Drawbacks to the FRS Concentrate

This FRS worked extremely well, although there is a drawback I noticed… the price. A bottle costs about $20, so if you use it once every day, you’ll need almost two bottles each month. That’s $40 per month! (I don’t like to put a price tag on my health, though!)

My final verdict is…

I’m extremely happy with my FRS concentrate. The taste is good enough that I could drink this on a daily basis for years, and the all day energy is so great that I could drink this even if it tasted terrible! The taste isn’t amazing enough that I want to drink it five times a day, but the energy boost is too good to pass up.

If you just want some health benefits for a low price, drink a couple glasses of green tea each day. But if you want lots of extra health benefits and the all day energy boost, FRS is well worth the price. (I bet you could even calculate it as a cost savings if you think about how much more work you can get done each day!)

Official website: www.healthyenergy.com

Free Trial link: www.healthyenergy.com/tryfree

“We roasted red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, and onions to create our zesty Fire Roasted Vegetable TLC crackers. We know you’ll be fired up about them.”

I love zesty, spicy flavors, and I love all Kashi’s healthy cereals and granola bars, so it was only a matter of time before I tried out the Kashi TLC crackers. And to fulfill my “zesty” flavor addiction, I had to go with the Fire Roasted Vegetable flavor.

This flavor was just spicy enough for me, so it was good, and definitely authentic, but not overly spicy. (Except for a few crackers that got a double-dose of topping, which were amazing!) If you like zesty, but not super spicy, these are a good bet. But if that’s not your thing, there are a variety of other flavors to try: country cheddar, honey sesame, natural ranch, or original 7 grain.

As for the cracker itself, it tastes just as good as, if not better than, the many other crackers full of unhealthy ingredients. Kashi’s crackers definitely won’t be confused with cardboard!

Now let’s talk about how healthy these are…

If you look at the ingredients, you’ll see these crackers are full of whole grains and natural ingredients. That’s good. Just as important are the missing ingredients, namely high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil (which are super-unhealthy, yet found in most typical crackers.)

So the ingredients are healthy. But should you be eating these all the time?

Not really, since there are much better options. Look at this - a serving size is 15 crackers and that gives you 130 calories. These aren’t filling at all, so I must eat at least three servings at once, which means 390 calories! (And still they don’t fill me up!)

Most of the calories come from carbohydrates, because these crackers are low in fat, but surprisingly low in fiber and protein. That means you won’t feel full, so you just keep eating until the box is empty!

Last, and least, I have one other complaint - these crackers like to stick to the outsides of my molars. Some other crackers will stick to my teeth and gums a little bit, but these ones just seem to do it a bit worse.

My Final Verdict Is…

These taste good and they’re healthy. If you crave snack crackers, try these as a replacement for unhealthy varieties. But since these aren’t the healthiest food in the world, I wouldn’t add them in as an everyday snack, but rather for parties or special occasions.

These just aren’t packed with enough nutrients to be a big part of your diet. Try Kashi GO LEAN Crunch instead; it’s full of fiber and protein, so you don’t have to eat five servings to feel satisfied.

Official site: www.kashi.com (TLC Cracker Fire Roasted Vegetable Page)

Want to soothe your sore, aching muscles for just $7, with no effort required?

It’s possible, and the secret lies in a small jar of blue gel known as Therapeutic Mineral Ice pain relieving gel.

I rarely see Mineral Ice being used or talked about amongst cyclists, but it’s a common item in most locker rooms. It’s simple - you rub the gel onto your muscles and joints and they feel better.

The key to Mineral Ice is the active ingredient - menthol. Menthol is used in a variety of salves and balms, and the 2% menthol content of Mineral Ice works well to relieve the pain in your muscles and joints, whether it’s from a nagging sports injury or arthritis.

Just apply Mineral Ice to your body and in seconds you will feel the tingle. It feels great!

While Mineral Ice feels pretty strong, it smells stronger. If you use it all over your body, the entire room will smell in no time! I think it smells pretty good, though, and there’s the added benefit that it will unclog your sinuses!

How I Use Mineral Ice

Check out my sweet tan line!

Mineral Ice is more than a simple pain reliever. Here are all the ways I use it…

Pain Relief. If I am sore from a long ride, or if an injury (such as a torn ACL) is acting up, I’ll rub Mineral Ice on it to ease the pain.

Easy Massage. The tingling sensation from Mineral Ice working its way into your muscles is similar to a massage. If I ever feel like getting a massage, but don’t actually want to get a massage, I can just rub Mineral Ice on my body. It does all the work!

Rest & Recovery Days. You know how your legs are always extra stiff after taking a day off? You can solve that by rubbing Mineral Ice on them on off days for “active recovery.” This keeps your legs loose so they aren’t as sore when you ride the next day.

Pre-Race Warmup. Especially on cold days, it can take a long time to get your legs warmed-up and ready for peak performance. Just spread Mineral Ice on your legs before jumping on your bike and the tingling sensation will warm you up. (I only do this for some training rides since the tingle is a bit unusual if you’re not used to it, but some people do use it before races.)

Quick Tip: Running vs Riding
The tingle of Mineral Ice on my quads when cycling makes it feel like I’m not putting out as much power as I normally would. I’m not sure why, it’s just a weird feeling. However, using Mineral Ice before running is great. It might be the impact on my legs overriding the tingling sensation, but whatever it is, using Mineral Ice before running feels great for me.

Cure Headaches. This one I’ve never tried, but some people use Mineral Ice on their forehead, temples, and the back of the neck to cure headaches.

My final verdict is…

Mineral Ice has become a staple on my medical shelf, right up there with chamois cream! I couldn’t ride well (and recover) without it.

It works great for pain relief and even better for keeping my muscles loose, so it helps me get the most out of each training ride. Plus, it’s cheaper than specialty balms, creams, and gels - just about $7.50 for an 8 ounce jar - and it lasts for months.

Buy online: at Amazon.com

Since the Mini Massager from HoMedics didn’t suit my needs, I had to move up to their PA-100 Professional Massager! This is another hand-held personal massager, but it’s bigger, more powerful, and packed with features.

My friend had one of these, and she used it on my back one day when I was really sore, and I swear it made my back good as new! The next day I ordered one from Amazon.com for just $30. (Looking at it, I thought it would be closer to $100, but luckily I guessed wrong!)

Features, Functionality, and Versatility

This massager really shines in the functionality department. Once you turn it on, you can use the sliding button to pick out just the right speed setting - I always use the highest setting, but if you want a real light massage, you can do that too. Then, to change the spacing between the massage heads, just hold down the bottom button until the heads are positioned where you want them. You can even change the massage head covers between the soft, medium, and hard covers (all included.)

The various speed settings and massage head options make this very versatile - you can use it on your legs, back, shoulders, and even your shins and forearms. (The key point there is that you can use this on your own legs, and it’s about the only way I know of to give yourself a back massage.)

Just don’t use it while watching TV. When this massager is running, it creates a ton of static on the TV due to whatever electrostatic or electromagnetic force it is exerting.

Portability (Ease of Transport)

The drawback with this full-size, electric model is the lack of portability. Sure, you can take it to a friend’s house, but it won’t do you any good somewhere without an electrical outlet.

In other words, don’t plan to use this in the race parking lot.

The Massage

Now for the important stuff - the massage itself.

For the most part, this provides a comfortable, enjoyable massage. The drawback is that it is the exact same massage, every time and everywhere, whether it’s on your back, shoulders, or feet. It just can’t compete with the versatility of a human hand.

I have found the best use is for back massages, especially if you have a sore back. You can spread the heads to the farthest setting, set the speed to the highest setting, and run it up and down your back to soothe any aches and pains. The drawback here is that it’s inconvenient to twist your arms around to run this on your own back.

Despite the nice back massage, it didn’t do much for my quads. If you have muscular, cyclist quads, this will probably just tickle you! But if your legs are really sore from a hard ride, it’s easy to use and it helps somewhat.

Tip: You’re not supposed to push on the massager, but to get a worthwhile massage, I put quite a bit of pressure on it. I don’t know if that’s a good idea, but without that extra pressure, it feels like I’m being tickled.

One final drawback is the 15 minute time limit on each use. It says not to run the massager for longer than 15 minutes each time, and don’t use it in the same spot for more than 3 minutes.

What about a real massage?

A real massage feels amazing and totally blows away the massages from this.

But keep in mind that a real massage will probably cost you $30 for half an hour, while this gives you virtually unlimited massages for a single $30 payment. In that respect it’s a great value.

My final verdict is…

I’m not overly impressed with this massager, because it doesn’t feel all that special, and it gets old after a while (since it’s the exact same feeling no matter what.)

But it does help recover from injuries or stiff, sore muscles, and it never says “no, I don’t feel like giving you a massage.”

If you’re sore all the time, this will be great for you. It’s much cheaper than going to a real masseuse, and it’s even cheaper than The Stick, so it’s a relatively good value.

In the end, it’s worth the $30.

Official website: www.HoMedics.com

Buy online: at Amazon.com