1. What is Acai?

Acai is a South American palm tree producing small edible blackish-purple berries that look similar to blueberries.

2. What are the health benefits of Acai?

Acai berries contain fiber, heart healthy fats and are higher in antioxidants then other common berries such a strawberries, blueberries and cranberries.

3. Is your Acai organic?

Yes! All of the fruit that we offer at Kindbelly Cafe is organic. Unfortunately, not all of our toppings and liquid bases are organic at this time, but some are! So, if your looking for a fully organic Acai experience, just ask! We are happy to help make it happen.

3. Is Acai sweet?

It depends! We offer both sweetened and pure fruit blends that make the base of your bowl. Of course, an Acai bowl will always have some sugar content because of the sugar that naturally occurs in the fruit but, we do offer a version that is free of added sugar. Bottom line, Acai can be delicious for breakfast and dessert!

5. What’s in it?

We use organic Acai puree packs that are either pure Acai berries or a blend of Acai puree, organic cane sugar, and less than %0.5 of: organic soy lecithin, organic guarana extract, and citric acid. Our basic bowl, the Plane Jane, takes which ever puree pack you would like and blends it with with organic frozen blueberries, organic banana, and a liquid base to create a frozen fruit puree that can be further mixed with any other toppings that we offer, and topped again for a little extra crunch.

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Don’t get us wrong, we’re not ones to hate on a great Cup of Joe, but depending on coffee to get you through the day is no way to maintain a reliable energy level. If you’re chugging two or three cups of coffee in the morning, and then an iced brew or latte during that mid-afternoon lull, it’s time to reevaluate where you’re getting your energy.

If you’ve become dependent on the caffeine rush to power through the work day, no worries! There are a number of natural foods that can offer energy, and they’ll do it in a way so you don’t have the caffeine jitters, you’ll have more balanced energy throughout the day, and there’s no post-coffee crash.

Water

Your fatigue may just be from dehydration. Grab some H2O and chug! If you need a little flavor, infuse your filtered water with fresh fruit. Strawberry and lemons are a great summer recipe!

Chia Seeds

This tiny powerhouse can be eaten in a number of ways and packs the right blend of protein, fats, and fiber to give you an energy boost without a crash. Add the tiny superfood to your yogurt, salad, smoothie, soup, or juice. Extra energy isn’t the only benefit from chia seeds. Check out these 7 unexpected health benefits.

Bananas

When you’re running low on fuel, grab a banana and get on with your day. Researchers say this easy-to-eat fruit can offer just as much energy and recovery as a sports drink. Plus, the potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6 are nutrients you won’t find in a bottle of PowerAde.

Green Tea

If breaking the coffee habit is harder than you expected, it may just be the action of holding the cup and sipping something warm that you’re used to, so replace the beverage. Sipping on green tea is a great energy booster. The caffeine and L-theanine are a great recharging combo without the coffee jitters. Green tea is also great for keeping you focused (and who couldn’t use that extra support?).

Almonds

A handful of almonds is loaded with healthy monosaturated fats that are just what your body needs for a pick-me-up. On top of the sustained energy, almonds are a tasty snack – add them to your yogurt, salad, or smoothie if you’re not a fan of munching on them alone.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great way to start your morning or refuel with a mid-afternoon snack. One of the major benefits of this fiber-packed food is that it helps maintain your blood-sugar level, giving you a balanced energy level throughout the entire day. Avoid the instant oatmeal packets, which can be loaded with sugar, and try out one of these awesome recipes.

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Eating five servings of vegetables everyday can be tough. Whether it’s the time in prepping, cooking, and packing or taste buds that would rather have, well, anything else…you’re a part of the 91% of Americans not eating enough veggies. As health food stores in Myrtle Beach continue to grow and organic restaurants make their mark in the culinary scene, consuming vegetables can actually be much easier than you probably think. Plus, there are ways to sneak in the healthy foods (even if your family puts up a vigorous veggie battle).

Add A Dip

We’ll be the first to admit, a plate full of carrots and broccoli sounds a bit…lacking. But, who says you can’t spice it up a little? Whether you’re a traditionalist with classic ranch, prefer a zesty Italian, or want to pack in the protein with peanut butter, adding a dipping sauce to your veggies can help get them down. Avoid the fats and sugars in the store-bought dressings and check out these easy to make salad dressings.

Add A Straw

Drink up your veggies and make it easier to take a healthy snack on the go! The beauty to these beverages is you can throw in a few pieces of fruit to still have a sweet, enjoyable flavor. Skip the ice cubes, which can water down your smoothie, and use frozen fruit. These green smoothie recipes will help you get your veggies and fruits in one snack, and we’re willing to be it’ll be way better than a salad.

Sip Some Soup

Nothing is better on a cool fall day than sipping warm, filling soup. Homemade soups are a simple way to use a ton of veggies but still feel full after eating. Start with a classic vegetable soup or opt for a thick and creamy tomato carrot veggie soup. You can even add some rice, barley, or quinoa to thicken up your stew. We love these 10 soup recipes to get you started.

Bag It Up

Yes, premade salads in a bag are more expensive, but we know that if it’s readily available, you’ll eat it. With numerous salad mix varieties in your local Myrtle Beach vegan supermarket, you’re sure to find a style you like. Plus, it’s easy to add some protein if you need it – grilled chicken, tofu, or lentils.

Eat What You Like

The ideal way to consume vegetables is to eat from the rainbow – reds, yellows, purples, and greens – but if you’re good with just a few, stick with those. Your body would much rather you have a handful of fresh veggies (even the same ones each day) than not have the nutrient rich foods at all. Check out this list of veggies before you write off too many.

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The summer heat can take its toll on your body. Staying hydrated is ultra-important, especially during the scorching months when the heat index can reach triple digits, but guzzling water can get old (we totally understand). Adding some flavor to your H2O not only makes rehydrating more enjoyable, but there are a number of recipes that can give you a health boost as well!

Strawberry Mint

There are few things more refreshing than the invigorating burst of fresh mint. Try strawberry mint water by grabbing:

• 6 – 8 sliced strawberries
• 1 cup of mint leaves

Add your ingredients to fresh water and ice, shake or stir, and enjoy!

Benefit: Mint soothes stomachs in cases of indigestion or inflammation.

Citrus Mint

We simply can’t get enough of fresh mint this summer, but this recipe gives a much different flavors. Gra a pitcher, and add:

• 1 Sliced Grapefruit
• 2 Sliced Lemons
• 2 Sliced Cucumbers
• 1 Handful of Fresh Mint Leaves, torn

This mixture is good for 64 ounces of water and you can leave it in the fridge for a day or two.

Benefit: Grapefruits are known to be great for heart health. Try some fresh red grapefruit for a positive influence on your blood lipid levels, especially triglycerides.

Watermelon Basil

Is there a more official fruit of summer than watermelon? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Add a bit of basil and you have an amazingly fresh, crisp drink.

• 2 slices of watermelon, cut into thirds or quarters
• Small handful of basil, scrunched

Benefit: Watermelon basil water is a great detox system. The basil is also packed with disease-fighting antioxidants.

Blueberry Orange

The sweet juice of a mandarin orange only gets better if you add it to a handful of blueberries and purified water.

• 4-5 sliced mandarin oranges (squeezed into the water for added flavor)
• Two handfuls blueberries

Benefit: The oranges offer a great immune booster with the Vitamin C and the overload of antioxidants from the blueberries will help you fight off any summer cold for sure!

Mojito Water

Who needs happy hour when you have this sweet drink? Pack your purified water full of:

• 5-6 limes cut into slices
• 1 cup (or more to taste) mint leaves

Benefit: Limes are known to help boost digestion, improve skin, and support weight loss.

Apple Cinnamon

Who needs the fall to celebrate the unmistakable scent and flavor or cinnamon? Pair that with your favorite apple, and you have a year-round favorite. You’ll need:

• 1 apple, sliced thin
• 1 plum, sliced thin
• 1 pear, sliced thin
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks

Benefit: Not only does cinnamon help protect the heart, but it also fights against diabetes and other diseases.

Strawberry Jalapeño

If sipping something with a little kick is more your taste, strawberry jalapeno infused water is the recipe for you. Add together:

• 10-12 slices strawberries
• ½ sliced fresh jalapeno (more or less to your liking)

The jalapeno will give your water a bit of a spice, but the sweetness of the strawberry still allows it to be refreshing.

Benefit: The benefits of jalapenos are numerous. The pepper supports weight loss, relieves headache pain, reduces inflammation, and aids digestion.

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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) says there are 12 foods that are laden with heavy pesticide residue. The EWG released its Dirty Dozen list in the 2017 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, noting that, “Each of these foods tested positive for a number of different pesticide residues and contained higher concentrations of pesticides than other produce.”

In addition to the Dirty Dozen, the EWG also developed a Clean 15 list. The list contains produce least likely to contain pesticide residues. The goal of each report is to inform shoppers of what they are buying and eating. When you walk into you Myrtle Beach organic food market, it’s important to know what you’re buying for your family and what you’re putting into your body.

Dirty Dozen

Here is the EWG Dirty Dozen list, in order:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Peaches
6. Celery
7. Grapes
8. Pears
9. Cherries
10. Tomatoes
11. Sweet bell peppers
12. Potatoes

New to the 2017 list are pears and potatoes, removing cherry tomatoes and cucumbers from last year’s Dirty Dozen.

The EWG reports that more than 98% of samples of strawberries, spinach, peaches, nectarines, cherries and apples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide. Twenty different pesticides were discovered on a single sample of strawberries. The crop that showed the most pesticide residue by weight was spinach, with samples having twice as must pesticide residue by weight than any other crop.

Clean 15

The fruits and vegetables least likely to have remains of pesticide make up the EWG’s Clean 15 list. Only 5% of Clean 15 vegetable samples had two or more pesticides.

Here is the EWG Clean 15 list, in order:

1. Sweet corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Onions
6. Frozen sweet peas
7. Papayas
8. Asparagus
9. Mangoes
10. Eggplant
11. Honeydew
12. Kiwifruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Grapefruit

Only 1% of avocados and sweet corn samples showed pesticide residue. More than 80% of pineapples, papayas, asparagus, onions and cabbage had no pesticide residues, the EWG reports.

A study by Cynthia Curl of the University of Washington points to the benefit of buying organic foods. The study reports participants who reported that they “often or always” buy organic produce had significantly less organophosphate insecticides in their urine samples.

The EWG admits the lists are not based on a complex assessment of pesticide risks, but rather concentrate on giving shoppers the best information possible when it comes to foods that are least and most likely to host pesticide residue and equip you with the information you need to make the best shopping decisions for your family.

Health Food Restaurant

Are you looking for a delicious local health food restaurant? Then look no further then our menu and stop in for a bite to eat with us at Kindbelly. We have plenty of dishes chocked full of veggie goodness. 

We are looking forward to seeing you! 

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From juices to yogurt toppings, you’ve likely seen Acai, pronounced ah-sigh-ee, on the menu at new health food stores and smoothie shops. The small, tart berries come from around the Amazon River basin of South America and have tons of health benefits. You’ll see the berries in everything from shampoo to skin care treatments, thanks to the number of antioxidants that are packed into the small fruits. The berries are low in sugar (thus their tart taste), but they are packed with iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamin A. The fruit has been used for centuries as a powerful healing tool. Here are just some of the benefits of Acai.

Supports Weight Loss

While there’s no miracle food that will help you shed 10 pounds by the weekend, Acai has been proven to support your weight loss efforts and help maintain a healthy weight. One study on the Amazon fruit found revealed within participants that pulp from the berry can actually reduce fat deposits.

Aids Digestion

These tiny berries pack a punch when it comes to clearing out the digestive system. The fruit’s powerful detoxification abilities can act as the body’s dietary fiber. Many berries offer the same benefit, but if you’re a fan of Acai, eat (or drink) on for a clean digestive system.

Better Cellular Health

Acai berries contain anthocyanins, which act as the body’s cellular protection system. The fruit also keeps your cells strong and helps them ward off free radicals.

Anti-Aging Factors

Want to slow or even reverse the aging process? Grab some Acai berries! The numerous forms of phytochemicals can help slow oxidative damage, not to mention the antioxidants in the fruit will help brighten you complexion. One Acai berry has 10 times the antioxidants as grapes and twice as many as blueberries.

Energy Boost

A handful of Acai berries will help boost your energy and stamina, and may help in fighting off fatigue and exhaustion.

Brain Power

The anti-aging properties of the Acai berry don’t stop with your skin. Preliminary studies show that Acai may play a role in health brain aging and improving cognition.

Packed With Protein

While you may not think of fruit as a go-to for protein, Acai berries make the perfect post-workout meal combo. The berries have a large amount of amino acids, nearly equivalent to one egg, a founding element for protein.

While finding the Acai berry in its most natural form may be difficult (because the berries have a short fresh life), most health food stores do offer a powder and puree form of the fruit to use in smoothies and other snacks.

Kindbelly Myrtle Beach Organic Restaurant 

We strive to serve the freshest organic foods in Myrtle Beach. If you are new to organic foods and healthy eating, we are here to help you get acquainted to a new way of eating that is healthy AND delicious! Stop in and see us soon! 

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Chances are you’ve seen or heard of Pitaya, just by a different name. Pitaya is commonly referred to as Drogan Fruit. You’ll likely find the fruit in many Myrtle Beach health food stores or vegetarian restaurants in Myrtle Beach, but this super food fruit begins its life in tropical and subtropical regions in South America and Asia.

Appropriately named, the Dragon Fruit’s outer shell has cactus-like spikes, somewhat resembling the scales of a mythical dragon. The color is a beautiful hue of violet and the inner flesh can be a range of colors from white to red, dotted with small seeds. The fruit offers a number of health benefits including, lower cholesterol, improved digestion, more energy, and weight loss, just to name a few.

Dragon Fruit Nutrition

The fruit, while sweet, has very little cholesterol and can offer a punch of energy. Here’s a summary of the fruit:

• Approximately 60 calories
• 1 gram of fiber per serving
• 9 grams of carbohydrates per serving
• Heart healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids are found in the seeds
• Significant source of antioxidants, which can prevent free radical damage that can lead to premature aging and disease.
• Offers many important micronutrients such as vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin A.

It’s understandable that before you stock up on organic foods, you’d like to know what they taste like. Dragon Fruit is comparable to Kiwi – the texture and sweetness factor.

How do I eat Pitaya?

As with most fruits, you can eat Pitaya by itself, or you can add it into a recipe. Myrtle Beach organic restaurants like Kindbelly may add Pitaya to a fruit smoothie. To eat a Dragon Fruit, peel and scoop the same way you would an avocado. Cut the fruit in half length-wise and scoop out the flesh and seeds. Cut the Pitaya into sections to eat alone, throw on a salad, or add to a smoothie. Here’s one of our favorite recipes to try out:

• 1 large Dragon Fruit peeled and cut
• 1 cup sliced Strawberries
• 1 Banana cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain or flavored (Use 1 cup coconut water if your prefer dairy-free)
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1/2 cup of crushed ice

Health Benefits of Pitaya

Major health benefits have been linked to Pitaya, or Dragon Fruit, adding to the list of reasons this organic food should be added to your grocery list.

• Improved digestion: The fiber in Dragon Fruit can help clear out your digestive system, reducing bloat and constipation.
• Antioxidants: This powerful little fruit packs nearly as many antioxidants as Acai berries, helping your body fight free radicals and cancer-producing properties.
• Stabilize blood pressure: The fiber in the fruit can help fight diabetes by warding off sugar spikes. Of course, your doctor knows best, but Dragon Fruit may be helpful for high blood pressure.
• Hair treatment: If you have color-treated hair, use the juices from a Dragon Fruit (or go the easy route and buy conditioner with Dragon Fruit in it) to help nourish your hair.
• Clear skin: Turn the edible portion of the Dragon Fruit into a paste and apply it to your skin twice daily for the Vitamin C to treat reddened areas on your skin.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Myrtle Beach 

If you are looking for places that serve vegetarian meals in Myrtle Beach, check us out. Take a moment to read our menu here. Please call us if you have questions or have a special dietary request. We look forward to seeing you! 

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