As the world tunes in to the Summer Olympics, brought to you by Coca Cola (makers of Powerade) the British Medical Journal has issued reports stating that these sports drinks manufacturers are lying to consumers about the need for excessive rehydration, especially when it comes to the need for sports drinks with electrolytes like Powerade and Gatorade.

Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade have become a staple on the sidelines of athletic events. Athletes are often seen guzzling down the electrolyte infused, sugary beverages to hydrate their tired bodies and stay competitive. However, for the common consumer and healthy individual, all you’d really need is water. The BMJ conducted many studies and did lots of research to find out whether sports drinks were really worth their salt.

A third study reports that hundreds of performance claims made on websites about sports products, including nutritional supplements and training equipment as well as drinks, are largely based on questionable data, and sometimes no apparent data at all. One overall theme emerging from the various papers is that much of the research cited was conducted with elite and endurance athletes, who have specific nutritional and training needs; any such findings, however, should not be presumed to hold for the vast majority of those who engage in physical activity.

Check out the article for the full information, but it seems that we may have been mislead to thinking that the normal exerciser needs to replace these electrolytes with sugar-laden beverages like Gatorade/Powerade, rather than hydrating with good, old-fashioned water. Of course, there are no-sugar alternatives, as well as many recipes to make your own at home, but the jury is still out as to whether they are really necessary.

What do you think? Do you reach for a sports drink during a hard workout? Do you find that it helps? Let’s talk on Facebook!

A favorite of both men and women, our Cantabria Surfer Shorts are back in stock in all sizes in Cloud Grey!

Perfect for yoga, Pilates, aerobic workouts, sports, a trip to the beach or a casual day, the Cantabria’s are our most popular short. Roomy and comfortable, these are shorts that you will want to live in all day. Men love the longer length, and that the shorts have plenty of room to move while providing modesty. Women love the slouchy, casual look and the figure-flattering seams. And everyone loves the soft, luxurious organic Zeugma cotton that keeps you cool and dry.

How would you wear the Cantabria’s? What would you pair them with? Facebook us and let us know! (They look great with our Figuera tops for women, or the Cape Byron for men!)

Here at Prancing Leopard headquarters in NJ, temperatures have been sweltering! Blazing sunlight, high humidity, and no rain fall have made these past several weeks almost unbearable. And it hasn’t been much better in the rest of the US either, with many areas facing droughts and heat advisories. This drought and the continually rising temperatures are already causing trouble with farmers, and could lead to a global food crisis.

A recent Mother Jones article talks about how even though we’re experiencing a drought right now, we may not see the results for another 6 months to a year from now. Not only could this spell trouble at your local grocery store, but all over the world.

Some analysts are predicting a repetition of the 2008 protests that swept across Africa and the Middle East, including countries like Egypt, because of food prices.

In 2008, the food shock was due to rising prices for rice and wheat. This time, it’s because of corn and soybeans, and there were no signs of shortfall in rice or wheat production.

But the full effects of the American drought will likely take several months to emerge. Its severity will be determined by a number of additional risk factors.

Global grain stocks have reached a new low, with the US and other countries running down their reserves. “There are no reserves of these foods in the US anymore,” said Sophia Murphy, a fellow at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Are you already feeling the effects of this drought? Lets talk on Facebook

Here’s a copy of our most recent newsletter. Sign up here to be on our mailing list and stay updated about new styles, special discount offers, and environmental news from Prancing Leopard!

“Prancing Leopard Organics Newsletter July 19th, 2012: Our Hottest Capris Now in Cool, New Colors”

Prancing Leopard Organics is the ultimate in active fashion. We believe fashion should be active, holistic, fun, stylish, comfortable and long-wearing. We create high-performance organic Zeugma cotton fabrics and fashion-forward styles. We are 100% committed to organic, holistic and eco-conscious living. Forward this E-mail to a Friend

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A terrific post on Daily Cup of Yoga from earlier this month seemed to hit hard for me this afternoon. Lindsey Lewis writes about how effective our minds are at creating situations, in this case, thinking that something will be hard, and then making it come to life. But shouldn’t the opposite be true as well? If we think something will be easy, will it be easy? The answer is yes!

This is all too true in everyday life, whether it is in yoga class, in your daily aerobic workout, at work, or any other part of your day. If you think a workout or a pose will be hard, it will be. “When a pose was really challenging for me, it was me that was challenging the pose, not the other way around.” If you think it will be a miserable commute to work, it will be. If you think a project will be hard, it will be. But so often we forget that the opposite will be true as well. If we let go and hope for the best, things will be different. Can’t stay in Crow Pose without toppling over? Believe you can, and picture yourself doing it. Tell yourself that this workout will be fun and it will be.

It’s hard to get out of the negative thinking and believing that everything is just HARD. Some things are, but some things we still have control over. And no matter what, we always have control over how we react. Try it sometime!

Have you experienced this? What do you do to get out of negative thinking, and telling yourself that something is hard? Talk about it on Facebook.

Here’s a copy of our most recent newsletter. Sign up here to be on our mailing list and stay updated about new styles, special discount offers, and environmental news from Prancing Leopard!

Prancing Leopard Organics is the ultimate in active fashion. We believe fashion should be active, holistic, fun, stylish, comfortable and long-wearing. We create high-performance organic Zeugma cotton fabrics and fashion-forward styles. We are 100% committed to organic, holistic and eco-conscious living. Forward this E-mail to a Friend

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Many consumers are under the assumption that organic food is always natural and healthy. Advertising and even our own common sense wants us to believe this. And while this might be true in the case of produce and fresh foods which are usually laden with pesticides, processed foods on the other hand, whether organic or not, often contain additives that aren’t so natural… or healthy. 5 of the most surprising ingredients (according to a Mother Jones article) that are in organic foods are: carageenan, synthetic DHA, acidified sodium chlorite, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and ethylene.

Many of these big, scary sounding chemicals aren’t even essential to the cooking or packaging process, which is why it frustrates some consumers that they are in there at all. And while there is debate about the safety or health risks associated with these different ingredients, many people still do not want extra chemicals in their food, no matter the circumstances.

This article is a good reminder for everyone that even though you may be buying organic processed foods, they are still processed with chemicals you may not want to ingest. It is important to limit the number of processed foods we eat in order to limit our exposure to these and other chemicals. Remember, just because something is “organic” does not mean it is healthy!

What are your thoughts? Do you feel better buying organic processed foods because you think they are healthier? Are you surprised by any of the information in the article? Let’s discuss on Facebook!