FitSugar

Know Your A, B, C's: Vitamin K

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:00:00 PDT

For a long time I was confused about Vitamin K - particularly its relationship to Special K the cereal. Plus, I wasn't really sure what the vitamin did for the human body. Basically I thought vitamins stopped at the letter E, so this one sounded fake. Then I had a baby and two seconds after she came out, she got a shot of vitamin K in her tiny little heel. OUCH!!!!
So I did some research; I wanted to know why the nice nurse was poking my baby with a needle so early in her little newborn life. I found out that Vitamin K is all about the blood, you need the vitamin to make clots. It is called Vitamin K since coagulation starts with a K in German (and maybe just because the name "Vitamin C" was already taken). It is given (how is that for a euphemism for injection?) to newborns to prevent bleeding problems related to birth trauma. Some folks also take it before surgery for the same reasons.

Another thing to note, Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, so your body can store it in your fat. This is one reason why vitamin K deficiency is rare. Deficiency mainly occurs when the body can't properly absorb the vitamins from the intestinal tract, or from long term antibiotics use. The antibiotics kill the good bacteria (flora) that produce Vitamin K.

Vitamin K is abundant in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and lettuce, as well as kale, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprouts. It is also found in wheat bran (eat those whole grains), cereals (so maybe there is some Special K connection), cow's milk and other dairy products. The RDA for vitamin K for an adult woman is between 60 and 65 micrograms a day. Two tablespoons of parsley contains 153% of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin K.

Announcing the 2012 Grammy Award Winners

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:20:23 PST

The mood of the Grammy Awards was a bit somber this year in the wake of Whitney Houston's shocking death, but the show went on, and the statues were all handed out to the winners. Adele owned the night, picking up multiple awards, including those for record of the year, album of the year, and song of the year.

Plenty of other folks received Grammys too, including Kanye West, The Foo Fighters, and Taylor Swift, so to see the full list of winners, just keep reading.

Welcome to DistrictSugar and Win a Trip to The Hunger Games Premiere!

Molly Goodson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:36:30 PST

To celebrate the most anticipated movie release of the season, we're so excited to introduce DistrictSugar, your destination for all things Hunger Games. We've lined up interviews with the cast, exclusive looks at the amazing fashion and beauty from the film, and tons of behind-the-scenes details of the making of The Hunger Games. Check out a preview of the specials to come starting Feb. 20, and enter to win a trip to The Hunger Games premiere below.

Enter to win a trip to The Hunger Games world premiere at the Nokia Theatre in LA below! One lucky fan will win a trip for two to California to attend the red-carpet premiere of The Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Enter to Win a Trip to The Hunger Games Premiere!

Toast to Valentine's Day With a Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail

Michele Foley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:50:49 PST

Fruits and veggies can be slim pickings during the Winter, but not when it comes to blood oranges. Since the crimson color of the fruit's flesh makes it a perfect pairing for Valentine's Day, putting it in a celebratory cocktail makes total sense. It's full of nutritional goodness, too: blood oranges are a great source of vitamin C, and also contains a good amount of vitamin B1 and folic acid. If you're not a drinker, substitute the champagne for soda water in this recipe.

Check out this citrus twist on the champagne cocktail when you

"We Had Drunk Sex and I Feel Awful"

Tres Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I had been "seeing" this guy for about three months, when it appeared to me that he really wasn't that interested in me anymore. He would always say that I worry too much but eventually admitted that "He didn't want to be in a serious relationship, but enjoyed my company and still wanted to be friends." I stupidly agreed b/c I really liked him.

Through the time we had been seeing each other, we fooled around but never actually slept together. I had told him that I didn't want to have sex unless we were committed and since he couldn't commit, we didn't let it get that far. Well...being the idiot that I am, I decided to hang out with him one weekend and go out to have drinks. He invited me to stay the night since he didn't want me driving home intoxicated, and I agreed. The deal was we'd sleep in different rooms.

Long story short . . . I drank wayyyy too much. I didn't even realize I was so drunk until the morning. I had blacked out, and woke up to find that we had sex. I apparently came on to him, very aggressively and wouldn't take no for an answer. He told me he resisted a couple of times and told me things weren't like that anymore, but I kept pushing. He also said that I was acting completely out of character and that I usually freak out about things like that, but that I was all for it. So he agreed to it.

I don't remember any of it.

Needless to say, he says he had a great time and doesn't regret it and asked that I don't regret it either. I agreed, but told him afterward that being just friends sucks for me. He says he knows, but it's all he can give me.

I feel sooooo embarrassed and ashamed for doing this. I tried so hard not to sleep with him and I suddenly get drunk one night and am all for it!? He tried contacting me a couple of days ago, but I didn't respond. Idk if I should speak to him again. I'm hurt that I let myself get into this situation and also that he agreed to sex when he knew I was acting differently. I know it takes two to tango, but I never wanted it to be this way. Now I just feel hurt, and awkward. He says everything is cool and he's not upset about it, but I feel terrible. I don't like casual sex like that . . . especially with him. I feel cheap.

What do I do? Just move on, ignore him, and forget about the whole thing or talk to him about it? Being just friends is too hard, especially when this just happened. I really like the guy, I just can't believe I let it get that far, especially when I knew he didn't want anything more than friends.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

A Reader Shares Her Boredom-Busting Printable Indoor Cardio Workout

Fit Community — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:06:22 PST

Reader FitFabCities has a boredom-busting workout for your next stint on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike. She shared it with us in our FitSugar Community.

Since you've all had Winter weather for awhile, you might be getting a little bored with your usual indoor-cardio workout. Well, here’s a new printable workout that you can do on any cardio machine, and it’s sure to beat your boredom. It combines hill work, sprint intervals, and longer intervals, so find an elliptical trainer, treadmill, or bike, and you’re good to go!

Breakdown

The workout is broken into three parts. If you’re new to working out, you can do one or two sections, or if you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can do all three.
The workout totals about 43 minutes of cardio.
Part A is about climbing a big gradual hill.
Part B consists of 30-second sprints.
Part C includes longer intervals of two, three, and four minutes with one hill.
If you’re using a treadmill, feel free to walk the whole workout and use the speed guide to help complete the intervals.

See the workout and find out how to print it out after the break.

In Season: Cauliflower

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:07:09 PST

People tend to be rather opinionated about cauliflower. Quite a few people completely abhor it, and some are crazy for it. Either way, there's no denying that cauliflower has a rich and interesting history.

Cauliflower belongs to the same species as cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and collard greens. Though white is most common, cauliflower also comes in orange, green, and purple; all possess that slightly sulfurous and bitter flavor. It has been an important Winter vegetable in Europe since 600 B.C. and became popular when it was introduced to the French in the 1500s. Throughout history, cauliflower's been prized for, among other things, its anti-inflammatory properties.

Select cauliflower heads that are compact. Heads that have more green leaves tend to be better protected, and thus, fresher. Store cauliflower in a paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. Want to learn more about cooking with cauliflower? Keep reading.

Group Therapy: My Friend Is in Abusive Relationship

Tres Community — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:05:08 PST

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I'm very concerned for the physical safety and mental health of my friend. She started seeing this guy about five months ago. Two months into their relationship, he cheated on her. She accepted this and justified this because she had moved away for school (only an hour away) and he was convinced she was cheating on him. Shortly after discovering his infidelity, she learned he had been in prison for five years for aggravated assault. He won't tell the exact details but on her own she has uncovered some very unsettling things. He raped a 58-year-old woman and put someone in a coma and yet, these things don't seem to scare her the way they scare me and my friends. Recently I was at her house and she was changing in front of me and I saw a big, mottled green bruise that looked suspiciously like fingerprints. When I asked her about it, she said she fell down the stairs. I'm not stupid, but I didn't pry. Yesterday, she was changing again and I saw bruising all down her arms and back. She finally admitted that he had started beating her. She said she asked him why he did it and he laughed and said, "Because you deserve it. You are worthless." I've known for some time he is verbally abusive; he calls her things like "dumb c**t" and "stupid b***h".

I've only met him three times and find him highly antisocial. He refuses to make eye contact or converse with anyone. On top of that, he has told my friend he hates me because the first time we met we were at a bar and I had been drinking. If she so much as has a sip of an alcoholic beverage, he freaks out on her and tells her she has no control.

She has talked about this situation in depth with myself and a few friends. We have all been frank and told her we're worried for her safety and that this relationship is abusive. She is aware of the perils she is putting herself in by staying with him but refuses to take any steps that might help her leave him. She says she is scared of being alone but she doesn't feel happy with him. We've pleaded with her to leave him but she won't. Today we finally told her we couldn't listen to this anymore because she knows how wrong this is and justifies his behavior and further instills his mantra of her worthlessness by staying with him. I feel like that was the wrong thing but I am so worried about her. I really feel like he is dangerous and honestly, I don't even feel safe with him in my life. Is there anything I can do?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

3 Surprising Ways to Sneak Veggies Into Your Breakfast

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:53:00 PST

Most breakfast options favor fruits and grains, but adding vegetables to your morning routine will kick-start your energy and provide you with plenty of vitamins, straight from the source. Here are three simple, unexpected ways to start your day off right and incorporate veggies into your breakfast routine.

Toss them into a scramble. Boost your breakfast by mixing nutrient-rich vegetables like spinach, red pepper, and onion into your standard scrambled eggs. A half cup of spinach, a quarter cup of red pepper, and a tablespoon of chopped onion amounts to only 21 calories, but all three foods are major sources of fiber and vitamin C. The water-rich vegetables will help you to feel fuller while also providing a medley of essential vitamins - A, E, K, and B6 - plus iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and folate. Other great add-in options? Tomatoes, mushrooms, and asparagus.

Read on for more veggie breakfast ideas.