FitSugar

Celebrity Guess Who: Who's Sipping on That Straw?

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:50:27 PDT

Judging by all the drinking going on, it must have been muggy in New York this week. Can you guess which stars kept it healthy as they beat the NYC heat?

Question 1 of 3

Can you guess which celeb was taking a break from filming with nature's sport drink?

Get Your Food Minus the Chemicals

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:00:19 PST

Last year I told you about a Consumer Reports study, which detected bisphenol A (BPA) in the inner lining of most canned goods. And while the FDA has yet to ban the use of BPA in food packaging, it did announce earlier this year that the industrial chemical may pose some concern. As a result, the government agency is investing $30 million into a more comprehensive study on the effects BPA has on infants and adults.

In the meantime, those of you who are worried about your exposure should make sure your to-go containers and water bottles are BPA-free. Unfortunately, most canned goods are still made using BPA. In these instances it might be best to seek out foods packaged in glass, paper, or freezer bags. As I said earlier, most canned goods are made with BPA, but not all of them! The eco-conscious folks at Treehugger were kind enough to round up a list of seven companies making BPA-free canned goods.

Eden Organic canned beans, grains, and chilis
Vital Choice Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) cerified salmon, albacore tuna, sardines, and mackerel
Oregon's Choice MSC certified albacore
Eco Fish albacore tuna
Wild Planet skipjack and albacore tunas
Trader Joe's canned corn, canned beans, canned fish, canned poultry, and canned beef
Edward & Sons Native Forest and Nature Factor goods of fruits, vegetables, chutneys, and coconut milk

Fittingly Green: BPA-Free Food Containers

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:00 PDT

Ever since the BPA/Nalgene scare of 2008 - in which we learned that bisphenol A could cause all sorts of health problems - manufacturers have been churning out BPA-free plastic water bottles and baby products. Now, BPA-free food storage is also becoming easier to find.

Since we know that bringing your lunch to work is a healthy habit, make it even healthier by packing food in BPA-free plastic containers. I love these fittingly green food storage containers from Preserve made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Buy two square containers for $5.99, a large round one for $2.99, or the smaller version for $2.79. Rubbermaid also has an extensive collection of BPA-free containers to help you go green.

Gear Review: Intak BPA Free Water Bottle

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:30:00 PST

While I'm a fan of reusable bottles made by Sigg, Klean Kanteen, and Nalgene, they all requite two hands to open them, which can be annoying at times. If you can relate, then check out the Intak BPA Free Hydration Bottle with Meter ($11) made by Thermos.

To see how it works

Unlike other water bottles, this one has a pop top. You just lower the metal ring to unlock it, and press the gray triangular button. The clear top pops off but remains attached since it's on a hinge. You can't loosen it - yay! It reveals a small opening that makes it easy to sip out of without pouring water all over your face. Once the top is locked, it's leak proof. I love the slender body that's easy to grip, and it holds 24 ounces of water. There's even a little rotating meter so you can monitor how much water you've had. One of the best features is that the black top unscrews so it's easy to clean the inside of the bottle. It's also dishwasher safe. If you're interested, this Intak bottle comes in green, blue, red, and purple and you can buy one directly from Thermos.

Did You Buy a BPA-Free Plastic Water Bottle?

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:00 PDT

When news about Nalgene bottles causing cancer broke, I ditched my old plastic bottle and bought a metal one. They're a lot heavier, though, and not the most ideal to take on hikes and walks. I just bought new BPA-free plastic water bottles for my hubby and me.

What about you . . .

Snack Safe: BPA-Free Lunchables

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:50:36 PDT

No one wants to drink out of a water bottle that contains the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), and because of the Nalgene bottle scare of '08, we all know about the dangers of BPA. The chemical, linked to all sorts of health problems (including cancer, urinary tract infections, and general mayhem on human hormones), can unfortunately be found in all sorts of places from canned goods to lunch boxes. Now that school is back in session, let's review some lunch box options that are BPA free to keep your food and your hormones safe.

5 Ways to Make Fitness More Eco-Friendly

Michele Foley — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:38:05 PDT

With Earth Day a few days away, there's never been a better time to think about ways to green your fitness. Here are ways to tweak your daily habits just a little bit to do your part to reduce, recycle, and reuse.

Exercise outdoors: Skip the treadmill, stair climber, or stationary bike and go outside. You'll save money, reduce your consumption of energy and materials, and cut back on transportation usage and cost.
Make meals greener: There are several ways to make mealtime more eco-friendly. Save money and avoid wasteful to-go containers by packing lunch in reusable BPA-free containers; avoid produce that's high in pesticides and buy organic and local produce; and even if you're not a vegetarian, help the environment by cutting back on meat and having meat-free days once or twice a week.
Choose the right materials: When shopping for fitness gear, look for products made with recycled or renewable materials. Take it a step further and buy from companies that make a point to offset their carbon footprint.
Use less energy: Reducing how many things you turn on and switch off is a no-brainer, but use Earth Day as an excuse to really unplug. Reducing energy has its health benefits too: taking the stairs is a great way to burn calories, and turning off your computer or TV is a great way to destress and increase social interaction. Try biking to work, and if you can't get outdoors for your workout, rent fitness DVDs from the library.
DIY fitness gear: Cut way back on materials and production costs by doing it yourself! Make your own hand sanitizer, yoga mat cleaner, and produce wash and turn an old pair of jeans into a yoga mat bag.

Happy Baby and Sprout Want to Feed Your Toddlers Organic Meals

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:02:23 PDT

Organic baby food pouches are so last year! Since the healthy, squeezable packets of baby purees first caused a ripple on playgrounds in 2010, the baby pouch has quickly become the go-to baby food choice for mamas who want the best, but just don't have time to cook up their own purees.

Now, two of the first baby food pouch creators are setting their sites on tots who've moved beyond second and third stage purees. Both Sprout and Happy Baby are introducing heat-and-eat organic toddler meals this Spring, and lil ones everywhere should be rejoicing! Here's a quick rundown of what the two are serving up!

Happy Baby The company that brought us the first organic puffs and an organic Thanksgiving meal in a pouch is creating four HappyTot Toddler Meal Bowls ($3.19 each) packed with protein and vitamin A. Using 100 percent organic vegetables, whole grains, and meats, the HappyTot line includes combinations such as Chicken, Vegetable, and Quinoa, as well as the more familiar Vegetable Ravioli. Each cup-sized serving comes precooked in BPA-free packaging that only needs to be heated for a minute in the microwave before it's ready to eat.

Sprout Tyler Florence told us that he was considering opening a Sprout café where moms and babies could stock up on food for a few days, but now he's done one better. Sprout Organic Toddler Meals ($3.49 each) begin where the Food Network chef's baby purees end, continuing his tradition of combining great but unusual flavor concoctions that kids can't wolf down fast enough. The ready-to-microwave, BPA-free trays bring together veggies, fruits, legumes, spices, and meats for eight meals, such as Macaroni and Cheese With Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato and Apple Risotto With Turkey. So while you might not have a sitter so you can go out and enjoy the chef's Wayfare Tavern, your lil one can gobble up his recipes in the comfort of your own home.

Source: Flickr User CarbonNYC

Keep BPA Away: 3 "Healthy" Foods to Avoid (and 3 Safer Alternatives)

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:47:00 PDT

With the BPA scare of '08, just about everyone I know ditched their plastic water bottles for a Klean Kanteen, Lifefactory, or BPA-free Nalgene. Reusable water bottles aren't the only things to be wary of - there's BPA lurking in other everyday products. Although the FDA believes low levels of BPA exposure aren't harmful to people, it's not clear how much exposure that means. To minimize your contact with BPA as much as possible, start with these foods.

Canned Foods
Canned beans, tuna, tomatoes, and soup - these foods are generally healthy, but unfortunately most of the cans they come in are lined with plastic containing BPA. To compound the issue, acidic foods (like tomatoes) can break down the plastic, leaching BPA. In addition, any heat exposure during food processing can also break down the plastic. Organics company Eden makes a BPA-free can, and other brands like Fig Food Company offer boxed beans and soups. In general, look for food packaged in BPA-free pouches, boxes, and glassware.

Soda and Other Canned Beverages
Yep, aluminum-canned beverages are also lined with BPA-containing plastic. Since the acid and alcohol in beer can make leaching more likely, choose glass containers when possible. Canned seltzer like Polar also contains low levels of BPA in their lining, so if it makes you feel more comfortable, choose its BPA-free plastic bottles instead or invest in a seltzer maker.

Watercooler
Pour yourself a glass of H20 from the watercooler and think you're doing your body good? Unfortunately those enormous plastic jugs contain BPA. Whenever possible, fill a reusable bottle at home with filtered water instead.

3 BPA-Free Alternatives to Canned Beans

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:48:48 PST

BPA (bisphenol A) is bad news. Animal studies of this chemical, which used to be found in many reusable plastic water bottles, links high levels of BPA to cancer, heart disease, and early puberty. BPA-free bottles have replaced reusable plastic water bottles and baby bottles, but BPA is also used in the lining of canned foods. A recent Harvard study found that after participants ate a serving of canned foods once a day, five days in a row, their levels of BPA rose 10 times.

As a vegetarian, I've been living on canned beans since they're so convenient. But now I feel they're unsafe to eat, especially for my 1-year-old. If canned beans are a staple in your diet, here are three BPA-free alternatives.

Go with Eden: This brand of organic canned beans specifically says on the label, "bisphenol A-free can lining." Don't assume that all "healthy brands" are BPA-free. I emailed Westbrae, and at this time, the linings of their cans do contain BPA.

Continue reading for two more BPA-free alternatives to canned beans.