FitSugar

Are You Addicted to Refined Carbs?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:00 PST

New research out of New Zealand found that refined carbs, essentially white flour and white sugar, are as addictive as cigarettes. They found that heavily processed foods with a high amount of refined carbohydrates, like sugary cereals and sweet baked goods, quickly raise the amount of sugar in the blood, and that this "sugar rush" activates the same areas of the brain stimulated by nicotine and other addictive drugs. Like other addictions, the refined carbs loses its effectiveness in creating the desired rush forcing folks to eat more refined carbs to capture the high. They eat more sweets despite the negative consequences, a defining element of addiction. These findings support the research out of Princeton that sugar has addictive qualities. That Cinnabon might not be as innocent as it seems.

I have been avoiding refined carbs for a long time now. Sticking with whole grains and keeping refined sugar in check leaves me feeling more even emotionally. But what about you . . .

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4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

Halloween Sugar Overload? Get Back on Track With These Tips

Leta Shy — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:08:10 PDT

Even the healthiest among us can't help but get into the Halloween fun, and while everything's good in moderation, sometimes a night of temptation means we allow ourselves to go overboard. Whether you've snacked on trick-or-treating leftovers too much or are still recovering from the weekend, here are some ideas to get back on track for the rest of the week.

Break the sugar addiction: Spent the holiday eating way too many fun-size treats? Eating a lot of sugar will only make you crave it more, so your Monday of celebration may be leading to mindless reaching for your candy stash the rest of the week. If you're craving sweets, take celebrity trainer Jackie Warner's advice: take five days to wean yourself off sugar and refined carbs by eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies instead. If forgoing sugar altogether seems impossible (especially in light of leftover holiday treats), check out our tips for reducing your sugar cravings.

Stop the hangover: If you overdid it with a multinight costumed celebration, now's the time for post-Halloween hangover remedies. Get back on track by helping your overpartied body. Here are five morning-after fixes to help cure your hangover.

Read more healthy post-Halloween tips after the break.

Health Junkie: Hormones and Chemicals Released Due to Exercise

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:17:15 PDT

Ever wonder what is going on chemically in the body while you sweat it out at the gym? The euphoric feelings during and after exercise, as well as the muscle soreness that might just come a day later, don't just appear magically. Your body is made up of millions of chemical reactions, which result in different physical and mental feelings. Take a look at some of the top hormones and chemicals that are released when you workout.

Endorphins
These chemicals are released by your pituitary gland, which is located in the base of your brain. Endorphins make you feel exhilarated and happy and block any feelings of pain, so you can power through any discomfort caused by exercising. That's why people become addicted to strenuous forms of exercises and experience "runner's high."

Estrogen
Estrogen determines whether carbs or fat fuel the body during an intense exercise session. Women tend to burn fat for fuel, while men tend to burn carbs, because women have higher estrogen levels. When women undergo menopause, they usually experience some weight gain because of lowered estrogen levels.

See more chemicals released while exercising.

6 Fun Fitness Facts With Kym Johnson From Dancing With The Stars

Shape — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:47:04 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

As one of the world’s most well-known, talented, and admired professional ballroom dancers, not only does Kym Johnson rock it on the dance floor, but she also has one rock-hard body.

If you’ve caught any of the past nine seasons of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars (I admit, I’m a total DWTS addict), you’ve most likely noticed the Aussie starlet’s incredibly toned, strong, amazing body in her super-sexy costumes.

Johnson was inspired to become a professional dancer from watching old MGM musicals with the likes of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Cyd Charisse. "I have been dancing since I was three and I can’t imagine my life without dance," says Johnson. "I feel so happy when I’m dancing, and I am so lucky to have a career doing something I love so much."

With three mirror ball trophies under her belt, her love and passion for dance is clearly emulated with every cha-cha-cha, waltz, and quickstep forward. It’s easy to see why America falls in love time and time again with the gorgeous dancer; one hot-step onto the DWTS dance floor and you just can’t take your eyes off her.

Dancing is a great total body workout because, "you burn so many calories and tone your entire body without realizing you are working out because you’re having too much fun," says Johnson.

Aside from dancing her way to a rockin’ body, what else does Johnson do to stay in such phenomenal shape? See some fun fitness facts you may or may not know about the charismatic dancing star after the break!

What's the Deal With Blue Corn?

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:15:23 PDT

I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to blue corn chips. You'll often find this Tostitos alternative in the health food section, but are they really healthier than a regular corn chip? Actually, they are!

Tortillas and chips made from ground blue corn pack more nutritional punch than white corn. Corn comes in many colors, including white, violet, blue, and black. The blue hue comes from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant pigments found in berries.

That's not the only benefit of going blue. Blue corn has about 20 percent more protein than the white variety, and it's better for your blood sugar. Since blue corn has a lower glycemic index, it's less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar, since the sugars are absorbed more slowly by the body.

In terms of calories, fat, and carbs, blue corn chips stack up similarly to yellow and white ones, so you'll still want to eat them in moderation. But at least you'll know you're getting something more from your snacks.

The Transformation of Kelly Osbourne

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:22:15 PST

I have to admit that I've never been a fan of Kelly Osbourne, but after reading her interview in the latest issue of Us Weekly, I'm a convert. The singer talks in detail about the hard work she went through to transform herself from a size 14 to a size two. I love that Kelly did it in a totally manageable and healthy way, and has such a kick-ass attitude about everything she's been through. Focusing on a healthy diet and exercise plan, the 5-foot-2 star lost an amazing 42 pounds. Most importantly, she has let go of the shame she's carried for years because of her weight. Check out the highlights below.

How Dancing With the Stars changed her life. "He [DWTS partner Louis van Amstel] made me work out, practice six times a day and get fit. I fought him the whole time, but at the end of the show I realized he was right. It worked."
On working out. "After DWTS ended I followed the Bar Method and now I do that three times a week at least. Not every day. I don't have that kind of dedication. Working out sucks. You sweat and you stick, but then you're done - and then you see that just taking an hour three times a week can change you so much. It becomes addictive."

To find out what Kelly's eating and how her self-esteem has changed,

On eating well. "You don't have to count calories. Just make sure what you're eating is good food. You can eat as much good food as you want if you're careful. I try to have no carbohydrates unless they're natural, such as apples. No bread, no pasta and real sugar . . . what that does to you is incredible. I lost five pounds in one week just by eliminating starchy carbs and soda."
Why dieting doesn't work. "If you want to lose weight for good, you need to make a commitment to a life change. You have to say, 'I'm just not going to eat that anymore. I'm going to change my bad habits.' Otherwise, you'll spend the rest of your life yo-yoing and you'll be miserable. By no means is it easy. Getting in shape is one of the hardest things I've ever done."
On loving who she sees today. "When I look in the mirror now, it's really different. For the first time, I look at myself and I'm really proud to not hate every single thing that I see. What has made this process so healthy and interesting to me is that it's been a whole transformation. It's like this feeling disappeared that I had carried around with me for so long."

To hear more about Kelly's amazing transformation, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, which hits newsstands today.