FitSugar

Drinkers Are More Active Than Non-Drinkers?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:00:03 -0700

I always thought that eating right, exercising regularly, and limiting your alcohol intake went hand-in-hand. That's not so, according to data gathered from a government health survey. Researchers found that people who drink regularly seem to exercise more often than non-drinkers, and the more they drink, the more active they are.

According to the research, women who drank at least 46 drinks in the past month (one or two drinks per day) were considered heavy drinkers, and they exercised at least 20 minutes more a week than light or non-drinkers. Women who drank 15 to 45 drinks a month were considered moderate drinkers, and they exercised an extra 10 minutes a week as compared to alcohol abstainers. Those who enjoyed a drink or two a day were also more likely to take part in vigorous exercise like running.

Why the connection? To find out, read more.

One reason drinkers may be more active is that they want to prevent weight gain from sipping all those liquid calories. Drinking certain beverages such as wine has also been linked to health benefits, so it makes sense that health-conscious women would exercise and feel good about enjoying a drink every so often. Drinkers may also be the type to be more adventurous or social and take part in team sports and outdoor activities like skiing or rock climbing. After sweating it out with friends outside, it's common to follow with a trip to the bar.

Tell me, does your healthy lifestyle include both exercising and drinking?

What's the Deal With Seeing Double?

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I'm not proud to admit it, but once or twice, I've consumed one too many drinks to the point of having double vision. Oddly, we don't always have to be totally trashed to see double. Have you ever gotten home from a night of liquid calorie indulgence, plopped down on the couch, and been surprised to find not one but two TVs?

So what causes it exactly? I was excited to find the answer in the (appropriately titled) Answer Fella column in the most recent issue of Esquire. Apparently, alcohol effects the nerves in your brain and brain stem that govern your eye movements. According to Indiana University professor Bruce Martin:

"It slows down the brain so you can't get the eyes tracking on something quickly. The time it takes to get your two eyes - their images - to fuse to give you a single image increases when you drink." . . . Covering one eye can help, he notes, "because then you don't have your brain comparing the two images. You just have the one image."

Fascinating, right? If somewhat disturbing! Now that you know what's causing it, will you make more of an effort to avoid seeing double? Also, let me remind you that you should limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage a day and if you're seeing double don't try to drive covering one eye. Call a cab instead.

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Drink With Friends For Your Heart's Health

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0700

So we know that a little moderate drinking of wine is good for your health, one glass a day for women, but now there's more great news when it comes to happy hour. A Japanese study shows that drinking with friends can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. It's the social support you feel from your family and friends that actually enhances the heart-healthy effects of the alcohol. Makes sense, right? Being happy is good for your heart and can even help people live longer, and moderate alcohol consumption is also good for you, so the two together are even better. Granted, this study was performed with only men, but I assume the same effects hold true for the ladies. Keep in mind that heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of stroke, so don't overdo it when it comes to wine and cocktails.

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Another Reason to Stop After One Glass: Increased Stroke Risk

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

'Tis the season for drinking. You're bound to enjoy champagne toasts with family, wining and dining with friends, and sipping back an eggnog at your office holiday party. One drink is fine, but a recent study shows that for women, consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day can lead to heart problems. The condition is known as atrial fibrillation, and it's a type of rhythm disorder that causes a rapid heart rate. This can lead to difficulty breathing, fainting, fatigue, dizziness, and could even lead to a deadly stroke. Drinking more than two drinks a day increases a woman's risk for atrial fibrillation by 60 percent.

So enjoy the holidays with a mulled wine or hot toddy, but don't go overboard, for your heart's sake. And if that is not reason enough to stop after one glass, check out these five reasons to drink in serious moderation.

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What's Your Advice For Kicking the Soda Habit?

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I recently got a question from one reader that I thought you guys would have some great suggestions for. Here's her question:

"My doc told me I have to cut calories out of my diet to lose weight. He said the best way would be to stop drinking soda, but I love soda. I have at least three cans a day. Has anyone had to kick the habit? What are some soda alternatives you turned to?"
-Soda Sarah

I just went cold turkey when I stopped drinking soda (yes, I used to drink my fair share), so that's always an option, but I know it's easier said than done. What low-calorie, healthy drinks do you guys drink in place of soda? Help a fellow user out and share your advice below.

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You Asked: Why Do Hangovers Make Me Hungry?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

You're asking, and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,

I've noticed that on a day after a night of heavy drinking, whether I'm hungover or not, I tend to be ravenously hungry. I know that people joke about "hangover foods," but for me, it's not just craving greasy treats. I actually just feel insatiably hungry. Why is this?

- Hungry and Hungover

To see the answer, read more.

Ah, yes. As if the headache weren't bad enough, you also have to worry about a hangover interfering with your healthy eating habits. Before I started researching this answer, I assumed it had something to do with blood sugar, and indeed, blood sugar takes the blame for postparty hunger pangs.

Alcohol, as we know, is high in carbohydrates, and drinking heavily can temporarily decrease your blood-sugar levels. Basically, alcohol throws your blood sugar out of whack, and your body spends the next day trying to readjust, leading to increased hunger.

Here's what else I've been able to figure out from my research. When you drink, your liver is so busy metabolizing the alcohol that it neglects to produce glucose like it usually does. It's especially bad if you're drinking on an empty stomach, because then the drop in blood sugar is even more dramatic, resulting in ravenous hunger. In addition, drinking inhibits the production of a stimulant called glutamine, so the next day, when you've dropped drinking, your body churns out more glutamine than it needs. The resultant overstimulation may also contribute to increased hunger.

I'm no doctor, so that's about as much as I've been able to figure out, and it makes sense to me. Got your own knowledge of the subject? Share it below.

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Stay Hydrated With Platypus

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Since we all know how bad disposable water bottles are for the environment (since most of them end up in landfills because they don't get recycled), it's a great idea to use a reusable water bottle. Both Nalgene and SIGG bottles are great, but if your goal is to stay hydrated during some kind of strenuous activity, lugging around a hard bottle can be kind of annoying.

Check out these bottles made by a company called Platypus®. Their water bottles and carriers come in a range of sizes and shapes, and they're all collapsible, "taste-free," lightweight, easy to fill, and rugged enough to handle temperatures from freezing to boiling.

Want to know what else? Then read more

These are similar to Camelbak hydration packs, but more versatile. You can use Platypus bottles on their own or add accessories to them. I love the Neoprene insulted bottle holder to keep liquids hot or cold. You can also get a hands-free drink tube so you can tuck the bottle in any existing pack you're carrying and attach the tube to your shoulder strap.

These are perfect for hiking, biking, and backpacking because once the bottle is empty, it collapses so you can roll it up for easy, compact storage. Plus these are really inexpensive - an 80 oz bottle is only $9.95. You can check out all the Platypus gear at REI.com.

Food Review: Code Blue Recovery Drink

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:30:47 -0800

I must admit I'm not big on special fitness drinks, especially recovery drinks. They're often full of extra calories, and I usually opt for water since most exercise physiologists believe you don't need to worry about replacing electrolytes, carbs, and protein unless you have been working out and sweating for more than an hour. I often think a lot of these drinks have added coloring and chemicals, so when I saw Code Blue marketed as an all natural post-workout drink I was curious to try it. I must admit, I liked its tropical flavor, and although it only has 40 calories per eight-ounce serving (the can contains 12 ounces, equal to one and a half servings) Code Blue does not have that artificial sweetener taste of many low-cal beverages.

To see how this drink is sweetened and if it is an unnatural color, just read more.

Looking at the ingredient list on the back of the Code Blue can, I can't say I felt like I was drinking something "natural." After water, the next three ingredients are: crystalline fructose, agave nectar, and malic acid, which adds tartness more than sweetness. Further down the list I found stevia leaf extract listed as well, which is a bit more natural. Code Blue contains the electrolytes potassium and sodium, but also contains the supplement milk thistle to help detox the liver (trainer Bob Harper believes in the treatment), and prickly pear extract to reduce inflammation.

The first time I tried Code Blue, I drank it straight from the can. You can imagine my surprise when I poured it into a glass and found the liquid to be a vibrant unnatural blue. Which prompts the question, what natural ingredient was used to color this drink and why even bother coloring it?

Ingredients: Filtered Purified Water, Crystalline Fructose, Agave Nectar, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, D-Ribose, Fruit Juice (for color), Sustamine™ (L-Alanine L-Glutamine), Pectin, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid, Prickly Pear Extract (Opunitia ficus-indica), Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Extract, N-Acetyl Cysteine, Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) Leaf Extractives, Soy Protein and Rice Flour, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), DL-alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Selenium Complexed with Amino Acids and Polypeptides, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

I'm not really sold on the drink, but I'm not completely opposed to it either. I would certainly drink this over other recovery drinks, but more likely I will sip some water instead. Have you tried it?

This just in: The color comes from blueberries.

Blood Energy Potion: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:14 -0700

I consider myself a big fan of True Blood and Twilight, but I'm beginning to think the whole vampire craze has gone too far. I recently came across a blood energy drink and I've been creeped out ever since.

Blood Energy Potion ($6) is the same color and consistency of blood and it comes packaged in an IV bag. Besides an four-hour energy complex, it contains iron, protein, and electrolytes. It's suppose to mimic blood right down to its nutritional value.

This drink lets you play blood-thirsty vampire except you don't have to go out and kill anyone, and your blood is fruit punch flavored. I can't see myself sipping on synthetic blood, but it might be kind of hilarious to see someone drinking this at the gym. What do you think of this latest gimmick in energy drinks?

Is it OK to Drink Your Daily Amount of Fruits and Veggies?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0700

A lot of us are short on time so the best option for getting our daily servings of fruit and veggies may seem to be drinking it (V8, for example). The problem is that new studies show that drinking your daily amount is not the best choice for your health.

A few reasons support this. First of all, most fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants in the skins and peels, which do not make it into juice. Furthermore, solid fruits and veggies also provide dietary fiber not found in juice. Bacteria in our colon break down soluble fiber, producing fatty acids that some studies suggest protects our colon against cancer.

What's more? Fruit and veggie drinks are often high in calories, but we don't often take this (or reduce our calorie intake for other foods) into consideration when drinking them. When we eat fiber-rich food such as fruits and vegetables, however, we tend to feel full and thus, eat fewer calories.

Fit's Tip: Since only one in four of us are getting our daily fruits and veggies, I would say that the juice is better than nothing every once in a while, but always try for the real thing first. How many fruits and veggies do you eat in a day? Take the poll.

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