FitSugar

Food Review: Forze GPS Shakes and Bars

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:46 -0800

I'm typically wary of fitness drinks with gold packaging; they remind me of the weird muscle-building brands I see at the gym. But when I read the label on Forze GPS shakes and bars, I was intrigued.

This line of snacks, including chocolate and vanilla shakes and four flavors of energy bar, is described as a "weight management tool designed specifically for athletes." They promise to activate your appetite control signals, so they can be used as a between-meal or pre- or post-workout snack. Hear what I thought about their taste and the results.

How Much Coffee Do You Typically Drink in a Day?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:47:17 -0700

It is National Coffee Day. Who declared the day? I know not, but I know my love of the bean knows no boundaries. I have strong cup first thing in the morning, but while my love may be boundless, my coffee consumption isn't. I was having trouble sleeping, so it's just the one cup a day for me. We brew strong coffee with the French press every morning, which I will occasionally switch out for a latte. How about you?

New York Warns: Don't Drink Yourself Fat

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:00:06 -0700

New York City is taking a bold stand against empty calories with its Don't Drink Yourself Fat ad campaign. Recognizing that liquid calories can be a diet saboteur, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is advising residents to avoid soda and other sugary beverages.

The campaign implicitly acknowledges that diet soda isn't necessarily healthier - just lower in calories - by recommending water, seltzer, or lowfat milk. The ads are pretty unappetizing, but I appreciate the message. Click on the gallery below and tell me what you think.

View 3 Photos ›

Guess the Calories: Summertime Happy Hour Drinks

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:00:29 -0700

If cocktails, beer, and wine have become a regular part of your Summer routine, take this quiz to brush up on your knowledge of their calorie counts. While some drinks are refreshing, they also may contain more calories than you imagined. You might just be surprised.

Question 1 of 4

Which cocktail contains over 200 calories per serving?

Fittingly Mad: "Natural" Foods That Really Aren't

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Starting this month, Pepsi is rolling out a new drink called Pepsi Natural that's made with sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The soda company is touting the drink's "all-natural ingredients," including natural caramel and kola nut extract; the glass bottles will even be stocked in natural foods aisles.

Despite the ads from the Corn Refiners Association trying to position HFCS as a "sweet surprise," the New York Times reports that more and more brands are using real sugar as a selling point. Other examples include Pizza's Hut's The Natural pizza, with a crust made with honey, and Healthy Choice All Natural frozen entrees. Both claim to be free of preservatives, but how do we really know what "all natural" means? (Not to mention, it makes me wonder how unnatural Pizza Hut and Pepsi's other products must be.) For my two cents, read more.

In this photo I found on Keacher.com of Pepsi Natural's ingredient list, it appears that the soda also contains "caramel color" and "natural flavor," two vague terms that I'd bet aren't natural at all, and whether it's made from sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, soda still isn't good for you. In the NYT story, Pat Crawford of UC Berkeley's Center for Weight and Health, points out that it used to be sugar that was demonized:

Even though overall consumption of caloric sweeteners is starting to drop, Dr. Crawford says an empty calorie is still an empty calorie. And it does not matter whether people think sugar is somehow "retro," a word used to promote new, sugar-based versions of Pepsi and Mountain Dew called Throwback.

"If people really want to go back to where we were, that means not putting sugar in everything," she said. "It means keeping it to desserts."

Well said, good doctor. Now that I'm done with my rant, tell me: What do you think of these new natural products?

Source

I Don't Buy It: Celsius Calorie Burning Beverage

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:00:11 -0800

Products that seem too good to be true typically leave me feeling cold, and Celsius is no exception. Hoping to be a super soft drink, the new beverage is being marketed with claims that you can burn 100 calories simply by guzzling one can of the carbonated stuff. The drink apparently boosts your metabolism and causes your body to burn more calories, creating a net-negative-calorie effect.

With enough caffeine to cover about two cups of coffee (one can has 200 milligrams), this beverage is not for the caffeine sensitive. Steve Haley, CEO of Celsius Holdings Inc., defends the product's calorie-burning claims by citing clinical studies paid for by his company and mentions the drink's vitamin components that he says counteract the effect of caffeine on buyers' bones.

There are still many unknowns about the effectiveness of Celsius, and I agree with one nutritionist who commented, "Exercise is a better way to jump-start your metabolism, and it's healthier as well." I prefer to drink metabolism-stimulating green tea for a natural, inexpensive way to benefit my health.

Berries Soaked in Booze Are Better For You?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

If you're a fan of cocktails, you'll appreciate this tidbit just in time for berry season and Summer-drink mixing. According to studies conducted by Thailand's Kasetsart University and the USDA, soaking berries in liquor increases their antioxidant capacity.

While testing methods for preserving strawberries, the scientists discovered that soaking them in grain alcohol also upped their antioxidant levels. According to the article:

Colored berry fruits like strawberries contain compounds known as polyphenols and anthocyanins. Consumption of these compounds has been linked to the prevention of diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders. . . . Similar benefits of alcohol treatment was found with blackberries, which means that soaking in alcohol will likely improve the antioxidant value of a variety of berries.

Celebrate this fun finding by making a drink with Summer berries, like this Raspberry Herb Cocktail from Martha Stewart. Though the study doesn't say how long you need to soak the berries, be sure to marinate them in the vodka before mixing your cocktail.

Ribose in My Vitamin Water?

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:30:00 -0700

The other day I was at a deli and picked up a bottle of Endurance Vitaminwater. I was excited when I saw that it contained ribose, thinking it must be a form of riboflavin (I wasn't thinking clearly since it was 1:30 and I was starving for lunch). After taking a few bites of my sandwich and reading the bottle, I discovered that it's not actually a B vitamin, or any vitamin for that matter.

Ribose is a simple sugar derived from glucose and produced by the human body. It is an essential component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the compound that stores and delivers energy in all cells and powers all the body's processes. When you work out intensely, ATP is used up quickly by your muscles, so that's why ribose is being added to energy drinks. It's supposed to give you sustained energy and help speed up the recovery of your muscle tissues.

To find out if ribose is safe, read more.

There aren't a ton of extensive studies on ribose, but it has been shown to help people with conjunctive heart failure and fibromyalgia. The maximum recommended dose is 5g, three times a day, and it should be taken with food. Ribose is being added to other energy drinks besides Vitaminwater, and you may be getting more ribose than you think, since one bottle can contain more than one serving. Since there isn't a whole lot known about what could happen if your body overdoses on ribose consistently, this is just one more thing to keep in mind when label reading.

Source

5 Things: Watching Cocktail Calories

FitSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

There's nothing wrong with knocking back a few cocktails at your Memorial Day festivities, but don't let those empty calories destroy your efforts to eat healthy. Here are five smart solutions for cutting down on cocktail calories.

Dilute your juice. If you like fruit juice-based cocktails, such as screwdrivers or vodka and cranberry, cut down on the juice and add calorie-free sparkling water instead.
Use low-calorie mixers. Even tonic water is surprisingly high in calories, so opt for diet tonic and sodas. For margaritas and other summery drinks, check out the sugar-free options from Baja Bob.

To see the rest of my tips, read more

Or, ditch the mixers entirely. Classic martinis, manhattans, and other mixerless drinks are much lower in sugar than juice-based beverages. Plus, they're strong, so you will drink them slowly, unlike those sugar drinks that go down too easily!
Cut out the cream. If you're drinking something like a White Russian that calls for heavy cream, sub in two percent milk or fat-free half and half.
Seek out low-cal recipes. There are plenty of mixologists out there who've come up with healthier versions of high-calorie cocktails, such as these from Hungry Girl and Drink of the Week.

Do you have tips for watching calories in cocktails? Share them in the comments below!
Source

Beer Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0700

The warm weather of Spring seems to say "Miller time." It's perfect for BBQs and cold beverages. I sometimes call beer "liquid bread" because of all the carbs, so it's good to know that not all beers are created equally, especially when it comes to calories.

If you're watching your waistline and enjoy an ice cold brew, you'll probably want see how they compare. The numbers may surprise you. To see the breakdown read more.

Here's the nutritional info for one glass, can, or bottle of beer (about 12-ounces)

Brand of Beer	Calories	Carbs (g)	Percent Alcohol
Amstel Light	95	5	3.5
Anchor Steam	155	16	4.9
Anheuser Busch Natural Light	95	3.2	5.9
Anheuser Busch Natural Ice	157	8.9	5.9
Beck's Pilsner	138	9	5
Beck's Premier Light	64	3.9	2.3
Budweiser	147	10.7	5
Bud Light	110	6.6	4.2
Budweiser Select	99	3.1	4.3
Busch	133	10.2	4.6
Busch Light	110	6.7	4.2
Coors	142	10.6	5
Coors Light	102	5	4.2
Corona Extra	148	14	4.6
Corona Light	105	5	4.5
Foster's	146	11.4	5
Guinness Draught	126	10	4
Guinness Extra Stout	176	14	6
Harpoon IPA	170	15	5.9
Heineken	166	9.6	5.4
Heineken Light	99	6.8	3.5
Killian's Irish Red	163	14.4	4.9
Labatt Blue	153	5	5
Labatt Blue Light	111	8	4
Long Trail	163	18.5	4.6
Magic Hat #9	146	12	4.6
Michelob	155	13.3	5
Michelob Ultra	95	2.6	4.1
Miller Genuine Draft	143	13.1	5
Miller Light	96	3.2	4.2
Milwaukee Best Ice	144	7.3	5.9
Molson	150	12	5
Molson Ice	160	12	5.6
Natural Light	95	3.2	4.2
Newcastle Brown Ale	150	15	4.7
O'Douls	70	13.3	.4
Pabst Blue Ribbon	145	12	4.7
Pabst Blue Ribbon Light	111	8	3.9
Pete's Wicked Ale	174	17.7	5.3
Red Stripe	153	14	5
Rolling Rock Premium	120	10	4.5
Sam Adams Boston Lager	180	18.8	4.9
Sam Adams Light	124	9.7	4
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot	295	24.6	9.6
Stella Artois	154	11	5.5

Remember to drink responsibly and that only one drink a day on average is considered healthy for women; for men, it is two.