FitSugar

5 Things About Salt

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:30:00 PST

Since the FDA is considering regulating sodium in processed foods, I have been hearing more and more about the reasons why. Here are five things to ponder about the sodium content in your diet.

Seventy-five percent of the salt we consume comes from processed food and food from restaurants, not from the salt shaker.
Your tongue cannot adequately discern how much salt is in your food. If the salt is on the surface of the food, like a potato chip, it will taste salty. However, when the sodium of a serving of frozen mac-n-cheese is 500 mg chances are your tongue will not register that this portion of food contains 25 percent of your RDI (recommended daily intake) of sodium. You really need to read the nutritional label on processed foods to know.
Processed foods in the US generally contain more sodium than the same product in the UK. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets is a great example – in the US they contain more than twice as much sodium as the United Kingdom version. Breakfast cereal is not exempt either – Kellogg’s Special K (advertised as "super healthy") has 58 percent more sodium per serving in the US version than the UK cereal.

There are two more reasons so

Not only does sodium content of specific products vary widely country to country, within the same type of product, like different types of canned tuna and corn chips, the sodium content can be drastically different. Once again I remind you to read the label.
Sodium is added to processed food to prevent it from spoiling. The salt draws moisture out of food so bacteria can't grow. It also helps to thicken soup and reduce dryness in crackers and pretzels.

Source

Researchers Call For a Tax on Sugar

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:37:19 PST

According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, sugar is as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco. And just like other legal vices, they think regulators should put restrictions on its sale and availability by taxing any processed foods that have added sugar, including soda, some juices, chocolate milk, and sugared cereal, as well as proposing age limits when it comes to buying sugary foods.

In an article published today in the journal Nature, UCSF doctors feel the rise in obesity, diabetes, and other diseases has gone too far, and it's time for the government to get involved. The research team also feels sugar should be removed from the FDA's Generally Regarded as Safe list.

The idea of restricting sugar isn't a new thing. The debate on issuing a soda tax has been discussed for years, as well as limiting sugary foods when it comes to food stamp programs and availability of chocolate milk and sodas in schools. But a tax on sugar in general? Not everyone is in agreement. Since there's no evidence that such health issues as obesity and diabetes are caused by a single food or nutrient, some nutritionists don't believe taxing sugar will even be effective. Instead of focusing solely on sugar, cofounder of the Yale Prevention Center says, "The focus should be on the overall nutritional quality of foods, not just one nutrient." What do you think?

Got Milk? The Facts About Raw vs. Pasteurized

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:32:22 PDT

Raw milk and cookies, anyone? Dairy is a major component to most tots' diets, and in the US, almost all dairy products are only available in pasteurized form, as regulated by the FDA. Yet, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and numerous other health organizations are unanimous in their position that raw milk should not be consumed, a movement supporting the fresh, cold drink is gaining momentum, and the demand has increased over the past several years.

Take our quiz about the great milk debate, and let us know: do you allow your kids to consume unpasteurized products?

Take the Quiz

The FDA Releases New Sunscreen Rules - Test Your Knowledge

Leta Shy — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:17:04 PDT

Just in time for Summer, the FDA has released new regulations for sunscreen. The changes are the first in over 30 years and include new wording and mandatory labeling that the organization hopes will make it easier for all of us to stay safe in the sun. And while we won't be seeing the new labels on shelves this season - manufacturers have a year to comply - it's never too soon to take the guidelines into consideration the next time we make a trip to the sunscreen aisle. Do you know the new rules? Take our quiz to see!

Take the Quiz

What's in a Word? Decoding Sunscreen Terminology

Heather Dale — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:26:58 PDT

While sunscreen companies work on rolling out their new bottle labels - thanks to the new regulations put into place by the FDA - there are still some basic sunscreen terms that are confusing to many. For instance, what's the difference between UVA and UVB? And is water-resistant just as effective as waterproof? Let's get all of our "burning" sunscreen questions answered!

SPF: SPF stands for "Sun Protection Factor." According to WebMD, SPF is the ability of a sunscreen to block UVB rays, which cause sunburns, but not UVA rays, which can penetrate skin more deeply. The number, however, doesn't indicate how long a person can be outside in the sun before suffering from a burn. Some doctors argue that ditching your bottle of SPF 30 for a higher SPF may lead to a false sense of security about staying in the sun longer without reapplying. With the new regulations about labeling, the FDA has proposed a rule that would ban companies from labeling its sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher. Research suggests that there aren't any additional benefits once the SPF gets that high.

Find out what other sunscreen terms mean.

10 Beach Bag Essentials For Baby

Rebecca M Gruber — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:10:30 PDT

A day at the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend a Summer day – that is until mama thinks about everything her lil one needs to make it through the day. Just the thought of pulling it all together is enough to make some moms abandon the sun and surf until their tots become teens. Before jumping ship, take respite in knowing that we've thought it through for you. You remember the umbrella and towels, and we've put the rest of your list together!

Sunscreen

This year's list of the safest sunscreens is packed with brands that can be purchased at your local drugstore. Given the FDA's new regulations of sunscreens that go into effect next year, beware of lotions containing the word "waterproof" and don't be swayed into buying a tube that boasts an SPF over 50. According to the FDA, neither is actually true. Most importantly apply the sunscreen to your tot before you leave the house, and reapply often throughout the day.

Shoes

Sand gets hot after baking in the sun all day. Protect lil toes from scorching sand with a pair of waterproof beach or sand shoes that keep feet safe and covered throughout the day.

Toys

A bucket and shovels are a great start to a day at the beach, but there's so much more that can be played with in the sand. From plastic cars and trucks to make-believe cupcake kits, sand toys have come a long way. While you're at it, don't forget to add a beach ball to your bag – they collapse easily and can provide hours of fun while playing in the sun.

Keep reading to see the rest of your beach bag essentials.

DrSugar on Cancer Myths: Nonstick Pans and Microwaving Plastic

DrSugar — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:34:15 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's debunking a couple of cancer myths centered in the kitchen.

Based on a few questions we have received, I will be discussing two popular myths about cancer risks in the kitchen, the first regarding cooking with nonstick pans and, the second, microwaving plastic containers. I must admit, doing the research for this week’s column was a real eye-opener for me and hopefully the findings will be informative for you! To learn more about these cancer "myths," keep reading!

Would You Risk Your Health For Fashion?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:30:24 PDT

High heels, over-sized purses, skinny jeans, and heavy hoop earrings aren't the kindest to our bodies, but many women don them in the name of fashion.

These days, the dangerous cutting edge fashion trend is all about the eyes, a la Lady Gaga's enlarged pupils in her "Bad Romance" video. Even though Gaga's eyes in the video are mostly computer-generated, many woman aim for that big-eyed effect with circle lenses. These eye-altering contact lenses are all the range in Asia, and also made popular by makeup artist Michelle Phan, allow you to change the size and color of your eyes, creating huge doe-like eyes. Ranging in price from $20 to $30 a pair, the lenses, which are made overseas, are illegal to sell in the US because they're not FDA-approved. Doctors are worried that between the lack of safety regulations and customers not being fitted properly, sporting circle lenses could result in eye infections, cornea damage, and even loss of eyesight. Watch this clip from CBS for more details.

Being a contact lens wearer myself, I know the importance of wearing quality brand lenses fitted by a licensed optometrist. This new fad seems like bad news to me, but what do you think. Would you?

DrSugar: Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Yeast

DrSugar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:14 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I am on antibiotics (Clindamycin) to clear up an infected tooth before having a root canal. Good times, I know. I haven’t taken antibiotics in years, but know that they give me a serious yeast infection. I have upped my yogurt intake to twice daily and have been taking a probiotics pill twice a day too. Is that overkill? Should I be doing more? And if so, what do you recommend to keep the secondary yeast problem at bay. Thanks!
- Possibly Over-proactive

First off, I’d like to give you well wishes on a speedy recovery from your recent root canal! I’m really glad you asked this question, because antibiotics are some of the most commonly prescribed medications and for women, taking antibiotics can definitely lead to yeast infections. To see why antibiotics can lead to yeast infections and what you can do to try and prevent it, keep reading.

Reusable Plastic Food Containers and Leaching Chemicals

FitSugar — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:00:36 PDT

In the locker room at my gym last week, I overheard a woman talking to her friend about replacing all her plastic food containers with glass ones. She said that she doesn't want plastic leaching into her or her family's food. Plastics have been getting a bad rap ever since the whole Nalgene BPA fiasco. I know water bottles containing BPA are bad news, but is it necessary to ditch all reusable plastic food containers, too?

Checking the websites of Ziploc and Glad, you learn that the reusable plastic containers made by both companies do not contain cancer-causing BPA. Plus, there is a bevy of BPA-free containers out there to choose from. While that is all very reassuring, what happens when reusable plastic containers are heated in the microwave? To find out the truth,

read more. You might have received an email or heard the rumor that when plastic containers are microwaved, chemicals can leach into your food. According to The Harvard Medical School Family Medical Guide, the FDA "closely regulates plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food. Before approving a container, the FDA conducts tests to make sure that it doesn’t leak unsafe amounts of any substance into food." The FDA conducts tests that measure the migration of chemicals at temperatures they expect the containers to reach with ordinary use. The agency takes into consideration the ratio of plastic to food, how long the container is in the microwave, how often the user will eat straight out of the container, and how hot the container will get. You should know that chemicals do leach out, but in order for a container to be deemed as safe, "the maximum allowable amount is 100 to 1,000 times less per pound of body weight than the amount shown to harm laboratory animals over a lifetime of use." The American Cancer Society agrees and says that when you heat something up in the microwave, some of the chemicals can seep into your food, but not enough that would be considered harmful. If this sits well with you, then go ahead and keep using those plastic reusable containers in any way you please. But if you're not OK with any amount of chemicals leaching out into your food, I'd go for glass. I think I'll keep using these containers for fruit, veggies, and snacks, but won't be heating them up anymore. I'll save that for Pyrex containers and real plates and bowls. Remember, all those tests are done with plastic containers specifically designed for microwave use - the FDA doesn't guarantee the safety of microwaving old yogurt or takeout containers.