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Researchers Identify the Top Foods That Are Making Us Fat

Leta Shy — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:18:10 PDT

A new report from Harvard researchers has found the top foods that are making us fat, and the findings are not at all surprising.

The extensive study used data for over 120,000 healthy men and women from previous studies to track their diet every four years from 1986 to 2006 to see how their lifestyle and what they ate affected their weight. The researchers found that within each period the average weight gain was a little over three pounds - which added up to a 17-pound total weight gain over the 20-year period.

What caused that weight gain? Topping the list of culprits are meat, sweetened drinks, fried foods, and any form of potatoes. The biggest cause of weight gain was eating french fries; every extra serving of fries eaten in a day was linked to a gain of more than three pounds, while eating an extra serving of potato chips led to 1.69 pounds. Other diet busters included refined grains (like white rice and white bread) and butter.

But the news wasn't all bad; the study also identified the foods that helped prevent weight gain. Read on for the list of foods that cause and prevent weight gain.

Your Desire For French Fries Could Be in Your Genes

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:06:55 PST

Some people (OK, a lot of people) are drawn to fattening foods. They can't resist brownie sundaes, buttery scones, and french fries. Now it seems a lack of willpower may not be the only culprit: New research shows it could be because of your genes.

A specific gene, named FTO, isn't necessarily a gene that causes obesity. But it does give those who have the gene a stronger tendency to eat richer, fattening foods, which in turn can make them overeat. In a study involving 2,700 children, on average the children with the gene variant ate 100 calories more than those without the gene. That translates to gradual weight gain over time and can lead to obesity.

There could turn out to be many genes associated with an increased risk for obesity, so more research needs to be conducted for sure. But someday, people may be blaming their weight gain on their genes. "What? That chocolate cake? My FTO gene made me do it."

Source

Eating Tips From The Bigger Loser's Former Nutritionist

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:17:18 PST

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

When Cheryl Forberg - registered dietitian, James Beard award-winning chef, and creator of The Biggest Loser meal plan - signed onto the show for its first season, she was shocked at the contestants' states of health. "Most of what I did was not on camera; at the beginning of every season, the applicant pool was huge. Season five alone had 220,000 applicants. Once we weeded applicants out down to about 75, we could start doing physical tests while I met with them to talk about eating habits and their weight loss and weight gain tendencies," she said. "The first season was shocking to hear their eating habits, but after a few seasons, I realized I was hearing the same thing over and over again."

Read below as Forberg shares her experiences with The Biggest Loser, the nutrition factors she used to make the meal plan, and a healthy spread you can make easily at home.

What were you most surprised to discover about with the diets of the past contestants on The Biggest Loser?

I found all the contestants had things in common, like the belief that skipping meals promotes weight loss, drinking too many calories, having too much processed fast food, not eating very many fruits and vegetables, little to no water consumption, not eating enough whole grains, and forgetting to plan ahead. Everybody had a different combination of one these things, but what they all had in common was prioritizing their family, work, or something else over themselves. They needed to put their head in the game and get healthy so that they could be around to take care of the people and things they loved. They needed to start taking care of themselves.

More healthy eating tips after the break.

Easy Steps For First-Time Taxpayers

Kiplinger — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:08:06 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

If you got your first job last year, you may have been agitated every payday to see how much of your salary was going to the tax man. If you’re like most taxpayers, tax filing time is payback time. So don’t think of filling out your tax forms as a pain. Instead, think of it as sending a bill to the IRS, demanding a refund of the amount by which you overpaid your taxes in 2011. Every year, three out of four filers get refunds.

Do you have to file? That depends on your income in 2011 and whether or not your folks will claim you as a dependent on their return (as is often the case for the year you graduate from college). If you are a dependent, you have to file if your gross income was at least $5,800; if they don’t claim you, the threshold is higher: $9,500. But even if you don’t have to file, you’ll want to, in order to reclaim income tax withheld from your paycheck.

Don’t treat your tax return like a term paper . . . by leaving it until the last minute. The absolute due date this year is April 17 (it was pushed back because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the next day is a holiday in the District of Columbia). However, the earlier you file, the better, since you will receive the money faster.

What you need. If you’ve filed before, the best way to prep for tax season is to use last year’s tax return as a road map. You can find the federal and state forms you need online at irs.gov or through the website of the Federation of Tax Administrators. Also, keep an eye out for important tax documents that come in the mail, such as the W-2 form from your employer or 1099 forms if you did freelance work. Employers should have sent these forms out by January 31. If not, give them a call.

Start with the feds. Since state forms often ask for numbers from your federal return, you’ll want to do the federal form first. Most young taxpayers can file the 1040EZ, which is the easiest form and has no supplementary forms. To qualify, you cannot claim any dependents and your taxable income must be less than $100,000.

But don’t shy away from longer forms - the 1040A or the full-fledged 1040 - if one of them is your ticket to tax savings.

Read on for more.

Paula Deen Becomes a Hot Topic on the View

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:08:38 PST

In January 2011, Food Network host Paula Deen appeared on The View to promote her new children's cookbook. Those who caught it know that it wasn't pretty to watch. Put the sassy Paula Deen and the straight-laced Barbara Walters together, and you get an uncomfortable dynamic.

As the ladies of The View sit behind a stupendous spread of fried chicken and other Southern comforts, Paula licks strawberry cake off her fingers and pictures of macaroni and cheese grace the background. Walters then forces the queen of Southern cuisine to answer a rather serious question:

This is a cookbook for kids. Obesity is the number one problem for kids today. Everything you have here is enormously fattening. You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast . . . Does it bother you that you are adding to it? No? Not at all?

Stunned, Deen bumbles something about moderation - "you know, we don't eat this every day" - to an unconvinced Walters.

UPDATE: With the news that Paula Deen has type 2 diabetes, the women of The View furthered the debate on "hot topics" this week. Watch the video, and weigh in on your thoughts after the jump

Fried Foods Aren't the Only Thing to Blame For Type 2 Diabetes

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:27:25 PST

I keep a stash of Paula Deen's recipes on hand for when I am in the mood for some Southern fare, but I couldn't eat such a decadent diet all the time. And Paula agrees. She told Al Roker on Today,

"I have always encouraged moderation. I share with you all these yummy, fattening recipes, but I tell people, in moderation . . . it's entertainment. People have to be responsible. Like I told Oprah, 'Honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor.' You have to be responsible for yourself."

Although it's easy to assume a high-fat, high-calorie, butter-laden diet is to blame, the truth is, experts aren't exactly sure what causes type 2 diabetes. Age, weight, and activity level are huge factors in a person's risk, but the most important factor is genetics.

The good news is that prevention is in your hands. While foods deep-fried in oil and coated in butter may not specifically cause diabetes, devouring foods like that often can contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk for developing this condition. The best thing you can do is to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise regularly, especially if diabetes runs in your family.

Source: Getty, Flickr User delgaudm, and Flickr User star5112

Nutrition Myths That Can Cause Weight Gain

Shape — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:04:23 PST

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

Myth: Going Vegan Will Make You Lose Weight
"While various research shows that vegetarians and vegans, on average, consume fewer calories and less fat than omnivores (a 2009 Oxford study found that vegetarians weigh 3 to 20 percent less than their meat-eating counterparts, and a National Cancer Institute study found that subjects who consumed four ounces or more of red meat weekly were 30 percent more likely to die of any cause than those who ate less), these numbers may be misleading," says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a certified nutritionist and owner of Essential Nutrition for You.

Going vegan solely for weight loss can backfire, big time. If you aren’t vigilant with a vegan diet, it’s easy to lack in vital nutrients, vitamins, and proteins, which give you energy and help keep your metabolism stoked. Many first-time vegans may also find themselves reaching for more processed foods like vegan cookies, chips, or even ‘ice cream’ more often with such a restricted diet, and many end up packing on the pounds instead.

If you do decide to adopt a vegan diet, be sure to keep the ‘treats’ to a minimum and plan balanced meals (we love ‘Domestic Vegan’ Diva Jessica Olson’s tips for "going veg"). "Aim to get about 10 to 20 percent of your calories from protein (or about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight), replacing animal protein with healthy plant proteins, like those found in beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products," Batayneh says. "And, whether you are vegan or not, eating more green, leafy vegetables is great for your health and your waistline."

See which other diet habits may also being causing weight gain after the break!

Link Time: Beaujolais Nouveau Takes to the Streets

Susannah Chen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:08:48 PST

2011's Beaujolais Nouveau takes to the streets. - The Daily Meal
Must make: quince pancakes. - Saveur
Burning question: why does Jell-O jiggle? - Food Republic
Why you should never use pop-up turkey timers. - Kitchen Daily
Yelp has filed to raise $100 million for an IPO. - Eater
Yikes! The 25 most fattening pies. - The Daily Beast
Vegan restaurants are finding success in downplaying the v-word. - SF Chronicle

Foodie Friday Link Time: Healthier Risotto Made With Wheat Berries

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:35:35 PDT

Rocking mock risotto made with nutritious wheat berries - Peanut Butter Fingers
Apple pie choices for a little guilt-free indulgence - Self
Get cooking with Fall produce! Here's a bushel of healthy recipes - DailySpark
Six of the most fattening apps to leave off your plate - Prevention
Eat power foods throughout your day, just like Dr. Oz - Shape
Junk food in sheep's clothing can now be found in health food aisle - Blisstree
Good for the wallet, bad for the waistline: skip these unhealthy foods - SavvySugar
Blend up a protein-packed, post-workout pumpkin smoothie - Lululemon

How to Eat Healthy When on the Go

Leta Shy — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:42:01 PDT

Eating on the go may not be the best option, but sometimes it's unavoidable. Sick of highly processed foods or other fattening options? Here are some suggestions for eating healthy on the go.

Don't be caught empty-handed: Make a habit of stashing your own snacks in your bag when you know you're going to be out for a long time. This way, you can control the portions and know exactly what you are eating. Make your own trail mix, stock up on protein bars, or grab a piece of fruit before you head out the door.