FitSugar

Hidden Calories in Your Cup of Joe

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:30:00 PDT

Just about everyone I know consumes at least one cup of coffee a day. That roasted rich beverage actually has a lot of health benefits, and an eight ounce cup only contains two calories, so it won't bust your waistline. The thing is, not a lot of people enjoy their coffee black, and all the sweeteners and flavorings people use can add up to some major calories. I'm not saying you should ditch your cup of joe, just be mindful of how many calories your cup contains.

To see how many calories cream, sugar, and the occasional dollop of "whip" add to your coffee,

read more.
1 pump of Starbucks Chocolate Mocha Sauce

Food	Calories
1 tbsp cream	52
1 tbsp half and half	20
1 tbsp whole milk	9
1 tbsp 2% milk	7.7
1 tbsp 1% milk	6.6
1 tbsp skim milk	5.7
1 tbsp plain soymilk	6
1 tbsp vanilla soymilk	6
1 tbsp whipped cream	90
1 tbsp flavored plain non-dairy creamer	20
1 tbsp French vanilla flavored non-dairy creamer	35
1 tbsp hazelnut flavored non-dairy creamer	35
1 pump of Starbucks flavored syrup	20
1 pump of Starbucks flavored syrup, sugar-free	0
60
1 tbsp caramel	15
1 tbsp chocolate	18
1 tsp, 1 cube, or 1 packet white sugar	11
1 tsp brown sugar	11
1 tsp or packet Sugar in the Raw	20
1 tsp maple syrup	16.7
1 tsp honey	21.3
1 shot of espresso	5

Source

Coming Down With a Cold? Drink Up

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:00:09 PST

Contracting a cold isn't the worst thing in the world, but it sure isn't pleasant. The sniffling, sneezing, and sore throat make life temporarily uncomfortable, and new research says that easing those symptoms could be as simple as hydrating with hot beverages.

It's hard to believe that it's brand new research, considering generations of caretakers have stood by this advice, but Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre claims it's the first scientific study of its kind. Thirty volunteers were given apple and blackcurrant drinks served at room temperature or hot, and the group experienced immediate relief from coughing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness. After 15 minutes, they noticed relief from a running nose and sneezing.

The study noted, "In conclusion, the results support the folklore that a hot tasty drink is a beneficial treatment for relief of most symptoms of common cold and flu." Make your beverages hot the next time you're sniffling your way through a cold - maybe you'll go through fewer tissues!

Source

Geeky Mugs to Keep You Warm on Cold Winter Nights

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:50:40 PST

Winter is still rearing its cold and dark head, and if your neck of the woods isn't as toasty as you'd like it to be, try warming up with a hot beverage instead of turning on your radiator. Your coffee or tea (or Captain Picard-style hot toddy) will taste even sweeter in one of these geeky mugs. Cin cin, baby. Cin cin.

6 Ways to Jazz Up Tea

Leta Shy — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:31:26 PST

When it's cold outside and you want to wake up, what do you reach for? If it's always coffee, it may be time to take another look at tea. The antioxidant properties of coffee's cousin are high, and there are many more ways to enjoy the hot beverage than just milk and sugar. Want to spice up your daily cup? Here are six recipes to jazz up white, green, or black tea!

Source: Thinkstock

Bring Bangkok to Your Taste Buds: A Tasty Thai Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:34:34 PST

If you've never been exposed to tasty Thai cuisine, the time to check it out is now. Thai food is known for its spicy, seductive flavors influenced by Chinese traditions, beautifully blended with other cuisines from Southeast Asia including Burmese, Laotian, and Cambodian food. One size does not fit all when speaking about traditional Thai dishes. Vast differences between regions correlate to neighboring states and climate. Interested in learning more about all the tastiness Thai food has to offer? Prepare to salivate as you keep reading.

Try This Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe at Home

Susannah Chen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:27:19 PST

There's no better way to warm up to a new season than with the pumpkin spice latte, a comforting coffee drink that heralds the spices and ingredients of Fall. You'd be surprised to find out just how simple the hot beverage is to prepare at home. Watch the video to find out how to make it!

Warm Up With This Hot Beverage Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:19:10 PST

With old man Winter blowing in, get in from the cold and warm up with a steamy cup of something delicious. Check out the nutritional breakdown for some of your favorites hot drinks.

Drink	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs(g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
8 oz. hot chocolate, skim milk, no whipped cream	128	1.2	25.2	21.2	7.2
8 oz. hot chocolate, 2 percent milk, no whipped cream	156	4.4	24.8	20.8	6.8
8 oz. hot chocolate, whole milk, whipped cream	230	12	28	24	7
8 oz. hot chocolate, soy milk, no whipped cream	150	3.5	28	23	6

Don't see your favorite? Keep reading to see the calories in other hot beverages.

Green Tea 101: A Primer

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:29:10 PST

January sure is a busy month. Along with National Soup Month, it also happens to be National Tea Month. We thought we'd start off the festivities with a primer on a very trendy tea. Green tea came from Asia and took America by storm with its claims to fix just about every ailment. But what exactly is this wonder tea? Keep reading to find out.

How to Trick Your Boyfriend Into Watching The Bachelor

Tara Sharp — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:50:36 PST

For us, the best part about Mondays is our girls' night viewing party for The Bachelor. But sometimes we find ourselves at home for the show, competing with our significant other for the TV (hello, Monday night football). So instead of fighting your man for tube time, here's how to get him hooked on the show!

Bribe him with food: If you're enjoying yummy homemade snacks and an alcoholic beverage while watching the reality dating show, he's sure to join you on the couch for at least a little bit. And once he gets a taste of the guilty pleasure, he won't be able to turn back!
Tease the girl-on-girl action: Show him the clip from Ben F's Bachelor premiere last week of two of the contestants cuddling, and he may be curious enough to start watching! Not to mention, you're basically asking him to ogle a ton of hot girls.
Give him a distraction: The only way I kept my SO seated beside me during the show was by getting him a handheld gaming device. Your man may be entertained by video games, his iPhone, or his laptop, but he'll be secretly watching the show - trust me!
Entice with the hilarious parts: With all the horrible pickup lines, delusional contestants, and dating faux parts, The Bachelor is full of the humorous parts of single life that he may miss now that's dating you. Show him some of the best, worst moments to get him laughing along with you on Mondays.

4 More Facts You Don't Know About Calories

Prevention — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:08:37 PST

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

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you'll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12 percent can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Last month, we shared some reasons you might be confused about calories - here are four more and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

1. Exercise makes you hungry
Though studies are mixed when it comes to whether exercise actually stimulates or suppresses appetite, many people think of working out as a way to eat whatever they like. "There’s definitely a mentality of 'I have sweated therefore I deserve,'" says Bonci. However, with most people burning about 100 calories per mile, a short workout won't give you a free pass to eat junk food. "If you walk two miles, eating a handful of chips post-workout can undo the calories you burned," says Bonci. As mentioned above, gym machines don’t accurately measure calories burned, either.

Stop the confusion: To stop an after-workout binge, fuel up pre-gym, Zied suggests. "Have something before - something with carbs and a little protein, like whole wheat toast and peanut butter or a banana and milk." Depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need something afterward as well. After a workout longer than 45 minutes, you should aim to eat about 200 calories.

Tips to Stop Overeating After Workouts

2. Liquid calories are ignored
"People are spending hundreds of calories on beverages each day," says Zied. Unfortunately, a lot of those calories are from sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, not milk and 100 percent fruit juice. According to a 2007 study, beverage intake accounted for roughly 12 percent of total calories in 1965 and steadily increased to 21 percent in 2002 - that's 222 extra calories a day from drinks alone! Because bottled drinks often contain multiple servings, it’s best to either pour a serving in a glass or look for mini soda cans and juice boxes.

Keep reading for more info about calories and weight loss after the break.