FitSugar

Good News For Oreo and Velveeta Lovers: Kraft Cutting Sodium

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:30:30 -0700

All you Oreo, Velveeta, Philadelphia cream cheese, and Oscar Mayer bologna lovers out there will be pleased to know that Kraft, the maker of all those foods, plans to cut sodium levels in its North American brands by about 10 percent. The reduction will take place over the next two years, which isn't exactly soon, but at least a change is in the air. It's the latest company trying to address health concerns since high blood pressure and other conditions associated with a high sodium diet are so prevalent now. Kraft's president of health and wellness said, "A growing number of consumers are concerned about their sodium intake and we want to help them translate their intentions into actions."

I know many of these products might not be on your weekly grocery list, but tell me, will the decrease in sodium make you think about buying them?

Would You Buy Healthy Snacks at the Movies If They Were Available?

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:30:11 -0700

Popcorn, Jubees, and Icees may soon be sharing space with fruit, veggies, and whole grains at your local movie theater. An article at MSNBC reports that the head of Sony Pictures wants movie theaters to address America's obesity problem by selling healthier snacks. "I don't mean close the window for popcorn, soda and candy," said Sony CEO Michael Lynton at the annual ShoWest convention for theater owners. "Audiences love them and should always be able to buy them at your theaters."

Lynton shared that in a Sony-conducted survey of 26 movie theaters, two-thirds of respondents would buy healthy snacks over junk food if they had the option. Some foods respondents would like to see are fruit cups, vegetables with dip, yogurt, granola bars, baked chips, and unbuttered, air-popped popcorn.

How about you . . .

Do You Take Birth Control Pills?

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:25:04 -0800

Some good news just came in for women on the pill. In a new study, British researchers discovered that those who took birth control pills lived longer than those who didn't. The study followed 46,000 women for nearly 40 years, most of whom were on the pill for about four years. Experts found that the pill reduced women's risk for bowel cancer by 38 percent and other diseases by 12 percent. Being on the pill may also cut a woman's risk for ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Researchers aren't sure why the pill would increase longevity in women. It may have to do with suppressing ovulation or the fact that women on the pill generally live healthier lifestyles. What they do know is that the benefits of taking the pill definitely outweigh the risks. So tell me . . .

Keep Your Vitamins Out of the Bathroom

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:09 -0800

If you down your vitamins with a little bit of tap water, chances are high you store them in your bathroom or kitchen. Unfortunately, a new study indicates that the watery elements of those two rooms make them the worst places to keep these pills. High humidity and high temperatures, often found in both the kitchen and bathroom, can degrade the potency and decrease the shelf life of certain supplements - even if the bottle caps are screwed on tight. Opening and closing the bottles allows humidity to creep inside, and that moisture can dissolve ingredients in the vitamins, decreasing their quality. The chemical changes are irreversible. It doesn't make your supplement unsafe, just less potent.

Check your vitamins and if you notice irregular brown spots, darkening, or signs of moisture in the container, you may want to replace them. And when you do, store your bottles away from the bathroom and kitchen. I keep mine on my desk at work. Where do you store yours?

A Little Bit of Alcohol May Help With Weight Control

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:00:57 -0800

Moderation is key, especially when it comes to alcohol. The occasional glass of wine, cocktail, or beer has been shown to help the heart, and studies have indicated that moderate drinkers are less depressed and more active than non-drinkers. Here's another reason to have a glass of wine with friends: a new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine says that moderate drinkers are less likely to become overweight or obese later in life.

The study - conducted by Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital - followed 19,000 women over the course of 13 years. Of this group, 40 percent said they didn't drink at all, 33 percent had about two drinks a week, 20 percent said they had one drink a day, six percent drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day, and the remainder of the participants drank two or more a day. While all of the women in the study gained some weight, the group that gained the least were the women who drank one to two alcoholic beverages a day. On average, women who fall into this category are 30 percent less likely to become obese than non-drinkers. The women who gained the most weight were the ones who reported they drank two or more drinks per day.

To make sure that the study was accurate, researchees also factored in age, race, total calorie intake, activity level, and whether or not the participants smoked. The results still showed that moderate alcohol consumption may have positive results for the waistline. Researchers are still uncertain if there is a biological factor that makes alcohol protective in itself, or if the lifestyle of most moderate drinkers just tends to be healthier than others. Remember, the key is moderation!

Would You Pay For a Genetic Test If It Helped You Lose Weight?

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:13 -0800

A closer look at your genes may determine what type of diet is best for you - at least that's what Interleukin Genetics is hoping. The company has developed a genetic test that tells researchers if an individual will lose more weight on a lowfat or low-carb diet.

Researchers randomly assigned one of four diets - Atkins, Ornish, LEARN, or Zone - to a group of 140 overweight and obese American women. After a year's time they then compared the genetic makeup of the women to their assigned diets to see if those on diets that were better matched to their genetics lost more weight. The study showed that participants who were on better matched diets lost about five times more weight than those on diets that were not as good a genetic match. Researchers say the $149 test works by looking for mutations in three genes. The mutations affect the amount of fat the body absorbs or how the body metabolizes sugar. Sixteen percent of individuals will have a combination of both mutations.

I'm not quite sure if I'm buying it though, at least not yet. The study group seems really small, and overall, neither group lost that much weight. It makes me think that the diets may not have been closely monitored, or that diets simply don't work. Since the company is planning to broaden its study, I'll be keeping my eyes open for any new developments.

In the meantime . . .

Smoker's Dying Wish Granted: Morbid or Heroic?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:40:41 -0800

Albert "Dick" Whittamore started smoking when he was young, and before he died from battling cigarette-induced emphysema at age 85, he had one dying wish. He asked that the words "Smoking Killed Me" be placed on his grave and his hearse. This was his last-ditch effort to warn others of the dangers of cigarettes, so they could avoid the unnecessary suffering he went through from the illness that was caused by this unhealthy habit.

I was a little shocked to read about this at first, so tell me what do you think? Is Albert's request morbid or heroic?

Tanning Beds For Vitamin D? Really?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:00:21 -0800

This point has been ingrained in most health-minded women for a while now: tanning beds are not healthy. They increase cancer risk exponentially after just a little bit of exposure, especially if you're under 30. While I'm not too proud of my teenage tanning days (it was pretty trendy to get a bit of a "glow" before going to the prom), I vowed never to set foot in the tanning salon ever again. Now, one doctor seems to be encouraging the practice in moderation.

A doctor at Boston University (who is also a professor) says that while he doesn't endorse tanning salons, when tanning beds are used in moderation they can be a good substitute for natural sunlight, which aids in the body's production of vitamin D. I'm not sure how you can both encourage use and warn of the dangers of the tanning bed, especially if you're dispensing the advice to anyone looking for an excuse to visit a "healthier" tanning bed.

His recommendation stems from research that taking a vitamin D supplement may not be the best way to get the vitamin - in fact, three out of four Americans don't get enough. Increased amounts of vitamin D have been associated with decreased chances of colon and breast cancers, and additional benefits to the heart and immune systems. To those using tanning beds to get an extra shot of vitamin D, the doctor recommends using sunscreen and choosing beds that use only low-florescent lamps. Vitamin D benefit or not, do your skin and health a favor and stay out of the tanning salon.

Can You Walk to Your Local Grocery Store?

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:47:38 -0800

The first lady recently launched the Let's Move campaign to put an end to childhood obesity, and among other things, she's moving in on food deserts. The term "food deserts" describes areas, both urban and rural, where there is no access to a supermarket, which means no fresh produce. These areas are "nutritional wastelands" where processed and packaged foods rule. The White House estimates that about 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts.

A well-balanced diet requires at least five servings of fruit and veggies daily, and with no grocery store produce aisle nearby, meeting that healthy mark can be a serious challenge. I live in an area full of wonderful markets and must say I take it for granted that I can walk to the grocery store to pick up lettuce, apples, broccoli, or green beans whenever I need to. What about you?

High Blood Pressure, a Hidden Killer

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:00:11 -0800

With American Heart Month coming to an end, I'd like to urge you to get your blood pressure checked. According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, hypertension - aka high blood pressure - is becoming a neglected disease. When the doctor slips the Velcro cuff on and off of our arm, it's easy to zone out, but consider this: one in three American adults has hypertension and one in six will die from hypertension-related complications like a stroke or heart disease.

Although the exact cause of high blood pressure is unknown, there are many contributing factors to the condition. Here are a few things you can do to avoid becoming part of the deadly statistic.

Lay off the salt. Ninety percent of American adults consume more than the RDA of sodium of one teaspoon per day. Not entirely shocking when you consider the salt content in most processed or restaurant-made foods is through the roof. To keep your salt intake in check, make an effort to check the sodium content of the foods you buy at the grocery store, ask that your food be prepared with less salt when dining out, and go homemade whenever you can.
Relax. Stress is a contributing factor to high blood pressure. Make sure you have a way to decompress from all of life's little knots that can get tied up in you. Exercise, massage, sex, getting enough sleep, and meditation are great starts to a calmer you.

To find out four other ways you can prevent high blood pressure, read more.

Control your vices. If you're smoking, quit. If you're a drinker, keep it to one drink a day. Smoking and hitting the bottle too often are associated with a wave of health problems - hypertension is just one of them.
Get moving. Research has found that individuals who are overweight are prone to hypertension. But just because you're thin, doesn't mean you're off the hook - sedentary individuals are also are prime candidates for the condition. Whatever your weight, make sure you're physically active.
Eat the right thing. Certain foods like whole grains, potassium-rich foods, and fat-free milk products have all been linked to reducing the risk of hypertension.
Get checked out. As I mentioned in the beginning, it's important to regularly get your blood pressure checked. If you don't have insurance or can't afford a doctor's visit, many supermarkets, fire stations, and pharmacies have blood pressure monitors that you can use for a nominal fee. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less. When both numbers start to go way up, you've got high blood pressure.