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Sulfite Sensitivity

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:03:00 -0800

Sulfites are sulfur based preservatives that are used to prevent or reduce discoloration of light-colored fruits and vegetables. They are also used to prevent black spots on shrimp and lobster. They are used to condition dough and maintain the stability and potency of certain medications.

Most (except for a few) wines contain sulfites. Yeast naturally produces sulfites during fermentation and most winemakers add sulfites to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. All wines made in the U.S. require a "sulfite" warning label. There are no such rules for wines made in other countries.

Why am I telling you all this? Because according to the FDA, 1 out of every 100 people has a sensitivity to sulfites. They lack the natural enzyme to break them down. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest tightness, nausea, hives or anaphylactic shock.

Sulfites can occur naturally in foods like wine and are added to certain foods as well. Some common foods that contain sulfites are baked goods, soup mixes, jams, pickled foods, bottled lemon and lime juice, maraschino cherries, and dried fruit.

Look at the ingredients and you may see:

sulfur dioxide
sodium sulfite
sodium bisulfite
potassium bisulfite
sodium metabisulfite
potassium metabisulfite

These are all sulfites, so if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may try avoiding sulfites to see if your symptoms go away. Or you can try sulfite free food and wine.

Running Gal Gift Guide

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:54 -0800

One of the major appeals of running is that you can just lace your sneakers and go. Although it is not a gear heavy sport, I have found a few tempting and helpful pieces that make perfect gifts. Treat the running gal in your life to some sweet holiday presents from this gift guide. You might even find a few pieces to put on your own wish list this year.
Source: Getty

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Snack Attack: Nutty Craisin Cottage Cheese

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

If you're looking for a snack that'll fill you up, give you energy, and also satisfy your need for something creamy, crunchy, or sweet, then have I got the snack for you. It's made with only three ingredients, so it's super simple to whip up, and has become my new favorite afternoon snack.

To learn how this snack is made and find out how many calories and grams of protein it contains keep reading

Learn to Love: Persimmons

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:01 -0800

Now that berry season is long gone, I'm expanding my breakfast fruit horizons. Celebrate the cold weather with pomegranate seeds in your oatmeal, or slice pears or persimmons and serve them with nut butter on toast or whole-grain waffles.

You probably know how to pick and slice a pear, but persimmons have a steeper learning curve. They're worth learning to love, so read more.

Persimmons come in two varieties: hachiya, which are orange-red and shaped like acorns, and fuyu, which sort of look like yellow-orange tomatoes. The hachiyas are bitter and astringent when they're not ripe, but when ripened, they have a soft, jelly-like texture. Fuyu persimmons are a bit firmer like a pear when ripe and can be sliced up like apples.

This fruit is an excellent source of antioxidants and chock-full of vitamins. One persimmon packs 55 percent of your daily allowance of Vitamin A and 21 percent of your recommended Vitamin C, plus six grams of fiber. In addition to having persimmon for breakfast or a snack, you can slice them up and serve them in a pretty Fall salad.

Have you tried persimmons? Tell me how you like to eat them in the comments.

Soothing Stretches to Ease Digestion

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:00:58 -0800

With Thanksgiving coming up, I'm sure many of you are looking forward to chowing down on some delicious foods. Most of us end up eating way more than usual, and since many of the dishes may be richer or sweeter than you're used to, it can cause some major discomfort in the tummy department. Here are some gentle stretches you can do to ease digestion.

Don't see your favorite yoga pose here? Then write about it in our Yoga Stretch and Tell group. I am sure all of our digestive systems could benefit from a wide variety of stretches.

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Stop Hating the Gym and Start Loving It

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:50:43 -0800

If you are dreading moving your workouts indoors due to falling temperatures, let me help you learn to love, or at least tolerate, the gym. Here are some common reasons people hate hitting the gym, and solutions to help you overcome the hurdles.

I hate the gym because . . .	The solution
It's too expensive.	Go price hunting. There are so many different types of gyms that offer various services, so find one that fits your budget. Instead of paying $90 a month for a gym that has cardio machines, a weight room, classes, a pool, and a yoga studio, figure out what's most important to you and just pay for that. A gym down the street from me is only $10 a month for cardio and weight machines. Not bad at all.
It's too far away from my home.	If you can't find a gym close to where you live, try to find one close to where you work. That way you can head over on your lunch break or after work.
The cardio machines are boring.	Find a way to make them more enjoyable. I like to download audio books or podcasts onto my iPod. Listening really helps pass the time. Switching to different machines in one workout also helps beat boredom. Or try competing with a stranger.

To learn more ways to start loving the gym, keep reading.

Quiz: Thanksgiving Pie

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:30:28 -0800

Who eats any other dessert other than pie on Thanksgiving? Here is a quiz celebrating the traditional dessert of T-day from calorie counts to celebs' attitudes about the crusty dish. Take it and see if you know about pie.

Take the quiz

Have You Ever Walked Out of a Group Fitness Class?

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:47:38 -0800

Even if kickboxing or step aerobics aren't your ideal fitness experience, working out in a group can buoy your spirits and help motivate you to push yourself. That being said, occasionally there's a sub standing in for your favorite teacher and you just can't hack it. Or you try a new class, realize you're in over your head, and fear injury if you finish. I have quietly moved to the back of a workout studio and slipped out the door to finish a workout on a treadmill when a class just wasn't moving enough for me. What about you?

Instead of Tylenol, Reach For a Photo of a Loved One

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

If you're feeling a world of hurt, you might want to skip the pill form of pain relief. New research found that just gazing at a photo of someone you love could reduce your pain.

A small study, involving 25 women who had been in healthy and loving relationships for at least six months, found gazing at images of loved ones helps manage pain. In the study heat was applied to the forearm of each participant, the women reported their levels of pain while looking at a photo of their boyfriend, when looking at a photo of a stranger, and while looking at a picture of a chair. The women also received the heat treatment when holding hands with their guys, while holding hands with a complete stranger, and while holding a stress ball.

Overall the women reported the lowest amount of pain when in the "presence" of their partners, whether it be from their boyfriend's photo or actual hand. This simple experiment illustrated how the support of a loved one can help ease pain. The next time you want to pop some Tylenol, grab a framed photo or the hand of someone you love instead. Or if you're going through a painful experience and your favorite person can't be with you, the researchers suggest bringing a photo of the special person along. It could have the same calming effect.

Which Thanksgiving Food Is Worth the Calories?

FitSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:30:08 -0800

Thanksgiving is almost here and you either have one of two attitudes - eat whatever you want because it's a holiday, or watch your calorie intake so you don't gain weight. If you don't want to cringe the next time you step on the scale, then you probably only want to splurge on the foods that are really worth it. So tell me . . .