FitSugar

Hats Off to Maple Syrup For Its Many Health Benefits

Heather Dale — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:48:32 PDT

When you need a sweetener, what do you turn to? Honey, agave nectar, or maybe just plane ole sugar? I'm far from being this "freaky" eater, but my sweetener of choice is organic, Grade A maple syrup. Aside from smothering pancakes and waffles in this delicious brown syrup, maple syrup is a very versatile sweetener. I like adding it to yogurt, oatmeal, or apple sauce, but you can also use it in dressings for salads, in fish or chicken dishes, or in a granola parfait, or roast some almonds in maple syrup and spicy cinnamon for a light, healthy snack. These maple syrup recipe ideas are sure to inspire you.

Pure maple syrup tastes great, and it offers a myriad of health benefits. Here are just a few:

It's an antioxidant powerhouse. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that maple syrup is filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help prevent several chronic and inflammatory diseases like diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's. It also comes packed with phenolics - the beneficial antioxidant compounds in maple syrup - that may help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels balanced since phenolics inhibit the enzymes that are involved in the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar.

Here are more reasons why it's good for us.

Stop Hating Exercise and Start Loving It: Part IV

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Recently I asked you guys to tell me all the things you dislike about exercising so that we can find ways to turn that hate into love. One thing that came up a lot is, "I don't like the muscle soreness that I get two days after working out."

Agreed - feeling sore can be a big downer and make daily practices, such as sitting on the toilet, a painful experience. The thing is that sore muscles are totally normal and totally temporary. Typically called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), DOMS usually occurs 24 to 48 hours after an activity and typically lasts about 24 to 48 hours. Since it can be an uncomfortable 24 to 48 hours, here are a few ways for keeping the soreness under control:

Progress slowly, don't overdo it.
Warm up and cool down.
Stretch daily, especially after exercising.
Ice the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes/day.
Hit the hot tub or bathtub.
Take anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen).
Massage sore muscle or roll it out.
Avoid strenuous activity.

Personally, I look at being sore as a reminder of the fact that I worked out and pushed myself. I may not have those washboard abs yet, but a mildly sore midsection means that those abs have been worked. A little soreness feels good once in a while, so try not to let it discourage you from exercising.

Fit's Tip: If you experience pain that lasts more than four days, you may have actually injured yourself and should consult a doctor.

Blueberries: What's Not to Love?

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:03:21 PDT

The darker the berry... the greater the antioxidants - just doesn't have the same ring as the sweeter the juice, but so true in the case of blueberries. Those tiny blue fruit gems are just loaded with good things for you and me.

Blueberries are antioxidants and have been found to be one of the most effective foods for destroying free radicals. It is the blue-red pigment in the berries that make them such powerful warriors against the carcinogenic free radicals. They are also a low calorie, high fiber food.

In a recent study performed on rats, blueberry extract improved age related memory loss, balance and coordination in "elderly" rats. These berries also contain tannins that help decrease inflammation, particularly in the digestive system. Plus blueberries promote urinary tract health, which is important if you are battling a UTI on vacation overseas and can't get your hands on cranberry juice.

The best thing about blueberries is they are in season right now through early fall. I love them in fruit salad, on yogurt or just in my morning bowl of cereal. How about you?

Source

Ease Sore Muscles with Cherry Juice

FitSugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:45:00 PDT

Cherry juice has long been know for its tartness but what about for its pain relief?

Research out of the University of Vermont found that drinking a bottle of the cherry juice blend twice a day for three days before exercise and for four days afterwards eased muscle soreness compared to those who did not drink the juice blend. So if your favorite excuse for not working out is getting sore, stop your complaining and invest in some cherry juice or yummy fresh cherries (my favorite).

What's the Deal With: Magnesium

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:59:16 PDT

I keep reading about foods that are high in magnesium, and I nod my head and I think "Great." Today, when nodding my head I finally asked myself if I knew why this mineral is important to health and I realized I was clueless. So, I did a little research and here's what I found.

Magnesium is in our bones!!!! Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bones. The rest is found in cells of body tissue and organs.

Our bodies cannot produce magnesium so it is important to eat a diet rich in the mineral. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of magnesium is 300 to 320 milligrams for pre-menopausal adult women. If you are under 18 years the RDI is higher - 360 milligrams. Chard and spinach are both excellent sources of magnesium. A cup of each has a little over 35% of your RDI. Tofu is a great source as well - containing 130 milligams per 120 grams.
Magesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system.
This mineral helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
There is a complex and not completely understood relationship between the mineral calcium and magnesium. So it is important to eat a diet rich in both.
It is believed that magnesium plays a role in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines.

If you are experiencing muscles cramps, you could make sure you are getting enough magnesium since a deficiency in the mineral can lead to cramping. In fact magnesium is required for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. I'd say that is why it is considered an essential mineral.

Spice it Up: Turmeric

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:45:00 PDT

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice with an earthy, bitter, peppery flavor. It is not commonly eaten on its own, but mixed with many spices to make curry, and I love curry!!!!

Aside from adding color to curry and other foods (it is used in conjunction with annatto to color cheese and can be found in mustard), this spice has some special medicinal attributes. It has been proven to have anti inflammatory properties. Its active ingredient curcumin, works in a very similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In fact the spice has been used in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) medicine to treat inflammatory ailments as well as an antiseptic for cuts and burns. Although it has been regarded as a medicinal spice in India and Asia for centuries, Western medicine has only recently begun to investigate turmeric - even the National Institute of Health is looking into this spice's ability to treat different types of cancer.

Fit's Tip: Sales for dietary supplements of curcumin are on the rise, but I think it is better to eat it in food (and much less burp inducing too). When cooking with curry I always add extra turmeric to my spice mix to reap the benefits of this super spice.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

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

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

Two Feel-Good Ways to Quicken Postworkout Muscle Repair

Leta Shy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:22:10 PST

You know the feeling: sore muscles after your workout. If you want to feel better fast, help speed the process along by doing these two things soon after your workout.

Feed them right: Eating or drinking protein soon after your workout will help repair spent muscles. The best postworkout foods are a mix of protein and carbs for energy and repair (a ratio of 4:1 carbs to protein, since carbs help replenish energy stores), so grab a yogurt or drink a chocolate milk. Want to quicken the process even more? Try a turmeric tea: the spice has anti-inflammatory properties that help accelerate muscle repair.

Get a massage: Who needs an excuse to get a massage? Sports massages feel oh-so-relieving, and there's good reason why. A new study found that getting a sports massage right after a workout decreases inflammation and boosts your muscles' oxygen intake, which helps your muscles rebuild and repair. Since it's not exactly possible to book a sports massage after every workout, make sure you keep up with your postworkout stretching and foam-rolling routine.

Whether you're easing pain right after a workout or later, find more tips for dealing with postworkout muscle soreness here.

Taste the Rainbow: Colorful Antioxidant-Rich Foods and Their Benefits

Michele Foley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:08:23 PST

Eating a rainbow of foods is an easy way to give the body much-needed antioxidants. Besides giving fruits and veggies their pretty colors, substances like lycopene and beta-carotene may protect against cancer, promote brain health, and act as an anti-inflammatory. This isn't the time to be monochromatic: since each pigment provides different benefits, get as many colors on your plate as possible. Keep reading for a rainbow color guide to see how each antioxidant helps the body and easy ways to incorporate them into your everyday meals.

In Season: Cauliflower

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:07:09 PST

People tend to be rather opinionated about cauliflower. Quite a few people completely abhor it, and some are crazy for it. Either way, there's no denying that cauliflower has a rich and interesting history.

Cauliflower belongs to the same species as cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and collard greens. Though white is most common, cauliflower also comes in orange, green, and purple; all possess that slightly sulfurous and bitter flavor. It has been an important Winter vegetable in Europe since 600 B.C. and became popular when it was introduced to the French in the 1500s. Throughout history, cauliflower's been prized for, among other things, its anti-inflammatory properties.

Select cauliflower heads that are compact. Heads that have more green leaves tend to be better protected, and thus, fresher. Store cauliflower in a paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. Want to learn more about cooking with cauliflower? Keep reading.