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.

New Antioxidant on the Block: Mangosteen

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:00:22 PST

Blueberries, green tea, and dark chocolate are well-known antioxidant powerhouses, which are believed to support your immune system and help prevent or slow down damage to cells in your body. If you're all about antioxidants, you may have already added mangosteen to your list of superfoods about to make it big. It's a gorgeous purple-colored tropical fruit grown in hot, humid climates. It's not big at all, only about two or three inches in diameter, which is about the size of a tangerine. The hard, thick rind is removed to reveal a soft, whitish fruit that's sweet and tart.

Mangosteen is rich in xanthones, which lab studies have shown to have anti-cancer effects. Aside from that, mangosteen also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

Fresh mangosteens can be found in Canada and Hawaii, but you'd be hard-pressed to find the actual fruit in the US because of concerns that infectious insects would be transported with them into the country. You can, however, find mangosteen beverages, like the one made by XanGo, freeze-dried mangosteens, and supplements. People take them for the antioxidant properties, for energy, to reduce inflammation, for cleansing, and also because the juice and freeze-dried mangosteen has a wonderful flavor.

Tell me, are you into mangosteen products?

5 Superfoods About to Make It Big

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:30:21 PDT

Move over Açaí, there are some new superfoods in town. Hailing from exotic locations and brimming with antioxidants, vitamins, and other essential nutrients, here are our predictions for the next foods to gain super-duper status.

Source: Flickr User Amanda *Bake It Pretty*'s

DIY Spa Treatment: Sweet Tea Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:05:41 PDT

No matter the season, exfoliators help rejuvenate dull-looking skin. Plus, they help lay the foundation for creating a nice, even surface - perfect for smoother makeup applications. Are these warmer-weathered days wreaking havoc on your appearance? "The green tea in the Sweet Tea Antioxidant Exfoliator is full of antioxidants, which boost health and resilience and can even soothe Summer sunburns," says dermatologist Dr. Hema Sundaram. "Brown sugar is a natural exfoliant that scrubs away dirt and impurities without being too harsh on skin."

Get Dr. Sundaram's recipe, along with application tips, when you read more.

What's the Deal With Catechins?

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:30:00 PDT

I know the word catechins sounds like a furry underwater sea anemone, but it's actually a type of flavonoid, which are compounds known for their antioxidant properties. Soy products, wine, citrus fruits, and tea are great sources of flavonoids. They're big in the health world because they're believed to help lower cholesterol, prevent cataracts, and have anti-cancer abilities. Catechins have been linked to a reduced risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer, and diabetes. When combined with regular exercise, catechins have also been shown to delay some forms of aging. This healthy compound can be found in green tea, black tea, Oolong tea, beans, grapes, apricots, apples, red wine, and chocolate. So be sure to include these in your diet. And don't forget to exercise, either.

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Berries For Weight Control?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:30:00 PDT

As if I needed another reason to love the berries of Summer. Not only are they loaded with anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant, according to new research from Japan these mighty antioxidants may alter the activity of genes found in human-fat cells. In a completely separate study, mice fed anthocyanins (poor rodents didn't get to eat the actual berries) while eating a typically weight-inducing, hight-fat diet didn't gain weight. Researches surmised it was the berry-derived antioxidant.

I need no reductive reason to eat berries, but I find this research fascinating. Berries are a great part of any healthy diet since they are naturally sweet, low in calories, and high in both fiber and water. So berries, whatever their intense color – blue, black, red, or pink a – help keep you feeling full and satisfied.

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Food Review: Bossa Nova Açai Juice

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:45:00 PDT

Have you ever tried Bossa Nova Açai Juice ($3). In case you've never heard of açai (pronounced ah-sci-ee), they are small, dark purple berries that grow on palm trees found in the Brazilian rainforest. Recently, they have been called the "world's healthiest fruit," because they're so high in antioxidants and naturally low in sugar. Açai actually have 60 percent more antioxidants than pomegranate juice.

So how does this juice taste and compare nutritionally to other juices? To find out

I tried the raspberry and mango flavors and loved them. Both flavors were light, refreshing, smooth, and delicious. They tasted sweet, but not obnoxiously sweet like some juices can be. They are very berry-like and are similar to cherry or a really mild cranberry juice.

Nutritionally speaking, since pomegranate juice is also high in antioxidants, I compared this juice to POM Blueberry Pomegranate Juice and Naked Pomegranate Açai Juice. Check out the results.

	8 oz. Bossa Nova Raspberry Açai Juice	8 oz. POM Blueberry Pomegranate Juice	8 oz. Naked Pomegranate Açai Juice
Calories	89	160	160
Total Fat	0g	0g	1g
Sodium	13mg	20mg	30mg
Carbs	23g	39g	36g
Fiber	0g	0g	0g
Sugar	18g	33g	31g
Protein	0g	0g	1g

Wow. That's a huge difference in calories and sugar, isn't it? Those other juices definitely are tasty, but Bossa Nova açai juice is so much lower in calories, sugars, sodium, and carbs that the healthier option is obvious. Have you tried it yet? If so tell me what you think in the comments section below.

Give Your Green Tea a Boost With Citrus

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:00:00 PDT

In case you were feeling like your green tea wasn't already healthy enough, scientists have found a way to make the wonder juice even healthier. According to research, adding citrus juices to green tea may increase catechins - antioxidants believe to be responsible for green tea's health benefits- levels by more than five times, while vitamin C boosted absorbable levels of catechins by up to 13 times. So moral of the story? Think about squeezing a little lemon into your green tea tomorrow. Not only will it add a little extra flavor to your tea, but you'll be boosting its antioxidant power as well.

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Bellissima! Kenneth Mark Antioxidant Hydrating Cream

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:06:15 PST

If "summer" is a verb for you-as in, "I summer in the Hamptons," you might already know about Dr. Kenneth Mark. The dermatologist works with some of New York's and Aspen's fanciest faces, focusing on cosmetic treatments such as Botox and chemical peels. I'm not interested in those things, but one of his creations definitely caught my eye.

Kenneth Mark Antioxidant Hydrating Cream ($95) is a pricey cream, for sure. But here's what's cool about it: it contains astaxanthin, which is up to 10 times more potent than other antioxidants. Since antioxidants fight free radicals, which cause aging, this cream is a power punch of good-skin stuff. By the way, its rarity helps explain the product's high price; synthetic astaxanthin fetches $2000 a kilogram on the market, while the natural stuff (which is harvested from sea organisms) goes for more than $7000 a kilogram.

I've sampled this cream, and although it's a lightweight cream, it's surprisingly hydrating. Plus, it's used in the Ritz-Carlton spa in Aspen, which makes me feel kinda fancy myself.

Definition: Rooibos Tea

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:00:14 PST

Rooibos is a naturally-decaffeinated and full-bodied tea that comes from a bright-green needled shrub in South Africa. When the needles are processed they turn red, and in Afrikaans, rooibos actually means red bush.

Not only is rooibos low in tannins, but it has a strong aroma and is one of the most popular drinks in South Africa. In addition to tasting delicious and being an excellent source of antioxidants (it contains higher concentrations than other teas), it can also be used as a toner on your skin to reduce puffiness and redness, especially around your eyes.

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