FitSugar

Battle of the Frozen Yogurt Hot Spots

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:30:00 PST

Every once and a while something comes around that grabs the attention of Hollywood's hottest A-listers. What is it this time?

Frozen yogurt. Yup, Hollywood is bringing frozen yogurt back (yay). Not one, but two hot spots are attracting quite the following of folks looking for a sweet treat that is actually good for you and not jam packed with calories.

Berri Good Kosher Frozen Yogurt is rich in calcium, but there is so much more. It also claims to "boost immune system, prevents acne and builds clear skin, builds strong bones and teeth, prevents bacteria in intestine and promotes good digestive system." Berri Good is not only Kosher, but also eco-friendly. Among others, Leonardo DiCaprio and girlfriend Bar Rafaeli are serious Berri Good followers. Berri Good says that it's, "Probably the best tasting non fat frozen yogurt in this world." Probably, if Leo eats it, I bet it's more than probably the best.

One ounce of the other yogurt in Tinseltown, pinkberry, has only 25 calories, 0 grams of fat, 35 mg of sodium and 6 grams of carbs. Some of the locations are known for their hour long lines -- Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff, David Hasselhoff and many others have been spotted picking up some yogurt from here. Pinkberry says, "Pinkberry is yogurt, pure and simple."

Anyone tried either? Which do you prefer?

Leo and Bar images courtesy of Celebrity Babylon

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.

What We're Sweet On: Lipstick That Does It All

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:10:27 PST

Usually we consider ourselves lucky if a lipstick looks good on us and doesn't make our lips dry like the Sahara. Perhaps our standards are a bit unusual, but we've been doing this a long time. Even hard-eyed beauty editors, though, know a cool find when they see it, and Lola Duo lipstick ($22) is exactly that.

It's a typical columnar lipstick, but each side is a unique shade that works on its own or layered together. Our favorite shade is Strawberry/Cream, a pair of pink shades that are both pretty by themselves, and turn into a soft, sheer berry shade when you mix them.

We also love the little mirror that pops out of the case when you open up the lipstick. Sure, it's a little gimmicky, but it's super handy and perfect for doing a last-minute makeup check or re-applying after food. All around a great little find, and well worth having in your beauty arsenal.

Link Time - Valentine's Day For One

TresSugar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:14:00 PST

How to have a romantic Valentine's Day date alone - The Frisky
Looking for love? There's a new app for that! - YourTango
Reasons why Maria Menounos should NOT date Tim Tebow - CollegeCandy
Who said it: Dominique Strauss-Kahn or Gérard Depardieu? - The Daily Beast
Study finds online dating no better than meeting at a bar - Huffington Post
Why the backlash against Pinterest is gender specific - GOOD
Hot men hang out at the Oscar nominee luncheon - theBERRY
11 simple steps to the perfect kiss - Glamour
"I dreamed my boyfriend made me watch him marry his ex" - Em & Lo
Watch: This Means War's Reese, Chris, & Tom talk romantic risks - BuzzSugar

5 Surprising Ways to Eat Nut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:49 PST

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier - and more satisfying - by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

Link Time - The Artist's Jean Dujardin Stars in Sexy Movie Posters

TresSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:48:00 PST

Jean Dujardin's new movie posters are causing a scandal - The Frisky
Stars who traded down in their relationships - The Daily Beast
6 things I learned about love from other people's sex lives - Huffington Post
How do you know when to take the relationship to the next level? - CollegeCandy
Mall Madness: the movie, plus more girly games that should be movies - Glamour
Why is three the magic number in relationships? - YourTango
Find out what men would do as a woman for one day - Em & Lo
Rachel McAdams's most romantic movie moments - theBERRY
What happens if you're just not attracted to your partner? - GOOD
Most romantic movie gestures - BuzzSugar

Link Time - Plan a Romantic Night In

Annie Scudder — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:20:32 PST

Inspiration for a romantic dinner at home - TheFrisky
The Twitter feed @WhiteGirlProblems becomes a book - The Daily Beast
How to break up with a friend - Huffington Post
10 Valentine's Day gifts for him - YourTango
Ask a dude: does he want his ex back? - College Candy
10 things not to say in bed - Em & Lo
Guys would rather give up football than sex - Glamour
Hot men riding bikes - theBERRY
Dealbreaker: he led a double life - GOOD
15 actresses who swept award season - BuzzSugar

Link Time - Breakup Myths vs. Reality

TresSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:30:42 PST

Survey says: five breakup myths and facts - YourTango
Watch The Bachelor's Courtney Robertson in a Caesars Palace commercial - The Frisky
Sperm study may mean the future of male birth control - Huffington Post
To Kill a Mockingbird's stars talk about the film's legacy 50 years later - The Daily Beast
Kristen Bell has an emotional breakdown over meeting a sloth - Buzzfeed
What New Girl says about the new recession-era men - GOOD
Things that Michael Fassbender's penis has ruined - CollegeCandy
Daniel Radcliffe: "I'm a serial monogamist" - theBERRY
Guys confess how they knew she was the one - Glamour
Cynthia Nixon says she's actually bisexual, and it's "not a choice" - Newser

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

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

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

The Secrets of the World's Healthiest Women

Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:45:10 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

From pouring on the olive oil like the Greeks to slashing stress like the Scandinavians, what we
can learn from the happiest, slimmest, longest-living cultures around the globe.

The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else.

It seems like every year another country's lifestyle is touted as the new magic bullet to cure us of obesity, heart disease, and premature death: for an unclogged heart, herd goats and down olive oil like a Mediterranean. Avoid breast cancer and live to 100 by dining on tofu, Japanese-style. Stay as happy as Norwegians by hunting elk and foraging for cowberries.

Health.com: Weight-Loss Secrets From Around the World

The places we're usually told to emulate are known as Blue Zones or Cold Spots. Blue Zones were pinpointed by explorer Dan Buettner and a team of longevity researchers and are described in his book The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. They're areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed healthy and active to age 100 or older.

Keep on reading for more great tips from around the globe.