FitSugar

Healthy BBQ: Marinate Your Meat

FitSugar — Sun, 06 May 2007 03:00:00 PDT

I love to BBQ...in fact one of my goals this grilling season is to become a grill master. The roles at my house are pretty gender specific in this activity...I make the sides and my hubbie plays with the fire. I also make some great marinades and let me tell you marinating meat significantly reduces the amount of carcinogens found in grilled meats.

Two types of cancer causing agents are often present in grilled red meat, poultry and fish. One is caused by the smoke that billows up when fat drips from meat or fish onto a heat source. These are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH for short. The second is heterocyclic amines, aka HCAs, which are a by-product of cooking at high heat. HCAs are formed when high cooking temperatures cause a chemical reaction between naturally occurring amino acids and sugars in the meat and creatine, which is found in muscle tissue. This is also a problem with broiled meat as well.

To greatly reduce the production of these carcinogens - marinate your meats before putting them on the barbie. Studies have shown that marinating can reduce the HCAs in some cases, as much as 92 to 99 percent.

So marinate before you grill and you'll be good to go. Plus marinated meat tastes better and doesn't seem to get as dried out.

Sex and the City Perfume Fakes Flood the Market

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:06:59 PST

Sex and the City isn't just popular with video bootleggers: according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's list of top seizures, it's also the most popular counterfeit perfume, WWD reports. Out of 138 commercial perfume shipments Customs intercepted for counterfeit scents, 52 contained fake SATC fragrances. And in total, the agency seized more than a million bogus bottles of the stuff last year.

Fake perfumes aren't just a problem for the company that makes them legally, either. "In addition to the economic harm," Customs said in its statement, "counterfeit perfumes are also often contaminated with unknown chemicals that can cause serious injury." There's no regulation on this stuff, and tests have found some truly heinous ingredients, from urine to known carcinogens. So when it comes to perfume, you're almost always better off biting the bullet and paying full price at the department store. Carrie wouldn't tolerate a knockoff, and neither should you.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Brazilian Blowout Contains Formaldehyde

Susi May — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:22:22 PST

Health hazards of hair straightening: Brazilian Blowout contains carcinogens - Blisstree
Go crazy and try the Insanity Workout for free! - Self
10 easy ways to get cooking with kale. It's a superfood! - Real Simple
Could a club drug be the new cure for depression? - The Stir
Three natural ways to soothe your sore throat - Prevention
Trying to diet? Try skipping the food boards on Pinterest - Fit Bottomed Girls
A full-body workout for you. Print it out and do it! - Fitnessista
Race on! Train for a 5K personal record! - Women's Running

4 Toxic Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Prevention — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:37:36 PST

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

Is your food loaded with toxins and chemicals? Here, simple swaps to protect yourself
By Anne Underwood

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing.

Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe - or not - to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health - and peace of mind.

The Best Packaged Foods to Shop For

1. Canned Tomatoes

Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop:

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

Low-Sodium Alternative Dinner Options

Keep reading to three more foods to avoid.

Why You Should Marinate Your Meat

FitSugar — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:13:40 PDT

Barbecue season is upon us, so let's celebrate by grilling, since it's an easy and low-fat way to cook. If you're grilling, protect your health by marinating your meat. Here are seven things explaining why marinating is good for your health and how to do it.

Marinating meat, fish, and poultry significantly decreases the amount of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures, like in grilling. Marinades can reduce HCAs by as much as 99 percent. Adding rosemary to the marinade may even up the anticancer potential of your marinade even more. While research is unclear why marinades protect meat so much, the belief is that they act as a barrier against the high heat, or may reduce chemical precursors of carcinogens from the meat.
Marinades may slow the growth of harmful bacteria, like listeria.

Learn a few more tips about marinades when you

Cell Radiation: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:49:46 PDT

The World Health Organization recently listed the cell phone as "carcinogenic," which means it could potentially be bad for your health due to the levels of radiation emitted during use. There are easy ways to cut down your risk of exposure, but a few of you had some additional questions that we'd like to cover here. Check out the cell phone radiation FAQ below, and leave any other questions you have in the comments; we'll be updating this post with more info!

What kinds of cell phones emit the least amount of radiation?
From CNET:

Samsung Blue Earth
Samsung Infuse 4G
Samsung Acclaim
Samsung Replenish
Huawei Ideos X5

What kinds of cell phones emit the highest amount of radiation?
From CNET:

Motorola Bravo
Motorola Droid 2 Global
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro
Kyocera Jax S1300

Can I use a Bluetooth earpiece instead?
You can use a Bluetooth earpiece, but since those kinds of headsets use radio waves to transmit data, you're better off using a wired hands-free device. Earbuds with an attached microphone should work just fine.

Get more answers after the jump

Another Way to Cut Down on Cell Radiation: Handset Attachments

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:36:33 PDT

We told you earlier about how cell phones are now labeled as "carcinogenic" by the WHO, but there are ways to cut down your risk. If you don't want to use the speakerphone or an in-car Bluetooth device, you can always pick up one of these Moshi Moshi Pop Phone ($30) attachments and make like someone from the '90s with a giant mobile phone.

This attachment works with any 3.5mm jack (like the iPhone), but can be used on most mobile devices with an appropriate adapter. Since it keeps your toxic cell phone away from your skull, you're less likely to absorb harmful radiation. Bonus - you can even use for your VoIP calls (i.e. Skype and Google Video Chat) and plug it right into your computer. I'd love to see someone pulling this thing out of their bag. If you do get one, post a pic of you using it on our Facebook page!

3 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Cell Phone Radiation Exposure

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:54:57 PDT

Mobile phone users beware: new research shows that cell-phone use could be bad for your health. The report, which was released by the World Health Organization, says that cell phones emit a low-grade radiation (similar to that of a low-watt microwave), and mobile phones are now listed in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.

Though no direct correlations have been made between cell-phone use and cancer, a team of 31 scientists did discover higher brain cancer rates among those who use mobile phones regularly. Manufacturers already advise customers to keep their cell phones away from their bodies; seems simple enough, right? Check out three simple and easy ways to cut down your radiation risk below.

Use speakerphone mode - Keep a distance between you and the radiation waves being emitted from your handset by using the speakerphone, and using a Bluetooth car device (like the Motorola Roadster) when you're on the road.
Get an antiradiation case - You may think it's snake oil, but the science is there - the Case-Mate Bounce Case ($50) redirects and reduces hot-spot radiation by up to 85 percent, and overall radiation by 65 percent.
Text instead - Another way of keeping the cell phone away from your noggin is by texting instead of calling. I bet a lot of you are already doing this!

Shop For Good: Your Guide to Conscious Consumerism

SavvySugar — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:15:00 PDT

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

Trends. They seduce us into buying a hot item, only to leave us a year later with an emptier wallet and a useless widget.

But there’s one trend we at LearnVest can get behind: conscious consumerism.

At its most basic level, buying consciously just means taking a couple of extra seconds to consider each purchase. It’s a way to buy healthier food, keep your home free of clutter and keep your budget intact.

But what we’re talking about in this case is the ethical consumption movement, or buying with an eye toward your fellow (wo)man and the environment.

The Basics of Conscious Consumerism

Often called “voting with your dollar,” conscious consumerism is a way to support your values every time you walk into a store. It can be as simple as using natural toothpaste, as stylish as finding a fair trade purse from a company that employs women in Ghana or as grand as boycotting a misbehaving corporation.

It’s also effective. The rise of brands like Burt’s Bees and Newman’s Own shows that consumers like you are eager to support brands that treat people, animals and the environment with respect. Conscious consumption can even be a fashion statement. Just ask one of the many proud wearers of TOMS shoes. Because of these brands’ successes, large corporations are sitting up and taking notice.

Read on to find out more.

4 Earth-Friendlier Kitty Litter Substances

PetSugar — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:04:02 PDT

Choosing kitty litter is a tough decision! There are so many options out there, and changing litter types can upset your cat and cause naughty "elimination" behaviors. Many users shy away from the traditional clay or silica gel varieties which can contain carcinogens and burden landfills, and choose more eco-tastic styles instead.

To see my four earth-friendly alternatives, keep reading.