FitSugar

Casa Quickie: Hot and Then Cold

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:00:09 PDT

If you own a top-loading washer, or live in a building that has older machines, you may be using soap flakes or powdered detergent instead of liquid laundry detergent. However, if you want to wash your clothes in a more energy-saving manner by keeping the water temperature on cold, you'll benefit from trying these tips with your non-liquid detergent.

First, try adding the powder to the bottom of the washing machine and letting a little water run before you add any clothes. This will help to ensure that the detergent will dissolve and not get stuck in folds of your clothes, which can damage the garment and guarantee another round of washing.

If this doesn't do the trick, try dissolving the powdered detergent in a pitcher of hot water before adding it to the machine. Problem solved!

Casa Verde: Leave Laundry in the Cold

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:00:00 PDT

Most of us are accustomed to using hot water to really get our clothes clean, but the hotter the wash, the higher your energy bill. In fact, 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes comes from heating the water, and switching over to cold (or even warm) water when washing everyday loads can slash your energy usage in half! Old habits die hard, as do nasty stains, so try to use the hot setting on your machine only when your threads are really in need of a deep clean. When using the cold cycle, skip the powder detergent, as it won't dissolve as quickly - opt for a liquid version or one that is made specifically for chilly washes. Still worried the low temps won't freshen up your washables? Tea tree oil is a natural disinfectant and is great for cleaning without heat or chemicals - try adding about half a teaspoon to loads filled with towels and other fabric prone to getting musty.

Get Energized to Exercise: Drink Cold Water

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:00:15 PDT

After a really intense, sweaty workout, I want nothing more than to quench my thirst by downing some cold water; it cools me down and rehydrates my body. It looks like post-workout isn't the only time it's good to drink cold water. A British study shows that "a fresh-out-of-the-fridge water bottle may energize you for hot-weather exercise." Get this - those who drank brisk water worked out 25 percent longer than those who drank warmer water, and they also claimed that the workouts felt easier.

I like to place a bottle of water in the fridge the night before, so I can sip some chilled water before and during my workout the next day. I find it really does prevent me from feeling hot and tired, and helps increase my energy levels. And I must add: yay for warm weather!

Does Cold Water Quench Your Thirst Better?

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:00:46 PDT

I've heard some people claim that hot water actually quenches your thirst better than cold water, but that seems counterintuitive. Cold water certainly feels more refreshing, but really, isn't water just water regardless of the temperature? Take your best guess below and tell me what you think the truth is.

Source

Take the Quiz

Swimmer's Issue: Allergy to Cold Water?

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:00:00 PDT

I've been swimming a lot lately and after a workout last week, one of the other ladies was asking me about where I got my bathing suit. I couldn't help but notice her skin. I said, "I'm no doctor, but I think you've broken out in hives." She just laughed and said that it always happens when she swims in cold water. I couldn't believed she was so nonchalant about it, since her body looked like a range of moguls on a Black Diamond ski trail. She said it doesn't hurt and always goes away, so she thought it wasn't a big deal.

When I went home, I couldn't get that image of her hive-covered skin out of my mind, so I decided to do a little Internet research. In the medical world, this condition is called physical urticaria. To see the risks it poses,

read more. When a person has this condition, there's a physical trigger that causes raised skin welts like what you see in the photo above. It could be set off by heat, cold, sunlight, exercise, or water. More specifically, cold uticaria is an allergic reaction, where the skin produces histamine in response to cold temps, in this case to cold water. Apparently it's pretty common for 18 to 25 year olds, but it only lasts for five to six years. The woman at the gym said that her rash is pretty mild and usually goes away after an hour or two. Reactions can be more serious though causing shortness of breath, stomach pains, or a rapid heartbeat. In severe cases, low blood pressure, fainting, shock, or even death can occur. I always thought swimming was so good for people. I had no idea it could be such a health risk. Have you or someone you know ever experienced anything like this?

Casa Verde: Cool Down With Naturally Clean

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:48 PDT

Seventh Generation, a brand of environmentally safe household products, launched a special effort, called Get Out of Hot Water, to get people to pick up some green habits in the laundry room.
The company is asking people to pledge to switch to cold-water washing – and are offering a free copy of their book, Naturally Clean, a guide to healthy nontoxic cleaning, to those who do (while supplies last). You already know that washing in cold water is good for your sheets, but it also has a significant positive impact on the environment. Using a cool cycle, saves 90 percent of the energy used in machine-washing a load of laundry, effectively lowering your carbon footprint by preventing the release of energy-related greenhouse gases. It also can amount to a savings of about $70 in annual household energy bills. Making the pledge (easy as pie) and registering your name and address will make you eligible for the book. For those of you who were concerned that washing in cold water doesn't kill as many germs, Seventh Generation has a new production line, 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquids, which works overtime in cold water, getting clothes "hot-water clean with cold-water efficiency."
Source

Don't Toss Your Sad Lettuce - Fix It!

YumSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:58:31 PDT

We've all done it, we've bought lettuce with the perfectly good intention of turning it into salad, only instead of making a salad, we throw it in to the back of the fridge and forget about it for a while. We come back a few days later and find that the leaves look a bit sad and wilted. Well, what do you do? Do you toss it out? Nope! You soak it! Place washed lettuce leaves in a bowl (preferably stainless steel) filled with cold water, lemon juice and ice cubes. Soak for an hour in the refrigerator, then drain, dry and enjoy! Oh and let's be realistic here folks, if your lettuce is starting to turn to soggy mush, no amount of lemon juice is going to save it.

Hot Rice, Just Add... Cold Water?

YumSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 06:58:31 PDT

Oh how I love science. Or should I make that, oh how I love Japan. How about, oh how I love Japanese scientists... An environmental consulting firm based out of Tsukaba, Japan has come up with an amazing new product called "Hotto! Raisu." The product, which amazingly turns cold water into hot rice, is a non-perishable food pack that could be put to good use during a natural disaster.

So how'd they do it?

By subjecting rice to 4,000 times normal atmospheric pressure, the developers were able to preserve rice for long periods in a soft form that holds moisture. When water is poured over an exothermic agent in the pack, steam warms the rice contained within, and after about 15 minutes, the dish is piping hot.

Right now the product is decently priced, (10,000 yen for 30 packs, or approximately $85 for 30), but I don't know if that's cheap enough to be ideal for natural disaster zones. Either way it's still absolutely awesome.

Source: Mainichi News via Boing Boing

Avoid the Lead: Cook with Cold Water

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:30:00 PDT

All these years I have been cooking with cold water because I was under the impression (damn you, 5th grade science teacher) that cold water boiled faster than hot water. I have no idea why I was told that, or why I believed it for that matter but I did. The truth is, cold water does not boil faster than warm water, but that is beside the point.

So should we all be cooking with warm water to speed up the process? Think again. Never cook with or consume water from the hot-water tap. This is because hot water dissolves more lead more quickly than cold water, which means you may be consuming more lead than you should be. Houses built before 1986 are the most likely to have lead parts, however even plumbing legally considered lead-free today may contain up to 8 percent lead. While copper pipes replaced lead ones decades ago, fusing pipes with lead was legal until 1991.

Why does it matter? Well, too much lead in the body can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells (it's especially bad for pregnant women and children). So the EPA recommends that you do not use water taken from the hot tap for cooking or drinking, and especially not for making baby formula. If you need hot water, draw water from the cold tap and heat it on the stove. Anytime a faucet hasn't been used for at least six hours, "flush" all the water that has been sitting in the pipes. This could take anywhere from 5 seconds to 2 minutes. When the water stops getting colder, it is "flushed."

Source

Fit Quiz: Which is Better to Drink While Exercising, Cold or Room Temp Water?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:14:32 PDT

We all know that when exercising, it is great to drink water to keep hydrated but does the temperature matter? Which is better to drink while working out, cold or room temperature water?