FitSugar

Get Physical: Massage Deck

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 05:45:00 PST

It's the weekend and we're all looking for a way to relax. Most of us also use the weekends to catch up with the significant other in our life, which is not always as relaxing as one would hope. This weekend, get physical (and relaxed) by giving each other massages. Worried that your massage skills are a little rusty?

Then you need to get The Massage Deck ($14.95) which features 50 easy to follow, beautifully illustrated methods for giving and receiving the perfect massage. Color coded by body region this portable deck includes detailed instructions for each technique, a reflexology card and suggested sequences for 20 and 60 minute massages. Learn how to soothe away stress and tension, relieve headaches and muscle pain as well as enjoy complete relaxation.

Also, you'll burn calories giving a massage as an 150 lb person who gives a 15 minute massage (while standing) will burn around 68 calories. Buy The Massage Deck online from Vickerey.

Ben and Jen Spend a Packed Weekend With Seraphina and Violet

Katie Henry — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:27:39 PST

Pregnant Jennifer Garner kept her girls busy over the weekend, starting with a Saturday trip to the nail salon and a visit to a friend's birthday party yesterday. Jen's kept up a packed schedule in recent weeks and doesn't seem to be slowing down. She's been spotted all over town running errands with Seraphina and dropping Violet off at her various activities. When it came to picking up a gift for yesterday's bash, though, Jen left the shopping duties to Ben and Seraphina. Ben and Sera stopped by the Brentwood Country Mart prior to the celebration, and she even left with a heart shaped lollipop of her own. The Garner-Affleck family doesn't hide their affection, which is one of the reasons Jen and Ben are among our favorite celebrity couples on Valentine's Day.

5 Strange Ways Chocolate Keeps You Healthy

Prevention — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:26 PST

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

This sweet treat may also boost brainpower, help you relax, and more!
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

Show your heart some love this Valentine’s Day by nibbling a few chocolates - and making them a regular treat throughout the year. A recent study found that those consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29 percent reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes.

Though experts are quick to clarify that we should stick to moderate consumption of high-calorie chocolates, it’s hard to deny the cold, hard facts that chocolate can be a healthy addition to our diets.

Seven Surprising Ways to Sharpen Your Mind

Hundreds of studies have shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants that promote heart health and may prevent many cardiovascular-related conditions, but we’ve dug up five more surprising health benefits. Read on for five new ways to justify your chocolate craving.

1. Chocolate May Help You With Math
Flavonols, compounds in chocolate with antioxidantlike properties, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain. A 2009 study asked participants to count backward in groups of three from a number between 800 and 999. After drinking hot cocoa filled with flavonols, the participants were able to do calculations more quickly and accurately and were less likely to feel tired or mentally drained.

Learn a four more things chocolate can do for you after the break.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Being a Sports Fan

Prevention — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:19:15 PST

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

By Cristina Goyanes, Prevention

It’s no wonder your friends aren’t available to hang out on Sundays in the Fall and Winter - according to a 2005 Gallup Poll, 64 percent of Americans claim to be professional football fans, and as of 2010, women make up 44 percent of the NFL fan base.

Being a sports fan doesn’t mean you’re expected to know all the players and stats of your hometown teams and destined for a beer gut - it’s about coming together in the name of good times as part of a community.

“Bonding over sports - the highs and lows of the game - strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things,” says Renee Clauselle, PsyD, who runs a private psychology practice in Long Island, NY.

Seventeen Unexpected Side Effects of Exercise

Rooting for the same team creates an immediate sense of family, says Daniel Wann, PhD, a Murray State University professor who has been studying the psychology of sports fans for over 20 years. “If you identify with a local team, you build an instant connection to others around you,” he says.

Beyond the bonding aspects, watching sports can motivate you to pump up your own workouts - and even burn a few extra calories when you jump, cheer, and clap during the highlights of the game. Find out more ways being a sports fan is a winning situation for your health.

Keep reading to learn how being a sports fan benefits your health.

Sugar Shout Out: Accessories to Look Out For During Fashion Week

Allie Merriam — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:55:00 PST

Jennifer Garner Takes to Blogging to Support Underprivileged Children

Allie Merriam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:44:48 PST

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck went their separate ways in LA yesterday afternoon. He was out near their Brentwood home taking care of the family dog, while Jennifer covered her baby bump and headed off to grocery shop at a nearby store. The couple are gearing up for the arrival of their third child, but Jen's been getting active on behalf of one of her favorite organizations, Save the Children.

Jennifer Garner wrote about childhood poverty in a new blog post for the charity. Jen wrote, "Children in this country start kindergarten when they are five or six years old. My daughters donʼt really understand this yet, but they've already won. Here is why: kids growing up in poverty have heard, by the time they turn four, 30 million fewer words than my kids. They are developmentally 18 months behind their middle class counterparts." She and fellow Save the Children ambassador Julianne Moore are urging fans to buy Save the Children's Valentine's Day cards, and the proceeds of the sale will benefit their efforts to eradicate childhood poverty in the US.

6 Unique Ways to Fend Off Illnesses and Avoid Medical Bills

Emily Co — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:16 PST

There are very few things that are worse than getting sick. Not only will you have pricey medical bills to pay, but you may also have to skip out on work. Fortunately, you can employ plenty of preventative methods to avoid falling ill. We've heard the usual "eat right and exercise" advice, so here are a couple of tactics that you may not have heard of:

Immune boosters in a pill: Although you've heard of the usual immune boosters like vegetables and fruits, there are a couple of holistic cures you might want to try. There's New Chapter's LifeShield Immunity ($20), which is a supplement made out of a combination of mycelium, fruiting bodies, spores, and extracellular compounds from tonic mushrooms.
Take ginseng with your vaccine: When you get a flu vaccine, try taking some ginseng with it so you'll bounce back from the effects of the vaccine. There was a study done in which only 13 percent of the group of participants who took ginseng with flu vaccinations caught colds vs. 37 percent of the placebo group.
Trick yourself psychologically: Don't discount old wives' remedies! Even if you don't have any scientific proof, perhaps the cures have some sort of psychological effect that results in physical effects. For example, a cure for cough that works for me is rubbing vapor rub over my feet and wearing socks at night. Another scientifically disproved treatment is Airborne, which somehow always fends off a cold when I feel one coming on.

Read on for more tips.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Have a Meeting With the President

Allie Merriam — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:14:32 PST

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt paid a visit to the White House this afternoon. The politically active couple said hello to President Obama while in the capital for a screening of In the Land of Blood and Honey. Brad, Angelina, and the president apparently spoke about the actors' humanitarian work, especially her activism on behalf of women around the world.

Brad and Angelina went to DC yesterday for a Holocaust Museum screening of her directorial debut. While there, Angelina assessed Obama's performance. She said, "I think there are many, many things I think have gone in a wonderful direction and there are a few things I am disappointed in, but I don't feel like tonight is the night to clarify. But there are many wonderful things that have moved forward, and of course, some other things that are very frustrating."

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Pop Up in DC For a Red-Carpet Premiere

Lauren Turner — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:45:23 PST

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt continued their recent red-carpet run with an appearance at the In the Land of Blood and Honey premiere in Washington DC last night. Angelina covered up her vintage dress with a Michael Kors coat while Brad went with a Tom Ford suit and his latest accessory, a cane. The night was all about Angelina after Brad took the spotlight at their last two events. Monday, the couple popped up in the Big Apple for the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, where Brad was recognized for best actor in both Moneyball and The Tree of Life. He accepted another award for those movies over the weekend at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It's just the beginning of a long award season for the duo, though Angelina shared that they've been more focused on family activities, like Zahara's birthday, than their public appearances.

Justin and Jessica Are Engaged - See Their Love Over the Years!

Lauren Turner — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:32:27 PST

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are engaged! Justin popped the question while on a holiday vacation with Jessica in Montana. The couple first got together four years ago, and they've shared plenty of sweet moments during their on-and-off relationship ever since. From sports games and overseas trips to workouts and red-carpet appearances, Justin and Jessica like to stay active and under the radar. Take a look at their love through the years as they prepare to tie the knot. Congrats to the happy couple!