FitSugar

You Asked: What's More Important - Sleep or Working Out?

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
I'm working hard to lose 20 pounds by eating healthier and exercising four days a week. The problem is, I have a full-time job and am also taking night classes, so the only time I can fit in my workouts is in the early morning. Since I don't slip into bed until midnight, I'm only getting about six hours of sleep a night. So what's more important - sleeping or working out?
-Drowsy Darcy

I'm sure many working women trying to balance their lives and their health are fighting this same battle. To hear my take on this, read more.

Getting enough rest each night and exercising regularly are both important, so you don't want to choose one over the other. Sleep is especially necessary because not getting enough can lead to all sorts of health issues like heart problems, weight gain (which you're working so hard to avoid), and high blood pressure. My advice is to make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night, and instead of waking up early to do a long workout four days a week, try shorter workouts every day.

Also, try to find ways to incorporate moving into your schedule. Walk or bike to work, and hit the gym on your lunch break and then eat afterward at your desk. Keep a set of weights in your drawer and take a 10-minute break to do some strength training, or sit on a stationary bike while reading for your class. If you're not hitting the hay until midnight because you're studying, then hit the sheets earlier and plan to devote weekends to study time. If you're still finding it hard to fit it all in, maybe consider giving up one of your classes, or cut back on hours at your job. Aside from not getting enough sleep or being able to exercise, having too much on your plate and stressing about it isn't good for your health either.

I am sure many of you have experienced this time crunch and if you have any advice or encouraging words, please leave them in the comments section below.

Source

You Asked: I Think I Have Lyme Disease

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering.

Dear Fit,
Last weekend after a night of camping, I was washing my hair and realized there was something stuck to my scalp. My husband took a look and found a small black tick embedded in my skin. He removed the whole thing, and aside from being completely freaked out, now I'm worried that I have Lyme disease. How do I know?
-Totally Ticked Off by a Tick

I'm sure many other readers can feel your pain in discovering a creepy crawly bug on your head, and I can understand your concern about Lyme disease, but don't panic yet. Just read more.

First, it's important to know what kind of tick you found on you. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium (called Borrelia burgdorferi in case you were wondering), which is transmitted by a bite from infected black-legged ticks. In the northeastern and north-central US, the blacklegged tick (or deer tick) transmits Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal US, the disease is spread by the western black-legged tick. When a tick feeds on an infected animal, the little bugger takes the bacterium into its body. It sounds gross, but the bacterium lives in the gut of the tick, and the next time it goes to feed, the tick can transmit the bacterium to its new host.

If you have Lyme disease, early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle soreness, fatigue, and a characteristic reddish skin rash called erythema migrans will appear three to 30 days after you've been bitten. The rash is often circular and resembles a bull's eye pattern. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your joints, heart, and nervous system, causing pain and loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face (called facial or "Bell's" palsy).

If you are having early symptoms, or you just want to be sure, a lab test will determine if you have Lyme disease, and a few weeks of antibiotics will successfully treat the infection.

Source

You Asked: Is Kombucha Tea Worth All the Hype?

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

You're asking and I'm answering . . .
Dear FitSugar,
Kombucha tea seems to be all the rage at my local grocery store. There are
many purported health benefits such as improved digestion and circulation.
Can you please let us know if there is substance behind the Kombucha hype?
Many thanks!!
– Kombucha Betty

I know many folks, Cameron Diaz for one, that love, love, LOVE this tea. It is true that the benefits listed on the bottles are endless – Kombucha seems to cure just about everything but bunions. All that aside, clinical studies in humans are seriously lacking so there is no direct scientific evidence to back up the health claims found on the bottle. However, researchers have found potent antioxidant effects as well as stimulation of the immune system in animal populations with limited toxicity. That is good news. Kombucha is prepared by fermenting sweetened black tea with a symbiotic culture of yeasts and bacteria, creating a slightly carbonated "tea" thus earning the nickname "champagne of life." It could be the high caffeine and sugar content that provide drinkers of this "Manchurian mushroom" (that isn't really a mushroom) a boost in energy.

Bottom line: None of the purported health benefits of Kombucha tea can be backed with scientific evidence in human populations, so hopefully someone will study this soon. The fact that a not-so-pleasant tasting, slightly acidic drink has been around since 221 B.C. suggests some folks truly find it beneficial. So drinking it can't really hurt you, but do be wary of homemade brew because it is easily contaminated.

Source

You Asked: Cucumbers???

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:15:00 -0700

Dear FitSugar -
What are the nutritional benefits of cucumber, if any? It is one of my fave veggies but as far as I can tell, it doesn't pack much of a punch compared to other vegetables.
Questioning Cucumbers

I too love cucumbers - they make a great addition to any salad and are also a great vehicle for hummus. Aside from being a low carb substitute, this veggie (well technically a fruit since it has seeds, but I am sticking with convention here) has some surprising nutritional attributes.

The cucumber is a decent source of both vitamin C and fiber. It is also high in potassium and magnesium, which when combined with fiber, can help reduce blood pressure. Cukes are also high in the mineral silica, an essential component for healthy connective tissues, like ligaments and tendons. Its silica content also makes the cucumber beneficial to the skin, both eating the veggie and applying its flesh topically to your flesh. There's a reason you always see images of ladies with slices of cucumbers on their eyes. Plus their high water content makes them naturally hydrating and cooling. Cucumbers are also high in the mineral phosphorus, an important mineral for bone health.

Fit's Tip: Due to its tender skin, commercially grown cucumbers may be waxed to protect their outer layer, so I suggest you buy organic!

Looking for a new way to eat cucumbers? Try the Cucumber Boat with Lox Spread. The crisp cooling cucumber makes a great bagel (so high in calories) substitute. Or make your own Tzatziki.

Source