FitSugar

Make These Hard-to-Digest Foods Easy on the Tummy

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:30:57 PDT

It's not a stomach of steel you're after. You don't need to be able to devour a bowl of spicy chili without even a single burp. You'd be happy with a stomach that could handle a simple apple. Unfortunately every body is different, and some of us are born with sensitive stomachs, but you don't have to take it lying down (or in the bathroom). Some foods are harder to digest than others, but here are some ways to make those hard-to-digest foods easier on your belly.

Green peppers: These veggies are actually unripe, so eating them raw in a salad makes them tough to digest for many people. Instead, enjoy your green peppers grilled, roasted, or sauteed. if it's raw peppers you crave, choose red, orange, or yellow.

For ways to stomach other difficult-to-digest foods,

Dairy: If you're full-on lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy milk, cheese, and ice cream with ease. Just pop a Lactaid pill with your first bite of dairy-containing food and you're good to go. It contains the lactase enzyme (that your body doesn't produce enough of) to break down the lactose milk sugar.
Apples and pears: These high-fiber fruits seem so innocent and healthy, but for many people, eating one leads to uncomfortable bloating and gas. Ease these into your diet by either eating a couple slices at a time, or by eating them with other foods like yogurt or cereal. It may also help to peel the skin and let your body get used to the flesh first.
Beans: Packed with protein and fiber, these little gems are known to cause an embarrassing issue once consumed. To nip this problem in the bud, it helps to gradually introduce them into your diet, and eat them with easily digestible foods like rice or bread. If you soak and boil your own dried beans, pour out the water the beans cooked in once they're done since using this bean water in recipes can make gas problems even worse.

Have any other tricks for making hard-to-digest foods easier on your belly? Share them in the comments section below.

DrSugar Answers: IBS Treatment With No Health Insurance?

DrSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I'm pretty positive I have Irritable Bowl Syndrome. Are there any things you can do to treat it without going to see a doctor? I don't have insurance and would like to avoid a costly office visit. Any advice you could give would be helpful.
Thanks,
– IBS Betty

To see what DrSugar has to say,

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by uncomfortable abdominal symptoms such as chronic pain, constipation, and diarrhea. The pain is often crampy in nature and is classically relieved by a bowel movement. Either diarrhea or constipation can predominate or the symptoms can alternate between the two. It is a chronic condition that usually waxes and wanes in severity and is often worsened by emotional stress or stressful life events. Mild cases are often self-diagnosed and treated, but moderate to severe cases always require physician evaluation because other diseases can present with similar symptoms. Diseases with similar symptoms to IBS include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and endometriosis.

Although there are some prescription medications for IBS, the most important initial treatment options are simple and do not require special medications. The most important initial consideration in treating IBS involves evaluating potential dietary causes of the IBS symptoms. A good place to start is eliminating dairy products because lactose intolerance is very common and often under recognized. Other foods to avoid include coffee, alcohol, highly fatty foods, and gas producing foods such as beans and broccoli. Increasing dietary fiber and water consumption can help with symptoms of constipation. Simple over the counter medications are also commonly used to treat IBS. Imodium is frequently used if chronic diarrhea is the main symptom. Colace and sennakot are common medications used to treat chronic constipation. It is also important to seek help in the treatment of depression or anxiety, which are commonly associated with IBS. Treating underlying depression with antidepressant medications often greatly improve IBS symptoms.

It is very important to consult a doctor if any concerning symptoms are present. Concerning symptoms include: weight loss, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, fevers, moderate to severe abdominal pain, profuse watery diarrhea, and chronic constipation. If you are reluctant to see a doctor due to lack of insurance, then you have a number of options. These options include applying for Medicaid, locating a local free clinic, buying health insurance out of pocket if you find the problem might require many visits to a physician.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

Foodie Friday Link Time: Get Sexy With These Tempeh Sliders

Michele Foley — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:10:22 PDT

Bourbon tempeh sliders from The Sexy Vegan Cookbook - Blisstree
Learn how a dietitian stays healthy while on the road - Daily Spark
Combine foods the right way and kiss digestion problems goodbye - Yoga Journal
We can't wait to make these ginger miso yam wraps - Vegetarian Times
Nutritionist Keri Glassman shares what to eat to slim down and reduce stress - Vital Juice
Snacks are serious; learn how to DIY your own healthy stash - Eating Bird Food
Don't skip bfast when you're on the go - 10 smoothie recipes to take with you - Shape

The 5 Worst Types of Foods to Eat Late at Night

Leta Shy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:28:05 PST

There's no need to deny yourself a late-night snack if you're feeling hungry, but you still have to think smart when it comes to eating late. Eating the wrong foods will disrupt your sleep while also adding a lot of unneeded calories to your day. Instead of just diving into the nearest, tastiest-looking item in your fridge, here are five types of foods to avoid at night and why.

Greasy or fat-filled foods: Greasy, heavy, fatty foods not only make you feel sluggish the next morning, but they also make your stomach work overdrive to digest all that food. Stay away from things like fast food, nuts, ice cream, or super cheesy foods right before bed.
High-carb or sugary foods: A little bit of something sweet before bed may be just what you need to rest happy, but if you gobble a huge slice of chocolate cake, the spike in your blood-sugar levels could cause your energy levels to spike and plummet, disrupting your sleep in the process. Avoid cake, cookies, or other desserts as well as carby snacks like crackers or white bread and munch on an apple instead.

Read more foods to avoid late at night after the break!

The Pros of Probiotics

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

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

We often hear that probiotics are important to maintain healthy digestion, but what exactly do they do? Fitness recently learned all about the friendly bacteria from Dr. Melina B. Jampolis, MD, who we met with at an Activia event. We asked her about the digestive system, the role of probiotics in overall health, and how to incorporate the live microorganisms in our diets. Here’s what she had to say:

How do probiotics help regulate our digestive system?

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in our intestines. The gut contains 70 percent of our body’s immune tissue, so a healthy gut is important for healthy immune function. Probiotics help keep the cells of the colon healthy, promoting good digestion. Things like stress, lack of sleep, medication, and infection can throw off the ratio of good to bad bacteria in the intestines, which can lead to overall health and digestive problems. This bacteria keeps the cells that line the gut healthy. They produce vitamins and produce lactase, an enzyme that helps break down milk.

Can you get probiotics from frozen yogurt? Learn this and more after the break!

If You're Not Allergic, a Gluten-Free Diet Might Not Be Worth the Dough

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:47:59 PST

About one in 133 Americans suffers from the autoimmune disorder celiac disease: a severe gluten intolerance; it impedes the absorption of important nutrients like calcium and iron and can lead to abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and digestive tract cancers. The plethora of gluten-free products that are available - from pizza crust to bagels and pasta - is a lifesaver for those who have celiac disease. However, buying gluten-free products when you're nonceliac is a waste of money, according to an opinion paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Keep reading to find out who should splurge on gluten-free foods and who should save their dough.

5 Ways to Beat the Bloat

Health — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:25:43 PST

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

By Melissa Daly

Feeling puffy? Bloating caused by gas, irregularity, or water retention can make even a tiny tummy become anything but. Here's how to deal with the problem.

Increase potassium
The more salt you consume on a given day, the more potassium-rich foods - asparagus, citrus fruits, melon, tomatoes - you should eat, says Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, the author of The Secret to Skinny.

Get off the couch
"In many people, exercise stimulates the bowels, ending constipation," says Jacqueline Wolf, MD, associate professor of medicine at Harvard University and author of A Woman's Guide to a Healthy Stomach.

Health.com: Surprising Causes of Constipation

Down eight glasses of liquids each day
Fluids help flush waste out of your system and reduce water retention. Coffee can have the added bonus of contracting the colon, helping you to go.

Sip peppermint tea
It alleviates gas by relaxing the digestive tract and boosting normal peristalsis, says Wolf. Research suggests that enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules also help with stomach pain.

Health.com: Best and Worst Foods For Digestion

Stop it before it starts
Before a little-snug-dress event, take a cue from red-carpet vets: cut out excess salt and drink two to three liters of water a day, says Carrie Wiatt, nutritionist to Fergie and Sela Ward.

Health.com: How to Get Rid of Annoying Body Problems

Flickr User goosegrease

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.

5 Ways You Unintentionally Stress Yourself Out (and How to Relax)

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:27:05 PST

Every time you experience stress, pressure is put on the adrenal glands, which then pump adrenaline into your bloodstream. The thing is, constant stress can lead to problems like chronic fatigue, weight gain, weakened immunity, and a shorter lifespan. The good thing is that the majority of life's daily stresses can be reduced with proper awareness, practice, and discipline. See what little things you are doing every day that unintentionally stress your body out, and find out how you can relax in these moments.

Running late to work: If you hit the snooze button every day, chances are you are scrambling to make up lost time. Hurrying through breakfast or skipping out on it altogether wreaks havoc on your digestive system and blood sugar levels. Rushing to get out the door can leave you frazzled, messy, and forgetful, especially when it comes to the important things like keys, your wallet, or umbrella.

How to relax: The night before, put out everything you need for the following day; keep the most important items near the front door. If you are consistently 15 minutes late every morning, set your alarm back the same amount of time. Make sure to sit down for breakfast, allowing yourself 30 minutes to eat. Try these recipes for make-ahead breakfasts.

Stressful thinking: Sometimes our thoughts make the world a more stressful place than it is. What is actually a manageable list of tasks can seem unconquerable to the mind. When the noggin starts churning, it's hard to step back and look at the full picture.

How to relax: If you find yourself caught in a stressful thought, pay attention to your facial expressions and breathing. Relax your face, close your eyes, and take a long full inhale. Bring yourself back to reality and the present moment and create a plan, mapping out your steps and timeline for completion.

Find out other three stresses and how to avoid them.