FitSugar

Don't Just Wear Red, Eat It Too!

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:30:00 PST

Discover the power of eating heart-healthy red foods during the first-ever National Eat Red Week, Feb. 4-10, 2008 in support of Heart Health Month.

Why? Well, studies from the University of Michigan suggest that the pigments that produce the red color in many fruits and vegetables like fresh cherries and tomatoes, are actually powerful disease-fighting antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation associated with atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries - and reduce certain risk factors for heart disease.

To learn more and to donate $1 to the American Heart Rate Association by simply clicking a button (no cost to you) visit Choosecherries.com.

Have you eaten any red foods today? I am curious so tell me in the comments section below.

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Minka Kelly Shares Her Heart-Healthy Fitness and Diet Tips

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:02:38 PST

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

Esquire magazine once named actress Minka Kelly the “sexiest woman alive," so walking in the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Fashion Show to raise awareness for women’s heart health should be a breeze, right? Not quite. “I’ve been nervous all week!” Kelly said when we got the chance to chat with her on her new ambassador title with Diet Coke. We caught up with the brunette bombshell hours before showtime to get the scoop on how she lives a heart-healthy lifestyle, the exercises she swears by, and more.

Tell us about your partnership with Diet Coke and Heart’s Truth Red Dress Fashion Show. What made you decide to get involved?

Before I started working with Diet Coke as an ambassador, I wasn’t even aware that heart disease is the number-one killer for women. I figured this would be a chance for me to use my voice and let other women know how important it is to eat right and exercise to keep your heart in good health.

How do you manage to stay in shape, especially with such a busy schedule?

I try to do yoga every morning at 7 a.m.; it’s good to get your workout out of the way early. I also work out with my trainer Gunnar Peterson two days a week on top of that. I owe him a lot of credit for the shape I’m in because I love to eat! I have to work out extra hard to balance my love for food out.

Keep reading to learn how Minka Kelly is trying defying gravity.

Angelina Jolie Takes the Kids to Legoland

Allie Merriam — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:05:24 PST

Angelina Jolie takes her kids to Legoland! - People
Gwyneth Paltrow checked out the Coldplay show in LA last night - Lainey Gossip
Nicolas Cage seriously addresses vampire rumors - HuffPost Entertainment
VS Angel Lily Aldridge makes her pregnant red-carpet debut - TooFab
How Hunger Games producers wanted to be distinct from Twilight - Us Weekly
8 up-and-coming models to watch out for - The Daily Beast
Paul McCartney gets his Walk of Fame star - ET
Can Chronicle stay at the top of the box office this weekend? - Rotten Tomatoes
Lady Gaga reveals she had an eating disorder - Wonderwall
Macaulay Culkin responds after disturbing pictures of the star surface - Lifeline Live
Adele is in top form again - find out how her Grammys run-through went - Zap2It
Angelina and Tilda know how to have a good time together - Celebitchy

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

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

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

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

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

Savory Sights Challenge: Pink and Red Everywhere

Camilla Salem — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:11:13 PST

After the great response we received from last week's #savorysight Instagram challenge, we could hardly wait to do another one. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we're taking this week's challenge up a notch. This week we want to see all of your tasty pink and red eats, from pomegranates to radishes to rare steak.

Don't forget to tag your photos with the hashtag #savorysight and follow YumSugar on Instagram (username: heyyumsugar). If you don't use Instagram, don't feel left out! You can always upload your food pictures and recipes into our Savory Sights community group.

Vanessa Paradis Addresses Johnny Depp Breakup Rumors at Her Premiere

Allie Merriam — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:47:08 PST

Vanessa Paradis hit the red carpet solo last night for a screening of her movie Café de Flore. She first started premiering the film last year at various film festivals, and it is finally due to arrive in French theaters tomorrow. Vanessa posed for photos with Marin Gerrier and Jean-Marc Vallée, and later reported to the afterparty at Chez Castel nightclub. She did limited interviews, but in one conversation, spoke about her rumored split from Johnny Depp. Vanessa Paradis told France's Radio 1, "You know, when I eat three peas, I'm pregnant. When I visit a city, I'm buying a house. In the Winter I separate, in the Summer I marry. It's been 15 years since I've been getting married every year. In addition, I have to answer all these rumors!"

Vanessa and Johnny are said to have split after nearly 14 years together. However, the pair seem to be staying close for the benefit of their children, 12-year-old Lily-Rose and 9-year-old Jack. The family has traditionally split their time between LA and France. Vanessa and the children rang in 2012 from the West Coast, but she's been in France for the last week to promote her new big screen project and also enjoy some of the fun of Couture Fashion Week.

Miranda Kerr Wears Stylish Blooms For a Playdate With Flynn

Lauren Turner — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:32:00 PST

Miranda Kerr and Flynn met up with some friends in LA yesterday afternoon. Miranda wore a bright floral maxi dress while Flynn showed off his toddler style in jeans and a striped shirt. The little guy recently turned one and according to Miranda he celebrated by eating cake for the first time. Miranda chatted about her son's milestone birthday on the red carpet at last week's Spirit of Australia Party for Qantas Airways, where she also told us he looks like dad Orlando Bloom but has her personality. Miranda continued her red carpet run with Orlando by her side at InStyle's Golden Globes afterparty on Sunday.

How to Prevent a Bad Running Day

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:56:02 PST

Some days I slip on my sports bra and sneaks and I feel so light and strong - like I could keep going and going. Other days it seems like my legs are trudging through mud. What gives? We can't prevent bad running days entirely, but here are a few things you can do in order to have more good days than bad.

Get enough sleep the night before. Hit the hay early enough so you get seven to nine hours of shut-eye.
Make sure you're hydrated. Not drinking the appropriate amount of water before and during your workout can lead to dizziness, headaches, decreased energy and performance, dry mouth, and cramps. A few hours before running, drink about 15 to 20 ounces. Drink another eight to 10 ounces 10 to 15 minutes before heading out.
Eat before your run. Remember that food is fuel. If you're not working out for five or so hours, enjoy a meal that contains protein, fat, and carbs. Several hours before a run, eat a meal that's under 500 calories. Thirty to 90 minutes before you head out, enjoy a carb-loaded low-fat snack. If you're working out first thing in the a.m., fuel up with easily digestible carbs that are low in fiber. Getting too much fiber can cause major cramps during your run.
Hit the ladies room. There's no need to carry unnecessary weight with you, so if you can relieve yourself before your run, you'll feel much lighter and will be less likely to experience belly aches.

See more tips after the break!

The Fuss Over Paula Deen's Diabetes - and What We Can Learn From It

Susannah Chen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:53:28 PST

Today, the food world's gone into hyper-discussion mode over the fact that Paula Deen reportedly has diabetes. This isn't a first - we've been hearing rumors of her diabetes for a while now - but she's also reportedly signed on to be the spokesperson for a diabetes drug from pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Paula Deen, who's been dubbed the Queen of Southern Cuisine, is known for her decadent Southern dishes and her liberal use of butter without pause to any concerns about health. "I really don't worry about it," she told a reporter in one interview. Yet with increasing concern over America's obesity epidemic, her push for exceedingly rich foods has faced more than a few tough questions.

"You know, we don't eat this [stuff] every day," she said, defending herself to an unconvinced Barbara Walters in 2009. Her mantra of licking the bacon grease spoon - in moderation, of course! - has faltered. Even the Cooking Channel's admitting to that, with the debut of Not My Mama's Meals, with a lighter, healthier bent on Paula Deen dishes.

And so it comes full circle. The expected announcement is bleak, yet clear: nobody, even a personality with rock-star status like Paula Deen, is immune to health consequences. It's time to face the reality that we can't routinely succumb to indulgences, even if they're "in moderation." With almond milk and quinoa flying off shelves, we're finally starting to realize that you can't have red velvet cake every day. Maybe once a week - if you eat a bit of kale on the side, too.