FitSugar

Living and Raw Foods Diet

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:30:00 PDT

I've been hearing a lot about people on a Raw Foods Diet. It's also called a Living Foods Diet, and many celebrities such as Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Bryan Adams, Alicia Silverstone and Robin Williams have reportedly been seen at raw food restaurants and have tried it. Designer Donna Karan and actor Jeremy Piven shed pounds eating raw foods. It was even featured on Oprah.

People following this diet (or you could also say "lifestyle", since there are a lot of folks that eat RAW not to lose weight but for the philosophy) eat only uncooked, unheated, unprocessed, and organic plant based foods. Well...food that has not been heated above a certain temperature. It varies within the different raw food philosophies, but the end range temperature is in between 92ºF to 118ºF (33°C to 48°C). Meals consist mainly of organic and raw fruits, vegetables, sprouted seeds and grains, sea vegetables, nuts, and seeds since they believe cooking destroys precious vitamins and minerals. For instance to eat grains, instead of cooking them, they are soaked. Raw foodies believe their uncooked foods contain essential enzymes, which the body needs to digest foods completely.

They drink only purified water (never tap water), freshly made juices (made with a juicer), and coconut milk. They avoid meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, coffee (because you make it with boiling water), and all junk food. They only eat foods that are good for you, you know, the ones that are full of vitamins and nutrients.

Why eat just raw and living foods? It is said that you'll have more energy, think more clearly, have improved overall health, and lose excess body weight. Many people have also found relief from migraines, acne, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, heartburn, anxiety, and Type 2 diabetes.

Fit's Tips: If you want to learn more about it, check out Alissa Cohen's website all about The Raw Food Diet. She even includes recipes for burgers, pizza, cannolis, and chocolate cake - all made with raw foods and no animal products.

Want to see a video showing how to make a pasta dish with raw foods? Then

Enzymes, the best friend you never knew you needed

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 02:30:00 PST

What are enzymes? Well in honor of my high school chemistry teacher I can offer you this: enzymes are catalysts, which are basically substances that cause a chemical reaction to move faster.

Tom Bohager, author of the new book Enzymes: What the Experts Know quite obviously did better than I did in chemistry class and has figured out that enzymes are a key to life.

While you may not have time to read his book before Thanksgiving, Tom Bohager offers FitSugar's Gang these tips on how to experience a more enjoyable holiday eating season:

Pace yourself. Think of holiday eating not as a sprint, but as a marathon. Try eating smaller portions over longer periods of time rather than a large portion all at once. This allows the digestive system to work progressively at breaking down your food and avoids a heavy demand that can make you feel tired and sluggish.
Socialize. Take time to visit with friends and family. This is not only good for relationships, but oxygen is the source of metabolism. Talking allows you to take in that needed oxygen for digestion and slows you down so you don’t eat too fast.

There's many more tips, so

Chew! This is where it all begins. Chewing stimulates the production of saliva, which is full of enzymes and stimulates the digestive response. The more you chew the easier it is for the body to process and the more the digestive system is helped.
Start healthy. By choosing a salad or vegetables before going to the dessert table you will suppress the overwhelming desire to fill up on the sweets. This will also ease your conscience, knowing you didn’t go overboard on all those decadent desserts-which may help you sleep a little better too.
Combine sensibly. When you combine starchy carbohydrates-such as sweet potatoes or bread-with animal protein you inhibit efficient digestion. Space the starchy carbs out. Also avoid mixing fruit salad with heavy proteins because the fruit may begin to ferment and create unwanted gas when combined with protein.
Eat enzyme-rich foods. Foods naturally contain digestion-helping enzymes, but some have more than others. Raw salads, fruits and vegetables are great sources of enzymes. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut are also high in enzymes.
Take a digestive enzyme supplement. Enzyme supplements provide additional help with digesting food. They can be taken at the beginning of the meal or if someone is eating much more than usual, at the middle and end of the meal, too. Digesting multiple courses is a lot to ask of the body and can make a person want to sleep instead of enjoying the company of friends and family.

Fit's Tip:

the book

even more

here

How to Get Rihanna's Rock-Hard Abs

Shape — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:32:58 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Rihanna is one hot singing sensation. Having recently been named the best-selling digital artist of all time - thanks to a whopping 47.5 million downloads of her hits - the sexy songstress is also a top contender for album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards.

But not only does the Barbadian beauty know how to rock a stage, she also rocks a bikini, too! No stranger to showin’ off some skin, getting that taut and tight tummy definitely takes work.

The Top 10 Best-Dressed Stars at the Golden Globes

That’s where inspirational fitness expert extraordinaire Ary Nuñez comes in; she’s been training the artist hard for almost four years. “We focus on the core muscles and we do a ton of repetitions,” Nuñez says.

See Rihanna's ab workout after the break.

A Green Detox Juice Recipe to Ring In the New Year

Michele Foley — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:06:30 PST

Here's a fresh juice recipe that will help you shake off holiday indulgences and start clean. This recipe is made from an array of ingredients that have natural detoxing properties: watercress helps energize cleansing enzymes in the liver, and, like celery, it's a natural diuretic. Antioxidant-rich spinach boosts chlorophyll levels in the digestive tract, which helps the body get rid of environmental toxins. Lemon is a great source of vitamin C and helps alkalize the body. Spicy ginger aids digestion. And besides giving a boost of vitamins, apples add just enough natural sugar to mask the earthy taste of the greens. This juice is bound to become part of your daily ritual.

Get the green detox juice recipe after the break!

Quick Fixes For When You Have Overindulged

Heather Dale — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:20:40 PST

While we'd all love to be more conscious of portion sizes to help reduce holiday weight gain, all it takes is a cheese ball here, and a pigs in a blanket there, and those innocent bite-sized holiday treats can produce an explosion of heartburn and bloating in your belly. If you went a little overboard at the hors d'oeuvres table (or the main course), and are now feeling the negative side effects, here are some quick remedies to help ease the pain.

Walk it off: No need for a brisk, speed-walking session, but around 20 minutes after your meal, a leisurely walk can assist in dispelling gas from your abdomen. What walking does is help to relieve overall intestinal pressure and therefore will reduce that uncomfortable bloating feeling. Walking also helps to get the blood flowing, which aids in the overall digestion process. Fresh air in itself can make you feel better too!

Keep reading for more tips.

5 Natural Secret Ingredients For Great Skin

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:12:03 PST

There are a ton of creams, serums, and cleansers out there designed to help your complexion, but some of the most potent (yet gentle) ingredients might be in your fridge right now. See some of the best skin care you never knew you already had after the jump.

15 High-Iron Foods Under 100 Calories

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:07:05 PST

Too tired to hit the gym? You may not be getting enough iron in your diet. Healthy adult women need 18 milligrams a day (if you're prego, up that amount to 27 mg). If your diet doesn't offer the appropriate amount, fatigue will impair your ability to do physical work (like exercise). Iron also helps carry oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our body, helps muscles store and use oxygen, and is even found in the enzymes needed to digest food. An iron deficiency may also make you feel cold, as well as exhausted, and weaken your immune system, making you more likely to get sick.

Avoid iron issues by making sure you get enough from your diet. Here are 15 high sources of iron that won't break the calorie bank.

15. Half a hamburger patty: 1.1 mg iron, 89 calories
14. 3 ounces turkey: 1.2 mg, 87 calories
13. 1/3 cup kidney beans: 1.3 mg, 75 calories
12. 1/3 cup edamame: 1.5 mg, 85 calories
11. 1/3 cup white beans: 1.7 mg, 85 calories

Continue reading to see 10 more low-calorie foods with even higher levels of iron.

3 Gentle Ways to Help Decongest Clogged Winter Pores

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:02:13 PST

When the weather gets chilly and windy, skin gets dry, flaky, and easily irritated. No surprise, then, that clogged pores pose a major problem. In warmer weather, using acid or a drying agent like benzoyl peroxide is the easy solution, but when skin is already sensitized, both often just end up inflaming things further. Don't worry, though. There are plenty of gentle ways to keep pores clear. To see three of the easiest fixes, just keep reading.

T-Day Tips For the Lactose Intolerant

Heather Dale — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:42:52 PST

Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, pumpkin pie, oh my! Thanksgiving is not only a time to give thanks and surround yourself with loved ones, but it's also the annual holiday most known for its savory signature dishes. For some, this means gorging on yams, biscuits, and casseroles, but for others the day means worrying about food sensitivities and allergies that can be triggered by basic ingredients in a number of dishes. If you're lactose intolerant, Thanksgiving dinner can be overwhelming since so many delicious food items contain milk and dairy products. Here are some simple tips for surviving Thanksgiving and still indulging like everyone else if you are lactose intolerant.

Bizarre Home Cures That Work

Prevention — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:13:50 PDT

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

Ease pesky health issues with vodka, duct tape — more
From the Editors of Prevention

Of course there are some health staples you should never be without - bandages or OTC pain relievers come to mind. But you can treat or cure a surprising number of minor ailments with these unexpected household objects and foods.

Home cure: Vodka
Use it for: Foot odor
If your feet smell less than swell, wipe them down with a vodka-soaked washcloth to get rid of the stench. It's the same principle as rubbing alcohol (which works equally well if you'd rather drink your Grey Goose). Vodka contains alcohol, which is antiseptic and drying, so it destroys odor-causing fungus and bacteria and dries out the moisture that lets these organisms grow.

Surprising Reasons Why You Smell

Home cure: Licorice
Use it for: Calluses and corns
"Licorice contains estrogen-like substances that soften the hard skin of calluses and corns," says Georgianna Donadio, PhD, director of the National Institute of Whole Health. Make this homemade licorice paste: grind up a few licorice sticks, mix them with 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly, and rub the mixture into the rough areas of your feet.

How to Get Soft and Sexy Feet

Home cure: Baking soda
Use it for: Urinary tract infections
At the first sign of symptoms, drink a solution made with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in eight ounces of water. Continue this once a day until you can get a culture done at a doctor's office and start antibiotics. Baking soda makes the bladder environment more alkaline, which reduces bacteria's ability to multiply, says Larrian Gillespie, MD, a retired assistant clinical professor of urology and urogynecology in Los Angeles.

Keep reading for more home cures.