FitSugar

Make Chocolate Count: Organic, Fair Trade, and Vegan Picks

Michele Foley — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:40:08 PST

I'm definitely a fan of Valentine's Day, but mostly because I like the excuse to eat chocolate. Besides tasting good, dark chocolate is full of heart-healthy flavonoids (equal to many fruits), can soothe a cough, increase blood flow, and lower blood pressure.

Spread the love even more this holiday by buying my picks for chocolate that's organic, Fair Trade, or health-inspired, and don't forget to throw in a cute card - your sweetie will love you even more for it!

Vosges chocolatier Katrina Markoff fuses her premium chocolates with things like curry, wasabi, and ginger, but we especially like Vosges because of its yoga and chocolate weekend workshops. Make vegan and gluten-free friends happy with the Vosges vegan truffle collection ($25) - with ingredients like agave nectar, organic coconut milk, pomegranate, and acai, this collection is sure to be a hit with health conscious friends.
The handmade Drunken Figs ($35) from Cocoavino are made with red wine and dark chocolate - talk about antioxidant overload! Chocolate from Cocoavino is organic and Fair Trade certified, made with wind power, and sold in eco-friendly packaging.
Forget Nestlé Crunch; Dark Quinoa Chocolate bars ($5) from Alter Eco give you that same crunch except with a tiny burst of protein. Alter Eco sources all of its ingredients from Fair Trade farms and also helps fund community development programs.

To see what other chocolate made the cut,

Green Tea Helps Your Peepers

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:00:11 PST

The term superfood is no joke, especially when it comes to green tea. Besides a little caffeine boost, antioxidant-rich green tea also protects the skin, cuts cancer risk, and delays the aging process. A new study reveals that green tea may also protect the eyes. Talk about an overachiever.

The study found that the catechins in green tea can penetrate eye tissue, spreading antioxidant love to the peepers. Using lab rats, researchers measured eye tissue for catechin absorption after feeding them green tea extract. They found that certain areas of the eye - like the retina - absorbed more catechins than other areas. The area with the least absorption was the cornea. In total, catechins were detected in the eye area for 20 hours.

This is a big break for researchers because it suggests that green tea might help protect from a variety of eye diseases like glaucoma. Just another reason to justify a mid-afternoon tea break!

Flavonoid Alert!!!! Organic Tomatoes May Be Better For Your Heart

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:00:00 PDT

You all know I am all about increasing my intake of flavonoids. Since it is better to eat your antioxidants than to take supplements, I heartily suggest we all eat more organic tomatoes.

A new study published recently in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found that organic tomatoes produce almost double the amount of flavonoids compared with conventionally grown tomatoes. Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant known to be beneficial for reducing high blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.

There are a couple of theories as to why this is so. Most scientists think it has to do with the soil in which the tomatoes are grown. Organic tomatoes are grown without conventional nitrogen fertilizers and flavonoids are produced by the tomatoes as a defense mechanism triggered by nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of nitrogen in the soil.

So go for it. Spend a little extra dough and buy some organic tomatoes while they are in season. I have always found organic tomatoes to be tastier.

What is your favorite way to eat fresh tomatoes? Tell me in the comments section below.

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Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:30:00 PDT

I don't know about you, but I really do love chocolate and rarely need an excuse to indulge. Since there is new research suggesting that dark chocolate (my favorite) helps lower blood pressure I might not need to rationalize my small indulgences any longer.

German scientists found that eating a tiny square of dark chocolate every night before bed, lowered blood pressure. I just want to reiterate, that it is a "tiny square" of dark chocolate, not an entire bar of chocolate. Participants in the study ate one square -- 6.3 grams and 30 calories -- of a Ritter Sport Halbbitter, which is 50 percent cacao, every day for 18 weeks. The cool thing about this new study is that participants ate regular, ol' dark chocolate not some fancy pants, scientifically distilled, flavonoid enhanced cocoa.

It is thought that chocolate lowers blood pressure when cocoa flavanols spur the release of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. I think it is super cool that my chocolate fix is helping to keep my blood pressure regulated. I think it is important to mention, when dealing with high blood pressure, chocolate may help but it is not the only answer. It is just one element folks can use to manage hypertension.

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Another Reason To Eat Organic: Vitamin C

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:15:00 PDT

The belief that pesticides do not have an effect on nutrients in foods, is being seriously challenged.

Recent news from an EU funded project has found that organic fruits contained more Vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. Specifically researchers found that organic carrots, apples and peaches contained higher levels of vitamin C and flavonoids, an antioxidant. While last week, U.S. researchers revealed that organic kiwi fruit have significantly more vitamin C and polyphenols. If you're looking to up your vitamin C intake, you may want to go organic. Still confused about what organic products are worth the extra money? Then check out this post.

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Milk and Tea, Not a Good Mix for Your Health

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:10:00 PST

If you want to drink tea for its health benefits, then don't add milk. New research found in the European Heart Journal has found that milk counteracts with tea, making the tea not so beneficial. The reason is due to a group of proteins in milk called caseins, which interact with tea, decreasing the concentration of catechin (the flavonoids in tea that are responsible for its protective effects against heart disease).

Fit's Tip: If you need something to enhance the taste and remove the bitterness, add fresh lemon and/or honey.

3 Foods Proven to Help Your Workout

Leta Shy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:19:53 PST

The right preworkout snack, which is a combination of mostly carbs with a little bit of protein, can give you the fuel you need for the perfect workout. But if you haven't planned a preworkout snack in time, you may be left feeling sluggish and run-down during your exercise session. Instead of running on empty, try these three foods that are proven to give that extra boost you need while working out.

Raisins: Don't overdo it with the complex carbs and protein right before a workout - you may be sidelined by stomach issues. Instead, reach for a small but digestible snack of about 25 grams of simple carbs. Besides being easy to digest, raisins contain other nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are important for athletes.

Dark chocolate: Reach for a small square of dark chocolate if you want an extra energy boost before working out. Dark chocolate contains a flavonoid called epicatechin that may help you fight fatigue during your workout, according to a recent study involving rats. The amount needed is small, only about five grams, so it's fine to eat this amount right before you work out.

Coffee: Another performance-enhancing product may be a cup of coffee. Caffeine is energizing, and it's also been proven to enhance athletes' speed and endurance and may even encourage the body to burn more fat. However, don't down a cup of coffee right before your workout, especially if it already irritates your digestive tract. Finish your cup at least 30 minutes before a workout for best results (and if you haven't eaten for a while, pair it with a simple carb).

Healthy Dose Link Time: Gluten-Free Almond Butter Espresso Cookie Recipe

Michele Foley — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:33:03 PST

A new cookie for dessert plates: GF almond butter espresso cookies - Eating Bird Food
Burn major calories with this jump-rope circuit workout - Peanut Butter Fingers
Twenty ways to get more fiber into your diet - Health
The best flavonoid you've (probably) never heard of - Fit Bottomed Girls
Take a look at what top nutritionists eat for breakfast - Shape
Make these food swaps to banish belly bloat for good - Prevention
A soundtrack to have you spinning to your heart's content - Fit Chick in the City

5 Ingredients to Give Your Smoothie a Health Boost

Heather Dale — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:51:09 PST

Gone are the days of taking a few basic ingredients and throwing them into a blender. Bananas, strawberries, and yogurt? So last year. Now that you've discovered the wonderful world of kale, chia seeds, and spinach, it's time to expand your smoothie-making skills even more. The following five food items are guaranteed to increase the nutrient (and flavor) quotient of your smoothies.

Avocado: Besides the nutrient content, avocados help add a creamy, smooth texture to smoothies. If you are not an avocado fan, add only one-half of an avocado to a smoothie - you'll barely taste it (yet still reap all the health benefits). Here's a basil avocado smoothie recipe to help get you started.

Here are more nutritious ingredients to add to your shakes.

Kale-icious Chips! DIY or Buy One of These Tasty Bags

Heather Dale — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:24:21 PDT

What's not to love about kale? This dark leafy green is in a league of its own in terms of its iron, fiber, and calcium content. Kale also contains the flavonoid called maempferol, which may help prevent ovarian cancer - win! Even better, when baked, kale makes a great chip stand-in for those times when you're craving something savory, salty, and crisp! To help increase your kale intake, here are some some delicious store-bought and homemade kale chip recipes to enjoy.

Sources: Flickr User joyosity, Flickr User aMichiganMom, Flickr User cireremarc