FitSugar

5 Foods to Add Oomph to Smoothies

Michele Bell — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:30:27 PDT

It's easy to gulp down a cup full of fresh fruits blended with juice and yogurt. Also easy? Adding a few powerful ingredients to make it just as tasty (if not more) and much healthier. Add some nutritional oomph to your sumptuous smoothies with these five ingredients.

Omega-3 vs. Omega-6 Fatty Acids

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:45:00 PST

There's a lot of talk about omega-3 fatty acids and how they are the good fat, but have you heard about omega-6's? Both are essential for human health, but the typical American consumes far too many omega-6 fats and not enough omega-3 fats.

The primary sources of omega-6 are corn oil, soy oil, safflower oil and sunflower oil. You should try to limit your use of these oils.

Omega-3 is found in flax seed oil, cod liver oil, walnut oil, and fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, albacore tuna and salmon. Fish are the best sources because they are high in two particular fatty acids that are crucial to good health, DHA (docosohexanoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease and cancer. The human brain is also highly dependent on DHA. Low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.

So get your fill of Omega-3's and try to limit your Omega-6's.

Fit's Tips: An easy way to get some extra Omega-3 in your day is to add a little flax seed oil to your salad. It's got a light nutty flavor, so it will go well with your favorite salad dressing. Just make sure you keep it refrigerated since it can go rancid if you don't. Flax seed oil also comes in easy to swallow capsules.

Relax Already: Bring an Eye Pillow to Work

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:15:00 PST

If you stare at a computer all day long, you've probably found yourself squinting, which can cause major head and neck pain.

To relieve eye and head strain, keep an eye pillow at work. You can place it in the fridge for a few minutes, and then go someplace where you won't be disturbed (go to the bathroom or your car if necessary). Place the pillow over your closed eyes and allow yourself to just take in the cooling relief.

Try to find an eye pillow that's made with natural ingredients like flax seed, dried lavender, peppermint, and chamomile.

I found these made by Barefoot Yoga. They're $15.50/17.00, which is more expensive than most, but they're made out of silk, and they come with a zippered storage pouch to keep your eye pillow clean.

Fit's Tips: Feeling crafty? You can also make your own really easily. Just buy fabric, flax seeds, and dried flowers and herbs. You can even make them for your co-workers and have designated eye relaxation breaks.

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Molly Sims's Approach to Preventing Stretch Marks Is Internal

LilSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:04:22 PST

While your odds of developing stretch marks during pregnancy are (for the most part) left to fate outside of your control, Molly Sims is following a diet rich in good-for-you fatty acids to improve her odds of avoiding them. Molly is a follower of Lori Bregman's Rooted For Life program, a holistic approach to pregnancy and motherhood. Today on her blog, the 4-month pregnant mama-to-be shared some of her menu highlights, which include:

Fish, olive, coconut, canola, hempseed, and flaxseed oils
Hemp, flax, sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds
Almond and nut butters
Salmon and cod
Avocados
Split peas
Lentils
Collard Greens

Other celeb moms who have shared their secrets to avoiding the dreaded stretch marks include Ali Landry, who's a devoted user of (and spokesperson for) Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and Victoria Beckham, who favored the pricey Elemis Japanese Camellia Oil last year.

Do you think that stretch marks are best treated from the inside or out? Do you have any other great tips and tricks for avoiding the battle scars of pregnancy?

A Reader Recipe: Pulled Turkey Chipotle Chili

Fit Community — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:46:28 PST

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber shared this turkey chili recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

After Thanksgiving, my good friend, a girl who literally didn't know how to boil water, sent me this recipe, using her turkey leftovers. I loved the idea of pulled turkey and her fiberlicious add-ins, so had to feature it.

See the recipe after the break!

Best of 2011: The Year's Biggest Health Food Trends

Michele Foley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:21:27 PST

When talking health food trends, last year was all: ancient grains, overnight oats, and gluten-free goodness. This year's biggest health food trends? Here's a hint: chia pets, the godfather of fitness, and pina coladas.

Coconut milk: With recent studies calling into question the benefits of soy, people were on hunt this for a dairy-free alternative that wasn't linked to breast cancer. While almond and rice milk are old favorites, they lack the richness and sweetness that soy does. Enter: coconut milk beverage. Not as thick and rich as the kind of canned coconut milk used in curries, coconut milk beverage is great in smoothies and ice cream; it's also great over cereal, in coffee, or on its own.
Pressed juice: It seems that Odwalla just isn't fresh enough! Not since the early days of Jack Lalanne has pressed juicing seen such a heyday. Once looked at as some sort of hippie juice, everyone - even Starbucks - is getting in on the pressed-juice craze. All of Hollywood seems to be juicing, too: stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie, and Olivia Wilde are regularly spotted with their carrot-beet-apple-and-green-stuff blends. Are you a juice-head? Then definitely check out our recipes for pressed root veggie juice and green juice.
Chia seeds: Move over flax, there's a new seed in town! Chia seeds (yep, the same kind used to decorate those wildly adored, '80s novelty gift, chia pets) are everywhere this year. Sprinkle them on yogurt, add them to a bread mix, or even toss them in a dressing - there really is no end to what chia seeds can be used for. The health claim to fame? Chia seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, antioxidants, and omega-3s - zing!

Source: Flickr user littlebluehen, Source

A Reader Recipe: Chia Cranberry Apple Crisp

Fit Community — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:33:35 PDT

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber has a healthy recipe to satisfy sweet cravings. She shares it with us in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community.

This dessert is really not all that guilt-inducing. Honest. It's loaded with fiber, thanks to just about every ingredient, and omega-3s, the essential fatty acids responsible for improving heart, brain, joint, skin, mental, bowel, and almost every other kind of health one could possibly imagine. And it tastes good. Total win-win.

Read on for the recipe!

Food Combos With 10 Grams of Fiber

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:10:41 PDT

A woman is supposed to eat 25 grams of fiber every single day. It help cleans out your system to prevent bloating and flatten your tummy, and also satiates your hunger, which is great if you're trying to lose weight. Getting your daily dose of fiber also lowers your cholesterol, prevents heart disease, and reduces your risk for breast cancer. That's a lot of good reasons to get your fiber-fill, but most women have a hard time meeting their daily quota. Since most foods don't contain a ton of fiber on their own, here are eight combinations to add more fiber to your diet.

One cup of raspberries (8g) plus 15 almonds (2.1g): 10.1 grams of fiber
One large pear (6.5g) and two tablespoons almond butter (4g): 10.5 grams of fiber
Half-cup cup dry instant oatmeal (4g), one extra small banana (2.1g), and two tablespoons shredded coconut (5g): 11.1 grams of fiber:
Half an avocado (6.7g), two tablespoons unsalted sunflower seeds (1.8g), plus eight cherry tomatoes (1.6g): 10.1 grams of fiber

Keep reading to see what other food combos contain 10 grams of fiber.

Flaxseed War: Whole vs. Ground vs. Oil

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:27:12 PDT

Flaxseeds are so popular that it seems like they're being added to just about everything from bread to corn chips to cereal. They're high in fiber and a great source of omega-3s (especially if you don't eat fish). You can also buy them separately to add to your own foods, but should you pick up whole flaxseeds, the kind that are ground up, or the oil made from the seeds?

All three forms of flax are best suited for different needs. Whole flaxseeds are good for topping cereal or salads or for baking. You might not like the texture, so that's where ground flaxseeds come in. Stir the powder into your oatmeal, add it to pancake batter, or mix it into your smoothies. Flaxseed oil is great stirred into salad dressings, mixed into yogurt, or drizzled on roasted veggies.

When you look at them nutritionally, there's a pretty big difference. I made a handy little chart, so keep reading to see how they compare.

A FitSugar Reader Recipe: Chicken Caesar Kale Wraps

Fit Community — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:37:44 PDT

Who needs to buy lunch when you can prepare a quick, healthy meal in no time at all? FitSugar reader Dara8182 posted this to-go friendly recipe for chicken Caesar kale wraps in our Healthy Recipe group.

Perfect for lunch or dinner, this healthy wrap is packed with protein and fiber. Coupled with the fact these only take minutes to make, it is a quick and healthy option for any busy day. I substituted kale for traditional romaine for a boost of vitamin A, iron, calcium, B vitamins and antioxidants. I also added some grated parmesan for flavor and ground flaxseed for the omega 3s.

Read the recipe after the break!