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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Going Vegan Could Mean Missing These Key Nutrients

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:41:38 PDT

Not eating animal products means a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and although it can also be used to lose weight, it's important not to skip out on valuable nutrients that often come from meat and dairy.

Vitamin B12
Most women need 2.4 mcg of this vitamin each day. It's essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system as well as healthy blood cells. Found mostly in poultry, beef, fish, and dairy products, this B vitamin has vegan sources as well including fortified cereals, fortified soy milk, kale, spinach, and nutritional yeast.

Iron
The RDI of iron for women is 18 mg, and while animal products contain iron, there are tons of vegan foods high in this mineral as well. The body needs iron to make hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, which is why an iron deficiency often causes fatigue. Be sure to include fortified cereal, fortified soy milk, beans such as garbanzos and lentils, tofu, sun-dried tomatoes, potatoes, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, and peanuts in your vegan diet.

Keep reading to find out what other nutrients vegan diets might be missing.

A Reader Recipe: Flax and Whole Grain Irish Soda Bread

Fit Community — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:17:55 PDT

Reader For The Love Of Fiber gave a healthy makeover to classic Irish soda bread. She shared her recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

A new generation of Irish Soda Bread just in time for St. Patty's Day. It’s versatile as a breakfast bread with a schmear of grass-fed butter and your favorite cup ‘o tea, or as a nice addition to a body-warming soup. Or corned beef and cabbage, if you want to get totally authentic.

See the recipe after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Veggie Pulp Crackers

Fit Community — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:31:05 PST

If you're a juicer, you'll want to read this veggie pulp cracker recipe from pure2raw, who posted it in our Healthy Recipe group.

Do you enjoy freshly made juice, but never know what to do with the leftover pulp? We have an easy cracker recipe that only requires three ingredients. The pulp crackers can be made in the oven or dehydrator.

Read on for the recipe.

A Reader Recipe: Maple Nut Butter Granola

Fit Community — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:05:11 PST

Cut back on oil and make your own granola! FitSugar reader TheFitCookie shared this recipe for homemade granola in our Healthy Recipe group - a perfect way to start the morning.

Here is an easy and healthy recipe for granola. Best of all, this recipe is allergy-friendly and very affordable! You can even change up the ingredients to make it your own!

Learn how to make the granola after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Cereal Banana Bread

Fit Community — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:28:03 PST

OnSugar blogger Sophie's Sweeties has a healthy banana bread recipe that cuts calories by using Kashi cereal, apple sauce, and yogurt.

My mom used to eat a slice of homemade banana bread every morning for breakfast. She would make 10 loaves at a time and freeze them until the last loaf was purely a delicious memory. She made a few loaves with chocolate chips, some with walnuts, and a couple were made plain for my picky brother. No matter the preference, I think everyone would agree that my banana bread is a healthy alternative to my mom's famous staple.

Get the recipe after the break!

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!