FitSugar

5 Foods That Fight Migraines

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:35:43 PDT

If you're a migraine sufferer like me, you are constantly looking for prevention ideas. Depending on what your triggers are - wine, cheese, chocolate, etc. - you may spend most of your time focusing on what not to eat, in addition to other measures like getting enough sleep, exercising, and avoiding stress. But how about foods that help, not hinder, your headache woes? You're in luck, because I've rounded up five foods that help prevent migraine misery.

How Do You Normally Buy Veggies?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:00:33 PDT

I love Spring because it means that the fresh produce in my CSA box is going to be more colorful and varied. It's not that I don't love potatoes, beets, and turnips, I just miss seeing green amidst all those hearty root veggies. Regardless of the season, I tend to stick to fresh produce when I eat veggies. I also live in California, which means that I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to what kind of produce I have access to all year round.

How often you cook at home, how close you live to the grocery store, and what time of the year it is can all be determining factors in whether you buy veggies canned, fresh, or frozen. Tell me . . .

Ring in the New Year With Black Eyed Peas and Cabbage

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:00:00 PST

So many holidays have special foods associated with them and now that it is the new year, it is time to say "goodbye" to those sugary candy canes and the chocolate log of goodness Bûche de Noël, and a big "hello" to black eyed peas and cabbage. These two super foods are here to help you usher in a healthy and prosperous 2008.

Black eyed peas are considered good luck in many cultures and are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day in the south. They are circular and represent the cycle of a year ending. One cup of cooked peas contains 11 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein and less than one gram of fat. However, black eyed peas are most often cooked with hog jowls, bacon, or salt pork which adds fat and sodium to the dish, but also lots of flavor as well as luck. Pork is considered lucky because pigs use their snouts to dig in the ground in a forward direction. The forward direction being lucky.

Cabbage on the other hand is associated with prosperity. The leaves are considered to be representative of paper currency. Eating money will bring you money! Cabbage is most nutritionally prepared by steaming or sauteing, but not boiling since the leaves can lose up to 90 percent of their healthy antioxidants when cooked in water. Cabbage is high in vitamins K and C, the mineral magnesium, and even a little bit of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus it is great for cleansing your liver which might feel a little taxed today after last night's party. Now that is some veggie!

Good luck in the new year and adding these two foods to your diet, even if it isn't today, you can't go wrong.

Is there a food you always eat on New Year's Day (maybe to help your hangover)? I want to hear about it so tell me in the comments section below.

Source

Broccoli Just Three Times a Month

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:30:00 PST

Want to get their cancer fighting benefits but don't love the way broccoli and others veggies taste?

Well scientists say that if you eat just three servings of broccoli (or any cruciferous vegetables) per month then you could be reducing your chances of developing bladder cancer by up to 40 percent. Here's the catch: The study was only done using raw vegetables, as their cooked counterparts lose 60 to 90 percent of cancer fighting properties.

Fit's Tip: Veggie plates loaded with raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are always present at holiday parties, so fill up. What's more? If you fill up on veggies, you'll be less likely to fill up on desserts later.

Source

Tips For Beating Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Nothing is worse than having bad breath. Unless you're talking to someone who has bad breath, because that can be pretty bad too! Unfortunately you can not really do anything about someone else's bad breath, but you can do something about your own. MSNBC gives us these five food ideas to help combat bad breath:

Chew on this. Move over parsley, there are some new halitosis-fighting herbs in town. “Coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are all good for fighting bad breath,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, who has lectured on oral health. You can chew on fresh herbs or make tonics by steeping them in hot water (as a tea). These herbs make an excellent digestive as well-doubling the benefits of ending a meal this way.

There's four more ideas, so

Get some active culture. No, not a Broadway play, but yogurt. A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Apparently it also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth-plaque and gum disease were reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters as well. Plus, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends getting enough vitamin D from yogurt, cheese and milk if you’re worried about halitosis because this vitamin creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Be sure to get the kind of yogurt with active cultures-not overly processed or sugar-added varieties.
Crunchy types. Apples, carrots, celery-basically any fiber-rich fruit or vegetable is your friend when it comes to fighting halitosis. “Inside your mouth, plaque build-up causes odors,” explains Cynthia Sass, ADA spokeswoman and registered dietician. “Eating foods that increase saliva production keep the mouth moist-and rinsed out. Also, many carbs and proteins can get stuck in your teeth-even healthy foods like whole grain cereal or chicken breast.” So follow a meal with a Granny Smith (feel the saliva kick in at the mention of it?) to cleanse the mouth.
Masking techniques. Sugarless gum shouldn’t replace brushing your teeth after a meal, but in a pinch it can freshen breath (masking odors) and is another way to increase saliva production to rinse away plaque and bacteria. Mints can mask as well, but only briefly-and go for sugarless. Sugar creates plaque, and no one wants a mint that makes breath worse.
High C’s. Eating berries, citrus fruits, melons and other vitamin C-rich foods create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. A diet rich in vitamin C is also is important for preventing gum disease and gingivitis-both major causes of halitosis. Get your C in foods, not supplements, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in some, according to Sass, and exacerbate bad breath.

Source

Do You Track What You Eat in a Food Journal?

Leta Shy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:53:01 PST

No matter how much you exercise, if you're looking to lose weight, changing your diet should also be a priority. And watching what you eat has become so much easier with the availability of iPhone apps, websites, and fitness monitors that can track exactly how many calories you're consuming every day.

Most food trackers have vast databases that make inputting every single thing you eat relatively simple: just search for the specific brand or type of food and add how much you've had (there are several good sites to choose from; FitSugar editor Michele recommends My Fitness Pal). But while being aware of what exactly you're eating is an important aspect in any weight loss plan, food trackers may not be for everyone. It can be hard for some to remember to log every single thing they eat, or it can even turn all-consuming if tracking your food leads you to obsess over every calorie.

What's your take on food journals - do you track your food?

Link Time: The History of Sweetheart Candies

Camilla Salem — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:45:16 PST

The history of Sweethearts candies - Smithsonian
Homemade frozen pizzas are a great fast and easy weeknight meal - The Kitchn
Are you brave enough to try haggis? - Food Republic
Tips to avoid common cooking mistakes - Real Simple
Skip the wine and bring on the spirits this V-Day - HuffPost Food
The food foraging trend - Honest Cooking
We want these mussels immediately - Big Girls Small Kitchen
No oven is necessary for these desserts - The FN Dish
Does Tom Colicchio find Top Chef boring? - Grub Street NY

Valentine's Day Breakfast Ideas For Tots

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:03:04 PST

You already have your Valentine's Day lunch box planned for your tot, but how will you start their day? A touch of love for the first meal of the day is the perfect way to send kids off to school knowing that mama has them in her heart all day long. These Valentine's Day breakfast ideas make the most important meal of the day the most special. Check them out!

It's Not a Diet! Lose Weight With Lifestyle Changes Instead

Leta Shy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:39:18 PST

Whenever you resolve to eat healthier or fewer calories, it can be easy to fall into the diet trap - thinking that you just have to power through for a few weeks eating only lettuce in order to meet your weight goals. But instead of dreading the idea of healthy eating, think of your new goals as a lifestyle change, not a diet, with these tips.

Get creative in the kitchen: When you've resigned yourself to eating the same healthy thing over and over again, you can get bored with your meals pretty easily. If you're apprehensive about trying a new healthy food or you just don't know where to start when it comes to making a healthy meal plan, check out our delicious healthy recipes index for endless ideas.

Don't use ultimatums: Crash dieting sets you up for failure; a better solution is to think of your new eating initiatives as something sustainable. That means that while you may have to cut back on your daily doughnut habit, you shouldn't deprive yourself of your favorite unhealthy foods forever. Have a cheat day or have treat or two, mindfully, so you'll be more apt to stick to your new eating plan.

More tips for staying away from the "diet" mentality after the break.

C'est L'Amour: French Eats For Feb. 14

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:02:34 PST

If a global menu feels too daunting for your Valentine's Day dinner, try channeling a bit of Parisian romance by focusing on French foods. You don't need a view of the Eiffel Tower to feel the love - you can set the mood right at your own dinner table by pairing classic French dishes with your favorite sips. Here are 10 tasty dish ideas to help you create a Valentine's Day meal of festive French cuisine. Bon appetit!