FitSugar

Granola Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

You know how I feel about breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day because it jump starts your metabolism and feeds your brain so you're more productive during the day. It helps people maintain their weight and eating breakfast gives you energy to exercise later in the day. Breakfast eaters are also more likely to consume their daily amount of fiber since so many morning foods are full of whole grains, like cereals and bread.

Granola is one of my favorite breakfast foods, but some can be high in fat or sugar. To see how some popular granolas compare, read more.

This is the nutritional info for 1/4 cup of granola.

Granola	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Bear Naked Peanut Butter	140	6	17	3	4	4
Bear Naked Fruit and Nut	140	7	18	3	5	3
Bear Naked Peak Protein	140	7	16	2	6	5
Bear Naked Heavenly Chocolate	130	3.5	19	3	6	3
Bear Naked Banana Nut	140	7	18	2	5	3
Bear Naked Apple Cinnamon	140	5	17	3	7	2
Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond Crunch	110	3	18	2	3	4
Bear Naked Fit Triple Berry Crunch	110	1.5	20	3	3	4
Cascadian Farm Cinnamon Raisin	79	1.1	16	1.1	6	1.9
Cascadian Farm Maple Brown Sugar	83	1.9	16	1.1	5.3	1.9
Cascadian Farm Oats & Honey	87	2.3	16	1.1	4.9	1.9
Kashi Cocoa Beach	115	4.5	16.5	3	5.5	3
Kashi Mountain Medley	110	3.5	18.5	3	6	3
Kashi Orchard Spice	110	3.5	18.5	3	5.5	3
Kashi Summer Berry	105	3	18.5	3	4.5	3
Kellogg's Low Fat Granola with Raisins	87	1.5	18.6	1.5	6.8	1.5
Kellogg's Low Fat Granola without Raisins	72	.95	15	1.5	5.3	1.5

Fit's Tips: When comparing granola on your own, check the serving sizes. Although the info above is based on 1/4 cup servings, serving sizes tend to range from 1/4 cup to 1 cup. So you may think a granola is low in calories, but the serving size may be small.

Chili's Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Chili's is one of those chain restaurants that I'm sure we've all been to at least once. This bar and grill has just about everything from wings to soup, from fajitas to steak. With such a diverse menu, it's nice to see there are some healthier options to choose from like salmon, grilled chicken, and salads. I'll have to warn you, though, that a good portion of their food contains a high amount of calories, fat, and sodium. That's not to say you should never set foot into a Chili's - you just don't want to make a daily habit of it. It's nice to be able to enjoy this kind of food every once in a while, but I'd definitely bring some friends, or place half your meal in a doggie bag so you don't end up consuming thousands of calories in one sitting.

To see the Chili's breakdown, read more.

This is the nutritional content of one order of each menu item.

Granola	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sodium (mg)	Fiber (g)	Protein (g)
Big Mouth Bites	850	75	29	1930	2	20
Nine Boneless Buffalo Wings w/ Bleu Cheese Dressing	1170	85	50	4130	4	51
Classic Nachos w/ Fajita Chicken and Pico de Gallo and Sour Cream	1630	112	55	3280	12	99
Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip w/ Tostada Chips	905	36	74	3100	21	30
Texas Cheese Fries w/ Jalapeño-Ranch Dressing	2070	160	73	3730	8	85
Cup of Baked Potato Soup	220	16	12	630	1	8
Cup of Chicken Enchilada Soup	220	14	11	650	2	13
Cup of Chili	180	8	15	720	3	12
Cup of New England Clam Chowder Soup	470	33	27	970	3	17
Cup of Southwestern Vegetable Soup	110	5	13	620	2	5
Caesar Salad w/ Grilled Chicken & Caesar Dressing	1010	76	39	1910	7	38
Southwestern Cobb Salad	970	60	56	2590	7	53
Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad	910	58	44	4050	5	45
Mashed Potatoes (loaded)	500	32	37	970	6	15
Sautéed Mushrooms, Onions & Bell Peppers	120	10	6	360	2	3
Steamed Seasonal Veggies	80	6	8	190	3	3
Classic Sirloin	540	42	1	820	0	36
Grilled Salmon w/ Garlic & Herbs	390	25	0	300	0	40
Margarita Grilled Chicken	320	13	13	1170	1	36
Spicy Garlic & Lime Grilled Shrimp	260	13	6	1000	0	24
Guiltless Black Bean Burger	650	12	96	1940	26	38
Guiltless Chicken Platter	580	9	85	2780	5	39
Guiltless Chicken Sandwich	490	8	63	2720	11	39
Guiltless Salmon	480	14	31	1080	10	54
Mushroom Swiss Burger	1100	71	60	1590	4	53
Chicken Tacos	1200	41	137	4470	12	57
Chicken Fajitas	330	11	23	2080	3	40
Smoked Turkey Sandwich	930	57	65	2920	4	43
Chicken Fajita Pita	350	13	36	1410	4	29

This is just an sample of some of the restaurant's menu items. To see the entire list, go to Chilis.com.

Hypokalemia

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:50:03 -0700

Illustrations

Blood test

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Hypokalemia is a lower-than-normal amount of potassium in the blood. It may result from a number of conditions.

Alternative Names

Potassium - low; Low blood potassium

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Potassium is needed for cells, especially nerve and muscle cells, to function properly. You get potassium through food. The kidneys remove excess potassium in the urine to keep a proper balance of the mineral in the body.

Hypokalemia is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the level of potassium in the blood drops too low.

Possible causes of hypokalemia include:

Certain antibiotics (carbenicillin, gentamicin, amphotericin B)
Certain drugs, called diuretics, that can cause excess urination
Diarrhea (including the use of too many laxatives, which can cause diarrhea)
Diseases that affect the kidney's ability to retain potassium (for example, Liddle syndrome, Cushing syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, Bartter syndrome, Fanconi syndrome)
Eating disorders (such as bulimia)
Eating large amounts of licorice or using products such as herbal teas and chewing tobaccos that contain licorice made with glycyrrhetinic acid (this substance is no longer used in licorice made in the United States)
Excessive sweating
Excessive vomiting
Kidney problems
Lack of enough potassium in diet (rarely)

Symptoms

A small drop in potassium usually doesn't cause symptoms. However, a big drop in the level can be life threatening.

Symptoms of hypokalemia include:

Abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), especially in people with heart disease
Breakdown of muscle fibers (rhabdomyolysis)
Constipation
Fatigue
Muscle weakness or spasms
Paralysis (which can include the lungs)

Signs and tests

Your health care provider will take a sample of your blood to check potassium levels.

Other tests might include:

Arterial blood gas
BUN and creatinine
Electrocardiogram
Glucose, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, thyroxine, or aldosterone

Treatment

Mild hypokalemia can be treated by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Persons with more severe cases may need to get potassium through a vein (intravenously).

If you need to use diuretics, your doctor may switch you to a form that keeps potassium in the body (such as triamterene, amiloride, or spironolactone).

One type of hypokalemia that causes paralysis occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis). Treatment lowers the thyroid hormone level, and raises the potassium level in the blood.

Expectations (prognosis)

Taking potassium supplements can usually correct the problem. Without proper treatment, potassium levels in severe cases can drop low enough to cause death.

Complications

In severe cases, patients can develop paralysis that can be life threatening. Hypokalemia also can lead to dangerous irregular heartbeat. Over time, lack of potassium can lead to kidney damage (hypokalemic nephropathy).

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have been vomiting or have had excessive diarrhea, or if you are taking diuretics and have symptoms of hypokalemia.

Prevention

Eating a diet rich in potassium can help prevent hypokalemia. Foods high in potassium include:

Bananas
Bran
Brussels sprouts
Granola
Kiwi
Lima beans
Milk
Oranges
Peaches
Peanut butter
Peas and beans
Tomatoes

References

Schaefer TJ, Wolford RW. Disorders of potassium. Emerg Med Clin North Am. August 2005;23:723-747.

Lafrance JP, Leblanc M. Metabolic, electrolytes, and nutritional concerns in critical illness. Crit Care Clin. April 2005;21:305-327.

Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:Saunders, 2003.

Fukagawa M, Kurokawa K, Papadakis M. Fluid and electrolyte disorders. In Gonzales R, Ziegler R, eds. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2007. New York, NY:McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Review Date: 9/12/2007

Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Foods That Could Bust Your Diet

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:15:00 -0700

We all try so hard to keep to a healthy diet, but sometimes we may be trying so hard that we don't realize we are doing more harm than good. To keep us on top of things, WebMD has created a list of the top diet busting foods (and I have elaborated):

Soups: Stay away from cream based soups and stick to low calorie soups that are broth based.
Sugar-Free Cookies: No Sugar does not mean no calories or that it's good for you.
Pork: Stick to tenderloin and sirloin if you need the other white meat.
Coffee: Orange Frappuccino - Need I say more?
Salad Dressings: Get dressing on the side or water it down and check out my nutritional breakdown on popular dressings.
Breakfast Bars: Watch out for high fructose corn syrups.
Dried Fruits and Granola: A handful of both is OK, with more than that you'll be adding more calories and fat.
Juice and Soda: They aren't just drinks and the calories do (and will) add up.
Low-Fat/Low-Cal Foods: The problem here is that most people see low calorie on the label and eat three times as much because, well, it's low-cal.
Nuts: Like dried fruit, nuts are great for you just in small handfuls worth, not in small jars worth.

To check out the full article, visit WebMD.com.

Source

A Healthier Easter Basket

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:30:00 -0700

You've seen the Easter Candy breakdown. You cast your vote for your favorite Easter Candy over on YumSugar...and now you're thinking maybe I should make a healthy Easter Basket. Well you know I am going to second that option. I am going to go so far as to give you some suggestions.

Carrots - The Easter Bunny likes to share
Fresh fruit
Homemade cookies that are filled with healthy ingredients like oats, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, and dark chocolate chips

Bars of Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate covered peanuts, pretzels, or raisins
Mini banana bread muffins
An exercise DVD
A scented candle
Hand soap shaped like bird's eggs (my girls love these)
A jar of all fruit jam
Granola bars
A potted plant
Small picture frames
Herbal teas and a mug
A CD of relaxing music
Silly Putty - it comes in its own egg
For kids: a coloring book, colored pencils, puzzles, small toys, stuffed bunnies, stickers, play-doh, magnets, disposable cameras, packets of seeds and gardening tools, plastic eggs filled with coins, beads, and books about Easter.

Fit's Tips: I don't believe in denying yourself anything, especially during special family and holiday times. Make sure you do enjoy yourself (and the treats), and try the things you love, just don't go overboard and eat the ENTIRE 12 inch chocolate bunny in one sitting.

Source