FitSugar

Healthy Fat: How Much Is Too Much?

Self — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:54 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

We used to assume that fat was fat. Now, most of us know that while some fats are terribly bad for us, others are actually quite healthy!

That's great news, but here's our question: If most of our fat is coming from healthy fats (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids), how much is too much? Is it possible to overdo it?

According to registered dietician Willow Jarosh, a contributing editor at SELF and co-founder of C&J Nutrition, most women need about 30 percent of their total daily calories to come from fat - no matter what type of fat it may be. For a woman eating 1,800 calories a day, that's around 540 calories from fat or 60 grams of fat each day.

Keep reading portioning info.

Eat Fat, For Your Skin's Sake

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

To keep your skin looking young and radiant, you can do more than apply sunscreen daily; you can eat fat. Let me clarify. I'm not talking about eating foods high in saturated fat, like ice cream or fried chicken. I'm talking about healthy fats, such as essential fatty acids (omega-3s and omega-6s) and healthy oils. These types of fat promote healthy skin since they are responsible for creating healthy cell membranes and keeping your skin lubricated.

So make sure to include salmon, fish oil, nuts such as walnuts, and flaxseeds in your diet. Also include healthy oils such as canola and olive. Look for ones labeled cold pressed, expeller processed, or extra virgin since these are less processed.

Fit's Tips: Since healthy oils can be high in calories, try to limit your intake to two tablespoons a day.

Source

5 Things: Almond Butter

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:30:00 PDT

Almond Butter is one of my favorite treats. A spoonful of it with some dark chocolate chips and dried cranberries is absolutely divine and, not to mention, satisfying.

1 tbsp of almond butter contains 95 calories, 8g of healthy fat (this can help to lower LDL cholesterol), no cholesterol, 2g of fiber, and 2.5g of protein.
2 tbsp of almond butter contains 86 mg of calcium. Your RDI of calcium is 1,000 mg.
Almond butter is a good source or magnesium, Vitamin E, and potassium. It's also a great source of selenium, which has been shown to be effective in preventing cancer.
People who have a peanut allergy can eat almond butter (only if it's processed in a plant that doesn't process peanut products).
To prevent almond butter from going rancid, it should be stored in a cool dry place until it's opened, and then stored in the fridge after that.

Source

LARABAR Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:00:00 PDT

I am a huge fan of LARABARs, as you all must know by now. I've raved about their Cashew Cookie, their Banana Cookie, and the Jocalat bars too, but I really do love all their flavors (except for the Pistachio, but that's just me).

I always keep half a dozen different kinds lying around, just in case I need a pre or post workout snack. They taste great and the nuts give me lots of "get up and go" energy.

So I was wondering how they compared nutritionally. Are you wondering too? To find out,

1 bar	Calories	Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
Cashew Cookie	210	12	2	23	3	14	6
Cherry Pie	190	8	.5	28	4	21	4
Ginger Snap	220	13	1	22	5	18	5
Key Lime Pie	200	10	3.5	28	4	20	4
Cinnamon Roll	210	12	1	27	4	20	4
Apple Pie	180	10	1	23	4	17	4
Pecan Pie	200	14	1	22	4	16	3
Lemon Bar	210	11	1.5	26	3	18	6
Banana Cookie	210	10	0	24	5	17	6
Chocolate Coconut	220	13	2.5	25	5	18	5
Jocalat Mint	190	9	2	25	5	19	5
Jocalat Chocolate	190	10	2	24	5	18	5
Jocalat Coffee	190	11	2	24	5	19	4

Fit's Tips: So they're all fairly the same. Remember that LARABARS have a high amount of total fat because they are mostly made of nuts. These are healthy fats though, and these bars are great energy-packed snacks to include in your diet. Foods that are high in saturated fat are ones that you need to watch out for.

Ways to Slim Down Your BBQ

Jenny Sugar — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:37:59 PDT

It's officially barbecuing season, and with this comes tons of burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, and beer. To avoid packing on the pounds this Summer, here are some ways to add a healthy spin to your barbecues.

Go for homemade guacamole instead of creamy dips: Avocados offer the healthy fats your body needs, which is a much better option than the saturated fats found in dairy-based dips. If you're worried about calories, whip up some homemade low-cal salsa, and throw in some fresh pineapple and mango for added vitamins.
Grill up some veggies: Use a grill basket, corn holders, or skewers and choose a variety of veggies to grill alongside your meat dishes. Load up your plate to fill you up and help prevent overeating high-calorie dishes.

Keep reading to learn more ways to save barbecue calories.

Nighttime Fasting: A New Way to Lose Weight?

Shape — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:09:52 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to Cynthia Sass, a registered dietitian with master's degrees in both nutrition science and public health.

If you couldn’t let anything cross your lips from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m., but you were allowed to eat anything you wanted for eight hours a day and still lose weight, would you try it? That’s the apparent bottom line of a rat study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, which recently stirred up the weight loss pot.

Top 50 Summer Diet Foods for Weight Loss

Scientists put groups of mice on different diet regimens for 100 days. One group of rodents ate healthy food while animals in two of the groups chowed down on high-fat, high-calorie feed. Half of the junk food eaters were allowed to munch whenever they wanted to while the others only had access to feed for the eight hours they were most active. The conclusion: even though they ate a fatty diet, the mice who were forced to fast for 16 hours were almost as lean as those who ate the healthy fare. Interestingly, the round the clock junk food eaters became obese and developed health problems, even though they consumed about the same amount of fat and calories as the time-restricted junk food fed mice.

See if a nutritionist thinks nighttime fasting works after the break!

It's National Salad Month! Healthy Tips to Get You Excited

Michele Foley — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:59:12 PDT

As if we need an excuse to enjoy a big bowl of veggies, fruits, and other goodies tossed together, May is National Salad Month. Grab your best greens and follow these tips and tricks for making a tasty and healthy salad.

Creative Ways to Build a Salad

Hitting the salad bar can be a good thing when you know the best way to navigate through all those choices. To maintain a healthy medium, follow our tips for crafting a healthy meal at the salad bar.
Get inspiration from other countries or cuisines known for being healthy. Start your week off with these easy ways to craft a heart-healthy Mediterranean salad, and give yourself a little longevity with these tips for making a Japanese-inspired salad.

Not All Toppings Are Created Equal

Candied walnuts, gobs of cheese, and bacon may taste good, but they also add a lot of unnecessary fat and calories. If you're not careful, then you might end up with a 700-calorie (or higher) salad! Skip unhealthy ingredients by using our smart swaps for salad toppings.
How you dress your salad matters too - ranch, blue cheese, or maybe a vinaigrette? The next time you're shopping, pick up one of these salad dressings with less than 50 calories.

A Little Recipe Inspiration

We love that creating a salad is as easy as throwing whatever ingredients you may have in a bowl, but a put-together recipe makes all the difference. Try one of these recipes for a vegetarian salad or one of these seasonal salads inspired by Summer ingredients.

Barre Workouts are Expensive! Try This At-Home Alternative Instead

Self — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:23:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Barre classes may make you easy on the eyes, but at $20 or more a pop, they're definitely not easy on the wallet. Rather than take a second job to pay for our latest fitness addiction, we turned to Beverly Hill-based Cardio Barre instructor Stacey Bosworth to get the inside scoop on scoring a long, lean dancer's body in your living room. "This at-home workout is effective because it targets the whole lower body. Cardio Barre is amazing because it is a no-impact workout that allows you to lengthen and strengthen your muscles while burning fat. It will also help increase your flexibility and strength," says Bosworth.

Celebrity devotees, including Dakota Fanning, Neve Campbell, and Heather Morris, can all attest to the fact that Cardio Barre has given them "a lifted tush and leaner, dancer-like legs!" Incorporate these three moves into your regular routine three times a week for maximum results.

Butt Blaster
Come down to the floor on both forearms with your knees bent. Your left hip is directly over your left knee. Your right leg is bent to a 90-degree angle with your foot flexed. Extend your right leg toward the ceiling as if you were pushing the ceiling away from you (see photo above). Bring your right leg down past your left hip and then back up toward the ceiling, keeping your leg parallel to the floor with your kneecap pointing toward the ground and your foot flexed. You are doing a full range of motion, trying to imagine extending your leg all the way through the ceiling.

Keep reading for more barre moves you can do at home!

5 Reasons You Have an Inch to Pinch

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:27:09 PDT

Women tend to gain weight in a few special spots - our thighs, tush, face, breasts, and of course, our tummies. If you suffer from a mushy middle, here are some possible reasons why.

What 100 Calories Really Looks Like: Nuts

Susi May — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:11:04 PDT

Nuts are one of our favorite foods. Convenient for snacking, they're loaded with protein and healthy fats. But nuts are also high in calories (and some more than others), making it necessary to watch portion sizes when noshing on these nuggets of energy. From almonds to walnuts, we've created a visual breakdown of the most popular nuts so you can see just how many it takes to hit the 100-calorie mark.