FitSugar

Health Foods That Aren't So Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:00 PST

It seems like every food company is getting on the health kick these days. They're advertising products that are "made with whole grains," or "low in sugar," or "fat-free." It's easy to believe the printing on the packages, but I'm sorry to tell you that food companies are using all their marketing resources to sway you to buy their product.

Here's a list of some popular foods that sound healthy, but could be the total opposite:

Granola and granola bars - Whole grain oats are packed with fiber, but watch out. Some bars and cereals may include these nutritious oats in a sea of high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar.

Baked beans - Beans are an excellent source of protein and fiber, but many pre-made cans of baked beans are loaded with sugar. 1 cup of baked beans can contain up to 24g of sugar (that's about the same amount in an 8 oz. can of soda). Add plain canned beans to salads and soups instead.

Reduced fat peanut butter - Real peanut butter that's made with plain old peanuts is high in protein and also high in fat, but they're the healthy fats your body needs. When companies make reduced fat varieties, they basically take a small amount of real peanut butter and mix it up with fillers like sugar. Stick to actual peanut butter that's made with only peanuts.

Pretzels - Sure they may be a low fat snack, but many are made with corn syrup and enriched white flour (the kind that's refined and stripped of nutrition). So when you eat them, it gets converted into sugar quickly and makes your blood sugar spike up, leaving you tired, cranky and probably hungry soon after. Go for whole grain crackers instead if you're looking to satisfy your crunchy cravings.

English Muffins - Same as pretzels, these are mostly made with refined white flour which is completely devoid of fiber, protein, or vitamins. Look for 100% whole grain English muffins, or shoot for whole grain bread instead.

Fruit cocktail or applesauce - These may seem like an easy way to get your daily fruit, but many are made with added sugar and heavy syrups. Fruit is sweet enough on its own, so eat fresh fruit instead, and eat the skins whenever possible (it's packed with fiber).

Fit's Tip: Be sure to read all labels, even from foods you buy at health foods stores. Just because they seem healthy, doesn't mean they really are.

Source

Easy Ways to Get More From Your Food Budget

LearnVest — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:15:48 PDT

Go the extra mile with your food budget with these tips from LearnVest.

For years, many people - my husband, mom, sister and even my son - told me to stop wasting so much food.

Throwing away half a piece of chicken here or a handful of grapes there never seemed like such a big deal to me. If I was full or no longer in the mood for that particular food, then I had no problem tossing it.

That is, until I experienced a bad case of sticker shock during a recent trip to the supermarket. The cost of bread, eggs, fish - basically everything I was purchasing - had increased. And, according to the USDA, we can expect prices to rise even higher this year.

As I forked over my money and left with only a handful of bags, I realized just how important it is for me to pay more attention to what I spend on food . . . and to confront how much of it I shove down the garbage disposal.

Unfortunately, I'm not the only one with wasteful ways. In 2010, 33 million tons of food was thrown away, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Obviously, wasted food means wasted money, but figuring out how to make your grocery budget go further can be a challenge.

To keep more food in your fridge (and more money in your pocket), try these expert tips.

1. Ward Against Freezer Burn

Those large bags or packages of frozen veggies or meat come in handy when you have a large family, but "each time you open a bag of frozen food, air gets in and will cause freezer burn within two to three weeks," says consumer saving expert Andrea Woroch. Freezer burn will dry out the meat and make it less tasty. Woroch suggests going small.

Read on for more.

6 Best Ways to Flatten Your Belly By Summer

Prevention — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:33:32 PDT

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

By the Editors of Prevention

A toned, flat tummy is a goal many of us strive to achieve in time for bathing suit season, but endless crunches and ditching all your favorite foods until July 4th isn’t the right-or fun-way to do it. A sculpted core and trim tummy can be attained by incorporating small changes into your day, like holding in your abs while you walk and adding the right healthy fats to your diet. In our lean belly guide, you’ll get diet and exercise tips that will help you eliminate hard-to-reach ab flab and reveal a sculpted, sexy midsection. Here, learn 6 ways to flatten your belly by summer.

Make Time For Cardio
If you want to burn the most belly fat, a Duke University study confirms that aerobic exercise is the most effective in burning that deep, visceral belly fat. In fact, aerobic training burns 67% more calories than resistance training or a combination of the two, according to the study.

Top 10 Reasons Your Abs Exercises Aren’t Working

Fight Fat With Fiber
For every 10 grams of fiber you eat daily, your belly will carry almost 4% less fat. Thankfully, there are more enjoyable ways to increase your fiber than scarfing down a box of bran flakes: Two apples, ½ cup of pinto beans, one artichoke, or two cups of broccoli will all give you 10 grams of belly-flattening fiber.

More flat-belly tips after the break.

13 Health Gimmicks You Can Stop Wasting Money On

Business Insider — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:15:21 PDT

Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips.

No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt - or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst budget-sucking health trends that still persist today.

Coconut Water

Coconut water may be nature's version of Gatorade but some brands have already caught fire for over-hyping its nutrient content. Vita Coco agreed to settle a $10 million class action lawsuit over an independent study that showed the drinks didn't pack near as many electrolytes as advertisements implied. Some coconut waters are also loaded with added sugar, which will do nothing to help your waistline.

Alternative: Pick up your own young green coconuts on the cheap from an Asian produce market. Just crack them open with a cleaver and pop in a straw.

"All-Natural" Foods

30 percent of Americans bought more natural foods in 2011, according to a Rodale study. But what are we really paying more for? There's no clear cut regulation on what makes food "natural," which means just about any company can slap that label on its packages, add a fancy green theme and jack up the price.

Says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers: "Before buying any food that is touted as being 'all natural,' take a look at the ingredient list before you check out. Keep in mind that butter and salt are indeed natural ingredients. So stocking up on natural foods may not achieve anything other than increasing your grocery bill."

Read on for more.

6 Dieting Rules You'll Love to Follow

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:14:17 PDT

Don't eat this, stay away from that - following a diet can seem like a total killjoy. If you're feeling depressed about how restrictive your diet is, here are some proven weight-loss rules you'll welcome with open arms.

Dig into a big breakfast: Skipping breakfast to save calories? That's a big mistake because eating breakfast actually jump-starts your metabolism. Your first meal of the day should include protein to reduce sugar cravings, and fiber to satiate your hunger. A veggie omelet, fruit smoothie with spinach, oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or Greek yogurt with fresh fruit are excellent choices.
Say yes to carbs: Before you get all excited, I'm not talking about bagels, regular pasta, and pretzels. Simple carbs made from enriched white flour offer little nutritional value and more calories than you need. Stick to complex carbs like quinoa, brown rice, and oats, as well as foods made from whole grain flour such as pasta and crackers - the least processed and as close to nature as possible. (Of course, you still need to be mindful of portion sizes.) Complex carbs are not only full of fiber that keep hunger at bay, they also contain valuable vitamins and minerals your body needs such as vitamins B6 and E and iron.

Keep reading for four more weight-loss rules you'll love following.

Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend With These Tips

Leta Shy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:01:59 PDT

Earth Day is on Sunday. It’s a time to think about how our daily routines are impacting the environment, while also helping us remember that our resources are not infinite. If you'd like to green your life even more, here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day this weekend:

Time to recycle: Have an old pair of running shoes that just aren't cutting it anymore, or a yoga mat that's seen its share of Downward Dogs? Before you chuck them away, read our guide on where to donate your used sneakers, yoga mats, clothes, and more, and spend some time this weekend culling and donating your fitness gear.

Shop smart: If you're stocking up this weekend at the grocery store, make smart decisions that will be good for you and the Earth. Don't forget your reusable bag, choose local, organic foods, and try to avoid products with too much packaging to shop eco-friendly. Read more tips for greening your grocery shopping here.

Green your fitness: This weekend, take advantage of the nice weather and move your workouts outside. You'll use fewer energy resources if you trade the treadmill for an outdoor run.

Shop sustainable: Besides donating old clothes for recycling, you can also take care to buy brands that are known for their eco-friendly practices. Many companies use recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, or resource-saving production practices to make high-quality fitness gear. Read our list of some eco-friendly fitness brands here, and shop our favorite eco finds here.

Check out more ideas to green your healthy routine here.

Healthy Dose Link Time: Oh the Money You'd Save If You Rode a Bike

Michele Foley — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:23:49 PDT

Look at all the money you'd save if you started bike commuting - Blisstree
9 low-carb snacks to eat on the go - Shape
How to lose weight without even trying - Self
5 types of people who think they're healthy (but really aren't) - Mind Body Green
7 foods with more fat than a stick of butter - HuffPost Healthy Living
The best and worst nuts for your health - Health
Now is the day: sign up for one of these races in your area - Fitness

Keep BPA Away: 3 "Healthy" Foods to Avoid (and 3 Safer Alternatives)

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:47:00 PDT

With the BPA scare of '08, just about everyone I know ditched their plastic water bottles for a Klean Kanteen, Lifefactory, or BPA-free Nalgene. Reusable water bottles aren't the only things to be wary of - there's BPA lurking in other everyday products. Although the FDA believes low levels of BPA exposure aren't harmful to people, it's not clear how much exposure that means. To minimize your contact with BPA as much as possible, start with these foods.

Canned Foods
Canned beans, tuna, tomatoes, and soup - these foods are generally healthy, but unfortunately most of the cans they come in are lined with plastic containing BPA. To compound the issue, acidic foods (like tomatoes) can break down the plastic, leaching BPA. In addition, any heat exposure during food processing can also break down the plastic. Organics company Eden makes a BPA-free can, and other brands like Fig Food Company offer boxed beans and soups. In general, look for food packaged in BPA-free pouches, boxes, and glassware.

Soda and Other Canned Beverages
Yep, aluminum-canned beverages are also lined with BPA-containing plastic. Since the acid and alcohol in beer can make leaching more likely, choose glass containers when possible. Canned seltzer like Polar also contains low levels of BPA in their lining, so if it makes you feel more comfortable, choose its BPA-free plastic bottles instead or invest in a seltzer maker.

Watercooler
Pour yourself a glass of H20 from the watercooler and think you're doing your body good? Unfortunately those enormous plastic jugs contain BPA. Whenever possible, fill a reusable bottle at home with filtered water instead.

New Study Confirms Popcorn Contains High Levels of Antioxidants

Leta Shy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:03:25 PDT

When you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, based on a recent study, you may want to reach for popcorn. This new study found that popcorn contains high levels of disease-fighting antioxidants - higher concentrations than those found in certain fruits and vegetables.

Researchers found that popcorn contains disease-fighting polyphenols in the center, or the hull, of popped kernels. This latest study, funded in part by a popcorn company, confirms older reports that popcorn (along with other whole grains) contains high levels of antioxidants; popcorn, in fact, has the highest levels of polyphenols when compared to other snack foods.

The study may give you reasons to snack on popcorn, but it's not reason to go overboard. For one, the researchers of the study aren't completely sure whether or not the the human digestive system is capable of absorbing the antioxidants found in popcorn. Not only that, but you should be careful with the type of popcorn you eat; the amount of fat and calories in movie theater popcorn, for example, outweigh any of the possible small disease-fighting benefits from the popcorn.

In any case, popcorn is already known as a good low-calorie snacking option when done right. That doesn't mean you should substitute a bowl of popcorn for fruits and vegetables (you'll be missing out on key vitamins and nutrients if you do), but if you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, here's how to make popcorn to keep it healthy and satisfying.

Source: Flickr User cyclonebill

Do You Avoid Certain Foods For Health Reasons?

Leta Shy — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:49:03 PDT

It seems like every day there's more news on what we shouldn't be eating; just last week, we were told that every serving of red meat increases our risk of dying early, and that bowl of steaming white rice can increase our chances of developing diabetes. And let's not forget the pink slime debate currently going on.

Possible health conditions aren't the only reason why we may want to give up a certain food. Steering clear of your favorite indulgences - because you can't just stop at a handful when it comes to potato chips, or because a bowl of ice cream doesn't fit into your weight-loss plan - can help save you calories, or from falling into a diet trap.

Avoiding certain foods voluntarily (that is, not because of medical conditions that force you to give up certain foods) isn't the only way to live a healthy life. Even if you're trying to lose weight or are worried about developing health conditions, you can still enjoy your favorite foods in moderation. But whether you're swayed by worrisome study results or you are trying to lose a few pounds, are there foods that you avoid to stay healthy? Take our poll, and let us know which foods worry you the most in the comments.