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

10 Sexy, Healthy Foods For Valentine's Day

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:01:18 PST

The search for sexy foods is an ancient pursuit, and aphrodisiacs come in many healthy forms - with skins, peels, and shells. And healthy living and romantic meals aren't mutually exclusive. We've rounded up 10 foods considered sexy for their suggestive shape, texture, or color, and found recipes so you can add them to your romantic Valentine's meal. If you're on the prowl for a healthier love potion, check out these sexy, healthy recipes that might just help you get in the mood.

Weight Loss Rules You're Allowed to Break

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:58:49 PST

If you love to eat, losing weight can seem so structured, you immediately get frustrated and grab the first decadent food you can find. Even though there are some very specific guidelines that can help you reach your goal faster, there's no one-size-fits-all weight-loss plan for everyone. Here are five rules you can bend and still drop pounds from the scale.

No Cheesecake, Wine, or French Fries
While dessert, alcohol, and fried foods tend to be high in calories, just because you want to lose weight doesn't mean you have to live without the foods you adore. Actually, denying yourself the bites you crave can backfire, causing you to feel deprived, resulting in bingeing. You can't eat these foods all the time, but it's perfectly healthy to enjoy a few spoonfuls of ice cream or a small glass of chardonnay every once in a while. Just limit your portion sizes and only indulge about once a week.

Salad, Every Day
Salads aren't for everyone, and the dissatisfied feeling you get afterward could cause you to head to the nearest pizza joint. Plus salad toppings can really add up. When a bowl of greens is covered in candied walnuts, cheese, dried cranberries, avocado, and creamy dressing, a seemingly healthy salad can run higher in calories than a burger. If you're not into a bowl of raw veggies, choose other low-calorie meals that incorporate veggies such as sandwiches, broth-based soups, grilled veggies, and whole-grain salads. You have to enjoy the foods you're eating in order to stick with a healthy meal plan.

Keep reading to find out three more diet rules you can break and still lose weight.

Dip This, Not That: Save Calories With These Super Bowl Swaps

Leta Shy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:08:59 PST

One of the best things about the Super Bowl? The endless spread of dips, of course. But even if you know what dips to avoid (see which healthy dips make the grade here), you could be shoveling in more calories than you think depending on the type of dippable food you choose. Before you grab another handful of chips, see how many calories you'll be consuming with our breakdown below.

Note: we calculated calories based on 10 items of each food, but these aren't necessarily serving sizes - just an easier way to compare when you're dipping into the bowl on Sunday!

10 of These . . .	Are This Many Calories
Small Baguette Slices	880
Snack Crackers	150
Plain Potato Chips	100
White Corn Tortilla Chips	150
Plain Pita Chips	93

Read on to see how many calories swapping these dippable favorites for veggies will save you.

5 Ways to Stay Healthy During a Super Bowl Party

Leta Shy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:37:18 PST

Super Bowl parties, whether you're a football fan or not, are a great way to socialize with friends over food and drinks, but that doesn't mean you have to disregard any of your healthy eating goals this weekend. If you're going to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, read on for five ways to keep it healthy during all the fun.

Bring a healthy side: You can't control how many of your friends will be bringing a vat of their famous spinach dip, but you can save a few calories by bringing a healthier treat that you can't wait to eat. Bone up on ideas for healthy Super Bowl dips and snacks with this recipe guide and bring something calorie-conscious yet still delicious to the table.
Get up, stand up: Yes, for some, the Super Bowl is all about the commercials, but that doesn't mean that you can't watch while moving. Sitting for all those hours just isn't healthy, so instead of staying still once you've found a seat on the couch, take a few TV breaks by making your rounds at the party or excusing yourself for a stretching session (just make sure you aren't distracting die-hard TV watchers in the process!).

Read on for three more must-dos to keep Super Bowl Sunday healthy.

How to Eat During a (Real) Blackout

Susannah Chen — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:01:41 PST

Have you clicked around the Internet today? It's overrun with site blackouts, with everyone from Wikipedia to Reddit completely shut down in protest of SOPA and PIPA.

All of this blackout talk has us thinking about what we'd eat during an IRL blackout. When it comes to natural disasters, it's best to prepare for the worst, then hope for the best. This includes food and drink! For seven shelf-stable provisions that I recommend you have on hand, keep on reading.

Fried Foods Aren't the Only Thing to Blame For Type 2 Diabetes

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:27:25 PST

I keep a stash of Paula Deen's recipes on hand for when I am in the mood for some Southern fare, but I couldn't eat such a decadent diet all the time. And Paula agrees. She told Al Roker on Today,

"I have always encouraged moderation. I share with you all these yummy, fattening recipes, but I tell people, in moderation . . . it's entertainment. People have to be responsible. Like I told Oprah, 'Honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor.' You have to be responsible for yourself."

Although it's easy to assume a high-fat, high-calorie, butter-laden diet is to blame, the truth is, experts aren't exactly sure what causes type 2 diabetes. Age, weight, and activity level are huge factors in a person's risk, but the most important factor is genetics.

The good news is that prevention is in your hands. While foods deep-fried in oil and coated in butter may not specifically cause diabetes, devouring foods like that often can contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk for developing this condition. The best thing you can do is to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise regularly, especially if diabetes runs in your family.

Source: Getty, Flickr User delgaudm, and Flickr User star5112

4 Things I Wish I'd Known at the Start of My Weight Loss Journey

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:54:39 PST

No stranger to the Freshman 15 in college, in fact, I experienced something closer to the Freshman 30. It wasn't until I saw a photo of myself heading into my sophomore year that I realized I was carrying quite a few extra pounds and that it was time to do something about it. It took me a very long time to lose the weight (we're talking not until after graduation), all because I thought I knew what I was doing. Boy was I wrong. Here are four things I wish I had known at the start of my weight loss journey.

You Can't Eat Peanut Butter Out of the Jar
While peanut butter is full of heart-healthy fats, it's not void of calories - one tablespoon contains 105. I found myself spooning it straight out of the jar, wondering why my jeans weren't any looser. This is important to remember with all healthy foods: just because they aren't considered junky, doesn't mean you can eat as much as you want. Be aware of portion sizes when it comes to whole grains, nuts, seeds, and health food store snacks.

Keep reading to find out what else I wish I had known about weight loss.

4 More Facts You Don't Know About Calories

Prevention — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:08:37 PST

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

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you'll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12 percent can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Last month, we shared some reasons you might be confused about calories - here are four more and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

1. Exercise makes you hungry
Though studies are mixed when it comes to whether exercise actually stimulates or suppresses appetite, many people think of working out as a way to eat whatever they like. "There’s definitely a mentality of 'I have sweated therefore I deserve,'" says Bonci. However, with most people burning about 100 calories per mile, a short workout won't give you a free pass to eat junk food. "If you walk two miles, eating a handful of chips post-workout can undo the calories you burned," says Bonci. As mentioned above, gym machines don’t accurately measure calories burned, either.

Stop the confusion: To stop an after-workout binge, fuel up pre-gym, Zied suggests. "Have something before - something with carbs and a little protein, like whole wheat toast and peanut butter or a banana and milk." Depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need something afterward as well. After a workout longer than 45 minutes, you should aim to eat about 200 calories.

Tips to Stop Overeating After Workouts

2. Liquid calories are ignored
"People are spending hundreds of calories on beverages each day," says Zied. Unfortunately, a lot of those calories are from sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, not milk and 100 percent fruit juice. According to a 2007 study, beverage intake accounted for roughly 12 percent of total calories in 1965 and steadily increased to 21 percent in 2002 - that's 222 extra calories a day from drinks alone! Because bottled drinks often contain multiple servings, it’s best to either pour a serving in a glass or look for mini soda cans and juice boxes.

Keep reading for more info about calories and weight loss after the break.

Why You Snack at Night - and How to Avoid It

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:13:30 PST

Late-night snacking can be a calorie-loaded diet pitfall, but if you're able to recognize the reason behind your cravings, you can curb the impulse and stick to your healthy habits. Regularly find yourself back in the kitchen shortly after dinner? Here's why you keep snacking, plus how to scale back:

You skimp on food throughout the day. If you aren't eating enough at each meal, your body is going to kick into hunger overdrive later. Do you skip breakfast to save time? Breeze through a small lunch because you're too busy to keep eating? It's important to space out your food intake so that the hunger doesn't sneak up on you after dinner. Make sure to stay satisfied by eating a mix of protein, fats, and carbohydrates at every meal.
You're sad, angry, or _____. Any and all emotions can trigger the impulse to eat. Lower the odds of stress-fueled fridge raids by staying in touch with how you're feeling and choosing different outlets. If you start to regularly unwind in other ways - by calling a friend, for instance, or taking a walk - then you'll learn to deal with your anxiety before you even think to storm the cabinets.

Keep reading for more healthy snacking tips.