FitSugar

Another Reason to Avoid Processed Foods: The Environment

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I am not a fan of processed foods. Although I am not always successful I do try to avoid food with ingredients that I don't recognize and cannot pronounce.

I now have another motivation to steer clear of packaged, processed and engineered foods – the environment. It is fairly simple, processed foods require more energy to produce and package than do whole foods like oats, bananas and spinach. While reading In Defense of Food, I realized that my favorite cereal, Kashi Go Lean is a lot more processed than simple steel cut oats. The production of food and the supply chain takes up an estimated 19 percent of energy used in the US, and the energy sources used are most often non-renewable energy sources. By decreasing the amount of processed foods as well as eating a diet that contains less meat, you can decrease your carbon footprint as well as your waistline. What processed food do you think you should give up? Tell me in the comments section below.

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One Splurge Is Worse Than You Think

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:30:00 -0800

If you're standing in line at McDonald's telling yourself, "One splurge is not going to do anything," then you may want to think again. According to a review of new dietary research, just one high-fat, high-sugar meal can trigger a biochemical cascade, causing inflammation of blood vessels and immediate, detrimental changes to the nervous system (i.e. free radicals are generated). Yikes. This could explain why we feel so crummy after splurging on a high-fat meal.

The good news? One healthy meal can help return your body to its optimal state. So think about what two, ten, or even a lifetime of healthy meals will do for you. If you continue to eat healthy, you'll continue to feel good and hopefully never want to eat junk food again.

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I Don't Buy It: Healthy Junk Food

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:00:00 -0800

It is all over the news, Americans are not eating enough fruits and veggies, and large food conglomerates have decided to help us out. According to a recent article on MSNBC, Kraft and Frito Lay are making healthy junk food, and if that sounds like an oxymoron to you that is because it is one. While these snacks might be healthier versions of junk food, they are still processed and no substitute for eating fresh produce.

Frito Lay's new chip line, Flat Earth crisps, features baked squares that contain more nutrients and less fat than regular snack chips. So they might be a better alternative to a chip, but they are still chips. Kraft's healthy alternative is a whole grain chip that per one ounce (about 16 chips) serving contains a half-serving of fruit or vegetables. One must ask, though, if the powdered produce used in these types of chips really counts as anything related to real produce. Plus, just comparing them calorie wise, the Apple Cinnamon Flat Earth Chips, by Frito Lay, contain 130 calories (40 of them from fat) per one ounce serving. An apple, about 3.4 ounces contains only 55 calories, with only 2 calories from fat. So the apple seems like a much better choice. I'm sure an apple is less expensive too.

The bottom line: A chip is still a chip and junk food is still junk food, even when it is made with whole grains and dehydrated, ground up fruits and veggies. If you do choose to have a healthier chip, remember the serving size is only an ounce so eat accordingly.

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Processed Food: News Roundup

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

The health food nut's arch enemy has been in the news a lot lately. Yep, I am talking about processed food. In this day and age, with our busy lives, it is hard to live without some processed foods. Here are three news stories that might just sway us to make a little more time when it comes to food and nutrition.

A microwave popcorn enthusiast was diagnosed recently with "popcorn lung" - a rare life threatening disease with the medical name broncheolitis obliterans. The diagnosing doctor believes the onset was caused by inhaling fumes of the extra buttery flavored microwave popcorn that contains the chemical diacetyl, which has been linked previously to the disease. The man ate two, and sometimes three, bags of the popcorn daily!
Just a caution, especially if you are looking to sleep, citrus flavor sodas can have more caffeine than colas. The consumer groups involved in a recent study are not anti caffeine; they just think caffeine content should be listed in the packaging.
This really comes as no surprise, but a new British study found food additives may make children more hyper active. The culprit here is artificial food coloring and preservatives. Although the study was not conclusive and is being questioned by some experts, the U.K. Food Standards Agency, which funded the study, has already revised its advice to parents about what to feed their children.

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Get Rid of Junk Food for Charity

FitSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Now that you've been reading FitSugar, you may be feeling a need to get those Twinkies out of the house, stat. Problem is your Mom always told you it's bad to waste -- Don't make me remind you that there are people starving in Africa...

Tomorrow, Saturday May 12th donate all your nonperishable goods to the United States Postal Service's annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. All you have to do is leave a bag next to your mailbox and your mail man (or mail woman) will take it to a local food bank. It's the only nationwide food drive, it's super easy to do and it's free so there is no reason not to get involved. Plus now you have a reason to get rid of those honey roasted peanuts, especially since that now you've recently switched to raw almonds, those peanuts will never see the light of day. Clean out that pantry to help others as well as yourself.

For more information, check out StampOutHunger2007.com.

No Wonder Kids Are Fat

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Have you watched TV lately? Prime time evening shows are overflowing with commercials advertising junk food. Pizza, ice cream, candy bars, soda, sodium-filled snacks, and fast food. Where are the ads with fresh salads, fruits and whole grain snacks? Can you blame kids for the unhealthy choices they make when all they're exposed to is crap?

For years, health officials have warned us that kids were flooded with too many commercials glorifying unhealthy foods. Finally researchers studied the effects of these commercials.

Researchers monitored thirteen TV networks from late May to early September of 2005. On average, children ages 8-12 saw about 21 food commercials a day - that's 7,600 a year.

Of the food ads, 34% were for candy and snacks, 29% for cereal, 10% for drinks, 10% for fast food, 4% for dairy, 4% for prepared meals, and the rest for breads, pastries, and restaurants.

In December 2005, The Institute of Medicine concluded that these food commercials contradicted dietary guidelines for children and were putting children's health at risk. The Institute recommended that these companies change their marketing strategies and gear them towards healthier choices for impressionable and budding consumers.

In November, 10 major food and beverage companies including Coco-Cola Co., McDonald's, and PepsiCo Inc., agreed to voluntarily devote at least half of their kid-directed ads towards advertising healthier diets and lifestyles.

Don't get too excited just yet. Nothing has really changed so far, but researchers believe that this study that was recently released will help jumpstart these companies into following through with their health kick.

Eva Mendes Now Has Her "Best Body Ever"

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:30:00 -0800

Reformed junk food junkie, Eva Mendes now has "her best body ever." She'll be sporting a tiny bikini on the March cover of Shape magazine, so we will all be able to take a gander.

Eva recently shared her new body philosophy with ET:

"I don't emphasize on losing weight ever. I emphasize on just bettering my life. That's why I don't succumb to the pressure in Hollywood to be thin, because I am what I want to be. What I want is to feel really good inside and out."

Eva, didn't come to all this on her own. After living on drive-thru from Jack in the Box and Burger King during her early years in Hollywood, she found trainer Harley Pasternak through friend Halle Berry. Once a "gym-phobe" she now does weight training and cardio, since that is part of Pasternak's 5 Factor plan.

This woman has a great perspective when it comes beauty and perfection:

"My vision of a perfect body is a really healthy one, I think perfect bodies come in [all shapes and sizes] ... you have the tall, slender GISELE-like perfect body. Then you have the JENNIFER LOPEZ perfect body, and then you have the BEYONCÉ perfect body. I appreciate women in all shapes and sizes because we are beautiful creatures."

I really got to say, I like the way she thinks.

Lohan Loves Junk, But Hates Carbs

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:25:15 -0800

Lindsay Lohan has recently been reported as saying that she loves junk food, as long as it doesn't have any carbs.

Hmmm.

Mirror.uk.com claims that Lohan confessed, "I eat all types of things. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today. I like McDonald's and sushi but I can't do any carbs or any sugar." And that, "It's OK not to like your body, but you'll grow into it."

Thanks Lindsay, we'll be crossing you off our healthy and positive role models for 2006 list. Here's the thing, if you are going to go low-carb, you've got to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables. Junk food (even if it is candy in the shape of a fruit) does not provide much nutritionally.

In other news, Lohan has been stripping for a living, check out popsugar.com to read more.

Junk Food for Kids is Junk

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:00:00 -0800

There has been a promising trend among health professionals to start focusing on younger America in the current ongoing battle against obesity.

The Biggest Loser recently had a special about high school aged kids and what they're eating at school. The kids ate mostly pizza, fries and a drink called the red stuff. When asked what veggies the kids ate, the lunch lady replied, "tater tots." WTF? It's no wonder childhood obesity is on the rise.

Why do they allow this type of nutritional atrocities to happen in our schools? Why can't the lunch lady offer our kids real veggies like broccoli and carrots? It turns out the lunchroom is figuring out what big business already knows: among teens, pizza and fries sell, salads and veggies don't.

When did it become cool to eat junk food? Health officials are now working at taking the cool out of junk food (just like it has tried to do with smoking).

Want to know how? Then read more

The December issue of Pediatrics reported that:

Advertising represents 'big business' in the United States and can have a significant effect on young people. Advertisements can be restricted or even banned if there is significant public health risk. Cigarette and alcohol advertising would seem to fall squarely into this category, and ads for junk food could easily be restricted.

Fit's Tip: Try getting your kids to bring a lunch from home. Even better? Have them pack it (with the healthy food you have made available at home), this way they will feel a sense of responsibility about what they are putting in their bodies.

Anything in Moderation?

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:30:00 -0800

I was talking to a friend the other day and she lit up a cigarette. I said "I guess you didn't get the memo. Smoking is still bad for you."

She said, "I know. I know. But I asked my doctor, and he said, 'Anything in moderation is OK.'"

What? Yeah, I can see getting drunk once in a while, or consuming an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's at one sitting being OK, but smoking in moderation? I don't know about that one.

According to the ACSH (American Council on Science and Health), cigarette smoking is a lot different from let's say, eating candy. People can consume a king size Snickers bar here and there without hurting themselves. There is no such thing as "smoking in moderation." Any amount of smoking is bad for you.

Fit's Tip: Looking to kick the habit? Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to www.smokefree.gov for info. Quitting smoking is way too hard to do it alone, so think about joining a support group.