FitSugar

Speak Up: What's Your Midafternoon Pick-Me-Up?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:16 -0700

No matter how healthy my lunch is there are still days where I hit that dreaded afternoon slump. My eyes begin to glaze over and I start to zone out at my desk. A quick walk outside usually helps, but, depending on my workload, I can't always get away.

Luckily I've found a quick and simple solution in the form of rosemary or peppermint oil. I know that there are doubts surrounding the validity of aromatherapy, but I definitely feel refreshed after taking a small whiff of these oils - I'm more awake, lifted, and ready to work.

If oils are hard for you to find, keep a lemon at your desk for afternoon sniffing. Citrus fragrances, especially lemons, have been shown to lift people's moods.

Have you ever used aromatherapy as a pick-me-up? If not, how do you beat your afternoon slump? Tell me in the comments section below.

Aromatherapy Doesn't Work?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:30:00 -0800

Aromatherapy is immensely popular nowadays. It seems like everywhere you go, you can find rose geranium-infused candles, citrus and bergamont room sprays, and lavender-scented eye pillows. I enjoy these sweet smells, and my spirit is often buoyed by them. However, recent research is saying that aromatherapy doesn't work - well, at least not for the two popular scents lavender and lemon.

Researchers at Ohio State University conducted a two-year study that included scientifically rigorous testing of the body's physical changes when people smelled popular scents - and they came up with nothing. Patients were subjected to stressors, like dipping a foot in icy water (sounds fun), and even when patients were told to sniff lavender because it had destressing abilities, it didn't do a thing for their bodies' physical stress levels. They found that lemon did lift people's moods, but it didn't affect their heart rates, blood pressure, immune functions, or stress hormones.

Scientists admitted that the results surprised them. Even the people who believed in the power of aromatherapy - those who regularly bought scented products - didn't show any physical reactions to what they sniffed.

So according to this study (which cost nearly $374,000, by the way), aromatherapy may not be a cure for illnesses or pain, and it may boost your immune system. When it comes down to it, if smelling a scent makes you happy, having a sniff certainly won't hurt you. What do you think? Is aromatherapy a bunch of quackery, or do you think it really can heal the body and make you feel better?

Source

Green Clean: Lemon Scrubber

FitSugar — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Weekends are cleaning time at my house, and I have been on the hunt for alternative cleaning products. Specifically ones that don't contain ammonia or bleach. Flipping through the pages of Body+Soul, I found directions for a homemade all purpose scrub. It worked wonders on my sinks and tub!

What you need:
½ cup baking soda
Plant-based liquid soap (like Castille soap)
½ lemon

To see what you do, just read more

What you do:

Pour baking soda into a bowl.
Add just enough liquid soap to make a creamy paste.
Spread mixture on the flat side of the lemon and scrub to your heart's content - the lemon acts as a sponge and leaves a natural citrus scent.
Use a damp rag or sponge to wipe away any residue. You'll find the paste will stay moist for a few hours allowing you to scrub for hours if you want!

Fit's Tip: I like to use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap! The peppermint soap is great.

Looking for other ways to clean green? Check out Clean Green: Mop Your Floors with Vinegar.

Get Rid of Unwanted Hair: Sugaring

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Unwanted hair - it's a fact of life. Many women choose to shave or wax, but there might just be a sweeter way. Have you ever heard of sugaring?

Also known as Persian Waxing, it's a method of hair removal that has been around for thousands of years. Similar to waxing, it's supposed to be less painful because it only sticks to the hair, unlike wax which also sticks to your skin.

It's made out of all natural ingredients including sugar (honey or molasses is sometimes used instead), lemon juice, and water. You can play around with different recipes and do it yourself, but I recommend having a professional do it for you.

First, the area is dusted with powder, then warm sugar solution is applied and spread around with a tongue depressor. A porous piece of cloth is then pressed onto your skin. Just like waxing, the strip is then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction the hair grows.

Fit's Tips: If you want to stir up a batch of your own, make sure you have a candy thermometer. You can buy pre-made sugar solutions such as Moom and Nad's and have a regular hair removal party!

Snack Attack: Make Your Own Hummus

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 08:30:00 -0800

You can buy hummus just about anywhere these days, but nothing compares to the taste when it's freshly made. And it's really easy to make - the hardest part is buying all of the ingredients.

What You'll Need:

1 can of garbanzo beans (chick peas)
2 cloves of garlic, minced (you can always use more)
1 - 2 tbsp tahini (it's made out of ground up sesame seeds)
Juice from 1/3 of a lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Place all of the ingredients in a blender for a few minutes, or until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

Serve in a bowl with fresh vegetables and sliced pita bread. Or even better, try it with homemade pita chips. This would also be a great snack to have while watching the Super Bowl.

Fit's Tips: This is a basic recipe, so play around with it - add your own special ingredients like grated carrots or artichoke hearts.

When Life Gives You Lemons....

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

...Soothe a bee sting.

I recently came across some great ideas of alternative uses for lemons, besides just plain ole' eating them. A few tips stuck out healthwise, so here are my favorite DIY uses for lemons:

Exfoliate and clean your feet - mix up some lemon pulp and brown sugar and get rubbing. Rinse and moisturize.
Combat bad breath - gargle with lemon juice to get rid of bad breath.
Fight off a cold - mix lemon juice with honey and hot water to sooth coughs and sore throats and give you a dose of vitamin C.
Sooth a sting - mix the juice of half a lemon with water and bathe a sting to lessen the pain.
Clean your sink - make a lemon scrubber by added baking soda and Castille soap.

Side note: I'll be very impressed if you can actually gargle lemon juice for any amount of time -- Just thinking about it gives me sharp pains in the sides of my jaw.

Source

FREE Samples: True Lemon & True Lime

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0800

In the days where you are pushed to drink more and more water, sometimes it can get a little boring. Personally I love the addition of lemon in my water, especially on warm spring days. Problem is I don't always have a lemon slice with me every where I go.

True Lemon (and True Lime) has created a fresh squeezed lemon or lime taste in a simple packet or a shaker bottle. The crystallized lemon and lime substitutes are made from 100% all natural ingredients including fresh lemon or lime juices and oils. Plus, they contain no calories, carbohydrates, artificial, natural sweeteners, preservatives or sodium. One serving also offers 25% of an adult’s daily Vitamin C requirements. You can bring them camping, to the gym, on a picnic, walk or hike, to work... really anywhere you'd be drinking water.

To get your free sample, visit the True Lemon site and fill out the super quick survey.

Fit's Tip: Are you drinking enough water? Check out the Fit Calculator to find out.

Lite'n It Up Feature: Sautéed Talapia With Lemon-Herb Glaze

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:30:00 -0800

I am always looking for new and healthy ways to cook fish. This is why I was thrilled to find user tshellyedwards's recipe for Sautéed Talapia with Lemon-Herb Glaze posted in the Lite'n It Up Recipe Group. It looks so yummy and would make a nice departure from all the traditional holiday meals we're all eating so much of these days.

To get the full recipe along with some great step-by-step photos of how to cook it, read more

Sautéed Talapia with Lemon-Herb Glaze from tshellyedwards

Sautéed Tilapia with Lemon-Herb Glaze
Serves 4
Recipe from: http://www.midwesthomemag.com

This healthy, flavorful, fast treatment makes just about any fish glorious, especially a mild-mannered one like tilapia. Serve with brown rice or whole-wheat pasta and a colorful salad or green vegetable. (And yes, you can eat the lemon slices-they’re not just a pretty garnish.)
*Note: I served the tilapia with zuccini squash and a hearty, 100% whole grain bread loaf.

Ingredients:
1 large lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tilapia fillets, about 1½ pounds
2 large garlic cloves, minced
½ cup reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 tablespoons sliced Kalamata or other flavorful olives
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, or 2 teaspoons dried

Directions:
Cut lemon in half. Squeeze juice from one half and reserve. Thinly slice remaining half.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 fillets and cook, turning carefully, until browned on both sides and barely opaque in center, about 3 minutes. (*Note: I could fit fillets in my skillet at the same time)

Transfer to a warm plate and repeat with remaining fillets.

Return skillet to heat and add garlic. Cook, stirring, just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in lemon juice and slices, broth, olives, and oregano and cook until lemon slices are soft and sauce has thickened to a glaze, 3 to 5 minutes.

Return all the fillets to pan to coat with glaze and warm through. Serve immediately, topped with lemon slices.

And ta-da! You're done *Note: Don't mind my plastic plate - it was just the first thing I grabbed to put the dinner on!!

Print recipe with images | without images

Do you have your own healthy recipes? Be sure to share them in the Lite'n It Up Healthy Recipe Group.

Lite'n It Up Group Feature: Sparkling Water with Lemon Zest Ice

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:45:00 -0700

Even though summer is sadly coming to an end, I am still looking for a refreshing, low-cal drink, especially since September and October are the hot months here in San Francisco.

User Shanlee has shared a quick and inventive (not to mention low-cal) idea for a refreshing summer drink, that she uses to curb her wine craving.

I've been cutting calories and the best substitute for wine I've found is a glass of Calistoga with Lemon Zest Ice. It's pretty easy to do. Basically, you zest lemon or limes or both together and place a little bit in an ice cube tray and fill with water and freeze. The result are cubes of zesty citrus. Take four cubes and put into a glass and fill with your favorite sparkling water!

Print recipe with images | without images

Sounds refreshing and oh so easy, doesn't it? I am not sure it can fill the shoes of my occasional glass of wine, but I'd be willing to give it a shot.

Not sure what zest means? Check out the definition on YumSugar.

If you have your own healthy recipe idea, share it in the Lite'n it Up Group. Need something a little more substantial? Then try this recipe for chocolate ice cubes.

Source

Are the Kardashians' QuickTrim Diet Products Quackery?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:02 -0800

A very pregnant Kourtney Kardashian is having a hard time accepting her baby weight. Slim sis Kim says that "Kourtney is going crazy. She feels so big right now. She's just ready to have the baby." According to Us Weekly, sisters Kim and Khloe are both dieting with their QuickTrim diet products and expectant mom Kourtney is jealous because she sees how they're both losing weight.

I've got to admit that I'm sick of hearing about the Kardashians, and now they're promoting this diet product and proving that it works. Ever wonder what it is exactly, or if it's even healthy? My gut says it's not, so I decided to check out the website to see what I could dig up. Here's what I found: QuickTrim Fast Cleanse ($30) is a "lemonade flavored drink designed to help rid the body of excess water weight, belly bloating, and intestinal bulk." So are you supposed to drink these magic citrus beverages all day and that's it?

To hear more about QuickTrim and what the ingredients are, read more.

The Fast Cleanse drink I just described is one product made by QuickTrim. It contains many ingredients including pure lemon juice concentrate, chicory root (fiber), and aloe vera gel. Although it's made with natural ingredients, detoxing your body isn't necessary.

QuickTrim makes two other diet supplements, but these are in tablet form: Extreme Burn ($50) and Burn & Cleanse ($60). Extreme Burn claims to burn up to 8,000 extra calories per month. Burn & Cleanse is a 14-day diet system that promises to burn calories all day, and cleanse and detox you all night. They're made with ingredients such as cocoa extract, acai fruit extract, hyssop, false unicorn root, and green tea leaf extract. Sounds like a witch's potion to me. But at least you're instructed to take these tablets between meals, not in place of them.

These pills are supposed to stimulate your metabolism, maintain your blood sugar levels, burn fat and calories, and contain antioxidants to promote a happy mood. Safety-wise, QuickTrim products are not FDA-approved, so I'd skip them completely and save your moolah to buy things you know will help shed pounds, like a gym membership or fresh fruits and veggies. If you're trying to lose weight, don't fall for this quick-fix diet scam. As I've said before, the safest and most effective way to slim down is with a healthy diet and regular exercise.