FitSugar

Label Able: Live & Active Cultures

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 02:00:00 -0800

The labels on food today were standardized to make it easier for us to figure out what exactly we are putting into our bodies. The fact is, reading the labels is still downright confusing so let FIT make you label-able.

When it comes to yogurt, all things are not created equal.

We know yogurt is good for us, but a lot of us are clueless beyond that. You may want to start buying Live & Active Culture Yogurt. To find out why, read more

The National Yogurt Association (yup, there is really an association) has developed the Live & Active Cultures Seal to help consumers easily identify which yogurts, including frozen, are not heat treated in the post-fermentation process (thus allowing the live cultures to live). Any refrigerated yogurts with the L&A Cultures Seal contain at least 100 million cultures per gram and frozen yogurts with the seal contain at least 10 million cultures per gram.

Probiotic food (that contains live and active cultures) is really starting to create a buzz in the food industry. Yogurt naturally has "bacteria" in it and the BIG food mutli-nationals have decided to put the good stuff back in to foods what they removed earlier, and then congratulate themselves about it. I find that ironic to say the least.

Fit's Tip: Yogurt with Live & Active Cultures are great for the intestines. What's more, people with a lactose intolerance can enjoy yogurt with the L&A seal!

Greece's Hidden Secret: FAGE Yogurt

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:05:57 -0800

I love yogurt but for me there are very few yogurts that stand out among the pack.

That is why I was totally blown away when I tried, FAGE Total Yogurt (pronounced: Fa'-yeh!). FAGE Total is "Greek yogurt" that is truly Greek -- You can tell by the signature rich and thick velvety texture. It gets the great texture with the unique straining and separating process of the whey from the yogurt. The process also makes the product a suitable cooking ingredient as it does not curdle at high temperatures. What's more? All the FAGE yogurts contain Live & Active Cultures.

The taste is unbeatable and the texture is downright amazing. For me, nothing is worse than eating super runny yogurt. The FAGE Total 0% has 80 calories and zero grams of fat and unlike most fat free yogurts, it actually tastes really, really good.

I used it to make my most recent batch of Tzatziki and it was the best yet! Look for it in boutique and health food grocery stores. For more info, visit the FAGE Website.

Trying to Lose Weight? Ask These Questions

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:26 -0800

Many of the people reading FitSugar have weight loss on the brain, but are your efforts really necessary? Are those extra pounds putting your health at risk, or are you just carrying around a little harmless fluff? WebMD outlined seven questions you should ask yourself to help decide if you really need to get serious about weight loss.

What is your lifestyle? "Regular physical activity and healthy eating are important," say experts who spoke with WebMD, not just for those trying to budge the scale. If you're not active and eat poorly, you should start making some changes for your overall health, not just because of a weight-loss goal.
What is your family history? If high cholesterol, "high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or another weight-related ailment" runs in your family then Web MD notes that "it's crucial to be mindful of your weight."
What is your weight history? If the pounds have been creeping up on you over the past several years, you need to watch out since "experts say your BMI should not increase dramatically, even as you age. Even moderate weight gain in adulthood can increase your risk of diabetes."

To see the other four questions read more.

How is your weight distributed? WebMD warns that if your body is "the so-called 'apple' shape," it can put your health at risk. So if this sounds like you, aim to whittle away your middle. If your weight is primarily in your thighs and butt, it's not as crucial to drop the pounds.
What is your waist size? The National Institutes of Health say that a "waist circumference of over 35 inches in women signifies a health risk, particularly those people with BMIs of 25 and 34.9 (the overweight category)." If you're not sure what your BMI is, check out Fit's Calculator to find out.
What is your health profile? "If your cholesterol and blood pressure levels are high and your BMI falls into the overweight or obese category, it's important to lose weight," writes WebMD. So make an appointment with your doc to get yours checked.
How do you feel? "If you're overweight and have joint problems, shortness of breath, or other health troubles that limit your day-to-day living," and interfere with being able to work, then experts quoted in the article suggest that melting away pounds would help improve the quality of your life.

Gadgets to Inspire Healthy Eating

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:50:56 -0800

Healthy eating is the foundation of healthy living. If you don't fuel your body with nutritious foods, everyday activities and exercise can both feel like a challenge. Here are some gadgets to make eating the good stuff easier and more exciting.

View Slideshow ›

Are Functional Foods Worth the Extra Cash?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

A lot of us (including me, guilty as charged) are shelling out extra cash for so called functional foods.

Functional food are foods that do more than just feed your hunger, they offer the promise of allowing you to be more regular, get full with extra antioxidants or drop your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. New studies are finding that these foods may not be worth the extra cash (about a third more per serving extra), if you're already getting a healthy diet rich in fiber.

From yogurt to water to margarine, we're seeing lots of foods labeled to have supposed benefits from things like probiotics to antioxidants. As a consumer it is hard to identify between what we need, what we think we need and what we want. The outcome is simple: If you want to spend the extra money on these functional foods, it certainly won't hurt anything but your wallet. However, if you are eating a diet full of fruits, veggies and dietary fibers (your basic healthy diet) you don't necessarily need to shell out the extra cash.

The Dark Side of Posting Calorie Counts

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:00:05 -0700

Posting calorie counts has been nothing if not controversial. In NYC the restaurants complained, and now on college campuses students are questioning the practice. In attempts to fight the freshman 15, dining halls have begun posting calorie counts, but there have been some negative consequences. Although about a third of all college students fall into the American College Health Association's obese or overweight categories, the calorie counts might be inadvertently provoking eating disorders.

The unstructured collegiate life, along with all-you-can-eat dining halls, can lead to disordered eating, which is broader than just anorexia and bulimia and includes unhealthy dieting practices. Students and nutritional advisers alike believe calorie counts oversimplify the thought process needed to learn balanced nutrition and that there is a better way to educate vulnerable students about weight gain. Some colleges now post nutritional information online, rather than in the cafeteria, and others have created healthy dining halls, free of french fries, fried chicken, and white bread. Hopefully, higher education can incorporate lessons of healthy living into campus life and help students learn the value of healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

How do you feel about posting calorie counts? Do you feel it can inspire a negative relationship with food?

DVD Review: Nia Unplugged

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:00:52 -0700

If you're into dance, yoga, and martial arts, then Nia is right up your alley. If you can't get to a class, then check out Nia Unplugged ($15). I have to say I enjoyed the video much more than my first Nia class because this type of movement requires complete openness and the ability to let yourself go. It's much easier to flail your arms and yell "yes!" in the privacy of your own home, than with complete strangers in a class setting.

The live drumming in the video is amazing. It reminded me of the African dance classes I've taken. The deep, soulful beats inspire you to dance, and the instructors encourage you to move however your body feels it should. I also loved that this was basically a video of a live class, so you can feel the energy of the group, and be inspired by how everyone moves in their own creative ways. Everyone just seems so happy and into it, and it really motivated me to move more freely.

Not only is Nia an excellent cardio workout because you end up moving every part of your body in just about every direction, but it's also a way to express yourself through your body, so it's fun and a wonderful emotional release. After getting over feeling silly and embarrassed to be moving my body so expressively, I felt happy, confident, and stress-free during and after the video. If you're looking for something different when it comes to being active, I'd definitely check out this video.

See a clip of Nia Unplugged when you read more.

More Evidence That Healthy Living Combats Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:30:04 -0700

Add this to your list of reasons to live healthily: more research is showing that exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding excessive alcohol can help prevent breast cancer. According to data released today from the World Cancer Research Fund charity, at least four out of 10 breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented by healthy lifestyle changes.

The conclusions are based on data culled from 950 research papers around the world. The study found that breastfeeding is also a major factor in reducing one's risk of breast cancer. Here's more from the study:

The charity recommends that both men and women aim to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18 and 25. . . . The charity also recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and, if alcohol is drunk at all, it be limited to two drinks a day for a man and one for a woman.

If you're looking for ways to prevent breast cancer, it's hard to argue with exercise. Physical activity reduces body fat, thereby lowering cancer-promoting hormones such as estrogen. Researchers have also found that women with a higher body mass index have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer.

Do you count cancer-prevention among your reasons to exercise?

Fit Tip: Take Up a New Fitness Habit

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:00:35 -0700

January first is usually the time of year to make resolutions to live a healthy lifestyle, but why wait until then? Take up a new fitness habit right now. Here are some suggestions.

Go for a walk after dinner instead of eating dessert.
If possible, bike to work at least once a week.
Walk dogs at the shelter on your lunch break.
Do 20 push-ups right before you shower.
Sign up for a weekly dance or fitness class with a friend or your partner.
Try a new type of fitness activity that you've always wanted to try like rock climbing, water aerobics, or hooping.
Do a long workout on the weekend.
Stretch before going to sleep or while in bed.

Diabetes Awareness Has a New Face: The Rock

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:55 -0700

As the new national ambassador for the Diabetes Aware campaign, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says,

"Get outside. Play a game. Do something active together. We can make a difference in our own families through exercise, eating right, and teaching healthy behaviors to our children."

Past ambassadors include Halle Berry, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Dustin Hoffman, so hopefully The Rock can continue to raise awareness about reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by living a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes Aware helps educate folks on type 1 diabetes as well.

We should be seeing Diabetes Aware public service announcements starring The Rock soon, but until then, if you want to see the most recent PSA starring Kevin Kline and Jon Lovitz, then read more.