FitSugar

Foods to Fight Fatigue

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:30:09 PDT

After suffering through a sleepless night, I had a strong desire to bolster myself with copious amounts of coffee. But I knew that there were healthier ways to treat myself right after missing sleep. It turns out you can fight fatigue with some sensible eating. You just need to know what to eat to help you avoid yawning at inappropriate times. Here are five foods to help you fight fatigue.

Source: Thinkstock

Prevent Migraines With Magnesium

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:00:03 PDT

When I asked my doctor about ways to prevent migraines, she recommended I take a magnesium (oxide) supplement. I headed to my closest drugstore and picked up a bottle of Nature's Bounty Magnesium supplement (500 mg), and I've been taking one pill every morning for the last few weeks.

Even though it's been less than a month, since taking the mineral supplement I've been headache and migraine free! This even includes the times that I've had red wine, which is one of my triggers. In the last few months I've also been incorporating foods that prevent migraines into my diet, like topping my yogurt and fruit with ground flaxseed. But I didn't notice a drastic change until I started taking magnesium. Have you tried any supplements to rid you of your ailments? Any other tips for saying goodbye to migraines?

Two Ways to Improve Your Memory

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:13 PST

Having trouble remembering where you left your cell phone or the name of your friend's new beau? Then you may want to ask yourself if you're getting enough magnesium. This essential mineral found in dark leafy greens, like Swiss chard, as well as quinoa, almonds, cashews, beans, and dairy products, has been shown in studies to improve both learning abilities and short- and long-term memory. This mineral strengthens and "stimulates changes in synapses, the junctions between neurons that are important in transmitting nerve signals." This means a diet containing sufficient amounts of magnesium could help you remember to bring your lunch to work (instead of forgetting it at home in the fridge). A woman needs about 300 milligrams of magnesium a day, so check your diet to make sure you're getting your fill.

Now learn another way to improve when you

read more. Another way to improve your memory and your capacity to learn is to chill out after you've challenged your brain. After you take a class or sit through a meeting where lots of information is thrown at you, take a break. Relaxing with a cup of coffee, an easy book, or some music allows your brain the chance to rest and tune out so it can focus on retaining the info it just learned. Now which mineral helps your memory? Take a little break for the details to sink in.

Is Your Diet Missing Magnesium?

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:30:00 PST

If healthy living is part of your plans for how to tackle 2008, then you need to ask yourself if your diet is missing magnesium. This mineral is mighty but is often over looked, even though it participates in hundreds of bodily functions that foster good health. It contributes to bone strength; in fact 50 percent of your total body magnesium is found in the bones. It also helps promotes a robust immune system and normalizes muscle, nerve, and heart function. Pretty convincing list, don't ya think?

Women ages 19 to 30 should get 310 milligrams daily of the mineral, and women over 31 need 10 milligrams more, with their daily recommended intake (RDI) being 320 milligrams. The good news is that whole grains are high in magnesium, especially quinoa. An ounce of dry roasted almonds contains 80 milligrams of magnesium while dry roasted cashews contain 75 milligrams. If you are looking for a food source a little lower in fat, then be sure to add beans to your diet. A cup of cooked black beans contains 75 milligrams of magnesium as well. Dairy products are also a good choice, just remember to choose low fat ones.

Swiss Chard Fills the Holes in Your Diet

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 03:00:00 PDT

I crave greens, no matter the season. When it is cold outside, I often choose a cooked green over salads. I just want to eat warm food. One of my favorites greens to cook is Swiss chard, and it comes in colors too. The leaves are green, but the stems and veins can be white, yellow or red. The red is my favorite since the color combination is quite dramatic.

Not only is it tasty, and similar to spinach and beet greens, but chard is also loaded with nutrients. It is a great source of vitamin K and vitamin A. One cup of cooked chard contains half of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C and 3.5 grams of fiber. It also provides 30 percent of your RDI for magnesium and 25 percent of the valuable mineral potassium.

Are you convinced yet? This is a super food. Don't know what to do to the chard? Just rip the leaves from the stems. Chop up the stems and sauté the leaves and stems with olive oil and garlic. Or you could try out this recipe: Whole Wheat Pasta with Chicken, Chard and Peppers. It is truly delish!

Are you a fan of Swiss chard? Tell me your favorite way to prepare it in the comments section below.

Proven PMS Relief

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 02:30:00 PDT

The majority of us are held prisoner by PMS for at least part of the month. Relief may just come in a cocktail. No! Not a martini, but a mix of vitamins recommended by gynecologist Dr. Tracy Gaudet.

Gaudet, the executive director of the Integrative Medicine program at Duke University Medical School, suggests a mix of supplements: calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. She has found this supplement cocktail can greatly reduce the moodiness and bloating that often accompany visits from Aunt Ruby. These supplements might even help reduce excessive menstrual bleeding.

Fit's Tip: When taking supplements, make sure you stay in levels of tolerable limits. Taking an excessive amount of vitamin B6 can have negative health consequences. The RDI for vitamins B6 is 1.3 mg/day and the upper tolerance level is 30 mg/day.

Source

What's the Deal With Charley Horses

FitSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Ever been awakened by an excruciating cramp in your calf? Your foot? Both at the same time? If you have experienced one of these nocturnal muscle cramps poetically known as a Charlie Horse you will know exactly what I am talking about.

While no one has yet to pin point a single cause for these cramps there are many theories as to why they happen, what actions (or inactions) contribute to them, and there are many steps you can take to prevent them.

A Charlie Horse could be caused by overexertion of the muscles, structural disorders like flat feet, prolonged standing on concrete, prolonged sitting, inappropriate leg positions while sedentary (another reason why crossing your legs is really a no-no), or dehydration. Some alternative health practioners believe magnesium and/or calcium levels are too low and that leads to the cramping.

No matter why you get them, you want to know what you can do to avoid them. I suggest staying well hydrated (if you're interested in seeing how much water you should be drinking daily check out the Fit calculator) and stretch your calves regularly throughout the day, before you got to bed and especially if you were wearing high heels for an extended period of time. Light exercise before bed can also help, as can keeping your blankets loose at the foot of your bed since the tight sheets can force the muscles of the foot and calve to engage and then cramp.

Interested in knowing what to do when you get a Charlie Horse? Then

read more Here are a few ways to ease the cramping and the pain:

Walk on or jiggle the affected leg and then elevate it.
Stretch the calf by straightening your knees and flexing your foot toward your knee.
Increase the stretch by actively pulling your toes upward toward your knee.
Take a hot shower or warm bath, or apply an ice massage to the cramped muscle.

Sure do hope these help and just try to remember to breathe while you are in the throes of a Charlie Horse.

Are You Getting Your RDI?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Is it me or are you confused about how much of each vitamin and mineral you are supposed to get each day?

Some of my friends take daily vitamins, and some eat fortified foods like calcium-enriched orange juice. It that necessary, or do we get enough in the foods we eat?

The first step in answering that question is to know how much we need to get each day. Here's a chart to make it a little more simple for you. These numbers are the RDI (reference daily intake) for women.

Want to see? Then

Vitamin	Amount	Foods it's Found in
Vitamin A	700 mcg	Carrots, sweet potatoes, dark-green veggies
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	1.4 mg	Green peas, spinach, liver, beef, pork, navy beans, pinto beans, soybeans, nuts, bananas, whole grain and enriched cereals, and breads
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	1.2 mg	Asparagus, okra, chard, almonds, leafy greens, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs, and fish
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	14 mg	Chicken, beef, tuna, salmon, milk, eggs, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, dates, sweet potatoes, asparagus, avocados, nuts, whole grains, beans, mushrooms, nutritional yeast
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)	5 mg	Whole grain cereals, beans, eggs, meat, some energy drinks
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine and Pyridoxamine)	1.3 mg	Nuts, liver, chicken, fish, green beans, salad greens, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, sea vegetables, and bananas
Vitamin B7 (Biotin or Vitamin H)	30 mcg	Beans, nutritional yeast, cauliflower, chocolate, egg yolks, fish, liver, meat, molasses, dairy products, nuts, oatmeal, oysters, peanut butter, bananas, soy products, mushrooms, wheat germ, and whole grains
Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)	400 mcg	Leafy greens such as spinach, dried beans and peas, sunflower seeds, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, liver, enriched cereal
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)	6 mcg	Animal products such as meat, eggs, dairy products, nutritional yeast, and fortified cereals
Vitamin C	75 mg	Oranges, strawberries, grapefruit
Vitamin D	200 units	Milk, sunlight
Vitamin E	15 mg	Eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), meat, nuts, poultry, vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean, sunflower), olive oil, wheat germ oil, and whole grains
Potassium	4,200 mg	Potatoes, tomatoes, white beans, lentils, yogurt, bananas, broccoli, soybeans, avocado
Calcium	1,000 mg	Dairy products, nuts, broccoli, fortified orange juice, sardines
Protein	40-60g (depending on your weight and activity level)	Dairy products, nuts, meat, poultry, fish, eggs
Iron	18 mg	Molasses, liver, dates, baked potato with the skin, kidney beans, chickpeas, oats, beets
Zinc	8 mg	Oysters, red meat, chicken, beans, nuts, whole grains, dairy products, fortified cereals
Magnesium	300 mg	Chard, spinach, tofu, artichokes, lima beans, scallops, sea bass
Phosphorus	700 mg	Bran, Cocoa powder, dairy products, seafood, chickpeas, garlic, lentils, soybeans, nuts, liver, eggs, chicken, yeast

Millet: Not Just "For The Birds"

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 03:30:00 PDT

When's the last time you cooked up a steamy bowl of millet? Never? Well hopefully I'll have you running to the store to pick yourself up some for dinner.

Millet is known as a whole grain, but it's actually a seed. It's one of the oldest crops grown in the world, so I'm surprised that it's not more popular. Although it's the main ingredient in most birdseed, it's nutritious and delicious for people too.

It's got a similar taste to rice, somewhat bland and earthy, and its texture is like cous cous or mashed potatoes, depending on how long it's cooked. Although this tiny round grain is usually yellow, you can also buy gray, white, or red millet.

The healthy benefits of millet should not be overlooked. It has almost the same amount of protein as wheat and oats, the same amount as quinoa, and it actually has more protein than long grain brown rice.

It can lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks just like oats because it's a great source of magnesium. Magnesium has been shown in studies to reduce the severity of asthma and the frequency of migraine headaches. 1 cup of cooked millet provides 26.4% of your daily value of magnesium.

Want to know what else millet has? Then

read more Millet is also rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, which can help lower cholesterol. It contains vitamin B6, folate (B9), calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc as well. Since it's a seed, millet contains no gluten, so it's a great alternative for people who are allergic. Eating foods high in insoluble fiber, such as millet, may also help prevent gallstones in woman. The fiber supplied by millet may also offer protection against breast cancer. You can find breads, muffins, and casseroles made with millet, but I definitely recommend cooking some up yourself. Here's how:

Boil 3 cups of water. Add 1 cup of millet, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. If you let it sit as is, you'll get a consistency similar to cous cous. If you add more water and let it cook longer, it'll get creamier like mashed potatoes.

Fit's Tips: Substitute millet for rice or quinoa in your favorite dishes. You can also use it in place of oats to make "milletmeal," instead of oatmeal.

Vitamins and Minerals: What's the Diff?

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:00:00 PDT

First off, it's good to know that our bodies require 6 nutrients:

Carbohydrates
Fats
Protein
Vitamins
Minerals
Water

Carbs, fat, and protein are known as macronutrients because we need to eat them in larger quantities (grams per day). Our bodies metabolize them and turn them into energy.

Vitamins and Minerals are considered micronutrients because we need them in smaller quantities (milligrams per day). They don't give us energy but rather help our bodies carry out necessary and important physiological processes.

Vitamins are either water-soluble (water is required for absorption and are excreted in urine) or fat-soluble (requires fat for absorption and are stored in fat tissue). There are 9 different water-soluble vitamins: Vitamin C and all 8 B vitamins. There are 4 fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K.

Each of these vitamins have unique roles and functions in our bodies. For example, Vitamin A promotes healthy eyesight and helps us see in the dark while Vitamin K plays an essential role in clotting the blood.
Minerals are either Macro (major) or Micro (trace) minerals. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfur are considered Macro minerals and are needed in quantities of 100 mg a day or more.
Iron, iodine, zinc, chromium, selenium, fluoride, molybdenum, copper, and manganese are Micro minerals, and are needed in much smaller or "trace" amounts.

There are 16 essential minerals and they are also needed to keep the body healthy. Calcium prevents osteoporosis and iron prevents anemia.

Want to know what else makes them different? Then

read more Vitamins are organic which means they contain carbon, and they contain atoms of one or more different elements. Minerals are pure inorganic elements (containing atoms of the same element), meaning they are much simpler in chemical form than vitamins. Vitamins can be affected by heat, light, and chemicals so proper processing, cooking, and storage is necessary to preserve their health benefits. Minerals on the other hand are considered more stable. Fit's Tips: To get enough vitamins and minerals each day, make sure you're eating a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein. It's completely possible to get everything you need in your diet alone. If you are concerned about a deficiency, get tested by your doctor.