FitSugar

DrSugar: How Much Salt Is Too Much?

DrSugar — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 09:30:42 PST

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I am a vegetarian and when I first started cutting meat out of my diet I still craved it. I ate a lot of "fake meat" products, which I understand are highly processed. I will still eat Morningstar and Quorn products on occasion, but rarely. How bad are these products for you? I noticed that they have a lot of salt in them. What does all this salt do to you exactly? Also, how much salt per day is OK? When I search for daily salt intake, nobody can really give me a clear answer. Thank you!
- Salty Gal

Thank you for your great question, as I too worry about my daily consumption of salt given the fact that my nutrition seems to come second sometimes to daily patient care. One of the major life lessons I learned in medical school is that physicians should "eat when you can and sleep when you can" and I must say that I often find myself just grabbing whatever is quickest in the hospital cafeteria in the short period of time I have between patient care duties. Unfortunately, this does not lead to eating the most well-balanced, healthy, and lower sodium diet. So, I am very glad you asked this question regarding salt intake and if you want to learn more, please keep reading!

Food Review: LightLife Smart Stuffers

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:00 PST

As a meat eater, I'm not afraid to chow down on tofu and seitan. I usually don't opt for meat alternatives though, like meatless chicken patties or fakin' bacon, because I enjoy chicken patties and bacon. Normally, I wouldn't go out of my way and buy these Lightlife Smart Stuffers, but a vegetarian friend of mine raved about them, so I thought I would give them a try. Basically they're supposed to be like breaded stuffed chicken. To see how it tasted and how many calories are in one stuffer,

Food Review: Morningstar Farms Chicken Patties

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:00:00 PDT

Although I'm not a full-fledged vegetarian, I do like to eat black-bean burgers, soy milk, and tempeh every once in a while because I like that they are cholesterol free. I never really go for meat alternatives that strive to look, taste, and feel like meat though, but since a good friend recommended Morningstar Farms Chik Patties, I reluctantly agreed to give them a try.

To see what I thought, just

Tofu Pups: A Healthier Hot Dog

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:00:00 PST

As a kid, hot dogs are a staple up there with mac and cheese and pizza. We learned to love them, but now we know they're really not that good for us. Many contain saturated fat and those dreadful nitrites, which are found to be carcinogenic.

If you or your kids can't bear to give up hot dogs, then check out a healthier alternative called Tofu Pups. Want to see what they look like and how they compare to regular hot dogs? Then


Serving Size	1 link	1 link	1 link
Calories	60	150	140
Total Fat	2.5g	14g	13g
Saturated Fat	.5g	6g	6g
Cholesterol	0mg	30mg	30mg
Sodium	300mg	370mg	460mg
Carbs	2g	1g	1g
Fiber	1g	0g	0g
Sugar	0g	0g	1g
Protein	8g	6g	5g
Iron	6%	4%	2%

These pups have that smoky smell and flavor you love about hot dogs, but they definitely have a different consistency. Since these are made with extra firm tofu, they're kind of springy like hot dogs, but they're not juicy and they don't have that thin skin that hot dogs have. Since they taste pretty similar, I think they're definitely worth trying, especially since they're much healthier as compared to beef franks. I knew they'd have less cholesterol and saturated fat, but I had no idea that a hot dog made from tofu would have more protein. Now I love these even more. Fit's Tips: I would not try grilling these pups because they'll just stick to your grill. Boil them in some water or microwave them for best results. Source

Gardenburger: Sun-Dried Tomato Basil

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:30:00 PST

If you recently got your cholesterol or blood pressure checked, you may realize that your body could really benefit from cutting back on foods that are high in saturated fat. Adding more bean-and vegetable-based foods to your diet will not only keep you regular, but will also be good for your heart.

If you're used to eating hamburgers, and you don't want to give them up, Gardenburgers are a tasty alternative. They come in many wonderful flavors, such as one of my favorites, Sun-Dried Tomato Basil. Just how healthy are they? To find out

read more Okay, so they don't look like a real hamburger, and they definitely don't taste like one, but they do taste delicious and are really filling. Did you check out the amazing nutritional info? Only 1 gram of saturated fat per 100-calorie patty. Plus 5 grams of both fiber and protein. I love that you can see whole pieces of red bell peppers, corn, rice, rolled oats, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil. All those real ingredients make this patty taste fresh and savory.

Serving Size	1 patty
Calories	100
Total Fat	3g
Saturated Fat	1g
Cholesterol	5mg
Sodium	310mg
Carbs	15g
Fiber	5g
Sugar	2g
Protein	5g

Fit's Tip: These Gardenburgers taste great on a bun or on an open-faced sandwich with lowfat cheese, tomatoes, and avocado. You can also cut up pieces and use it in your Shepherd's Pie, lasagna, or spaghetti in place of ground beef.

What's the Deal With Seitan?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:00:00 PST

There are so many meat alternatives out there, which is wonderful for vegetarians. There are tofu turkey, tempeh bacon, and seitan chicken nuggets. Tofu and tempeh are both made from soybeans, but seitan is actually made out of wheat gluten. It's sometimes referred to as the vegetarian wheat meat.

When cooked, seitan has more of a chewy texture than tofu or tempeh, making it a popular meat substitute. Many vegetarian restaurants use it to make mock steak strips, mock chicken in stir-frys, and I've even had mock eel made out of seitan.

Since people eat meat alternatives as a source of protein, I was curious to see how seitan compared to tofu and ground beef? To find out

	3 oz. Nasoya Chinese Spice Seasoned Firm Tofu	3 oz. LightLife Teriyaki Seitan	3 oz. 85 percent Fat-Free Ground Beef
Calories	90	110	181
Total Fat	5g	0g	12.6g
Saturated Fat	1g	0g	4.9g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg	57mg
Sodium	220mg	380mg	55mg
Carbs	3g	6g	0g
Fiber	1g	1g	0g
Sugar	less than 1g	4g	0g
Protein	8g	19g	15.6g

Check out the difference in protein! I'm totally amazed that seitan has 19g and is only 110 calories. It even has more protein than ground beef. Very impressive. If you're looking for new ways to get your daily protein, give seitan a try. Since wheat gluten doesn't have a very strong flavor, you can flavor it any way you want. It'll give your dishes the chewy consistency you get from meat, but without all the cholesterol and saturated fat.

Saturated Fat: A Little May be Too Much

FitSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:45:00 PDT

OK, so we know that saturated fat isn't good for us. These fats are NOT essential to our bodies whatsoever, but boy are they tasty. Butter, ice cream, hot dogs, bacon - all dairy and meat products contain saturated fat.

Why are they bad for us? Saturated fats are known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels over time. This leads to plaque build-up in your arteries, making it difficult for blood to pass to and from your heart, which puts you at risk for a heart attack. Now new research shows that food loaded with saturated fat may have immediate effects on your heart.

A study conducted in Australia took 14 healthy adults (ages 18-40) and gave them 2 meals consisting of a piece of high-fat carrot cake and a milkshake. The first meal was made with 90% saturated fat and contained 68 grams of fat! That's equivalent to a double cheeseburger, a large order of French fries, and drinking a large milkshake (yikes!) The second meal was made with polyunsaturated oil, and only contained just 9% fat.

The researchers took blood samples of the participants before and after the meals to see what happened to their HDL (good) levels of cholesterol. They discovered that the levels of good cholesterol decreased after the first fat-filled meal, and increased after the second healthier version.

The effects may be temporary, but they are still a cause for concern since this happens every time a person eats a meal high in saturated fat.

Fit's Tips: Here's the deal. It's important to limit your saturated fat intake as much as possible. Aim for 10% or less each day. That means if you eat 2,000 calories a day, eat no more than 20g of saturated fat. Cut back on meat and full-fat dairy products. Also check labels to see if there is hidden saturated fat (they tend to lurk in processed foods and snacks). You can also go for meat alternatives like Gardenburgers and Tofu Pups. I also love dairy free foods such as Wildwood Soyogurt and Tofutti Cuties (dairy-free ice cream sandwiches). They taste great and are so much better for your heart.

Source

Please Pass the Tofurky

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:00:00 PST

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture over 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. That's one-sixth of the total turkeys sold each year. Wow. That's a lot of cluckers.
Why not try something different this year? Whether you choose to save a turkey's life or want a healthier option, cook up a Tofurky instead.
It's made from a revolutionary tofu-wheat protein blend, and is known for its incredible, turkey-like texture and flavor. Tofurky is hands-down the best alternative to turkey.

5 Surprising Ways to Eat Nut Butter

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:49 PST

Nut butters are good for more than just sandwiches. As a source of healthy fats and plant-based protein, nut butters can be a nutritional powerhouse. Whether you prefer classic peanut butter or one of the healthy peanut butter alternatives, here are five unexpected ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:

Blend it into your smoothie: Make your breakfast sip a bit creamier - and more satisfying - by adding some nut butter to the mix. For a bit of indulgence, try a chocolate strawberry banana smoothie. The healthy fats and dose of protein will help you to stay full and get your day off to an energized start.
Add it to your soups: Boost pureed soups with a spoonful of nut butter. Not only will it create a thicker texture, but it will also add rich, unexpected flavor to standard recipes. Surprise your taste buds by adding almond butter to butternut squash and or blending walnut butter into a beet soup.
Turn it into a dipping sauce: Marinate meats in your favorite nut butter before grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce for fruits and vegetables. Get creative with your combinations: try jicama dipped in cashew butter for a fresh twist on peanut butter apples.
Toss it into Greek yogurt. Get double the protein punch by mixing nut butter into your serving of Greek yogurt. For extra energy and nutrients, add fresh berries and rolled oats to the bowl.
Use it in your salad dressing. Blend nut butter with other oils and spices to create a smooth, rich salad dressing. Not sure where to start? Try a Thai dish, like this kale slaw with peanut dressing recipe.

Source: Flickr User Rusvaplauke

Link Time - Why Do Women Love Mitt Romney?

TresSugar — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:32:00 PST

Why do women love Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney? - YourTango
Dead eye candy: check out the hottest guys of the 19th century - The Frisky
The fur (and meat) wearing stars who piss off PETA - The Daily Beast
Do guys prefer watching porn solo or with a partner? - Em & Lo
Study finds you CAN die of a broken heart - Newser
Get yourself some super-cute NPH man candy - theBERRY
10 alternative uses for a bra - CollegeCandy
The rules of going to a movie alone - GOOD
How one woman let her weight get in the way of sexual pleasure - Huffington Post
10 celebrity dads who've written song tributes to their babies - LilSugar