FitSugar

Diet Tip: Curb Cravings With Mint

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We're always looking for ways to fight cravings when they arise, and one my tricks of the trade is mint.

Yes, mint does wonders to keep my cravings under control as its strong scent is a natural appetite suppressant. I keep a mint scented candle in my kitchen and I like to light it at night. Not only does it keep the house smelling good, I feel like I am less likely to give into late night snacking temptations. Other simple ideas are to sip mint tea, chew sugar-free mint gum, or simply brush your teeth. It may all be psychological, but it works for me so I can't complain. Try it out and see if mint helps keep your cravings under control too. If not, check out some other great ideas for curbing cravings.

Source

Metromint: Cool Water

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:00:00 -0800

Some people can't get enough of fruit flavored water. So what about mint flavored water?

Metromint is the latest and greatest in the water world. This water is filtered, then fresh mint (grown in Washington’s Yakima Valley) is added. That’s it. No sweeteners. No calories. No pesticides. Nothing but all-natural ingredients. That is refreshing!

Metromint’s all-natural combination of pure water and fresh mint hydrates you and your tired muscles. It also freshens your breath, settles your stomach and relaxes your mind. It's no wonder the design is so sleek, Rio Miura, a Japanese fashion designer, along with Scott Lowe created Metromint. Right now there are two flavors: spearmint and peppermint so look for it in your local grocery store or buy a case (24 bottles for $48) online from Metromint's site. Keep a look out because Metromint is announcing two new varieties at the Fancy Food Show (San Francisco) in January.

Do you drink enough water? Find out with Fit's Calculator!

Snack Attack: Tzatziki, No Longer Greek to Me

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 08:53:45 -0800

I recently spent some time in Greece and I literally lived on Tzatziki and pita the entire time I was there.

Convinced it was going to keep the memories alive at home, I have been making a healthier version of this tasty Greek style dip.

Ingredients:

2 cups of non-fat yogurt
2 large cucumbers
2 tablespoons minced garlic (or 2 garlic cloves)
10 fresh mint leaves
A handful of dill (or if you're like me and don't like dill you can leave this step out)

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until mixed well. You can decide how chunky you want it to be but it should be close to the consistency of ranch dressing (with cucumber bits mixed in). Store in the refrigerator for 2 hours or until ready to serve. Serve with veggies and whole wheat pita, or pita chips.

Why we love it:
Yogurt is a great source of calcium. Try to get organic and Live & Active cultured yogurt to really reap the health benefits.
Cucumbers are very low in calories as well as a great way to help cleanse your insides.
Garlic can fight a common cold (and cough) and could also be effective in the fight against cholesterol.
Mint is great for soothing an upset stomach, it opens airways to help breathing and is a good source of Vitamin C (for an herb at least).

Fit's Tip: This is a great snack to serve if you will be entertaining guests because it can be prepared in advance.

Mint Julep vs. Margarita

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Tomorrow, May 5th, is chock full of festivites: The Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo. Both events have drinks associated with them, the Derby drink is the Mint Julep and the Margarita for Cinco de Mayo. Do you know which one has less calories?

Relax Already: Make Your Own Citrus-Mint Sugar Scrub

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Indulging in a hot shower or bath is one of my favorite ways to reduce stress. Couple it with a sugar scrub, and it's just as good as a full-body massage - well, almost). Why buy a sugar scrub, when it's so easy to make your own?

Here's a recipe that incorporates the summery scent of citrus. To see it read more.

You'll need:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon fresh tangerine juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon fresh grapefruit juice
3 to 5 drops of peppermint oil

Mix the sugar and almond oil first. Then add the juices. Lastly, mix in the peppermint oil. Store in a sealed container.

If citrus isn't your favorite scent, try this recipe for Brown Sugar Body Scrub. Not only will a sugar scrub relieve tension, but it's also a gentle way to exfoliate dead skins cells from your body.

Bisacodyl (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:10:02 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Bisacodyl (bis-a-KOE-dil)

Treats constipation.

Brand Name(s)

Dulcolax, Biscolax, Feen-A-Mint, Good Sense Women's Laxative, LoSo Prep, Femilax, Dulcolax Bowel Cleansing Kit, Good Sense Laxative, Health Care America Bisacodyl, Dulcolax Bowel Prep Kit, Veracolate, Reliable Gentle Laxative, Correctol, Woman's Laxative, Alophen

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to bisacodyl.

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet, Coated Tablet

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew or crush it.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not use this medicine within 1 hour after drinking milk or taking an antacid.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel habits.
Make sure your doctor knows if you cannot swallow the tablet without chewing.
Tell your doctor if your constipation does not improve after using this medicine for 1 week.
You should not give this medicine to a child under 6 years of age unless a doctor tells you to.
You may not see results for several hours after you have taken this medicine.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you do not have a bowel movement in 12 hours, or if you have rectal bleeding.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
Lightheadedness or fainting.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Mild stomach cramps or discomfort.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 45_5330

A Week In Review: FitSugar Round up

FitSugar — Sat, 05 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

You have got to try this yoga pose: Extended Side Angle. Work your legs while stretching your side - it feels great.

Today, May 5th is Pilates Day. Hopefully there is a studio participating near you so you can check out the method.

If you are looking for a new suit, check out these sexy backs by Speedo.

Evangeline Lilly's beauty is not Lost on us. Read what she does to keep looking so great.

Do you eat Hot Pockets? You might want to read this nutritional breakdown of them before you nuke your next hot pocket.

Here's the skinny on some not-so-healthy health foods.

Do you know which drink has less calories, a mint julep or a margarita.

Want to see if the city you live in made it on the list of the top 10 cities with the most smog.

There are seven habits of healthy people. Hopefully your habits would make the list.

May is all about Skin Cancer Awareness. Get a free skin cancer screening.

See what a pound of muscle can do for you.

D-Mix Energy Elixir: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:00:54 -0700

There's a ton of energy boosting stuff out there - drinks, bars, gels, and chews, to name a few. Now there's D-Mix, an energy elixir that tries to set itself apart by billing itself as the "world's first customizable energy elixir." D-Mix comes in coffee and mint flavors and is a concentrated liquid serum, which, according to the website, you can pump into just about anything. They even provide non-alcoholic cocktail recipes that they think D-Mix will complement.

Each one-ounce bottle of D-Mix contains:

400 mg of energy (caffeine and guarana)
14 vitamins and minerals
5,000 mg of antioxidants
50,000 percent of vitamin B12
21 amino acids
23 fruits and herbs including acai and goji berries

We tried the mixes in our office, first on their own and then in water. Given all the stuff they're made of, I was surprised they weren't too medicinal tasting. Instead, they were similar to children's chewable vitamins, but with a fake-sugar aftertaste that sits on your tongue for a while. I think if diluted enough you'd probably not taste much of the flavor at all.

There's a little chart on the back of the bottle for the amount of liquid you should pump into your drink depending on your weight, but the idea is you can take in as little or as much as you want depending on your needs.

I can see how this product might take off, since the needs of a six-foot-tall bodybuilder are probably different than my own. But the slick marketing campaign and flashy packaging has me wondering if this is bad media hype. Would you use D-Mix?

Label Able: Sorbitol

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:03:14 -0700

I'm a very picky label reader, and I won't buy anything at the grocery store unless I scan the label first. If you're the same way, you may have come across the ingredient sorbitol. It's a sugar substitute you'll often find in diet or "light" foods, in sugar-free gum, candy, and mints, and in diet drinks. You'll also find it in mouthwashes, toothpaste, and cough syrups. Sorbitol is made from glucose, and is 60 percent as sweet as sucrose but has one-third of the calories. This sweetener has been safely used for over 50 years, and the only requirement of the FDA is that companies write on the label, "Excess consumption may have a laxative effect." Yes, it's true. If you eat too much of this sweetener, you can end up with extreme abdominal cramping and regular trips to the ladies room. Proving once again that moderation is key - even with low-cal sweeteners. Sorbitol is OK for diabetics and has been found to be non-carcinogenic. I'm not big into diet foods, but at least I know this ingredient is safe.

Which Drink Has More Calories?

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:30:00 -0700