FitSugar

Know Your Enemy: Poison Ivy!

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:30:00 -0700

'Tis the season for Hiking and trail running. There's a lot of beauty in these woods, but you got to be careful and avoid the poison ivy that lurks at the edges of the forest. Yes, it pays to know your enemy.

First off, it is the uroshiol oil on the plant that is the culprit and creates the horrible itchy, blistery skin reactions associated with poison ivy. While some people don't have a reaction to the oil, others may be hospitalized because their reaction is so severe. You should also know that even if you've been exposed to poison ivy and had no reaction, you are not necessarily immune to it. People can develop reactions at any time of their lives, so it is best to avoid poison ivy at all costs.

You will experience symptoms wherever the oil makes contact with your skin. First you will get a red, itchy spot on your skin, that develops into blisters. Once you wash your skin with soap and cold water, the rash won't spread. If you pop the blisters, the rash won't spread either, but the wounds could become infected so it is best not to pop them.

Many plants can look like poison ivy, so pay close attention whenever you're walking in moist areas. The rule "Leaves of 3, Let it be," doesn't always work. It can grow in groups of 3 leaves, with a larger middle leaf, but it can also grow up to 9 leaves in a group.

Want to know what to look out for, then read more

Poison ivy needs light to grow, so often you'll find it lurking on the edge of woods, roads, parking lots, and fields. In the deep woods, poison ivy can't get enough light, so watch out for moist places that get enough sunlight.
Poison ivy generally grows in a cluster of low weed-like plants, but it can also be a vine that climbs up trees.
The edges of the leaves have tiny "teeth."
The leaves aren't always green - they are reddish in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow or orange in the fall.
The berries are typically white.

Fit's Tips: To avoid getting poison ivy, wear long pants and shoes that cover your entire foot if you are going to be trekking in the woods. If you know you've been exposed to poison ivy, rinse the area immediately with COLD water - hot water will open your pores and let the oil in, which could make your reaction worse.

Here are some more pictures of poison ivy:

poison ivy in the spring

poison ivy in the summer

poison ivy in the fall

climbing poison ivy

Fit's Tips: Poison ivy grows everywhere in the U.S. except in the far west, deserts, and high altitudes.

a poison ivy bush

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The New Trans Fat: Interesterified Oil

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

As you know, I have been pretty thrilled about all the bans on trans fat happening worldwide, but of course food makers are finding a way to still make food cheap and unhealthy, without the trans fat. Enter Interesterified Oils.

Being confused about it myself, I decided to look to Mr. Seth Braun, natural health expert and author of healthyfastandcheap.com, because he's really done his research on this new type of oil:

Food manufacturers are getting around the trans fat labeling by mixing small amounts of fully hydrogenated oil with liquid polyunsaturate oils and calling “interesterified oil.” They claim that fully hydrogenated oil is healthier. Since there is less trans fat, they can sell this product to food manufacturers for use in commercial dressings, baked goods, candies and anything else that used to have partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredient list.

In plain english, interestification means mixing fully hydrogenated oil with liquid polyunsaturate oil to produce a consistency similar to partially hydrogenated oil, which is the source of trans fats. The solution to the trans fat problem; from the manufacturer perspective!

So what's the moral of the story? Read those labels folks. Food makers are in the business of not only making food, but also in the business of making money. If it has interesterified oils listed, chances are it has trans fat too.

Whole Foods Companion

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 02:35:00 -0800

If you or someone you know is a health nut, you've got to check out Whole Foods Companion, by Dianne Onstad. It's the ultimate resource guide for everything you eat.

You can look up any fruit, vegetable, legume, grain, seed, nut, herb, spice or oil and find out tons of information.

Each ingredient is listed, including nutritional value (like on the labels you see on all foods), general information, buying tips, culinary uses, and health benefits. You can also find out the history of each ingredient, where they came from, how they were named, and the traditions they are associated with.

When I looked up almonds, I found out that they are actually a fruit. You can soak, crush and strain almonds to make almond milk. This book is full of interesting tidbits like this.

It's a perfect companion to cookbooks and is a detailed and valuable guide to natural foods. You'll learn so much about foods you've been eating your whole life. Plus, you'll discover new foods you've never even heard of.

Fit's Tips: Here's a great gift idea - Give a copy of Whole Foods Companion and your favorite cookbook to the chef in your life.

Cooking with OIL

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:30:00 -0800

Peanut, sunflower, safflower, sesame, and olive oils are all healthy oils.

To keep them that way, you don't want to overheat them. If an oil cooks for too long (you'll know because it changes color), it can become damaged, not to mention ruin its taste. To preserve the nutritious properties and the flavor of unrefined oils, try the "wet-sauté" technique:

Pour around a 1/4 cup of water in a stir fry pan and heat just below boiling.
Add the food and cook it a few minutes in the hot water.
Add the oil, stirring frequently.
After a minute or two, remove the pan from the heat. The less time the oil spends in the hot pan, the better.

Fit's Tip: Cook the food. Then add the oil.

What's the Deal With: Oils

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:00:00 -0800

There's a lot of talk these days about OIL. But do you know which oils are healthy and which ones you should avoid? Then threre's the question of how to store them - it's hard not to get confused. I'm here to set you straight.

Healthiest Oils: Flax seed, olive and canola oils. They actually reduce your bad cholesterol.

Unhealthiest Oils: Cottonseed, palm kernel, and coconut oils. They are high in saturated fat, and potentially raise your cholesterol.

You should purchase oils in small quantities so they don't spoil. Pour them into dark glass bottles (unless you bought them that way already) and store them in a cool, dark place. Unrefined oils should be refrigerated, except for olive oil which can hang in your cupboard.

Fit's Tip: Remember that oils are liquid fats. Even the "good" oils still average a whopping 120 calories per tablespoon - so use them sparingly. Pour the oil into a spoon first, then drizzle it on your salad or into your frying pan.

Relax Already: Take a Bath

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:30:00 -0800

It's the end of a very long day. You've cooked, you've cleaned and you've tucked the kids in bed. There is nothing on tv, you're sick of your book (and your husband for that matter) and all you want to do is unwind. Here's a thought: Take a bath.

Almost everyone has a tub but not everyone uses it for bathing (ironic, really). One way to calm down after a hard day is to draw yourself a bath.

Not into soaking in plain, old bath water, then read more

People pay good money to soak in therapeutic spa tubs, but you can create your own therapeutic bath at home. There are so many fun bubbles, oils, milks and soaks to make your bathing experience even more enjoyable. Dr. Hauschka, the holistic skin care brand, has a line of aromatherapy bath oils for any mood. If you're looking to de-stress, try the lavender or the spruce oils (or combine them both for extra aroma fun) for the soothing and calming properties in the herbs. The trial size kit is only $15.95 if you're not yet sure that bathing is your thing. Buy them here.

Fit's Tip: Put some fresh towels beside the tub before you start the bath... nothing kills the mood of a de-stressing bath like running naked across the cold bathroom floor to fetch a towel.

Is Palm Oil the New Trans Fat?

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:00:17 -0700

Partially hydrogenated oil is a type of trans fat that has gotten a lot of flak, and rightfully so. This chemically altered fat is known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and increase your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Many companies are replacing hydrogenated oil with palm oil, saying that's it's a healthier option.

On nutritional labels you might see this ingredient listed as palm-fruit oil, since it's extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. This is not to be confused with palm kernel oil, which comes from the palm seed found inside the fruit. Eighty-six percent of the fat in palm kernel oil is saturated (the unhealthy fat), and 50 percent of the fat from palm-fruit oil is saturated, so it's the better choice of the two, but is palm oil considered healthy? To find out read more.

Palm oil is high in saturated fat, and so are butter, whole milk, ground beef, and skin from chicken. These fats should be limited just like trans fats; they clog your arteries and can lead to heart problems. Small amounts of palm oil are seen as safe, but I wouldn't go out of your way to eat foods containing it, and would instead look for foods made with canola or olive oils.

Palm oil has also been in the news over the past couple years for environmental reasons. The palm fruit is found in rain forests, and the production of palm oil is leading to deforestation, which is in turn driving orangutans to near extinction. So if you're concerned about your health and the well-being of the planet, I'm sure you'll be diligently label reading the next time you hit the grocery store.

Palm Fruit Oil vs. Palm Kernel Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:30:00 -0800

I was food shopping the other day, reading labels as usual, and I came upon the ingredient palm fruit oil. I kind of assumed that it was the same as palm kernel oil, but I was wrong. Palm fruit oil (also called palm oil) is extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree while palm kernel oil comes from the palm seed found inside the fruit. Eighty-six percent of the fat in palm kernel oil is saturated (the not so healthy fat), while only 50 percent of the fat from palm fruit oil is saturated, which makes it a healthier choice for your arteries. Even though it's high in saturated fat, some research suggests that the fatty acids in palm oil can actually raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in your body. I haven't found any substantial medical evidence to prove this though.

So when you're checking labels, be on the lookout for these oils since they're found in margarines and many processed foods. If the saturated fat content is high, you may want to skip out on certain products, especially if you have issues with high cholesterol or your heart.

Source and Source

When It Comes to Oil, Spray Don't Pour

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:30:00 -0800

Certain oils like olive and canola can offer your body the healthy fat it needs. They're low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fat, considered the healthier kind of fat that can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. That does not mean you're eating foods that are drowning in oil. A fat is still a fat, no matter what. A tablespoon of oil can add up to 100 calories!

When cooking or adding oil to foods, try using an oil mister, like this one from Crate and Barrel ($14.95) or you can try the Misto ($9.95). Through a pumping action, you can give a light mist of regular or infused oils to salads, bread, pans, veggies, meats, and anything else you add oil to. It's easier than using a brush, and healthier than just pouring a whole bunch straight from the bottle. It's a great way to lighten your meals, and add flavor but not too much extra fat and calories.

Cooking Oil Breakdown

FitSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Being a curious creature, I like to compare things. Recently, I decided to focus on cooking oil. I tend to use canola and olive oil when cooking since they're healthy oils, but as I peruse the shelves of oils at the grocery store, there are so many more to choose from. For easy comparison, I created this breakdown. The oils are fairly similar calorie-wise, but take a look at the saturated fat content. This is the fat you want to limit in your diet, so that's why coconut and palm kernel oil should be used or eaten sparingly. Since some of you may prefer to cook or bake with butter or margarine, I included those at the bottom of the list, just for comparison. I also included oils that you wouldn't necessarily cook with, but that you may find in a list of ingredients on pre-packaged foods.

To see the breakdown, read more.

Here's the nutritional info for one tablespoon of oil.

Oil	Calories	Total (g)	Saturated Fat (g)
Almond oil	120	14	1
Avocado oil	124	14	1.6
Canola oil	120	14	1
Coconut oil	117	13.6	11.8
Corn oil	120	14	2
Cottonseed oil	119	14	3
Extra virgin olive oil	120	14	2
Flaxseed oil	120	13.6	1.3
Grapeseed oil	120	13.6	1.3
Hemp seed oil	126	14	1.5
Macadamia nut oil	120	14	2
Olive oil	119	13.5	1.9
Palm oil	120	13.6	6.7
Palm kernel oil	116	14	11
Peanut oil	119	13.5	2.3
Safflower oil	120	13.6	.8
Sesame oil	120	13.6	1.9
Soybean oil	120	13.6	2
Sunflower oil	120	13.6	1.8
Vegetable oil	124	14	.9
Walnut oil	120	14	1.5
Wheatgerm oil	120	13.6	2.6
Butter	102	11.5	7.3
Smart Balance Margarine	80	9	2.5

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