FitSugar

Learn to Love Olives

FitSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I am a big fan of the Mediterranean diet, and not just because I love hummus. The med diet has been found to fight chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, as well as stave off the effects of Alzheimer's.

Lucky for me, I love olives, central to this region's cuisine. Olives are technically fruits, making the oil technically olive juice, which is an oddly unappetizing thought to me so I will stick to calling it oil. This little fruit is healthy, just like the ~~juice~~ oil that comes from it. Due to their natural bitterness, olives, whether they are picked green and unripe or fully ripened and black, need to be fermented or cured to enhance their taste. Yep, olives are processed, but minimally. Soaked in salted brine, oil, or water mellows the olive, creating tasty and nutritious treats.

To see if olives are high in calories, just read more.

Olives are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, as well as vitamin E and other antioxidants. When eating a rainbow it can be difficult to incorporate dark foods into your diet. So when eating olives, go with the black ones; they're higher in antioxidants. It is said that these little flavor nuggets can help stave off wrinkling. I will eat to that! High in fiber, olives are also high in copper an important mineral for your blood, bones, and immune system. A half-cup of olives contains about 78 calories, not too bad. Do rinse your olives, especially if they are salt cured to decrease your sodium intake.

How do you feel about olives? Are they only for martinis in your world or do you try to figure out ways to add them to every meal? If so, Yum has olive recipes for you to try. Tell me how you feel about olives in the comment section below.

Source

More Recalls! Wal-mart Baby Bibs Contain LEAD

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Enough with the recalls already. First it was the ReNu contact lens solution, then the pet food, then Listerine, then the olives, then the beef, and now friggin' bibs?!! WTF!

Wal-mart voluntarily recalled baby bibs from its stores in Illinois after the products tested positive for high levels of lead. I'm sorry - isn't lead poisonous to people, especially little babes?

The bibs, made by Hamco Inc., are labeled under the Baby Connection brand name, in packs of 2-7, with embroidered prints or images of Sesame Street characters. The Illinois attorney general’s office identified the bibs as being sold from June 2004 to the end of March this year in Wal-Mart stores throughout the state.

The vinyl material on some of these bibs may contain lead in excess of the limit for Illinois for products intended to be used by children. Of the 60,000 bibs sold, fortunately no injuries have been reported. Check this website for specific types of bibs that are involved in the recall.

Those who purchased the bibs in Illinois can return them to their local Wal-Mart for a full refund or can receive a free replacement by calling (877) 373-3812 between 9 am and 5 pm Central time.

Fit's Tips: Vinyl bibs are great for babies, for easy clean-up, but they add lead to them to make the vinyl softer. I had no idea. I guess we should stick to cloth bibs.

Yet Another Recall: Olives

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

As if we haven't had enough of recall madness, yet another item has been recalled.

The FDA has put out a release announcing the recall of olives made by Charlie Brown di Rutigliano & Figli S.r.l, of Bari, Italy. The reason for the recall? Apparently the olives may be contaminated with the deadly bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum, which can cause botulism, a potentially fatal illness. What's more? Charlie Brown and Co. initiated a recall of these olives on March 27, 2007 but to date, the company has not contacted importers with specific instructions on the recall so the FDA had to step in.

The olives are sold under the following brands: Bonta di Puglia, Cento, Corrado's, Dal Raccolto, Flora, Roland and Vantia, and have codes that start with the letter "G" and are followed by 3 or 4 digits. All sizes of cans, glass jars and pouches of Cerignola, Nocerella and Castelvetrano type olives are affected.

Symptoms of botulism include general weakness, dizziness, double vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation. People experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. If you have further questions you can contact the Charlie Brown Company at 011-039-080-7839073 or by email (charliebrownbari@yahoo.com).

Grazie!

What's the Deal with: Virgin and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:45:00 -0700

As we all learned from the Butter or Margarine Quiz, olive oil is a much healthier alternative. Butter is bad for your heart since it is high in saturated fats, and most margarines are made from hydrogenated oil so they contain trans fats which raises your cholesterol.

OK back to olive oil - what's the difference between virgin and extra virgin? Is one healthier than the other? What about refined olive oil? Does refined mean better? Is one better suited for cooking?

Extra-virgin olive oil comes from the first pressing of the olives. It contains no more than 8% acidity (oleic acid), and is said to have a superior taste. Extra-virgin olive oil has higher levels of Vitamin E, Vitamin A, chlorophyll and magnesium. Contrary to popular belief, heating it will not cause it to lose its health benefits, it will only lose flavor.

Want to know about virgin olive oil and which one is best to cook with? Then read more

Virgin olive oil is made with olives that are slighly riper than those used to make the extra-virgin kind. It has an acidity of less than 2%, and while it has a good flavor, extra-virgin's flavor is considered superior.

When you see the term refined on the label, it means that the oil has been chemically treated to neutralize the strong acid taste. Refined olive oil is lower in quality than virgin olive oil, which is why it is less expensive. There is no refined oil in either virgin or extra-virgin olive oil. If a label simply says "olive oil" then it is a blend of virgin and refined, containing at most 1% acidity. It commonly lacks flavor.

When using olive oil in foods, save the more expensive extra-virgin oils for salads, for drizzling over fresh breads, or for brushing over cooked vegetables since it loses its flavor when heated. When cooking, use the cheaper olive oil - you can always add some extra-virgin olive oil right before serving to add flavor back.

Fit's Tips: Don't be fooled by the words "100% Olive Oil" on a label. This is often low quality olive oil. For best quality, choose bottles that say "extra-virgin."

Healthy Cooking Tip: Olive Oil Shelf Life

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:00:02 -0700

Being the cornerstone of the Mediterranean-style diet, olive oil tastes great and offers a wide variety of health benefits. But that bottle that has been in your pantry for two years - not so much. As olive oil ages, it loses its nutritional potency. Researchers found that when stored for over six months, the antioxidants in olive oil decrease by about 40 percent. If you don't use much of the oil, buy smaller bottles to keep it antioxidant rich. Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark space to help prevent oxidation, which not only compromises the taste of the oil but the nutritional benefits as well.

How long have you had your bottle of olive oil?

Cool Healthy Gadget: Misto Olive Oil Sprayer

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:00:00 -0700

I am a huge fan of olive oil, but too much of a good thing can be bad, and I often go overboard with how much olive oil I use while cooking. In light of this, one of my favorite healthy kitchen tools is the Misto Olive Oil Sprayer ($9.95).

All you do is fill the sprayer with olive oil. Pump the cap to pressurize. Then spray on anything your little heart desires. A couple of spritzes will do just fine. You'll end up using less oil, which ultimately means fewer calories, all while still benefiting from its good fats (monounsaturated fats).

The sprayer is non-aerosol, which means it's not harmful to the environment. Plus, you can refill the sprayer and reuse again and again.

Olive Garden is Making Us Sick Too!

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:45:14 -0800

Here we go again...

Three people have been hospitalized and more than 300 people claimed they became ill (nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea) after eating at an Indiana Olive Garden restaurant last weekend on Indianapolis' north side.

No word on the cause but so far health officials are sayings it is not E. coli which has wrecked havoc on Taco Bell's and Taco Johns' customers.

I'll let you know what happens but until then, since mainstream restaurants are making us sick, check out YumSugar.com for great recipes so you can cook (and eat) at home.

Healthy Eating Tip: Add Some Fat to Your Tomatoes

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:00:39 -0700

After years of being maligned, fat is making a comeback. Fat is necessary to absorb fat-soluble nutrients, like carotenoids, the antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A. This family of antioxidants gives fruits and veggies their orange and red hues as well.

Take tomatoes, for instance. They're known for being high in the antioxidants lycopene and beta carotene, both types of carotenoids. But since lycopene and beta carotene are fat soluble, tomatoes need to be paired with a bit of fat for us to absorb these important nutrients. Spritzing a little olive oil over your tomatoes adds flavor and will help you reap the benefits of this fruit disguised as a veggie.

Are You a Carb Queen?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:47:55 -0800

I'm not going to lie to you. I love carbs. Warm bread with olive oil, real macaroni and cheese, and pumpkin chocolate chip scones are a few of my faves. The big problem is that those foods tend to be high in calories, and if I eat too many, my jeans let me know. I don't live without them, though; I just keep my carb intake in check by eating mostly whole grains and eat them with plenty of lean protein, veggies, and fruits. What about you? Do you find carbs hard to resist?

Sleepless in West Virginia

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Last night I was up late firing my glue gun at the finishing details on my daughter's Halloween costume, so I was a little groggy this morning. Most of the time I do get plenty of rest, but according to a recent study, sleeplessness is a major US problem. Americans suffer from chronic lack of sleep, and the problem is most prevalent in the southeastern United States, particularly in West Virginia. According to phone surveys of 400,000 people (at least 3,900 in each state), one in 10 Americans didn't get a single good night's sleep in the previous month. Statistics are double that in West Virginia - one in five is sleep-deprived.

The participants weren't asked why they weren't getting enough sleep, but experts think it has to do with the fact that this state ranks the highest when it comes to obesity, smoking, and heart disease. Studies show that obesity causes issues with sleep, and those who suffer from sleep deprivation are at higher risk for depression, high cholesterol, and weight gain, and are more likely to drink heavily and smoke.

Aside from sleep problems, West Virginia is also home to the fattest and unhealthiest city: Huntington, WV. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is shaping up the city in a reality TV show that will air in November. Besides helping them in the kitchen and the gym, it looks like Jamie also needs to help them in the bedroom.