FitSugar

Acidophilus Pearls: The Goodness of Yogurt Without the Spoon

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I'm sure you've all heard about how the live active cultures in yogurt are excellent for your digestive tract. If you have a hard time fitting in a cup of yogurt into your diets everyday or if you just don't eat dairy products, then Acidophilus Pearls, a type of probiotic supplement, were made for you then. It offers the benefits of acidophilus without the calories, cholesterol, sugars, or lactose found in yogurt. If you have tummy troubles, taking one capsule a day can help alleviate occasional gas and constipation plus symptoms of lactose intolerance. Plus these Pearls don't need to be refrigerated like other probiotic pills - and they even made the list of the best probiotics for your money.

Want to know what else probiotics are good for? Then read more

When it comes to your belly, probiotics assist the body's naturally occurring gut flora (useful microorganisms that live in the digestive tract) that often get out of whack because of the foods we eat, and they help maintain a balance of healthy bacteria. Not only that but they also support your immune system and benefit your skin. Taking probiotics can also reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improve mineral absorption, prevent yeast infections, and improve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Colitis. Wow. All I know is that when I take them, I feel so much better.

Who knew they did all that. Do any of you take Acidophilus Pearls or another kind of probiotic?

Pearl Izumi Gets Technical

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:30:06 -0700

Pearl Izumi ruffled some feathers with its ad campaign pitting runner against joggers, but regardless they make amazing biking gear. Recently, the company released clothing made with four technical fabrics designed to reduce drag, regulate body temperature, and address the problems of moisture. They sent me a few items to check out, which meant a couple of bike rides and a spin class over the course of a few days - any excuse to hop on my bike.

The fabric used to construct P.R.O. Octane Shorts ($225) feels more luxurious than anything I have ever worn for a workout. These lightweight shorts feel great on as well. The technical fabric used in their construction is designed to keep a rider cool during a hot competition. In the hot spin I took wearing them, they did just that. Honestly, the price of these shorts indicates they are truly made for elite high mileage riders or serious competitors. I hope to wear them soon for a distance ride, but don't think I would ever drop that much dough on shorts.

To read about the other two more affordable items, just read more.

The W's Transfer Short Sleeve Baselayer ($50) worked well on a cold, yet sweaty ride. My core stayed warm and dry as I powered up hills and sped down the descents. It's made with Pearl Izumi trademarked Minerale fabric, a polyester fortified with carbon based minerals to improve wicking and keep the stink out of the shirt. After a three hour, sweaty ride the smelled only a little bit and the small amount of smell washed out easily. A short sleeve base layer for Autumn biking worked well for me. This shirt is seriously lightweight and tailored to fit the female form.

My favorite piece is the P.R.O. Barrier Lite Jacket ($95.00). A solid windbreaker can save you on a cold and blustery ride, and this windbreaker did just that. Should the sun come out and the wind dies down, this jacket packs down small to easily fit in a the back pocket of a biking jersey. I am impressed with how thin the material was yet how much wind protection it offered. This jacket might be pricey, but as long as it is not raining I think I can wear it all year long. I would wear it to run too.

All three items are available at the Pearl Izumi website. Look for them at your local bike shop too.

Are Runners Not Joggers?

FitSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:30:00 -0800

I recently came across the new Pearl Izumi ad campaign and I am a little peeved. The theme of the campaign is "We are not joggers," which basically belittles joggers in the name of runners.

The whole campaign completely reminds me of the article that blamed Oprah for the decline in the status of the marathon. I am not really sure if Pearl Izumi is trying to lose some customers, or just push us to run faster, but I am not loving this approach. You have to start somewhere, and I think that jogging (or even, gasp, walking) is a fabulous way to start. If you want to push yourself to go faster, then great, but it's all in the name of health as far as I am concerned, not in the name of status.

Check out all their anti-jogger phrases from their campaign - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Pearl Izumi Sugar Short

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Riding your bike is a great cardio workout since it's fun, fast, and the constant breeze keeps you cool. If you don't ride your bike that often, you probably have a sensitive bum, so I definitely recommend getting yourself some padded bike shorts.

Made by Pearl Izumi, Sugar Short certainly protects your booty and keeps you looking and feeling cool! I love the name and I LOVE these shorts.

The best part about these shorts is that they have something called 3D TOUR Chamois™. It's a big name that basically means an anatomically contoured pad for your bum, to prevent you from getting saddle sore. This comfortable pad is seamless and antimicrobial.

I also like that these shorts are not too short and not too long - they have a 5" inseam. Plus, you can't beat the price - $44.95 from teamestrogen.com. These padded shorts will make a huge difference on your next ride.

Get Your Butt In Gear: Pearl Izumi Attack Shorts

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

When you are spending a lot of time on the saddle, biking for hours at a time, you need to protect your lady business. The designers at Pearl Izumi know this little fact and have designed their Attack Shorts with this in mind. These seamless racing shorts have a women-specific chamois (that's the fancy name for "padding") to prevent possible friction points by providing padding in key areas. We need padding in different spots than our male biking buddies. These Attack Shorts are durable, comfortable and stylish with a shorter inseam creating a contemporary fit.

Plus, these shorts are on sale right now at REI for the reduced price of $51.99 (originally $70), as part of REI's Labor Day Sale.

Gear Review: Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor Bike Shorts

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:45:00 -0700

I decided it was time for a new pair of biking shorts. I received a pair as a gift from a biking enthusiast boyfriend, way back in my college days, but this time I was buying my own. After trying on a thousand pairs, and polling my biker-chick friends on their favorite brands, I went with the Peal Izumi Ultrasensor Shorts ($95). They may be a little pricey, but the investment in keeping my backside comfy is certainly worth it. More than the padding, which they amply provide, these shorts are designed to wick. The padding and the fabric of the shorts both promote evaporation. Plus, since we are talking technology, I should add that the chamois (aka padding) contains silver fibers to provide some antimicrobial action by reducing bacteria naturally.

Most importantly these bike shorts are comfortable and flattering. They have a little leg gripper action at the bottom seam so the shorts don't ride up, but the gripping elastic is comfortable and doesn't dig into your legs. Another key feature, these shorts are machine washable, which is always important in workout wear since you are hopefully going to do some serious sweating while wearing them.

You can find them here.

Source.

Probiotics: Beneficial or a Waste of Money?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Probiotics certainly were a health buzzword of 2008. These healthy bacteria can now be found in all sorts of products from dairy products to energy bars, from cereals to dietary supplements. These probiotic products claim to help with high blood pressure, digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation. The question is, are they worth the money?

Many of the probiotic products on the market don't contain enough of the types of bacteria that studies have found offer health benefits, so they're not worth buying. Products worth your money should contain purified strains of specific microbes, such as B. Animalis (found in Dannon's Activia yogurt), or other specific strains of Bifidobacterium, or Lactobacillus. Check amounts as well. Studies show that doses between 100 million and 1 billion colony forming units (CFU) are effective for improving immune function, intestinal infections, and digestion. Acidophilus Pearls contain 1 billion CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum bacteria, so they're a great option. Since needs differ among people, some folks may benefit from one strain of microbes over another; if the Pearls aren't working for you, here's a list of some other probiotics to try.

Fit's Tip: While probiotics are in no way necessary for normal body function, if you're having digestive issues, you may benefit from taking them. Just so you know, in order to feel the effects you need to take them daily, and it may take a week or two to experience results.

If you have a probiotic product that you use, tell me about it in the comment section below.

Source

Gym Time: Pearls of Wisdom Covered in Sweat

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:43:01 -0700

At my house we have a saying, "Not trying is as bad as lying." It was created in response to hearing my girls say, "I can't do that" before even making an attempt. Today, my Equinox trainer Hannah busted me saying the exact same thing.

Hannah told me to jump up and catch a high bar on the cable pulley machine for hanging knee lifts. I said, "I can't do that." She shook her head; she wasn't buying my negative attitude and had me try until I caught the bar. When I jumped and finally grabbed the bar I felt like the strongest woman in the world.

To learn my other gym gaffe keep on reading.

Get in Gear: Indoor Biking Shoes

FitSugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

When it comes to biking gear it is hard to find reasonably priced goods. A user recently asked for help in finding a good biking shoe for indoor use. When shopping for spinning shoes you want to make sure the shoe breathes, hot feet can make a spin class less enjoyable. The mesh fabric used on these shoes by Pearl Izumi screams breathability to me, and I think they look pretty cool too. Plus you can tell by the name of the shoe Sprint Women's Indoor Cycling/Recreational Shoe it is designed to help you go fast while inside.

Another selling point for these shoes is the seamless construction, eliminating points of irritation and friction to reduce blisters. Designed to be flexible enough to walk in, but rigid enough for pedaling the non-marking rubber sole is ideal for gym use.

Fit's Tip: Make sure the clips on the shoes you choose work with the pedal system of your gym.

Buy them from Brand Cycle.com for ~~$74.99~~ $64.99 reduced price!!!

It is National Bike Month, so why not try out a spinning class near you?

Probiotics Put to the Test: Which are Worth the Dough?

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

A lot of us have jumped on the probiotic bandwagon. With all the claimed benefits of those little buggers, how could you not? Problem is, like vitamins, all probiotic supplements are not created equal.

ConsumerLabs.com, an online resource available to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products, has put 22 popular probiotic supplements to the test and the findings were not pretty. Seven of the 22 did not meet quality standards of having at least a billion bugs; yup ONE BILLION BUGS while others were sub par for other reasons. The three that passed the test with flying colors in all their bacterial glory are:

Culturelle with Lactobacillus GG ($16.99)
Enzymatic Therapy Acidophilus Pearls ($29.96)
Kal Acidophilus ProBiotic-5 ($7.85)

Buy all three from the VitaminShoppe.com.