FitSugar

Beware of What's Lurking on That Peel

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:47:53 PDT

I thoroughly wash apples, pears, and strawberries before eating because that is what you do with produce with no peel. My mother taught me this as a small child. With food borne illnesses seemingly on the rise, it's recommended to do a solid rinse and even a scrub to produce that you do peel like cantaloupe and potatoes. The majority of fruits and vegetables are seriously manhandled from harvest to store. Even if you do peel certain fruits like kiwis, mangoes, bananas, melons, and oranges, your hands still come in contact with pesticides, germs, and bacteria, which can transfer from the unwashed peel when slicing or peeling to the part you eat. Kind of gross, no?

Do you already wash produce you're going to peel or not eat the skins of?

Download Tunes From Your Favorite Audioblogs With Peel

GeekSugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:45:43 PST

You remember One Track Mind, that music website that I was going on and on about a few weeks ago, and how they have free MP3s you can download on the legal tip? If you scour the Internet for these types of music blogs, it probably takes a ton of time out of your day to find then download tracks, right? Well, you can streamline this process with the help of a little app called Peel.

Made for your Mac computers, Peel lets you input a list of your favorite audioblogs and, like a handy RSS reader, it will download all the free tracks and load them into your iTunes for your listening pleasure. Simple and easy, Peel does all the heavy lifting, so all you have to do is enjoy. This simplicity does come with a price tag, though - a mere $15 - but if music is your life, it's a minor cost to bear. Bonus - there's a free 25-day trial for you to take advantage of.

You Asked: Carrot Peels?

FitSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
For years I have been peeling my carrots before eating them, but recently I went to a friend's house for dinner. She was making a big salad and she didn't peel the carrots before slicing them. I asked her about it and she said you could eat them. Is this true? Have I been peeling for nothing? Or does the peel have extra nutrition, like apple peels do?
- Not a Carrot Connoisseur Catie

If you're wondering too, then

read more. That's a great question, and I too grew up peeling my carrots, because I was grossed out by the fact that they were dirty and grown underground. Then I realized that potatoes, parsnips, and radishes are underground veggies too and eat those skins. Just like those veggies' skins, the outside layer of carrots is also edible, and it's not necessary to peel them. You just need to scrub them real well to get rid of the dirt. Some people think that pesticides are concentrated in the peel of conventional carrots, but that's not the case. Since carrots are grown underground, the chemicals get into the soil and can seep into the entire veggie, so peeling won't necessarily prevent you from consuming pesticides. If you're concerned about chemicals, then buy organic carrots. As far as the nutritional value of the carrot peel goes, since this veggie is a bright orange color throughout, there's no more beta carotene in the peel than there is in the inside. So to sum things up, the peel is healthy to eat (as long as you wash it), but you won't be missing out on any vitamins if you don't eat the peel. Source

Healthy Eating Tip: Wash Produce You're Going to Peel

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 PDT

You're probably already eating a good amount of fruits and vegetables but are you washing them all? I recently went to eat a banana and someone said, "Aren't you going to wash that first?" I thought, well no because I am going to peel it. But should I? So I did a little investigative work and here is what I found out: you should wash all fruits and vegetables, even those that you only eat the inside of, like bananas, kiwis, mangos, etc. Imagine how many hands and things touch the fruit before it actually gets to your mouth. Your hands could pick up the bacteria on the unwashed peel and transfer it onto the part you eat. This goes for all fruits and vegetables that you may peel before eating, so why not wash them first? It only takes a few seconds.

Do you already wash produce you're going to peel or not eat the skins of?

Source

How to Deal With the Peel

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Many of our favorite fruits and veggies have nutrient rich skins. Unfortunately, some conventional veggies are usually coated with wax.

The wax is used to increase the shelf life of the produce by preventing moisture loss, plus it protects them from bruising during the shipping process. The government does regulate the waxes used on food, but some of them may contain ingredients you don't necessarily want to put in your body like petroleum based solvent and wood rosins.

Organic produce is never waxed, so you can eat the skins of your organic fruits and veggies to your heart's content – after you wash them, of course! Here is a list of the most commonly waxed conventional produce:

Apples
Bell peppers
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Lemons (if you use the zest)
Potatoes

Fit's Tip: If you are curious about the produce wax, you should ask your grocer what kind of wax is used.

Source

For More Benefits, Don't Peel That Apple

FitSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Are you an apple peeler? Maybe your kids refuse to eat the apple peel and you give in to them? Well, looks like it's time to think about changing your ways...

A new study shows the bulk of apples’ anticancer properties lie in the peel. Researchers identified a group of phytochemicals in the peel that proved potent against at least three different types of human cancer cells: breast, colon and liver. So step away from the peeler and grow to love the skin your apple is in.

By the way, ironically, I am eating an apple (peel included) as I write this -- Check ya later cancer.

Source

What to TiVo: Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:59:52 PST

8:00 Last Man Standing (new)
8:30 Cougar Town (new, season premiere)
9:00 The River (new)
10:00 Body of Proof (new)
12:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live (new, with guests John Goodman, Kevin Nealon, and Robin Thicke)

8:00 NCIS (new)
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (new)
10:00 Unforgettable (new)
11:35 Late Show With David Letterman (new, with guests Viola Davis)
12:37 The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (new, with guests Joss Stone and Dave Stewart)

8:00 Glee (new)
9:00 New Girl (new)
9:30 Raising Hope (new)

8:00 The Biggest Loser (new)
10:00 Parenthood (new)
11:35 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (new, with guests Tyler Perry and The Cranberries)
12:35 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (new, with guests Donald Trump and Idris Elba)

8:00 Hart of Dixie (repeat)
9:00 Ringer (new)

Alexander Wang Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:42:08 PST

Alexander Wang staged a dark and dramatic show tonight at Pier 94, setting the mood for a high-impact show complete with a tricky "runway" configuration, strategically placed mirrors, and our favorite highlight of the night, a surprise appearance from Gisele Bundchen. "I personally think he's a great guy, a great person, and he's always so sincere," said Bundchen. "He asked me and I'm very happy that I was able to be here." The show kicked off with a vast array of structured, lacquered wool coats paired with laser-cut fishnet turtlenecks - pulled over part of the face to look like a mask - and waxed suede manipulated to look like leather. The latter was used to create black- and oxblood-hued military-inspired dresses and sexy front-slit skirts. Then came the fringe, thus far a burgeoning trend on the Fall runways, juxtaposed on crisp collared shirtdresses and tops. The surprise closer of the evening featured top models like Karolina Kurkova and Bundchen facing the mirrors - then peeling off their half-masks. Mystifying? Yes, but there's no confusion when it comes to Wang and his modern way of thinking.

Trends: Lacquer, laser-cut details, fringe.
Colors: Black, oxblood, white.
Key Piece: A cropped hoodie jacket, leather minidress, any of the botanical ombré pieces.
Accessories: Lacquered and leather knee-high boots, stacked ankle boots, leather gloves, leather duffel bags, small crossbody bags.
Who Would Wear It: Downtown girls like Alexa Chung, Zoe Kravitz, and Erin Wasson.

10 Sexy, Healthy Foods For Valentine's Day

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:01:18 PST

The search for sexy foods is an ancient pursuit, and aphrodisiacs come in many healthy forms - with skins, peels, and shells. And healthy living and romantic meals aren't mutually exclusive. We've rounded up 10 foods considered sexy for their suggestive shape, texture, or color, and found recipes so you can add them to your romantic Valentine's meal. If you're on the prowl for a healthier love potion, check out these sexy, healthy recipes that might just help you get in the mood.

Know Your Techniques: Large Dice

Camilla Salem — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:13:58 PST

A large dice is a relatively straightforward knife cut. Measuring at about 3/4-inch on each side, this cut may not seem as complicated as a julienne or a chiffonade, but with the right technique, you can really speed up your prepping process.

This cut's ideal for large vegetables, like tubers. A peeled potato is an easy example.

Cut the potato into 3/4-inch planks.

Keep reading to find out how to finish this simple cut.