FitSugar

Speak Up: What's Your Midafternoon Pick-Me-Up?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:16 -0700

No matter how healthy my lunch is there are still days where I hit that dreaded afternoon slump. My eyes begin to glaze over and I start to zone out at my desk. A quick walk outside usually helps, but, depending on my workload, I can't always get away.

Luckily I've found a quick and simple solution in the form of rosemary or peppermint oil. I know that there are doubts surrounding the validity of aromatherapy, but I definitely feel refreshed after taking a small whiff of these oils - I'm more awake, lifted, and ready to work.

If oils are hard for you to find, keep a lemon at your desk for afternoon sniffing. Citrus fragrances, especially lemons, have been shown to lift people's moods.

Have you ever used aromatherapy as a pick-me-up? If not, how do you beat your afternoon slump? Tell me in the comments section below.

Fit for December: Must Haves

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:15:00 -0800

They say the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but I must add that it generally isn't the healthiest. Here are a few things I think will help you stay happy, fit, and healthy in December.

REI Power Stretch Tights ($70)	Hands2Go: Alcohol Free Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer ($3.50)
Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers ($15)	Peppermint	Single Leg Squats

If you want to see why these are my December must haves just read more

REI Power Stretch Tights ($70): Come winter and snow time, you want a pair of toasty pants you can wear for a variety of activities, and these Stretch Tights by REI will take you on a run through wintry streets and to the slopes as a great base layer. Made with Polartec fabric that stretches four directions to ensure ease of motion, they have a moisture-wicking velour fleece to keep you dry on the inside and a smooth nylon outer face that sheds light rain and wind. I love that they come with an unobtrusive zippered side pocket.
Hands2Go Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer ($3.50): Keep your hands germ free with this alcohol-free hand sanitizer. Not only does it kill 99 percent of bacteria, but it also moisturizes with a blend of aloe vera, chamomile, and lavender extracts.
Tinted lip balm with sunscreen: Just because it is cold outside doesn't mean the sun cannot do damage. I love this trio of lip moisturizers with mineral tint for color and SPF 15 by Juice Beauty ($15). There is a color for every occasion. I would definitely slip one if these into the zippered pocket of my REI running tights!
Peppermint: This herb is more than candy-cane flavoring; peppermint is considered by many to be the world's oldest medicine. Peppermint has been shown to help decrease symptoms of irritable bowl syndrome. It can also help relieve cold symptoms by working as a decongestant and expectorant. Warm yourself with a cup of peppermint tea.
Single-Leg Squats: Skiing season officially starts in December (here's hoping for a good snow year in the Sierras) and you need to start conditioning for the slopes now, if not yesterday! Single-leg squats are the exercise to get your thighs mountain ready. Start with six reps on each leg, for two sets.

Tazo Tea for the Soul

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0800

Have you heard of Tazo Tea? They're a unique tea company offering delicious tea from all over the world. The name Tazo actually means "river of life," and "fresh." It's a great name considering that Tazo teas are invigorating, satisfying, and all around good for the soul.

You can get black tea in flavors like Vanilla, Earl Grey, Citron, Darjeeling, and they even make a decaffeinated Chai tea.
Tazo also makes delicious green teas. You can get Green Ginger, Lotus, and Zen teas that combines green tea with the taste of spearmint, lemongrass, and a hint of lemon zest. I love the one named Om, which is a combination of green and black teas.

Since I have a sweet tooth, I love their herbal infusion teas. Flavors such as Sweet Cinnamon Spice, Wild Sweet Orange, and Tazo Honeybush are wonderful on a cold day.

Fit's Tips: I always keep Tazo's Calm tea in the house when I need to relax with the soothing taste of chamomile. Tazo's Refresh is great for a tummy ache with its mix of peppermint and spearmint. In the summer time, I love to make iced tea out of Tazo's Passion tea. It's a light red tea with a delicate hint of hibiscus flowers.

The Skinny On: Peppermint

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:29:06 -0800

Two of my favorite treats are a hot mug of peppermint tea and a cold dish of peppermint ice cream. I must also say that candy canes receive an honorable mention.

Peppermint has long been grandma's answer to belly aches and you know what? She was right on target. Peppermint calms the belly and stimulates digestion. It is often taken by folks with Irritable Bowel Syndrome to lessen the syndrome's irritating symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

More than just a tonic for your tummy, peppermint is also an expectorant and a decongestant. It may offer some relief for mild asthma attacks, lessening bronchial constriction and making it easier to breathe. Peppermint promotes sweating, which could possibly help regulate body temperature during a fever, which is good news during cold and flu season.

Medicinally, peppermint is available in many forms: tea, tinctures, capsules, creams, ointments, or essential oil. It is generally considered safe when used properly.

FYI - Peppermint is YumSugar's secret ingredient this week. If you have a recipe that includes peppermint, you should definitely stop by and share it with her.

Starbucks Holiday Drinks Breakdown

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:45:00 -0800

When you're out running holiday errands, do you stop at Starbucks for a little pick-me-up? Let me tell you: Those cups are full of more than holiday cheer; some of the drinks pack in an amazing amount of calories and fat into a 16 ounce cup. Not surprisingly, that Eggnog Latte is the worst offender, but thankfully it doesn't come with whipped cream. Even without the extra dollop of saturated fat, this holiday latte contains almost 25 percent of your daily caloric intake.

Want to see the caloric damage one holiday-themed Grande can do? Then read more

Flavor (Grande 16 oz.)	Calories	Fat calories	Total Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Caffeine (mg)
Eggnog Latte – Non Fat, No Whip	450	170	18	53	49	150
Eggnog Latte – 2%, No Whip	470	190	21	53	48	150
Peppermint Mocha – Non Fat, No Whip	280	25	3	59	49	175
Peppermint Mocha –Non Fat, with Whip	350	90	10	61	50	175
Peppermint Mocha – 2%, No Whip	330	70	8	58	48	175
Gingerbread Latte – Non Fat, No Whip	200	0	0	38	35	150
Gingerbread Latte – Non Fat, with Whip	270	70	7	40	37	150
Gingerbread Latte – 2% No Whip	250	60	6	4	37	150

Fit's Tips: Of course, I think you should order your espresso drinks with non-fat milk and no whip, since this cuts a serious amount of calories off most drinks. If you are looking to cut back on caffeine avoid the Peppermint Mocha since it has an additional 25 mg of caffeine. If you are cutting back on sugar, you can order your Gingerbread Latte with sugar free syrup, or try it with a half pump of syrup.

St. Patrick's Day Tea: Green and Healthy

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 10:07:54 -0700

This St. Patty's Day, if green beer is not in your diet (or even just not for you) then this festive tea may be worth a try.

Blended with Green Peppermint, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and Green Rooibos, this St. Patrick's Day Tea is one healthy (and green) drink. What makes it so healthy? Why, the peppermint and the rooibos, of course.

Peppermint tea has been thought to have healing effects, as a result of the menthol that it contains. It may ease irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and vomiting. It can also control mild asthma and even help to manage stress. Some even drink peppermint tea as a way to ward off colds.

Rooibos, a South African plant, has gained much attention for the relief of nervous tension, various digestive problems and allergies. Interestingly enough, in South Africa, the drink of choice for expectant mothers is rooibos tea because this caffeine-free herbal infusion has been shown to soothe the body's reaction to allergies and rashes. Most recently, antioxidant activity has also been attributed to the tea as well.

As for the chocolate, well do I even need I explain why that's good? Buy it from TeaGarden.com for $13.50 (3.5 ounces).

Fit Find Faves: FOOD!!!!

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Checking out all the things Sugar users have bookmarked as Fit Finds is pretty fun. These three food related bookmarks caught my eye.

nurdburd13 found a cool list of seven foods healthy people eat. Check them out and see if you are eating these super foods.

I am a Van's Waffle lover so thought it was great to see that Hmorris bookmarked some wheat free waffles and put them in the Sexy & Gluten Free group. If you have issues with gluten this could be a great group for you.

Looks like ina717 and I both share the love of flavored water. Peppermint water sounds so refreshing.

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Check out what other Sugar users are bookmarking as Fit Finds. Chances are high you will find something to satisfy the happy, healthy you. If you want to lean more about bookmarking in the Sugar pages, read my buddy geeksugar's excellent tutorial.

If you find anything out there on the web that helps you stay happy and healthy, do bookmark it and share it with us.

Peppermint oil overdose

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:59:12 -0700

Overview

Definition
Poisonous Ingredient
Where Found
Symptoms
Home Treatment
Before Calling Emergency
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
What to expect at the emergency room
Expectations (prognosis)

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Peppermint oil is an oil made from the peppermint plant. Peppermint oil overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medication.

Poisonous Ingredient

Menthol

Where Found

Peppermint oil is used as a flavoring agent in various products. It is also used:

As a germ-killing (antiseptic) product
As a numbing (anesthetic) product
In herbal medicine to relieve spasms

Note: This list may not include all uses of peppermint oil.

Symptoms

Heart and blood
- Slow heartbeat
Lungs
- Shallow breathing
- Slow breathing
- Rapid breathing
Gastrointestinal
Kidneys and bladder
- Blood in urine
- No urine production
Nervous system
- Convulsions
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Twitching
- Unconsciousness
- Uncoordinated movement
Skin
- Flushing

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Activated charcoal
Fluids
Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)

Expectations (prognosis)

How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Survival past 48 hours is usually a good sign that recovery will occur. If damage to the kidneys has occurred, it may take several months to heal.

Review Date: 2/27/2008

Reviewed By: Stephen C. Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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: 1_002685

Halloween Candy Breakdown

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:54 -0700

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers were my favorites when it came to Halloween as a kid. After a night of trick-or-treating, I loved to sprawl my goods on the kitchen table and count how many I got of each. Now I would never eat as much candy as I could fit in a pillowcase, since many of them are high in calories and contain trans fat, but I still like to enjoy a couple pieces this time of year. Just what is that candy doing to your waistline? Check out the nutritional info below.

1 treat size (fun size)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Snickers	71	3.6	7.6
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup	90	5	8
Reese's Caramel Cup	100	5	11
Reese's Nutrageous	95	5.5	7.5

If you don't see the candy you crave, read more.

1 treat size (fun size)	Calories	Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Milky Way	75	3	10
Butterfinger	85	3.5	8.5
Butterfinger Crisp	105	5.5	9
Milk Duds	40	2	6.3
M&M's	90	4	11.5
Peanut M&M's	93	4.7	9.1
Nestle Crunch	51.3	2.7	5.6
Peppermint Pattie	47	1	8.6
Kit Kat	73	3.7	.67
Dots	70	0	11
Skittles	80	.8	15
Jelly Belly Jellybeans	35	0	7
3 Musketeers	63.3	2	10
Milky Way Dark	81	3	11
Hershey's Bar	66.7	4	7.7
Take 5	105	5.5	9
100 Grand	95	4	11
Nerds	50	0	12
Whoppers	100	4	13
Mike & Ike	50	0	9
SweeTarts	10	0	2.4
Charleston Chew Minis (13 pieces)	180	5	22
Babe Ruth	85	4	10
Health Bar	77	4.7	8.7
Almond Joy	91	5.1	9.2

Peppermint Scented Sports Bra: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Don't like the way you smell when you workout?

Well the Reebok Pulse Scented Short Bra Top ($30.50) releases the refreshing scent of peppermint when you workout. At first I was thinking, "What a waste of money," but now I sort of like the idea. Peppermint is a lot more pleasant than natural odors from the body and if nothing else, maybe it will give the inside of my gym bag a nicer smell. Plus it comes in orange, which you know I love. Already convinced you need it? Then buy one from RunningWarehouse.com.

What do you guys think...