FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Look at Shelf Life

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:15:00 -0800

A lot of us are trying our best to eat as healthy as possible, but sometimes it's hard because there are so many factors to consider. One simple tip on how to determine how healthy a food really is for you is to check out its shelf life. The longer it lasts on the shelf, chances are the worse it is for you. Think about it: organic fruits and veggies hardly make it home before going bad but a loaf of white Wonder Bread can sit in your pantry for a month without the first trace of mold.

Fit's Tip: This rule does not necessarily apply to frozen foods as a bag of frozen veggies or fruit can sit in your freezer for over a month.

Source

Sulfite Sensitivity

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:03:00 -0800

Sulfites are sulfur based preservatives that are used to prevent or reduce discoloration of light-colored fruits and vegetables. They are also used to prevent black spots on shrimp and lobster. They are used to condition dough and maintain the stability and potency of certain medications.

Most (except for a few) wines contain sulfites. Yeast naturally produces sulfites during fermentation and most winemakers add sulfites to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. All wines made in the U.S. require a "sulfite" warning label. There are no such rules for wines made in other countries.

Why am I telling you all this? Because according to the FDA, 1 out of every 100 people has a sensitivity to sulfites. They lack the natural enzyme to break them down. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest tightness, nausea, hives or anaphylactic shock.

Sulfites can occur naturally in foods like wine and are added to certain foods as well. Some common foods that contain sulfites are baked goods, soup mixes, jams, pickled foods, bottled lemon and lime juice, maraschino cherries, and dried fruit.

Look at the ingredients and you may see:

sulfur dioxide
sodium sulfite
sodium bisulfite
potassium bisulfite
sodium metabisulfite
potassium metabisulfite

These are all sulfites, so if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may try avoiding sulfites to see if your symptoms go away. Or you can try sulfite free food and wine.

Fittingly Green: BPA-Free Food Containers

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Ever since the BPA/Nalgene scare of 2008 - in which we learned that bisphenol A could cause all sorts of health problems - manufacturers have been churning out BPA-free plastic water bottles and baby products. Now, BPA-free food storage is also becoming easier to find.

Since we know that bringing your lunch to work is a healthy habit, make it even healthier by packing food in BPA-free plastic containers. I love these fittingly green food storage containers from Preserve made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Buy two square containers for $5.99, a large round one for $2.99, or the smaller version for $2.79. Rubbermaid also has an extensive collection of BPA-free containers to help you go green.

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading

Health Food Obsession Gone Too Far: Orthorexia

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:39 -0700

If you're reading this site, chances are you're into eating healthy. While it's beneficial to be conscious about what you put in your mouth, it's not good to become so obsessed that your lifestyle goes from a healthy diet to an unhealthy fixation on a healthy diet. The condition is referred to as an eating disorder by some, known as orthorexia nervosa. Symptoms include sticking to a strict diet such as a raw food diet, making a list of foods that are off-limits, or nervously avoiding foods deemed unhealthy, such as those with artificial flavors, preservatives, or that aren't organic.

Being obsessed about eating healthy seems like a positive thing, but problems arise when a person's healthy lifestyle becomes so overwhelming that it pushes other activities and interests to the periphery, and interferes with relationships and day-to-day responsibilities. As the quality of their diet increases, the quality of their life decreases. It can ironically lead to unhealthy consequences like malnutrition or starvation (anorexia orthorexia).

This is not to say that those who have diet restrictions such as vegans or those following a macrobiotic diet have orthorexia. It has to do with the rigidness of the lifestyle, and whether or not it's actually detrimental to a person's health. While some mental health professionals classify orthorexia as an obsessive compulsive disorder, others think orthorexia isn't a real disorder at all. What do you think?

Food Review: Sticky Fingers Blueberry Scone Mix

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:05 -0700

I love a good baked good. And even though I resist the croissants, scones, and muffins that stare at me through coffee shop windows, my desire remains true. I've been searching for a healthier version of these delightful treats with little success until now. Enter: Sticky Fingers Wild Blueberry Scone Mix.

These things are so easy to make: just add water, stir, and bake. The ease of it made me dubious at first but as the scent of fresh blueberries began to fill my kitchen I knew I found a winner. The scones are the perfect amount of sweetness and not dry at all. Whenever I buy a scone from a bakery it feels like a paperweight but Sticky Fingers scones are much lighter - somewhere between a piece of cake and a biscuit.

Best of all they are completely natural, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, no cholesterol, and they don't have any trans-fats or saturated fats in them. They contain a total of seven pronounceable ingredients in them that include freeze-dried wild blueberries. One Sticky Fingers scone contains 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat, compared to a blueberry scone from Starbucks, which contains 460 calories and 18 grams of fat.

The company offers a bunch of other flavors and baked goods like breads and muffins, I can't wait to try everything!

Today Is World Vegetarian Day!

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:00:46 -0700

Grab your broccoli and tofu because today, Oct. 1, is World Vegetarian Day. It kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month: 31 days devoted to celebrating this plant-based diet and teaching others about its benefits.

If you ever contemplated going vegetarian, here are some things you may want to consider. Ditching meat from your diet can help:

Reduce your risk of heart disease, strokes, and certain cancers since vegetarians tend to consume less cholesterol and saturated fat.
Promote weight loss since a healthy vegetarian diet is mostly made up of low-calorie fruits and veggies.
Promote regularity since a sensible vegetarian diet is chock full of fiber.

There are more reasons to eat a plant-based diet, so keep on reading.

Label Able: Vegetable Glycerin

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:30:50 -0700

I was going on a trip and picked up some Kashi TLC Trail Mix bars. I trust their products completely so don't feel it's necessary to read labels before buying them. While in the car, I happened to check out the list of ingredients and saw vegetable glycerin.

If you're curious to know what it is or why it's used keep reading

Healthy Recipe: DIY Yogurt

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:15 -0700

I think that yogurt should be part of any healthy diet, on the daily. It's great with fresh fruit and granola, contains all the good kind of bacteria we need, and is an excellent source of calcium and protein. Eating yogurt every day can be costly, so I was really excited to discover how easy it is to make at home.

I started out by following the recipes posted on Make Your Own Yogurt and Chow, making a few modifications of my own. The homemade stuff tastes so much better than any store-bought version I've ever tried - it's creamier, tangy, and has a great consistency. There are no added sugars or preservatives, or wasteful plastic containers to throw out. I'm hooked and can't stop looking for cute glass jars so I can gift this homemade treat to my friends.

To find out how to make it, read more.

Heat milk on a stove top to about 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the milk from the heat and let it cool to 110 degrees, stirring occasionally.
Add a few tablespoons of plain yogurt to the milk to act as the starter culture.
Transfer this mix to a covered container and store in a warm area for a few days. The longer you let the yogurt sit out to ferment, the tangier and thicker it will become.
Refrigerate overnight before eating, stir well, and enjoy!

Find more Healthy Recipes and share your own in our Healthy Recipes group!

Energy preservation

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:51:26 -0700

Overview

Information

Illustrations

Energy levels

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Information

Question:

How can you keep your energy high throughout the day?

Answer:

Drinking plenty of water will help, even if you are not thirsty. Also, get regular exercise 30 minutes per day, follow a well-balanced diet, and get enough restful sleep (for most people this is 8 hours of sleep per day).