FitSugar

More on High Fructose Corn Syrup

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT

The ads promoting high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that are airing on TV irritate me to no end and I know they bother a few of you as well. The controversy surrounding the ad campaign, which is estimated to cost around $20 to $30 million, continues to grow. The basic premise of the ads is that HFCS is natural since it is made from corn (they don't mention how processed the syrup truly is) and that it is just like sugar. The ads aim to make you feel like a paranoid health freak for avoiding the corn sweetener, but CBS News decided to do a little research of their own on the scientific research behind the ads. What they found is unsurprising and not so sweet.

Six studies are cited on Sweet Surprise ads sponsored by the Corn Refiners Association. Three of the studies were funded by companies involved in the industry: Pepsi Co., the American Beverage Association, and a food, chemical and drug company lobbying group. Two of the studies were never published, so the funding is not public record. The last study was funded by a Dutch company with ties to the sugar industry. Children’s Hospital Boston researched the conclusions of nutrition studies and found that the outcomes of these studies were four to eight times more likely to be favorable towards that funding company. It seems that scientific conclusion can unfortunately be bought and sold.

To see a few facts about HFCS from independent research, just

The Center for Science in the Public Interest funded a four-year study on soft drink consumption. Soft drinks are how the majority of Americans consume ~~mainline~~ HFCS. Soda, it turns out, contributes to the rise in obesity due to the large amount of non-nutritious calories in the beverage. Other studies have indicated that appetite, which decreases after eating, actually decreases less when drinking fructose sweetened beverages, which leads to eating more.

The ultimate take home message, is not the debate that HFCS is just like sugar, but that we should all avoid consuming large quantities of empty calories.

For a little more science on the subject check out this video spoof of the pro HFCS popsicle ad.

Source

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

Victoria Beckham and the Boys Go Along For David's Big Night

Allie Merriam — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:40:45 PDT

Victoria Beckham wore a dress of her own design to accompany her husband David to the annual Sports Spectacular benefit at LA's Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. The gala raises funds for the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute, which researches genetic birth defects. The couple brought their three sons, Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz, along for the event, while baby Harper stayed at home. It was the latest fun outing for the Beckham boys, since earlier in the afternoon, David, Cruz, Romeo, and Brooklyn checked in at the Staples Center to watch the Los Angeles Kings take on the Phoenix Coyotes.

David was honored at the evening event for his work. On the press line, David spoke about his future with soccer. He said, "People always ask me what I want to do when I've finished playing, and they say, 'Do I want to go into management?' To be honest I've never wanted to go into management. I love coaching kids, I love working with kids. They're amazing people. They're amazingly truthful, young people, and that's what I love doing."

The entire Beckham clan is together on the West Coast after a busy period of travel for both David and Victoria. He stopped in Washington DC for an event with the president and first lady to honor the MLS-winning LA Galaxy team. David was then off to Athens and proudly helped transport the Olympic flame to London ahead of the Summer Olympics. Victoria returned for a long tour of Asia on behalf of her namesake collection. Things keep growing for Posh's business - Victoria Beckham will open her first store, possibly in Hong Kong, but more likely in London.

A Cancer Survivor's Goal: 50 Triathlons by Her 50th Birthday

espnW — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:26:06 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Julia Savacool

It's a good thing Jenn Sommermann discovered triathlons when she did. "I was turning 40 years old, and my friend and I were looking for a way to commemorate the occasion," Sommermann said. "We decided to train for a triathlon." Because Sommermann was on the East Coast and her friend was on the West, the two trained together virtually, exchanging workout notes and messages of encouragement. Several months later, they competed in the Danskin Women's Tri in Seattle.

"That was it, I was in love with triathlons," Sommermann said. Little did she know, two years later the fitness she gained through the sport would help her win a battle against ovarian cancer.

It was December 2006 when Sommermann received her diagnosis. She'd been feeling out of sorts for months, but had been reluctant to see her doctor.

The symptoms for ovarian cancer are subtle: Bloating, weight gain, fatigue and indigestion are all indicators for the disease, but they are also common symptoms for many women during their monthly cycle. The main difference with ovarian cancer, explained Sommermann, is the symptoms don't go away.

It was by chance she discovered the cancer - she was pressing on her stomach one night and came across a hard lump. "I called my husband over, and he felt it, too," she said. "I knew this wasn't good." She went to see her physician immediately, and an ultrasound revealed a tumor about the size of an eggplant. "I had Stage 3 ovarian cancer," said Sommermann. "I was in shock. The disease is 94 percent curable if you catch it by Stage 2. But after that, the numbers are not in your favor."

Surfing gets Anastasia Ashley through tough times

Read more about Jen's inspiring story after the break.

8 Ways to Make Your Own Career Luck

LearnVest — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:15:52 PDT

People often say that you make your own luck, but how do you make your own career luck and get the job of your dreams? LearnVest shares how you can do so.

You sit next to someone on an airplane who later helps you land your dream job.

Your dentist’s daughter is a book editor, and wouldn’t you know it, she’d just love to publish your memoir.

You have a role model in your industry, and your roommate’s fiancé just so happens to be her best friend.

OK, chance doesn’t always work out as we might wish . . . but a few travel apps, a weak economy, and plenty of gumption got us thinking.

Cajoling Lady Luck may be easier than ever, with new services like Planely, a Danish start-up, and Satisfly, a Hong Kong-based start-up. Both apps connect passengers before their flights, so they can see the Facebook profiles of fellow travelers and choose seats by people they’d like to meet. Airlines like Dutch carrier KLM and Malaysia Airlines are getting in on the act with similar services of their own. Sharing and viewing this social media info is, of course, optional all around.

Read on for more.

Eco-fy Your Wedding!

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:17:14 PDT

In honor of Earth Day (and wedding season here on PopSugar Network) we're serving up some easy and simple ways to make your wedding just a bit more earth friendly from a geek's perspective. These days, getting down with protecting Mother Earth can be simple.

From your wedding shower, to the big event and to all the details in between, little changes can certainly help our planet and our pocketbooks! Making your wedding eco friendly has never been more simple (and surprisingly) cost effective. Besides, wouldn't you rather spend all that extra cash on the honeymoon, or better yet? That flat screen HDTV you've been eyeing? Go, Earth!

Invites - We've already talked about how a wedding website can save you time, money, and the planet, and since all of your ceremony and reception information is in one place, no one will be losing the details on your big day. Allowing your guests to RSVP directly on the site at any time can reduce or negate the need for paper invites. However, if you are a traditionalist and want to send out your dream monogrammed paper invitations, make sure your paper is 100 percent recycled.

For a few more tips, just keep reading.

10 Great Things You’re Already Doing With Your Money

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:15:17 PDT

You know you rock at managing your money. LearnVest tells you what you're doing right.

We know, we know - at LearnVest, we tell you a lot of things you should do, like:

Save for retirement
Pay off any debt you have
Reevaluate your budget (because you already have a budget, right?)
Stress out about all the aforementioned to-dos

We tell you because they’re all good for you, financially speaking (well, all but that last one).

But sometimes, with all the worrying we do, it’s easy to forget to take a time-out and give ourselves a pat on the back. And we bet there are already a lot of things you’re doing exactly right with your money.

Read on to find out how many of these 10 excellent financial habits you’ve already adopted, then sit back, and feel superproud of yourself.

You Always Shop on Sale

According to industry research, 62 percent of US consumers say they rarely pay full price for clothing. So it sounds like you already know the art of scoring the best deal possible. (Just don’t let yourself get suckered in by the secret ways stores seduce us into buying.) Keep up the good work!

Read on for more.

New Study Confirms Popcorn Contains High Levels of Antioxidants

Leta Shy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:03:25 PDT

When you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, based on a recent study, you may want to reach for popcorn. This new study found that popcorn contains high levels of disease-fighting antioxidants - higher concentrations than those found in certain fruits and vegetables.

Researchers found that popcorn contains disease-fighting polyphenols in the center, or the hull, of popped kernels. This latest study, funded in part by a popcorn company, confirms older reports that popcorn (along with other whole grains) contains high levels of antioxidants; popcorn, in fact, has the highest levels of polyphenols when compared to other snack foods.

The study may give you reasons to snack on popcorn, but it's not reason to go overboard. For one, the researchers of the study aren't completely sure whether or not the the human digestive system is capable of absorbing the antioxidants found in popcorn. Not only that, but you should be careful with the type of popcorn you eat; the amount of fat and calories in movie theater popcorn, for example, outweigh any of the possible small disease-fighting benefits from the popcorn.

In any case, popcorn is already known as a good low-calorie snacking option when done right. That doesn't mean you should substitute a bowl of popcorn for fruits and vegetables (you'll be missing out on key vitamins and nutrients if you do), but if you're in the mood for a crunchy snack, here's how to make popcorn to keep it healthy and satisfying.

Source: Flickr User cyclonebill

Engagment Rumors Surround Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth While She Debuts a Large Diamond Ring

Katie Henry — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:28:04 PDT

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus, dressed in a peach Jenny Packham gown, were among the many stars that came out in Phoenix last night to support Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIII which raises awareness and funds for Parkinson's research. Miley was also joined at the dinner by her mom, Tish, and performed during the charity event. When she wasn't on stage, Miley was spotted sharing kisses with Liam and flashing a large diamond on her left hand. Rumors of Miley and Liam's engagement surfaced last week after she tweeted a photo of the ring.

Things for Liam and Miley have been going strong lately despite his demanding travel schedule. Liam just wrapped up an international press tour for The Hunger Games that took him to Paris, London, Germany, and Canada. It appears Liam and his costars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are a hit with fans as the film's set to break box office records this weekend. Early estimates forecast The Hunger Games earning $155 million in domestic ticket sales which makes it the highest March opening ever.

Real Talk With TV Broke Girl Beth Behrs

LearnVest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:59:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Since when is being broke funny?

Since CBS released its new sitcom 2 Broke Girls, in which actress Beth Behrs plays a recently humbled heiress, Caroline, who moves to Brooklyn to hide out after her father loses their family fortune in a Ponzi scheme.

Caroline winds up living with her perpetually poor fellow waitress, Max, played by Kat Dennings, and the two hatch a plan to save their wages and start a cupcake business.

Recession-era cupcake businesses have been all the rage lately (see: Bridesmaids), but shows addressing personal finances - or lack thereof - with humor and honesty is something we don’t see very often. Caroline and Max manage to plan for their future while hustling for their present - and survive on a shoestring with admirable grace. We love that these characters live richly, even on a tight salary: After all, that's what LearnVest is all about.

And, of course, any show where the leading ladies discuss interest rates is right up our alley.

Check out our exclusive talk with Behrs on her penny-pinching past, her first pair of Louboutins - and why she still chooses to live with a roommate in real life. It turns out that we can learn something from celebs about money.

LearnVest: As a 26-year-old in Hollywood, how much of Caroline and Max’s financial struggle can you relate to?

Beth Behrs: Literally up until we shot the pilot, I was working as a nanny five days a week and then as a bartender and concierge at The Geffen Playhouse on the weekends. So, I can definitely relate to being broke, right out of college and working tons of odd jobs to just pay the rent.

Real-life waitress stories and more from Behrs.