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

read more. 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

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.

25 Easy Organizing Changes You Can Make Today

Wise Bread — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:15:00 PST

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

I have a bad tendency to let things - paperwork, tasks, laundry - pile up. That's why I'm often not as organized as I should be. By the time I go to put things away, I feel like I'm dealing with clutter so powerful it could defeat Godzilla (I've already started on the screenplay for Godzilla vs. That Pile of Stuff I Still Haven't Put Away Since Moving).

Thus, I am a huge proponent of making little steps towards organization. Below are 25 ways to organize your home, your finances, and your life that are quick and easy enough to attempt today. Seriously, start making a dent in your disorganization before it turns into a movie-worthy monster.

Organize Your Stuff

From the fridge to the filing cabinet, here are some ideas for organizing your things.

1. Identify What You Want to Organize

Yes, I am telling you to organize your organizing. Make a specific list of what you want to organize - the bookshelf? Your closet? Your drawers? If you have time, start to formulate a plan. Now, when you have a couple of hours over the weekend, you're ready to attack.

2. Buy Masking Tape and a Marker

Masking tape is a great way to create temporary labels for everything from storage containers in the basement to Tupperware in the freezer. Buy a roll of masking tape and a Sharpie, and always keep them in the same place.

3. Buy Containers and Dividers

If you're planning an organizing project, buy any containers or other organizing tools you need now. Just as with making the list, you're now totally ready to tackle the project when you have a moment.

Read on for more organizing tips.

How to Pick the Gym That's Right For You

Heather Dale — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:29:50 PST

If your New Year's resolution is to get fit, chances are you might be shopping around for a gym or fitness center, which is not as easy as it sounds. Here's criteria you should try to check off before signing up for any gym membership.

Location, location, location: Don't kid yourself into believing that you'll drive halfway across town to go work out. If a gym is closer to where you live (or work), you'll be more inclined to visit. Also, check to see if there's cost-effective parking, nearby public transportation, or if you can't walk to it. Also make sure it's in a safe neighborhood in case you want to pop in later in the evening.
Ask for second opinions: Get on Yelp, and ask your friends, family members, co-workers, husband's cousin's girlfriend - anyone! - what the best gym is in your neighborhood. Tell them what you're ideally looking for and see if your research, plus your mini-interviews, point to one locale.

Here are some more tips.

15 Smart Things You Can Do With $100

Business Insider — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:15:47 PST

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

At first blush, $100 is only $100. It's so easy to fritter away on eating out, entertainment, or booking a trip online.

But you should never underestimate how far $100 can go, even in this economy.

"It's smarter to put that money away because once it's in your pocket, it's pretty much gone," says Joel Larsen, a certified financial planner based in Davis, Calif.

No matter where you are in your financial life, we've compiled 15 tips to help you stretch that Benjamin.

Open a college savings account

"A lot of people will say, 'it's only $100,'" says Larsen, but if you were to save $100 a month over 20 years at a 7% rate of return, you would amass $52,092.67. Impressive, right?

Depending on your financial picture, you'll need to shop around to find the right plan based on investment performances, expenses, and tax exemptions.

Andrew Schrage, founder of the personal finance site, Money Crashers, recommends looking into a 529 College Savings plan set up by governments or colleges to help parents save.

"One of the primary benefits of a 529 savings plan is that it offers tax protection from the federal government," he says. "Also, you may be eligible for tax protection from the state government."

Read on for more.

Pride of the LOLCats: Lions Now Send Text Messages

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:31:19 PST

OK, lions aren't manipulating their fuzzy paws to send text messages to the rest of their pride. Rather, scientists in Kenya have outfitted local lions with GPS tracking collars that send automated text message updates to the researchers on their locations.

Every hour, the GPS collars transmit a text message to a server, which eventually sends the data to a satellite map that shows the lions' movements so researchers know when lions come too close to farmers' livestock. In order to protect their own assets, some farmers have resorted to poisoning the lions to prevent their herds from becoming a meal. Conservationists hope by following the lion's movements on the savannah, they can turn dwindling population numbers around.

So far, 10 lions are wearing the collars, which cost $3,000 a piece and were partially funded through Kickstarter.

Even More Hilarious Star Wars Stand Up to Cancer Outtakes

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:09:57 PST

LucasFilm has released yet another clip of outtakes from its Stand Up to Cancer campaign, which encourages fans to snatch up some sweet shirts in order to fund cancer research. Good news - there's yet another shirt you can buy, this one featuring Darth Vader who urges you to never underestimate the power of Stand Up to Cancer. I can't get enough of these celebs goofing off in front of the camera, so take a look at the latest clip below!

6 Tips to Tackling Black Friday Like a Pro

Emily Co — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:29 PST

There are some that may argue that Black Friday shopping is not for the faint of heart - only the biggest bargain hunters are up for shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. If you're eager to tackle the jostling crowds for big discounts, read on for tips on how to maneuver Black Friday sales like an expert:

Call your bank. First and most importantly, call your bank to see what the spending limit is and to inform them of potential unusual activity on those days. There's nothing like having your credit card frozen to ruin your shopping plans.

Check your bank balance. If you're the type to shuttle your money away every month to your savings fund and other money accounts, you might not have enough in your account for Black Friday shopping. Make sure that your bank balance reflects the amount you plan to spend. Transfers generally take up to three days if you're moving money around between different banks, so start preparing beforehand.

Be specific when you make a list. Don't look at any ads before making this list. Base your list off of what you really need, not what looks like a good deal. Be specific and don't write things like "buy something for mom." Maybe your luggage broke and you need a new one or you're hoping to buy mom a new blu-ray DVD player. If you really want to treat yourself, be specific with what you're going to buy yourself, too.

Scour deals online. Now that you have your list in hand, make sure you keep an eye out at the major stores to see if there are any good deals available online. Many stores are selling their Black Friday sales items online earlier than Friday. Who knows? Maybe you can even do all of your Black Friday shopping from home. Do some comparison shopping while you're at it. Deal site GottaDeal.com has a great comparison chart on Black Friday deals. We've also rounded up some of our best Walmart picks so be sure to check them out.

Read on for more tips.

Do Something Magnifique When You Buy Génifique This Friday

Jaime Richards — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:10:19 PDT

All this month, Dillard's and Lancôme have been raising funds to support St. Jude, and this Friday the 21st (aka "Genes Day"), it's your chance to help out even more. The beauty brand will donate $7 from each purchase of Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate ($58 to $125), pledging $300,000 from the day's sales to benefit the children's hospital. Watch the video above to see Lancôme's Michelle Phan and Arlenis Sosa talk more about the event. And to learn some truly touching statistics that I learned after visiting the hospital firsthand, just keep reading.

Reese Witherspoon Is "Lucky to Be Able to" Bring Attention to Her Favorite Causes

Allie Merriam — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:40:12 PDT

Reese Witherspoon picked up her daughter Ava from practice at LA's Griffith Park yesterday afternoon. It was a day of family for Reese, who spent Tuesday night out on the town with her friends. Reese toasted Jennifer Aniston at the Elle Women in Hollywood Event, joking that they like to "make out" on Saturdays after getting their nails done together.

On a more serious note, Reese is lending her support to breast cancer awareness, a cause that's also close to Jennifer's heart. Reese brought attention to the disease over the weekend at the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer in NYC, which raised over $8 million for research and care. Reese spoke about her activism with reporters at the event, saying, "Whether people are making movies about issues or TV shows, or giving money, or giving their voice to raise funds -– any one of those ways that people help shine the spotlight on these issues that are affecting so many people is great. . . . It’s very humbling [to] feel like you can make any kind of change in this world. I’m very lucky to be able to do that."