FitSugar

The Heat Is On! Saunas or Steam Rooms

Michele Bell — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:00:52 PST

One of the top reasons I belong to my gym is for the steam room. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I head over to the facility and strip down to a towel for a 15-minute breather. While I prefer the misty heated room, others prefer the drier sauna, though they both tend to provide the same benefits. Still, there are differences between the two types of steam baths.

For starters, saunas are much hotter than their wetter counterparts. A room with wooden planks and a small oven, saunas are very hot - temperatures ranging between 140-212 degrees F with a low level of humidity (ranging from five to 30 percent). The only steam you will see in a sauna is the result of pouring water over the oven or the steam rising from your own skin. Steam rooms, on the other hand, are still very hot at 110-115 degrees F with a humidity level of 100 percent. The steam in these rooms is pumped in through a vent and often causes a fog so thick you can hardly see your hand in front of you.

Curious to know more about the benefits and warnings?

Thanks to Steam, Portal Is Free on Your Mac Until May 24

GeekSugar — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:00:35 PDT

PCs may set the standard for playing games on a computer, but if you have a Mac, you don't have to be left out in the cold. Spore showed us a good time when it was released back in 2008, and now thanks to Steam - a platform that allows you to game on Apple computers - you can play a number of games on either your PC or Mac, including Portal, which is free for download until May 24.

Sure, the selection for PC users is far superior (Resident Evil 5 and GTA IV, among other big titles), while Mac users are restricted to the likes of Bejeweled 2 for the time being. On the bright side, at least you have Portal to keep you occupied until Steam's Mac game lineup gains some ground.

Make Your Own Eucalyptus Steam Room (and Cure a Cough)

FitSugar — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:00:07 PDT

Whenever I have a bad cough - take the last EIGHT days for instance - I'll take a hot shower for some temporary relief. The warmth of the heat coupled with the steam helps moisturize my dry and irritated throat and helps loosen the phlegm in my chest. Because the cold I have this week is especially brutal, my friends have been offering me all sorts of remedies, like these Aura Cacia eucalyptus shower tabs ($6). You put one of these tabs on the shower floor with you and as the hot water dissolves it, your bathroom becomes turns into a eucalyptus steam room. Besides eucalyptus, there are also peppermint and lavender tabs available.

This whole process is pretty similar to making a steam bowl with essential oils, except that you get a lot more of it at once. And because eucalyptus is a natural decongestant, taking a shower with one of these tabs really helps clear up my sinuses and loosen up my cough. My only gripe is that they are ultimately pretty pricey, and don't last an incredibly long during a shower. I think I might experiment with this concept by putting a few drops of eucalyptus oil on the shower floor, or hanging a bundle of fresh eucalyptus in the shower.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Broiled Tofu and Steamed Mustard Greens

partysugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:50:28 PST

When cooking quick and uncomplicated meals, don't be afraid to take some help from store-made sauces, condiments, and jams. This recipe is packed with exotic and spicy flavor thanks to a purchased hot mango chutney. The chutney is jazzed up with sautéed onions and peppers before being brushed onto triangles of tofu. Steamed mustard greens act as a bed for the tofu and veggies, but other greens like broccoli rabe or collard greens would work.

To serve this vegetarian dinner, get the recipe now.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Lime-Steamed Salmon

partysugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:50:14 PDT

In an attempt to improve his eating habits, my father recently purchased a steamer. Naturally, he asked me for some healthy and delicious recipes that feature steamed ingredients. Well, Dad: this one's for you.

Lime slices and crisp green beans act as a bed for plump salmon fillets. Fresh ginger and lime zest combine to make a fragrant sauce for the salmon. For a complete meal serve with brown rice. To check out the recipe,

Lime-Steamed Salmon
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

2 limes
1 pound salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 3 pieces about 1 inch thick
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 cups trimmed baby (small) green beans (about 8 oz.) or one 9-ounce package frozen French-cut green beans
Lime wedges (optional)

Directions

Finely shred 2 teaspoons peel from the limes; set aside. Thinly slice limes and lay slices evenly in the bottom of a steamer basket. Place the fish in a single layer on top of the lime slices.
Stir ginger, reserved lime peel, salt, and pepper into sesame oil; brush generously over fish.
Place fresh or frozen beans in the upper section of the steamer container. Steam the fish and beans according to the manufacturer's directions for 12 to 15 minutes or until just cooked through. If beans are not tiny, you may need to remove the fish and steam beans for an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Let stand 1 minute.
To serve, arrange beans in a serving dish; remove fish from lime slices and arrange fish on top of beans. If desired, serve with lime wedges.

Serves 3.

Print recipe with images | without images

Casa Quickie: Steamer-Free and Wrinkle-Free

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 PST

I'd love to own a garment steamer, but I really don't need another space-hogging appliance lying around the house. While I do actually enjoy ironing, I tend to leave it to the last minute, so it's impractical for my morning routine. Wrinkles aren't practical either, though.
Instead, I hang my clothes from the rod at the end of my shower (far from the faucet), close the bathroom door, and then take my morning shower, letting the steam do all the work. By the time I'm finished, my clothes are wrinkle and odor free! If you don't have a shower rod in your bathroom, you can really hang your duds anywhere in the bathroom. Just make sure you close the door so the steam is contained, and don't allow your clothes to get wet.
Source

Style For Style: Shower Steam Your Clothes

FabSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:00:33 PDT

It would be nice if every household had a garment steamer but the reality is that the majority don't. So then what is a girl to do when she has a fabulous cocktail party to attend and her Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Satin Strapless Dress, $995, is all wrinkled? Yes, an old fashioned iron might do the trick, but sometimes a fabric is too delicate for that. Plus, your lackluster ironing skills may burn a hole in your lovely dress. Oh no!

To see my easy solution to unwrinkle clothes,

Chances are you're going to shower before you head to your soiree, right? While you're getting clean, your wrinkly dress can get...well, unwrinkly. All you have to do is hang your darling frock somewhere in the bathroom while you shower. The idea is to let the steam from your shower permeate the dress, much like a garment steamer. There you have it; a garment steaming process without the bulky machine!

Source

Relax Already: Eucalyptus Steamer

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:25:00 PST

For a relaxing steamer when you're starting to feel a bit under the weather, try this using:

6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
6 cups of water

Bring the water and oil to a near boil. Using a towel, make a tent over the water and steam your head for 5 minutes. I would recommend turning the burner off and putting the pot on a trivet away from the stove starting to steam.

The eucalyptus steam will help ease symptoms of bronchitis, colds, coughing, fever, flu and sinusitis.

Fit's Tip: If the steam is too hot on your face, use a bigger towel and move further away. You can get the oil at most health stores as well as online. Buy it here for $11.95.

Save on Calories by Cooking With the Steam-Fry Method

Heather Dale — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:52:00 PDT

Boiling vegetables can draw out all of the flavors and nutrients, but steaming (albeit a very healthy cooking method) can make my veggies boring and bland. Oh, and that convenient gadget in the kitchen we call the microwave probably should be used as a last resort. A research study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli cooked in the microwave lost up to 97 percent of its antioxidant content, but lost only 11 percent when steamed.

But what about steam-frying?

According to health guru Dr. Weil, steam-frying is a healthy way to cook up vegetables. All you have to do is put a bit of oil in a pan to sauté your veggies (and garlic or other spices), then add water, stock, or wine to the pan, and cover. This allows the steam to cook the food. When everything is finished cooking, you can remove the lid and boil off the rest of the liquid. I've tried this technique myself and it's probably my favorite cooking method - not only for cooking vegetables, but for making fish as well.

Source: Flickr User idovermani

The Basics: Steamed Artichokes

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:12:50 PDT

There's no better time to enjoy artichokes than now; the Spring vegetable is at its peak from March through July. While fancy preparations are fun, I think the artichoke is best at its simplest. They're something so wonderful about peeling off the leaves and scraping the delicious flesh into your mouth. The easiest way to cook artichokes is by steaming. It takes about 45 minutes but requires hardly any work. Serve with herb mayonnaise or butter as an appetizer or side dish. Check out the uncomplicated recipe now.