FitSugar

Your Tips For Cutting Down on Sugar

FitSugar — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:30:09 PDT

In order to cut down on my sugar intake, I made the switch from fruity flavored Greek yogurt to plain. Here are some of your suggestions on how you cut down on your daily sugar intake. There were so many great ideas, so be sure to check out the comments section of the original post to see even more ways to scale back on the added sweetness.

"Cut out hidden sugars by shopping at health food stores instead of buying the well-known brand names. For example, a lot of the popular brands of 'healthy' whole wheat bread actually have added sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup in them. Brands like Peter Pan and JIF have added sugar, so switching to natural peanut butter is an easy way to reduce your sugar consumption." - chloe bella
"Plain oatmeal can be sweetened with fruit instead of brown sugar. Use canned pumpkin, unsweetened applesauce, and plain yogurt to make baked goods. You need about half the sugar of the original recipe!" - acfreema
"The thing I really had trouble getting? Chocolate. So instead of milk chocolate, I started gradually working my way up the dark chocolate ladder so that I could acquire a taste instead of just pushing it all on myself. Once I got used to the taste of 50% dark chocolate, I started buying 60%, and then 70%, and now I'm up to 85% and sometimes even 90% dark chocolate, where the first two ingredients are no longer sugar, but cocoa solids and cocoa butter." - laellavita
"When baking, I use about 1/4 cup less sugar than what the recipe calls for." - tamaradulva
Spectra says, "I use Truvia to sweeten my coffee instead of sugar and it really tastes good. Since I like my coffee really sweet, it saves me a lot of added sugar. Also, I put cinnamon on my oatmeal instead of lots of sugar. For whatever reason, it adds a lot of sweetness."
"I prefer to add my own stuff to plain yogurt, because I like the nutritional profile of plain better than flavored, plus the taste is better. Real fruit is better than 'fruit jelly' or 'natural and artificial flavorings' any day." - julea

Speak Up: Tricks For Cutting Down on Sugar

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:00:06 PDT

Vanilla yogurt was always part of my go-to breakfast, and I never thought of switching to the plain variety - too sour. When I discovered that eating the plain yogurt saves me seven grams of added sugar per day, I decided a change was needed. I know that doesn't seem like much, but after five days, that's 35 grams of sugar. The little bits of sugar you can do without really start to add up.

I started thinking that there must be other ways to cut down on my added sugar intake. Since you FitSugar readers always have such great suggestions, please share some of your sugar-cutting tricks below.

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PDT

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Is White Sugar Really THAT Bad For Me?

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:45:00 PDT

I think you know the answer to the question if white sugar is bad for you. White sugar comes from sugar cane, which is a plant, so why is it so bad for us? Can you say highly processed? Yeah, the gorgeous white crystals most people pour into their coffee every morning has zero nutritional value because it's all stripped away. White sugar is a refined sweetener, adding nothing but calories and taste to foods.

When you eat foods with refined sugar like sodas, candy bars, or high carb meals, it upsets the body's blood sugar balance. This triggers the release of insulin, which the body uses to maintain blood sugar levels at a constant and safe level. After insulin levels spike up, they quickly crash soon after, leaving you feeling sleepy, and possibly even hungry again. This often leads to more snacking and usually on sweet or refined carb treats. This cycle leads to overeating, since you are not really hungry, and weight gain. This is the reason carbs are often viewed as “bad” nowadays, and why the Atkins Diet is so popular.

Refined carbs such as white bread, white pasta, white rice, baked goods such as cookies have the same effect on your body, so that's why you should look for alternative foods made from whole grains. When you feel like snacking, stick to straight up fruits, nuts and ones that contain whole grains. These are slow burning carbs that contain vitamins and fiber too, so they'll give you a consistent flow of energy without the sugar meltdown.

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See All the Cannes Film Festival Pictures So Far!

Lauren Turner — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:40:50 PDT

The 65th Cannes Film Festival is underway, with stars stepping out for glamorous events each day. Brad Pitt hit the red carpet looking hot in a classic tux while Diane Kruger emerged in a white feathered Nina Ricci gown for the premiere of Killing Them Softly with Joshua Jackson. Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst linked up for the On the Road photocall and Robert Pattinson hit the red carpet dressed up in a suit to support Kristen's big Cannes premiere. We're in the south of France with updates from the scene - make sure to check back for pictures and interviews and follow PopSugar on Twitter for more!

Video: Sam Claflin Talks Love Triangles and Horseback-Riding Mishaps on the SWATH Set

Molly Goodson — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:12:02 PDT

Sam Claflin joins Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and Chris Hemsworth in the action-packed movie Snow White and the Huntsman. We sat down with the actor, who plays Prince William, at a recent press day near London, where he described the experience as a "dream come true." He shared stories of the on-set fun and admitted that his biggest challenge was with horseback riding. Sam also talked about working with the "charming" Kristen and even touched on being caught in the film's love triangle. Check out our interview with Sam, and make sure to see SWATH when it hits theaters on June 1.

Bar Refaeli Celebrates Her Hotness With Maxim

Katie Henry — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:18:22 PDT

Bar Refaeli hit the red carpet at Maxim's Hot 100 List party in NYC last night. She earned the top spot on the magazine's annual list and joins past winners Katy Perry, Eva Longoria, and Jessica Simpson. Though Bar's known for her bikini body, she opted for a sexy black L'Agence jumpsuit and a Christian Louboutin clutch for last night's soiree. Bar partied alongside Olympic athlete Shaun White, though when it comes to guys, apparently the supermodel has a tough time finding dates. Bar told Conan O'Brien about her personal woes, saying, "No one hits on me . . . no one flirts with me; it's very sad actually." We think Bar will probably be OK in the dating department, but she does need your help in the PopSugar 100. Be sure to vote for Bar and all your other favorite stars and don't forget that just by logging into your Sugar account and playing our PopSugar 100 faceoff game, you're entered to win $2,500!

Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen Couple Up For Their Movie in Cannes

Lauren Turner — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:55:35 PDT

Nicole Kidman chose a black-and-white checkered dress for her latest Cannes Film Festival look. She stepped out this morning for a photocall with Hemingway & Gellhorn costar Clive Owen after also promoting The Paperboy. Nicole, Zac Efron, and Matthew McConaughey made multiple stops for their project, including the red-carpet premiere and an appearance on Le Grand Journal. Nicole will be back in the spotlight later today when Hemingway & Gellhorn screens at the Grand Palais. Matthew will also return to the festival's famous carpet for Mud, which also stars Reese Witherspoon. Reese arrived in the South of France with her husband, Jim Toth, just yesterday and we can't wait to see the glamorous looks she chooses for her many events. Nicole, Reese, Zac, and Matthew may all be friendly at the festival, but they're in direct competition for the top spot in the PopSugar 100. Make sure to play the PopSugar 100 faceoff game for the chance to win $2,500 in cash!

Look of the Day: Leather and Sequins

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:00:19 PDT

By sticking to simple, structured shapes and lighter shades, Fab reader postgradchic made leather and sequins work for daytime. She paired mint-hued, sequined shorts with a sleek camel-colored leather jacket, then added structure to the romper's blousy top with a brown leather belt. Pink pastel brogues kept the color scheme light and gave the outfit a more casual, summery feel. She chose a leather messenger bag that matched her relaxed style and topped off the look with white retro clubmaster-style sunglasses. The end result? A chic, dressy-meets-rugged mix that would work at any time of day.

Congrats, postgradchic!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we might just feature you on FabSugar!

Video: Director Rupert Sanders on Pushing Kristen Stewart to New Limits in SWATH

Molly Goodson — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:16:52 PDT

Director Rupert Sanders took on the task of reinventing the classic Snow White fairy tale for the big screen in Snow White and the Huntsman, which hits theaters on June 1. We sat down with him during a recent press day in the UK, where he chatted with us about the serious weather they faced during filming and his leading lady, Kristen Stewart. Rupert shared that Kristen was tenacious and rebellious, and he even addressed her tendency for on-set injuries. Watch our interview with Rupert now!