PopSugar

Get in Gear: Cal-Carb Clicker

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Now I thought I've seen every gadget on the market to help you lose weight, but here's another one. It's called the Cal-Carb Clicker. Catchy name, huh?

What does it do? For $19.95 it will keep track of your daily:

Carbs
Calories
Carbs & calories together
Points
Blocks
Fat grams
Water intake
Whatever it is you're counting

Wow, can it do my laundry and make dinner too? To find out, read more

Is there a catch? Of course. You're the one who sets the number on the top at the beginning of the day for the number of calories you're allowed. Then as you eat, you "click-in." When the top number reaches zero, you're done for the day. I know why it works - with clicking all day long, who has time to eat?

The Cal-Carb Counter comes with complete instructions (thank god) and a Cal/Carb Food Index. So now you can break down your meals and figure out just how guilty you should be feeling about that brownie fudge sundae you just ate.

While it is true that keeping track of your caloric intake is a great way to take responsibility if you're trying to watch your weight, I don't really think it's necessary to keep track with this product. That's what good old paper and a pencil are for. What do you think?

Artist of the Day: Cal Lane

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:15:55 -0800

Artist Cal Lane writes that she likes "to work as a visual devil’s advocate, using contradiction as a vehicle for finding my way to an empathetic image, an image of opposition that creates a balance - as well as a clash - by comparing and contrasting ideas and materials."

To see what unusual objects this artist uses for comparison and contrast, just read more.

Cal Lane embraces the ultrafeminine creation of lace and turns it on its head. She takes lace-like patterns and hand cuts them into masculine materials, such as shovels, I-beams, and wheelbarrows. Her delicate lace-like patterns have also appeared in exhibitions using dirt as the medium for their display.

Take look at the gallery below for an introduction to some of her work.

View 7 Photos ›

Source

Calcium/vitamin D supplement (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:02:38 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Calcium, Vitamin D (VYTE-a-min D)

Supplies your body with calcium if you need more than you get in your diet. Calcium helps prevent osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones). Vitamin D helps your body use the calcium. Calcium and vitamin D are minerals that your body needs to work properly.

Brand Name(s)

Citracal + D, Citracal + D Economy, OS-Cal 500 + D, Caltrate 600 + D, Oyst-Cal-D, Os-Cal 500+D, P & S, Caltrate 600+D, Super Calcium w/D, The Medicine Shoppe Calcium Citrate +, Calcet, Cal-Citrate Plus Vitamin D, Calcium + D, Citracal Ultradense Calcium Citrate Petite w/Vit D, Citracal Calcium Citrate Petites with Vitamin D

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to calcium or vitamin D (ergocalciferol).

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet, Fizzy Tablet, Liquid Filled Capsule, Chewable Tablet

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label. Ask your pharmacist or health caregiver if you are not sure how much calcium you should take in one day.
Most calcium supplements should be taken with food, but some kinds of calcium (such as calcium citrate) can be taken with or without food. Ask your health care provider or read the label on the bottle to see if you need to take your specific kind of calcium with food. Drink a full glass of water (8 ounces) with each dose.
If you are using the effervescent (fizzy) tablet, dissolve the tablet in about 6 to 8 ounces of water (3/4 cup to 1 cup). After the tablet is completely dissolved, drink this mixture right away. Do not save any mixture to take later.
Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet.
If you need to take more than one dose each a day, take each dose at evenly spaced times, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

If a dose is missed:

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. If the effervescent (fizzy) tablet comes packaged in foil, do not open the foil until you are ready to use each tablet.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other supplements or medicines that contain calcium. Tell your doctor if you are also using gallium nitrate (Ganite®), cellulose sodium phosphate (Calcibind®), or etidronate (Didronel®).
Calcium can change the way other medicines work if you take them at the same time. If you need to use other medicines, take them at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take your calcium supplement. This is particularly important if you are also using phenytoin (Dilantin®) or a tetracycline antibiotic to treat an infection (such as doxycycline, minocycline, Vibramycin®).
Do not take your calcium supplement with a high-fiber meal (such as bran, whole-grain cereal or bread, fresh fruits). Do not smoke cigarettes or cigars. Do not drink large amounts of alcohol or caffeine (for example, more than about 8 cups of coffee).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have kidney disease or have ever had kidney stones. Tell your doctor if you have had problems with too much calcium (hypercalcemia) or too little calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia). Some health problems that can cause hypercalcemia are sarcoidosis, or problems with your parathyroid gland.
You should not use certain brands of this medicine if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis. Some brands contain ingredients that could be harmful if your kidneys are not working properly. Always ask your health caregiver what specific brands of this medicine will work best for you.
Some health problems can affect how much calcium you should take. Tell your doctor if you have stomach or digestion problems, such as on-going diarrhea, not absorbing nutrients properly, or not having enough acid in your stomach.
This medicine might contain phenylalanine (aspartame). This is only a concern if you have a disorder called phenylketonuria (a problem with amino acids). If you have this condition, talk to your doctor before using this medicine.
If you are using a large amount of calcium or using it for a long time, your doctor might need to check your blood on a regular basis. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Headache that will not go away, dry mouth, loss of appetite, severe constipation.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

adam.com

Source Doc: 45_4794

Healthy T-Day Dessert: Pumpkin-Carrot Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting

FitSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:30:05 -0800

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and my love of all things pumpkin is hardly waning. From yogurt to muffins, I relish this tasty flavor of Fall. If you're looking for a pumpkin pie alternative, these pumpkin-carrot bars are delish. The bit of cream cheese frosting adds a deceptive element of decadence.

Low in calories while remaining full of flavor, these pumpkin bars make a great dessert - perfect for potlucks (much easier to share with large groups than pies) and they're relatively guilt-free. They're high in vitamin A - and trust me you cannot even taste the shredded carrot - and a bar only contains 70 calories and less than two grams of fat. With nutritional stats like that, it's OK to go back for seconds.

Check out the recipe when you read more.

Pumpkin-Carrot Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
Modified from SparkPeople

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup Earth Balance (or other butter substitute)
2 eggs
2 large egg whites
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin pie filling
2/3 cup finely shredded carrot

Cream cheese topping:
4 ounces light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon skim milk

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350° F. Spray a 15 x 10 jellyroll pan with cooking spray.
In small bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and baking soda.
In larger bowl, use electric mixer to beat sugar, Earth Balance, and brown sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, egg whites, pumpkin pie filling, and carrots. Beat until well blended.
Add flour mixture and mix until well blended. Spread onto greased pan.
To prepare cream cheese topping: mix together cream cheese, sugar, and milk until thoroughly blended.
Drop teaspoon-fulls of topping over pumpkin batter and swirl and cut mixture into batter with a butter knife.
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pan completely on wire rack before cutting into squares.

Makes 48 squares.

Print recipe with images | without images

Looking for more healthy recipes? Then check out the Healthy Recipe Group - the name pretty much says it all.

Calcium supplement (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:02:29 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Calcium

Supplies your body with calcium if you need more than you get in your diet. Also helps prevent osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones). This medicine is a mineral that your body needs to work properly.

Brand Name(s)

Actonel with Calcium, Tums, Citracal, Caltrate 600, Tums E-X, Rolaids, PhosLo, Phoslo, Phos Lo, Alcalak, Calcarb 600, Oyst-Cal 500, Oyster Shell Calcium, Family Pharmacy Oyster Shell Calcium, OS-Cal 500

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to calcium.

How to Use This Medicine

Tablet, Chewable Tablet, Liquid, Wafer, Liquid Filled Capsule, Capsule, Powder

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label. Ask your pharmacist or health caregiver if you are not sure how much calcium you should take in one day.
Most calcium supplements should be taken with food. Drink a full glass of water (8 ounces) with each dose, unless you are on kidney dialysis. If you are using this medicine as a phosphate binder for kidney dialysis, do not drink extra water with each dose.
Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet.
If you need to take more than one dose each a day, take each dose at evenly spaced times, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
Do not crush, break, or chew the tablet or capsule unless the label says it is chewable. Swallow the regular tablet or capsule whole.
If you are using the chewable tablet or wafer, chew it completely before you swallow.
Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. You might need to shake the medicine just before using it.

If a dose is missed:

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using other supplements or medicines that contain calcium. Tell your doctor if you are also using gallium nitrate (Ganite®), cellulose sodium phosphate (Calcibind®), or etidronate (Didronel®).
Calcium can change the way other medicines work if you take them at the same time. If you need to use other medicines, take them at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take your calcium supplement. This is particularly important if you are also using phenytoin (Dilantin®) or a tetracycline antibiotic to treat an infection (such as doxycycline, minocycline, Vibramycin®).
Do not take your calcium supplement with a high-fiber meal (such as bran, whole-grain cereal or bread, fresh fruits). Do not smoke cigarettes or cigars. Do not drink large amounts of alcohol or caffeine (for example, more than about 8 cups of coffee).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you are allergic to shellfish. Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or have ever had kidney stones. Make sure your doctor knows if you have had problems with too much calcium (hypercalcemia) or too little calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia). Some health problems that can cause hypercalcemia are sarcoidosis or problems with your parathyroid gland.
You should not use certain brands of this medicine if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis. Some brands contain ingredients that could be harmful if your kidneys are not working properly. Always ask your health caregiver what specific brands of this medicine will work best for you.
Some health problems can affect how much calcium you should take. Tell your doctor if you have stomach or digestion problems, such as on-going diarrhea, not absorbing nutrients properly, or not having enough acid in your stomach.
If you are using a large amount of calcium or using it for a long time, your doctor might need to check your blood on a regular basis. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
Headache that will not go away, dry mouth, loss of appetite, severe constipation.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Mild constipation, gas.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 45_4786

Acorn Squash: Five Low Cal Ways

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:45:00 -0800

The orange flesh of winter squash is not only a visual delight (orange is my favorite color), but it is also super good for you.

Loaded with beta carotene, the antioxidant that gives the squash its color, and fiber (5.7 grams per cup), acorn squash is an excellent addition to many meals and it is oh so easy to prepare. You simply:

Cut the squash in two, scoop out the seeds
Brush the sides with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Bake face down on a rimmed dish for 30 minutes at 400 degrees
Flip squash to brown the insides by cooking for another 10 - 15 minutes

Easy peasy! There is a also no reason to send your squash into the oven naked. You can adorn it with many tasty spices. Here are 5 different ways to prepare your acorn squash, just add these toppings when you flip the squash.

In each squash half spread one of the following toppings:

1/2 teaspoon honey, then sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/8 cup bread crumbs
1/8 cup finely grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped pecans with 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup

How do you cook your acorn squash? Tell me how in the comments section below.

Source

Superfast, Supereasy, Low-Cal Desserts

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

A healthy dessert almost sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? However it can be done, so here are five more yummy but healthy (and easy, might I add) dessert ideas from FitnessMagazine.com:

Angel Berry Trifle: Cut a premade angel food cake into bite-size pieces; layer with fresh berries and low-fat or fat-free vanilla pudding in a large trifle bowl or individual parfait glasses.
Chocolate Mint Sundae: Top one premade brownie with scoop of low-fat mint-chocolate ice cream or frozen yogurt. Lightly drizzle with 1 teaspoon chocolate syrup, and garnish with fresh mint sprig.
Orange Bowl: Slice large orange in half; scoop out orange sections, keeping peels intact. Put a mixture of grapes, berries, and orange pieces into the orange peel halves.
Just Peachy: Slice a fresh peach or other stone fruit in half. Remove seed; top cut side of each half with low-fat peach, French vanilla, or other yogurt flavor and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
Celebration Sorbet: Put a scoop of raspberry or other berry sorbet in a wineglass or martini glass and sprinkle with fresh raspberries or other berries. Drizzle with champagne or sparkling apple cider.

Source

5 Superfast, Supereasy, Low-Cal Desserts

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:15:00 -0700

A healthy dessert almost sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? However it can be done, so here are five yummy but healthy (and easy, might I add) dessert ideas from FitnessMagazine.com:

Chocolate Banana Split: Halve banana lengthwise. Melt bittersweet chocolate pieces in microwave; spread over banana. Top with scoop of your favorite flavor of low-fat frozen yogurt.
Strawberry Dippers: Dip whole strawberries in low-fat French vanilla, lemon chiffon, or chocolate yogurt.
Frozen Yogurt Sandwich: Place a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt between two small oatmeal or peanut butter cookies.
Dessert Mix: In small bowl, combine equal parts granola, nuts, raisins or other dried fruit, and bittersweet chocolate chips.
Chocolate "Mousse": In a mixing bowl, whip chilled premade low-fat or fat-free chocolate pudding on high speed until light and fluffy. Serve in a fancy glass dish or wineglass, topped with squirt of whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings.

Source

Come Party With Me: Tailgate - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:30:49 -0700

No Cal-USC tailgate is complete without a sweet treat and I like to serve cookies. Specifically, classic oatmeal raisin cookies - they're chewy, not too sweet, and scream Fall.

Cookies are also perfectly portable and can be made in advance, meaning they're ideal for a tailgate. Because the finished dough needs time to chill in the fridge before being baked, this recipe must be prepared several days before the game.

To make these cookies for your friends and family, get the recipe and keep reading.

Come Party With Me: Tailgate - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:25 -0700

Hey football fans, get excited: this week I'm putting together a tailgate! Cal's my alma mater, and while Stanford is their biggest rival, on Saturday they face USC. It's the homecoming game, and a bunch of friends and I will be in attendance, so a pregame fiesta is in order. To kick things off, I'll throw an artichoke shrimp dip on the grill. Since this takes 20 minutes to heat up, I'll keep the crowd satisfied with store bought chips and guacamole. Then I'll make a round of grilled quesadillas with jack and spicy sauteed peppers. Finally, for the main course, I'll offer everyone a grilled sausage sandwich with caramelized red onions. To serve these tantalizing recipes at your next tailgate, read more.

Shrimp-and-Artichoke Dip
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 large red bell pepper, finely chopped
One 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Two 8.5-ounce cans artichoke hearts, finely chopped and squeezed dry
10 ounces precooked shrimp, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Pita chips or bagel chips, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 7 minutes; remove from the heat.
Stir in the cream cheese, 1/2 cup pecorino-romano, the paprika and mustard. Stir in the artichoke hearts and shrimp; season with salt and pepper.
Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup pecorino-romano. Bake until warmed through, about 18 minutes.
Preheat the broiler. Broil the dip until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve hot with the pita chips.

Serves 6.

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Quesadillas With Jack and Spicy Saute
From Aida Mollenkamp

Ingredients

1 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
3 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 medium jalapenos, halved lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced crosswise
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 medium poblano peppers, quartered lengthwise, seeded, and sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
3 cups shredded jack cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 500 degrees F and arrange 1 rack in top and a second rack in middle.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add onions, garlic, and jalapenos, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add poblanos and stir to coat. Add broth and cook until the liquid reduces enough to just coat the vegetables, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
When pepper mixture is cool enough to handle, top 1 tortilla with 1/2 cup cheese and 1/6 of the pepper mixture, close with a second tortilla. Repeat to make 6 quesadillas.
Arrange quesadillas on 2 baking sheets and place 1 sheet on top rack and another on middle rack. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Switch baking sheets and continue to cook until tortillas are golden-brown and crisp, about 5 more minutes.

Makes 6 quesadillas.

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Grilled Merguez Sandwiches With Caramelized Red Onions
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground pepper
Four 6-ounce merguez or fresh chorizo sausages, pricked all over with a fork
Four 6-inch pieces of baguette, split and toasted
12 large cilantro sprigs
4 lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the honey and balsamic vinegar and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until richly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Light a grill. Grill the sausages over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until nicely charred and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Set a sausage in each piece of baguette. Top with the caramelized onions and a few cilantro sprigs and close the sandwiches. Transfer to plates and serve. Garnish with the lemon wedges.

Serves 4.

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