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Ring in the New Year With Black Eyed Peas and Cabbage

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

So many holidays have special foods associated with them and now that it is the new year, it is time to say "goodbye" to those sugary candy canes and the chocolate log of goodness Bûche de Noël, and a big "hello" to black eyed peas and cabbage. These two super foods are here to help you usher in a healthy and prosperous 2008.

Black eyed peas are considered good luck in many cultures and are traditionally eaten on New Year's Day in the south. They are circular and represent the cycle of a year ending. One cup of cooked peas contains 11 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein and less than one gram of fat. However, black eyed peas are most often cooked with hog jowls, bacon, or salt pork which adds fat and sodium to the dish, but also lots of flavor as well as luck. Pork is considered lucky because pigs use their snouts to dig in the ground in a forward direction. The forward direction being lucky.

Cabbage on the other hand is associated with prosperity. The leaves are considered to be representative of paper currency. Eating money will bring you money! Cabbage is most nutritionally prepared by steaming or sauteing, but not boiling since the leaves can lose up to 90 percent of their healthy antioxidants when cooked in water. Cabbage is high in vitamins K and C, the mineral magnesium, and even a little bit of omega-3 fatty acids. Plus it is great for cleansing your liver which might feel a little taxed today after last night's party. Now that is some veggie!

Good luck in the new year and adding these two foods to your diet, even if it isn't today, you can't go wrong.

Is there a food you always eat on New Year's Day (maybe to help your hangover)? I want to hear about it so tell me in the comments section below.

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Broccoli Just Three Times a Month

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Want to get their cancer fighting benefits but don't love the way broccoli and others veggies taste?

Well scientists say that if you eat just three servings of broccoli (or any cruciferous vegetables) per month then you could be reducing your chances of developing bladder cancer by up to 40 percent. Here's the catch: The study was only done using raw vegetables, as their cooked counterparts lose 60 to 90 percent of cancer fighting properties.

Fit's Tip: Veggie plates loaded with raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are always present at holiday parties, so fill up. What's more? If you fill up on veggies, you'll be less likely to fill up on desserts later.

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Tips For Beating Bad Breath

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Nothing is worse than having bad breath. Unless you're talking to someone who has bad breath, because that can be pretty bad too! Unfortunately you can not really do anything about someone else's bad breath, but you can do something about your own. MSNBC gives us these five food ideas to help combat bad breath:

Chew on this. Move over parsley, there are some new halitosis-fighting herbs in town. “Coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are all good for fighting bad breath,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, who has lectured on oral health. You can chew on fresh herbs or make tonics by steeping them in hot water (as a tea). These herbs make an excellent digestive as well-doubling the benefits of ending a meal this way.

There's four more ideas, so read more

Get some active culture. No, not a Broadway play, but yogurt. A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Apparently it also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth-plaque and gum disease were reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters as well. Plus, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends getting enough vitamin D from yogurt, cheese and milk if you’re worried about halitosis because this vitamin creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Be sure to get the kind of yogurt with active cultures-not overly processed or sugar-added varieties.
Crunchy types. Apples, carrots, celery-basically any fiber-rich fruit or vegetable is your friend when it comes to fighting halitosis. “Inside your mouth, plaque build-up causes odors,” explains Cynthia Sass, ADA spokeswoman and registered dietician. “Eating foods that increase saliva production keep the mouth moist-and rinsed out. Also, many carbs and proteins can get stuck in your teeth-even healthy foods like whole grain cereal or chicken breast.” So follow a meal with a Granny Smith (feel the saliva kick in at the mention of it?) to cleanse the mouth.
Masking techniques. Sugarless gum shouldn’t replace brushing your teeth after a meal, but in a pinch it can freshen breath (masking odors) and is another way to increase saliva production to rinse away plaque and bacteria. Mints can mask as well, but only briefly-and go for sugarless. Sugar creates plaque, and no one wants a mint that makes breath worse.
High C’s. Eating berries, citrus fruits, melons and other vitamin C-rich foods create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. A diet rich in vitamin C is also is important for preventing gum disease and gingivitis-both major causes of halitosis. Get your C in foods, not supplements, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in some, according to Sass, and exacerbate bad breath.

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Are You a Fast Food Junkie?

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:50:07 -0800

In case you haven't been looped in, yesterday wasn't just Monday. It was also what some might argue to be the biggest food holiday of the year. No, not Thanksgiving; I'm talking about National Fast Food Day!

To celebrate the momentous occasion, I thought I'd test your knowledge of the drive-thru world. Have you been able to keep up with all of the newest offerings at your favorite fried franchises? Start playing to find out.

Question 1 of 8

Bacon & Cheese Angus Third Pounder

Which Thanksgiving Food Is Worth the Calories?

FitSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:30:08 -0800

Thanksgiving is almost here and you either have one of two attitudes - eat whatever you want because it's a holiday, or watch your calorie intake so you don't gain weight. If you don't want to cringe the next time you step on the scale, then you probably only want to splurge on the foods that are really worth it. So tell me . . .

Baby Bump: Six Thanksgiving Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

babysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:52 -0800

Thanksgiving may be an expectant mama's dream, but before you take advantage of eating for two this turkey day, make sure the food you're enjoying is safe for your growing belly. If you've got a bun (and a turkey) in the oven go back for seconds (and thirds) after you check out these six festive foods to watch out for and avoid.

View Slideshow ›

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 -0800

Your Healthy Food Swaps

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:27 -0800

Since decadent foods like ice cream, baked treats, and fried foods tend to be high in the calorie department, it's good to have a few healthy food swap ideas up your sleeve. Here are some shared by fellow FitSugar readers.

"Avocado instead of mayo . . . sure it may have fat in it but it's healthy fat and tastes delicious. Hummus instead of cream in sauces and soups . . . adds a ton of flavor and protein." - mamasitamalita
"I use balsamic vinegar (not vinaigrette) on my salads without any oil. It gives the same powerful flavor kick but for a lot less calories." - laellavita
"Replace ranch dressing on my salad with cottage cheese." - genipher85

For more great ideas, keep reading

Share Your Fabulous Food Photos!

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:15:26 -0800

Are you drooling over the yummy-looking food photos in the YumSugar Community? Then add some of your own! We've got a group called Savory Sights, where you can upload mouth-watering images of foods and drinks you've made, consumed, or just salivated over. Speaking of which, doesn't this blueberry scone uploaded by Nancita look delicious? Upload your photos, and you might be featured on YumSugar! There are lots of ways to share, so read on to learn more.

It's True! We Really Do Crave Fatty Foods When We're Stressed

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:42 -0800

If your chocolate cravings are any indication, you may have already suspected that high-fat foods are a woman's go-to snack when stressed. Now there's evidence to confirm your suspicions - UCSF recently conducted a study to examine the relationship between eating habits and chronic stress.

Researchers surveyed 600 overweight or obese women regarding their diet and stress. Issues classified as chronic stressors included job dissatisfaction, financial worries (like inability to pay rent or mortgage), or dealing with an ailing loved one. The women dealing with these taxing personal issues reported a higher likelihood of being unable to control what they ate, and a tendency to eat more fattening foods. Chronically stressed women were also more likely to force themselves to keep a regimented, strict diet to control weight gain, even skipping meals. The downside is that it's hard to keep up a regimented program, and being stressed means a plan like this is bound to backfire - ultimately there's a breaking point, and we're more likely to overeat.

To learn more about stressed-out eating, just read more.

While this study may not offer any groundbreaking info, it does serve as a healthy reminder: Be conscious of when you're actually hungry, and remember, there is such a thing as emotional eating. Be more mindful of your mental health and how it affects your food choices, and make healthy eating a priority. If you need some creative, healthy snack alternatives, visit our Snack Attack group for ideas.