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Do You Use Seat Covers on Public Toilets?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0700

I'm kind of obsessed with using those funny little toilet-seat covers provided by the management "for your protection," but I wonder if they actually do anything. (According to this Yahoo Answers post, they're pretty pointless.) Do you use them?

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Don't Blow Your Healthy Habits at the Movies This Weekend

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:53 -0800

It's a big movie weekend, for sure. With New Moon finally out, I've already committed myself to spend an afternoon at the theater - the only complication is that I'm not so fond of the movie-theater fare. It's an admittedly challenging place to stick to healthy food choices, since there usually aren't any to begin with. Just in case you don't believe me, recent research is revealing just how unhealthy movie popcorn can be - and it's probably a lot worse than you think.

An article from WebMd highlights the Center for Science in the Public Interest's findings on the state of popcorn, which claims movie theater popcorn is just about as bad for you as "a pound of baby back ribs and a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream or maybe two Big Macs" - and that's before you even add the butter. For the study, researchers sent samples of popcorn and toppings from three different movie theater chains and compared their findings to the chains' own nutritional information. What they found is likely to make you rethink how you view your movie treat.

The study's results show that the calorie count of movie theater popcorn ranges from just about 400 to 1,200 calories, and contains an alarming serving of saturated fat that's equivalent to three days worth of your daily recommended portion, and anywhere from 200 (in the smallest 6-cup size serving) to 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, the study revealed that both AMC and Regal theaters pop their popcorn in coconut oil, which has a saturated fat content of a whopping 90 percent. Cinemark theaters, which pops their popcorn in canola oil, earns the rep as the healthiest chain, with a significantly lower saturated fat content - ranging from 2 grams in the 420-calorie small size to 5 grams in the 910-calorie large popcorn bucket. But, keep in mind that popcorn is usually just a part of the order - add a soda or your choice of candy, and your order is easily nearing 1,700 calories.

To learn about healthier options at the movies read more.

To avoid a serious caloric overload on your movie outing, the solutions are simple. Opt to share a small, unbuttered popcorn, and request that it be popped without salt (according to the article, these chains will happily oblige), or knosh on something healthy before you head out. If you can, bring a small bag of almonds or a piece of fruit along. Be smart about your choices, and don't let one afternoon at the movies spoil your healthy habits. It's totally fine to indulge every now and then, but a 1,200-calorie serving of popcorn that packs more saturated fat than you need in three days is hardly a treat for your bod or health.

Speed Read! Oprah to End Show After 25 Years

TresSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:30:55 -0800

Oprah has decided to end The Oprah Winfrey Show. - BuzzSugar
Some people get married for health insurance. - The Frisky
An Eggo waffle shortage is expected until mid 2010. Lemondrop
10 men sexier than Johnny Depp. - Your Tango
New Moon offers up abstinence porn? - Double X
Stephen Colbert says Barack Obama is the Meryl Streep of presidents. - Huffington Post
South African runner Caster Semenya gets to keep her medal and the official sex-test results will not be made public. - New York Times

Abortion Coverage: Missing What Many Never Knew They Had

TresSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:03 -0800

One of the most convincing arguments for passing the public health plan without abortion coverage is that very few women use insurance to cover abortions to begin with. But if you've heard the statistic that only 13 percent of abortions are billed to insurers, that's not exactly the whole truth.

The Guttmacher Institute, the pro-choice organization responsible for the study the stats were pulled from, contests the 13 percent statistic has been taken out of context and widely used through the media - like, say, in the Wall Street Journal article we linked to yesterday.

While the study does say only 13 percent of first-term abortions are billed to private insurers, that figure is skewed because it looked at all women who had abortions and not just those who had insurance. You can't bill an insurer if you don't have one! The study also did not include women who paid for abortions up front and were later reimbursed.

So what's a realistic number? Nobody really knows because of the private nature of abortions. Another Guttmacher study found that 87 percent of employer-based insurance plans covered abortions, but a Kaiser Family Foundation study found that only 46 percent of covered workers reported coverage. Why such a big a difference? Many women just don't know their insurance covers abortion.

As Congress continues to debate the public health plan, do you care if it includes abortion coverage? Can we miss something so many women never knew they had?

Source: Flickr User amypritchizzle

Lil Links: Oh Happy Day For Violet Affleck

babysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:52 -0800

Violet is a shiny, happy person - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Tom and Suri have a swingin' good time in Boston - Celebrity Baby Blog
Yummy lil pumpkin treats - Momologie
10 reasons why your libido ain't what it used to be - CafeMom
Shopping for your ex with your child - ParentDish
This poop doesn't stink - a diaper recycling plant set to open in the UK - MomLogic
British educators tell girls to face “reality” and accept they may not be able to “have it all” - The Laughing Stork
How do you deal with a temper tantrum in public? - Momversation
Help! My teen wants to be a vegetarian - Health

If Women Have to Pay For Abortion, What Does It Cost?

TresSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:52 -0800

The initial reaction to the Stupak amendment - which forbids coverage for abortion from a public insurance plan and prevents private insurers from covering abortions for anyone getting a tax credit - was not anger for many women, but "What? Health insurance covers abortions?!"

Looking into the issue, the Wall Street Journal found that eliminating abortion coverage would have almost no effect because so few women use insurance for the procedure. Women often pay out of pocket because they don't realize insurance covers abortion, or because they choose to keep it private from employer-provided plans or other subscribers, like parents and husbands.

So since many women are paying for their abortions now - and, unfortunately, more may be soon - what do they cost? Take this quiz to find out.

Take the quiz

Have You Had Luck Getting a Swine Flu Shot?

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:12 -0800

I don't have to read about the shortage of swine flu vaccine, I'm living it. Everywhere I go to get vaccinated it's the same - there are not enough shots to go around. Supplies are extremely limited, and a recent poll conducted by Harvard University School of Public Health says that 70 percent of adults and 66 percent of children who tried to get vaccinated couldn’t.

On Friday the National Center For Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said that the high demand is outweighing the supply, but that more doses would be available in the coming weeks. I've heard this every week and no matter where I go, I leave without getting a shot. I'm starting to get frustrated but I want to protect myself.

Have any of you had better luck than I have?

US Declares Swine Flu a Public Health Emergency

FitSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:25:00 -0700

For the last few years we have been hearing about the upcoming bird flu epidemic, but today, April 26, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a public health emergency due to the swine flu.

Here is part of Napolitano's statement from the White House briefing room:

"The first thing I want to announce today is that the Department of Health and Human Services will declare today a public health emergency in the United States. That sounds more severe than really it is. This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal, state, and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation; it allows us to use medication and diagnostic tests that we might not otherwise be able to use, particularly on very young children; and it releases funds for the acquisition of additional antivirals."

According to the Centers for Disease Control 20 cases have been reported around the nation, from California to New York. So far the cases in the US have been milder than those in Mexico, where at least 20 people have died from this new strain of the swine flu virus. In attempts to keep a possible health emergency at bay, the government is asking people to stay at home if they are ill. Other simple precautions you can take are to wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as well as avoiding close contact with people who are ill.

To see the symptoms of the swine flu, read more.

The swine flu symptoms people have experienced in the states are considered "relatively nonspecific" according to Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's interim deputy director for science and public health program. The symptoms include: high fever, cough sore throat, muscle aches, and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. However, these symptoms are not unique to swine flu and public health officials urge people to use their own judgment on when to seek medical help, especially if they have been in Mexico, a high risk area.

I don't know about you, but I am going to go wash my hands right now.

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Lil Links: Marky Mark Loves Being a Daddy

babysugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:57 -0800

Awww . . . Mark Wahlberg is in love with being a dad - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Paula Patton dishes on her pregnancy with Robin Thicke - Celebrity Baby Blog
One potato, two potato, sweet potato fries - Momologie
How should moms wait before taking a newborn out in public? - CafeMom
Parents objecting to their children participating in the musical Rent - ParentDish
Can pot help autistic kids? - MomLogic
Velcro is handicapping our ability to teach the tots how to tie shoes - The Poop
Are mom bloggers the new spokespeople? - Alpha Mom
The H1N1 vaccine is keeping pregnant ladies safe - Health

Heather Graham Races For Public Option - Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:30:00 -0700

In a new commercial called "Track Meet," actress Heather Graham flashes her toned bod and a bit of cleavage to make the case that America needs a healthy public healthcare option. The spot, sponsored by MoveOn, claims that insurance companies have gotten lazy and bloated from the profits - but a little competition from a fit and lean public option should get the system back in shape. With a new poll showing that the majority of Americans want a government-run health insurance plan that will compete with private insurance, this ad might convince the rest of Americans who oppose it. Do you find it persuasive?