FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Tune In and Raise Your Awareness on Heart Disease

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0700

What is the number-one killer of women? Breast Cancer? Ovarian Cancer? Car accidents? Diabetes?

If you said heart disease then you are correct. The problem is that very few women know this. Let alone are aware of the risk factors associated with the disease and most do not understand how they can prevent heart disease in the first place.

If you have 30 minutes tomorrow, tune in to Go Red For Women presents — Untold Stories of the Heart on NBC (check the schedule for local times). The show features Marie Osmond (her mother and grandmother died due to heart disease) and is hosted by Hoda Kotb, and aims to raise awareness through the personal stories of nine actual women living with heart disease. It may not change your life, but at the very least it will help make you aware of heart disease and the toll it can take if you don't do something to prevent it.

Another Reason You Should Be Eating Breakfast

FitSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

If you've been skipping breakfast, despite all the health benefits it offers, here's yet another reason that you may want to get up ten minutes earlier to enjoy breakfast each morning.

New research has found that eating breakfast reduces your risk for heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure. Compared with having your first morsel of food later in the day, eating something in the morning creates smaller rises in blood sugar and insulin after all the meals you eat for the rest of that day. This does not mean you should start the day with a high-fat or high sugar meal — you should really focus on a breakfast that is heavy in whole grains, fruits, and healthy protein sources. For a list of breakfast ideas that fit into the requirements just

Can You Be Both Overweight and Fit?

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

When it comes to heart problems, it has been assumed that it's OK to be a bit overweight as long as you exercise regularly. New research is challenging this notion and this new research shows that being active can decrease but not eliminate your risk of heart problems. A new study that followed 39,000 women over 11 years discovered that weight actually plays a significant role in heart health.

The women participating in the study were assessed by their level of activity as well as their Body Mass Index (BMI). Women who exercised moderately (brisk walking or jogging) for 30 minutes most days of the week were considered active, and those who exercised less were categorized as inactive. To see the results of the study,

Doctors to Sports Fans: "Simmer Down This Sunday"

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:00 -0800

It turns out that when it comes to cardiac problems a major sporting event is right up there with financial stress, losing a loved one, and natural disasters. So if you're a big Giants or Patriots fan, or if you just tend to get all riled up in the heat of the game, researchers are warning us all to take it easy this Super Bowl Sunday, but especially those at risk for heart disease.

This comes after a new finding that suggests when serious sports fans are watching their team play in a big game, they face more than twice the risk of suffering a heart attack.

What's more? Sports fans can encompass all the factors that put you at risk for heart disease such as leading a sedentary lifestyle, eating junk food, smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, and getting stressed out by the game.

So relax this Sunday, and go Pats!

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Join Diet Coke and Wear Red For Women's Heart Health

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:00:00 -0800

Did you wear your red today? If not, then our friends at Diet Coke thought you should know that today is National Wear Red Day. Every year on the first Friday in February, people all around the country wear red to raise awareness of women's heart disease.

The Heart Truth™ — a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease — introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. This year, Diet Coke is teaming up with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for a very special Red Dress Sweepstakes. From now until March 10, just visit MyCokeRewards and you can enter for a chance to win the red dress designed for Heidi Klum to wear at the 2008 Oscars! For every sweepstakes entry, Diet Coke will contribute $1 to support women’s heart health awareness and research, up to $250,000*.

For the official rules,

Heart Disease Affecting Younger Women

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:45:00 -0800

If you think heart disease only happens to older folks, then think again.

Recent research has found that heart disease is affecting more younger women (ages 35-44) than ever thanks to the increasing rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and other harmful risk factors.

Keeping this scary statistic in mind, I think now would be a good time to remind you of some heart healthy foods that are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals — all of which have the power to keep your heart healthy while not breaking your diet. To find out the top ten

Carrying a Few Extra Pounds May Not Be a Bad Thing

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Well, this news has come in just in time. Now that candy-driven Halloween is over and we're preparing to gorge ourselves on Thanksgiving, a new study shows that being 25 pounds overweight doesn't appear to raise your risk of dying of cancer or heart disease. Having a little extra weight may help you to survive various illnesses such as emphysema, pneumonia and certain injuries. Those between the ages of 25 and 59 benefit the most from being a little chubby.

Researchers aren't sure why extra padding may help. Some say that extra weight may provide “additional nutritional reserves.” University of South Carolina obesity researcher Steven Blair, believes that it's possible to be fat and fit. He feels that Americans have been slapped in the face by fears of the obesity epidemic. While it's true that many Americans are obese, the number of deaths attributed to it has been exaggerated.

There's more to this study though. To hear about it then

Cut Your Risk of Heart Attack With 5 Things

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

During the month of October we put an extra emphasis on Breast Cancer Awareness, which means it's easy to forget about spreading awareness about other killers among women, such as heart disease.

In the spirit of covering all grounds to keep us ladies healthy, try to adopt these five simple factors to significantly reduce your own risk of heart attack:

Maintain a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish and legumes
Drink less than a quarter ounce of alcohol daily
Don't smoke
Avoid weight gain
Be physically active

Interestingly enough, these sound quite similar to the five things you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer.

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Randy Jackson Raising Awareness About Diabetes

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:30:00 -0700

What's up dawg? Did you know that "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about five years ago? He has it under control now, since he lost 110 lbs through gastric bypass surgery, improved his diet, exercises, and sees his doctor regularly. Back then, though, he had no idea. He was feeling really rundown and had a high fever, almost like he had a cold, and when he finally saw a doctor, he found out the surprising news.

Over 21 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and Randy has become the spokesperson for the American Heart Association's The Heart of Diabetes campaign. He's hoping to raise awareness about type 2 diabetes, since one third of the people who have it don't even know it (just like him).

It's important to know if you have type 2 diabetes since heart disease is the number one complication, and we all know you don't want to mess with heart disease. This new campaign, The Heart of Diabetes, hopes to encourage people to pay attention to possible diabetic symptoms. Catching the disease early can greatly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. So see your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms: feeling overly exhausted, thirsty, hungry, urinating frequently, or losing weight without trying.

Fit's Tips: Are you putting yourself at risk for type 2 diabetes? Read this post to find out.

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Weight Gain Inevitable? Not So Fast

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 -0700

For most of us the idea of gaining a few pounds as we age is an assumed fate.

Turns out that while adult weight gain is common, it should not be considered normal or healthy. A recent story on CalorieLab.com outlines why you should combat adult weight gain and how to go about it.

Here are highlights:

Middle-age weight gain increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
When normal-weight young adults become overweight, their risk of developing a form of arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the knees requiring surgery rises three-fold.
The worst consequence of being overweight may be the greater risk of several cancers, especially colon cancer and post-menopausal breast cancer. A gain of more than 45 pounds during adulthood doubles the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer, while smaller weight gains can raise the risk by 20 percent.
Changing your balance of calories by 100 fewer calories a day–by consuming less or exercising more–would probably be enough to prevent any gradual yearly weight gain.
To prevent weight gain altogether, another study suggests that 45 to 60 minutes a day of walking, yard work or similar activity may be needed.

Yikes. So if you think that weight gain is inevitable as you age, it's time to change your thinking and your lifestyle. The less weight you gain as you age, the less at risk you are for serious problems later in life.

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Lack of Sleep Could Affect Your Heart

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:30:00 -0700

When you don't get enough sleep, not only do you feel cranky, foggy, and can have a major headache, but a new British study says that people who don't get enough sleep on a regular basis are twice as likely to die of heart disease.

A 17-year analysis of 10,000 government workers showed that those who cut their 7 hour nightly snooze to 5 hours or less, had doubled their risk of death caused by heart problems. The reasons behind this observation aren't clear, but researchers found that people who didn't get enough zzzzs also had high blood pressure, a risk factor associated with strokes and heart attacks.

Since many people feel pressured to work longer hours, they're cutting back on their sleep to fit it all in. People may be getting ahead in their job and making more money, but it won't really matter if their heart problems prevent them from enjoying their success.

So here's the deal. Make sure to get at least 7 hours of undisturbed sleep a night. Do it for your sanity and for your heart.

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Laughter Is Good For Your Veins

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:45:00 -0700

It is frequently said that laughter is the best medicine, but did you know it is good for your veins? Scientists at the University of Maryland have proven that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. Laughter creates increased blood flow by causing the inner lining of blood vessels to expand. The lining of blood vessels, called the endothelium in medical "speak," has many jobs to perform aside from regulating blood flow. The endothelium adjusts coagulation and blood thickening as well as secretes substances that respond to wounds, infections and irritations. This lining is also where atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, begins and this hardening can lead to cardiovascular disease.

So laughter helps keep the blood flowing, as if you needed another reason to read GiggleSugar.

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It's Not Delivery, It's Heart Disease

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 14:30:00 -0700

OK, so I have a confession to make: My husband and I devoured a big greasy frozen pizza over the weekend, for lunch. I am a big believer in the idea that it is OK to indulge every once in a while, but new studies are saying that eating half the pizza on my own (yes I did) may actually be doing more harm than previously thought.

Turns out that full-fat feasts can compromise the ability of our arteries to expand to increased blood flow. The sudden boost in saturated fat hampers the effects of high-density lipoprotein (the "good" cholesterol), or HDL, from doing its job -- to protect the inner lining of the arteries from inflammatory agents that promote the build-up of fatty plaques. While this may be a temporary effect, it's worrisome because the effect may be occurring over and over, each time we splurge on a high-fat meal. Like, say, half a large frozen pizza...

Moral of the story: The American Heart Association says we should aim to keep saturated fat at less than 7 percent of our daily calories.

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Red Shoe Initiative

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Since my girl Fab has been having such an amazing time at New York Fashion Week, I've had my eye on a bit of fashion myself these days. I am excited by this mix of killer shoes and women's health awareness.

The Red Shoe Initiative is pioneered by Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and healthcare facilities across the U.S. joined together to improve women’s health and wellness. The Initiative’s red shoes symbolize commitment to taking action and making healthier choices in the fight against heart attacks and strokes, the leading killers of women in America.

Going on now, at the Fashion Rocks/Carlos Santana Charity Benefit is the prestigious Celebrity Red Shoe Auction. Red “CARLOS by Carlos Santana” shoes, autographed by over a dozen of celebrities, will be showcased at the benefit and then auctioned to the highest bidders on eBay throughout the month of September.

Support the Red Shoe Initiative in raising awareness and funds for women’s heart health and wellness. Proceeds benefit the Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) Coalition and the National Stroke Association.

Visit eBay to check out the "Celebrity Red Shoe Auction", and place bids for your favorite celebrities’ shoes featured below. Shoes signed by Courteney Cox, Jennifer Morrison, Carlos Santana and Susan Sarandon are up for auction now.

Another Reason to Not Drink Soda: Diet or Regular

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

You all should know by now that I am not a fan of soda. It is not good for your teeth or your bones and a new study has found that it may not be good for your heart.

This study found adults who drink one or more sodas a day, diet or regular, had about a 50 percent higher risk of a cluster of factors that increases the chance of having a heart attack or stroke and developing type 2 diabetes. Those zero calorie drinks are not as innocent as they appear. Some of the symptoms considered part of the metabolic syndrome are: excessive fat around the waist, low levels of “good” cholesterol, high blood pressure as well as other symptoms.

The study involved 6,000 multi-generational women and men who were tracked for over 4 years. At the start of the study, all the participants were healthy with no symptoms of the syndrome. Researchers speculate that even no-calorie sweet drinks increase the craving for more sweets, and that people who indulge in sodas probably have less healthy diets overall.

To read more on this study visit MSNBC. And think about cutting back on the sodas. Not only are they full of empty calories, they appear to be dangerous as well.

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New Kashi Granola Cereal: Yum!

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

You know I love Kashi! I've told you about their Chewy Granola Bars, their TLC Crackers, and their tasty Frozen Entrées. Now they're making deliciously satisfying and flavorful granola cereals too! Each serving of the cereal provides an excellent source of fiber, delivers powerful nutrition with 300 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and offers over 2 full servings of whole grains.

Why are whole grains so important for women? A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that people who ate 2 1/2 servings of whole grains a day had a 21% lower risk of developing heart disease. Cardiovascular health is an important topic for women of all ages -- According to the GoRedforWomen campaign, heart disease is still the number one killer among women.

Want to see the nutritional info and get a closer look? Then

Men vs. Women: Heart Disease

FitSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

It is never too early to understand the ways of the heart and I am not talking about love. Here's a question for you to see how much you know about the implications of heart disease for women.

True or False: More women than men die of heart disease each year in the United States.

To see the answer

The Benefits of Doing Cardio...

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:00:00 -0700

With all this talk about cutting cardio out of your routine, I thought it was important to outline the major benefits of cardiovascular activity. So here it goes:

Reduces risk of disease: Including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancer.
Improves blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels: Exercise increases your HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and decreases your LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in your blood.
Improves heart function: A stronger heart doesn't need to beat as fast and pumps blood more efficiently, which means improved blood flow in the body.
Reduces risk of osteoporosis: Weight-bearing aerobic exercises (walking) reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Improves muscle mass: Muscles move your body, the healthier the muscles are, the better you move.
Increases calories burned: More calories burned means more weight lost.

This does not include all the emotional and aesthetic benefits you get from a few good runs or workouts on the elliptical (less stress, more sleep, improved sexual performance etc.). Now that you know the benefits, check out some of the cardio workouts I have created.

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Meatless Monday: A New Way to Eat

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:00:00 -0700

Our society, particularly our dieting society, has become obsessed with protein. Dr. Atkins and friends have managed to convince us that eating more and more meat is the way to go.

The Meatless Monday Campaign, which is a national health campaign aimed at preventing heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and cancer, has begun. The problem with eating too much protein is that many of us do not understand that the body can't store excess protein. The thing is that if you consume more protein than you need, you'll just eliminate it through your urine and put an extra strain on your kidneys to metabolize it. Not to extra mention the amounts of saturated fat and carcinogens (in well done meats) that are consumed by eating a high meat diet. The goal of the campaign is to reduce consumption of saturated fat 15% by 2010, which translates to cutting out meat and high-fat dairy one day a week.

I'm all on board for this. It's not a totally dramatic change and it's not a push for us all to become herbivores either. Meatless Mondays here I come.

Looking for a recipe for your Meatless Monday? Try this Lentil Tomato Soup.

Butter or Margarine?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0700

How Much Fiber Should You Get in ONE Day?

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0800

Fiber is any food matter that your digestive system can't break into units small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Getting the recommended amount of dietary fiber will help lower your risk of heart disease since a low fiber intake is associated with increased risk of heart disease (the number one killer of women) as well as some types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. Eating more fiber can assist with weight loss by allowing you to feel fuller longer, making it less likely you'll want to snack on less healthy items.

Fight Heart Disease with a Red NuMetrex Sports Bra

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:30:00 -0800

I've told you how much I love NuMetrex's fabulous heart rate monitoring sports bras, but I just found another reason to love them even more.

In honor of American Heart Month, they've designed a limited edition red NuMetrex bra ($49.50). A donation of $5.00 from the sale of each bra will go to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program. Buy it directly from the NuMetrex site.

So go ahead and get yourself one, it's now a matter of the heart.

Gifts From (and for) The Heart

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 07:45:00 -0800

We all struggle with gifts for others and ourselves. What if you could shop, knowing it is good for your heart?

On the Shop Go Red website, you can buy t-shirts, tote bags, hats, jewelry and other cute accessories sure to get your heart (no pun intended) going. This ringer tee ($26.00) is a perfect gift for Valentine's Day, and the message over your heart is a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke. February is the month for lovers and it is also Shop Go Red.

Take it From Someone Who Has Heart Disease...

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 08:30:17 -0800

Heart disease is a killer, making it a very scary thing. The risk factors for heart disease include family history, diet, smoking and a lack of exercise -- 3 out of the 4 are factors that we have control over.

Maybe if you don't know anyone with heart disease, it is hard to realize the harm and pain it brings. Charlie Hoff, former CNN reporter, has experienced heart disease first hand and he tells his story in his most recent blog on CNN. Here is an excerpt:

The pain associated with the onset of a heart attack is angina. Angina is non-discriminating and may attack your body in places other than your chest. My first episode was signaled by a pain in the neck - I was alone, confused and in denial. I did not get help for several hours and I have paid the price.

To read his full blog and to hear how someone with heart disease deals, visit CNN.com. The best way to avoid heart disease? Prevention (healthy diet and proper exercise, which I am teaching you here on FitSugar). You really do not want to have to go through angina and finding treatments to make life livable.

What's a Healthy Blood Pressure?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:32:11 -0800

You know when you go to the doctor the nurse wraps that thing around your upper arm and squeezes the air pump? Then they tell you a number that you most likely forget. This number is your blood pressure and it's actually important.So, what's healthy in terms of blood pressure?

What's a Healthy Blood Pressure?

Less than 100/60

Less than 140/80

More than 140/80

More than 180/60

Working Out But Still Not Fit?

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:05:00 -0800

Many people have asked if they are considered healthy if they work out regularly even though they are still overweight.

To clarify, you can be overweight and still be fit. Problems come into play when the cause of being overweight is due to fat and not muscle. If you exercise and your extra weight is fat, you are at increased risk of having Type 2 diabetes, cancer and strokes.

Definitely do not get discouraged and stop exercising. Overweight folks are still benefiting from working out, they just need to start focusing on actually losing weight for good. This means a healthy diet should also be incorporated with any exercise programs.

Fit's Tip: Don't let the scale rule your life. Thin people can still be at risk for heart disease, especially if they smoke or eat a diet high in saturated fats.