FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Healthy Recipe: Eggplant Stacks

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I love finding new ways to use seasonal produce, and lately, the tomatoes here — especially the multicolored heirloom varieties — have been irresistible. One of the best ways to feature fabulous tomatoes is in a classic caprese salad made with mozzarella cheese and basil. Since I found some good-looking basil and eggplant at the farmers market, I decided to try this variation.

To make the dish healthier, I used part-skim mozzarella, and instead of beefsteak tomatoes, I used heirlooms. Though this recipe is designed to yield two appetizer servings, I just ate the two eggplant stacks for dinner with nothing else. It was plenty filling and a great way to work fresh veggies into mealtime. To get the recipe,

5 Things About Tomatoes

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0700

While I didn't actively avoid tomatoes during the salmonella scare, I am quite happy the FDA has finally given raw tomatoes the thumbs up. To celebrate my favorite fruit disguised as a veggie, I thought I would share five things ways tomatoes benefit your health.

Blood Pressure: Eating tomatoes for eight weeks was found to reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. So eat some tomatoes to help your heart chill out.
Ketchup: Cooking tomatoes increases their lycopene content, and America's favorite condiment, ketchup, is no exception. However, organic ketchup has three times the amount of the antioxidants than its conventional counterpart.
Cancer: Tomatoes have been shown to decrease the risk of pancreatic cancer as well as breast cancer.

There are two other reasons to eat tomatoes, so

FDA Gives the OK on Eating Tomatoes

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If you've been avoiding certain tomatoes since this horrific salmonella outbreak, go ahead and bite into any tomato you want. Since no strain of salmonella Saintpaul was found on any farms that were tested, the FDA believes that consumers can now enjoy all types of fresh tomatoes.

The mystery still stands though as to what caused this outbreak in the first place, which has now sickened 1,220 people in 42 states — the earliest case on April 10 and the latest so far on July 4. Hot peppers are still on the list of things to watch out for, so people with weakened immune systems and the elderly should avoid fresh jalapeños and serranos.

I'm wondering, have you been avoiding tomatoes recently? If so, will the FDA's announcement settle your mind and let you enjoy tomatoes again, or are you still a little leery?

Source

Salmonella Update: Not Just the Tomatoes Anymore!

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:30:00 -0700

If you've been avoiding tomatoes for fear of getting a salmonella infection then you're going to have to add serrano and jalapeno peppers, as well as cilantro to your "do not eat" list.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Food and Drug Administration has begun looking at serrano and jalapeno peppers and cilantro — basically the ingredients used to make salsa — as possible causes of the outbreak. Tomatoes continue to be investigated as well. With over a thousand folks infected at this point, some officials are calling this the worst foodborne illness outbreak in the US in a decade — yikes!

Me, I've starting eating tomatoes again, but I'm going to try to steer clear of the spicy peppers in question as well as the tasty herb. Most of you said you weren't avoiding tomatoes, so will you be avoiding the peppers and cilantro (perhaps even salsa) until this all is cleared up?

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Foods That Fight Sunburn

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Let me start by saying the most effective way to protect your skin against sunburn is using sunscreen and plenty of it – a shot-glass worth – frequently. While a bit of sunlight is healthy, since we need UV rays to synthesize vitamin D, you should wear sunscreen daily.

You can, however, boost your skin's ability to protect itself from harmful UV rays by eating certain foods like tomatoes. Don't worry if you are still avoiding raw tomatoes, the beneficial antioxidant of tomatoes increases when it is cooked and more concentrated like tomato paste. The benefits of tomatoes drastically increase when paired with olive oil. I see an Italian dinner in my near future.

Green tea, super rich in phytonutrients, is a wonder drink when it comes to health. The antioxidants in this tea have been found to block DNA damage from UV light in studies involving human skin cells. You don't need to brew yourself a hot cup of tea to enjoy the benefits of green tea. One of my favorite drinks of Summer is a green tea-lime cooler. It is refreshing.

While you can't eat your sunscreen, you can boost your natural protection. Eat and drink up!

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Tainted Tomatoes Now in 30 States: Are You Avoiding Them?

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Unfortunately, the salmonella tainted tomato problem is growing, and reported cases have been found in 30 states now, including Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. Six cases have been reported from New York City raising the total number of confirmed cases to 383, and counting. Forty-eight people have been hospitalized after eating these unsafe veggies, and now the FDA is saying it may be "impossible to trace the ultimate source of the tainted tomatoes." That's not very comforting, is it? The tracking difficulties stem from the fact that tomatoes are often sold without tags. Also, by the time people become symptomatic, there's rarely a tainted tomato left to test. Since they were the main supplies of tomatoes when the salmonella outbreak began, Mexico and Florida remain top on the list of possible sources of contaminated produce. Still plugging along in their investigation, the FDA has asked Mexican health authorities to test for cases of this exact strain of salmonella. For now, it's best to continue avoiding raw red plum, red Roma, or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries that FDA has deemed safe (check this list). Also, all grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and home-grown tomatoes are still considered safe to eat. Tomatoes are supposed to hit stores and restaurants soon, but now I'm a little leery about eating any until this matter is cleared up.I am curious to know that with . . .Source

Tainted Tomatoes Now in 30 States: Are You Avoiding Them?

Yes! I haven't eaten any tomatoes in over a week.

Yes, but I have only avoided red tomatoes.

No, I grow my own tomatoes and I know they are safe.

No, I buy locally-grown produce and live in a state that hasn't been affected.

Other – share the details in the comments section below.

Tomatoes Expected in Restaurants and Stores Soon

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Unfortunately this tomato salmonella outbreak is growing, and tainted tomatoes have been found in 28 states and 228 people have become ill because of them. Health officials are still trying to figure out if the bad produce came from Mexico or Florida. It's hard to figure out since sickened people's memories of when (and if) they ate tomatoes, where they ate them, and which kinds they ate are a little fuzzy.

For now the culprits are still raw red plum, red Roma, and red round tomatoes, but if you get them from these states confirmed by the FDA, they're considered safe to eat. The FDA says that grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, home-grown tomatoes, and those that have the vine still attached continue to be safe for consumption. With this info, McDonald's and other restaurants and grocery stores will begin serving and selling safe tomatoes within the next seven to 10 days.

I'm curious, has this scare stopped you from eating tomatoes?

Source

Salmonella Outbreak: Now in 16 States

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

On Friday I told you about the salmonella food-poisoning outbreak reported in nine states (New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana). Contaminated raw, uncooked tomatoes are thought to be the culprit, and unfortunately more cases of illness have cropped up in seven other states including California, Connecticut, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Investigators believe the tainted tomatoes are also to blame for the most recent recent illnesses. So far a total of 111 people have come down with the same Salmonella "Saintpaul" infection.

Although the source of these rotten tomatoes has yet to be determined, it's believed that you probably don't need to worry about cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, or homegrown tomatoes. The FDA also assures that Roma, red plum, and round red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico are not associated with this outbreak. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking it may just be easier to avoid raw tomatoes for a while. What do you think?

Source

Contaminated Tomatoes: Salmonella Strikes Again

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I guess we can't go too long without hearing about another outbreak of salmonella. This time it's tomatoes, and these tainted veggies have been found in nine states. Forty food poisoning cases have been reported from New Mexico and Texas, all caused by the same strand of salmonella found in large, raw tomatoes, and 17 of those people have been hospitalized. Another type of salmonella has caused 30 cases of reported illness in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana. In Texas and New Mexico, Roma and red round tomatoes seem to be the culprit, and investigators are looking to find out if these same tomatoes are causing illnesses in the other seven states. Unfortunately, no farm, grocery store, or restaurant is being singled out, so we have no idea which tomatoes are the so-called rotten ones. Hopefully further testing will give us some clues. For now if you live in any of those nine states, I'd be careful about your tomato consumption.

Source

Tomatoes for Sunburn?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Tomatoes might just be my favorite "veggie that is really a fruit." And now I have yet another reason to love them. It appears that eating tomatoes can improve the skins ability to protect against UV rays, which can cause premature aging of the skin as well as skin cancer. Although the study was quite small, involving only 20 volunteers, the results are promising. Ten volunteers ate 55 grams (just shy of two ounces) of tomato paste with 10 grams of olive oil daily, while another 10 volunteers ate 10 grams of olive oil daily. After three months, the tomato group had 33 percent more protection against sunburn (like wearing a very low factor sunscreen) and considerably higher levels of procollagen, which gives the skin its structure and keeps it firm.

Researchers believe that the antioxidant lycopene gives tomatoes their healthy edge. Good news is that concentrations of lycopene increase when tomatoes are cooked. So bring on the red sauce!

Source

Tips to Slim Down Your Pizza

FitSugar — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

Barbecue season has basically come to an end and pizza is taking over now. While we may be tempted to order a meat lover's pizza with extra cheese (this is NOT on the Atkins Diet by the way), we should rethink our topping choices so we can still have our pizza and enjoy it too! Plus, besides pizza being yummy, it can also be really good for you (think lycopene in the tomato sauce and veggies galore).

Here are some fabulous ideas from MSN for keeping your pizza healthy and tasty:

Vegetables are by far the best topping for a pizza and offer a wide range of options. Experiment with different varieties such as green and red peppers, zucchini, broccoli, or be adventurous and pick a fruity topping like pineapple or mango.
Cheese belongs to the Milk and Alternatives food group and is an excellent source of calcium and protein. Keep the fat content to a reasonable amount by ordering regular cheese, rather than "double." (I personally like to order "light" cheese, most pizza guys will know what you mean.)
Meat is a source of protein - and fat. Leaner choices are chicken and ham. Typically, pepperoni is leaner than beef and sausage. Multi-meat pizzas contain high levels of fat, calories and salt.
Crusts made from whole wheat or multi grain are more nutritious. They deliver a boost of fiber and fewer calories than traditional dough crusts.

Source

8 Foods Men Should Eat Every Day

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Best Life Magazine has compiled a list of eight foods that men should be eating every day. I know this list is made with men in mind, but these are foods women may want to consider adding to their diets as well. So while you're throwing a few blueberries on top of his cereal in the morning, you may want to add a few to yours as well.

Spinach: It may be green and leafy, but spinach is also the ultimate man food. This noted biceps builder is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate, which help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis. Bonus (for him, I suppose): Folate also increases blood flow to the penis. And spinach is packed with lutein, a compound that fights age-related macular degeneration.
Yogurt: Various cultures claim yogurt as their own creation, but the 2,000-year-old food’s health benefits are not disputed: Fermentation spawns hundreds of millions of probiotic organisms that serve as reinforcements to the battalions of beneficial bacteria in your body, which boost the immune system and provide protection against cancer. Not all yogurts are probiotic though, so make sure the label says “live and active cultures.”

There are more foods you may not have thought about so

Falafel Mix: It's Fantastic

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

How many of you love falafel? There's a place near me that makes the best I've ever tasted, and I just turn the other cheek when I see the little balls being deep-fried. If only there were an easy and healthier way to make it myself....

There is! I picked up a box of Fantastic Falafel Mix that a friend recommended to me, and now I'm sharing this gem with you. It's quick and easy to make, and you can add your own veggies in the wrap to make it even healthier. It's got the perfect amount of crunchy chewiness, and it's made with garbanzo beans, so it's got protein too.

Want to see what it really looks like, what the nutritional info is and how to make it yourself? Then

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Don't forget to eat your calcium and to opt for organic tomatoes whenever you can since they are higher in antioxidants than conventional tomatoes.

Check out these beautiful celeb moms and learn how they lost their baby weight already.

Try this yoga pose and you can be a Hero!!! Yep the pose is named "hero" and it is great for the knees.

Take it from me and Jennifer Garner - use the weight machines. Strength training is important.

I am curious which kind of fit man attracts you? Cast your vote in the "Matthews" poll.

Health food fanatics might want to read this - Kombucha Tea: Fact or Fiction.

Are you irritated by the bumps on your arms? If yes, you are not alone.

What hot topic is dividing France on Bastille Day? Read and see.

Tell me if you think cellulite reducing shorts are cool or not.

Wii Fit will rival Wii Sports and it comes with a groovy balance board.

Do you think a sandwich or a bag of chips contains more sodium? Take the Quiz and see.

Here are a few tips on how to avoid gaining weight.

Flynet

Flavonoid Alert!!!! Organic Tomatoes May Be Better For Your Heart

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

You all know I am all about increasing my intake of flavonoids. Since it is better to eat your antioxidants than to take supplements, I heartily suggest we all eat more organic tomatoes.

A new study published recently in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found that organic tomatoes produce almost double the amount of flavonoids compared with conventionally grown tomatoes. Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant known to be beneficial for reducing high blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.

There are a couple of theories as to why this is so. Most scientists think it has to do with the soil in which the tomatoes are grown. Organic tomatoes are grown without conventional nitrogen fertilizers and flavonoids are produced by the tomatoes as a defense mechanism triggered by nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of nitrogen in the soil.

So go for it. Spend a little extra dough and buy some organic tomatoes while they are in season. I have always found organic tomatoes to be tastier.

What is your favorite way to eat fresh tomatoes? Tell me in the comments section below.

Source

Best Summer Foods from The F-Factor Diet: Tomatoes

FitSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:15:00 -0700

I am loving this new book, The F-Factor Diet ($16.47). The basis of the book is to make sure that the foods you eat the most of have enough fiber. I love the idea of adding more fiber into your diet, not only for weight loss, but for the amazing benefits it brings (reduced risk of heart disease). Plus who doesn't love a diet that tells you to eat more?

Tanya Zuckerbrot, the author of the book is a well established nutritionist who has been practicing this program with clients for more than ten years. In other words, she knows her stuff. Of course there is way more to it than that and you'd have to read the book to get all the details, however Tanya gave me the scoop on the five best foods for summer, here's the first:

TOMATOES
Summer dish: sliced tomato with balsamic vinegar
Nothing says summer like vine ripe tomatoes. Tomatoes naturally lend themselves to health-conscious summer cooking, being sweet yet low in calories. In fact, tomatoes are one of the most frequently consumed "vegetables" in the United States, whether raw, steamed, fried, stewed, crushed, pureed, or reduced to a sauce. (Though thought of as a vegetable, tomatoes are botanically classified as fruits.) They are also one of our best sources of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant.

They also contain beta-carotene and several other carotenoids that may have their own disease-preventing properties, particularly against heart disease and cancer. One carotenoid, lycopene, may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Tomatoes also offer a good dose of potassium, which helps to reduce the risk of stroke.

Keep a lookout for the other four best foods for summer!

Healthy Eating Tip: Make A Colorful Salad

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

One of the best things of summer is the food. So many of my favorite veggies are in season, so they are less expensive and tastier. This makes summer a great time to eat and make salads. Plus you don't have to turn on the stove.

To reap the most nutritional benefits from your salad you should add some color. Why limit yourself to just greens. Antioxidants often give color to food, so if you add a colorful array of veggies and fruits you will be covering your bases.

Here's a list of colorful vegetables to mix and match on top of your favorite greens:

fresh corn
chopped fresh herbs, like basil and dill
red, orange, and/or yellow peppers
tomatoes of any color (orange cherry tomatoes taste like candy!!!)
shredded carrots
red leaf lettuce
radishes
steamed green beans
radicchio
avocado
mango
berries (check out this recipe for Spinach and Strawberry Salad)
red cabbage chopped
green onions

Now, I would never put all those things in one salad, since I have a salad quirk where I usually limit my salad toppings to just 3 items. But in the summer, with so many veggies at the height of their season, I work through my quirk and sometimes can barely see the lettuce for all the wonderful ingredients I have added in.

I'd love to hear about your favorite summer salad combination. So tell me about it in the comments section below.

Top 5 Foods for Women

FitSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 13:30:00 -0700

I just came across this list of 5 superfoods all women should include in their diet - I bet most of you already do.

Cranberries - These help fight off nasty Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). About 10 oz of juice a day (the unsweetened kind) is all you need to kick that infection out the door.

Not only that, but cranberries are high in antioxidants, so they can help fend off colds, stomach bugs, and certain types of cancer. Drinking cranberry juice can also prevent plaque from forming on your teeth. You can add unsweetened cranberry juice to smoothies or dried cranberries to salads and baked goods.

Walnuts - These are rich in Omega-3s, which help increase the good cholesterol (HDL) levels in your body. These are the "healthy" fats.

They may even help with depression and reduce your risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Top your salad with 1/4 cup or try them in pesto. I like to add them to my oatmeal.

Beans - These little legumes are great sources of protein, and they may also prevent heart disease. Rich in two heart-friendly phytochemicals, beans are packed with magnesium, potassium, folate, and fiber. Choose hummus over dip (it's made with garbanzo beans), and add beans to salads, burritos or soups to get your fill.

Want to see the other two? Then

Mediterranean Diet and Allergies: Go Nuts

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:30:20 -0700

Are your allergies going nuts right now? Well the answer might be to eat more nuts. New findings seem to indicate that eating a Mediterranean style diet can reduce respiratory allergy symptoms like wheezing, runny nose and sneezing.

Britain's Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart and Lung Institute conducted research on 690 children between ages 7-18 on the island of Crete. The children that ate at least 2 servings of fruit a day as well as nuts were less likely to suffer from childhood respiratory allergies and asthma compared to those children that ate the most margarine.

The local produce on Crete is mainly grapes, apples, oranges and tomatoes and these were the fresh foods the children were predominantly eating. Researchers also noticed a relationship between nuts and and a reduction of these symptoms.

"A high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheeze and allergic rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose)."

While only children participated in the study I am optimistic that this diet will help adults too. I sure do hope someone will be conducting a study on this soon.

If you are as intrigued by the Mediterranean style diet as I am, you should check out the food recommendations and food pyramid to learn more about it.

Source

My New Favorite Soup: Lentil Tomato

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:00:00 -0700

My husband, a self proclaimed super carnivore, told me recently he wanted to eat less meat. Not give it up entirely by any means, but cut back in an effort to eat more veggies. So I have been trying new recipes and I found this one in a cookbook I have had for years. I had never made this soup before and thought it looked tasty and so good for you. Lentils are high in fiber and tomatoes are full of lycopene, a potent antioxidant.

Here is the recipe. Try it and see if you like it too. It is so easy to make and that is just another reason it is my new fave.

Tomato Lentil Soup
adapted from the New Basics Cookbook

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped celery
2 large cans Roma tomatoes (28 oz. each)
6 cups low sodium, non-fat chicken broth or veggie stock
2 cups dried lentils (rinsed)
1 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup dry red wine
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup balsamic (or red wine vinegar)

Sauté onions and celery in olive oil in a large soup pot, for about 10 minutes.
Purée tomatoes with their juice in a blender or food processor, and add to veggies.
Add chicken (or veggie) stock and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of the parsley, along with the wine, garlic, pepper, salt and cloves. Stir well and simmer for another 25 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup of parsley and balsamic vinegar. Simmer another 5 minutes.
Serve immediately with rustic multigrain bread and enjoy.

Makes 8 portions.

This recipe was originally made with 4 tablespoons butter and I just thought the wasn't necessary. Since lentils are so full of fiber I added 2 cups instead of the original 1/2 cup.

Print recipe with images | without images

Eat Your Antioxidants

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:30:00 -0700

When our mothers told us to eat our veggies because they were good for our health, they weren't lying. Moms all over the world intuitively knew broccoli was a super food, and now intricate nutritional science is backing them up - broccoli is chock full of powerful antioxidants.

Here are a few foods you should be adding to your diet, as well as the reasons why.

Blackberries, and I am not talking about the PDA. I am talking the actual fruit, the yummy berry. They are high in proanthocyandidins and while it sounds like the name of a dinosaur, it is really a type of antioxidant that might prevent cancer and heart disease. These berries also contain ellagic acid that combats carcinogens.
Tomatoes are high in the hard to come by antioxidant lycopene, which is also found in pink grapefruit. Lycopene has been associated with decrease risk of prostrate, lung, colon and breast cancer. Tomatoes also contain glutathione, which boosts the immune system. Interestingly enough, cooking tomatoes helps make the antioxidants available to the body.

There's a few more, so