That's Fit

Ahhh ... now this is a study I would have paid for myself. Research out of the University of Alcala in Madrid, Spain found that drinking beer may protect against the harmful effects of aluminum on the brain.

In a report published in the January, 2008 issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology, Spanish researchers posited that aluminum is neurotoxic, and overexposure to this metal has been implicated for its suspected connection with Alzheimer's disease. Beer, on the other hand, contains silicon, a substance that reduces the buildup up aluminum in the digestive system and the brain.

The study found that consuming silicon in moderately high levels – which can be obtained from drinking about two beers per day - limited aluminum's debilitating effect on the brain.

One of my favourite summer indulgences is a pint of cold beer on the patio on a hot summer's day. See, it's so refreshing, and when enjoyed with friends, it's a fun way to get together. Problem is, when you're having so much fun, one pint can turn into two, three or even more (provided you're not driving, of course!)

Calorie-wise, I know that beer is a better choice than, say, a margarita. And I know that a bottle of beer usually isn't too high in calories, depending on the beer you choose. But what about pints? Are they a good drink choice or a calorie disaster? What do you think?

It's all about the beer. So say that ads, anyway. And, there's no harm in cracking open a cold one once and a while, so long as you're not drinking them with near abandon.

This also applies for those so-called "healthy" beers. You know, the Michelob Ultras and other brands that feature very fit people exercising in their ads, as if the beer was a sports drink. While it is true that these beers tend to have less calories (thereby making them the better choice in that department), drink a six pack a night and you're guaranteed to look nothing at all like the men and women pictured in the ads.

Simply put, one Michelob Ultra = 95 calories. A six-pack of Michelob Ultra = 570 calories. Considering that the FDA recommends a daily caloric intake of around 2,000, you will have less than 1,500 to spare after your "healthy" beer binge.

As your loving online fitness trainer, I'm constantly searching for fun new products to help you achieve ultimate fitness with the most ease and enjoyment. Thomas Kemper Low Calorie Root Beer, with only 20 calories per 12 ounce bottle, is one of those products. Look. We all know that plain old water is the best beverage in the world health wise. But...I'm a big fan of the no and low calorie drinks as well. I find that a diet soda satisfies my sweet tooth and keeps me from hunting down muffins throughout my day. It keeps me in the teeny jeans I like to wear as well.

Thomas Kemper did a great job creating the perfect low calorie version of their Original Root Beer. It tastes delicious and my die hard root beer loving neighbor guzzled it down to rave reviews, without even knowing it was a low calorie drink! He almost fell off of his chair when I told him it was a 'diet' drink. Having said that, I think his new addiction to Thomas Kemper Low Cal Root Beer is going to help him get rid of his 'regular beer belly'. Such an easy way to lose weight!

Not only is the Low Calorie Root Beer a yummy treat, the bottle will make you feel fancy. It's brown and beige with a cutie logo, and will make you feel like you're sitting on a farm with Wilford Brimley and Huck Finn. Not that those two characters were known to hang out together, but Thomas Kemper will make you feel like they did. It will make you feel like you're all three together on the farm throwing rocks....or something else sweet and old fashioned like that!

I have great news for guys around the world. Ready? Here it is: Drinking beer and eating pub nuts is good for you!!

In my mind, millions of guys in bars from New York to New Delhi are jumping up in the air in a slow-motion, NFL films-style celebration upon hearing this. That's the good news. Now for the bad news. Wait, there isn't any bad news!! (in my mind, these guys are jumping even higher now, only this time they're joined by Playboy Playmates and are all wearing shirts that say "Chris is Awesome!"). Back to the good-only news ... researchers from Penn State found that the combination of two beers and some mixed nuts can help reduce the risk of heart attack without causing a gain in weight.

Researchers posit that the nuts boost "good" HDL cholesterol and lower "bad" LDL cholesterol, while the booze helps with circulation by thinning the blood, thereby reducing the risk of clots.

Surveys say 21-to 35-year-olds prefer wine to beer. They just don't know much about the wine they prefer and have no strong loyalties to any specific brands. A good thing for advertisers who can tempt just about any palate.

Enter viral advertising, a technique that uses existing social networks to create brand awareness and sales. Forget billboards, TV, and print ads. This approach uses video clips, video games, e-mail blasts, and advertising at music events and other gatherings.

Sacre Bleu, a 45,000-bottle-a-year elite operation, is jumping at the chance to win over young drinkers with this method. Websites, podcasts, and MySpace pages will hopefully hook this population. Another selling point: Sacre Bleu wine is as natural as it can be -- with no added sugar or acids.

So wine isn't all that bad. It's healthy in fact if consumed moderately. But I tend to think advertisers wish for more than moderate sales. What do you think? A healthy endeavor or not?

Beer and chips and nachos, oh my! It's amazing how certain times of year can turn a sport -- something that's supposed to be a healthy activity -- into a supremely non-healthy activity for its fans. Hours in front of the TV munching on calorie and fat-laden snacks does not turn you into an athlete like you see on the screen. You're more likely to walk away from a sports season a few pounds heavier than anything. If you find yourself hopelessly glued to the tube for March Madness, take a look at Revolution Health's 16 tips to help you get through March Madness sanely and healthfully. Check out the gallery to see the tips.

No bones about it: Losing weight is hard work. You're going to have to make some major changes and you're going to have to stick to them. But changing too much too fast is a recipe for disaster, so our advice is to take it slow and start off with some smaller changes.

Diet Blog recently put together a list of easy food swaps you can make that will cut 100 calories from your daily intake. Some examples?

• On your toast, have honey instead of jam and butter.
• On your sandwich, trade mayo for a little bit of light cream cheese.
  
• Instead of having a beer after work, have a glass of wine.
  
• Instead of ordering a cheeseburger, order a plain hamburger.
  

They have plenty of other great swaps -- click here for more info.

Women drinkers may have something to lament from now on, if they buy into this new research that is! According to psychiatrists, wine causes more damage to the brain in comparison to beer. The study shows that this affects the hippocampus area for women more predominantly than men.

Wine has been touted as a beneficial drink for health reasons, so this could be seen as a bummer for people (particularly women) who may often indulge with a glass. So how exactly does it hurt the brain anyway? Researchers were able to study the brain and assess the shrinkage that this type of alcohol helped contribute to.

The hippocampus was shown to be 10 percent smaller in those who drank wine than the drinkers who preferred spirits and beer. However, I think it's worth taking this study with a grain of salt because the way they got these results was by comparing diagnosed alcoholics to healthy brains. So in other words, this references alcohol dependence and not necessarily people who are moderate drinkers. That's not to say a smaller scale association can't be made, but it's not worth panicking over.

Beer with benefits. The athlete's brew. Fitness foam. Whatever way marketers try to spin it, low-carb beer is not healthy. Plain and simple. I don't care how many fit guys and girls wearing workout gear appear in the ads, the fact remains that low-carb beer is no better or worse for you than any regular beer.

Look, if you want to throw back a few beers, go for yours. No one is judging. I'm simply pointing out the fact that these supposedly "healthier" beers are actually nothing of the sort. You see, the carbs (even if there are less of them, albeit only slightly) in these brews are simple sugars, which means that they will cause a bit of a spike to blood glucose levels. This, over time, will result in the storage of fat. That's a problem. Another problem with low-carb beers is that they still contain a decent amount of alcohol (around 5 percent). This means that all the bad decisions that can be made with "unhealthy" beer can also be made with these so-called "healthy" beers; including, but certainly not limited to, going for a late night stop at the pizza joint, devouring a box of Ring Dings you bought from 7-11, and, of course, drinking more and more booze. Oh yeah, plus hooking up with your best friend's wife.

So, between the spike in blood glucose levels, late night food cravings, and the risk of being beaten senseless by your own best friend, I'm having a really tough time understanding how this beer is healthy.

Everyone has a theory on what it takes to cure a hangover. Some will suggest drinking Pedialyte or Gatorade to restore electrolytes and reduce dehydration. Others claim that the 'hair of the dog' method works best. And some believe that taking vitamins can offset the effects of alcohol.

Truth be told, there really is no such thing as a hangover cure. The Pedialyte/Gatorade approach is a good idea, as dehydration is part of what makes you feel so crummy. But, it's still not going to "cure" your hangover. The classic "Hair of the Dog" approach is not a good idea, for it requires you to keep drinking more alcohol. More or less, all you're doing with this method is prolonging the inevitable. As for popping vitamins, this won't really do much, either.

In pill form, vitamins are not absorbed very well by the body. And, since alcohol will only further hinder this absorption, your efforts at replenishment will likely fall far short.

The only "cure" for a hangover is to simply wait it out and be sure to stay hydrated. Oh yeah, or don't get drunk in the first place. That one works every time.

Rosie O'Donnell says she's giving up alcohol. Well, beer actually, she writes on her blog.

Why is Rosie saying "no more" to beer? Here's what the former View host writes: "Cause I was drinking too much, 'cause I didn't want to any more, 'cause it is hard to lose weight when drinking, 'cause I can never have only one."

Not a bad idea, I say, but I wonder if she'll ditch other forms of alcohol too. It would serve her well because while a very occasional drink may not be a bad thing, going overboard with alcohol clearly leads to problems -- it's linked to some forms of disease (as little as one drink per day can up breast cancer risk), it leads to driving catastrophes, it lands bunches of people in rehab, and as Rosie, says: Alcohol is an obstacle for those trying to lose weight.

So, how's it going for Rosie? Swearing off the beer is by no means easy -- "but I feel better," she says.

Super Bowl is coming up this weekend, and chances are many of you will be at parties or pubs taking in more than the game; Not only is it the biggest football game of the year, but it's also a time to drink beer and eat greasy food. In fact, studies show that it is the second biggest eating day after Thanksgiving -- yikes!

When I get together with friends over beers, we always manage to order a big plate of nachos to share. Now, I'm not naive enough to think they're good for me -- there's no way cheese and meat on already-unhealthy nacho chips wouldn't be bad for the old waistline -- but I usually just pick away at them in rare conversation lulls so I never really consider the calorie count. But in honour of Super Bowl, let's consider just how much damage a few nachos will do to your diet.

If you are a health-conscious individual, you may do a little "food math" in your head to determine if that piece of chocolate is worth eating. Or perhaps on the weekend you wonder how beneficial a beer might be. Food such as these can be enjoyed in moderation, but have you ever been curious as to how good or bad it is for you?

That's where this list of the good and the bad of seven common foods that we consume every day comes in. Included among chocolate and beer are foods like red meat, nuts, coffee, eggs and even wine. For example, did you know that moderate drinking of brews can help protect your chromosomes from radiation exposure (like x-rays). As for a negative, beer can also cause gastroesophageal reflux which leads to heartburn.

These are just a few; the list is full of pros and cons for all those foods! Like this one about nuts: Several studies are cited which indicate lowered risk for gallstones the more you eat them. However, they're also high in calories -- only a dozen cashews pack well over a hundred calories! Check out the rest here for more information.

I am a sucker for expensive hair care products. Pricey shampoos and conditioners, any kind of serum that promises shiny results and expensive visits to the salon for a new color are all part of my hair routine. But I also know that fancy packaging and a big price tags don't necessarily guarantee quality, and that there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives.

Many of these can be found at home -- in your refrigerator. A couple of years ago I embarked on my only little adventure wherein I tried out a few of the food products that I'd heard were great on your hair to see if they really worked. I was surprised and impressed that most of them did! Although I didn't stick with any of them (lets face it -- hair that smells of mayo isn't as enticing as hair that smells like Aveda), I still think they're worth giving a try if you're curious.