The truth about "reduced sugar"
My son has a penchant for sugary cereals. I adopted him at age 10, so he had 10 years of forming his tastes and eating habits before he moved home with me. Luckily, he does enjoy a number of healthy foods. (I just recently succeeded in getting him to try (and enjoy) salmon.) Breakfast foods, however, are more of a challenge.More often than not we have oatmeal, whole-wheat toast with peanut butter, or eggs. But I do like to have a box of cereal in the pantry for those busy days. Getting him to change his preferences has been a slow process. In fact, just recently when we were at the grocery store he said "Fruit Loops are healthy. Right, Mom? They're made of fruit." Uh.... no.
HealthCastle has a great article discussing the truth about reduced-sugar products -- from cereal to instant oatmeal to granola bars to juice -- that are popping up on store shelves. The products are often aimed at kids, yet the claim of "reduced sugar" is supposed to appeal to health-conscious parents. Often, artificial sweeteners are used in place of the sugar -- calorie content remains about the same.
We all know fruits and veggies that are bold and bright in color keep us healthy. But what colors are best? Red, for one. 
I'm not a juice girl. Never have been. Don't plan to become one. It comes down to sugar for me. Natural or not, I don't like how much comes packed into juice drinks.
This past week, we wrapped up our
Trying to take off the pounds? I have a trick that's worked well for me and several of my friends: Drink up. I'm not talking about calorie-laden drinks like soda, cocktails or juices. Rather, you should fill up on healthy, low-calorie liquids. We're talking water, tea, vegetable juice, soup, even diet soda and juice from time to time.
Most alcohol gets burned off during the cooking process. But if you have some recipes that require a cooking wine or liqueur and don't want to risk it on children or less-than-healthy guests, give these simple substitutions a try.
Who isn't at least a little short on energy sometimes? Besides your toddler or small dog, I'd bet nobody really.
There's more talk than ever these days about performance-enhancing substances, chief among them being HGH and steroids (aka "juice"). Veteran pitcher Roger Clemens just returned from a trip to the hill of a different kind to testify before a Congressional committee, and it seems as though the case against slugger Barry Bonds may again be opened. But, aside from aging sports figures, fading Hollywood stars, and every single contestant in the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest, who else uses these drugs?
I'd venture to guess that nobody actually likes counting calories. Well, maybe people who work for the IRS, accountants, and 10th grade math teachers, but that's probably it. The rest of us would prefer to enjoy our lives, and our food, without having to constantly be weighing, measuring, and calculating everything morsel we eat.
If you're interested in lowering blood pressure, you may want to consider trying to enjoy beetroot juice from now on. Researchers out of London have some compelling evidence which suggests
Some say fill half your plate instead of the whole thing and you'll consume less food, less calories, less fat, less everything. Just don't go back for seconds and this idea works well. Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., says something different.
Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!
What's the deal with the mangosteen fruit? Considered by many (especially people who work on commission at health food stores) to be a "super fruit," the juice of this mysterious fruit has somehow found its way into my refrigerator.
If your mom was one to push the orange juice when you were sniffling and sneezing, she may have had good reason.











