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Posts with tag potatoes

10 top foods for a good night's sleep

Posted: Aug 25th 2008 8:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

Want permission to eat before you go to bed? Here it is: About 90 minutes before you turn in for the night, head to the kitchen and make yourself a snack. Make it light and around 200 calories and you won't head into dangerous eating territory. You will relax your muscles, quiet your spinning mind, and rev up the sleep-inducing hormones serotonin and melatonin -- if you eat one of these 10 picks.

Bananas. Bananas contain serotonin, melatonin, and the muscle-relaxing magnesium.

Chamomile Tea. Chamomile has a mild sedating effect.

Continue reading 10 top foods for a good night's sleep

Celebrity Fitzness Report: Interview with ESPN's controversial? reporter Erin Andrews

Posted: Aug 14th 2008 9:30AM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Emotional Health, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Habits, Healthy Places, Stress Reduction, Work/Home Balance, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Celebrities, Healthy Products, Cellulite, Celebrity Fitzness Report, Obesity, Healthy Events

Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

If you've been in tune with national sporting news this week, you're probably aware of the big hub-bub created by Mike Nadel, a cranky reporter of the Peoria Journal Star, who wrote a venomous article about the both young and beautiful sideline reporter for ESPN, Erin Andrews. The "big news" and "big deal" was that Erin wore a dress that hit right above her knee (the outrage!), and her dress was not a turtleneck (hussy)! Nadel even noted that Erin went so far as to grope Alfonso Soriano's bicep at a gathering (she was just looking at his scar from a recent surgery).

Here is the truth about Erin. She's a college educated, ambitious, down-to-earth woman who started on a small network and proved her reporting worthy of a high profile on-air position at ESPN. She loves sports and is great at delivering the news we want to know about our favorite athletes, coaches and teams. Erin and I relaxed on a sunny afternoon in both of our alma mater's football stadium, the University of Florida's SWAMP, to chat. She's funny, sarcastic, and truly grateful to have the job she's dreamed of. She often travels with a band of brothers, the mostly male ESPN GameDay crew, and has had to learn the hard way that she really isn't a guy. Some fans with cell phone cameras taught her that.

Fitz: You are pretty great shape! What do you do?

Erin: Traveling for my job makes staying in shape really hard. We're on the road so much, and for me ... it's tough cause I'm one of the only girls on site. I'm really close with the other talent and the broadcasters, so we go out to eat all the time. Today we had hamburgers! Eating on the road is the worst way to eat. Not only that, but I'm surrounded by guys! When you're surrounded by men, you eat and drink like a guy.

Fitz: Not good news for a slender woman like you!

Continue reading Celebrity Fitzness Report: Interview with ESPN's controversial? reporter Erin Andrews

Getting your garden ready for fall

Posted: Jul 28th 2008 9:00AM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

vegetable gardenGrowing your own produce is an economical way to feed your family healthfully. As an added perk, pulling all of the weeds helps to burn a few calories each day.

If you haven't gotten around to planting a garden this summer, you're not too late. There are plenty of veggies that can still thrive even into the fall. Perhaps even into the winter, depending on the weather conditions where you live. Divine Caroline has a list of edible goodies that can be planted now and enjoyed in the coming months:
  • Long-maturing crops such as carrots, cabbage, and potatoes can be planted now for regions with October frost dates, or in August for regions with November frost dates.
  • Medium-maturing crops like broccoli, Swiss chard, and kale take about two months to mature. You can plant them now or hold off a bit longer for fall growth.
  • Fast-maturing crops such as spinach, arugula, and leaf lettuce mature in about a month and can be planted as late as September. Plant some now and then plan to plant again for a second crop in the fall.

I wanna' soak up the potato

Posted: Jul 23rd 2008 6:49PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Home, Women's Health, Men's Health

French fries aren't exactly on the That's Fit healthy menu, buuuuut sometimes a little reward is well worth the temporary departure from your diet. Nevertheless, calories and blood sugar spikes aside, we definitely don't want our fries to contain known carcinogens. So, if you're going to break from your diet for a few chips, don't risk cashing in everything in the process.

To safeguard your health, be sure to soak your potatoes in water before frying them, says a new study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Doing so can stop the formation of acrylamide, a cancer-causing compound that is produced naturally when starchy foods are cooked at temperatures above 248 degrees Fahrenheit.

Researchers discovered that the longer you allow your potatoes to soak in water, the less chance they have to form the carcinogen. For example, the study revealed that just washing raw French fries, soaking them for 30 minutes or soaking them for two hours reduced the formation of acrylamide by up to 23 percent, 38 percent and 48 percent respectively

The 5: Some other uses for potatoes

Posted: Jun 6th 2008 12:09PM by Chris Sparling
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, The 5

As I pointed out in a recent post about olive oil, many foods have a wide variety of applications that fall beyond simply filling up our bellies. This is certainly the case with the potato, which is, as the Men's Health article from which this information was sourced suggests, a utility player.

Here are five less common uses the folks at Men's Health mention for this super spud:

1. Heal Injuries. Wrap a cold potato with plastic wrap to make an effective compress. A raw potato will help reduce the swelling around cuts and bruises.

2. Soothe Eczema. Cube and then lightly boil a potato. Next, fold it into a thick gauze and apply it to the affected area. The warm potato poultice can relieve inflammation in some cases.

3. Fight Heartburn. Drop an uncooked, white potato through a juicer and get ready for an awful tasting drink but an effective method of reducing heartburn. Drink a half a cup after dinner for best results.



Continue reading The 5: Some other uses for potatoes

Fitz's Sweet Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Posted: May 24th 2008 6:35PM by Fitz K.
Filed under: Fitness, Food and Nutrition, General Health, Vegetarian, Women's Health, Men's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Healthy Recipes, Celebrities, Healthy Products, Cellulite, Obesity

I just made one of my favorite recipes last night for a group of friends ... and the crowd went wild. If you're looking for nutritious and delicious side dishes with a twist, check out page eight of my online recipe book at Fitzness.com. My Sweet Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are fairly easy to make and totally yummy. If you use large sweet potatoes, they suffice as a nice meal for vegetarians as well. Enjoy, my sweeties!

Continue reading Fitz's Sweet Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Carbs for weight loss

Posted: Mar 24th 2008 4:21PM by Jennifer Fields
Filed under: Diet and Weight Loss, AOL Health Bloggers

For years now carbs have a much maligned food for people watching their weight. But there's some new and exciting research out there that gives us a reason to put potatoes, corn and rice back in our diets. Experts have found that these foods contain resistant starch, which is a kind of fiber that may actually aid weight loss, especially when these foods are cooled. They increase your body's fat-burning ability and are filling so you're less hungry.

Because resistant starch is bulky, it takes up space in your digestive system which means you can't absorb it so it's not stored as fat like most carbs. That's a pretty impressive reason to be smart about the carbs you eat.

Soak your potatoes

Posted: Mar 6th 2008 12:30PM by Maggie Vink
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

Did you know that frying starchy foods can produce a cancer-causing substance? Me neither. It turns out that when starchy foods such as potatoes are cooked at high temperatures acrylamide is created. So when you fry, bake, grill, or roast potatoes you could be generating potentially harmful carcinogens.

A British study reveals that simply soaking potatoes can greatly reduce acrylamide and any subsequent health issues it could cause. Specifically, if the potatoes are washed the levels were reduced by as much as 23%. If soaked for 30 minutes, levels decreased up to 38%. And the decrease rose to 48% when the potatoes were soaked for two hours.

Martha recently showed us why potatoes don't really deserve their bad rep. If you want to create a healthy potato side dish, try some of these recipes from Prevention.

Want to lose weight? Eat carbs

Posted: Mar 3rd 2008 10:36PM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, Diet and Weight Loss

Carbs are generally considered the enemy when it comes to weight loss, so we fervently avoid pasta, bread and potatoes, usually without seeing the results we wanted. What's behind the notion that carbs are a no-no for weight loss? And is there any truth to it?

Evidence shows that at least one carb--potatoes--isn't counter-productive to weight loss, and in fact can even help you lose weight. How so? Here are the reasons you shouldn't give up on 'taters:
  • They can boost your metabolism
  • They help curb hunger hormones
  • They can prevent cancer and heart disease
  • They can help boost your immune system.
Want to know more? Click here. But remember, French fries and potato chips don't count. When eating potatoes, stick to ones cooked with as little fat as possible.

Pack these five foods into 2008

Posted: Jan 2nd 2008 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health

Beans, blueberries, salmon, eggs, and sweet potatoes are essential for sensible eating, according to registered dietitian Robin Plotkin. Why are they so important? Read on.

Dried or canned beans are an excellent source of protein and soluble and insoluble fiber. They are low in fat, contain no saturated fat or cholesterol, and provide nutrients such as folate, potassium, and calcium. Beans can help control weight and minimize the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants which help fight off cancer and cardiovascular disease. They can help improve memory and are naturally low in fat, calories, and sodium. High in fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and E, blueberries are an excellent on-the-go snack.

Salmon
, abundant in omege-3 fatty acids and offering heart-healthy benefits, is a great source of high-quality protein and a variety of vitamins. Salmon is fast, versatile, and available at both grocery stores and restaurants.

Eggs are also high in protein and contain 13 important nutrients, including zinc, iron, and folate. Eggs help with weight management, muscle strength, brain function, and eye health. They also aid in the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Containing just 75 calories each, eggs are inexpensive, natural, and unprocessed.

Sweet potatoes
have four times the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A and nearly 50 percent the RDA for vitamin C. Fat-free and high in fiber, these potatoes provide folate, potassium, and vitamin B-6. They're affordable, simple to prepare, and naturally sweet.

Evil trigger foods! The top 5

Posted: Oct 31st 2007 2:59PM by Rigel Celeste
Filed under: Diet and Weight Loss

Oooooooh, the evil "trigger" foods...we all have them and we all love to hate them. They're the foods that are usually found in your diet somewhere right before, or right during, a fall off the dieting and healthy eating bandwagon. Either that, or they take a sneakier role and fool you into thinking you're eating healthy (the baked potato is famous for this move) when you're really not. We all have our own particular triggers but there's no denying that some trigger foods are common to the majority of people:
Ice cream
Baked potatoes
Pizza
Pie
Cheese
Are some (or all?) of these foods on your list of triggers? I have to admit yes to all of those for me, plus add Doritos and Jelly Belly jelly beans!

Healthy french fries are possible: just bake them!

Posted: Oct 16th 2007 12:06PM by Brian White
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

Hamburgers and french fries are a staple of the American landscape. The combination tastes good and can be found virtually anywhere in the country, from home kitchens to restaurants to street carts.

But with that food love comes a plethora of calories, fat and other nastiness that may taste good, but isn't really all that good for you. Many nutrition-conscious hamburger fans have turned to non-meat alternatives (which taste pretty good once you get past the mental block), but what about french fried potatoes?

Ever thought of cooking those thinly sliced potatoes in the oven instead of in the deep fryer? Try this: coat a little aluminum foil with some olive oil, line up those potato sticks doused with garlic powder and paprika (for color) and there you have it -- great tasting french fries that are baked without trans fat oils and without all that soaked-in deep fried oil taste. They'll taste more like potatoes than oil and are healthy as well.

[Thanks, P. Smith]

Potatoes are very nutritous, outside of the French Fry version

Posted: Sep 19th 2007 7:40PM by Brian White
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

I love potatoes, whether they are yellow, white or red. Add some fresh green beans and various spices (plus garlic) into fresh potatoes and you have a very healthy meal starter (if not a complete meal).

But don't think of potatoes as nutritious when eating french fries, obviously. Outside of that and other fried venues, potatoes have a great nutrient content and are really quite healthy. Ever try some slightly heated on the stovetop with Italian spices and olive oil? Mmm.

Want some potato facts? You'll love these, promise. A medium-sized potato has...
  • only 160 calories
  • almost 4 grams of fiber (when the skin is eaten)
  • twice the potassium of a banana
  • no fat
  • about ½ day's worth of vitamin C
  • 4 grams of protein
Cool, eh?

Are green potatoes poisonous?

Posted: Jul 4th 2007 6:37PM by Rigel Celeste
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Habits

Actually, they are. Green potatoes contain a toxic substance called solanine that nature intended as a defense against insects, but unfortunately it's also effective against humans and can cause nausea, headaches, and neurological problems if eaten in large enough quantities. Generally speaking the average adult would need to eat an entire large (16 oz) fully green potato in order to notice any symptoms, so although it is there the threat isn't that large. Solanine develops in potatoes when they are exposed to light and warm temperatures, so you can easily avoid the issue by storing your spuds in a cool dark place, and by cutting off any green spots before you eat them.

How many calories ... in EatSmart Veggie Crisps?

Posted: Aug 20th 2006 1:32PM by Nicole Weston
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, How Many Calories?

["How Many Calories" is a regular feature that reveals the surprising calorie content in various foods. Thought-provoking, indeed. We're always on the lookout for surprising calorie counts, so let us know what you're finding and we may blog about it!]

Synder's of Hanover makes some great snacks, especially if you like pretzels and potato chips. Their EatSmart line was developed for consumers who like the flavors of the traditional products, but wanted an extra healthy boost. All the EatSmart foods are made with organic, all-natural ingredients, as well as ingredients like corn and "garden fresh vegetables." But does the inclusion of all-natural ingredients make something healthy? How many calories do you think are in a 1-ounce serving (about 15 chips) of EatSmart Veggie Crisps?

(a) 120 cal, 1g fat
(b) 140 cal, 4.5g fat
(c) 140 cal, 7g fat
(d) 150 cal, 7g fat

Continue reading How many calories ... in EatSmart Veggie Crisps?



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