Should You Splurge on Organic Beer?

When grocery shopping, you’ll discover that organic fruits and veggies can be more than twice as expensive as conventional versions. But for some produce, I think it’s worth the splurge knowing they weren’t sprayed with chemicals. What about organic beer? Is it healthier to buy a six-pack of Wolaver’s Organic Ale for $10 instead of a much cheaper sixer of Budweiser? To find out read more. Organic beer is made with ingredients such as hops and barley that are grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Organic agriculture is better for the environment since it doesn’t contribute to chemical runoff that contaminates water sources and the ecosystems that they support. Another plus is that makers of organic beer think that healthier ingredients lead to better fermentation , which means better tasting beer. Some say organic beer tastes fresher and bolder, although I’ve never really noticed a huge difference. The decision about going organic when it comes to drinking beer is up to you. If you’re concerned about what you put into your body and how your food choices affect the planet, then a few extra bucks on beer seems well worth it. Remember that organic beer still contains alcohol and you’ll still suffer from a massive headache and bellyache if you drink too much, so drink your organic beer in moderation! Tell me, do you drink organic beer?

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Should You Splurge on Organic Beer?

Adidas Unveils miCoach at CES

The Consumer Electronic Show , aka CES, is taking place in Las Vegas right now. And it makes sense that at this convention of electronic gadgetry Adidas chose to introduce it’s portable coaching device, the miCoach . Adidas brought a handful of fitness bloggers up to Vegas to attend the press conference, and I was lucky to among them. The miCoach takes heart rate training to a whole new level and an audible one at that. After going to the miCoach website and figuring out your running workouts and regimen (from beginner to race training), it works like this: You place the small stride sensor on your shoe (or inside, if you have a pair of Adidas miCoach compatible shoes) and wear the heart-rate-monitor strap around your chest. Theses two devices send information about your speed and heart rate to the miCoach Pacer you have attached via wire to your MP3 player (including iPods), as you run the miCoach lowers the volume on your MP3 player to tell you to speed up or slow down and which heart rate zone you should be in. I have yet to play around with the miCoach, but I sure am excited to. Stay tuned for a review of the gadget. View 4 Photos ›

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Adidas Unveils miCoach at CES

Is Palm Oil the New Trans Fat?

Partially hydrogenated oil is a type of trans fat that has gotten a lot of flak, and rightfully so. This chemically altered fat is known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and increase your chance of developing coronary heart disease. Many companies are replacing hydrogenated oil with palm oil , saying that’s it’s a healthier option. On nutritional labels you might see this ingredient listed as palm-fruit oil, since it’s extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. This is not to be confused with palm kernel oil, which comes from the palm seed found inside the fruit. Eighty-six percent of the fat in palm kernel oil is saturated (the unhealthy fat), and 50 percent of the fat from palm-fruit oil is saturated, so it’s the better choice of the two, but is palm oil considered healthy? To find out read more. Palm oil is high in saturated fat, and so are butter, whole milk, ground beef, and skin from chicken. These fats should be limited just like trans fats; they clog your arteries and can lead to heart problems. Small amounts of palm oil are seen as safe, but I wouldn’t go out of your way to eat foods containing it, and would instead look for foods made with canola or olive oils. Palm oil has also been in the news over the past couple years for environmental reasons . The palm fruit is found in rain forests, and the production of palm oil is leading to deforestation, which is in turn driving orangutans to near extinction. So if you’re concerned about your health and the well-being of the planet, I’m sure you’ll be diligently label reading the next time you hit the grocery store.

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Is Palm Oil the New Trans Fat?

Flaxseed: Whole vs. Ground

If you don’t eat fish, flaxseeds are a wonderful source of omega-3s . They’re also high in fiber, so many people take them regularly to prevent constipation. When perusing the aisles of your grocery store, you’ll see they come in two forms - whole and ground. Is one more beneficial than the other? To find out read more It may help to compare them nutritionally first, so check out the chart below. 1 tbsp. whole flaxseed 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed Calories 55 37 Total Fat (g) 4 3 Saturated Fat (g) 0 0 Carbs (g) 3 2 Fiber (g) 3 2 Protein (g) 2 1 Calcium (mg) 26.1 17.9 Iron (mg) .6 .4 Omega-3s (g) 2.3 1.6 Omega-6s (g) .6 .4 As you can see, they’re pretty similar, but it’s recommended to consume ground flaxseed because whole flaxseeds just pass right through the body undigested. Eating ground flaxseed allows your body to get the omegas as well as the phytochemicals called lignans , which may have antioxidant actions and may help protect against certain cancers. What about flaxseed oil , you ask? It also contains omegas and lignans, but no fiber, so I’d go for the ground flaxseed. Since the RDI of omega-3s is 1.1 grams a day, just one tablespoon of ground flaxseed is way more than enough. Either buy ground flaxseed, or buy whole flaxseeds and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder. Ground flaxseed can be stored in an airtight container for several months. Refrigerate any whole seeds you haven’t ground to keep them fresher for longer. Sprinkle ground flaxseed on your cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, or salad. Or you can mix it in dips, or add it to baked good recipes. It has a slightly nutty flavor and a flour-like consistency, so you hardly taste it.

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Flaxseed: Whole vs. Ground

Gluten Allergies Becoming Increasingly Common

Have you noticed the plethora of gluten-free foods on the shelves of your local grocery store - pastas, cereals, baking mixes, and more. For folks suffering from celiac disease , a gluten allergy, these foods are vital to their daily diet, and according to a study by the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s. It’s estimated that one in every 133 people has celiac disease. Allergies to gluten , the protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, create a wide variety of symptoms including: painful stomach cramps, bloating, gas, increased appetite (due to malabsorption of nutrients), weight loss, fatigue, constipation, or diarrhea. Not only that but eating these foods causes damage to the villi in the intestines, affecting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly. It can also be fatal, so it’s really important to avoid gluten-filled foods if you’re allergic. So why the increase in prevalence in this disease? To find out read more. The most likely explanation may be due to our environment. Culturally, we tend to be such germaphobes; all our cleaning and killing germs may be contributing to an overall increase in allergies, asthma, and immune system reactions. This “hygiene hypothesis” may fall short though since celiac disease is a global issue, affecting both developed and developing countries. A competing explanation revolves around the overly processed nature of most gluten products, and many people’s diets consist mainly of foods such as bread, pasta, and baked goods. We may be overdoing it. Though scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition, I’m sure they’re working on figuring it out since it’s become so common. Tell me, do you know anyone with celiac disease?

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Gluten Allergies Becoming Increasingly Common

Late-Night Exercise Ideas

You missed your morning workout because you overslept. You couldn’t make it to the gym on your lunch break because you had a doctor’s appointment, and after work, you had to stay late for a meeting. You were starving by the time you got out, so a workout at that time was not going to happen. Now it’s after 9 p.m., and heading to the gym is the last thing you want to do. Here are some late-evening workout ideas you can do at home. Strength train with dumbbells. The exercise called Half Boat With Bicep Curl will work your upper body and your abs. Dumbbell Squats will target your quads and glutes. Or do Bent Over Lateral Raises to tone your upper back. Strength train with no equipment. Do some Push-ups , work your core with Scissor Abs , or tone your bum with Lying Butt Lifts . What else can you do at home? To find out read more. Strength train with a yoga ball. Lie on your belly and do Superman Booty Lifts to tone the back of your body. Bicycle crunches are great at working your core, but if you do them with a ball , they’re much more challenging. Or strengthen your upper body by doing Balancing Push-ups . Pop in an exercise DVD - here are some that I have reviewed . Choose a fast-paced video if you feel like getting your heart rate up, or choose a mellow one if you want to do something relaxing before bed. Stretch or do yoga . Flexibility training is an essential part of fitness that is quiet and easy to do. Plus, it is a great way to calm down after a busy day, and prepare you for a restful night of sleep Getty

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Late-Night Exercise Ideas

You Asked: Should I Avoid DEET?

Dear Fit, I’m going on a week-long camping and hiking trip, and my destination is bound to be infested with mosquitoes. I want to get a bug spray that really works, but I’ve heard the only ones you can count on contain DEET. Is this chemical really that bad for me? I really don’t want to deal with tons of itchy bites and definitely don’t want to catch West Nile Virus. - Doubting DEET Diana I can understand your concern, as there has been a lot of bad talk about DEET. To find out if you should go DEET-free, read more Many sprays contain the chemical DEET, which I’m sure you’ve heard can be harmful to humans. The EPA says that if used as directed, bug sprays containing DEET are not harmful to us, although long-term exposure is. When you spray it on your skin, it gets absorbed and eventually enters the bloodstream. It pumps through your nervous system and has been proven to kill brain cells, causing neurological damage. If you have heavy exposure to DEET, you may experience memory loss, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and shortness of breath. Mosquito bites aren’t looking so bad now, huh? DEET could be considered a poison, but the EPA feels that small doses are OK for us. So if you’re using a product containing DEET, follow the directions on the bottle. Don’t over-apply, and as soon as you go inside, wash your skin off with soap and water. Also bug sprays range in the percentage of DEET. OFF! Family Care contains seven percent, while OFF! Deep Woods contains 25 percent. So if you’re a little freaked out about DEET, go for ones that have a low percentage. If you’re really freaked out, you can always choose a DEET-free repellent such as Herbal Armor , but be warned that it may not protect you as well.

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You Asked: Should I Avoid DEET?

Avoid These 6 Workout Mistakes

We all want to make the most of our workouts since we don’t have tons of time to devote to being at the gym. To ensure that your workout is effective, efficient, and safe, check to make sure you’re not committing these exercise crimes. Running is your only form of cardio. Don’t get me wrong. Running is effective at getting your heart rate up, toning your legs, and burning calories, but you can suffer repetitive injuries if you only stick to running. So mix it up when it comes to cardio. Biking, hiking, swimming, jumping rope, and cardio classes are also good forms of cardio. You skip the warmup. What if you’re short on time and you want to burn as many calories as possible in your 30-minute lunch break? Not only will warming up prevent injury, but research shows that, “Your body literally needs to warm up so that blood flow increases, the nervous system wakes up, and the body starts to use energy and oxygen more efficiently.” So warm up by doing a low intensity version of whatever type of cardio you’ve chosen. What other mistakes should you avoid? To find out read more. You don’t stretch. Many of you admitted that stretching is not top on your list. Just like the warmup, it’s essential to include in every workout. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds, don’t bounce, and don’t push yourself in a stretch to the point of feeling pain. Need some ideas? Here are some of my favorite basic stretches . Your weights are too light. If you can rush through your reps and not feel tired by the end of your last set, then you need to choose a heavier weight. In order to build muscle tone, the muscle fibers need to be stressed. Likewise, if your weights are too heavy, you’ll have improper form and will rely on momentum to do reps instead of utilizing your muscles. You’ll know you have the perfect amount of weight when your muscles feel fatigued by 10 or 12 reps. You do the same strength-training routine every time. Does it seem like your routine is getting easier? It’s not necessarily because your muscles are getting stronger. They’re just accustomed to doing the exact same exercises every session. To tone your muscles effectively, they need to be challenged continuously. So surprise your muscles and mix up the order of your routine, or better yet, include new exercises each time. You only do crunches to whittle your middle. Doing ab work will definitely tone your muscles, but it won’t get rid of the layer of fat that’s covering them. You can’t rely solely on target strength training to fix problems areas. You need to do calorie-burning cardio to reduce your overall body fat percentage. This is the best way to reduce the extra padding around your waist, thighs, and booty. Are you guilty of any of these mistakes? Share the details in the comments section below. Getty

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Avoid These 6 Workout Mistakes