Learn to Love: Kiwis

Last week, YumSugar had a box of kiwis up for grabs, but she was having trouble finding any takers. Kiwis are a polarizing fruit, but they’re definitely a healthy food worth trying . This fuzzy-skinned fruit is packed with vitamin C: one medium kiwi contains about 70.5 mg of C , just slightly less than one medium orange. Better yet, buy organic, and vitamin C and polyphenol levels are even higher. With just 50 calories per kiwi, the green flesh is also high in vitamin E, potassium, and dietary fiber . You can peel them or add a bit of texture by leaving the skin on (vigorously washed of course). They’re good in fruit salads and green salads . Can’t convince your friends to eat kiwi? Perhaps you’d have more luck serving up a kiwi cocktail .

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Learn to Love: Kiwis

Learn to Love: Celery

You can find celery pretty much year round, but did you know that it’s in season right now? I used to think of it as a rather dull vegetable, but lately, I’ve cultivated a new appreciation for its flavor and function. I’ve heard that you actually burn more calories chewing celery than you consume by eating it, which is almost true. One large stalk contains just 10 calories , but four percent of your dietary fiber RDI. It is also very low in cholesterol but rather high in sodium, something to be aware of if you’re watching your salt intake. The thing I love most about celery is how satisfying it is to eat. The crunch factor means it takes a while to munch on, keeping your mouth occupied for a long snack break. Plus, the hearty, fibrous texture really keeps me full. And since it has diuretic properties and lots of fiber, it keeps all your systems moving right along. Other healthy benefits include lots of vitamin A, C, and K (23 percent of your RDI for vitamin K in one stalk!), as well as folate and potassium. I love to eat it plain, but this green veggie is also great in a healthy Waldorf salad , as a garnish for a Bloody Mary , or mixed into a mayo-free tuna salad. And, of course, there’s always the classic ants on a log . How do you like your celery?

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Learn to Love: Celery

DrSugar Answers: Pelvic Cysts and Cancer Worry

DrSugar is in the house! And she’s answering your health-related questions. Dear DrSugar, I’m 35 years old and have always had normal pap smears. The other day I went to my doctor for my annual pelvic exam. When my doctor was done she informed me that she had found a couple of cysts while performing my pelvic exam. My question is should I be worried about cancer and what kind of treatment is there for cyst? Also for the last couple of months I have been experiencing very bad dizziness; can this be related in any way to what my doctor found? - Concerned About Cysts I’m very glad you’ve asked this question, as sometimes we receive a diagnosis or results from our physicians and we don’t quite know what to make of it. However, I am unsure of your specific diagnosis, as cysts can appear in many different places in the female reproductive organs, so I will discuss some different types of common female reproductive organ cysts. Hopefully this will provide you some information on your particular problem. If you still have unanswered questions regarding your particular diagnosis, I urge you to contact your physician who diagnosed the cysts for further discussion. To learn more about this health topic, keep reading.

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DrSugar Answers: Pelvic Cysts and Cancer Worry

Learn to Love: The Sauna

Regardless of what gym I’ve belonged to, it feels like I am the only person that ever uses the sauna. Since I’ve been working out, there’s only been one other time that I haven’t been in there alone. I’m not sure if I’m hitting the gym at odd times or if folks are just not feeling the sauna as much as I do. It could be that they are afraid of their bits and pieces showing, a la Charlotte from Sex in the City . If you are one of those who has an aversion to the sauna, give it a try the next time you’re there. Because I’ve been bumping up my strength training sessions lately, I’ve been loving the sauna even more. The heat helps relax the muscles I’ve just worked and also helps alleviate some of the stiffness in my joints. I’ve even done a sauna before yoga because it helps my body get warm, loose, and flexible. It also feels marvelous after a hard swimming session. Besides helping my body relax, saunas are a great way to open up the pores and sweat. Sounds gross, but sweating is the body’s way of eliminating toxins and other impurities - taking regular saunas may even cut back on the number of colds and flu viruses you have. If you do try the sauna and find that yours is more crowded than mine, remember to practice sauna etiquette: rinse off before entering to reduce odor and the spread of germs, have quiet conversations, and always sit on a towel. Most importantly, stay hydrated! Since the heat can be quite dehydrating, I always drink water before and after the sauna. Do you love the sauna? Source: Flickr User MiikaS

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Learn to Love: The Sauna

Learn to Love: Parsnips

Depending where you live, having access to a variety of fresh produce can be hard during the Winter months. Thank goodness that root vegetables are in abundance though. These hearty vegetables hold up perfectly in comforting cold-weather dishes like stews, soups , and curries. And while most people are very familiar with carrots and potatoes, I’ve always been a sucker for parsnips - the neglected star of root veggies. Parsnips look like a carrot that completely lost its orange hue. In terms of taste, they have the delicate flavors that are usually associated with root vegetables, but I find that a parsnip is sweeter than a carrot or potato. Nutritionally, it’s a starchy veggie that’s low in calories and is a good source of folic acid, vitamin C, and potassium. They also contain a decent amount of fiber and calcium too. For me, cooking with parsnips is really easy because you can treat them pretty much the same way you do potatoes. I find that parsnips taste best roasted, especially when added to a Winter veggie medley because they add a nice sweetness to the dish. They also taste great diced in a stew or curry, or as a soup puree - especially when paired with cauliflower. For a little something different, add parsnips to your mashed potatoes or a gratin. When shopping, look for medium-sized parsnips that are firm and blemish free. Raw parsnips can be stored for up to four weeks in your refrigerator. Pick some up at your local market this week! Tell me if you love the parsnip in the comments section below.

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Learn to Love: Parsnips

Celeb Trainer Valerie Waters on Food and Fitting In Fitness

Celeb trainer Valerie Waters, who most of you voted as the Hollywood trainer you most want to work with, is a pragmatist. She began her fitness career with an interest in body building but knows her celebrity clientele often want to look toned rather than muscular. Although she likes to occasionally “hit the steel,” she trains to meet her clients’ needs. I was able to ask Valerie some questions in a video chat yesterday, and she definitely likes to talk about food. But who doesn’t, really? Valerie is not a nutritionist, nor does she claim to be. She calls herself a food coach and offers some practical and motivating advice when it comes to food. First off, it comes back to pragmatism; Val says eating healthy is about making “wise choices. Sometimes the wise choice is just a better choice. It doesn’t mean it is the perfect choice. It’s about making the best choice from what is available to you right now.” Don’t shoot for perfectionism, but know that you can make a change when it comes to food. Val added, “You are one meal away from eating better.” A simple saying to inform your daily eating habits. As a personal trainer, Val knows times around the holidays are hectic. To see how she can help you fit in a workout, read more. If you cannot make it to the gym, Valerie has come up with a Plan B workout that you can do in 20 minutes in your living room. The workout is a circuit workout to help you get more bang for you buck - getting your heart rate up to burn calories while strength training to gain tone and shape. If you only have time for a five-minute workout, Val suggests doing each of these multitasking moves for just over a minute: Squats with upright rows Push-ups Step-ups with an overhead press Mountain climbers with Valslides on your feet As a trainer, though, Valerie makes it clear that you a daily five-minute workout will not be enough to transform your body or keep you in shape. But during the crunch time of the holidays, something is better than nothing. Stay tuned for more tips from you favorite Hollywood trainer.

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Celeb Trainer Valerie Waters on Food and Fitting In Fitness

Learn to Love: Persimmons

Now that berry season is long gone, I’m expanding my breakfast fruit horizons. Celebrate the cold weather with pomegranate seeds in your oatmeal , or slice pears or persimmons and serve them with nut butter on toast or whole-grain waffles . You probably know how to pick and slice a pear, but persimmons have a steeper learning curve. They’re worth learning to love, so read more. Persimmons come in two varieties: hachiya, which are orange-red and shaped like acorns, and fuyu, which sort of look like yellow-orange tomatoes. The hachiyas are bitter and astringent when they’re not ripe, but when ripened, they have a soft, jelly-like texture. Fuyu persimmons are a bit firmer like a pear when ripe and can be sliced up like apples. This fruit is an excellent source of antioxidants and chock-full of vitamins. One persimmon packs 55 percent of your daily allowance of Vitamin A and 21 percent of your recommended Vitamin C, plus six grams of fiber. In addition to having persimmon for breakfast or a snack, you can slice them up and serve them in a pretty Fall salad . Have you tried persimmons? Tell me how you like to eat them in the comments.

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Learn to Love: Persimmons

Learn to Love: Backstroke

As a child who refused to swim because of a strong fear that sharks might live in my swimming pool, my relationship with swimming has come a long way. I now consider it one of my favorite ways to get my heart rate up . One lasting emotional holdout was the backstroke; I just didn’t like it. These days, however, I am loving it. I find the backstroke to be the perfect antidote to hunching over a computer all day. Backstroke opens my chest and I feel my entire body lengthening out as I reach back to pull the water forward. Swimming backstroke outside in the early morning or evening allows me to enjoy a view of the sky. Freestyle and backstroke are perfect complements to each other, working opposite muscle groups. I like to use backstroke as a break when training for swims with lap after lap of freestyle. How do you feel about backstroke? Do you love it or hate it?

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Learn to Love: Backstroke

Healthy Eating Tip: Add Some Fat to Your Tomatoes

After years of being maligned, fat is making a comeback. Fat is necessary to absorb fat-soluble nutrients , like carotenoids, the antioxidant that the body converts to vitamin A. This family of antioxidants gives fruits and veggies their orange and red hues as well. Take tomatoes, for instance. They’re known for being high in the antioxidants lycopene and beta carotene, both types of carotenoids. But since lycopene and beta carotene are fat soluble, tomatoes need to be paired with a bit of fat for us to absorb these important nutrients. Spritzing a little olive oil over your tomatoes adds flavor and will help you reap the benefits of this fruit disguised as a veggie.

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Healthy Eating Tip: Add Some Fat to Your Tomatoes

Learn to Love: Adzuki Beans

I know beans are the magical fruit, but if you can ease your body into eating beans more often, you can avoid the gassy side effects and reap the amazing health benefits. Compared to meat, beans are inexpensive, low in calories and fat, and high in fiber. They’re also fairly high in protein as well. The best part about beans is that there are so many varieties to choose from, so if you’ve never tried adzuki beans, now’s the time. These adorable beans are deep red in color with a distinctive white ridge on one side. Adzukis are little beans, smaller in size than black beans, and the flavor of them is very unique - slightly nutty and sweet. If you’re short on time, buy canned adzuki beans. Not many companies sell adzukis, and the brand I buy is Eden, which is organic, so they cost a little less than $2 a can. To save money, buy dry adzuki beans in bulk, and soak and cook them yourself. To see how adzuki beans compare nutritionally to other beans . As you can see from the chart below, adzukis and other beans share similar stats. So you can substitute these red beans for other beans in your favorite recipes. I especially love to mix them with seasoned quinoa. If you too love to eat adzuki beans, share your recipe ideas below. Serving Size: 1/2 cup cooked Adzuki Beans Garbanzo beans Black Beans Pinto Beans Calories 110 130 110 110 Total Fat (g) 0 1 1 1 Sodium (mg) 10 30 15 15 Carbs (g) 19 23 18 18 Fiber (g) 5 5 6 6 Protein (g) 7 7 7 6 Potassium (mg) 250 250 280 350 Iron (% of RDI) 10 8 10 10 Flickr User skyfaller

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Learn to Love: Adzuki Beans

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