FabSugar

Glitterati: Nervous System

FabSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:00:22 PDT

I love the science and complexity of Nervous System's art works. Using their knowledge of algorithmic and physical tools, creative duo Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg created a collection of modern and innovative adornments that goes beyond classic jewelry.

Neck pieces, bracelets, and earrings are inspired from natural phenomena such as coral aggregations and interference patterns - say what?! OK, so it might be a too complex for the scientifically impaired but the collection is original and awesome. Even better, for those who are scientifically inclined, Nervous System allows you to design your own jewelry and they will make it for you - Fab!

For more Nervous System,

4 Surprising Things You Don't Know about Calories

Prevention — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:12:55 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Only 12 percent of Americans can estimate the calories they eat in a day! Find out why we're so clueless and get easy ways to stop calorie confusion.
By Mara Betsch, Prevention

You know what calories are, and you probably know that if you eat too many, you’ll gain weight. But do you know how many are in your favorite deli sandwich? Or how many calories you should really eat each day? Most Americans don’t. Only 12% can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day someone their age, height, weight, and physical activity, according to a 2010 survey by the International Food Information Council Foundation. So what is it about calories that keeps us baffled? Here are 8 reasons you’re confused about calories and the simple steps that will help you do the math.

8 Healthy Foods That Help Fight Disease

1. Portions Sizes Are Out of Control
You’ve all heard about the rapidly expanding serving sizes of restaurant and fast food portions, but just how bad are they? Portions sizes in restaurants may contain double or triple the calories of home-cooked meals, and studies show eating out is associated with a higher BMI. Unfortunately, those portions affect our waistlines. When there’s more food on the plate, people eat more-up to 30% more, according to an analysis of several studies.

Stop the confusion: Use this cheat sheet of portion sizes. We know it’s hard to look at your plate as decks of cards, tennis balls, and all the other, so start by measuring out your food servings at home and take a good look at what a half-cup of pasta looks like. Until the serving sizes are engrained in your brain, when dining out, aim to eat half of your meal, saving the leftovers for lunch the next day.

Comfort Food That’s Actually Good for You

2. Serving Sizes Are Deceiving
"There really aren’t standard serving sizes for packaged foods, which makes them confusing," explains Elisa Zied, RD, author Nutrition at Your Fingertips. She gives the example of cereal. A standard serving size of breakfast cereal is approximately 50 g, but depending on the cereal, that could mean a cup and a half of flakes or half a cup of heartier granola. Depending on the type of cereal you’re eating, just eyeing how much you put in the bowl, like most people do, can lead to inaccurate calorie counts.

Not only that, but larger-than-life snack foods may seem like single servings even though they often contain two to three servings per packet. Buy a 16-ounce bottled Coca-Cola, and the nutrition label reads 100 calories . . . for one of the two servings in the bottle. Drink the whole thing, as many people do, and you’re really getting 200 calories. Eat the whole bag of Austin Zoo Animal Crackers, commonly found in office vending machines, and you’re getting 230 calories, nearly two servings, instead of just one.

Keep reading to learn even more about calories!

5 Morning-After Hangover Fixes

Heather Dale — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:23:54 PDT

Boozing is all fun and games until you wake up the next day with a pounding headache. Excessive drinking causes hangovers because it dehydrates the body; it irritates the lining of the stomach, causing nausea; it overworks your liver, which is trying to metabolize all the alcohol; it overexcites your central nervous system, which causes sensitivity to light, sound, and touch; and it confuses your pituitary gland, which gets confused and releases the wrong amount of hormones that regulate sleep . . . no wonder you feel like crap! Your body is in revolt! Help is on the way with these five quick fixes. Check 'em out!

Pedro Almodovar Would Direct in English For Meryl Streep or Kate Winslet

Allie Merriam — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:33:00 PDT

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In will be out in the US this Friday, and he was in NYC this week to screen the film during the New York Film Festival. He and his leading man Antonio Banderas linked up for interviews Monday. The thriller is their latest collaboration after a 21-year break from working together; their last project was 1990's Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, and Almodovar helped launch Banderas's career with other Spanish-language projects like Matador and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Both spoke about their professional reunion, and Banderas revealed what it's like to fully place his trust with a director. Almodovar, who prefers to work independently in Europe, also spoke about the only two actresses he'd be tempted to work with in English. They said:

Almodovar on working in English: "I would like to discover Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet . . . no seriously! One of the reasons, if I make a movie in English, one of the reasons will be just to work with many wonderful actresses and actors that are here. Just the two that I mentioned. But that unfortunately the movies will be in English and I would have to improve my English . . . But really I would like to discover in the sense that it would be the first time for me."
Banderas on what it meant to work with Pedro again: "I did what I think any actor who works with Pedro Almodovar should do, which is to take a leap of faith. With Pedro Almodovar especially."
Almodovar on reuniting with Antonio after 21 years: "What was the same was his disposition toward the work. And fortunately, he's still an attractive man. And he's still so at the age of 51 . . . For me, what was fantastic was that during the shooting he was absolutely the same person. I don't know if he is conscious of that. I have pictures from Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! . . . They are almost the same pictures. The way he behaves with the rest of the crew, or even with me."

To read more about Almodovar not going Hollywood and Banderas on channeling old Hollywood, just

How to Cross the Marathon Finish Line With a Smile on Your Face

Susi May — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:46:28 PDT

Trainer Paul Vincent has helped many actresses prepare to kick ass on the big screen at his Santa Monica gym, Training Adventures, but he's also into fitness for life. A seasoned Ironman triathlete, Paul has also paced more than a few starlets in their inaugural marathons. And these gals have been smiling as they glided across the finish line - a noble goal for any first timer.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves - let's start at the beginning. Paul recommends being comfortable running 15 miles weekly before embarking on your marathon training. Not wanting to deter any running enthusiast, he adds that starting with a base mileage of zero means "you will need a little bit longer to build up that first phase" of whatever program you choose to follow. Be smart and don't jump into high-mileage weeks quickly!

Regardless of your training schedule, enjoying the experience is the most important thing you can do for a successful finish. "This may sound silly but for first timers, it is easy to get lost in counting miles, researching routes, preparing training day snacks, and everything else that goes into training," says Paul. "Sometimes you need to sit back to really understand what you have taken on and how incredible that is." He adds that the training is part of the journey, so enjoy the solitude of your long runs and the order training to tackle such a long distance can bring to your life.

Learn Paul's three main tips and advice on injury prevention when you keep on reading.

Michelle Williams Talks Marilyn Monroe, Healing, and Being Single in Vogue

Allie Merriam — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:23:14 PDT

Michelle Williams covers October's Vogue, which hits newsstands on Sept. 20, and she's featured wearing the makeup, hair, and costumes from her upcoming movie My Week With Marilyn. The Marilyn Monroe biopic is out in the US on Nov. 4. Inside the issue, Michelle speaks about the process of making the movie. Michelle also touches on more personal topics, like how she and 6-year-old daughter Matilda are faring three years after Heath Ledger's death as well as some thoughts on dating. Michelle confessed to being single despite an apparent romance with director Cary Fukunaga! She said:

On getting older: "I feel like something has changed for me, but it’s a new change, so it’s going to be hard for me to describe. Maybe it has something to do with turning 30. I don’t feel as shy or nervous or self-conscious. I have more confidence that I can handle what life brings me. I don’t feel scared to have an idea and express it. I feel giddy about it because it’s a complete transformation. It’s like I’ve found my voice."
On gaining weight to play Marilyn: "Unfortunately, it went right to my face. So at some point it became a question of, 'Do I want my face to look like Marilyn Monroe’s or my hips?'"
On healing after Heath's death: "Three years ago, it felt like we didn’t have anything, and now my life - our life - has kind of repaired itself. Look, it’s not a perfectly operating system - there are holes and dips and electrical storms - but the basics are intact. . . . It’s changed how I see the world and how I interact on a daily basis. It’s changed the parent I am. It’s changed the friend I am. It’s changed the kind of work that I really want to do. It’s become the lens through which I see life - that it’s all impermanent."
On dating: "Relationships have always seemed very mysterious, and therefore worth exploring. I’m single, so it’s still kind of a mystery - a worthwhile mystery, one that I want to be on the scent of. . . . I’m not lonely, and I think that has a lot to do with what’s on my bedside table rather than what’s in my bed."

Foods That Send Metabolism Soaring

Prevention — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:21:01 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Power up your fat-burning engine with every bite!
Excerpted from The Active Calorie Diet book by Leslie Bonci, R.D.

A calorie is a calorie, and cutting them is the best way to lose weight, right? Not so fast. New research shows that eating certain types of foods can rev your metabolism, curb your appetite, and help you drop more pounds than others. The Active Calorie Diet, an eating plan based on this research, explains how some foods take more work to eat so you burn more calories during digestion. In fact, just the act of chewing foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat can increase your calorie burn by up to 30 percent!

In this diet plan, foods are broken down into four types of "active calories" — chewy foods, hearty foods, energizing foods, and warming foods. Here's how each one encourages your body to burn more calories.

Burn More Calories By Eating

Chewy Foods (lean meats, nuts, whole fruits and vegetables)
These calories make your body work right off the fork. To maximize the chew factor, choose food in its most "whole" state — apples instead of applesauce, for instance. High-protein foods really are your best ally in the Active Calorie Diet because they take more work to chew and longer to leave your stomach so you take more time eating—and have more time to register that you're full.

Hearty Foods (fruits, vegetables, brown rice, whole grains and cereals)
In addition to being chewy, these active calories are packed with fiber, so they take up more room in your belly (compared to other foods with the same number of calories), and leave less room for second helpings. Foods that take more work to chew literally make your mouth work harder (ramping calorie burn by 10 percent!) and increase the thermic effect of food, the calorie-burn bump we get from eating and digesting any given type of food.

Tasty Ways to Get More Fiber

Energizing Foods (coffee, black and green tea, dark chocolate)
You can get metabolism-boosting caffeine in coffee and black tea; just be careful not to load them up with milk, cream, or sugar. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily java or black tea can boost your metabolism by 5 to 8 percent - about 80 to 128 calories a day. Green tea doesn't have much caffeine but it does contain catechins, an antioxidant that raises resting metabolism by 4 percent (about 80 calories a day). Dark chocolate contains both catechins and caffeine, but stick to one ounce per day to limit fat and calories.

8 Secrets for All-Day Energy

More foodie tips to rev your metabolism after the break.

Bad News For DEET Users

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:00:47 PDT

With all the rain many areas in the US have been getting this Summer, mosquitoes are out of control. Bug sprays that contain DEET are just about the only thing guaranteed to repel those buggers, but a new study may make you think twice before spraying it all over your body. In scientific experiments on insects, DEET was found to interfere with proper functioning of the central nervous system. The researchers say that testing on humans is urgently needed, since more than 200 million people use products containing DEET. Oddly enough, there hasn't been a lot of research on the effects of this chemical on humans, but if it affects the nervous systems of bugs, it can't be too healthy for us.

Although the EPA has said in the past that if used as directed, bug sprays containing DEET are not harmful to humans, does this new study change your mind?

Do Lobsters Really Scream When You Boil Them?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:24:11 PDT

We're at the height of shore food season, and with an overabundance of lobster this year, it's been near-impossible not to spot the red crustacean just everywhere, from atop guacamole to sandwiched between a million different lobster rolls. It all makes me want to go out and get my own lobster to steam with drawn butter.

Yet, as someone who's new to the world of cooking live lobster, two things still haunt me: the memorable kitchen scene from Annie Hall, and the lore that lobsters scream in agony when you boil them. I can't do anything about the former, but I sought out sources to either corroborate (or negate) the latter. Keep reading to find out if lobsters really scream when boiled.

Running Tips From My Equinox Trainer

Susi May — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:43:46 PDT

I like my gym time with my Equinox trainer Lauren, but recently we took a field trip and ran outside. It was a glorious day for speed work on San Francisco's Embarcadero; hard work is always easier under a blue sky. While running faster than I ever would on my own, Lauren gave me a few basic tips on form that helped me and just might help you too.

Keep your shoulders relaxed. Sounds simple, but as you run faster and breathe harder it's easy for the shoulders to creep up toward your ears. And when that happens everything just feels harder, making it difficult to slow down and control your breath pattern. Not in touch with your shoulders? Check your hands. If you're clenching your fists, chances are high your shoulders are tense. A nice deep exhale will help your shoulders fall away from your ears.
Don't be afraid to move your arms. Our nervous system remembers back to a time when we walked on all fours, so our legs are affected by the motion of our arms. A nice easy arm swing will help your feet move. And similarly, if you need to pick up your pace, pump your arms quickly and your feet will follow.
Beware of your push-off. This might be a little specific to me, but Lauren noticed I was using my feet to push off, which works the calf. Rather than pushing the ground away to take a step, it is more efficient to bring the heel toward your bum to engage the hamstring, which is larger and more powerful than the calf. This also helps accelerate your stride turnover (aka cadence, how many steps you take per minute), making you a more efficient runner.