What’s Really in Halloween Candy | Greatist

by Laura Schwecherl

These days, there’s more to a candy bar than simply chocolate. With a laundry list of ingredients, it’s hard to know which ingredients aren’t the best to ingest, and why they’re there even in our candy bars in the first place. So we’ve peeled back the wrapper to uncover which ingredients are harmless, and which should go straight from the trick-or-treat bag to the trash.

What Is This In My Candy Bar?! — The Need-to-Know

From the weirdly named additives to surprising ingredients and ominous oils, here are some ingredients in candy that will freak us out even when Halloween is over:

Safe

• Tertiary butyl hydroquinone. This impossible-to-pronounce preservative prevents candy from going rancid and enhances storage life. Better yet, both the FDA and European Food Safety Authority say TBHQ is safe for humans. (And thank goodness, since it’s in America’s favorite Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup.)
• Polyglycerol polyricinoleate. PGPR is a chemical that blends the ingredients in candy bars to make chocolate super smooth. It’s safe for humans to consume and is found in Kit Kat Bars and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars^[1].
• Soy lecithin. This additive is a substance extracted from soybeans that emulsifies the cocoa and cocoa butter in candy, keeping the ingredients from separating. Although soy can be a dangerfood when eaten in large quantities, (messing with hormone balance and testosterone levels) studies show small amounts of soy lecithin in our candy (like Almond Joy’s and M&M’s!) are a-okay^[2][3].

Caution

• Artificial flavors. Adding some flava flav to food can make them taste more appetizing (Butterfingers, anyone?). The studies of artificial flavors (not to be confused with artificial coloring!)are few and far between, but the Center For Science in the Public Interest says artificial flavoring is probably safe.
• Milk fat. We’re talkin’ more than just whole milk, here. Milk fat is the main component of cream, and is composed of triglycerides, a type of fat that may thicken the artery walls and increase cardiovascular risk^[4]. The bad news is milk fat is found in most chocolate candies, including Snickers and Milky Way bars, so look for bars lower in saturated fat.
• Salt. Yep, it’s not just in the savory stuff. Salt is often added to candy bars to offset all the sugar and corn syrup. And we definitely don’t need any more of the salty stuff: Most Americans consume more sodium than recommended (2,300 mg) which can raise blood pressure and contribute to heart disease.

Avoid

• Artificial coloring. Sorry M&M’s and candy corn, it looks like you’re doing more harm than good. Although artificial coloring may make candy more appealing, it has been linked to behavioral problems, asthma, and even cancer when consumed in large quanities^[5][6][7]. Another (not so fun) fact? After Halloween in 1950, food dye Orange #1 was banned from candy (for good!) after many kids got sick.
• High fructose corn syrup. Sugar and spice may not be so nice. The consumption of HFCS, a sweetener derived from (you guessed it!) corn, may sometimes lead to kidney damage and liver disease in high doses^[8][9]. Hold off on those king-size Twix and Milky Ways (and most other candy bars, in fact)!
• Hydrogenated palm kernel oil. If you thought milk fat was bad, check out this oil creeping in our candy. More than 80 percent of palm kernel oil’s fat is the saturated kind (which can up LDL cholesterol) but is often used in foods because it’s cheaper than alternatives^[10].

Have a Healthier Halloween — Your Action Plan

Don’t fret! These sneaky ingredients don’t have to take all the fun (and flavor) from Halloween. Check out these tips for a healthier Halloween, no creepy ingredients included.

• Choose better. Okay, there’s no denying a least a few pieces of candy on Halloween. So while we’re at it, let’s pick some better options, like dark chocolate Raisinetes, mini Hershey Special Dark bars, or a Twizzler or two. Or try low fat popcorn and pretzels for some crunch!
• Make your own. Ditch the wrapper and make candy from scratch. Try some classics like Snickers, Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, or these vegan Kit Kats. That way, you’ll have control over everything that goes into the mix!
• Sharing is caring. Stuck with a whole bag of Halloween treats? Make sure to spread the love! Bring the bag into the office or share with friends, while allowing yourself a bite-sized treat when that sweet tooth kicks in.
• Get creative. The stomach can be satisfied on Halloween without going down the candy aisle. Sip on some spiced cider, munch on a caramel apple, or dip some sliced fruit in a creamy pumpkin dip. Just remember to eat regularly and not skip meals!
• Give it away. Donate the extra goods to people around the world. Organizations like Operation Shoe Box and Operation Gratitude are great places to start.
• Celebrate outside. Halloween isn’t just about the sweets. Focus the fun on other traditions, like hayrides, apple picking, or walking through a haunted house (eek!). We promise you won’t miss those Almond Joy’s.

This article has been read and approved by Greatist Experts Catherine Ulbricht and Lindsey Joe.

How carefully do you examine ingredient lists? Share your thoughts in the comments below or tweet the author at @lschwech.

Works Cited

1. Overview of the preparation, use and biological studies on polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR). Wilson, R., Van Schie, B.J., Howes, D. Environmental Safety Laboratory, Unilever Research, Sharnbrook, Bedford, UK. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998 Sep-Oct;36(9-10):711-8. [↩]
2. Soy, phyto-oestrogens and male reproductive function: a review. Cederroth, CR, Auger, J., Zimmermann, C., et al. Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland. International Journal of Andrology, 2010 Apr;33(2):304-16 [↩]
3. Soybean-Derived Phosphatidylserine Improves Memory Function of the Elderly Japanese Subjects with Memory Complaints. Kato-Kataoka, A., Sakai, M., Ebina, R., et al. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 2010 November; 47(3): 246–255. [↩]
4. Triglycerides and HDL Cholesterol. Bitzur R., Cohen, H., Kamari, Y., et al. Diabetes Care, 2009 November; 32(Supplement_2): S373–S377. [↩]
5. DIET AND NUTRITION: The Artificial Food Dye Blues. Potera, C. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2010 October; 118(10): A428. [↩]
6. Assessment of food chemical intolerance in adult asthmatic subjects. Hodge, L., Yan, K.Y., Loblay, R.L. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Thorax, 1996 Aug;51(8):805-9. [↩]
7. Do artificial food colors promote hyperactivity in children with hyperactive syndromes? A meta-analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Schab, D.W., Trinh, N.H. Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry & The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York. Journal of Developmental and Behavior Pediatrics, 2004 Dec;25(6):423-34. [↩]
8. Sugary soda consumption and albuminuria: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004. Shoham, D.A., Durazo-Arvizu, R., Kramer, H., et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois. PLoS One, 2008;3(10):e3431. Epub 2008 Oct 17. [↩]
9. Fructose consumption as a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ouyang, X., Cirillo, P., Sautin, Y., et al. Division of Nephrology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Journal of Hepatology, 2008 Jun;48(6):993-9. Epub 2008 Mar 10. [↩]
10. Saturated fat-rich diet enhances selective uptake of LDL cholesteryl esters in the arterial wall. Seo, T., Qi, K., Chang, C., et al. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2005 Aug;115(8):2214-22. Epub 2005 Jul 21. [↩]

What’s Really in Halloween Candy | Greatist.

Making Sense of Food Labels | TIME.com

By Marcy Franklin | Greatist.com Oct. 29 2012

What’s in a label? A guide to understanding what natural, organic, free-range, hormone-free…really mean.

From meat to dairy, produce to pasta, food labels tout all sorts of claims that probably shouldn’t be taken at face value. Here are some of the most common statements and how to know what you’re really getting in that package.

Organic:
A USDA organic seal is the highest stamp of organic approval. Technically speaking, this label ensures that the product is produced without synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering. Any product with an “organic,” “100 percent organic,” or “made with organic [ingredient here]” label is certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For those products made from less than 70 percent organic ingredients, the manufacturer must identify which specific ingredients are organic — but those products don’t get to boast the official seal of approval. The USDA organic standards also prohibit antibiotics and growth hormones in organic meats and poultry, and require 100 percent organic feed for livestock.

Cage-Free or Free-Range:
 Products stamped with “cage-free” or “free-range” means that the animals are given more freedom to move around. “Cage-free” is used mostly for eggs, while “free-range” can include anything from cows and chickens to pigs. There is a hitch, however. There is no governmental certification to guarantee that the meat labeled this way is indeed from humanely-treated, free-roaming animals — which means some companies can cash in on the higher prices these products command by making false “free-range” claims. Plus, some studies find that there’s not much difference in nutrition between these specialty eggs and conventional ones — research suggests eggs from caged and cage-free animals contain similar amounts of bacteria.

Grass-Fed:
While there’s no USDA stamp of approval for products labeled ”grass-fed,” the best definition of a grass-fed animal is one that has eaten nothing but its mother’s milk, fresh grass, and hay. Look for products with an American Grassfed Association or Animal Welfare Approved stamp, which guarantee the animal was raised on a family-owned pasture or range. However, the jury is out on the health benefits of such naturally raised animals: some studies show there’s no real health advantage of grass-fed beef, while others have found grass-fed beef to contain higher levels of healthy fatty acids and antioxidants.

Pesticide-Free:
If a food product has the USDA Organic certification, it’s usually pesticide-free, too. Unfortunately, that’s not always a guarantee: studies have found that even some organic produce can contain pesticide residue. For truly pesticide-free food, look for a pesticide residue-free label.

Hormone-Free and Antibiotic-Free:
There is a long list of health concerns tied to hormone-filled meat, from prenatal developmental problems to early puberty and infertility. Though the evidence isn’t always reliable, some studies have shown growth hormones from certain foods can disrupt human hormones and can even contribute to breast and prostate cancer. Again, a USDA Organic seal assures no hormones or antibiotics were used in the organic meat. But much like “free-range,” there’s no restriction about the term “hormone-free” or “antibiotic-free.” The best bet for finding hormone-free meat is to look for the USDA Organic seal.

Natural or All-Natural:
The term “natural” may be the most dubious of all — there’s no government regulation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or USDA for using the world on labels. “Natural” is a loose term for foods without synthetic preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and other additives. The word “natural” is only regulated when it comes to meat, since regulations require meat to have no preservatives and minimal processing. Again, food companies bank on the buzzword to bring in business— but they often over-exaggerate the claims. (Other industries aren’t immune either: cereal makers have recently been criticized for misleading the public with “all-natural” claims that don’t add up.)

Multigrain and Whole Grain:
We’ve all been told whole-wheat is healthier than the plain ol’ white, but what about all those breads and crackers toting grainy goodness? Multigrain products are made with more than one type of grain, however, these grains are typically the refined kind, meaning they’ve been stripped of the healthiest parts of the grain (the bran and germ), and are not any healthier than white bread. In fact, dyes are often added to multigrain products to make them look healthier (or like whole-grain products). Whole-grain items, on the other hand, are made from whole grains. This means they contain all the natural nutrients in grains and have not been refined. The takeaway? Opt for whole-grain over multigrain for the healthiest choice!

Gluten-Free:
Unfortunately for those who have to maintain a strict gluten-free diet due to celiac disease or gluten intolerance, all products labeled “gluten-free” aren’t always entirely free of gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Because the FDA hasn’t yet set regulations for products labeled gluten-free, individual companies are coming up with their own definitions. Even groups offering gluten-free seals of approval (like the Gluten Free Certification Organization) choose to define the term in different ways: some products simply contain no gluten ingredients but are processed on the same equipment or in the same facility as gluten-filled products; some are tested to contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten; and others (the most strict) are tested to assure a gluten content of less than 5 ppm. The bottom line? Proceed with caution if staying away from gluten is important to you. The good news? The FDA plans to finish writing rules for gluten-free labeling before the end of the year.

Any other food labels that leave you scratching that noggin? Share those terms with us in the comments below or tweet @greatist and we’ll see what we can do about decoding them!
Greatist is the fastest-growing fitness, health and happiness start-up. Check out more tips, expert opinion and fun times at Greatist.com.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/29/making-sense-of-food-labels/#ixzz2Ani99MJv

Making Sense of Food Labels | TIME.com.

Halloween — Ban the Booty? via The Mother Company

An interview with Robin Miller

That sugar loaded holiday is lurking, and many parents are spooked about how to handle those pillowcases crammed full of, let’s admit it, delicious treats. Let our little ghosts gorge? Secretly toss the candy and replace it with a present telling our children the “switch-witch” stole it? Maybe get rid of the loot altogether?

To share her well-earned insight into this dilemma is Robin Miller, mother, best-selling cookbook author, nutritionist, and host of The Food Network television show Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller. – Laurel Moglen, Managing Web Editor, TMC

Why is refined sugar unhealthy for kids (and adults!) — but kids especially?

Refined sugar is unhealthy because it contains ZERO nutrient value. That means: NO vitamins, NO minerals and NO fiber. Just empty calories. Without fiber or protein to slow down digestion, the sugar quickly enters the bloodstream and then almost as quickly gets absorbed. That’s why you hear of the sugar “rush” and subsequent sugar “crash”. This is especially important for kids because many kids are picky eaters or small eaters so every morsel of food counts. You don’t want a sweet food to replace a healthy one. Plus, any sugar that gets “left behind” in the mouth is terrible for their teeth!!

Is moderation of sugar intake best? Or better to dramatically limit it’s intake for our children? Should sugar be banned all together?

I believe that moderate sugar intake is best. I don’t believe in banning ANY foods. Let’s face it, kids will be exposed to sugary foods anyway and are likely to over-indulge if they haven’t had a chance to enjoy sweets once in a while. The key is to balance sugary treats with a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean protein, dairy products and eggs.

How should parents deal with Halloween?

Parents should handle Halloween just as they would any other occasion where sweets are widely available and in abundance (birthday parties, holiday parties, special events, etc.). I like to serve my kids a healthy dinner before they go out so they’re not famished (the meal also fuels their legs for walking!). A typical pre-trick-or-treat meal would be a green salad, whole grain pasta with sauce, steamed broccoli and turkey meatballs or grilled chicken breasts. While we’re out, I let them sample a few little things after I check the wrappers. Once home, I put the candy into freezer bags and we enjoy a little treat or two every day, after a healthy meal.

I believe it’s important to teach children WHY sugary treats should be limited, as well as how they can enjoy other great foods that offer flavor AND nutrients. I also like to explain that some sweets (like dark chocolate) are actually good for your heart. Children can quickly learn that there is a place in every healthy diet for sweet treats!

Robin Miller has fifteen years of experience as a food writer and nutritionist and is the author of the bestselling cookbook Quick Fix Meals. She is the host of The Food Network’s Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller. Robin’s recipes and nutrition features can be seen regularly in Cooking Light, Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness, and Toddler magazines. She also provides recipes to the American Heart Association, The American Institute for Cancer Research, and Weight Watchers. Robin has been a guest on hundreds of local and national television and radio programs — including Oprah Radio.

Halloween — Ban the Booty?.

How to get free books online – The Online Mom

Barnes & Noble has just introduced a special back-to-school promotion which offers $100 in e-books, study guides, and apps if you buy a NOOK e-reader by September 12, 2011. While at first glance the offer seems generous enough, a more detailed look at the 12 books that B&N has included in the offer suggests otherwise.

All the listed books – from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities to James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man – are “in the public domain,” which means they are copyright free and available elsewhere on the Internet free-of-charge. That’s not to say B&N’s offer is worthless – there is certainly some value to be attached to the study guides – but it could definitely be considered a little misleading.

However, the offer had the unintended consequence of drawing our attention to the huge number of free books that are available via the Internet. From the classics to first-time works from undiscovered authors, there are now well over a million titles that can be downloaded without cost.

And we’re not just talking about downloading to e-readers. These free e-books can be accessed through almost any Internet-enabled device, including laptop computers, smartphones, tablets, and even the iPod touch.

If you’re interested in sampling this literary treasure trove, here’s where to look:

Google Books

It’s been estimated that there are around 130 million unique books in the world…and Google intends to scan all of them! By the end of 2010 it was well on its way, with over 15 million books already digitized and thousands more added every week.

Not all of these books are available to read online. Google has been bogged down by numerous individual and class-action copyright claims from authors and publishers, and it appears that its goal to create the world’s first complete digital library has been stalled, at least for now.

However, the books that Google can make available – all 3 million of them – are accessible through its Google eBookstore, where users can download reading apps and peruse the huge catalog of both free and for-sale titles. The eBookstore includes a “Best of the Free” section, but don’t feel restricted to the 50 or so titles that are featured here. There are over a million more free titles, so search away until you find one – or several – that you like.

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg offers over 36,000 free e-books for download to a PC, Kindle, iPad, Android or other portable device, and over 100,000 additional free titles through its partners and affiliates. The site has useful sections highlighting recent additions, and a Top 100 section, which features the most popular downloads and authors.

Although Project Gutenberg is much smaller that Google Books, it’s often easier to navigate and there isn’t the distraction of having to scroll through thousands of for-sale books to find the free ones that you are looking for.

Open Library

Open Library is a off-shoot of the non-profit Internet Archive, which was established with the lofty goal of creating a publically-available digital record of every book ever published. In the same way that Wikipedia relies on user contributions to build its online encyclopedia, Open Library invites users to add books, fix typos, or do whatever else they can to preserve this public record of the world’s literary offerings.

The free e-book section has a lending library, which allows registered users to “borrow” up to 5 books at a time from a collection of over 10,000 titles. Books can be downloaded as a PDF, read in plain text form, or even sent to a Kindle.

Many Books

Many Books contains over 29,000 free titles organized into various helpful categories, including authors, genres, languages, new titles, and Books of the Week. Most of the titles are sourced from Project Gutenberg but the emphasis is on the more popular works.

E-books can be downloaded in a variety of different formats (including PDF) and can be read on multiple devices. Many titles are also available as audio books.

Do you have a favorite source for free e-books? Share it with The Online Mom!
http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=1949&t=how-to-get-free-books-online&__hstc=134027921.06fabb570a7a1eb6db86c5c7174aed7d.1350058710581.1350058710581.1350527873498.2&__hssc=134027921.3.1350527873498

10 great fitness and weight-loss apps – The Online Mom

Smartphones and tablet computers have opened up a whole new world of on-the-go possibilities. Nowhere is that more true than in the field of health and fitness.

No longer are we tied to a gym or a rigid workout schedule. No more waiting for a personal trainer to tell us how well – or how poorly – we are doing. Mobile devices and fitness apps put all that information right there at our fingertips.

So if you want to know how far you ran or biked today, or you want to keep tabs on how many calories you consumed, then turn your smartphone or iPad into your workout buddy. Here are 10 great apps to choose from:

Endomondo Sports Trackers Pro

Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro uses GPS tracking to let you know exactly how your workout is going. You can pre-set a time or calorie burn as your goal and Sports Tracker Pro will help you beat it. You can also challenge friends, go against their personal best times, and even get encouragement along the way. With Sports Tracker Pro, you can download or plan different routes. Add headphones and the “audio coach” will help you pace your run, bike ride, or workout.

Sports Tracker Pro is available for all popular smartphone platforms.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry
Price: $3.99/$4.23

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Fitness Buddy

Described by apptudes.com as “The Swiss Army Knife Of Fitness Apps,” Fitness Buddy features over 1,000 exercises for every part of the body. Each exercise is accompanied by detailed instructions, photos and animations, and the user-friendly interface allows you to track each exercise and know exactly how you are doing. There are also 45 full workout routines tailored to specific goals – build chest, tone butt, lose weight, etc. There are also specific routines designed for women. And you don’t need to have access to a full gym: Fitness Buddy will provide a workout routine based on the equipment that you have available.

Fitness Buddy costs just $0.99 under a limited time offer.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Price: $0.99

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Daily Burn – Calorie, Workout, and Fitness Companion

This is the companion app to Daily Burn, one of the biggest – and best – fitness communities on the Web. Once you join Daily Burn, your fitness and health goals and performance are automatically synced to the app for complete on-the-go analysis and tracking.

Daily Burn helps you find both a nutrition plan and a workout regimen to go along with it. The built-in “Foodscanner” app uses the iPhone camera to read barcodes and supply you with complete nutrition and calorie information, while the Training Plan feature helps you set goals for weight loss, cardio training, muscle building, and more.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Price: Free

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Lose It!

One of the top-rated weight-loss apps, Lose It! allows you to set goals and establish a daily calorie budget to meet them. You stay on track by logging food and exercise totals, which can be synced with a loseit.com account.

Lose It! places lots of emphasis on sharing with friends for extra support and motivation. Lose It! claims that the average user has lost more than 12lbs, and more than 85% of their active users have lost weight.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Price: Free

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CardioTrainer Pro

A great app for tracking any fitness activity, including running, walking and biking. CardioTrainer uses GPS tracking to monitor workout performance, and includes voice reminders and encouragement, as well as a music player for additional motivation. CardioTrainer Pro is an add-on to the free CardioTrainer app, which needs to be installed first. The Pro version features advanced interval training and other exercises, and includes all future updates and enhancements free-of-charge. Comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Platform: Android
Price: $9.99

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Daily Ab Workout

Daily Ab Workout is part of the Daily Workout Apps series. It contains two 5 to 10 minute daily ab routines for men and women. Each routine takes you through twenty ab-sculpting exercises. The routines are demonstrated by a certified personal trainer and target all major abdominal muscles. You can set up daily reminders and a randomize feature varies the routine so it doesn’t get monotonous.

The paid Daily Ab Workout app is ad-free and is available on both Apple iOS and Android platforms.

Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
Price: $0.99

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Nike+ GPS

A GPS tracking app for the man or woman who just likes to run. Nike+ GPS tracks your route, records your pace, and constantly pushes you to match and beat your personal best times. You can run indoor or outdoor and there are no sensors required.

Nike+ GPS allows you to broadcast your accomplishments to friends through Facebook or Twitter. You can hear cheers every time a friend “Likes” or comments on your run, or you can set up some healthy competition using the Nike+ Tag feature. The personalized PowerSong feature blasts your favorite music as you go for new time or distance records.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Price: $1.99

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Cyclemeter GPS Bike Computer

Similar to Nike+ GPS but for bikers! Cyclemeter GPS Bike Computer tracks everything you need to know about your bike ride, including time, location, elevation, and speed. You can map your routes, chart your times, and keep a calendar of performance over weeks, months or years.

There are up to 25 configurable announcements to help you track your ride, and you can even get audio updates of how far you are ahead or behind your friends or previous best times. A virtual map can pinpoint your progress. Fix your iPad or iPhone to the handlebars for the ultimate in-race companion!

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Price: $4.99

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Ultimate Weight Watchers Diary

The perfect Android app for people following Weight Watchers programs. The Ultimate Weight Watchers Diary has a built-in points calculator, points tracker, barcode scanner, body weight and measurement tracker, activity calculator, and more. The easy-to-use graphing feature allows you to see your progress at a glance, and the export and e-mail features allow you to share the good news with friends and family.

Platform: Android
Price: $4.89

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Daily Yoga

Another in the Daily Workout Apps series, this time for yoga. The app contains 20, 40 and 60 minute level one and level two yoga routines. Each pose is demonstrated by a certified personal trainer and the app includes audio instructions for the entire program.

If you can’t get to your regular class or just have time for a quick workout, then Daily Yoga is the perfect solution.

Platform: iPhone, iPad
Price: $2.99

Do you have a favorite fitness or weight-loss app? Share it with The Online Mom!

10 great fitness and weight-loss apps – The Online Mom.

Tech Report – Xbox Music – The Online Mom

This week, Microsoft’s new digital music service, Xbox Music, began rolling out on Xbox 360 consoles in the U.S. and over 20 other markets worldwide; it will be expanded to PCs and other devices running Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system later this month.

Xbox Music represents Microsoft’s challenge to Apple’s market-leading iTunes music service and could eventually develop into a similar all-encompassing entertainment distribution service, delivering movies, TV shows, books, apps and more. Xbox Music effectively replaces Zune, Microsoft’s earlier digital media brand which struggled to build a fan-base in the face of Apple’s iPod/iTunes juggernaut.

The initial version of Xbox Music will not just offer a music download service; there will also be a free ad-supported music streaming service, with the option to switch to a subscription-based unlimited streaming service without advertising. This would put Xbox Music in direct competition with other music streaming services like Pandora and Spotify, which have found an appreciative audience but which have struggled with their business models.

The introduction of Xbox Music coincides with the launch of Windows 8, scheduled for October 26, and the arrival of Microsoft’s Surface tablet, which was available for pre-ordering this week. Xbox Music will be available for Windows Phone 8 devices in the near future. There are also plans to launch apps for iOS and Android devices at some point but establishing Xbox Music for the Microsoft eco-system will take priority.

Xbox Music will launch with an inventory of over 30 million songs (18 million available in the U.S.) from all the major record labels. The free streaming option will be unlimited for the first six months of use, after which users can upgrade to the subscription option or be restricted to 10 hours of listening a month. The unlimited ad-free option costs $9.99 per month but allows streaming across any enabled PC, tablet, phone or Xbox console. The Xbox Music Pass as it is being called also unlocks unlimited access to tens of thousands of music videos on the Xbox 360.

You will be able to buy songs or albums through the Xbox Music Store. Individual songs will generally be priced at $0.99 each. Xbox Music allows you to create playlists and sync those lists across all your devices. In the coming year, Microsoft will add an Xbox Music cloud service, which will allow you to automatically add and sync other songs to your cloud catalog, even music you purchased through other sources.

Tech Report – Xbox Music – The Online Mom.

Your Fat Needs Sleep, Too: Scientific American Podcast

Sleep is good for you. Getting by on too little sleep increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and other illnesses. It also makes it harder to lose weight or stay slim because sleep deprivation makes you hungrier and less likely to be active during the day.

Now, research shows that sleep also affects fat cells. Our fat cells play an important role in regulating energy use and storage, including insulin processing.

For the study, young, healthy, slim subjects spent four nights getting eight and a half hours of sleep and four nights getting only four and a half hours of sleep. The difference in their fat cells was startling: after sleep deprivation, the cells became 30 percent less receptive to insulin signals—a difference that is as large as that between non-diabetic and diabetic patients. The findings are in Annals of Internal Medicine. [Josiane Broussard et al., Impaired Insulin Signaling in Human Adipocytes After Experimental Sleep Restriction]

Looks like sleep is even more important than we thought for keeping our metabolisms running well. So consider this a wake-up call—to get enough sleep.

—Katherine Harmon

Listen to the Pod cast:  Your Fat Needs Sleep, Too: Scientific American Podcast.

Egypt Reopens Pyramid Of Chefren In Giza After Restoration Project

Following last year’s uprising where the Arab Spring deposed President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has seen a big decline in the amount of tourists wanting to visit. Now, with the reopening of one of Giza’s great pyramids, the country is hoping to lure travelers back.

After more than 10 years of restoration, the Pyramid of Chefren, the second largest pyramid in Giza’s necropolis, has been reopened. Built as the tomb for the Pharaoh Khafre from ancient Egypt’s fourth dynasty, the pyramid rises to a height of 448 feet. Additionally, as many as six other ancient tombs are set to open in the near future.

“I am very happy today to reopen these tombs which were closed for more than ten years due to restoration,” Ministry of State Antiquities chief Mohamed Ibrahim told the Daily Mail.This is not the first time the pyramids have been closed for restoration. In the 1990s, a site management plan found the myriad visitors over the years had caused humidity levels inside the structures to rise up to 80%. In fact, research has found every visitor that enters the pyramid releases about 20 grams of water vapor through sweat, causing damage to the plaster and walls.

Even now with the newly renovated pyramids, however, travelers are still wary of returning to Egypt. After the horrific stories last year of violent rioting and Western female journalists being sexually assaulted by mobs in Tahrir Square, people are nervous about the possibility of spontaneous rebellion.

According to Mr. Ibrahim, Egypt is a much more stable place one year later, with more archaeological sites set to reopen throughout the country in the coming months.

http://www.gadling.com

by Jessica Festa

Lorre White, The Guru of Luxury: Egypt Reopens Pyramid Of Chefren In Giza After Restoration Project.