Friday Q&A: Can You Help Us?

Hidden by Melina Meza

Q: Baxter and I would very much like to write a book on “Yoga for Healthy Aging” in the near future. And we’re betting that a lot of you would also like to see to a book on that topic by the two of us, along with input from our crew of regulars.

However, recent discussions with an agent and a publisher made us realize that these days publishers expect you to “bring your audience along with you.” So when you write a book proposal or pitch an agent, you actually have to give provide all your numbers, including your blog subscribers and numbers of hits, Facebook followers, and so on. And while we love all the subscribers and readers that we already have, we both feel our blog has the potential to reach a much larger audience. Recently we received this lovely message from a reader:

"Just a note to thank you all at YFHA for the helpful content you publish; it's no understatement to say that your site is, I feel, one if the top five yoga resources on the web - a true hidden gem."

So how about it, dear reader? If we promise to continue being a “gem,” will you help us out come out of hiding and find a larger audience for our blog?

—Nina

A: If your answer is yes, you can help by trying to get as many of your family members, friends, students, coworkers, etc. turned on to the blog. You can do this by sending email links to our posts and sharing links on Facebook and Twitter, asking the people you’re sharing with to do the same. If you’re a yoga teacher and it feels right to you, talk about our blog to your students and encourage them to become subscribers.

Finally, we’re open to your suggestions! So if you have any ideas, let us know either by commenting on this post or using the Contact Us tab at the top of the page.

(We have already outlined the book by the way, and we’re both feeling pretty excited it!)

Easy ways to cut down on sugar

The Action on Sugar campaign was launched yesterday to tackle concerns that we’re all consuming too much sugar. 

While the debate rages on what can be done about the national obesity problem, here are Healthy Food Guide’s practical tips on how to reduce your own sugar intake – plus we reveal which foods are higher in sugar than you may have thought.

7 ways to replace the white stuff:

1.     Get baking – if you like the occasional cake or biscuit, make your own so you can control the ingredients (you can normally halve the sugar content without affecting the quality). Look out for healthier sweet recipes in the pages of HFG.

2.     Try sugar substitutes – natural products like stevia are sweeter than sugar, with fewer calories.

3.     Use spices for flavour without the sugar – try cinnamon, mixed spice and ginger in stewed fruits, porridge and puddings.

4.     Watch the drinks – alcohol, fizzy drinks and juices are an easy way to overload on sugar without noticing. Try sparkling water with lemon slices and fresh mint sprigs, chilled herbal teas or diluted juice.

5.     Look out for hidden sugar in unlikely foods (see below) – look for ingredients ending in ‘ose’ on the ingredients label and check out the value for sugars: less than 5g per 100g is considered low in sugar while more than 15g per 100g is considered high (although this value refers to all sugars, not just added ones).

6.     Choose lower-sugar versions of cereals, baked beans, soups, canned tomatoes and ketchup.

7.     Eat fewer processed carbohydrates such as white bread, croissants, muffins, biscuits, cakes, chocolate and sweets. These convert rapidly to glucose in the blood, so high levels may contribute to energy highs and lows and cravings. Switch to wholegrains instead.

Do you know where sugar is lurking?

Food doesn’t have to taste sweet to contain sugar. Check out some of the more unlikely products you’ll find it in if you look closely…

* 30g cornflakes = ½tsp

* 1tbsp salad cream = ½tsp

* 1tbsp balsamic vinegar = ½tsp

* 1 slice bread = ½tsp

* 1tbsp tomato ketchup = 1tsp

* Half a large tin mushroom soup = 1tsp

* 2tbsp coleslaw = 1tsp

* A third of a jar of salsa = 1tsp

* 30g branflakes = 1½tsp

* 125g ready made Bolognese sauce = 2tsp

* 400g lasagna ready meal = 3tsp

* 400g chicken tikka masala ready meal = 3½tsp