We are entering a whole new era in dentistry. One in which we'll be able to eat candy to prevent cavities. Specifically, we'll be able to suck on a licorice lollipop.
The developers collaborated with scientists in China to work out what kind of herbs to use. Once they had determined what would work, they had to create a delivery vehicle. Lollipops were chosen because they are consumed slowly, giving the active ingredients time to work their magic. Only 15 milligrams of licorice root powder are needed to kill the harmful bacteria, Streptococcus mutans.
So one day soon we'll be able to prevent cavities with lollipops. Maybe next we'll have plaque scraping treats and edibles that floss for us. Though it is still a thing of the present, this gives me hope that a trip to the dentist will one day be a thing of the past.
The Cinnamon Dolce Latte is back on Starbucks menu boards as of a few days ago, although a friendly store or two may have started making the popular drinks just before the New Year if you were lucky. Cinnamon Dolce is typically an indulgent drink, made with espresso, steamed milk and a sweet syrup flavored with cinnamon, butter and brown sugar. The standard comes topped with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles, as well. But due to the drink's popularity and the increasingly health-conscious customer base, Starbucks has introduced a sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce syrup this year as an alternative to the standard. It has the same flavors, but zero calories. Made with nonfat milk (and no whipped cream), a tall sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte has only 90 calories, an impressive reduction from a tall-sized regular CDL made with whipped cream and whole milk, which has 340 calories (260 without the whipped cream).
Operating purely from a health perspective, Epicurious set out to taste some sugar-free chocolates to see if there was one on the market that didn't "taste like chalk." In this case, they were taste testing the treats with a Halloween loving but candy-deprived diabetic, so the test was not conducted from a weight-loss or low-carb mindset . This is a solid indication that the tasters really were putting taste first, and not the nutrition label. The chocolates were grouped by brand:
Hershey's - Winner: Sugar Free York Peppermint Patties, Loser: No Sugar Hershey bars ("truly awful")
Guylian - Winner: Dark chocolate bar, Loser: Hazelnut bar (unless you're a big hazelnut fan)
Godiva - Winner: Milk and dark assortment, dark chocolate candy bars, Loser: None.
In general, the tasters felt that you got what you paid for when it came to sugar-free chocolates. The Godiva chocolates were the best of the bunch and were remarkably similar to "real" chcolates. Darker chocolates, which have less sugar even in regular bars, will transition more smoothly than milk chocolates. Combining the chocolates with other strong flavors, like hazelnut, coconut or mint, can cover up any minor flaws in the chocolate and will make even a poor-quality no-sugar chocolate acceptable most of the time.
Replacing the fat in baked goods is something that we have done a fewtimes now, but for some people fat is not the issue that they want to tackle - it's sugar. Baking without sugar is much harder than baking without fat because fats contribute to the texture of the finished product, but not as much to the flavor. Granted, a buttery flavor can be nice, but I have had fat free cookies (made with applesauce) on numerous occasions that have tasted quite good, even if they are lacking in the texture department.
It doesn't seem possible -- sugar-free honey? This is the first time I've ever heard of it! But according to Indian news source, Nerve, bees are able to produce sugar-free herbal honey by feeding on the leaves of the stevia plant. Stevia is marketed as natural sweetener, an alternative to sugar.
According to Nerve, sugar-free honey reduces cravings for sugar and fat, which appeals to people who don't want to gain weight but still want to enjoy the taste of honey. Additionally, sugar-free honey controls blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. Thus, it is in high demand by diabetics.
New
Year's Eve parties are an occasion to get together with friends and family, reminisce about what has been and wonder
what is to come. It's a time to resolve to have more fun, be more successful and get healthier. It's also a time to a
have few drinks, which, while not necessarily being unhealthy, may not be the rich way to kick start your resolution to
lose those extra few pounds. Making a few cuts in your cocktails is actually a good way to save a few
calories.
Earlier this year, a list of the most fattening cocktails was released, so
you're off to a good start by avoiding the 650 calories in a Pina Colada and the 780 calories in each Long Island Ice
Tea. Try to have a glass of water between each drink to balance out your calorie intake and go for smaller servings,
instead of novelty-sized margaritas.
Wine, at about 100 calories a glass, is a good choice compared to most
mixed drinks, which have higher calorie counts from the juices and sodas used a mixers, in addition to alcohol. For
"lighter" drinks, skip the tonic in favor of club soda as a mixer, a calorie-free alternative, or use diet
sodas instead of regular. You can add fruity flavors with a shot or two of one of Torani's Sugar Free Syrup, which come in flavors from vanilla
to lemon to Irish Cream. While they work well in warming coffee drinks, HungryGirl has quite a few creative, calorie-saving cocktail recipes to choose from to get your party
started on December 31st.