Listen up Diet Coke drinkers. Artificial sweeteners have given artificial hope to those looking for weight loss. For years, brands like Sweet ‘N Low and Splenda have claimed to be better for consumers than their real sugar crystal counterpart. It was said, the synthetic substitutes would give you the sweet-tasting foods and beverages you crave, without the extra calories, weight gain, or other negative health issues. But over time, research has reveled that it’s not so simple. While we’ve been questioning the validity of sugar substitutes for some time now, a new scientific review published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on Monday, shows that not only is there no solid evidence supporting the weight-managing health claims of sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, but those who regularly consume these alternatives are more likely to develop health problems in the future. For the 25 percent of children and 41 percent of adults who consume these sweeteners at…
U.S. Postal Service unveils first-ever scratch-and-sniff stamps
Sending a letter just got a whole lot sweeter. Now, when you send a note home to Mom, she can get a whiff of happy summer scents with the U.S. Postal Service’s first-ever scratch-and-sniff stamp sheets. The new “Frozen Treats Forever” collection features fun and colorful popsicles with sweet summer smells including kiwi, blue better, strawberry and watermelon alongside other ice cream truck favorites like chocolate, root beer and cola ice cream. The Postal Service says these stamps will “add the sweet scent of summer to letters of love, friendship, party invitations, and other mailings.” The collection was designed by Virginia-based artists Antonio Alcalá and Leslie Badani, and watercolored by California artist Margaret Berg. Each adorable scented-sticker features two frosty treats and will always be worth the current price of a 1-ounce first-class letter, like all stamps labeled “Forever.” A book of 20 stamps can be purchased for $10 at USPS.com and will become…
5 watermelon recipes to try before the end of summer
What would warm weather be without big, sloppy slices of watermelon? Given that this summer essential is more than 90 percent water, it’d be easy to assume that it has little or no nutritional value. But the low-calorie fruit is filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that soothe sore muscles, improve cardiovascular health, and pack about one-third of the daily recommended vitamins A and C, and lycopene that can even combat cancer. August through October is watermelon harvest in most of the country, so there are usually lots of great, local picks at farmers markets and grocery stores this time of year. But how can you be sure you’re selecting the perfect melon? To avoid mushy melons, a good rule of thumb states that you should choose the one heaviest for its size. The melon should also have a deeply colored cream spot on the bottom — the color signifying the watermelon had plenty of time to…
America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Revealed
The results are in, and vanilla reigns supreme as America’s favorite ice cream flavor. In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, which runs throughout the month of July, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) conducted a survey to find the most loved flavors from coast to coast. The IDFA tabulated the top sellers from major ice cream manufacturers in the United States including Blue Bell, Unilever, Nestle, and members of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association, which likely includes your local mom and pop ice cream shop. Vanilla has been the top selling flavor for years, followed by chocolate, but the remaining 8 slots tend to vary. Here’s a full list: Vanilla Chocolate Cookies & Cream Mint Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Buttered Pecan Cookie Dough Strawberry Moose Tracks (vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cups and fudge swirls) Neapolitan “Vanilla has long been the best-selling ice cream flavor not only because…
Watermelon salad perfect for summer
It’s unlikely that you’ll make it through the next five months without finishing a meal with watermelon juice running down your arm. Nothing says ‘warm weather is here’ quite like a thick slice of this quintessential summer fruit. You’re likely very familiar with watermelons sliced or in slushies, but chances are you’ve never had one in a salad. While it won’t go running down your sleeve, this sweet and savory, salty and spicy salad will definitely make it on your menu rotation this summer. It would also be a great dish to take to any summer get together. Watermelon is about 92 percent water and six percent sugars, but you benefit so much more than those figures let on. Adding more melon to your diet means a lots of vitamin C and A and betacarotene. Watermelons are second only to tomatoes for lycopene content — an antioxidant effective in preventing some types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The thick-rinded fruit is also low…