 As you've probably noticed, whenever I get super busy, the blog suffers. But I believe the topics I'm covering are important enough that I'd rather give you fewer quality articles per week than more sloppy ones thrown together without much thought. Quality trumps quantity—I think you'll agree. So I'll try to get you at least one post per week along with the weekend roundup until time permits two again. However, I do have some important resources for you today.
Aspartame
Aspartame Organizations: This isn't an article, but it's important nonetheless. Dr. Janet Hull provides a list of groups that provide aspartame information, including those that collect reports from those who believe they are suffering from the adverse effects of aspartame. Bookmark this list if you or a loved one suffers symptoms associated with aspartame.
Nutrition
Allergy? Intolerance? What's the Difference?: Having reviewed products with tree nuts and soy in earlier posts, people being allergic or intolerant of these products is inevitable. But do you know the difference? If you suspect you may have a food intolerance, take a look at this article and the links that follow.
Weight Loss
Is Your Weight Obsession Making You Pack on Pounds?: This had been a problem for me off and on. For that reason, I rarely step on the scale. Focus on getting healthy. When I decided to do that, the weight came off, and now I fit into a clothing size I hadn't been able to wear since high school.
With that, I hope all of you have a happy health
 Saturday again! Welcome to the St. Patrick's Day edition of The Sugar-Free Review's Resource Roundup. So whether you're attending a parade, going out with friends later, or just spending time with family, I will keep this brief so you can proceed with your plans. While the articles today don't necessarily refer to any Irish cuisine, we do have a few discussing green foods. Health and Nutrition Sugary Drinks Linked to Heart Risk in Men: While this applies to all of us, there is an emphasis for the guys. This is yet another good reason why cutting back on sugar, particularly sugary drinks, is important. According tot the study by the Harvard School of Public Health, those drinking 6.5 sugared beverages per week were 20% more likely to have a heart attack than those who never consumed them. Top Ten Healthiest Green Foods: If you're looking for green beer on this list, you won't find it here. This list consists mostly of vegetables with a bit of fruit as well. I do have a number of favorites on this list, like broccoli and kiwi. So what's your favorite green food? Weight Loss 6 Eating Rules for Faster Weight Loss: So you still want to shed those excess pounds by summer? Prevention offers some eating tips that will help you do just that. Foods rich in protein, fiber, and calcium are recommended. Recipe Green Juice Recipe: With it being St. Patrick's Day, it seemed appropriate to offer at least one green recipe, and since we were just discussing juicing, I figured we'd have a juice recipe this weekend. So if it looks good, give it a try or alter it to your tastes. So whether you're Irish or not, I wish all of you a happy St. Patrick's Day and a wonderful weekend!
 So the weekend is finally here, and not a moment too soon. Is anyone else not looking forward to Daylight Saving Time? It tends to throw my schedule off for a while. Anyway, before you head out to enjoy your weekend or sit back and relax, take some time to check out these articles. I've even included a healthy snack at the end. Nutrition and Health 5 Nutrients Even Healthy Women Miss: Thursday was International Women's Day, so it seemed appropriate to include at least one article focusing on women's health and/or diet. This one on Prevention discusses five nutrients that women's diets are often lacking and some foods we can incorporate to help. Potassium and High Blood Pressure: A diet low in sodium important to controlling blood pressure, but foods high in potassium are important as well. This article from the American Heart Association offers a list of healthy foods to incorporate into your menu if you haven't already. Weight Loss How to Stop Overeating: One important part of losing weight is about not eating more than our bodies need, and this article at FaveDiets.com offers some tips to stop overeating. I've been trying to put my veggies first at lunch time and have been trying to slow down, which for me has more to do with enjoying my meals rather than losing weight. Recipe Garlic-Flavored Almonds: This looks like a wonderful snack, and definitely appropriate considering all of the almond-based products I've reviewed here lately. I intend to make some granola later this weekend, but hopefully I'll have time to try this with the almonds I have left over. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I hope its happy and healthy.
 During some weeks, Saturday cannot come soon enough, and for others, it seems to come too soon. Regardless, it's here, and whether you're relaxing, running errands, working, or some combination of the above, you will hopefully have a few minutes for the articles I've collected for this weekend. If you have nutrition and weight loss in mind, you'll like the first three, and we'll finish off with a breakfast treat. Nutrition Never mind meat—worry about eating enough plants: This article from Grist.org discusses a number of non-meat protein sources and how to calculate how much protein you need on a daily basis. Since cutting meat from my diet, this has occasionally been a concern for me, but for the most part, I have more energy and feel better now than I ever did in my carnivore days. Food & Mood: How What You Eat Affects How You Feel: I think we all have known on some level that food can affect how we feel. Otherwise, the phrase comfort food probably wouldn't exist. But nutrition counselor and chef Alexandra Jamieson gives some specific examples in this post on Made Just Right. Personally, having given up sugar and dairy milk, I can agree with much of this (still haven't given up caffeine though). Weight Loss Proven Weight Loss Supplements: Those of you who are into supplements might find this article at WebMD interesting. It discusses which supplements can aid in weight loss. I haven't tried any of these to lose weight, although I drink green tea quite regularly (but have never tried the extract) and have used fiber supplements occasionally. But it's certainly worth considering. Recipe Almond French Toast: Since I've been discussing almonds and almondmilk, it seemed appropriate to share at least one recipe including one of them. This one posted on Almond Breeze's website is similar to the one I use (but I add less salt). Have a happy and healthy weekend!
 S o how did this week go? Are you staying on track? If so, that's great. Or did you fall off the wagon on Valentine's Day? If so, don't beat yourself up. I've found that allowing those guilty thoughts to take over inevitably makes me depressed, which leads to more unhealthy eating. Just let it go, move on, and start over. Either way, the weekend is here, so it's time to relax and rejuvenate.
And here are some things to keep in mind as you enjoy your weekend and start into a new week. Heart Health 12 Dietary Changes that Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease: With February being American Heart Month, you've probably seen a number of articles about heart disease and prevention. Nutritionist Kimberly Snyder recommends some dietary changes that can help prevent heart disease. Preventing Heart Disease with a Plant-Based Diet: To emphasize one of the points in the previous article, Earth Balance's Made Just Right blog post give tips for reducing the risk of heart disease with a plant-based diet. Weight Loss Want to Lose Weight Faster? Lift Weights: This is another topic that is near and dear to me. I'd struggled with fluctuating weight for years, but it wasn't until I started working out regularly, including weight lifting, that I was finally able to get it under control. So I highly recommend this article at CalorieKing Australia. Recipe The Delicious Possibilities of Vegan Pesto: As a lover of pesto, I couldn't resist sharing this article/recipe from Earth Balance's Made Just Right blog. Some of these suggestions will definitely add a new twist to an old favorite. As always, have a happy, healthy weekend.
 In my other blog, I'm trying something different, hoping to improve the appearance and readability of my resource roundup equivalent there. And I've decided to try it here as well, so I've divided up these articles into categories, which should allow you to skim the post and find the topics that interest you. This weekend, we'll look at a few simple weight loss tips, a simple but healthy recipe, and another area in our diets where Americans, at least, need to cut back. Sodium Too Much Salt in Americans' Diets: According to this post at the Earth Eats blog, we should be cutting back on sodium (add that to my list along with sugar). Ouch! I still have a weakness for salty snacks. Sodium (Salt or Sodium Chloride): In light of the previous link, I decided to get a more comprehensive look at sodium, how much is too much, what to look for, etc. This article on the American Heart Association's website offers a wealth of information. Weight Loss 5 great weight-loss tips: Those looking to trim down should check these out. They seem simple but are definitely true. Number 4, getting help from friends and family, was probably the most helpful for me. My husband was a constant source of encouragement, even when I was frustrated. And he and a mutual friend would work out with me, making the experience social and much more enjoyable. Recipe Grilled Cheesy Sandwich: If you're looking for a quick but healthy weekend lunch at home for the kids, give this a try. Using Galaxy Nutritional Foods Veggie Slices, you can enjoy this simple sandwich without the fat and calories associated with regular cheese. Who says grilled cheese has to be boring? Anyway, I hope the new layout has improved the resource roundup for you, and as always, feedback is always welcome. Have a good, healthy weekend.
 Yet another busy week here brings me to another resource roundup before I realized it. And since busy workweeks often spill into the weekend, this will be another brief one. But I wouldn't come to you without something to read and ponder as you enjoy your weekend and head off into next week.
So what have I found for you this weekend?
Want to Lose Weight? Eat Less: Don't you love when a research group does a study to prove the obvious? This post at food politics goes into further discussion of the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and its results. Apparently calories do count, and diets only work if you stick with them. I didn't need a study to tell me that.
Lose weight while you sleep: Speaking of weight loss, I couldn't resist posting this one. It reminded me of advertisements for a weight loss drug that was popular during the late 1990s, but this isn't a gimmick. This discusses a link between sleep deprivation and snacking. Apparently, not getting enough sleep leads people to reach for high-carb snacks, rather than healthy ones. This too is something I've experienced. When I don't get enough sleep, I'm tempted to reach for high-calorie foods for a quick energy boost. Rest up!
10 Calorie Snacks: While we're on the topic of weight loss, this should appeal to those counting calories. Remember, snacking itself isn't bad, as long as you're eating something nutritious. In fact, it can keep you from overeating at meal times. Obviously, one of these 10 calorie snacks will probably not do the trick for you if you're hungry during the day, but they can be combined for healthy 50 or 100 calorie snack. As a note, I would avoid the items at the bottom of the list.
So on that note, I wish you a happy, healthy weekend!
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