Nutrition Frenzy

From Webmd health blog:You’ll probably lose more money than weight…

Acai berries…perhaps you’ve heard of them? Remember the hype from pomegranates a couple of years ago? Well, the torch appears to have been passed to the Brazilian berry and the hype has been cranked up a few notches. The Center For Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) blew the whistle last week on web-based acai scams, which they say are fooling consumers with fake blogs, fake endorsements, and fishy science.

According to CSPI there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that acai pills will help shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse colons, enhance sexual desire, etc. People appear to be getting scammed here two ways. There’s the lack of science behind these Internet health claims and then there’s the credit card scam-many consumers have had trouble stopping recurrent charges on their credit cards when they cancel their “free” trials. CSPI is reporting that even web sites purporting to warn people about acai-related scams are themselves perpetrating scams, some of which appear to be linked to overseas banks. So be careful out there people, you are probably more likely to lose your money rather than your extra weight.

Let’s get back to the berry: What do we really know about it nutritionally?

Acai juice does contribute antioxidants but less so than Concord grape juice, blueberry juice and black cherry juice, according to a recent analysis* that used 4 different antioxidant potency tests. It contains more antioxidants, however, than cranberry, orange and apple juices.

Beyond that, we don’t really know much more than this. I was trying to find an impartial source for the information on its nutrition content. My computer software program didn’t have anything on it and the USDA database only had some information on the V8 Fusion blend that contains acai berry.

Until more is known and the hype (and price) go down on acai berry juices and food products, you can always pick up a bottle of 100% concord grape juice for a couple of bucks (just saying)… Each 8 ounce serving contains 170 calories, 42 grams carbohydrate, 250 mg potassium, 20% daily value for vitamin C and copious antioxidant-acting polypenols that have been linked to all sorts of good things for your body.

A good way to avoid weight gain as you age? Eat.

Research shows that people who eat meals regularly throughout the day tend to have smaller waists than people who sometimes skip breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Get Regular
Regular eaters not only weigh less and have smaller waists but also are less likely to develop metabolic syndrome or experience insulin resistance — conditions that can pave the way for heart disease and diabetes.

Plan for More
An even better plan? Eat many small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. This helps keep your appetite from getting out of control, so you eat less overall throughout the day.

Anti-Meal-Skipper Recipe
Are you typically too time-pressed to eat breakfast? Make these simple, scrumptious muffins this weekend so you’ll have an easy grab-and-go option during the week:

Apricot-Wheat Germ MuffinsNutty toasted wheat germ and tangy dried apricots give these muffins a homey, satisfying flavor. Plumping dried fruit before adding it to the batter keeps the muffins moist.

Ingredients
3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup orange juice, divided
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon toasted wheat germ, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk, (see Tip)
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Combine apricots and 1/4 cup orange juice in a small bowl. Cover with vented plastic wrap and microwave on high for 1 minute. (Alternatively, bring to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat.) Set aside to plump.
3. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
4. Whisk eggs and brown sugar in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in buttermilk, oil, orange zest, vanilla and remaining 1/4 cup orange juice. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until moistened. Add apricots and mix just until blended. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon wheat germ.
5. Bake the muffins until lightly browned and the tops spring back when touched lightly, 15 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges and turn muffins out onto a wire rack to cool slightly.

Nutrition Information
Per muffin
Calories: 242
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Monounsaturated Fat: 3g
Protein: 7g
Cholesterol: 36mg
Dietary Fiber: 4g
Potassium: 138mg
Sodium: 184mg

Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements may help overweight women to lose body fat, but only if their calcium intake from food is already quite low, a small study suggests.

The study, which followed 63 overweight or obese women, found that those who took a calcium-plus-vitamin-D supplement in addition to a lower-calorie diet lost no more body fat over 15 weeks than those given a placebo.

When the researchers looked at only those women with a very low calcium intake before the study, the supplement did seem to have a benefit.

Among the women — who had been getting less than 600 milligrams of calcium per day — the calcium/vitamin D supplement spurred greater reductions in weight and body fat.

While the reason for the benefit is unclear, there was evidence that the supplement helped curb women’s appetite for fatty food, the researchers report in the British Journal of Nutrition.

During a buffet-style test meal, the study found, women who’d been taking the supplement ate less fat than they had at a test meal done at the study’s start. The same was not true of women in the placebo group, however.

For the study, the researchers had 63 overweight middle-aged women go on a calorie-restricted diet. All had been getting inadequate calcium in their diets — less than 800 mg, compared with the recommended 1,000 mg for women ages 19 to 50.

Half of the women were randomly assigned to take a calcium/vitamin D supplement twice a day, which provided 1,200 mg of calcium daily. The other half took placebo pills.

Only women with the lowest calcium intake prior to the study — less than 600 mg — seemed to get added fat-loss benefits from the supplement. Supplement users lost 13 pounds, on average, versus 3 pounds in the placebo group.

While the results from the test meals suggest that extra calcium may help calcium-deficient women curb their appetites while dieting, more research is needed to confirm that, according to Tremblay’s team.

7 products that claim to shrink your belly, fight cancer and help your heart

Acai Berry

Claims: This small purple berry, harvested from the Açai Palm in Brazil, is said to fight heart disease due to a potent mix of antioxidants, minerals and amino and fatty acids. Some product makers also claim the berry helps people lose weight, prevents aging and stops cancer.

Reality check: Açai berries do contain beneficial fatty acids and high levels of phytochemicals, an anti-inflammatory, fibrous, antioxidant blend that research suggests may reduce chronic-disease risk. However, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to claim that açai berries are more beneficial than other phytochemical-rich berries such as blueberries, raspberries or cranberries

Claims: This relatively low-caffeine, less processed form of tea is said to contain high levels of antioxidants that help prevent cancer and heart disease. Some vendors also claim it helps people lose weight.

Green Tea

Reality check: Research confirms that green tea is rich in antioxidants. However, evidence that it benefits heart health or prevents cancer is not conclusive, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

What about the weight-loss claims? They’re not completely unfounded, says Washington, D.C., nutritionist Katherine Tallmadge, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson. Green tea contains the fat-burning compounds catechins, but you’d have to drink at least three cups of it daily for the slightest drop in weight, she says.
Black tea actually packs a bigger weight-loss wallop, she says, because in addition to catechins, it contains more caffeine — also a weight-loss aid.

Mangosteen fruit

Claims: This purple fruit from Asia is said to contain powerful antioxidants called xanthones, which are found in a few tropical fruits. Xanthones are supposed to boost the immune system, improve intestinal health and ward off cancer.

Reality check: As with some açai berry manufacturers, a marketing network is selling mangosteen as a blended juice. In the U.S., a bottle of XanGo goes for $37. And as with the açai berry, no rigorous research on humans exists to back the immunity-boosting claims, notes nutritionist Salge Blake.

Dark chocolate

Claims: The cocoa in dark chocolate contains phytochemicals known as flavonols, which marketers say help the heart by controlling bad cholesterol and ease blood pressure by expanding blood vessels.

Reality check: The flavonols in dark chocolate — not regular or milk chocolate — do appear to fight cholesterol and may even give your brain a boost, research indicates.

(more…)

West Virginia Woman Is Second Person in U.S. to Undergo Brain Surgery to Lose Weight

Is this something you would do? If after trying to alter your eating habits, exercise, maybe try lap band/bariatric surgery and nothing worked, would you go to this extreme?

West Virginia mother of two Carol Poe, 60, is only the second person in the United States to undergo deep brain stimulation for weight loss after trying everything from diets to having her stomach stapled.

Last month, she took part in a clinical trial at West Virginia University hospital in which neurosurgeons drilled into her brain and used electricity to control her feelings of hunger and satisfaction.

Poe, 5-feet 2-inches and who weighed 230 pounds before the surgery, said that at her heaviest she weighed about 490 pounds.

Dr Julian Bailes, chairman of West Virginia University’s department of neurosurgery, said Poe was a good candidate for the radical treatment.

Bailes told Reuters that the West Virginia University hospital was the only one in the United States, and the only center he knew of worldwide, using the deep brain stimulation technique specifically on obese patients.

He said the first patient underwent surgery in November 2008. The second, Poe, took place in February. Both are part of a clinical trial, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, conducted by fellow neurosurgeons Michael Oh and Donald Whiting.

“We hope her sensation is a sensation of satiety, a sensation of fullness, a lack of compulsion to consume excess calories,” Bailes told “Nightline”. “And a sensation again of satisfaction, of not having the feeling we need to eat some more when we know we don’t.”

Doctors said it would be several months before any weight loss is noticeable while the voltage to the brain is gradually increased. But a week after the voltage was turned on, Poe told “Nightline” she had already lost three pounds.

“When I eat, I get full faster. I just don’t have the cravings like I used to have,” she said.

Eric Bailey outdoes himself in “Food Choice and Obesity in Black America: Creating a New Cultural Diet”, 150 pgs, Greenwood ebooks.

If Doctors, Healthcare and the Fitness industries ever wondered why African Americans are not coming in droves, this book is a Must Read!

By simply overlaying Eurpean Ethnic ideals onto Black Americans, a disservice is being done to both ethnicities. Eric Bailey has a catch-phrase that should be on the tip of everyone’s tongue in the aformentioned industries: “Culturally Appropriate”.

In “Food Choice and Obesity in Black America”, the author covers relevant background material to the growing obesity problem in the African American communities. Citing historical, familial, religous, peer and cultural reasons, there is evidence that a different approach should be taken with discussing weight loss, eating habits, exercise routines and social interactions between African Americans.

Bailey doesn’t just lecture to White Doctors and African Americans in this timely book. He takes the time to explain why African Americans view Obesity and Food differently than European Americans. He also explains why African Americans should open up to their doctors, take the time to explain their cultural viewpoints in regards to body type, culture, food preparation.

Never once did I feel talked down to in reading this book, and I’m certain no one who will read “Food Choice and Obesity in Black America” will feel offended.

Bailey takes us on a cultural train ride through the eyes of African Amercians in regards to how they view weight loss and food through their community and how it differs from what is called ‘mainstream america’. The last chapter is about what Eric Bailey terms “THE NEW BLACK CULTURAL DIET AND LIFESTYLE”. He asks that each African American ask themselves six timely questions, honestly and openly about themselves, their culture, their family, their food, their reality and their body.

A sure winner in the fight against obesity for Eric Bailey.

Key to weight loss really is limiting and burning off calories, researcher says

Low-fat, low-carb or high-protein? The kind of diet doesn’t matter, scientists say. All that really counts is cutting calories and sticking with it, according to a federal study that followed people for two years.

However, participants had trouble staying with a single approach that long and the weight loss was modest for most.

As the world grapples with rising obesity, millions have turned to popular diets like Atkins, Zone and Ornish that tout the benefits of one nutrient over another.

Some previous studies have found that low carbohydrate diets like Atkins work better than a traditional low-fat diet. But the new research found that the key to losing weight boiled down to a basic rule — calories in, calories out.

“The hidden secret is it doesn’t matter if you focus on low-fat or low-carb,” said Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the research.

Limiting the calories you consume and burning off more calories with exercise is key, she said.

The study, which appears in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, was led by Harvard School of Public Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.

The study compared high quality, heart healthy diets and “not the gimmicky popular versions,” said Katz, who had no role in the study. Some popular low-carb diets tend to be low in fiber and have a relatively high intake of saturated fat, he said.

Other experts were bothered that the dieters couldn’t keep the weight off even with close monitoring and a support system.

“Even these highly motivated, intelligent participants who were coached by expert professionals could not achieve the weight losses needed to reverse the obesity epidemic,” Martijn Katan of Amsterdam’s Free University wrote in an accompanying editorial.

Many people on the weight-loss drug orlistat may not keep up the diet changes considered necessary for the treatment’s success, a small study suggests.

Orlistat, sold under the prescription name Xenical, aids weight loss by blocking the absorption of dietary fat in the intestines. People on the drug are advised to limit their fat intake to no more than 30 percent of their daily calories. Higher fat intake increases the risk of gastrointestinal side effects like loose stools and incontinence.

It’s been argued that orlistat may aid weight loss, in part, because those side effects encourage people to stick with a low-fat diet for the long haul.

But the new study, of 44 obese adults, found that orlistat users had a slightly higher average fat intake than non-users over two months. And that average exceeded the recommended 30-percent limit.

Dr. Mette Svendsen and colleagues at Ulleval University Hospital in Oslo, Norway, report the findings in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

The study included 44 men and women who’d taken part in a three-year clinical trial comparing orlistat with a placebo, in addition to lifestyle changes. After the trial ended, participants could opt to continue on the drug or not; two months later, Svendsen’s team surveyed users and non-users about their diet habits.

On average, they found, orlistat users were getting 33 percent of their daily calories from fat, versus 28 percent among non-users.

The findings, according to Svendsen’s team, suggest that orlistat did not have a “policing effect” on patients’ diet choices. And this, they write, “may hamper the effect of the drug.”

Larger studies are needed to look at the diet habits of people who choose to take the anti-obesity drug for long-term weight maintenance, the researchers conclude.

Great Q&A from Diet and Fitness Expert Dr. Melina Jampolis, Physician Nutrition Specialist:

My 10-year-old daughter struggles with her weight. We have been told by our family doctor that she is “off the charts” on weight. She is currently 4 feet 6 and weighs 105 pounds. We walk 2-3 miles several times per week; I also try and provide healthy meals, etc. We have had her thyroid checked; her blood-work all came back normal. I am curious on how many calories she should have daily to try and guide us on how much she should be eating. Any useful tips would be greatly appreciated.

Expert answer:
Hi Julie — With almost one in three children today overweight or obese, you are not alone in your struggle and in your concern for your daughter. Childhood obesity is an important predictor of adult obesity and has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and psychosocial issues. While I strongly believe that public policy changes are critical to combat this growing epidemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics has released an extensive set of guidelines that may help you.

Your goal for your daughter at this age should be geared more towards weight maintenance rather than weight loss, allowing her to grow into her weight as she ages and her height increases. If she does lose weight, the AAP suggests that weight loss for children aged 2-11 be no more than 1 pound per month and older children should lose no more than 2 pounds per week. It is critical that adopting a healthy lifestyle become a family affair, as it appears you are doing by promoting regular walking and healthy meals. Avoid overly restrictive behavior or making your daughter feel punished or deprived from the things that the rest of the family enjoys. Here are a few more tips from the AAP guidelines along with a few of my suggestions for implementation.
(more…)

Some previous studies have found that low carbohydrate diets like Atkins work better than a traditional low-fat diet. But the new research found that the key to losing weight boiled down to a basic rule — calories in, calories out.

“The hidden secret is it doesn’t matter if you focus on low-fat or low-carb,” said Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the research.

Limiting the calories you consume and burning off more calories with exercise is key, she said.

The study, which appears in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, was led by Harvard School of Public Health and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.

Slashing calories
Researchers randomly assigned 811 overweight adults to one of four diets, each of which contained different levels of fat, protein and carbohydrates.

Though the diets were twists on commercial plans, the study did not directly compare popular diets. The four diets contained healthy fats, were high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and were low in cholesterol.

Nearly two-thirds of the participants were women. Each dieter was encouraged to slash 750 calories a day from their diet, exercise 90 minutes a week, keep an online food diary and meet regularly with diet counselors to chart their progress.

There was no winner among the different diets; reduction in weight and waist size were similar in all groups.

People lost 13 pounds on average at six months, but all groups saw their weight creep back up after a year. At two years, the average weight loss was about 9 pounds while waistlines shrank an average of 2 inches. Only 15 percent of dieters achieved a weight-loss reduction of 10 percent or more of their starting weight.

Dieters who got regular counseling saw better results. Those who attended most meetings shed more pounds than those who did not — 22 pounds compared with the average 9 pound loss.

An overweight teenager who once ate 15,000 calories a day has lost 280 pounds after undergoing weight-loss surgery.

This is amazing! Malissa Jones, of Selby in North Yorks, England, tipped the scales at 476 pounds at the age of 16 and was constantly gorging on chocolate, chips and other junk food, sometimes eating 10 candy bars in one sitting.

She was so hooked on eating she would raid the freezer in the middle of the night and gobble down partially-thawed raw burgers.

In the end Jones was barely able to move. She needed oxygen so she could breathe while sleeping and suffered angina — a heart disease usually associated with older people.

Doctors told her to lose weight or she would die. At 17, she decided to have gastric bypass surgery. The operation helped Jones lose more than half her body weight in just one year.

Now she is saving to have an operation to remove 14 pounds of excess sagging skin caused by her dramatic weight loss.

“I’ve discovered a whole new world,” the teen said. “I’m out every weekend clubbing. I’ve had a lot more boyfriends because I feel much more attractive and confident.”

So at 17 she decided to have the bypass . . . even though it could have killed her. The risky op is normally banned on under-18s. She said last night: “Doctors warned me there was a strong risk I could die from the op. But I knew I had no choice. Without it I would have died anyway.”

Miraculously Malissa, of Selby, North Yorks, not only survived but lost more than half her weight in a year.

Now she is saving to have a private op—a full body lift and tuck—to remove one stone of excess sagging skin caused by her dramatic weight loss.

As a diabetic and weight loss novice, I’ve learned I had to give up my starches. No, not talking about starch in my clothes, but my food.

Which foods have a lot of starch?
Grains (wheat, rice, barley, oats), potatoes, corn, and beans are all very starchy foods. Grains are made into bread, cereal and pasta, as well as crackers, biscuits, cookies, cakes, pie crust, and anything else made with flour.

That wasn’t as hard as I thought, giving up those foods. All I did was replace then with healthier versions. There are low-carb/starch breads out there. If you’re craving mashed potatoes? Try mashed cauliflour! It has a similar appearance and you can put any topping on it (low-fat, of course).

Surprises: One processed food that seems to be digested more slowly than would be guessed is pasta. Apparently the starch molecules are so tightly packed that only about half is rapidly digested when the pasta is cooked “al dente” (slightly firm). Cooking time and thickness of the pasta greatly affects how the glycemic it is.

Additionally, when some cooked starches, such as potatoes and rice, are cooked and cooled, a small percentage of the starch takes longer to digest.

I could not give up my pasta! I’ve found a low-carb pasta, and it’s readily availabe in most grocery stores. You just have to do a little investigating.

What Starches Should We Eat?
The best starchy foods are whole beans or lentils. The starch is mostly either slowly-digested starch or resistant starch.
When choosing grains, eat ones which are whole and intact when cooked, such as brown rice, barley, amaranth, or quinoa.
Avoid most baked goods or anything made with flour. Best choices are specially-made low carb breads which have less starch and more fiber.
Avoid processed cereals with little fiber. Best choices are cold cereals, such as All-Bran with Extra Fiber, are which are mostly fiber.

Gabrielle Reece of Yahoo Health has these great hints and tips for living a healthier lifestyle!

1. Drink only water, with the exception of your beloved coffee in the morning. According to studies, this would eliminate 20% of our caloric intake and help all of our body functions run more smoothly.

2. Cut down your portions
I’m not even going to say what to eat and not eat. I’m just saying if you are having that sub at lunch cut it in half. We all overeat, so just eat until you are full. I’ts difficult to do, so halve the food and get it away from you. If it’s sitting there you will want to eat it.

3. Don’t skip breakfast
You will have a 70% chance of overeating throughout your day if you skip breakfast.

4. Keep a food journal
This will help you see exactly what you are eating and when. You will even be able to see patterns of grabbing food at stressful moments, etc. Journaling just makes you aware and in charge of your food–not the other way around.

5. If you can avoid it, don’t eat after 7 p.m.
On business dinners or birthday gatherings don’t worry about it. But when you can, try to finish eating earlier in the day.

These are great tips for anyone wanting to be healthier. This is a great start, along with cutting out processed foods, cutting down meats, increasing your vegetable intake (minus the starchy, carb-loaded vegetables). Another great tip is to walk at least 30 minutes per day! Good luck!

iReporter Giyen Kim has been losing a pound per week since the start of 2009

She exercises six days a week, eats one vegan meal per day

Dr. Melina Jampolis says a pound a week is a reasonable pace

A pound a week is what I lost last year and is what the FDA and Food Pyramid Guide recommends. Overall, I lost 41 pounds in 2008.

On a video that Giyen Kim recently posted on iReport.com about her frustration with trying to lose weight, one user commented, “Who cares how much you have lost you are still a fat a**. Stop eating and go to the gym.”

In the past, Kim might have cried and turned to a pint of ice cream for comfort, she reflected. But this time, she hit the gym — a reaction she views as a revelation.

“I think that when you are doing what you need to be doing, things like that don’t matter,” she said.

Kim started out at 190 pounds on January 1 with the intention of losing about a pound or two a week throughout the year.

So far she’s shed four pounds in four weeks, but the pace feels slow compared with her diet regimens in the past, she said. She found that those extreme diet plans were not realistic options in the long run for maintaining a comfortable weight.

Still, Kim maintains a positive outlook on her situation.

Keep up the good work, Kim, we’re all rooting for you! Eating heatlhy, low-carb foods, such as veggies (stayiing away or limiting starchy, carb loaded veggies) is the way to go!

Here’s how to quickly and easily crush a craving for chocolate: Use your feet.

Literally. A walk worked wonders for a small group of chocoholics. When compared with a couch-potato group, the chocoholics experienced a major drop in chocolate cravings after only 15 minutes of putting one foot in front of the other.

Keeping the Pace
It’s a concept that’s gaining clout. Other research has shown that exercise reduces cravings for alcohol and cigarettes, too, by stimulating the activity of feel-good brain chemicals. This is the first study to apply the concept to chocolate cravings. Keep your pace moderately brisk and you may stifle that craving for up to 10 minutes after the walk. And by then, your thoughts should have moved on!

Cravings Schmavings
Need more help getting those comfort-food cravings under control? Here are some other ideas for you:

Stressed? Bored? Angry? Know why you’re reaching for food.

Wet your whistle. Science shows that people often confuse hunger and thirst.

Try an appetite suppressant. Not a pill — a natural one