Archive for December, 2007
How to Identify Fraudulent Weight Loss Claims
The FTC has released an 18-page report to help the media identify products that use fraudulent weight loss claims in their sales pitch. The report, Red Flag Bogus Weight Loss Claims, is available here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/redflag/. Although it is geared toward the media, consumers may also learn from the brochure.
Below are the seven warnings of the report.
FICTION: Products that claim you can lose two or more pounds per week without dieting and exercise. A claim is false if it is telling you that you can quickly lose weight, drop dress sizes, lose inches, or lose body fat without changing your lifestyle.
FACT: Losing weight will require you to change your eating and exercise habits.
FICTION: Products that claim you can eat whatever you want and however much you want with no limits. A pill that will allow you to eat whatever you want and still lose weight? Science may be good, but it?s not going to change the laws of physics.
FACT: What goes into your body must go somewhere, whether it is expended into energy, turned into fat, or turned into waste; your body must do the work to expend the calories.
FICTION: Products that claim your weight loss will be permanent even after you stop using the product. A pill that will curb your appetite is only going to work while you use the pill.
FACT: Anything permanent is going to require a permanent lifestyle change.
FICTION: Products that claim they will block absorption of calories or fat and lead to substantial weight loss.
FACT: Even fat blockers must be used in conjunction with a lower calorie diet.
FICTION: Products that claim you can safely lose more than three pounds a week for more than four weeks at a time. You should consult your health care professional for what your goal weight loss should be every week, especially if you are diagnosed with obesity.
FACT: Intense weight loss of more than three pounds per week over several consecutive weeks can be damaging to your organs and cause health problems.
FICTION: Products that claim all users will lose substantial weight.
FACT: No product can work for everyone.
FICTION: Products that are worn on the body or rubbed on the skin will cause substantial weight loss. Patches, creams, lotions, body wraps, clothing, shoes, earrings, rings, belts, buzzers, etc. etc. ? leading to weight loss?
FACT: Weight loss can only occur through changes in diet and exercise.
Need help losing weight?
Come and visit the NutriCounter web site
http://www.nutricounter.com and find out how
you can learn to eat healthier.
Renee Kennedy is the editor of the monthly ezine NutriCounter
Update. Come and visit the NutriCounter web site at
http://www.nutricounter.com/news.htm for an extensive selection
of articles on health, nutrition and exercise.
Some Diet Supplements Contain Steroids?
Well, I guess that doesn’t come as a total shock, in the wake of the news that many of the so called natural men’s male enhancement supplements are laced with prescription drugs like Cialis and Viagra, but to me it still seems like a blatant stab at the trust of consumers. Apparently, some dietary supplements have been found to contain steroids and other stimulants that are actually illegal.
The studies were actually prompted after the attention drawn to something called “doping” in professional athletics like the Olympics and other professional games like football and biking (remember the whole Tour de France brew haha), and some athletes being accused of doping, or taking enhancement drugs and stimulants to enhance performance.
They vehemently denied taking anything that was illegal to their game or to their profession to enhance their performance, and that prompted attention to regular supplements that they may have been taking that could have tilted the tests in the direction of doping since they restricted controlled substances that these athletes supposedly unknowingly took.
In the studies, supposedly a large percentage of dietary supplements restricted stimulants that are banned or contain steroids, but usually they only restricted traces of these substances. I found that interesting, considering of all of the dietary supplements I’ve ever taken I’ve never exeperienced any extremely negative side effects besides the shakiness that I tend to get even from natural stimulants.
Original post by EatingToLive
Studies Connect Vitamins and Minerals to Vision Health
GREENSBORO, NC March 4, 2004 -? A recent statement from Johns Hopkins? Wilmer Eye Institute suggests that some 8 million people in the United States age 55 or older could benefit from daily vitamin treatments to help reduce risk of age-related vision loss or reduction. That same statement stresses that people in this high-risk category should be taking daily supplements of antioxidant vitamins and zinc.
The statement detailed the implications of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) findings. In 2001, the National Eye Institute published the results of AREDS showing that the risk of developing advanced forms of certain vision disorders was dramatically cut by 25% when subjects were given a dietary supplement that contained vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, zinc and other antioxidants.
In response to this convincing statement, Market America, Inc. has introduced Isotonix? Vision Formula, the newest addition to its innovative line of Isotonix nutritional supplements. Isotonix Vision Formula with Lutein is a complete vision formula that combines the suggested antioxidant vitamins, minerals and an advanced herbal formula to help improve and maintain proper eye health.
?Our Isotonix line has always been the most complete source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential dietary supplements,? said Marty Weissman, executive vice president, Market America. ?Our new Isotonix Vision Formula with Lutein uses the latest in vision research to deliver the maximum benefit to consumers so they can live their lives as fully as possible.?
Isotonix Vision Formula combines key vitamins with an effective group of antioxidant agents, such as lycopene, lutein and bilberry, to bolster the body?s antioxidant defenses. To strengthen the product?s effectiveness, Market America offers it in an ?isotonic? form. Isotonic products are delivered to the digestive system in a liquid form that minimizes the time needed for absorption while maximizing effectiveness.
About Market America
Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., Market America is an Internet marketing company that provides product solutions through the power of One-to-One Marketing and Mass Customization. Founded in 1992, the company has experienced explosive growth and achieved more than $1 billion in suggested retail sales. Market America has more than 100,000 distributors worldwide and has recently expanded its operations into Australia.
A Consumer’s Guide to Soy Terms
Although you may have heard about soy and all of its health benefits, you may not have figured out how to incorporate it into your diet, yet. There are so many products available; figuring out exactly what they are may seem overwhelming. Here is an explanation of terms of various soy products to help you understand and evaluate which products are for you.
In October 1999, the USDA approved the statement, ?Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.? This health claim is based on research showing that soy protein can lower total cholesterol and LDL (?bad?) cholesterol.
Soy foods typically fall into two categories: Traditional and soy protein products (SPP). Traditional foods are soymilk, tofu, miso, tempeh and edamame. Soymilk is made from ground soybeans mixed with water, cooked and then filtered. Tofu is a cooked, pureed soybean that is then offered in different textures. Miso is a seasoning from cooked, fermented soybean paste. Tempeh is cooked, fermented soybean cakes, and edamame is the whole, green soybeans. SPP?s are made from soy protein concentrate, soy flour or ISP (see below). Examples are soy burgers, cereals, etc.
Textured soy protein (TSP) is probably what many people unfamiliar with soy products think of when they hear the term ?soy foods?. TSP, also known as Texturized Vegetable Protein, is made from compressed soy flour or other soy ingredients and is used as an extender in other foods products. It is available as a dried and granular product that is rehydrated with boiling water. It takes on a texture similar to ground beef or stew meat.
Isoflavones are compounds found naturally in soybeans and soy foods. They have a chemical structure similar to estrogen and have some estrogen-like effects. This is why isoflavones are also referred to as phytoestrogens. However, isoflavones also have non-hormonal properties which likely affect humans. They are thought to have coronary and skeletal benefits, may relieve hot flashes, and might reduce the risk of certain cancers. One serving of traditional soy foods has about 20-30 mg isoflavones.
Isolated soy protein (ISP) is also referred to as soy protein isolate on a label. ISP is prepared by removing most of the non-protein components from soybeans. By definition, it is at least 90% protein and is essentially carbohydrate-free and fat-free. It is often added to pasta, fruit beverages and energy bars for extra nutrition.
Soy foods made from the whole bean are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends that Omega-3 fats are beneficial for heart health. These fats are believed to help in many other conditions related to inflammation and disease.
Supplements are another source of isoflavones in the diet. Soy isoflavone supplements are available at drug stores, natural food stores, and other retailers in various dosage forms, including tablets, powders, capsules, granules and liquids. Although some experts believe that taking soy isoflavones is supplement form could do harm by providing too much of a good thing, other experts point out that many supplements, if taken in recommended dosages, don?t provide more isoflavones than eating the whole soy foods. For those who have been unable to figure out how to incorporate soy foods into their diet, this may be the solution to getting more soy in their diet.
So, the next time you are shopping, and start looking at all the soy-related terms, use this list to help you sort it out. Experiment: For those of us who were not raised with soy foods, it?s just a matter of experimenting with different products that fit into our lifestyle, then developing a taste for a new food that can offer many healthful benefits.
Marjorie Geiser has been teaching health, fitness and nutrition since 1982. She is a nutritionist, registered dietitian, certified personal trainer and life coach. As the owner of MEG Fitness, Marjorie?s goal for her clients is to help them incorporate healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. You can learn more about Marjorie from her website, www.megfit.com, or contact her via email at margie@megfit.com.
Happy Holidays from Daily Diet Blog!
Just wanted to take the day to wish everyone a wonderful holiday, whatever you might be celebrating. For me, it’s Christmas, so Merry Christmas! Tis the season to be with friends and family and have a lot of holiday cheer - which means lots of food.
Hopefully we helped you a little with getting through that difficult duration, but whether not, that next year holds lots of exciting new prospects in the field of natural diet products like herbal weight loss pills and hoodia diet gum, which help to zap the appetite and get your waistline back in order. Here’s a to a great year in 2008 for the diet and weight watching community. To your continued health and happiness!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DAILYDIETBLOG.COM!!
Original post by EatingToLive
Organic Health food Company goes National.
August 3, 2004 — Organic health food company goes national. Rock creek Organics is launching its new product line of healthy eating products. JAMES D. MCCOEY founded Rock Creek Organics. Jim spent 30 years in the food business with experience in production, processing, sales/distribution and marketing.
Like most Baby boomers, Jim became more health conscious as the years went by.? I started doing my research and found that organic products were one of the healthiest ways to eat.?
Nuts are the latest high-fat food to undergo a change in dietary reputation. The latest pro-nut research is out of the Harvard School of Public Health. Nuts, including almonds, walnuts, and pecans, have been shown to have heart healthy benefits, including lowering ?bad? LDL cholesterol. Organic nuts are an ideal food for health conscience consumers. Low in saturated fat and carbohydrates, about 90 percent of the fat in nuts are unsaturated and suggested to be heart healthy. Organic nuts are perfect for snacks, or as an ingredient for your breakfast omelet, luncheon salad and supper main dish and salad.
Spreadable fruit contains much lower quantities of added sweeteners (sugars, syrups, and concentrated juices) when compared to traditionally defined jams, jellies, or preserves. The recipe actually contains up to 75 % whole varietal fruit with just the right touch of ORGANIC sugar. This low sugar recipe creates an intense fresh fruit flavor not found in other fruit spreads. These spreads contain CERTIFIED ORGANIC FRUIT
Rock Creek Organics features a variety of products and Information on organic products and their health benefits on their web site www.rockcreekorganics.com. Anyone looking for alternative healthy living should visit our site.
Contact us at info@rockcreekorganics.com
www.rockcreekorganics.com
info@rockcreekorganics.com
Phone: 541-496-4705
Weight Loss Tips and Tricks
You hear so many tips and trick about weight loss that it may leave you wondering which tips are the best and which tricks are really tricks?
You hear so many tips and trick about weight loss that it may leave you wondering which tips are the best and which tricks are really tricks? Let’s look at how food and exercise affect metabolism and weight loss to help us understand why some of these tips and tricks work or don’t work.
Lately you may have heard a lot about low carbohydrate diets and claims that they are working and that people are getting healthier without paying attention to the amount of fat they are eating. You may have even heard that the USDA is looking at changing the food pyramid.
There is a major flaw in the low fat diet plan and scientist are finally having to admit to it. Very little of your bodies Cholesterol comes from diet. Your body manufactures most of your Cholesterol from Carbohydrates. The culprit of turning these carbohydrates into fat is Insulin.
Insulin is vital to life because it regulates blood sugar, controls the storage of fat, regulates the liver?s production of cholesterol, functions as a growth hormone, is important in appetite control, drives the kidneys to retain fluid and much more. It is absolutely essential to life, but too much of a good thing can sometimes cause problems. Too much insulin can cause fat storage, cholesterol production and is caustic to the blood vessels. Insulin, by activating or inhibiting various metabolic pathways, can make us sleepy, hungry, satisfied, dizzy, lightheaded or bloated.
As you age your insulin receptors become less sensitive to insulin so your body overproduces insulin to meet what it thinks is it?s need. By carefully monitoring the types and amount of carbohydrates we eat we can clean up our insulin receptors. Decreased insulin receptor site sensitivity is frequently the problem that Type II Diabetics (Adult Onset Diabetics) have.
Not mixing certain food types is a dietary concept out there now that actually makes some sense. For example it is a fact that if you eat only a fat and a protein together the fat goes right through you. Dietary fat by itself is not the culprit but when you add a carbohydrate to the mix the body will turn the dietary fat into body fat. If you eat a little protein and carbohydrate (Low Fat Diet) together your body will make fat to either store or use for energy depending on your activity level at the time. But why? You didn’t eat any fat?!
As an example: After that fat free ice cream cone, your body produced more insulin than it needed because of your plugged insulin receptors. The insulin does what it is supposed to; it lowers your blood sugar level but then there is extra insulin circulating around so it goes to work and turns some fat into cholesterol and stores some fat somewhere else incase you decide to skip supper tonight.
By decreasing your intake of concentrated sweets, like sugar sweetened food and not overeating starches like breads, pasta and potatoes you may keep your body from the overproduction of insulin. Carbohydrates actually have a metabolic affect that make any fat you eat worse for you. Carbohydrates affect the hormone balance in your body to add to depression, lack of energy and mood swings.
Exercise really is the key for healthy weight loss. By increasing the strength and mass of your muscles you are better able to burn calories. Exercise makes the rest of your everyday activities easier therefore burning up more calories not only from the exercise but from having more energy to complete your daily activities. Having that energy is more likely to keep you busy so you think about eating less often.
Not eating 3 hours before bedtime is something you may have heard that will help you loose weight. There is much truth in this too, for more than one reason. We know that if you go to bed shortly after a big meal you don’t sleep as well and you also don’t have a chance to ?work off? your meal but their is also another big factor.
Human Growth Hormone (hgh) is produced at night to help our body build and repair muscle. If you eat a carbohydrate within 2 to 3 hours of sleep time your body will not produce near as much of this hormone.
Exercise first thing in the morning now makes some sense too. If you have not eaten after your evening meal your body in the morning is fasting. If you exercise before breakfast it forces your body to burn fat. It looks like if you followed that exercise with a protein breakfast it would keep you in the ?fat burning? (glycogen dominant) phase a little longer.
Quality protein sources like that found in meat, eggs, fish, and nuts is the best and quickest way to build lean body mass when you are part of an exercise program. Lean body mass (muscle) will help you burn calories. Because carbohydrates are what turns dietary fat into body fat it is healthier to avoid the carbohydrates than to avoid the fat because frequently by avoiding naturally occurring fats you also avoiding good quality protein sources.
Protein requirements are figured based on lean body mass so it is difficult to state the requirements. An average sized adult female (about 140 lbs) requirements are 50 grams protein a day but may need to be as high as 75 grams when very active during an exercise program. For an average adult male (about 175-180lbs) is 65 grams and could be as high as 90 grams a day during an exercise program.
Tip on foods to eat and foods to avoid:
Avoid:
All sugar sweetened foods if you are serious about a weight loss program.
As often as possible foods that are all or almost all starch content like potatoes, white bread, and pasta.
Processed foods often have unhealthy fat sources and chemical additives that drag your system down.
Eat:
All vegetables especially green vegetables raw vegetables and salads.
Meat, eggs, nuts, fish, tofu and beans. Whole grain cereals, pasta and breads.
The carbohydrates you do eat make them from whole foods in their natural state fresh fruit with the skins because the extra fiber will help with the carbohydrate digestion.
Fresh fruits to get your vitamins needed to make you feel good while exercising and taking care of your health.
The looks like it would be a great tool to count the grams of protein and carbohydrates eaten each day.
With this we have come back to the basics again. Eating whole foods in their natural state is always your best bet. Now we can see why our grandparents could eat bacon and eggs for breakfast and still be in great health. By eating certain foods at certain times and with some moderation in what we eat we can eat well and feel great doing it. We can improve our health and emotional well-being while improving our physical body.
About the Author
Mary Howard is Registered Nurse, mother of two, and enjoys natural gardening. More or her articles are posted on the Homegrown web site. Feel Free to contact her at: gardenrn@sendfree.com
