Less Calories, More Water

Drinking water with meals has always been a point of discussion in natural health care.  We have learned, and educate others about water and how important it is for health.  We also always have suggested to drink water before meals, not during meals, or an hour or so after meals.  This caveat is realted to protecting digestive enzymes you need to help digest your food.  We also encourage you to chew your food thoroughly, 20-50 times, to liquefy the food and put less stress on digestion.

This tip from 60 Second Science on Scientific American is good considering their focus on mainstream medical methods.

Water Before Meal Means Fewer Calories Consumed



Drinking 16 ounces of water before meals helped a group of dieters lose more weight than other dieters who didn't consume water first.


Americans, and American physicians, are concerned about ballooning waistlines and the accompanying health problems. Now, researchers have presented the first randomized trial of what they hail as a side-effect-free, prescription-free, and simply free appetite control agent. That is, of course, water. Brenda Davy, lead researcher from Virginia Tech, presented the findings at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.


Previous studies showed that middle-aged and older Americans who drank two cups of water before a meal ate about 75 to 90 fewer calories over the course of the meal. For this study, the scientists took 48 adults between 55 and 75. All ate a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks. Half of the group drank 16 ounces of water before meals. The other half didn’t.


After the 12 weeks were over, the water drinkers lost on average 15.5 pounds, while the ones who weren’t prescribed water lost about 11 pounds. Davy says that this phenomenon could occur because water is filling and has, of course, zero calories. It could also be displacing other sweeter drinks that the dieters might consume. It’s not a cure-all, but it’s certainly a cheap and simple addition to any weight-loss plan.


—Cynthia Graber

PODCAST

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Posted in: water,weight loss

Eating LESS Meat is the way to lose weight ? NOT!

When I saw this article circulating the airways and media venues, as well as the numerous tweets I received from the raw foodies and vegans I was laughing so hard my sides hurt.

Hard to say who paid for this room of alleged researchers to come up with the findings, but you really do have to question this.

When choosing your food plan there is quite a lot more that goes into selecting what is correct for you.  Relying on mass media isn't always the best place to start.

I use a specific test that helps you learn what type of metabolism you have, based on twelve types.  These types were developed 50 years ago based on solid nutrition research that preceded this method by another 30-40 years.  And at that time research had "meat". It was based on solid scientific guidelines and it wasn't usually tainted.

Another approach I use is an old and proven food program that will re-balance your biochemistry.

Then I look at your personal nutritional deficiencies, in an approach I developed over many years in this work and with many people of differing backgrounds.  I have a patent application pending.

Of course I defer to organic food, but I also provide information so you can select the healthiest food even when organic isn't available or you cannot afford it.

Some people can eat meat, some cannot.  The same follows for vegetarianism and veganism, raw or cooked fanciers.

I also into consideration the issues of feed lots and mass production of meat, hormones, and antibiotics, as well as the type of feeding used in this wing of the food industry. 

So you get a tailored plan, and you get educated.  You'll receive support and get some balanced exercise information too.

Because I charge for this service I know that not everyone will take advantage of it, or any of the parts of it. 

And ultimately because my work is based on education you might like to read the opinion of a trusted colleague on this latest babble.

TIP:  One serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, or as others may say, the size of the palm of your hand.

Sorry Dr Atkins

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Posted in: diets,health education,meat,nutrition,weight loss

A different approach to weight loss

This is the first of three reports that we are releasing on our 90 Day Weight Loss Project here at The Oake Centre for natural health education.

Please feel free to contact us for more information and with any questions you may have.

Many people know that stress in a factor in weight gain. Stress of course can be from many sources including lifestyle, work, lack of exercise, sedentary work and lifestyle situations, food allergy, chronic illness, environmental toxins and many more concerns that might not always be identifiable.

With the approach we are investigating in this project, cause isn't the focus. While cause can be important the use of this different approach, we believe, makes it possible to focus on results, regardless of cause.

What is the Neuroliminal process -

Some years ago I joined a professional discussion group that was established by the Safe Harbor Project through its website.

Through this group I met one of the pioneers of orthomolecular medicine. Orthomolecular medicine is an approach that began as a non-drug treatment approach in mental health and psychiatry. During this time several other applications for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease were validated.

I recall reading many articles about orthomolecular approaches in the late 1960s when I was working in a psychiatric facility. It made much more sense to me but it wasn't very popular. Now the interest in other than drugs for health is catching on.

Would you be surprised to learn that most mental problems are caused by the stress of unsuspected allergens? It's true! Both EEG BF (Biofeedback) and NT (Neuroliminal Training) may help resolve this stress. This reaction is also called “inflammation” and now it is being noticed as very important in health.

Wanting to see for myself, but really to determine how this process could be of benefit to my clients and those who read my articles, subscribe to my newsletter, attend my educational programs and others I contacted the inventor and that's how this project began.

I've just completed the first month of the 90 day trial. I have to say that the reactions have been interesting. One thing I noticed early on was that I experienced a real craving for fat. This lasted about two days and since then I have noticed no real cravings for any particular food.

I also noticed that I did not need to eat as much, so smaller portions were as filling and satisfying as larger ones. This is important to me because I grew up in a family that has a heritage in the Deep South and loved to serve enough food for Cox's army. And they expected that you'd eat it.

However, over the last few years I learned through a simple home testing process I offer in my work that I had a very wide range of food allergies. I also was dealing with tremendous stress on a daily basis. No matter what approach I tried little seemed to change. Once things calmed down to a manageable and quiet roar, I sought out this program.

So far I haven't seen too much in the way of lost pounds, although I did get past a major obstacle and broke a weight barrier that even with a great fitness program did not seem to budge.

I seem to be less reactive now to foods when I test those on my allergy list. Usually if a food bothers me I itch behind my right ear or experience ringing sounds in my ears (tinnitus). Now I experience far fewer of these reactions.

Whether this is a positive outcome of the program or not, I notice better motivation for holding to the plan I set up in my fitness program.

Now as I am just starting in to phase 2, look for our next report in mid December.

The Neuroliminal process is easy to use. You'll need to have a CD player that has the repeat function. Just set this up so it plays while you sleep, and listen to the subliminal messaging. And no, it doesn't interfere with sleeping. In fact, I think my sleep has gotten better.

In this process, as with biofeedback, blood flow to the brain improves, especially as allergic reactions are removed, the Theta brain wave (T operates between 4 and 8 cycles per second. Theta is associated with intuition, and allows us to access our subconscious. It is activated during dream sleep and deep meditation states. Theta is also associated with healing and creative thinking.) is lowered and SMR (Sensorimotor Response or Low Beta Brainwave - B has the highest frequency, and the SMR brain wave is usually thought of between 12-15 Hz, with most people between 13-13.5. This is associated with our normal, everyday waking state. Beta helps in logical thinking, analysis, and active attention. Stress can throw the frequency to the higher ranges of beta.) is raised.

Safety is important in any approach to health and wellness. With NT, Dr. Bate found that the force that seems to inhibit and even frighten persons using Neuroliminal Training is the “Hawthorne Effect”. This effect is well known in science and education, teaching and training, and seems to be an unconscious effort to “protect” the mind from “unknown” dangers.

It's been discovered that sound can be used to elicit responses in the brain; the brain becomes "entrained", which means it starts to resonate at the same frequency as the sound. When this happens, it can change the brain wave patterns in your brain. Studies have shown that with continued use, sound therapy techniques can eventually “rewire” the brain to a more balanced state, with long lasting results. These results also have been reported to raise IQ in other studies.

Dr Bate tells me that using “ NT doesn't really raise IQ, but lowering allergy stress seems to clear thinking process.” At least that's what he thinks, and he adds that “ in school, ADD/ADHD kids actually get about a 15 point raise in the few that have been tested before and after” their using the NT process.

The majority of participants in prior studies reported results after the fourth or fifth weeks. In today's hurried world this may benefit overall health because it helps you slow down and become more patient.

The program isn't expensive, order here,

and it comes with a money back guarantee.

DISCLAIMER: NT has a range of applications in addition to weight loss and allergy relief. These include PTSD, Depression, ADD and ADHD, Autism, Asperger's, Epilepsy, Insomnia, Schizophrenia and others.
Neither Neuroliminal Training nor EEG BF (aka Neurofeedback, NF) are "magic". There are NO instant "cures". The process may may take a month or more before any noticeable progress or improvement is seen. Both EEG BF and NT work to do the same thing (change brain waves), and both are slow. One night's sleep corresponds roughly to one half hour session of EEG BF. The primary difference is that Neuroliminal Training is inexpensive, much simpler and easier to do, and yet just as effective.
Neither Neuroliminal nor EEG BF (NF) solves 100% of all "brain problems". The "average" success rate for EEG BF (NF) clinics is about 85+%. Subliminal Training may be somewhat higher.
Progress is individual for both Neuroliminal Training or EEG BF (NF), as always, when dealing with human brains (conscious or unconscious). There are no dangerous or long lasting harmful side effects possible from Neuroliminal Brain Wave Training.

Copyright © TOC 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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Posted in: Neuroliminal Training,NT,Phil Bate,the leaflady,The Oake Centre for natural health education,weight loss

YES, You Need Saturated Fat for Health

Ever notice that all the health promoting FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS - A,D,E,K - are in the news because your health has been suffering, and weight gain is every one's concern, as you haven't had enough fat to absorb them over the last 20-30 years?

The HeartScan Blog offers supporting information.

Worried About Your Waistline? Get More—Not Less—of This Saturated Fat
Health News By VRP Staff

If you’re trying to shrink your bulging waistline, you’ve probably been cutting fats—and especially those notoriously heart-harming saturated fats—from your diet every chance you get. But believe it or not, this is one piece of “common sense” you may want to reconsider.

As it turns out, recent research is flying in the face of that age-old wisdom…at least where one natural source of saturated fat is concerned.

A new study examined the effects of coconut oil supplementation on women with abdominal obesity—that is, a waist circumference greater than 34 ½ inches—one of the leading risk factors in both heart disease and diabetes. Researchers followed 40 subjects between the ages of 20 and 40—half receiving 30 mL of coconut oil per day and half receiving 30 mL of soybean oil—over the course of 12-weeks.1

The study participants were instructed to follow a balanced low-calorie diet and to walk for 50 minutes per day. Lipid levels—including total cholesterol and HDL/LDL cholesterol ratios—were evaluated at both the beginning and end of the trial.

After 12 weeks, results showed that carbohydrate and overall caloric intake—as well as body mass index (BMI) measurements—decreased in both groups. But only the subjects taking coconut oil ended up with smaller waistlines—not to mention increased HDL (that is, “good” cholesterol) levels and an improved LDL to HDL ratio.

The patients taking soybean oil, on the other hand, weren’t so lucky. Not only did the total cholesterol levels increase in this group, but LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels did as well. Health-boosting levels of HDL, however, did drop—resulting in a higher LDL to HDL ratio, and the increased heart risk that comes with it.

The study authors’ conclusion? Saturated fat or not, coconut oil doesn’t negatively impact your cholesterol levels. It does, however, appear to fight belly fat… a benefit that reaches well beyond a closet full of smaller clothes.

Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil provides a minimally processed product that offers a light coconut taste and facilitates the assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins derived from foods and dietary supplements.

Reference:

1. Assunção ML, Ferreira HS, Dos Santos AF, Cabral CR Jr, Florêncio TM. Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil on the Biochemical and Anthropometric Profiles of Women Presenting Abdominal Obesity. Lipids. 2009 May 13. Published Online Ahead of Print.

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Posted in: healthy fats,natural health news,saturated fat,weight loss

Liver Damage Behind Hydroxycut Recall

FDA Announces Recall Of Diet Pill Hydroxycut

WASHINGTON -- Government health officials announced the recall of popular weight loss pill Hydroxycut, after reports of liver damage and other health problems.

Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday that Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario, the manufacturer of Hydroxycut, has launched a nationwide recall of the dietary supplement, used by people trying to shed pounds and by body builders to sharpen their muscles.

"The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products," said Linda Katz, M.D., interim chief medical officer of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems, including liver damage requiring a liver transplant, according to a FDA's Web site. The FDA also has received a report of one death due to liver failure. Other reported health problems include seizures, cardiovascular disorders and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage.

Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. It accounts for about 90 percent of the market for weight loss supplements, with sales of about 1 million bottles a year.

Dietary supplements are not as tightly regulated by the government as medications. Manufacturers don't need FDA approval ahead of time before marketing their products. The list of products being recalled by Iovate currently includes:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

I have highlighted in bold the ingredients I would question - especially aspartame - and I would note that for many people the standardized herbs are much more like drugs and will effect them in some potentially untoward manner. There is a high caffeine quotient in this product and this can contribute to cardiovascular events. None of the herbs are certified as organic and my have high levels of herbicides and pesticides. Do look at all the potential issues.

Ingredients in Hydoxycut
Garcinia Cambogia Extract Fruit and Rind - Standardized for 60% - Hydroxycitric Acid , Gymnema Sylvestre Extract Leaf - Standardized for 25% Gymnemic Acids , Soy Phospholipids Supplying Phosphatidyl Ethanolam NOPE , Phosphatidyl Serine , Phosphatidyl Choline , Rhodiola Rosea Extract Root - Standardized for 5% Rosavins , Withania Somnifera Extract Root - Standardized for 1.5% Withanolides , Caffeine-Free Green Tea Extract as Camellia Sinensis - Leaf - Supplying Polyphenols - Catechins - Epigallocatechin Gallate , Caffeine-Free White Tea Extract as Camellia Sinensis - Leaf - Standardized for Polyphenols - Catechins - EGCG , Caffeine-Free Oolong Tea Extract as Camellia Sinensis - Leaf - Standardized for Polyphenols - Catechins - EGCG , Microcystalline Cellulose , Hydroxypropyl Cellulose , Polyvinylpyrrolidone , Croscarmellose Sodium , Sodium Chloride , Sodium Glycolate , Vegetable Stearate , Magnesium Stearate , Coating , Polyvinyl Alcohol , Titanium Dioxide , Polyethylene Glycol , Talc , FD&C Yellow No. 5 , FD&C Yellow No. 6 , Silica , Acesulfame Potassium , Maltodextrin , Propylene Oxide Propylene Oxide

Find information on legal rights and product issues here.

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Posted in: Hydroxycut recall,natural health news,weight loss

Correcting One of Those Cholesterol Myths

I notice from time to time that people are searching for information about keeping arteries clean and healthy. This may be associated with the rash of anti-cholesterol drug-dosing-on-a-rampage panic, or earnest queries.

Order lecithin granules through simply4health.org to help us continue this work.

I am not a fan of soy. It might be said that if I suggest a soy based supplement that I am ignoring my own best advice. My greatest concern about soy today are the facts that it is generally a GMO crop and it does have many negative health effects.

On the up side, a long used supplement, especially for those who have been convinced that eggs are evil, you might find some salvation in lecithin.

Lecithin is good for you in that it contains phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl inositol and essential fatty acids as linoleic acid in a tablespoon of granules. It also contains fish-oil-like, omega-3 linolenic acid. Any one of these substances is not found in a standard daily diet.

Choline & Inositol are essential for the breakdown of fats and cholesterol. And lecithin helps prevent arterial congestion, helps distribute body weight, increases immunity to viral infections, cleans the liver and purifies the kidneys.

Dr. Michael Sharon suggests that it "improves the condition of patients with neurological disorders such as tardive dyskinesia (a side effect of anti-psychotic drugs), Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease or pre-senile dementia."

It may help with improving attention span which would certainly benefit ADD/ADHD issues.

Lecithin helps in maintaining the surface tension of cell wall membranes. Without enough lecithin, the cell wall hardens. This condition contributes to premature aging of the cells. The surface tension of the cell, maintained by lecithin is also responsible for transmitting nerve impulses and messages through or from the cell.

Udo Erasmus, PhD shares some lecithin function facts -

"Lecithin helps keep cholesterol soluble. In a food like eggs, which contain a large amount of cholesterol, it is especially important that lecithin be of high quality.

"Lecithin keeps cholesterol isolated from arterial linings, protects it from oxidation, and helps prevent and dissolve gall and kidney stones by its emulsifying action on fatty substances.

"Lecithin is necessary in our liver's detoxification functions, which keep us from slowly being poisoned by breakdown products of metabolic processes that take place in our body. Poor liver function is a common forerunner of cancer. According to some healers, cancer always involves the liver. Deficiency of either Choline or EFAs can induce cancer in experimental animals, and is likely involved in causing some human cancers.

"Lecithin increases resistance to disease by its role in our thymus gland. Here, EFAs are precursors of several prostaglandins, as well as being vital as part of the ammunition made by our immune cells to kill bacteria (fatty acid peroxides are used to produce bacteriocidal hydrogen peroxide).

"Lecithin is a phospholipid that makes up 22% of both the high density (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-carrying vehicles in our blood. These vehicles keep cholesterol and triglyceride fats in solution in our bloodstream and carry them to and from all parts of our body.

"Lecithin is an important part of membrane phospholipids that are involved in electric phenomena, membrane fluidity, and other functions for which EFAs are responsible.

"Finally, lecithin is an important component of bile. Its function in digestion is to break food fats into small droplets (emulsify them), to increase their surface area, speeding up the digestion of fats by enzymes."

Other helpful information about lecithin is that each serving (1 tbsp.) contains:
Choline 275 mg, Inositol 168 mg, Potassium 108 mg, Linoleic Acid (omega 6 EFA) 2,025 mg, Phosphatidylcholine 1,760 mg, Phosphatidylethanolamine 1,530 mg, Phosphatidylinositol 1,070 mg, Linolenic Acid (omega 3 EFA) 260 mg.

and Lecithin

Breaks up fats and cholesterol, Excellent for a healthy heart
Contains the Highest Phosphatide concentration available (98% or more!)
Is a Rich source of GLA (Gamma Linoleic Acid)
Helps the body utilize Vitamins A,D,E and K
Is Excellent for memory, concentration and recall
Cleanses liver and kidneys
Helps the body absorb nutrients

Lessen Chronic Inflammation
People whose diets supplied the highest average intake of choline (found in egg yolk and soybeans), and its metabolite betaine (found naturally in vegetables such as beets and spinach), have levels of inflammatory markers at least 20% lower than subjects with the lowest average intakes, report Greek researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Detopoulou P, Panagiotakos DB, et al.)

Compared to those whose diets contained <250 mg/day of choline, subjects whose diets supplied >310 mg of choline daily had, on average:

* 22% lower concentrations of C-reactive protein
* 26% lower concentrations of interleukin-6
* 6% lower concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha

Compared to those consuming <260 mg/day of betaine, subjects whose diets provided >360 mg per day of betaine had, on average:

* 10% lower concentrations of homocysteine
* 19% lower concentrations of C-reactive protein
* 12% lower concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha

Each of these markers of chronic inflammation has been linked to a wide range of conditions including heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, and type-2 diabetes.

In an accompanying editorial in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled, "Is there a new component of the Mediterranean diet that reduces inflammation?," Steven Zeisel from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill noted that choline and betaine work together in the cellular process of methylation, which is not only responsible for the removal of homocysteine, but is involved in turning off the promoter regions of genes involved in inflammation.

"Exposure to oxidative stress is a potent trigger for inflammation. Betaine is formed from choline within the mitochondria , and this oxidation contributes to mitochondrial redox status ," Zeisel continued.

"If the association between choline and betaine and inflammation can be confirmed in studies of other populations, an interesting new dietary approach may be available for reducing chronic diseases associated with inflammation," he concluded.

Recommended daily intakes of choline were set in 1998 at 550 milligrams per day for men and 425 milligrams a day for women. No RDI has been set for betaine, which, since it is a metabolite of choline, is not considered an essential nutrient.

Practical Tip: Egg yolks are the richest source of choline, followed by soybeans. Spinach, beets and whole wheat products are primary sources of betaine. (Olthof MR, van Vliet T, et al. J Nutr)

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Posted in: arteries,cholesterol,cleansing,eggs,health,health education,health news,inflammation,lecithin,natural health news,natural news,neurological problems,tardive dyskinesia,weight loss

More natural substances on their way to drug status

A few days ago I make a smoothie with pomegranate juice, goji juice crystals, plums, and Concord grapes, plus all my hemp protein and other nutritionals I add in. I even shared a little of this thick, velvety purple blend with my Golden Retriever as a topping for her daily serving of plain yoghurt.

I have eaten grape skins and seeds since childhood. Concords are my favorite, but always favored black or red grapes.

I prefer red wine too.

Resveratrol is a grape extract and it became popular again some years ago, as did the known facts on the health benefits of red wine.

Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant in general, but it has a fairly high potency and is high in polyphenols.

In supplement form I prefer high quality herbal powder saturated in the herbal extract.

I also like Concord Grape Skin Pie.

It seems that researchers in France have another idea in the pipeline, using resveratrol for weight loss and it seems on target to become another drugs.

Drug 'tricks body to lose weight'
French scientists say they have found a drug that tricks the body into burning off fat even when on a high-fat diet.

The University of Louis Pasteur team found the drug protected mice against weight gain and insulin resistance.

The drug SRT1720 - a chemical cousin of red wine extract resveratrol - targets the protein SIRT1, which is thought to combat ageing, Cell Metabolism reports.

UK obesity experts said new drug treatments were needed but should be used alongside lifestyle changes.

About a quarter of men and a third of women in the UK are overweight, according to government statistics.

A change in diet and an increase in physical exercise can shift excess weight, but can be hard for many to maintain.

With the removal of the anti-obesity pill rimonabant, also known as Acomplia, from the market amid safety concerns, fewer drug options exist.

Potent drug

The French team from the University Louis Pasteur became interested in the SIRT1 protein after earlier studies showing resveratrol countered some effects of a high-calorie diet via SIRT1.

We do need new treatments for obesity, particularly as there are 1,000 deaths a week in the UK from obesity
Professor Stephen Bloom of Imperial College London

But tests in mice suggested gallons of wine would be necessary for humans to stand a chance of getting the same benefits.

The scientists turned their attention to creating a more potent drug that would specifically target SIRT1.

They found that a low dose of SRT1720 partially protected mice from gaining weight on a high-fat diet after 10 weeks of treatment.

The drug worked by shifting the metabolism to a fat-burning mode that normally takes over only when energy levels are low.

At higher doses, the drug completely prevented weight gain. It also improved the rodents' blood sugar tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which are important for warding off diabetes.

The mice showed no sign of side effects. However, the scientists say further studies are needed to test the drug's safety and efficacy before it could be used in humans.

Other scientists are investigating SIRT1 activators similar to SRT1720 developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.

Professor Stephen Bloom, who has been researching obesity at Imperial College London, said: "This sounds interesting but is terribly early.

"We do need new treatments for obesity, particularly as there are 1,000 deaths a week in the UK from obesity."

Prof Ian Broom, of the Centre for Obesity Research and Epidemiology at The Robert Gordon University, said: "Research in this area is to be welcomed as an additional route of combating the obesity epidemic and associated comorbid disease."

He added that any such drug should be used alongside dietary and lifestyle changes to tackle obesity.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7707876.stm
Published: 2008/11/05 © BBC MMVIII

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Posted in: grapes,health news,natural news,red wine,resveratrol,weight loss

Tea, you see

I am really glad to see the following information from a popular exercise newsletter.

When I first saw these ads on the net I knew it sounded fishy, so I too did a little more digging.

Low and behold, yes, just good old fashioned Oolong tea.

I recall those coffee house days of my teens when I sipped well brewed high quality Oolong tea from time to time. I have to admit I enjoy it, but I limit my intake because I know the dark side of green tea.

One is fluoride and another is a tendency to cause pancreatic cancer.

Remember that the traditional place for green tea is in climates with high heat and humidity. It is the cooling benefit of this tea that people seek. Cooling your body slows your metabolism.

So when you want some of our choice, high quality, organic Oolong tea, order up some from us or take the ferry to Vancouver Island and shop the tea house in Victoria.

I'm sure you've seen tons of really clever ads all over the internet for all of these "Wu-tea" products claiming to be the miracle cure to fat loss.

I must admit, there's some savvy marketing behind these sites... they even claim
things like "as seen on oprah" and try to claim all sorts of celebrity endorsements.

Here's the deal...Most of these new tea products on the internet claiming to be a miracle cure for fat loss are nothing but plain old oolong tea. Some brands may have other teas mixed in too, but most I've seen are just oolong tea.

The "Wu" in their names is just their clever way of making you think this is some
new secret tea discovery.

Basically they just sell you oolong tea for outrageous prices, when you can go to
your local grocery store or health food store and get a whole box of oolong tea
for about $2 bucks.

But beyond the outrageously marked up price, does oolong tea actually help with fat
loss?

Well, the answer is... slightly.

Sometimes a mixture of green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea in your daily
schedule to possibly help a slight bit with fat loss.

The fact of it is that drinking tea is not going to miraculously transform your body
or "melt off bodyfat". It CAN have a slight thermogenic effect and possibly help you burn a few extra calories. Plus, there are tons of other benefits too, many of which are due to the high antioxidant content of teas.

However, let's get real... whether you drink tea or not isn't one of those major
factors in how fast you're going to burn off body fat... it's just a very minor
detail. The real factors are your lifestyle as a whole, your type of exercise
program and intensity, the quality of your diet, and your mindset... all of which we
focus on regularly.

So what I'd recommend is...Don't waste your money on the overpriced, over-hyped
Wu-teas that claim to be a miracle fat loss cure. I do recommend including white,
green, black, and oolong teas in your diet for their numerous health benefits.

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Posted in: Oolong tea,tea,weight loss