I recently learned in a new study, that soy protein reduces the progression of clogged arteries in women who were within five years of menopause.

This study was the largest and longest randomized controlled human study conducted to date that directly investigated the efficacy of isolated soy protein consumption on the progression of atherosclerosis (lipid deposition in the artery walls).

“These results are consistent with what we have learned through research conducted over the past decade”, said Howard N. Hodis, MD, USC Keck School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

In women who had experienced menopause within the past five years, isolated soy protein consumption was associated with a significant 68% reduction in CIMT progression compared to those consuming the placebo.  “This study also showed a significant increase in HDL (good cholesterol) in participants consuming isolated soy protein” said Krul.

Our Smart For life products, including our protein bars, which help to eliminate post exercise hunger  and contains 18 grams of protein are considered to be an excellent source of isolated soy protein.

This study was published in the November 2011 issue of Stroke.

Dr. Sass

I recently read a report stating the new sugar recommendations for adults and wanted to share this information with all of you.

The American Heart Association has come up with the first-ever recommended sugar intake levels for adults, in hopes of spurring healthy eating habits.  This report suggests avoiding all processed foods as much as you can.

Rodale News, Emmaus, PA suggests that while a teaspoon of sugar may make your medicine go down, exceeding your recommended sugar intake could lead to obesity, heart disease, and not so healthy eating habits.  So, how much sugar is sweet, and how much turns your health sour? For the first time ever, the American Heart Association (AHA) has released guidelines giving people an idea of what a healthy daily sugar intake really is.

The Details: The AHA statement, pushed online in the journal Circulation, makes the point that added sugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup or ordinary table sugar added to sodas, breads, and other processed foods, are likely responsible for the increase in calorie consumption and the subsequent rise in obesity of the past few decades. Furthermore, people who have unhealthy sugar intake levels also consume lower levels of vital nutrients, such as zinc, iron, calcium, and vitamin A.  One study even suggested that too much sugar can raise blood pressure levels.  I would like to point out that the report also notes that over the past 30 years, we’ve consumed an average of 150 to 300 more calories per day than we used to.   50% of these consumed calories come from beverages.  Keep in mind also that our physical activity levels remain unchanged, so the extra calories do not get burned off.

I’d like to bring to your attention that all of our Smart for Life products are not only low in sugar, but are suitable for most diabetics.  Smart for Life cookies are made with just 2-5 grams of sugar per serving, as well as our cupcakes.  Even our delicious cereals contain just 8 grams of sugar per serving. I created Smart for Life products to keep your body in a low glycemic index, which in turn keeps your sugar and insulin low, in a fat burning no- hunger zone. This unique blend of protein then suppresses your hunger while the fiber expands like a sponge to fill you up.

To make a comparison, surveys have also found that the average American consumes around 22.2 teaspoons of added sugar each day. According to the new guidelines, we should really be eating a fraction of that amount. The recommended sugar intake for adult women is 5 teaspoons (20 grams) of sugar per day, while for men it is 9 teaspoons (36 grams) daily.  For children, it is just 3 teaspoons (12 grams) per day.

Dr. Sass

I came across this article on fast food being cheaper and wanted to make sure you all are not being fooled by this myth!

It’s been recently reported that the “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “A bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli…”or “It’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonalds than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.”

This is just plain wrong.  In fact it isn’t cheaper to eat highly processed food.  A typical order for a family of four, for example; two Big Macs, a cheeseburger, six chicken McNuggets, two medium and two small fries, and two medium and two small sodas- costs about $28.00.  If you only order “Happy Meals” then you can reduce that to about $23.00, and you will get a few apple slices in addition to fries!

Just as a comparison, eating 6 Smart for Life meal replacements per day (replacing breakfast, lunch and snacks) will cost you just about $5.14 per day, in total.  That is for 2 meals and 3 healthy snacks each day.  Smart for Life products are made with all natural and 60% organic ingredients. They are high in protein and low in carbs and fat, while naturally suppressing hunger without the use of drugs or chemicals.  When following the program, Smart for Life also recommends an evening meal of lean protein (such as chicken, fish, garden burgers, veggie burgers, and white meat turkey, seafood or even tofu) along with a salad and vegetables. That may sound like a lot of food, but you are looking at a total cost of maybe $10 to $12 dollars on average per day, and that is money well spent to eat healthy and stay fit.

Another argument is that junk food is cheaper when measured by the calorie and that this makes fast food essential for the poor because they need cheap calories.   However, given that half of the people in this country (and a higher percentage of poor people) consume too many calories rather than too few, measuring foods value by the calorie makes as much sense as measuring a drink’s value by alcohol content (for example, why not drink 95% neutral grain spirit, the cheapest way to get drunk?).

Keep in mind it is also reported that “anything you do that’s not fast food is terrific: cooking once a week is far better than not cooking at all.” says Marion Nestle, Professor of Food Studies at New York University and author of “What to Eat”.   As Malik Yakini, Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, says “we’ve seen minor successes, but the food movement is still at the infant stage, and we need a massive social shift to convince people to consider healthier options.”

Dr. Sass

I recently read an article regarding environmental toxicants such as dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides, which can pose a risk to cardiovascular disease.   For the first time a link has been demonstrated between atherosclerosis and levels of long lived organic environmental toxicants in the blood.  This study was carried out by researchers at Uppsala University and was published online in the prestigious journal, Environmental Health Perspectives.

I have often talked about the fact that cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes - are the most common cause of death in industrialized countries, and the most important underlying cause of these diseases is atherosclerosis.  I have also talked about unbalanced blood fats, diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure as being high risk factors for atherosclerosis.

I am pleased to report that Smart for Life uses only the finest all natural and 60% organic ingredients in our diet products with no preservatives.   In an effort to eliminate all environmental toxicants, Smart for Life also uses triple filtered water.

Previous studies have also reported possible links between cardiovascular diseases and high levels of persistent (long-lived and hard-to degrade) organic environmental toxicants, such as dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides.

“In Sweden, and in many countries in the world, many of these substances are forbidden today, but since they are so long-lived they’re still out there in our environment. We ingest these environmental toxicants with the food we eat, and since they are stored in our bodies, the levels grow higher the older we get” says Monica Lind, Associate Professor in Environmental Medicine at Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Dr. Sass

I came across an important article I would like to share.

According to a recent poll, almost 50 percent of men surveyed in a new poll of 70,000 people said they would leave a partner who gained weight.  These reports are from MSNBC. In contrast, only 20 percent of women said they would ditch a significant other for putting on extra pounds.

James Bassil, editor-in-chief of Ask Men, which cosponsored the poll with Cosmopolitan.com, said the study showed that “Some romantic behaviors have proven to be timeless ones”, including the notion that “Size matters”.

The survey results aren’t the only recent data to indicate that men consider a woman’s weight when evaluating a relationship.  Last month, I read another study that claimed both husbands and wives were more satisfied with their marriages when the wife had a lower body mass index than the husband.

Based on my experiences, working with married couples, when one partner loses weight, the other is quick to join them in a healthier lifestyle.  Smart For Life encourages couples to commit to a healthier lifestyle as a joint commitment to healthier living.  Other studies have claimed that better body image actually helps women to lose weight.

In conclusion, there is also evidence which supports that a woman’s weight issues can hurt her career.  This is according to a survey conducted by Dove in May.  The survey shows that fifteen percent of the 445 women who participated said being worried about their appearance had gotten in the way of their own career advancement, and 20 percent said body concerns affected their day-to-day lives.

Dr. Sass

I recently read a study that analyzed over 3,400 French adults over a period of 14 years.  The study concluded that those with type 2 diabetes who received insulin treatment had a significantly increased risk of death as reported by diabeticlive.com.

Furthermore, according to Dr. Emilie Berard, an epidemiology researcher at the University Hospital Center in Toulouse France, patients with diabetes who were “treated with insulin at baseline were at increased risk of all-cause mortality”.

The study adjusted for factors that may have affected the outcome of the data.  Even after the adjustments were made, the study found that diabetics who received treatment with insulin were five times more likely to die over the 14 year period of the study than the study participants who did not have diabetes.  Those who received insulin were also 1.5 to 2.2 times more likely to die than diabetics who were treated with other hypoglycemic drugs such as Metformin or Sylfonylurea.  The relative risk of death for diabetic patients who did not receive any treatment at all (the later group) was about 2.8 times more likely to suffer death than patients without diabetes.

Dr. Lars Ryden, a professor of medicine at Uppsala University in Sweden, cautioned against taking the study’s findings at face value.  I feel the study was “on the right track” as did Dr. Ryden, who indicated the findings should also “be taken with a grain of salt”.

While medication may be necessary, diet and exercise also play a role for patients suffering from diabetes. I recommend our Smart for Life products which will help maintain a low glycemic index while keeping patients sugar and insulin low in the fat burning, no hunger zone.

 In conclusion, Dr. Berard’s team analyzed the participant’s data 14 years after their first assessment and found that the mortality rates varied widely, from 7% in the group without diabetes to 33% in the group who were treated with insulin.  Those who were not receiving hypoglycemic treatment at the beginning of the study had a 23% mortality rate.

Dr. Sass

I recently learned from an article published last month that adult obesity rates have not decreased in the last two years.  Although it’s not surprising to me, it is disappointing to say the least.

According to the article published in the ASBP News (September & October Edition), the adult obesity rates (2008-2010) actually rose in 16 states over the past year and no state’s rate decreased.

Twelve states have obesity rates above 30%:  Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

Four years ago only one state was above 30%.  Obesity rates exceed 25% in more than two-thirds of states (38).

Obesity rates rose for a second consecutive year in six states (Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Rhode Island and Texas) and rose for a third consecutive year in five states (Florida, Kansas, Maine, Oklahoma and Vermont).  Mississippi had the highest rate of obesity at 34.4%.  Colorado’s rate (19.8%) is the only state rating below 20%.

Obesity and related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension continue to remain the highest in the South.  Except for Michigan, the top 10 most obese states are in the South.  Nine of these states have the highest rates of diabetes and physical inactivity and the 10 states have the highest rates of diabetes and physical inactivity and the 10 states with the highest rates of hypertension are Southern.  Northeastern and Western states continue to have the lowest obesity rates.

Adult diabetes rates increased in 11 states and Washington, D.C. in the past year.  In eight states, more than 10% of adults have type 2 Diabetes.

The number of adults who report that they do not engage in physical activity rose in 14 states in the past year.  California and Texas saw a decline in adult physical inactivity levels.

Obesity increased for men in nine states and for women in 10 states, however, it only decreased for women in Nevada.

Those who did not graduate high school have the highest rates of obesity (32.8%).  High school graduates who did not go to college or technical school have the second highest obesity rate (30.4%), and those who went to college or technical school had an obesity rate of 29.6%.  College and technical school graduates had the lowest obesity rate (21.5%).

Households earning less than $15,000 have a 33.8% obesity rate, followed closely by households earning between $15,000 and $25,000 (31.8%), $25,000 and $35,000 (29.7%, and $35,000 and $50,000 (29.5%).  However, households with an income above $50,000 have a 24.6% obesity rate.

It remains clear to me that the lack of knowledge about nutrition and perhaps many people’s complacency about what they continue to eat will keep these unfortunate statistics dim.

I feel our Smart for Life products introduced into anyone’s lifestyle can change these numbers for the better!

Dr. Sass

Weight loss can be affected by portion control, according to a new study.

"People don't think that something as simple as the size of a bowl would influence how much an informed person eats," Brian Wansink, psychologist at Cornell University and study leader, told the Indo-Asian News Service.

"Most of us have too much chaos going on in our lives to consciously focus on every bite we eat, and then ask ourselves if we're full. The secret is to change your environment so it works for you rather than against you," he continued.

Dr. Sass reported that Dr. Wansink has performed several studies to this effect, including one that focused on 168 movie goers, who ate either fresh or stale popcorn from different size container, according to a Cornell University statement.  His research also found relevance in drink size: he noted that people pour about 37 percent more liquid in short, wide glasses than in tall, skinny ones of the same volume.

The findings even extended to children's cereal bowls: a study showed that children of differing weights who were given a 16 ounce bowl were more likely to serve themselves up to twice as much cereal than children given an eight ounce bowl.

Another myth debunked by Dr. Wansink had to do with the idea that people can tell when they're full and know when to stop eating.  He performed a study that showed people losing up to 2.2 pounds of weight after making a few simple changes in their eating environment -- the example that was given was to use smaller salad plates for portions instead of large dinner plates.

“These discoveries are nothing new” Dr. Sass says.  “I always find it amazing that people are so programmed to finish everything on their plate, no matter how much is in front of them”.  Dr. Sass urges people to slow down when eating as well and try to ask yourself mid-way through your meal if your stomach is really satisfied at that point before taking another bite.

Dr. Sass

Dr. Sass recently read an article that he wanted to share with you.   There has been recent news that 60,000 various chemicals around the country can get into our drinking water.  In order to stay healthy, we need our water to be clean!   If you drink clean and purified water, it can lower your risk of many ailments and unpleasantries.   The ailments and/or symptoms below are just a few of what drinking clean water can lessen your chance of getting.

Transcendental meditation can cut heart attack and stroke death rates by up to 50%, new research has found.

Dr. Sass recently learned that practicing meditation, which involves the continual repeating of a mantra, was found to reduce high blood pressure, cholesterol and thickening of the arteries. It can also protect against diabetes. This is a seminal finding," said Dr. Norman Rosenthal of the American government's National Institute of Mental Health.

"The prevention of heart attack and stroke and actual lengthening of lifespan by an alternative treatment method is exceedingly rare, if not unprecedented”. If Transcendental Meditation were a drug conferring so many benefits, it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster." Dr. Sass agrees and adds that stress is a major factor in heart disease and many experts say the meditation technique can help control it.

Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed 201 men and women with an average age of 59 who suffered from the narrowing of arteries in their hearts for nine years. Half of the groups were taught Transcendental Meditation along with their normal treatment while the others just received advice on how to modify their diets and exercise routines. They found that those who regularly meditated reduced their chances of dying or having a heart attack or stroke by 47% compared with those who received traditional care. In those who were particularly enthusiastic about the meditation or unusually susceptible to stress, the results were even stronger. They showed a two-thirds reduction in chances of dying during the trial.

Professor Theodore Kotchen, the co-author of the £2.5 million trial, said: "These findings are the strongest documented effects yet produced by a mind-body intervention on cardiovascular disease”. The effect is as large as or larger than major categories of drug treatment for cardiovascular disease."

"This study builds on previous research findings showing that the Transcendental Meditation program reduces high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, psychological stress, and atherosclerosis, and takes it to the next step — lower rates of death, heart attack, and stroke," explained Dr Robert Schneider, co-author.

The research was carried out in the African American population but there is no reason that the same results would not be repeated in the wider world. Cardiovascular disease is Britain's biggest killer accounting for almost 200,000 deaths a year.

The researchers said that meditation technique should be used as a compliment to the usual drug treatment and not as an alternative. Transcendental meditation, which is based on an ancient tradition of enlightenment in India, involves sitting quietly and concentrating to focus the mind inwards by silently repeating a mantra – a word or phrase.

The practice, which is carried out for 20 minutes, twice a day, is said to induce inner peace by allowing thoughts to flow in and out of the mind. It was popularized in the 1960s through the Beatles who learned the technique through their guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Dr. Sass urges people to meditate and tries to adhere to this practice himself as much as possible, adding “Everyone is busy, but if people can spend countless hours in a day channel surfing in front of the TV, they can easily spend a short amount of time meditating and staying healthy for your mind, body and soul”.

Dr. Sass

As reported recently, potato chips and french fries -- and generally any potato products -- contribute to the biggest weight gain over time, according to a new Harvard study, which researchers say is the first to look at long-term weight gain pegged to specific foods.

Dr. Sass has known these facts to be true for some time and the study, conducted over 20 years and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that among more than 100,000 men and women whose weight was evaluated at four-year intervals, the average weight gain over each period was 3.35 pounds. This corresponded with an average weight gain just shy of 17 pounds over 20 years.

The researchers also tracked how much weight specific foods led people to gain over each four-year period.  Potato chips were the worst culprit, associated with a weight gain of 1.69 pounds, followed by potatoes in general at 1.28 pounds. (French fries were worse than boiled or mashed potatoes.) This, explained Dr. Dariush Mozzafarian, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and the study's lead author, could be because starches and refined carbohydrates produce bursts in blood glucose and insulin, increasing hunger and thus upping the total amount of food people eat at their next meal.

There were plenty of non-potato culprits, too: Sugary beverages accounted for a one pound weight gain, while alcohol was linked with an average gain of 0.41 pounds over four years. Unprocessed meats accounted for a 0.95-pound uptick in weight, while processed meats were right behind at 0.93 pounds.

"Our findings indicate that small dietary and other lifestyle changes can together make a big difference, for bad or good," Mozzafarian wrote in an email, adding, "For diet ... eat fewer starches and refined foods like potatoes, white bread, low-fiber breakfast cereals, processed meats, sweets and soda."

Instead, the study suggests, opt for healthier options if you want to lose weight.

“Common sense is very uncommon” Dr. Sass says and adds that “The age old adage of you are what you eat rings so true time and time again”.  People who added a daily serving of vegetables lost an average of 0.22 pounds over four years, the researchers found. People who added whole grains lost 0.37 pounds, and those who ate fruits shed almost half a pound. Nuts and yogurt also resulted in weight loss -- all less than one pound, but those losses can add up over time.

The authors point out that while these foods contain calories and fat as well, eating them usually causes people to avoid unhealthier, more calorie-dense options -- "displacing" them, in a way -- which ultimately leads to weight loss.

Also, because they have higher fiber content, they may be more satisfying.  "Satiety is a big thing," said Jeannie Moloo, R.D., a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Consuming these foods [i.e. chips, sweet beverages and meat] could be less satiating and less filling, triggering hunger signals." Moloo praised the study, saying it was important to have finally documented the advice that dietitians and medical practitioners have been giving for years.

Another example of this advice? The fact that being sedentary isn't good for the waistline.  The study showed that changes in physical activity were related to long-term changes in weight, singling out TV watching as an example. Watching an hour of TV per day led to a 0.31 pound weight gain over each four year period -- a finding the authors chocked up to people's tendency to snack while they watch.

Sleep also plays a role: Participants who slept between six and eight hours a night were less likely to gain weight than those who got fewer than six hours or more than eight.

"Be active," Mozzafarian said, "turn off the TV, and get enough sleep." 

Dr. Sass couldn’t agree more with this article and lists the foods associated with the most pounds gained and the least pounds gained over a four-year period.

·         Potatoes account for 1.28 pounds gained over a four-year period, with French fries being worse than mashed or boiled potatoes.

·         Sugary beverages account for 1 pound gained over a four-year period.

·         Unprocessed meat accounts for 0.95 pounds gained over a four-year period.

·         Processed meat accounts for 0.93 pounds gained over a four-year period.

·         Alcohol accounts for 0.41 pounds gained over a four-year period.

·         Yogurt accounts for 0.82 pounds lost over a four-year period.

·         Nuts account for 0.57 pounds lost over a four-year period.

·         Fruit accounts for 0.49 pounds lost over a four-year period.

·         Whole grains account for 0.37 pounds lost over a four-year period.

·         Vegetables account for 0.22 pounds lost over a four-year period.

Dr. Sass

Dr. Sass wanted to share this article with you.  It’s been recently reported that people with the highest ratio of sodium to potassium in their diet had a significantly increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with those who had the lowest ratio of sodium to potassium intake over a 15-year follow-up, a new study has shown.  Dr. Quanhe Yang from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA reported these findings in the July 11, 2011 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"This is the first large, nationwide study where we followed a pretty big cohort of people and looked at sodium and potassium at the same time," coauthor Dr. Elena V. Kuklina (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

"The major implications of our findings are that a diet balanced in both micronutrients is important. People should try to reduce sodium in particular by consuming less processed food, but also they should increase potassium intake, and this is easily done by eating more fruit and vegetables and dairy products, which are a good source of potassium and low in sodium. This is nothing new; a healthy diet is good for your health."  Dr. Sass agrees and sides with Dr. Kuklina that people must understand the massive impact that processing has on foods: for example, 100 g of unprocessed pork contains 61 mg of sodium and 340 mg of potassium, adding that although processing this pork into ham alters that ratio significantly, to yield a whopping 921 mg of sodium and, to boot, reduces the potassium content to 240 mg.

In an accompanying editorial, Drs. Lynn D. Silver and Thomas A. Farley from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene agree stating that "It is crucial that we understand the interplay of sodium and potassium in the diet and how to optimize intake in an increasingly processed food supply without generating harm."

Sodium/Potassium Ratio of <1 Is Protective

Dr. Sass also learned that Dr. Yang and colleagues examined the usual intakes of sodium and potassium as well as their ratio in relation to risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a prospective cohort study of 12,267 US adults.

Dr. Kuklina said the methodology employed was "more rigorous" than in previous studies because as well as assessing diet for participants once, based on one-day recall, the investigators did this on a second, separate day, for a subsample of around 1,000 people and extrapolated these findings to obtain "more precise dietary intake for the rest of the cohort."

During a follow-up of 14.8 years, there were a total of 2,270 deaths, including 825 cardiovascular deaths and 443 ischemic heart-disease deaths.  After multivariable adjustment, higher sodium intake was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.20 per 1000 mg/day), whereas higher potassium intake was associated with lower mortality risk (HR 0.80 per 1000 mg/day).

For sodium-potassium ratio, the adjusted hazard ratios comparing the highest quartile with the lowest quartile were 1.46 for all-cause mortality, 1.46 for CVD mortality, and 2.15 for ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality.

Some of the findings "are not new," says Dr. Kuklina. "We know for sure the relationship between sodium and hypertension, although there is a little bit more inconsistency when it comes to sodium and CVD mortality. And we know that higher potassium is protective against hypertension, but much less is known about potassium intake and cardiovascular disease and mortality."  The results show that sodium/potassium ratio of <1 is protective, she says: "We found that potassium does matter."

One simple way of boosting potassium, she notes, is to replace regular snacks with fruit. For example, a doughnut contains 210 mg of sodium and 120 mg of potassium. "Swap this for an orange, and you will have just 1.6 mg of sodium and 150 mg of potassium."

More Trials Needed on Interactive Effects of Sodium and Potassium

In closing, Dr. Sass noted that in their editorial, Silver and Farley discuss the well-known barriers to implementing the dietary change that will be necessary to lower sodium and increase potassium intake. They applaud efforts to reduce sodium artificially added to food during processing and say public policies to increase dietary intake of potassium--for example, by making fruits and vegetables cheaper--should be promoted.

In addition, adequately powered longer-term trials of the interactive effects of dietary sodium and potassium--including further study of the use of potassium-rich, reduced-salt substitutes--with clinically relevant outcomes, including mortality, are needed, they conclude.

Dr. Sass

You might think that tangerines are just a great treat but new research shows that they also have potent health effects.  Researchers from The University of Western Ontario have discovered that a substance in tangerines not only helps to prevent obesity, but also protects against type 2 diabetes, and even atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of most heart attacks and strokes. According to the research published in the journal Diabetes, the secret ingredient is a flavonoid known as nobiletin.

To study the effects of nobiletin on metabolic syndrome in humans, researchers fed mice a "western" diet high in fats and simple sugars. One group of the mice became obese and showed all the signs associated with metabolic syndrome: elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, high blood levels of insulin and glucose, and a fatty liver. These metabolic abnormalities greatly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The second group of mice was fed the exact same diet but researchers added nobiletin.  Those mice experienced no elevation in their levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or glucose, and gained weight normally. In addition, the mice became much more sensitive to the effects of insulin.

According to the researchers, nobiletin was shown to prevent the buildup of fat in the liver by stimulating the expression of genes involved in burning excess fat, and inhibiting the genes responsible for manufacturing fat.

"The nobiletin-treated mice were basically protected from obesity," Murray Huff, a vascular biology scientist at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and the Director of the Vascular Biology Research Group at Robarts. "And in longer-term studies, nobiletin also protected these animals from atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. This study really paves the way for future studies to see if this is a suitable treatment for metabolic syndrome and related conditions in people."

Tangerines, also known as mandarin oranges, have unique health properties which distinguish them from other oranges or citrus fruit.  One compound, tangeretin, is known for inhibiting the growth of leukemia.  Both tangeretin and nobiletin have been found to fight breast cancer.  Want to increase the nobiletin in your diet?  Eat the tangerine but don’t forget the skin.  The healthiest compounds in citrus fruit are in the rind and zest. Toss the minced rind or zest into marinades, salads and desserts. 

I believe that eating a diet rich in flavonoids is key to good health.  Eat your flavonoids!

Dr. Sass

Many people who are overweight and obese either don't realize it or are in denial -- and too few doctors are setting them straight, according to a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers analyzed data on roughly 5,500 people who took part in government health surveys between 2005 and 2008. One-third of the obese participants and 55% of overweight participants had never been told by a doctor that they were overweight, the study found.   This is like going to see your doctor with an obvious cancer and that doctor is too shy or busy to tell you the truth.

If a doctor did comment on a patient's weight, it seemed to make an impression. Nearly 20% of obese people whose doctors hadn't brought up their weight described themselves as "not overweight," compared with just 3% of those whose doctors had addressed their weight. Obese and overweight patients who discussed the issue with doctors were also more than twice as likely to have tried to lose weight in the previous year.   This is what I tell my patients straight out “Your diet is a direct result of the definition of obesity”.

"If people are told by their doctor that they are overweight, it corrects their perception," says the lead author of the study, Robert Post, M.D., research director of the Virtua Family Medicine Residency in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index between 25 and 29, and obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 and up. (BMI is a rough estimate of body fat based on the ratio of a person's height and weight.)

Doctors may be reluctant to broach the subject of weight for a number of reasons.  For instance, busy physicians might not want to fall behind schedule by adding another topic to their list of things to discuss during an appointment and many doctors have negative attitudes toward their heavier patients, whom they see as unlikely to stick to a diet and exercise program, he adds.

Even though almost two-thirds of U.S. adults are now overweight or obese, Dr. Moulavi believes that as Americans have grown heavier, most of the population has a skewed perception that this is “norm” of what constitutes an ordinary weight now. 

In fact, most of the overweight study participants accurately estimated their BMI. But many didn't see their weight as unhealthy or recognize the need to shed some pounds.

In addition, studies have shown that smokers whose doctors remind them of how unhealthy smoking is are encouraged to quit and are more likely to do so successfully than those whose doctors stay mum.  Simple reminders and encouragement to lose weight could have a similar effect on overweight and obese patients, Dr. Moulavi says.

Know your BMI and act on it if it’s above 25.

Not all vegetable proteins are created equal, in fact soy proteins are the only plant-based proteins with a protein quality equal to that of meat, milk and eggs. This high-quality protein comes in three major form for maximum flexibility in food applications: soy flours, soy protein concentrates, soy protein isolates. Hemp protein, in spite of the misleading marketing hype, is a poor quality protein when compared to soy, egg, and milk proteins.

Protein Quality: Protein is a macronutrient with many functions. Proteins supply amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They are used for the formation of muscle and other protein-containing components in the body including immunoglobulins, albumin, enzymes and hormones. The body synthesizes non-essential amino acids, while others are essential and must be supplied by food sources. Proteins and other nitrogen-containing compounds are continuously degraded and rebuilt. All of these losses must be replaced by a continuous supply of amino acids, provided through the diet.

All plant and animal proteins have approximately the same 20 amino acids. The proportion of the amino acids varies as a characteristic of the protein source. The nutritional quality of any protein relates to its amino acid composition, digestibility, and ability to supply the essential amino acids in the amounts required by the species consuming the protein. The ability of Soy Proteins to supply the essential amino acids in the amounts required by humans has been examined in several protein quality studies. These studies have involved infants, pre-school children and adults.

Traditionally, Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) was used to evaluate the quality of proteins. The PER method reflects the amino acid requirements of young growing rats, and not humans. A report was published in 1991, by the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/ WHO) Joint Expert Consultation which called for a more acceptable and validated procedure for protein quality evaluation. The recommended method, called Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), was adopted by regulatory bodies in most countries including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protein quality evaluation and nutrition labeling purposes for products intended for children over the age of two and adults.

The PDCAAS method is based on an amino acid scoring method, comparing the amino acid profile of the test protein food to the FAO/WHO two- to five-year-old amino acid pattern. The two- to five-year-old pattern is used because it exceeds the amino acid requirement patterns of older children and adults. The most limiting amino acid is used to determine the uncorrected amino acid score and that number multiplied by the food's digestibility is the PDCAAS. Using this method, Isolated Soy Proteins have the highest obtainable score (1.0) for calculating the corrected protein value. No protein can have a PDCAAS greater than 1.0. Soy Proteins are highly digestible, complete proteins containing all the essential amino acids in the reference pattern in the correct proportion. By contrast, Hemp protein scores very low on the PDCAAS with a value of less than .5 and with 5 essential amino acids below the minimum reference pattern.

The calculated PDCAAS (for soy protein isolate):

Digestibility = 97%
Uncorrected Amino Acid Score = 26 divided by 25 = 1.04
Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score = 0.972 x 1.04 = 1.00

The following list shows soy proteins and hemp proteins compared to the FAO/WHO reference pattern for the essential amino acids: Hemp protein is deficient in 5 of the essential amino acids as compared to the FAO/WHO with tryptophan being the limiting amino acid. Hemp will not meet the minimum protein requirements for 2-5 year olds.

Amino Acid Content  

Compared with hemp seed, soy contains higher percentages of the nine essential amino acids, with the exception of methionine, which is found in slightly higher amounts in hemp.

Protein Digestibility

Hemp seed is composed of two main proteins, albumin and edestin, which are easily digested by the body.   The digestibility of soy depends on its form.   Soy protein isolate, a dry powder form of soy that is often used in commercially prepared products, has a digestibility rating equivalent to animal-based protein, thereby making it comparable in quality.

Considerations

Soy protein is associated with health benefits, such as reduced risk for developing high cholesterol and certain cancers, such as prostate cancer.   Although soy has been shown to promote optimal well-being, studies supporting the health benefits of hemp consumption are rare, but its nutritional profile shows promise.  Concern regarding the safety of hemp is related to a fear that it could contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is found in marijuana.   Although both plants are varieties of Cannabis, hemp is derived from non-drug cannabis and contains only trace amount of THC; therefore, intoxication from its consumption is unlikely.

A new study shows that fiber intake is associated with a significantly reduced risk of death, including deaths from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases.

The study included over nine years of follow-up on 30,000 subjects from Dr. Yikung Park and his colleagues from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland as reported February 14, 2011 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"Prior studies have focused on the relationship between fiber intake and CVD, but few have examined the link between dietary fiber and mortality," said Park.  “Our analysis adds to the literature and suggests dietary fiber intake is also associated with decreased likelihood of death."

Drs. Lawrence de Koning and Frank B Hu (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston) say the "careful control for confounding" performed by Park et al "enhances the validity of these findings and supports the hypothesis that dietary fiber is important for longevity."

Park and colleagues agree:  "The 2010 dietary guidelines for Americans recommend choosing fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains frequently and consuming 14 g [of dietary fiber] per 1000 calories.  A diet rich in dietary fiber from whole plant foods may provide significant health benefits," they say.

I have long been a supporter of the benefits that come from whole grains.  The editorialists add that the finding of a strong inverse association between fiber intake and cardiovascular death "supports decades of research indicating that dietary fiber protects against cardiovascular disease and its risk factors," including lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol.

This is why we put super fiber in our Smart for Life diet products like ThinAdventure Fiber.  It makes our products even better for you.

I recently read a study that found gastric banding caused more complications than weight loss with almost half of patients undergoing this treatment for obesity needed to have the device removed, often because of erosion.

About 60% of the 82 patients with the device, Allergan Inc.’s Lap-Band, followed over 12 years or more needed additional operations, according to a study by Belgian researchers published online recently by the Archives of Surgery.  The minimally invasive surgery led to weight loss of 18% in 70 patients where data was available.

More than 15 million people in the U.S. are considered severely obese, a total that has almost doubled in the past 25 years.  About 220,000 people underwent weight-loss surgery in 2009, up since 2000 when 36,700 operations were performed, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Gainesville, Florida.  Gastric banding represents about 1/3 of that total.

“I personally no longer perform band gastroplasty, but I think it is defendable for surgeons to continue doing this,” said Jacques Himpens, the study’s lead author who works with the European School of Laparoscopic Surgery at Saint Pierre University Hospital in Brussels. “Patients should not expect too much from the procedure.  If they do get the operation, they must commit themselves to lifelong and very tight follow-up.”

Allergan Inc., the world’s largest maker of gastric banding in the U.S., called the study “ill-constructed”.  “The surgeons were at the bottom of their learning curve,” said Cathy Taylor, Allergan’s spokeswoman.  

Allergan pointed to a study published in 2010 that showed a 12% complication rate among 2,909 patients who received the gastric banding in 2001, the year the Food and Drug Administration approved its use in the U.S.  The study, conducted by researchers at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York, had received funding from the Irvine, California-based device maker.  Allergan controls 73% of the U.S. gastric- banding market.

Body mass index is a measure of a person’s weight in relation to his height and is a reliable indicator of obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.  A 5-foot, 4-inch woman weighing 175 pounds has a BMI of 30, which is considered obese.

The Belgian study is “of interest” because it looks at long-term complications and the need to remove the band, said Bruce Wolfe, president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.  He said he also agrees with Himpens’s conclusion that any kind of weight-loss surgery requires regular physician follow-up.

Technological advances in the procedure and product have been made since the operations upon which the Belgian study was based, said Wolfe, who is a surgeon at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.  Gastric bands are now wider and require using less pressure.  The technique for placement of the band has changed to involve more fat tissue, which provides padding that may reduce band erosion.

“The complication rate and need for removal of the band are both concerning,” Wolfe said. “But many of the changes in patient care relative to gastric banding may have addressed some of the problems.”

The American Heart Association in a policy statement March 14 said severely obese people benefit from weight-loss surgery.  The group, for the first time, said the risks of the procedure aren’t as great as the help provided by the reduction in the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol and heart ailments associated with obesity.

Consider a different approach before you go for this risky surgery.

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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes now affects nearly 26 million Americans of all ages and 79 million people have what doctors call "prediabetes".

Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes greatly boosts a person's odds for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

The vast majority of cases of diabetes are type 2, which develops when the body's cells gradually lose sensitivity to insulin.  According to experts, there's one very big reason for type 2 diabetes' continuing rise among Americans -- weight gain.

"The percentage of U.S. adults who are overweight or obese has also risen dramatically, and there is no doubt that rising rates of obesity are linked to the rising rates of diabetes," said Dr. Christine Resta, an expert on diabetes in the division of endocrinology at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City.

The CDC's National Diabetes Fact Sheet for 2011 notes that about 27% of Americans with diabetes, or about 7 million people, still do not know they have the disease.  Among the other data included in the fact sheet:

• About 1.9 million American adults were diagnosed with diabetes in 2010.
• Diabetes rates continue to soar among racial and ethnic minorities.  Among adults, diabetes rates were about 16% for American Indians/Alaska Natives, 12.6% for blacks, nearly 12% for Hispanics, 8.4% for Asian Americans and slightly over 7% for whites.
• Half of Americans aged 65 and older have prediabetes and nearly 27% have full-blown diabetes.
• Around 215,000 Americans younger than age 20 have diabetes, including type 1 diabetes.

Besides the obesity epidemic, the agency said that improvements in diabetes management may mean that many people with the disease are living longer, raising the total number affected.

Still, "these distressing numbers show how important it is to prevent type 2 diabetes and to help those who have diabetes manage the disease to prevent serious complications such as kidney failure and blindness," Ann Albright, director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, said in an agency news release.  "We know that a structured lifestyle program that includes losing weight and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes," she added.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.  People with diabetes are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, kidney failure, blindness and amputation of feet and legs.

A CDC study published last year predicts if current trends continue, as many as one in three American adults could have diabetes by 2050.

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A recent article in the American Journal of Health Promotion states that you can have an overweight infant, even as young as 9 months old.

We all know childhood obesity is a growing public health problem in the United States, being linked to psychological problems, asthma, cardiovascular troubles and a greater chance of developing diabetes.

Lead author Brian G. Moss of Wayne State University and William H. Yeaton of the University of Michigan analyzed data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, a nationally representative sample of American children born in 2001.

The data included height, weight and demographic characteristics of 8,900 9-month-old babies and 7,500 2-year-old toddlers.  Obese children were defined as those who exceeded the 95th percentile for body mass index and those between the 85th and 95th percentile who were considered "at risk."

The researchers found that 32% of children were either obese or at risk of obesity by the tender age of 9 months.   That figure increased to 34% by the time the children reached their 2^nd birthdays.

"We weren't surprised by the prevalence rates we found in our study, but we were surprised the trend began at such a young age," Moss said in a statement.

Some patterns emerged such as boys were more at risk than girls (this contradicted earlier research) and geographic location was not consistently associated with being obese or at risk.

I am not ready to suggest you to put your baby on a diet at this young age.  Neither would these researchers.  But their research helps us know more about the demographic of very young children who are more likely to become obese and how health officials and parents can prevent later health troubles by promoting healthier eating and lifestyle choices.  I think more research is needed.  You must do something if your child is over the age of eight and is significantly overweight.

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Recently an environmental group reported the tap water of more than 30 U.S. cities contains hexavalent chromium, a probable carcinogen made famous by the film Erin Brockovich.

The chemical was found in 31 of 35 cities tested, according to the study by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group.  Its levels were highest in Norman, Oklahoma; Honolulu, Hawaii; Riverside, California; Madison, Wisconsin; and San Jose, California.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering whether to set a limit for hexavalent chromium in tap water after the National Institutes of Health deemed it a "probable carcinogen" in 2008.  The chemical has been linked in animals to leukemia and other cancers as well as liver and kidney damage.

Currently, EPA restricts the amount of "total chromium" in drinking water, which contains both hexavalent and trivalent forms, to 100 parts per billion.  Some argue this standard doesn't differentiate between its bad and good forms.

Last year, California took the first step nationwide to limit the chemical in drinking water by proposing a "public health goal" of 0.06 parts per billion.  Of the 35 cities tested, EWG found 25 had levels exceeding California's proposed goal.

"It's a potential health threat in certain areas," says Max Costa, who chairs the department of environmental medicine at New York University's School of Medicine. He testified as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in a case brought by Erin Brockovich, who accused Pacific Gas & Electric of leaking hexavalent chromium into the groundwater of Hinkley, California, for decades and sickening its residents.

Costa says the levels in the Brockovich case, 10 parts per million, were far higher than the amounts cited in the EWG study.

"Everything depends on dose," he says, adding: "You don't want to add to your carcinogenic load....I always filter my water."

Filtering your water should not be a new idea to anyone reading my blogs.  I recommend this to everyone.

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You’ve heard me talk about it before but there is yet again another study that shows how bad soda is for your kids.

Besides adding to childhood obesity, a new study in the Journal of Pediatrics shows 75% of children aged 5 to 12 consume caffeine and it may be keeping them up at one night.  And what is the primary source of their caffeine?  You guessed it – soda.  And the more caffeine the children had, the less they slept.

“I would suggest that parents simply be prudent and regulate the amount of caffeine their children consume,” says study author William J. Warzak, PhD, a professor of psychology in the department of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical in Omaha. “They will not be the worse for wear if their caffeine consumption is restricted,” he says. The caffeine in the children’s diet came mainly from soft drinks.

So what is a moderate amount of caffeine in a 5-year-old or 10-year-old? "I don't think we know the answer to that question,” he says.

“Most of the research into the health effects of caffeine has been with adults [and] there really is very little pertaining to children,” he says. “The FDA has not established recommended amounts of caffeine consumption in children, although the Canadian government has issued such guidelines and our respondents indicated that quite a few children push those limits.”

Avram Traum, MD, a pediatric nephrologist at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, tells WebMD.com that the amount of caffeine children consumed in this and other studies is “shocking, staggering, and disturbing.”

The new study looked at how caffeine may affect sleep and bed-wetting, but drinking so much soda may also have an effect on obesity and diseases associated with obesity, including high blood pressure in children, he says.      

“There is no reason that school-aged children need caffeine. Period,” he says. The occasional cup of soda on a special occasion is OK, but children should not drink caffeine on a daily basis.

 “Sodas are junk food and have no nutritional value,” says Charles Shubin, MD, director of pediatrics at Mercy FamilyCare, a division of Family Health Centers of Baltimore.

Ihuoma U. Eneli, MD, medical director of the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is surprised at the amount of caffeine that children in the new study took in.

“I think that parents have to be a little more aware of what their kids are drinking,” she says. “Even diet soda has caffeine and some of the fancy drinks that middle schoolers and high schoolers drink also have a lot of caffeine,” she says.

"Children are getting less and less sleep over the last 50 years and are replacing it with caffeine consumption," says Heidi Connolly, MD, chief of the division of pediatric sleep medicine at University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.

"The less you sleep the more likely you are to be overweight. This is proven in adults and likely true in children as well," she says.

Children aged 2 and above should drink water and low-fat milk. "Sugar beverages in general are a poor choice and those with caffeine are an even poorer choice," she said, “The caffeine in one cola is a significant dose for a small child -- not to mention the calories."

As you can see, there are many other doctors who have the same opinion of soda for children as I do.

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We are terribly misguided on our breakfast choices.  We are literally starving our bodies of protein while flooding it with sugar.  We know that in order to keep weight down and control hunger, we must eat a balanced, protein-rich breakfast.  We should get at least 15 grams of protein within 2 to 3 hours of waking up.

According to recent statistics, children and adults are eating carbohydrate-rich, sugar-loaded breakfasts with only 2 to 3 grams of protein.  The result of this poor choice causes them to feel hungry quickly and eat more.  This routine behavior is a major cause of childhood and adult obesity.

Protein-poor foods like cereals, waffles, and breakfast pastries are marketed as good choices because of advertising buzz words like “made with real juice”, “whole grain” and “contains essential mineral and vitamins”.   I urge you to become knowledgeable and not fall victim to the marketing and advertising double-speak in the media.  Protein is the key to starting the day fueled with healthy energy and prepping the body for optimum function.

Researching breakfast items shows that many contain 5 times more sugar than the body can handle in 4 hours.  Also, consuming it quickly (in 10 minutes or less) increases weight gain and fatigue.  Repeatedly making poor food choices may lead to insulin resistance and eventually diabetes.

I urge all Health Practitioners to point this out to their patients and make protein an important part of breakfast.  Consumers should examine the amount of sugar versus protein in their foods.  A good rule for breakfast is that the grams of protein should be more than the sugar.

For example, many cereals have one gram of protein versus 10 grams of sugar.  Replace poor choices with protein-rich, healthy breakfast foods such as an egg white omelet, low fat cheese, Smart for Life cupcakes, cookies and granola squares.

Protein is key to optimal body functions because it builds muscle, helps rev up metabolism and more.  The human body cannot convert sugar to protein, but it can make sugar out of protein.  Sugars also raise lipids, increasing cardiac risk.   Lean protein does not.  A person can be overweight and still be in starvation mode if he does not get enough protein.

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I recently read about a new study that suggests eating healthy foods can help you live longer.

In the study, older adults who ate mainly healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, poultry, low-fat dairy products and whole grains, had a lower risk of death over a 10-year period than those who ate less-healthy foods.

"Some people have suggested in the past that it doesn't maybe matter too much what people eat at an older age," said study researcher Amy Anderson, of the department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland. "But our study, and previous studies, support the idea that older adults can affect their health and longevity by following a dietary pattern that is high in healthy foods."

Anderson and her colleagues examined the eating habits and quality of life of approximately 2,500 adults.  The researchers grouped the participants based on their diets:

·         Those who ate mainly healthy food

·         Those who ate mainly high-fat dairy products, such as ice cream and cheese, and had a lower intake of poultry, low-fat dairy products, rice and pasta

·         Those who ate mainly meat and fried foods and drank alcohol

·         Those who ate mainly refined grains

·         Those who ate mainly breakfast cereals

·         Those who ate mainly sweets and desserts and had a lower intake of fruit, fish, other seafood and dark green vegetables

The researchers followed up with the participants for an average of 10 years.  Those in the high-fat dairy product group were 40% more likely to die during this time period than those in the healthy food group. Those in the sweets and desserts group had a 37% higher risk of death than those in the healthy food group.

It’s a new year.  Don’t wait, don’t hesitate.  This study confirms that it’s never too late to improve your health.

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I read an interesting article recently about the debate over whether and to what extent being overweight is actually detrimental to one’s health in general.  Studies have established it is linked to heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, among other

Illnesses, but the evidence has been inconclusive as to whether being fat in itself is unhealthy.  Some studies have indicated that being a little overweight could be beneficial.

However, according to a massive mega-study just reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, that positive take is only accurate if your definition of “beneficial” includes “dying before your time.”  The study, conducted by the National Cancer Institute and other agencies, calculated the data from 19 individual long-term studies involving 1.5 million adults, and their ultimate conclusion is very clear and somber:  if you are overweight, you run an increased risk of dying prematurely, and the more overweight you are, the greater the risk.

Taking the average life span of people with an optimal BMI (body mass index) of 22.5 to 25 as the norm, here are the harsh statistics:

·         Those with a BMI between 25 and 30 have a 13% greater chance of early demise.

·         Those with a BMI between 30 and 35 have a 44% greater chance.

·         Those with a BMI between 35 and 40 have an 88% greater chance.

·         Those topping a 40 BMI have an appalling 250% greater chance - about as close to a death sentence as statistics get.

Here’s one more statistic to make your skin crawl:  At latest count, fully two out of every three Americans have BMIs greater than the healthy 25 figure.  If your kids are looking for a long-term career with guaranteed growth potential, they could do worse than consider the funeral industry.  It may be set to take off.

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Leptin is a master hormone in the body influencing a multitude of bodily functions.

Not only does leptin influence successful weight management, it also supports several metabolic functions necessary for optimal health. 

The hormone leptin is produced by fat cells and acts as a fat burner in the body.  The more fat a person carries, the more leptin that is produced.  Leptin enhances satiety and appetite control which leads to reduced food intake when fat levels increase in the body.  Leptin also influences the thyroid gland, which leads to increased breakdown of stored fat.  

People who are overweight experience leptin resistance since they have high levels of leptin in their bodies but are resistant to its effects, due to the high levels of inflammation associated with weight gain.  Low leptin functionality results in increased appetite and food cravings and slowed metabolism.

Leptin also affects cardiovascular health.  Problems with leptin function are a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and also the deposition of fat inside arteries.  It can also result in blood circulation problems such as high blood pressure.   This can strain the heart and also cause kidney problems.  Leptin’s role in successful weight management can influence heart health because even moderate weight loss has been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack.

People with leptin resistance have an increased chance of stroke because poor leptin function results in greater risk of developing blood clots.  High cholesterol often occurs in people who are leptin resistant. 

The immune system is regulated by leptin and functions properly only when leptin levels in the body are maintained at healthy levels.

Leptin also affects the health of bones by regulating the amount of calcium they contain. High leptin levels inhibit the ability to grow new bone and can lead to osteoporosis.

Because leptin has such wide ranging effects on healthy weight management and metabolic wellness, there is increasing interest in finding ways to improve leptin function and reduce leptin resistance. These include nutritional solutions based on diets that specifically target leptin function, lifestyle changes that emphasize increased exercise and reduced inactive behavior, as well as supplementation with dietary supplement ingredients that have been clinically tested to address leptin function.

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Childhood obesity has been all over the news this year, with Michelle Obama aiding the cause and fast-food industries being held highly accountable.  Recently researchers from Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity released a study they say is the "most comprehensive study of fast-food nutrition and marketing ever conducted."

The researchers studied the marketing efforts of 12 of the nation's largest fast-food chains and examined the calories, fat, sugar and sodium in more than 3,000 kids' meal combinations and 2,781 menu items.  I think this is quite an extensive undertaking.  The report confirms that fast-food companies have actually increased their marketing to children.  The report also found:

•       Out of 3,039 possible kids' meal combinations, only 12 meet the researchers'
•       nutrition criteria for preschoolers.
•       Only 15 meet nutrition criteria for older children.
•       Teens ages 13-17 purchase 800-1,100 calories in an average fast-food meal,
•       roughly half of their recommended total daily calories.
•       At most fast-food restaurants, a single meal contains at least half of young people's
•       daily recommended sodium.

Just one kids’ meal at a fast-food restaurant averages 735 calories.  Wow!!!

We’ve all heard about San Francisco’s approval of an ordinance that would prevent fast-food chains from giving away toys with children's meals that are overloaded with calories, salt and fat.  They also want meals accompanied by promotional toys to be served with fruits or vegetables.  It could become law soon if the mayor doesn’t veto it.  I am not sure I agree with it but this is what’s happening.

One fast-food chain is working around this study by renaming its products:  a 42-ounce "King" drink is now the "large" option; a "large" 32-ounce drink is now a "medium"; the former "medium" 21-ounce drink is now a "small"; and the "small" 16-ounce drink is now the "value" option.

Study co-author Kelly Brownell says the results of their research show that the fast-food industry's promises to market less unhealthy food to young people are not enough. 
"If they truly wish to be considered partners in public health, fast-food restaurants need to drastically reduce the total amount of marketing that children and teens see for fast food and the iconic brands that sell it," Brownell said.

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Children that are overweight at the age of 8 are usually overweight because parents have let them get that way.  Children at that age do not shop for food themselves but are completely dependent upon their parents to buy the food.  I agree they may ask for unhealthy, fattening food but parents can get a backbone and say “no”.

I do not want to blame parents and make them seem uncaring.  I just think in this day of so many poor food choices being put in front of parents and kids, you have to be extra vigilant and say “no”.

Certain foods are so bad and addicting that bringing these foods into your house may lead to sugar addiction, obesity, insulin resistance and eventually diabetes.  This may happen in just a matter of a decade.  That means that certain kids will develop this illness in the late teens.  Sounds crazy but it’s true.  I have seen it in my practice.

Parents need to learn to read labels, choose low sugar food and good proteins, especially in the morning.

Stay away from refined flour and understand the difference between good and bad fats.  By spending a few hours educating themselves, parents can become excellent food shoppers and save their children from a life of suffering.

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I recently read an interesting article that shows with the job market being more competitive than ever and holiday goodies being as tempting as they are, some people are deciding to postpone their job search until they get back down to their ideal weight.

They point to the statistics that indicate overweight people earn less (see my August 24, 2010 blog Skinny People, More Money in the Bank) and are overlooked for jobs and promotions in favor of those who are thinner, and they don't want employers to perceive them as expensive health risks.

According to a study done by Timothy A. Judge of the University of Florida women weighing 25 pounds less than the group norm earned an average $15,572 a year more than heavier women.  But men who weighed 25 or more pounds less than average were penalized, earning almost $8,500 less than their larger colleagues.  That trend tapered off when their weight hit the obese level.  The numbers show that overweight people of both genders earn less than their thinner counterparts.

Waiting until you can be considered fit and trim is no excuse to put off your job search. .

It's estimated that 190 million Americans are overweight.  If they all stopped applying themselves professionally until they lost the extra pounds, the entire economy would be incapacitated.

I’ve read about suggestions ranging from getting a haircut to changing the color that you wear near the face to bring out the eyes and define the jaw line.  And this applies to both men and women.  Tie, shirt and/or scarf or dress color can make a surprising difference.

I also read about the following suggestions which may help you in the meantime also:

•              Wear dark colors, but not necessarily black.  Jewel tones such as purple, burgundy and cobalt work well.

•              If a woman must wear stockings, make them opaque black.  Black boots, well-polished and not scuffed, are another option.  For men, socks that are lighter or darker than your pants will chop up your long, lean-looking line -- wear socks that blend.

•              Shapewear helps almost every woman.  Black bike short types keep you from feeling like you're compressed into a girdle.

•              Women should also wear a good, supportive bra.

•              Heels will help you look taller and slimmer. 

•              A great bag or briefcase, not overstuffed, can hide your tummy and divert attention from your body.

•              A great necklace, scarf or necktie keeps the attention above the shoulders.

In the vast majority of situations, your weight will not make or break whether or not you get the job but your confidence level could.  If you're worried about not looking your best, chances are your insecurity will show through. It's not necessary to wait until after you lose that extra weight to try to find a job, but it is important to look as good as you know you can.

And, yes, start losing weight in the meantime.  Your life is worth more than money.

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It amazes me when I see overweight people eating dessert.  Overweight people should not be having dessert.  Period.

Call me mean or heartless but that’s how I feel after treating overweight people for so many years.  Overweight people who eat dessert is like a bankrupt person spending money they don’t have.  He or she can’t afford it and neither can the overweight person.  People can give up certain foods for life for religious reasons.  Look at religious Jews or Hindus.  Why can’t overweight people give up desserts for their health?

Desserts are usually high in fat, sugar or both.  They raise blood sugar, drive insulin up and make people hungrier and fatter.  It’s a lose-lose situation.  There is no upside except for a momentary mouth feel of something tasty.  If you look carefully, most overweight people hate themselves almost immediately for eating that dessert.

So next time that chance to eat dessert comes by you, say no thanks.  You can’t afford it and your body will thank you.  You will respect yourself more in the morning.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Overweight people do not trust themselves when it comes to food.

They know when they will go to a restaurant or a party they will overeat.  The trust was lost over many days as they gave in to temptation time after time and gained weight.

Now they don’t even try to trust themselves again so when the holidays come, they will overeat and eat the wrong foods without trying to build trust in themselves again that they can make the right choices and lose weight.

The holidays are the best time to build trust back in yourself and lose weight.  While the rest of the country is getting fatter, you’ll get skinnier and healthier.

To help build your trust up in yourself again, plan ahead.  Before you go to a holiday party, have a small healthy meal or a Smart for Life diet cookie.  While you’re at the party, do not indulge.  Don’t have the snacks, finger foods or alcohol.  Stick to water, diet drinks or underWAY.  You’ll return home full of self trust knowing you beat temptation and could resist all those delicious foods.  Do this a couple of times and it will get easier.  You’ll get healthier and learn to say NO to yourself and others.

Go in with a plan.  Say you will have 6 ounces of turkey and a salad and that’s it.  And stick to it.  You’ll make yourself proud that you skipped dessert, alcohol, etc.  Try it and you’ll enjoy the holidays more and that turkey will taste soooo good.

Trust yourself again.  It’s about time.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Hibernating animals tend to store fat before winter by increasing enzymes that increase fat storage (lipoprotein lipase).  In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, this was clearly shown to occur in humans as well.  Humans increased fat storage enzymatic activity just like bears, for example.¹

Corisol, a well know fat storing appetite increasing hormone, increases in winter and drops in summer.  You can easily accumulate up to 10 pounds if corisol levels increase by 30%.²

SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a well known winter phenomena that affects many people, affects serotonin levels which control food intake.  People who suffer from SAD have an almost compulsive attraction to carbohydrates.  They are also often isolated at home eating more with less activity.  When I worked in Canada some of my SAD patients would gain 30 pounds over the winter and only lose about 10 pounds over the summer.  In 10 years, that is a 200 pound weight gain.³

Leptin, a well known body weight regulator, has been clearly shown to drop when women were exposed to cold.⁴   When leptin levels drop, your body thinks you are starving and you eat more.

It has been clearly shown that people who swim in cold water get much hungrier than people who swim in warmer waters.⁵

In the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was clearly shown that people gained about 1 to 2 pounds per winter and ate an additional 86 calories per day.⁶  This might not sound like much but in a 6 month winter, that’s over 15,000 calories or about 4.5 pounds.  Over 10 years that adds up to 45 pounds.  So guess what?  Most people gain their weight over the winter months.

Beside the holidays, which I call the danger zone between Halloween and New Year’s, there are many biological reasons that people gain weight.

References

1.     Donahoo, W.T., Jensen, D.R., Shepard, T.Y. & Eckel, R.H.  2000.  Seasonal variation in lipoprotein lipase and plasma lipids in physically active, normal weight humans.  Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 85, 3065-3068.

2.    Walker, B.R., Best, R., Noon, J.P., Watt, G.C. & Webb, D.J.  1997.  Seasonal variation in glucocorticoid activity in healthy men.  Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 82, 4015-4019.

3.    Krauchi, K., Reich, S., Wirz-Justice, A., Compr. Psychiatry.  1997 Mar-Apr;38(2):80-7.  Eating style in seasonal affective disorder: who will gain weight in winter?  Psychiatric University Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.

4.    Ricci, M.R., et. al.  Acute cold exposure decreases plasma leptin in women.  Metabolism 49(4):421-423.  2000.   Rutgers University, Department of Nutritional Sciences.  New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.

5.    White, L.  Increased caloric intake soon after exercise in cold water.  Int J Nutr Exer Metab, 15:38-47, 2005.

6.    Ma, Y., et. al.  Seasonal variation in food intake, physical activity, and body weight in a predominantly overweight population.  European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  April 2006; 60(4):519-528.  University of Massachusetts, Division of Preventive ad Behavioral medicine.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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You may have missed me mentioning childhood obesity before, but I can refresh your memory from this past year:

Obesity Stigma                                                                                             August 2010

Television Advertising = Unhealthy Habits in Children                             June 2010

Poor Parenting, Fat Kids and the Farmer                                                 March 2010

Let’s Move                                                                                                     February 2010

Parents Had Better Get a Backbone If They Want Healthy Kids!            January 2010

Overweight children and childhood obesity is a national epidemic with significant long term consequences.  I recently read about results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that shows over 33% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 years old are overweight or at risk for being overweight.

Overweight children are at an increased risk for a variety of medical complications including type 2 diabetes, abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, hypertension and being overweight as an adult. 

Overweight children also suffer from psychosocial complications such as social stigmatization, peer teasing, depression, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem.  This low self-esteem due to weight can have long-term implications that remain into adulthood.  As the focus on pediatric obesity grows, concern has been expressed as to whether or not weight management programs do more harm than good.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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I recently read an article written by a doctor, who does not believe there is a connection between your emotions and eating, and I have to disagree.  I know because I suffered from emotional eating when I was overweight.  It is a powerful, unstoppable urge that does not respond to fruits and vegetables but to simple carbs and sugars.  The good news is that it is treatable.

The doctor’s article explains that “emotional eating” is simply the pursuit of food for survival.  I know our strongest cravings seem to happen when we are at an emotional low point and these times can sabotage your weight loss efforts.  Emotional eating is a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions.  Food can serve as a distraction.  There are various ways to stop the emotional eating.

Try to tame your stress, perhaps with relaxation techniques such as yoga or exercise.  Replacing high sugar and fat snacks with vegetables also works.

Check that you are truly hungry and need sustenance.  If you just ate and your stomach is not rumbling, you’re probably not really hungry.  Give the craving time to pass.  You could just be bored.  Turn off the TV and take a walk, surf the Internet or call a friend.

Talk to someone, get some support.  Call family and friends.  If you’re dieting alone, consider joining a support group.

Are you getting enough sleep?  You may snack more throughout the day to try and give yourself an energy boost, when you’re not actually hungry.  Try going to bed earlier or taking a nap.

Emotional eating happens.  When it does happen, forgive yourself and move on.  Do not make it another reason to affect your feelings and eat more.  Learn from it and make plans to prevent it in the future.  Focus on the positive changes you are making in your new healthy lifestyle.  For additional insight see Emotional Eating and Weight Loss on webmd.com.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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With Halloween upon us, the holiday season has begun.  Now through New Year’s is the weight gain danger zone.  Adults, and children alike, are in danger of gaining 5 to 10 pounds over the next few months.  I once had a 12 year old patient who gained 5 pounds over Halloween week, just by eating all the junk she collected trick and treating.

Let’s get the season off to a good start by replacing candy with other goodies that children will enjoy just as much.  Some alternatives to candy are:

·         Spider or scary rings

·         Stickers

·         Vampire teeth

·         Noisemakers

·         Decorated pencils

·         Halloween balls

·         Temporary tattoos

Your local dollar store or party center has a bunch of great items that are inexpensive, just as much fun and won’t “weigh” the kids down.

You know the holidays will be in full swing before you know it and the sweets and goodies will be all over us.  It’s hard to say no but here are a few tips that may help you:

·         Never go to an event or party hungry.

·         Recognize your triggers.

·         Stay in control and drink alcohol in moderation.

·         Choose low calories, low sugar holiday foods.

·         Maintain balance.  Don’t deprive yourself but don’t overdo it.

·         Exercise more during the holidays.

·         Give gifts that are healthy rather than filled with fat and calories.

·         Relax and don’t let holiday stress lead to overeating.

·         Remember the holidays are about family and friends, not food.

Let the season begin!  Enjoy!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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You recently read about the addition of Lepticore^® to our product line.  I’m excited to now tell you about our new Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Square.  The public has been demanding gluten-free choices and we are proud to be able to fill that need.  This delicious, gluten-free Banana Chocolate Chip square is low in calories and includes HeroFiber^TM, a super fiber, which includes ForteFiber^TM Soluble Dietary Fiber which helps to maintain cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels that are already within the normal range

I have been asked by many of my patients and clients to come up with a gluten-free diet cookie.  A person either chooses to be gluten-free to positively impact their health or must avoid gluten for medical reasons.  After a year of experimenting, we finally got a product that tastes great and has lots of health benefits.

The Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Granola Square, as with all our products, is made with many organic ingredients, has no preservatives and has a balanced protein formula with healthy fats and carbohydrate ratios and also effectively suppresses the appetite.

As my partner in crime, Richard Kayne, COO, explains, “The gluten-free market is growing but unfortunately a lot of gluten-free products do not taste that great.  We have been able to create a delicious taste profile that people will be amazed to know happens to be gluten-free.”

In a recent study, Smart for Life clients were able to lose on average 13.5 pounds in one month.  Their appetites were suppressed while they ate Smart for Life^® products including cookies, soups, shakes, cupcakes, bagel chips, and more.

This gluten-free square is the first in our new line of gluten-free products.  I am happy to say the gluten intolerant person can now try the Smart for Life cookie diet without any ill-effects and the benefits of Smart for Life.  J

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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The Benefits of Lepticore^® Found in a Recent Study will Enhance the Smart for Life Ingredient Base.

Smart for Life will begin adding Lepticore^® to its product line this month.  Lepticore^® has been created by a leading pharmaceutical research company which has conducted randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled human clinical trials, which is considered the “Gold Standard” in product efficacy validation, and has appeared in the peer-reviewed journal, Lipids in Health and Disease. 

The structure and functional claims, substantiated by the company’s FDA and FTC Counsel at Baker & Hostetler, are as follows:

Supports healthy cardiovascular function          Promotes healthy inflammation response

Helps promote weight loss                                     Helps boost metabolism    

Helps control hunger                                              Helps you feel fuller longer

Helps diminish the aging effects of pro-oxidative cellular damage

This is a brief overview of the study:

The study was an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design involving 92 obese (mean BMI > 30 kg/m²) participants (37 males; 55 females; ages 19-52; mean age = 30.7).  The participants were randomly divided into three groups: placebo, Lepticore^® formula A (low dose) and Lepticore^® formula B (high dose).  A total of 12 anthropomorphic and serological measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of treatment.

Results

Compared to the placebo group, the two active groups showed statistically significant differences on all 12 variables by week 8.  These included four anthropomorphic variables (body weight, body fat, waist and hip size) and eight measures of serological levels (plasma total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, blood glucose, serotonin, leptin, C-reactive protein).  The two active groups also showed significant intra-group differences on all 12 variables between study onset and week 8.

Lepticore^® is a great addition to provide efficacy and safe weight loss for the entire family.  It complements our current Cookie Diet product line that also includes these health-improving ingredients such as HeroFiber^TM, inulin and plant sterols as well as flax seed and fish oils.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Consumption of at least 1 sugar-sweetened drink per day is significantly associated with the development of diabetes, according to a report by Vasanti S. Malik, ScD and his colleagues with the Harvard School of Public Heath, as reported in Diabetes Care.

Sugar-sweetened beverages were defined as soft drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy and vitamin water, sweetened iced tea, punch, cordials, squashes and lemonade.  Not included were 100% fruit juices without added sweeteners.

Dr. Malik notes that although consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks has been associated with weight gain, their role in the development of diabetes has not been reviewed.  According to Dr. Malik and the researchers, the high content of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates in sugar-sweetened drinks may increase risk of diabetes not only through obesity, but also by increasing glycemic load, leading to insulin resistance and inflammation.

One single extra sugary drink has about 200 calories.  That is equivalent to a 20 pound weight gain per year.

This study further supports my reasons to stay away from sugar-sweetened beverages and switch to healthy alternatives, such as water and underWAY. 

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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A new poll shows that adults consider obesity the number one threat to children’s health in the United States and many believe the problem is getting worse.

Almost 40% of the adults polled cited obesity as the biggest threat to youngsters and teenagers, followed by drug abuse, smoking, Internet safety and stress.

Dr. Matthews M. David, director of the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll says, “If we’d done this poll four years ago, obesity would not have been at the top of the list.”

Obesity rates among children and teens in the U.S. have skyrocketed in the last 30 years.  A 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control showed nearly 1 in 5 children aged 6 to 11 and 18% of 12 to 19 years olds were obese.

The top 10 overall health concerns for U.S. children in 2010 and the percentage of adults who rate each as a “big problem” include:

1.  Childhood obesity - 38%

2.  Drug abuse - 30%
3.  Smoking - 29%
4.  Internet safety - 25%
5.  Stress - 24%
6.  Bullying - 23%
7.  Teen pregnancy - 23%
8.  Child abuse and neglect - 21%
9.  Alcohol abuse - 20%
10. Not enough opportunities for physical activity - 20%

Fifty-seven percent of adults that rate childhood obesity as a big problem for kids say it is “getting worse.”

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Everyone knows that you gain weight when you overeat, but what makes you overeat?

Many of my patients who are overweight complain of an uncontrollable urge or force that pushes them to the fridge and they overeat knowing it is bad for them.  This is chemically driven due to the imbalance of hormones in these overweight people.  Weight loss will go a long way to remove this irrational behavior.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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According to the USDA, 16 million children went hungry this past summer because schools were closed and subsidized lunch was unavailable.  October 4, 2010 marks National Child Health Day, a national observance in the United States that helps raise awareness of how people can protect and develop children’s health, focusing on nutritious eating and physical activity for both children and their parents.  Smart for Life^® Cookie Diet is lending a helping hand in increasing recognition for National Child Health Day.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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You know I repeatedly write about the numerous benefits of water.  I recently read an article that adds to my viewpoint.  A new study has found that adults who drank two cups of water before each meal consumed fewer calories and lost more weight than those who skipped drinking water.

The study divided two groups of overweight men and women into two groups.  The first group followed a low-fat, low-calorie diet and the second followed the same diet but drank two cups of water before breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After 12 weeks, the second group who drank water before meals lost 15.5 pounds, compared to 11 pounds for the first group of non-water drinkers.  That’s nearly a 30% difference!

After a year their data has shown that those who continued to drink water before meals not only kept those pounds off but continued to lose a bit more.

In older adults it takes longer for the stomach to empty which may be why the water helps them feel fuller and less hungry.  In younger people the water begins leaving the stomach almost immediately.

Getting in the routine of drinking water is also good for you because it replaces the high-calories beverages you may be drinking.  Water is harmless and inexpensive and now there’s proof that it reduces the amount of food people take in.  Go H₂O!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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As a weight loss doctor, I read many articles about fat and its affect on your body.  Recently I am reading more and more about the fact that certain foods that are high in sugar and toxins may turn on “killer genes” that are designed to kill us so we don’t pass on poor genetic material to the next generation.  It is nature’s way of saying “this person in not fit, he can’t get good quality food, he probably won’t be able to feed himself or his family, let’s knock him off.”  Boom - heart attack.

Research clearly shows that calorie restriction extends the life span in mammals, which we are.  Also, people who over-exercise die sooner than people who exercise just right.  It’s like the body saying, “Hey, this person really has to work hard to get his or her food.  Not fit, so let’s turn on the killer genes.”

The manifestation of killer genes include plaque on arteries, diabetes, elevated cholesterol and increased inflammation but all of these just lead to an early death.  The good news is that it is all reversible.  We can measure drops in many of these negative attributes by measuring certain components in your blood such as C-reactive protein, oxidized LDL, insulin levels and many more.

How to reverse it is not as simple as you think because it requires a change in eating behavior and in certain cases medication.  I have been working with many patients who have reversed diabetes and stopped the progression of heart disease.

The problem is the convenient foods that are easily available, in most cases, are high in refined carbohydrates and sugar.  Your blood stream only needs 1 small teaspoon of sugar at any one time.  Overwhelming this by eating 12 tablespoons creates havoc and starts the killer gene “turn-on” process.

Eating green leafy vegetables, preferably organic, is a great start, but small multiple meals that are balanced in protein, good carbohydrates and the right fats is key.  The other part of the equation is controlling insulin and leptin.  Unfortunately it is easy to say but hard to do, unless you have access to simple easy foods that will do the above. 

Patients that make this change all say that not only do they lose weight but they feel better, have more energy and are happier.  Biochemically they show less oxidative changes, a key to slowing down aging.  People who used to come home and sit on the sofa until bedtime are more active and feeling more alive.

I urge all people who are overweight to take action now before it is too late.  I will not tell you that it’s easy but it’s much easier than the suffering you are going through now and definitely easier than the horrible diseases that are waiting for you in the future.

If you put your mind to it, you can lose 5% to 10% of your body weight in one month, which will reduce your risk for many diseases by 50%.  Over 80% of the patients in my practice achieve this goal.  You can too with our help or your doctor’s.  Our diet products go a long way to get you there as well.

Get started and live!

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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Cortisol is an important hormone in the body.  It is usually present in the body at higher levels in the morning and at its lowest at night.  Stress is not the only reason cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream even though it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response to stress.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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We were warned as children that eating too fast can make you fat.  Most of us have heard that somewhere.  Well, it seems our mothers were right again. 

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
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Skinny People, More Money in the Bank

I’ve always talked about ways to set an example for your children by eating healthy and organic and taking care of yourself.  I just recently read about another great reason to get rid of your weight and teach your children good eating habits:  their financial future.  Consider these costs which can affect their financial security.

Food.  Some may say that fast food is inexpensive but it can certainly cost you in the long run.  Most people are overweight because they consume more calories than they should, which usually means fast food.  But for some it’s indulging in that decadent chocolate cream cake or French pastry.  And it’s also indulging into your wallet.

Illness.  According to a Rand study, obese people spend 36% more on health services than people of normal weight.  They also tend to suffer from a higher incidence of chronic disease.  This can lead to intensive recovery, recuperation, more time off the job and higher overall medical bills.

Life insurance.  This will cost more if you’re heavy.  The longer you’re likely to live, the lower the chance that an insurance company will have to pay a claim.  On average, obese people live seven years less and insurers account for these differences.  In group plans, while age, smoking and gender can impact rates, obesity isn’t used as a factor, at least not yet.

Net worth.  You already know studies have shown that better looking people earn more.  Being thin helps too.  A study by the Center for Human Resources Research at Ohio State University found that the obese accumulate only about half the net worth of Americans who were not obese.

Earnings.  The Ohio State study found that on average a typical woman earned $314 less annually for every one point increase in BMI (body mass index). While a male counterpart earned $161 less.  Another study found that for women a 1% increase in BMI led to a 0.6% decrease in income and a 0.4% decrease in job “prestige.” 

We always want to blame fast food companies as being a large part of the obesity issue but it all begins with good habits.  And those originate from our parents.  So Mom and Dad, remember these findings and start teaching your kids healthy eating habits that will last them a lifetime.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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I recently heard a discussion on a morning talk radio program where a bride-to-be unashamedly admitted to trying to fatten up her girlfriends so they wouldn’t outshine her on her wedding day.  I have patients who have had difficulties with their family and friends supporting their weight loss efforts, but this is like sabotage.  And for a bride to do it to her supposedly closest friends?  I was more than amazed.

I did a little research and, believe it or not, found two Facebook pages devoted to this idea:  Please God If You Can’t Make Me Thin Make My Friends Fat (View Here) and If You Can’t Make Yourself Look Thin Make Your Friends Look Fat (View Here).

I also read an article where brides-to-be do not necessarily pick their close and dear friends to be in the wedding party.  They choose the acquaintances who outweigh them, thinking they are making themselves look better.  The article also revealed that almost 50% of brides diet before their wedding day.  They should remember - if a bride can diet, why can’t a bridesmaid? J

I hope the recently-engaged reading this will consider past and future friendship when selecting their bridal party.  If need be, everyone can diet together and have an instant support network.  Your wedding day will be remembered joyously, no matter what.

Dr. Sass
Sasson Moulavi, M.D., LMCC, ABBM
Medical Director
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