1. Can a grape extract help me lose?
2. Why didn’t this colon cleanse work for me?
3. Has produce gotten too dangerous?

Can a grape extract help me lose?  On a message board that I often visit to swap diet stories, a woman was raving about how resveratrol helped her get rid of her last 20 pounds and made her skin look so much younger. Is that really possible?

Yes, it is. Resveratrol, a phytonutrient found in red and purple grapes and red wine, reduces high blood sugar levels which pack on belly fat) and inflammation (which slows metabolism, causes fat storage and ages skin). It also fights free radicals in skin, preventing or minimizing facial lines and age spots. To benefit, drink two 8 oz. glasses of equal parts grape juice and water or seltzer daily. The water cuts the sugar load of the juice. (While wine contains resveratrol, I don’t recommend it for weight loss: its molds worsen systemic yeast overgrowth—a condition affecting 8 out of 10 women that triggers bloat and sugar cravings.) If you’d like to take a supplement, aim for 100mg to 300mg daily of a brand that contains other antioxidants found in grapes, as they work in synergy with resveratrol for best results. One to try: Country Life Resveratrol Plus ($18 for 120 capsules, at iherb.com).

Why didn’t this colon cleanse work for me?  There was a recipe for a colon-cleanse smoothie in a recent First article. When I tried making it, it came out like sludge, so I added water to thin it out but it didn’t have the cleansing effect that I was hoping for. What could have gone wrong?

It’s best to follow the recipe exactly: chop 2 cups of cranberries in a food processor, then place in a blender with one small or medium papaya (cut into chunks), 1 Tbs. of ground flaxseed and 2 Tbs. of unsweetened, unflavored psyllium powder (like Yerba Prima Psyllium Husks Powder, $5 for 12 oz., at amazon.com). Since it contains so much fiber, the blend is not digested in the stomach—it travels to the intestines, where it removes waste similarly to the way a plumbing gel cleans clogged pipes. The shake loses its sweeping effect if it’s too thin. To get rid of the 5 to 40 pounds of stagnant waste that the average woman is carrying, drink a shake in the morning and again in the evening for two days. Also, lubricate the intestines by drinking ten 8 oz. glasses of water daily for two days before and during the cleanse. For best results, wait at least 45 minutes after each dose before drinking or eating.

Has produce gotten too dangerous?  The constant news about pesticides on produce has me wanting to reach for cookies instead of carrot sticks. I know that’s silly—fruit and veggies are the smart choice. But I can’t help but feel that all the goodness is canceled out by the toxins. What’s your take? 

The benefits of consuming fruit and vegetables (from effortless slimming to improved heart health and reduced cancer risk) far outweigh the risks of ingesting pesticides. But I advise limiting pesticide intake by opting for organic produce whenever possible, especially on items that are high in pesticide residue like apples, celery, cherries, berries, grapes, peaches and spinach. And to help the liver flush out pesticides, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of liver-boosting dandelion greens (which are in season now) to salads daily. One to try: Alvita Dandelion Root (UNI KEY carries dandelion root tea for $9.50).