1. Could full-fat dairy be my ticket to slim?
2. Are parasites a bigger risk at holiday time?
3. Is there a food that can make me toned

Could full-fat dairy be my ticket to slim?   I don’t get it: While I’m consuming my three-a-day of low-fat dairy in a failing attempt to lose 22 pounds, my sister indulges in every full-fat milk, cheese and yogurt treat there is—and she’s as thin as a rail!  She keeps telling me to go for the good stuff if I want to lose weight, but experts on TV say low-fat is best.  Who’s right? 

Full-fat dairy is more slimming.  That’s because, to make dairy low-fat or skim, fat and protein are removed and carbs and sugars are added.  This makes dairy less satiating and more likely to trigger fat-promoting blood sugar imbalances.  Removing fat also slashes dairy’s levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  Dieters who consume this fat-burning compound (abundant in full-fat dairy) lose up to four additional pounds a week than women who don’t consume CLA.  So go for the full fat, or simply get the study-backed dose of 3 grams of CLA with a supplement.  Try UNI KEY Health CLA-1000 ($30 for 90 capsules, at UniKeyHealth.com or call 800-888-4353).

Are parasites a bigger risk at holiday time?   After losing 18 pounds with the detox tips in your book, The Gut Flush Plan, I really want to avoid gaining weight this holiday season.  I’m wondering if parasites are going to be a risk with foods like turkey and ham, especially since I won’t always be doing the cooking.  Should I be concerned? 

Holiday favorites like pork do tend to harbor parasites.  And any meat, poultry or fish that isn’t cooked all the way through can contain unwanted organisms.  The problem: Once they’re settled in the digestive tract, parasites absorb many of the nutrients and much of the water one consumes.  The resulting nutrient deficiency and dehydration bring on insatiable cravings, fatigue, constipation and poor immunity.  To avoid these ill effects, drink 8 oz. to 16 oz. of pure pomegranate juice (such as Pom Wonderful or R.W. Knudsen Family) or snack on ¼ cup of pumpkin seeds daily.  These proven antiparasitics will kill the bad guys before they can settle in and cause trouble.  Also, be sure to get about 35 grams of fiber daily from fruit, vegetables or a supplement to flush waste and purify the system.

Is there a food that can make me toned?  Let’s just say exercise isn’t my thing.  But every diet I read about points out how important it is to build muscle when trying to slim.  Do I have to work out, or is there a dietary way to gain muscle? 

You can build muscle without exercise simply by eating eggs.  They have a protein biovalue of 100, meaning all their protein is used to increase nitrogen stores in muscle.  This builds muscle mass so the body burns more calories even when at rest.  It also prevents muscles from being broken down for energy (which in turn slows metabolism).  My advice: Eat three to five eggs weekly.  And though the yolks must be eaten to get the benefit, there’s no need to worry since this number of eggs won’t cause cholesterol troubles.  But for added assurance, you can opt for eggs enriched with omega-3s, healthy fats that are proven to lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and raise levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol.