1. Can I Lose Weight With Negative-Calorie Drinks?
2. Help! High Blood Sugar Is Making Me Fat!
3. Does Flaxseed Cause Cancer?

Can I Lose Weight With Negative-Calorie Drinks?   My sister and I have always been on the plump side, so when she visited me last weekend 20 pounds thinner I had to learn her secret.  She revealed that she’s been drinking those new negative-calorie drinks.  I read in your column that negative-calorie foods can help women lose weight- can the drinks do the same?

The basic concept behind negative-calorie drinks is that the body burns more calories digesting the beverage than the drink contains.  So it’s hypothetically possible to lose weight this way.  But I wouldn’t consume them regularly since many contain artificial sweeteners that make the liver sluggish, eventually causing weight gain.  Instead, eat negative-calorie foods (like apples, strawberries, carrots and celery).  In addition to being more nutritious, these foods boost liver function to speed metabolism.  To learn more, visit NegativeCalorieDiet.com or read Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard, M.D. (Avon).     

Help!  High Blood Sugar Is Making Me Fat!  During my physical, the doctor told me that I had prediabetes and might need to take medication.  She also explained that this condition is the reason it’s been so hard for me to keep my weight down the last few years.  How can I drop about 40 pounds and get my blood sugar under control so I don’t end up having to go on meds?

Here’s great news for you: Chromium, a nutrient proven to stabilize blood sugar levels and speed weight loss, is even more effective when paired with the B-vitamin biotin, according to a study in the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.  This dynamic duo lowers blood sugar by 35 percent in three months, which is faster than relying on chromium alone.  Chromium and biotin together improve calls’ ability to utilize glucose.  This prevents excess glucose from triggering cravings and belly-fat storage.  The beneficial dose is 600 mcg of chromium and 2 mg of biotin once daily.  The studied brand: Diachrome ($25 for a two month supply, at drugstores).   

Does Flaxseed Cause Cancer?   For about a year now, I’ve been adding whole flaxseed to my morning cereal, yogurt and salads.  I dropped 47 pounds, and my hair and skin look great.  But I recently read an article warning that flaxseed is carcinogenic.  Can you clarify—is flaxseed good or bad?

Flax does have a host of health benefits.  It is true, however, that improper storage of this food can cause its healthy fats to go rancid and develop cancer-causing properties.  But there’s no need to panic—the level of carcinogens is so low that it doesn’t pose a risk to humans.  Still, no one wants to eat rancid flax, so follow these tips: Store flaxseed in a sealed container in the fridge for up to three months.  And since flaxseed oil is very perishable, it should be purchased in dark bottles that have been refrigerated at the store.  Then you should keep it in the freezer for up to eight weeks.  Don’t worry: It thaws fast when taken out of the freezer.