1. Which Weight-Loss Pill Is The Best?
2. How Can I Slim Down Without Giving Up Carbs?
3. Is Vitamin H Just Hype Or Worth The Cost?

Which Weight-Loss Pill Is The Best?  This winter I gained 18 pounds from being cooped up inside and snacking on comfort foods like macaroni n’ cheese.  Now I’m desperate to lose the weight before beach season arrives, so I’d like to try a supplement.  But I get confused when faced with aisles and aisles of pills that promise fat loss.  What do you recommend? 

A supplement that delivers amazing results is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  People who took 3 grams daily lost 10 percent of their belly fat a kept the weight off without struggle, according to research at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.  (In the same study, people who didn’t take CLA gained weight.)  CLA impairs the fat-absorbing enzyme lipoprotein lipase, and since less fat is stored, existing fat is burned for fuel.  I recommend Uni Key CLA-1000 ($26 for a one-month supply, at UniKeyHealth.com, or call 800-888-4353 and mention First to save 15 percent).   

How Can I Slim Down Without Giving Up Carbs?   With the last of my kids off to college, this is a great time for me to try to lose the 30 pounds that I have been struggling with for years.  I’ve had success on a low-GI diet, but many of my favorite foods have super-high GI ratings, and I’m afraid I won’t stick with it if I have to give them up completely.  Is there a compromise? 

It is a good idea to cut back on foods that are high on the glycemic index (log on to The-GI-Diet.org for the GI of many popular foods) since they cause fat-storing spikes in blood sugar.  But there are a few tricks that you can try so you won’t have to stop eating your favorites.  For starters, pair high-GI foods with low-GI fare like eggs, cheese, poultry, fish or lean beef.  The protein in these foods slows the gut’s absorption of sugars, cutting the GI of high-carb foods by 33 percent or more.  For example, when a baked potato is topped with cheese, its GI drops from 93 to 39.  You can also enjoy a small side of veggies drizzled with 4 tsp. apple cider vinegar.  This slows starch absorption by 30 percent.  With a more stabilized blood sugar level, you’ll have a slimmer physique in no time! 

Is Vitamin H Just Hype Or Worth The Cost?  The winter weather ruined my toenails and the skin on my heels.  And now that sandal season is just around the corner, I’m feeling self-conscious!  I’ve seen ads touting vitamin H as the best supplement for nails and skin, but is it worth the high price? 

The beautifying effects of “vitamin H” are real, but the nutrients are really just biotin, one of the B vitamins.  Consuming more biotin has been proven to increase nail thickness by 25 percent and improve skin’s ability to hydrate itself.  To get the benefits without paying a fortune, snack on biotin-rich food (1/2 cup peanuts, 1 cup low-fat yogurt or half an avocado) daily, or try a low-cost biotin supplement from your local drugstore.  Since it take two months for nails and skin to heal, stocking up on biotin now will guarantee gorgeous tootsies by sandal season.