1. My Thighs Are Covered With Cellulite!
2. Can A South American Tea Speed Weight Loss?
3. How Can I Tell If Bread Really Is Whole Grain?

My Thighs Are Covered With Cellulite!  After years of feeling self-conscious about carrying an extra 40 pounds, I finally lost it all by tossing out the candy in my cupboards and doing an exercise video twice a week.  But now there’s another problem—I’ve ended up with horrible “cottage cheese” thighs.  And shorts weather is coming up!  Can you suggest a solution? 

The trick to eliminating cellulite is to outsmart the cause—a sluggish lymphatic system that has let toxins and excess water accumulate in the cells beneath the skin, creating dimples.  To revive lymph circulation, drink cran-water for two weeks.  (Mix 8oz. unsweetened cranberry juice with 56oz. plain water and sip all day.)  This healthy tonic acts as a diuretic that releases excess cellular fluid.  Plus, the malic, citric and quinic acids in cranberry juice bind to toxin-laden fat to carry it out of the body.  The result: smoother legs that will have you slipping into shorts with confidence!   

Can A South American Tea Speed Weight Loss?  Lately one of my coworkers has been raving about how much weight she’s losing by drinking something called mate.  Truth is, it has done wonders for her figure, plus she’s got tons of energy.  I’d like to lose a few pounds myself.  Is this beverage worth a try?  Absolutely! 

This slightly bitter tea-like drink is made from the leaves of the South American yerba mate tree, and indigenous people of the region have long enjoyed its weight-control benefits.  Mate contains theobromine, a compound that sends an “all-full” signal to the brain’s hypothalamus (appetite center).  That’s why people who drink just one cup in the morning report no hunger pangs for more than half the day.  The herb also contains xanthines, compounds that raise the body temperature so more calories are burned while the body is at rest.  But mate does this without the caffeine-triggered jitters of other metabolism-revving drink like coffee and green tea.  More good news: The drink is now available in flavors like chocolate, chai and lemon.  A brand to try: Pixie Mate, $6 for 20 tea bags, at PixieMate.com and health-food stores. 

How Can I Tell If Bread Really Is Whole Grain?  Recently I decided to make the switch to whole-grain bread.  But now buying a loaf has become so confusing—I see labels like “multigrain” and “stone-ground” and can’t figure out what’s what.  Any advice? 

It is getting confusing.  The truth is, many labels found on bread only sound healthy.  For example, “multigrain” just means the bread contains more than one grain, and “stone-ground” simply has to do with how the grain is ground.  Even FDA-approved labels of “wholegrain” require only that a product contain at least 51 percent whole grains.  To tell if bread is truly whole grain, scan the ingredients list to make sure that a whole grain (such as whole-grain flour or whole-grain rye) is listed first.  Then check the nutrition label to confirm that there are at least 3 grams of fiber per slice since this is usually only possible with 100 percent whole grains.