1. Simple swap to shrink stubborn belly bulge!
2. A weight-loss “cocktail” that really works!
3. SOS for out-of-whack blood sugar!

Simple swap to shrink stubborn belly bulge!  I’m about 30 pounds overweight, and most of the weight is in my belly. Dieting doesn’t help—my butt and boobs shrink, which just makes my stomach look even bigger! Now that I’m hearing more about the link between apple shapes and metabolic syndrome, I’m worried the extra inches are putting me at risk. How can I lose my tummy?

The quick fix: Eat more protein. A recent study from McMaster University in Canada found that participants who increased their daily protein intake by just 3 percent (and cut calories elsewhere to make up for the difference) watched their waist-to-hip ratio shrink by 6 percent. The extra protein triggered the production of glucagon. This pancreatic hormone targets abdominal fat cells to convert them to fuel. So just one or two small adjustments per day, like having two eggs for breakfast instead of cereal or piling a few extra slices of deli meat on your sandwich, will have you on your way to a trimmer waistline.

A weight-loss “cocktail” that really works!  A coworker of mine looks like she’s dropped four pant sizes in the past two months, and I know she doesn’t exercise. So I asked her what her secret was. She said she just started drinking an alcohol-free Bloody Mary concoction before meals and the pounds fell off. It sounds unbelievable. Does this actually work?

Yes! While her trick has been around for a while, there’s finally research that proves it’s effective. Scientists in the Netherlands learned that drinking tomato juice spiked with 1 gram of ground chili peppers 30 minutes before a meal led to a 15 percent reduction in food intake. Subjects also opted for less calorie-heavy foods like salad over denser dishes like pasta and creamy soups. 

SOS for out-of-whack blood sugar!   I was shocked when my blood work after my last checkup showed I have prediabetes. My doctor warned me that if I don’t lose at least 40 pounds, it’ll become full-blown diabetes. So I cut back on sweets and I’m walking three times a week, but I’ve lost only two pounds—and it’s been three weeks! How can I lower my risk faster?

Rest assured you’re on the right track. People with prediabetes (subclinically high blood-sugar levels) who start exercising and lose just 5 percent of their body weight reduce their risk of Type II diabetes by 58 percent. But you can speed results with a cinnamon supplement. A recent clinical study found that people with prediabetes who consumed 250 to 500 mg of the spice extract daily experienced up to a 29 percent decrease in fasting glucose levels after one month. The active compound, methylhydroxy chalcone polymer, also produced a 50 percent improvement in subjects’ sensitivity to glucose-regulating insulin. What’s more, the extract reduced overall body fat by up to 5 percent, the amount proven to reduce risk of full-blown diabetes. Look for Cinnulin PF, the only cinnamon extract tested for toxicity that retains the beneficial active compounds. It can be found in Best Cinnamon Extract by Doctor’s Best ($10 for 60 capsules, at iherb.com).