1. Outing sneaky trans fats?
2. Detox diet—without the queasies and headaches!
3. Can diet drinks trigger weight gain?

Outing sneaky trans fats? I’ve been trying to limit trans fats in my family’s diet, so I started carefully reading nutrition labels. But I’m confused: Some foods that I know must have trans fat, like margarine, don’t list it on the label. Are trans fats hiding behind other names?

In many cases, yes. Artery-clogging trans fatty acids are lurking in many packaged foods under the guise of healthy fats like polyunsaturated oils. The reason: Some trans fats have a similar chemical structure to polyunsaturated fats, so loopholes in food-labeling laws allow them to be listed as such. They can also show up as “partially hydrogenated oil” or “shortening.” Luckily, monitoring intake will get easier beginning January 2006, thanks to FDA regulations that will require labels to clearly list trans fat content. In the meantime, there’s no telling what percentage of polyunsaturated fats are the unhealthy kind, but you can cut back on trans fats by noting where partially hydrogenated oil and shortening fall in the ingredients list—the closer to the beginning they are, the greater the trans fat content. 

Detox diet—without the queasies and headaches!   After reading about the speedy results of your two-week fat flush detox diet, I decided to give it a try. But after two days I was so miserable with a migraine and nausea that I quit. I did lose two pounds in those two days, though, so I really want to try again. Is it possible to bypass the headache and upset stomach?

Yes! While headaches and nausea are common side effects of withdrawal from toxins like caffeine and alcohol, you can avoid them with a few dietary tweaks. First, include 400 mg to 800 mg of magnesium in your daily diet. Detoxification causes an initial bodywide inflammation response that can trigger head pain and muscle aches, but magnesium’s anti-inflammatory powers reduce tissue swelling and pain. Detox diet–friendly sources include sunflower seeds (255 mg per 1⁄2 cup), trail mix made with unsalted nuts and dark chocolate (250 mg per cup) and boiled spinach (156 mg per cup). And if the queasies kick in, sip some ginger tea. The root’s active ingredients, gingerol and shogaol, are proven nausea-fighters. Taking one to three capsules of a pure ginger extract should also do the trick. My brand of choice: Planetary Formulas Full Spectrum Ginger Extract 350 mg ($11 for 120 tablets, at iherb.com). With these dietary changes, you’ll enjoy the slimming, feel-great benefits of my Fat Flush Plan from day one!

Can diet drinks trigger weight gain?   Two months ago, I quit sugary cola cold turkey and switched to diet drinks. That saves me hundreds of calories per day, so I thought the pounds would fall off. But I haven’t lost an ounce—instead, I’ve gained five pounds! Why is this happening?

Although reducing sugar intake does help shed pounds, diet drinks often contain artificial sweeteners that can cause weight gain despite being calorie-free. In fact, one study discovered a 41 percent increase in the risk of being overweight for every 12 ounces of diet soda consumed each day. While researchers don’t yet know why, it seems the body responds to all sweeteners (artificial or not) with a surge of insulin, a hormone that triggers cravings for more sweets and leads to overeating. To avoid the trap, skip diet drinks and opt instead for flavored sparkling mineral water. Then, offset insulin surges brought on by sweets you consume by adding blood sugar–balancing spices, like cinnamon, anise and fennel, to meals or beverages.