5 to 6 small meals a day can boost metabolism.
Sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? But eating less actually puts the body in starvation mode, burning calories more slowly and making you feel hungry—thanks to our "thrifty metabolism."
Instead, studies show that eating small, nutritionally balanced, high-fiber (low-glycemic) meals throughout the day can trick the metabolism, balance blood sugar levels, and prevent cravings.
Research at the Cleveland Clinic finds that combining low-glycemic foods with exercise increased insulin sensitivity and lowered weight among obese adults. And Italian scientists report that a low-glycemic… Continue reading Categories
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Archive for March, 2010
To Lose Weight, Eat More Often
March 31st, 20105 to 6 small meals a day can boost metabolism.
Sounds counterintuitive, doesn't it? But eating less actually puts the body in starvation mode, burning calories more slowly and making you feel hungry—thanks to our "thrifty metabolism."
Instead, studies show that eating small, nutritionally balanced, high-fiber (low-glycemic) meals throughout the day can trick the metabolism, balance blood sugar levels, and prevent cravings.
Research at the Cleveland Clinic finds that combining low-glycemic foods with exercise increased insulin sensitivity and lowered weight among obese adults. And Italian scientists report that a low-glycemic… Continue reading Ouch, Gallstones Can Really Hurt
March 29th, 2010
Prevent painful gallbladder problems naturally.
Over 25 million Americans have gallstones—if only 1 million get diagnosed annually. Sudden, sharp pain in the upper abdomen, under the breastbone, near the right shoulder, or between the shoulder blades usually signals gallstones, hardened cholesterol deposits ranging in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.
A small, pear-shaped organ located right under the liver, the gallbladder releases an important digestive fluid called bile that contains cholesterol. But if cholesterol is too high or the gallbladder fails to empty correctly, bile and the substances it contains… Continue reading Osteoporosis Drugs Linked to Fractures
March 26th, 2010
Nutrition is a far safer and more effective support for your bones.
A 59-year-old woman—simply riding on the subway—suffered a fracture to her femur (thigh bone) when the train jolted suddenly. She had been taking the drug alendronate for 7 years to treat age-related bone loss.
A 65-year-old with osteoporosis stepped off a European tour bus and collapsed with a stress fracture to her femur. After taking alendronate for 9 years, she needed a rod placed in her leg.
Alendronate is a bisphosphate, a relatively new class of drugs that are heavily advertised—and… Continue reading For Safe Travels: Avoid Unwanted Hitchhikers
March 24th, 2010
Don't bring tiny terrorists—bacteria, insects, and parasites—home after a much-needed getaway.
Planning a little escape? Travel broadens the mind and can be the ultimate way to relax. But even traveling close to home can cause health problems—some long-term and dangerous—if you're not careful.
Heading somewhere warm? Both beach sand and ocean water can be contaminated—due to agricultural runoff, animal waste products (including dead critters), and sewage—with bacteria, chemical toxins, and parasites.
Trains, motels, and even the best hotels are experiencing an annoying problem—bed bugs! Spurred on by international travel, these small (no bigger… Continue reading Rejuvenate Your Body with a Spring Cleanse
March 22nd, 2010
Seasonal detox flushes out hormone-disrupting toxins that make you fat.
Male fish producing eggs, beluga whales with both male and female organs, male frogs turning into females—this is scary stuff! And now scientists are discovering similar problems in humans.
"Testosterone levels are down 16% in men," researcher Theo Colburn, professor emeritus at the University of Florida in Gainesville, told NPR last week, "and sperm counts have dropped by half in the last 60 years." Environmental toxins in "practically everything we use" from herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, flame retardants, and plasticizers in food and water… Continue reading Shake Down Excess Weight with Delicious Smoothies
March 19th, 2010
You can lose up to 20 pounds—safely—in just 2 weeks!
Want to curb your appetite? Need to boost metabolism so you can successfully lose weight this spring?
With 67% of Americans overweight or obese, most people need to shed some pounds. Even 18% of today's teens are overweight. But losing weight can be dangerous if not done right.
The good news is that high-fiber drinks—especially when you add nutrient-dense berries—help you do just that! New Finnish research reports that a diet rich in berries can reduce inflammatory markers for metabolic syndrome, resulting in belly fat… Continue reading Fight Asthma With Vitamin D
March 17th, 2010
The sunshine vitamin also promotes healthy weight loss.
Over 16 million adults and 7 million kids in this country have asthma, an inflammatory disease that constricts airways in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Allergies, air pollution, and respiratory infections are only a few common asthma triggers.
Now, new research at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston links low levels of vitamin D with asthma. And a study presented at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology shows that almost half of asthmatic children are low in the… Continue reading Keep Toxins From Damaging Your Thyroid
March 15th, 2010
Get accurate testing to protect your health.
Ready for spring cleaning? Keep in mind that ordinary house dust contains flame retardants and other toxins that can disrupt hormone health.
In women, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) has also been linked to pesticides and plasticizers in house dust, while lowering sperm concentrations in men. Overall, though, thyroid problems are more common in women.
Certain insecticides—aldrine, DDT (still found in the environment despite having been banned), and lindane—can damage women's thyroid function—even if they are only married to men who used these toxins, recent research in the American Journal… Continue reading Sleeplessness May Shrink Your Brain
March 12th, 2010
Insomnia can lead to depression, diabetes, and weight gain.
Roughly 60% of Americans polled in a new survey say they don't get enough sleep. And when you set your clocks to "spring forward" on Sunday, you'll probably be joining them!
Besides costing an hour of sleep, adjusting to daylight savings can disrupt sleep patterns—and affect the body's circadian rhythms. Sleep disturbances are clearly linked to depression and other forms of mental problems.
For the first time, a new Dutch study shows that sleeplessness may actually shrink the part of the brain (gray matter) involved in decision-making… Continue reading Think Twice About Mobile Phones for Kids
March 10th, 2010
Don't let dangerous radiation "cook" growing brains.
A startling new Swedish study shows that young people are 5 times more likely to get brain tumors if they use a cell phone before they're 20. And cordless phones also emit dangerous radiation.
Research finds that children's brains absorb twice as much radiation from these phones as adult brains. Not only do youngsters have thinner skulls and smaller heads than adults, but their brains also continue developing during childhood and adolescence—only increasing their risk.
With kids spending "significant time on mobile phones," warns David Carpenter, MD, dean… Continue reading 
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
