FDA Warns About 72 Tainted Weight Loss Products

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MD March 20, 2009 --

The FDA today expanded its list of tainted weight loss products that consumers shouldn't buy or use.

In December, the FDA warned about more than 25 weight loss products that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that may be risky.

Now, that warning list includes 72 illegal weight loss products that the FDA wants consumers to avoid. Those products contain any of the following undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients:

fenproporex -- a controlled substance not approved for marketing in the U.S.
fluoxetine -- an antidepressant available by prescription only
bumetanide -- a potent diuretic available by prescription only
furosemide -- a potent diuretic available by prescription only
rimonabant -- a drug not approved for marketing in the U.S.
cetilistat -- an experimental obesity drug not approved for marketing in the U.S.
phenytoin -- an antiseizure medication available by prescription only
phenolphthalein -- a solution used in chemical experiments and a suspected cancer-causing agent that is not approved for marketing in the U.S.
The health risks posed by these products can be very serious and include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack, and stroke.

Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was found in many of these products at levels much higher than the maximum daily dosage for Meridia, the only FDA-approved drug product containing sibutramine. These higher levels of sibutramine can increase the incidence and severity of these health risks.

Fenproporex, another controlled substance, can cause arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and possible sudden death.

Tainted Weight Loss Products

Here is the FDA's full list of all 72 tainted weight loss products:

2 Day Diet
2 Day Diet Slim Advance
2x Powerful Slimming
3 Day Diet
3 Days Fit
3x Slimming Power
5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
7 Day Herbal Slim
7 Days Diet
7 Diet
7 Diet Day/Night Formula
8 Factor Diet
Eight Factor Diet
21 Double Slim
24 Hours Diet
999 Fitness Essence
BioEmagrecim
Body Creator
Body Shaping
Body Slimming
Cosmo Slim
Extrim Plus
Extrim Plus 24 Hour Reburn
Fasting Diet
Fatloss Slimming
GMP
Herbal Xenicol
Imelda Fat Reducer
Imelda Perfect Slim
JM Fat Reducer
Lida DaiDaihua
Meili
Meizitang
Miaozi MeiMiaoQianZiJiaoNang
Miaozi Slim Capsules
Natural Model
Perfect Slim
Perfect Slim 5x
Perfect Slim Up
Phyto Shape
Powerful Slim
ProSlim Plus
Reduce Weihgt
Royal Slimming Formula
Sana Plus
Slim 3 in 1
Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Formula
Slim 3 in 1 Extra Slim Waist Formula
Slim 3 in 1 M18 Royal Diet
Slim 3 in 1 Slim Formula
Slim Burn
Slim Express 4 in 1
Slim Express 360
Slim Fast (This product isn't related to the Slim-Fast line of meal replacement and related products.)
Slim Tech
Slim Up
Slim Waist Formula
Slim Waistline
Slimbionic
Sliminate
Slimming Formula
Somotrim
Starcaps
Super Fat Burner
Superslim
Super Slimming
Trim 2 Plus
Triple Slim
Venom Hyperdrive 3.0
Waist Strength Formula
Xsvelten
Zhen de Shou

Courtesy: FDA and WebMD.com

Diet sodas make you fat

Hello Jacques,

Diet sodas actually make you fat. Not only this, they are addictive.
They're loaded with ingredients such as aspartame that are actually
worse than regular sodas.

Now I want to say if you're trying to lose weight, you should be
drinking water...and water ONLY. But if you're drinking diet sodas,
read this next part.

I've read about an experiment with people who regularly drank diet
sodas. They had them switch to regular sodas for 2 weeks. So what
happened? Not one person gained weight... AND... over 75% of the
people actually lost weight! They mentioned how 1 person even lost
7 pounds.

The thought that because diet sodas have fewer or no calories, thus
they're good to lose weight... is false. Also, remember that all
carbonated drinks block calcium absorption. Calcium along with
Vitamin E are the two most important supplements for women.

And don't forget to use extra virgin coconut oil and a
mini-trampoline.

Jen
jenjolandiet@yahoo.com

PS. I know I harp on stuff, but I do that because it's important.

Add 14 Years to Your Life

By Shawn McKee
rDiet Staff Writer

It may sound like a complex algebraic equation, but it's really as simple as elementary addition -- four basic changes in your behavior can add up to an extra 14 years of life. This was the result of the largest study of diet and health ever conducted.

The study, published in the journal PLoS Medicine, examined the longevity impact of making four lifestyle changes and found that those who adopted four healthy behaviors lived an average of 14 years longer than those who adopted none of these healthy habits.

The University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council found that participants increased their longevity and lived and average of 14 years longer than their study counterparts by:

--Not smoking
--Exercising regularly
--Drinking alcohol in moderation
--Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables

Study participants who didn't do any of the four behaviors died sooner than those who followed all of them. While these behaviors are individually known to improve health, this is the first time researchers combined, quantified and applied to actual longevity of life.

"We know that each of these individual behaviors will have positive effects on overall health, but by combining all four of them, the positive outcomes are multiplied," explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pam Ofstein ". There are still many behaviors and factors that need to be researched further, but this longevity study does shed some light on the importance of combining a healthy lifestyle with whole natural foods and exercise."

To examine the combined effects of not smoking, exercising, drinking alcohol in moderation (one to 14 units per week, with units defined as a half pint of beer or glass of wine), and eating five servings of fruits and vegetables, from 1993 to 1997, 20,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 79, were surveyed and given a point for each of these healthy behaviors.

The study tracked deaths among the participants through 2006 and found that over that time frame, participants who adhered to none of the four healthy behaviors were four times more likely to have died than the participants who maintained healthier habits. Additionally, researchers calculated that those scoring zero had the same risk of dying as someone 14 years older who scored four on the questionnaire.

While the study did not focus on how individual factors affect health, the results suggest that making several small changes can have a large impact on overall health and longevity.

Making all four of these changes can be tough. It is important to remember that each of these changes will, by themselves, improve your health. If you're doing even a couple of these things, you're on the right track to living longer.

If you need help getting started on a fitness plan, eDiets can help you find activities you'll enjoy as you lose weight.

"Doing all these things in combination will provide the best results," explains Pam. "But for many of us, taking small steps and making that first step is the key – baby steps. By adhering to any of these behaviors, your health will benefit in the long run."

Courtesy: eDiets' "Worst Foods" e-Magazine

The Wonders of Water (Concl.)

When You Need More
Physical activity, heat, and humidity can increase our fluid needs. In these situations, keep water bottles close at hand and drink frequently to avoid dehydration. If you're going to be physically active for long periods, consider sports drinks that hydrate and provide easily usable sugar and electrolytes.

Illnesses accompanied by increased body temperature, excessive perspiration, vomiting, frequent urination, or diarrhea can also increase our fluid needs. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids if you have one of these conditions, and see a doctor if your fluid losses are excessive or prolonged.

How Much Is Too Much?
Scientists on the IOM panel did not set an upper limit for water.

"Water intoxication is very rare, although it has been seen in fraternity pranks. That can be very serious and result in death" says David Perlow, MD, an Atlanta-based urologist.

One recent study of Boston Marathon runners showed that one in three marathon runners was drinking too much water during a race -- probably because they were following recent advice to drink as much as tolerated.

If you follow your thirst, you won't go wrong, Perlow says. He notes that pre-modern man never ran around sipping on a water bottle. A dry mouth indicated it was time to run to the stream for a drink.

"Trust your thirst instinct to make sure you get enough fluids and, of equal importance, void frequently," suggests Perlow.

Perlow says the bladder is like a balloon. When you make infrequent trips to the bathroom, it can become overstretched -- which can result in problems with incomplete emptying, he explains.

He recommends 7-12 trips to the toilet daily for most healthy people.

Water and Weight Control
For years, drinking water has been recommended for weight loss -- despite the fact that fluids generally satisfy thirst and not hunger. Barbara Rolls, PhD, an expert on thirst and satiety, points out that thirst and hunger are regulated by entirely different mechanisms.

A recent study by Rolls and colleagues at Penn State University looked at whether people who drank water with lunch took in fewer calories than those who drank other low-calorie beverages. They found that drinking water had little effect on total calorie consumption at the meal.

"In all of our research, we have never been able to show that water can cause weight loss," says Rolls. The only way drinking water can help you lose weight is if you substitute it for higher-calorie beverages or foods, she explains.

However, eating foods with high water content can help dieters, by increasing the fullness factor.

"When you add water to a bowl of vegetables as in soup, the soup has greater satiety than when the vegetables are eaten alone with a glass of water," explains Rolls, author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan and The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan. "When water is incorporated into food or shakes, satiety is increased and subjects ultimately eat less food."

The weight loss benefits of water stem from several facts:

Foods that incorporate water tend to look larger.
The higher volume of these foods provides greater oral stimulation.
Most important, when water is bound to food, it slows down absorption and lasts longer in the belly.
If you want to lose weight, Rolls recommends an eating plan that includes plenty of high-volume foods such as fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, and oatmeal, along with adequate fluids to satisfy your thirst.

Bottom Line
The experts agree: Drinking water -- either sparkling or flat and perhaps with a twist of citrus -- is a great, noncaloric way to satisfy your thirst. But if you prefer 100% fruit juice, low fat milk, coffee, or other flavored beverages, they too can keep you well hydrated. Water is calorie free, which makes it a great choice for weight control, but we also need the calcium and especially the vitamin D in low-fat milk. Bottom line, make your beverage choices work to satisfy your nutritional needs, fluid preferences, and hydration needs.

Courtesy: WebMD.com Newsletter

The Wonders of Water

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

Water is one of the most basic elements of life but figuring out how much we ought to drink hasn't always been so simple.

Most of us grew up thinking we needed to drink eight glasses of water each day, in addition to any other drinks we might choose. But the latest recommendations say that we no longer need to worry about drinking specific amounts of water. Instead, we can simply satisfy our thirst with any beverage. As it turns out, there really was no scientific evidence for the 64-ounce daily recommendation that was based on survey data of usual consumption.

Of course, water -- clean, refreshing, and calorie-free -- is an ideal beverage of choice but studies have shown that you can be just as hydrated with coffee, soft drinks, or even beer. And some folks swear by its weight loss powers, including Mireille Guiliano, author of the best-selling book French Women Don't Get Fat.

To help make the facts about water crystal clear, WebMD asked experts for the skinny on just how much water we need, and whether drinking water can really help keep those extra calories at bay.

The New Fluid Guidelines

A 2002 study published in the American Journal of Physiology questioned the old recommendation of 8 ounces of water, eight times a day. After a thorough review, researcher Heinz Valtin concluded there was inadequate evidence that healthy adults -- living in temperate climates and not engaged in rigorous activities -- need large amounts of water.

For normal, healthy adults, Valtin recommended simply drinking when thirsty. And he reported that even caffeinated drinks can count toward satisfying our fluid requirements.

In February 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued new recommendations that agree with Valtin's findings. The new guidelines remove the eight-glasses-a-day recommendation, and say healthy adults may use thirst to determine their fluid needs. Exceptions to this rule include anyone with a medical condition requiring fluid control; athletes; and people taking part in prolonged physical activities or whose living conditions are extreme.

How Much Is Enough?

The IOM report did not specify requirements for water but made general fluid intake recommendations based on survey data of 91 ounces (that's 11-plus cups a day) for women and 125 ounces (15-plus cups a day) for men. Remember, these guidelines are for total fluid intake, including fluid from all food and beverages.

Approximately 80% of our water intake comes from drinking water and other beverages, and the other 20% comes from food. Assuming these percentages are accurate for most of us, the recommended amount of beverages, including water, would be approximately 9cups for women and 12.5 cups for men.

While 20% may seem like a lot of fluid to get from food, many common food items are mostly water. Here are some foods with high water content, according to the American Dietetic Association:

Food Percentage Water

Lettuce (1½ cup) 95%
Watermelon (1½ cup) 92%
Broccoli (1½ cup) 91%
Grapefruit (1½ cup) 91%
Milk (1 cup) 89%
Orange juice (3/4 cup) 88%
Carrot (1½ cup) 87%
Yogurt (1 cup) 85%
Apple (one medium) 84%

(Continued in our next post)
Courtesy: WebMD.com Newsletter

Ways To Burn Fat Now (Concl.)

2. Fat-burning Workout: Pump Up the Cardio continued...
"Increase the days," White suggests. "If you work out two days, go to three. Or if you're jogging for half an hour, increase it to 45 minutes or an hour."Interval training -- that is, alternating bursts of intense activity with bursts of lighter activity -- is a good way to burn more fat, White says. "Walk for five minutes, then jog for five," he says, then repeat. That strategy will burn overall more calories and more fat. If you are already jogging, jog then sprint to mix it up, he says.

Increasing intensity for a short period within your regular workout will burn more total calories and therefore more fat, Sedlock says.

3. Fat-burning Workout: Pump Iron or Do Other Strength Training
If you're trying to banish flab, weight training three times a week for a half hour each session -- if you're a beginner -- is ideal, White says. Once your flab is under control, two weight training sessions a week usually will help you maintain tone, he says.

"Work the full body," he says, rather than focus only on, say, triceps work for flabby upper arms. A full workout works all the major muscle groups, not just the flabby ones.

If you're a beginner to weights or other kinds of strength training, such as resistance bands, get some expert instruction first by hiring a personal trainer for a session or two, experts suggest.

You can incorporate the full-body weight training exercises that focus on your flabby areas, of course, White says. "For the muffin top, focus on the [abdominal] oblique muscles by doing bicycle kicks," he says, "or do oblique twists with the cable [weight] machine."

A simpler at-home exercise to burn fat, White says, is: Get a broom, hold it straight up over your head, then lean to the right and the left. You should feel the effort in your so-called love handles.

For flabby upper arms, you can do dumbbell kickbacks with hand weights. (With upper arm parallel to the floor and bent at the elbow, lean over a weight bench or other low bench with your other arm supporting your body. Extend the lower arm holding the weight until it is straight. Repeat and switch the weight to the other hand.)

To maximize the fat burning during weight training, women should aim for 12 to 15 repetitions per exercise, White says, and focus on a higher number of reps rather than constantly boosting the weight. Men should aim for eight to 12 reps and increase the weight periodically.

4. Fat-Burning Workout: Crunch Your Flab
Although a lot of people think a thousand sit-ups or crunches a day will get rid of the flab, that's not entirely true, Sedlock says. "Sit-ups aren't going to get rid of your abdominal fat, per se," she says. "Sit-ups strengthen the abdominal musculature." So that means with enough sit-ups your tummy should have a better appearance, she says.

"If part of the muffin top is due to those muscles not being exercised for a long time, toning up those muscles may help," she adds.

Pot bellies can be toned up with crunches and reverse crunches (lie flat and raise your hips and legs to work the lower abdominals).

5. How to Lose Fat: Overhaul Your Diet
Every other week, it seems, there's some new "fat-burning" food or supplement. On the list: chili peppers, low-fat dairy, and numerous dietary supplements.

There's some truth to the fat-burning food claims. "Some studies show certain foods can speed metabolism," White says.

For instance, capsinoids -- compounds derived from chili peppers -- increased fat burning slightly, and more so in subjects who had a body mass index (BMI) over 25, the beginning of overweight, according to Japanese researchers who published the study in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry.

Researchers have debated the role of dairy foods in weight management. Diets with at least three daily servings of [low-fat] dairy products speed weight loss and body fat loss in obese people compared to a diet with little dairy, according to Michael Zemel, PhD, of the University of Tennessee, who has published his results of the value of dairy in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and other journals.

But White says don't rely on the so-called fat-busting foods to banish flab while you eat whatever you want the rest of the day. Instead, White suggests, incorporate the fat-burning foods into a sound diet.

What's sound and flab-unfriendly? Whole grains, lean protein, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and eight glasses of water daily, White says.

Small frequent meals also help you lose weight, White says, although not all experts agree that many mini-meals are better than three square meals.

"I have a client who came in eating one [huge] meal a day, and he weighed 300 pounds," White says. He put the man on five small, healthy meals a day. He lost weight, White says, and was amazed. Eating often also helps keep your energy levels up, White says.

Courtesy: WebMD.com news;etter

Ways to Burn Fat Now

Here's how to work out, eat right -- and lose fat.
By Kathleen Doheny

You work out zealously and eat healthy meals -- at least most of the time -- and the pounds are starting to drop off. You're looking and feeling more toned, too, just as you'd hoped.

But with all this effort, shouldn't you lose fat? Shouldn't the flab be dissolving faster? If you're of a certain age, you know the flab we're talking about.

If you're a woman, you may still have the dreaded muffin top, that slab of fat that spills stubbornly over the top of your best jeans, spoiling the look. Or if you're a man in that same bracket, you may have the unsightly pot belly that adds years to your otherwise youthful physique.

Shouldn't fat burning be faster? Not to mention easier?

WebMD consulted an exercise physiologist and an exercise physiologist/registered dietitian to find out how best to burn fat -- once and for all!

Here are their five best fat-burning strategies:

1. How to Burn Fat: Get Realistic

Get real tip No. 1: "You can't spot reduce," says Darlene Sedlock, PhD, an associate professor of kinesiology at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "Nobody wants to hear that."

Translation: If you're hankering to get rid of the jeans spillover or the pot belly, you need to burn fat from head to toe. "Anything to reduce your overall body fat will help," she says.

Get real tip No. 2: You need to give it some time. "There's no easy fix to the flab," Sedlock says. "Over time, some of the flab will disappear," if you're diligent about the eating and exercise plans. Give it several months, she suggests. Your weight might not change, but you will notice a difference in the way your clothes fit, she says.

Get real tip No. 3: This is perhaps the cruelest. You probably can't expect to be as flab-free as when you were 20. "Skin loses elasticity as you age," Sedlock says. The sagging of the skin adds to the unsightly appearance of flab, she says.

Other factors also make flab a challenge, says Jim White, an exercise physiologist and registered dietitian in Virginia Beach, Va. who is a national spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "As we age, muscle mass declines, and metabolism slows, so we are definitely fighting an uphill battle."

So is some flab inevitable with age? "It seems to happen, but if you make a concentrated effort to avoid it, you can," Sedlock says. Too late if you're reading this article, of course, but preventing flab is a lot easier than banishing it, she says.

Even so, it's possible to reduce your fat and flab, White and Sedlock say. Besides being realistic, here are their best tips.

2. Fat-burning Workout: Pump Up the Cardio

A good overall cardiovascular conditioning exercise program is crucial to burn fat, say Sedlock and White. "Walking is excellent," White says, but most people have to pump it up a bit from their routine pace, especially if they've been exercising for a while and the flab isn't budging.

(To be continued...)
Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

Chocolate: 100-Calorie Treats!

By Christine Senft, M.S.
eDiets Contributor


Raise your hand if you're a chocolate-lover. I can't see you, but I'm guessing your hand is reaching for the heavens right about now. It's no wonder, considering chocolate is the most commonly craved food in the U.S.

Since research tells us chocolate is consumed by more people in winter than in any other season, you'll probably encounter plenty of that decadent delight in candy dishes and on dessert tables.

When nothing but chocolate in its purest form will do (sometimes fat-free hot cocoa just doesn't cut it), getting your fix without getting a big fat and calorie punch along with it can be next to impossible.

For example, just one measly Godiva Open Oyster has 115 calories and 6 grams of fat. A regular-size Hershey's milk chocolate bar also brings a not-so-sweet 230 calories and 13 grams of fat.

The damage from just 1/4 of a 6-ounce Dove dark chocolate bar? Brace yourself... that'll be 230 calories and 14 grams of fat. Even a "fun size" bag of M&M's manages to cram in 100 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. And when you're trying to lose weight, that's a hefty price to pay for such a small amount of satisfaction.

Now, if you're trying to justify your indulgence based on those antioxidants you've heard so much about, be careful. While chocolate like wine does contain phenols which may help reduce the risk of heart disease, you can get those antioxidants from plenty of less-fattening sources, like fruits and vegetables.

So, what's a chocoholic to do? Instead of seeking support from the vending machine, try one of our 10 best secrets for quelling a chocolate craving in less than 100 calories, or whip up our recipe for luxurious-tasting homemade truffles (see below). You'll get an intense shot of chocolate flavor and only 60 calories and 1 gram of fat per piece. (Wrap some up in a holiday tin for a perfect hostess gift.)

Top 10 Chocolate Treats (for 100 calories or less)

1. 4 Hershey's Kisses (100 calories)
2. 1 cup diet hot cocoa and 1 chocolate graham cracker (80 calories)
3. 1 JELL-O fat-free chocolate pudding snack (100 calories)
4. 1 Quaker Chocolate Crunch popcorn cake (60 calories)
5. 1 cup strawberries drizzled with 1 tablespoon fat-free hot fudge (100 calories)
6. 1/2 cup fat-free chocolate frozen yogurt (100 calories)
7. 20 chocolate-covered raisins (80 calories)
8. 1/2 cup General Mills Cocoa Puffs cereal (60 calories)
9. 2 Snackwell's Devil's Food Cookie Cakes (100 calories)
10. 2 bite-size York Peppermint Patties (100 calories)

Chocolate Truffles
Makes 40 truffles

1 (8-oz.) package fat-free cream cheese, at room temperature
4 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
Cocoa powder (optional)

Combine cream cheese, sugar, cocoa powder and extract in a bowl; freeze mixture 30-60minutes. Remove from freezer and form into 1" balls; roll in cocoa powder, if desired. Freeze 30 minutes or until firm.
(Per serving: 60 calories, 1 gram fat)

Courtesy: eDiets' "Worst Foods" Newsletter

Dieting Is Out; Healthy Eating Is In

How giving up diets could help you succeed in weight loss.
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Louise Chang, MD

After years of obsessing about weight loss, first shunning high-fat foods and then high-carb ones, it seems Americans are giving up formal diets in favor of healthy eating and wholesome foods.

A recent report by the market research firm NPD, based on a survey of 5,000 people, found that the number of Americans on weight loss diets was at its lowest rate in decades. As of February 2008, 26% of women and 16% of men surveyed said they were following a weight-loss diet, down from 39% of women and 29% of men in 1990.

At the same time, a 2008 American Dietetic Association survey of nearly 800 adults found that 79% said they aren’t doing more to improve their diets because they're already satisfied with the way they eat; 73% said it's because they don't want to give up their favorite foods.

The good news? They don't have to, say the experts.

"All foods can fit into a healthy diet, as long as you exercise and practice moderation," says Jeannie Gazzaniga Moloo, PhD, RD,a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Healthy Eating vs. Dieting
So why are fewer people going on weight loss diets? One reason, some experts say, may be that they have learned from past mistakes.

Diet books, low-calorie, fat-free, and sugar-free foods abound, but don’t appear to be making a dent in obesity statistics. Many dieters have been lured over and over again by promises of fast weight loss from the latest diet schemes, only to regain the lost weight -- and then some -- as soon as they go off the diet.

The truth is that if your weight loss plan is not sustainable for the long term, it's not worth following, says Michael Dansinger, MD, physician for the NBC reality show The Biggest Loser.

Another reason, say other experts, may simply be that dieters are waiting for the next diet craze – the Atkins Diet or South Beach Diet of the moment.

There's no single, super-popular diet right now, says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, nutrition director for the Cleveland Clinic. "Even when the hot diet bursts onto the scene, just reading it is no guarantee you will lose weight," she adds.

Still another reason, some say, is that, with two out of three Americans overweight, overweight is fast becoming the new "normal." When your friends and family are overweight, your own extra pounds can seem less important.

Indeed, a 2007 study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that people tend to follow suit when their friends and family members become overweight, and likewise when they lose weight.

Better Food, Not More
Trends like the "slow food" movement, an interest in organic foods and in eating foods grown closer to home (being a "locavore ") are further shifting the momentum away from foods to avoid to foods to enjoy.
"If you shop at farmers markets, you are going to be buying natural food, not junk food," says Moore.

K. Dunn Gifford, president of the Oldways Preservation Trust, a food issues think tank, says high-quality food is just more satisfying.

"We need to reduce our tendency toward over abundance and realize less food can be more satisfying when you choose foods with intense flavors and taste," Gifford says.

It can be a lot easier and more motivating to focus on what you can eat instead of what you should avoid, experts say.

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2007 reported that obese women who avoided high-fat foods and focused on eating more fruits and vegetables lost 20% more weight that those who only avoided high-fat foods.

So what exactly should you be adding to your diet? Go for more plant foods and whole, unprocessed foods that are rich in nutrients and naturally lower in fat, salt, and sugar, experts say.

Nancy Rodriguez, PhD, RD, a nutrition researcher at the University of Connecticut, says eating lean or low-fat protein at every meal will fill you up and make you less likely to overeat. Likewise, foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables -- high in fiber and water content -- are low in calories and help you feel full.

"When you fill up on nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, low-fat dairy, and other lean protein, there is less room for empty-calorie foods," Rodriguez says.

And what about those foods that taste good but aren't exactly packed with nutrients (except maybe calories)?

"It's OK to enjoy a small serving of those foods once in a while," says American Dietetic Association president Martin Yadrick, MA, RD.

Healthy Eating: Slow Down
Not only what you eat, but how you eat, is important when you're trying to eat healthfully and lose extra pounds, experts say.


One big step toward taking control of your diet is to eat more home-cooked meals.

"When you prepare it, you have total control over what is in the food, you can make it exactly how you like it, and better for you than in restaurants, where you have no idea what is in the food," says Ellie Krieger, RD, host of the Food Network’s Healthy Appetite and author of The Food You Crave.

Also, forget about eating on the run. You'll enjoy your food more and ultimately, eat less, if you eat slowly and savor the flavors, Rodriguez says. Enjoy the conversation at the table, and give your brain time to get the signal that you are comfortably full.

"If you sit down and taste the food, you are more likely to be satisfied with less," she says.

Courtesy: WebMD.com bewlstter

5 Best GID Dinners

By Carolina Diaz-Bordon
eDiets Contributor


For too long, healthy eating has been mistakenly linked to deprivation and lack of taste and variety. It is also the reason many people fail when they try to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

There's no reason you should deny yourself the enjoyment of a delicious meal. Eating should be a lifelong process of nourishing oneself, not a never-ending struggle.

And now the GID delivers healthy eating along with the taste you desire.

The best way to silence your stomach quickly is to give it what it wants. The best way to keep your stomach satisfied throughout the entire day is to give it what it needs. These two principles are behind the GI Diet.

Nutritionist Susan Burke says the GID is based on research that shows people who eat more high-fiber foods and fewer nutrient-dense foods lose weight more successfully. And they keep it off longer.

The GID contains foods that help you feel fuller longer than many other weight-loss plans. and contains a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

The GID is precisely that, a plan, a road map for eating the foods you love in a healthy way. One of its most important elements is diversity. Different foods provide different nutrients and minerals.

Keli R., who has shed 22 pounds with the GID, described the plan this way: "I was convinced that there was no way that I could possibly get to eat all the food that the plan suggested and still lose weight. After reading all the articles on the eDiets Web site, though, I realized that it did make sense after all!"
Check it out for yourself. Here are five super-satisfying, scrumptious examples of the types of dishes you will find on the GID:

1. Balsamic Salmon with Crisp Broccoli and Carrots and Brown Rice

Ingredients:
2 green onions
5 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup fresh broccoli
1 cup fresh shredded carrots
1 tablespoon olive oil and vinegar dressing

Directions: Balsamic Salmon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse and chop scallions. Place filet in baking dish, sprinkle with scallions and pour balsamic vinegar and wine on top. Bake filet for about 10 minutes for every inch of thickness. Watch carefully not to overcook. Serve.

Directions: Crisp Broccoli and Carrots

Rinse and cut broccoli florets into bite-size pieces. Fill a small sauce pan with water. Cover and bring water to a boil. Add vegetables to boiling water and cook for no more than 90 seconds; quickly remove, place in a colander and rinse with cold water. Toss vegetables with dressing and serve.

2. Oriental Pasta and Beef Stir-Fry

Ingredients:
4 oz. beef, loin cut
1 clove garlic
1/4 small onion
1 cup chopped bok choy
8 baby carrots
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 1/2 teaspoon lite soy sauce
1 1/2 oz. pasta, whole-wheat

Directions: Oriental Pasta and Beef Stir-Fry

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Rinse and cut beef lengthwise into thin strips; set aside. Mince garlic and slice onion. Rinse and thinly slice bok choy and baby carrots; set aside. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet to medium high; stir fry the beef two to three minutes until no longer pink. Remove beef from skillet. Add minced garlic, red pepper flakes and onion to skillet and saute for about one minute; then add bok choy and carrots; stir fry until vegetables are crisp tender, about five minutes. Return beef to skillet with cooked pasta and soy sauce and mix to thoroughly combine all ingredients; cook for one or two more minutes and serve.

3. Hawaiian Chicken Stir-Fry with Basmati Rice

4. Veggie Burger Melt with Savory Zucchini and Soy Nuts

5. Shrimp Scampi with Basmati Rice and Raspberries

eDiets members who follow the GI Diet plan can whip up any of these awesome dinners whenever the mood strikes. For the recipes to the Hawaiian Chicken Stir-Fry, Veggie Burger Melt or Shrimp Scampi dinners, simply join eDiets and click the GI Diet plan.

Happy dining!

Courtesy: eDiets Newsletter