Aug 9, 2012 2:07pm

Addiction expert Dr. Mike Dow, author of Diet Rehab, host of TLCs Freaky Eaters and co-host of VH1s Couples Therapy, offers these five steps for getting your diet back on track.

Tune into Nightlinetonight at 11:35 p.m. ETto see howDr. Mike Dows 28-day Diet Rehab plan helped one former plus-size model bring down her weight.

Credit: ABC News

Step 1: Ask yourself: What am I truly missing in my life? The answer to this question will help you understand what your brain is really hungry for and if youre low on serotonin, dopamine, or both. If you need more serenity, stability, or happiness in your relationship or job, you may be low on serotonin. If you need less boredom, more adventure, or to feel like youre living and not just existing, its dopamine you need. Sugar and processed carbohydrates provide short-term boosts of serotonin, and high fat foods provide short-term boosts of dopamine. But using soda, pizza, and fries to try and feel better right now will prevent you from getting the serotonin and dopamine youre craving in the long-run.

Take the full serotonin and dopamine quizzes HERE: http://www.drmikedow.com/diet-rehab/serotonin-quiz

Step 2: When youre craving an unhealthy food today, try adding a serotonin or dopamine booster activity. The serenity of a 10 minute walk in the middle of a busy work day will give you a sustainable boost of serotonin you would have gotten from that candy bar or soda. And the vitality youll get from reconnecting with an old friend will give you the same boost of dopamine you would have gotten from those potato chips or fries.

Other serotonin booster activities could include cuddling with your significant other or a pet, joining a support group, listening to classical music, doing errands on foot, or looking into someones eyes when youre talking to them. Dopamine booster activities include asking a special someone on a date, cooking something youve never made before, getting eight hours of sleep tonight, attending a bootcamp-style fitness class, or hitting the playground with the kids. Come up with your own booster activities to start to change your brain chemistry here and now.

Step 3: Eat more food to lose more weight! Now that you realize what youre adding to your life is more important than what youre taking away, eat more booster foods today. Booster foods are healthy foods that give your brain a slow, steady release of serotonin or dopamine while staying in your stomach about twice as long as those unhealthy pitfall foods. Youll feel fuller, longer. This makes it easier to choose even more booster foods throughout the day.

Serotonin booster foods like high fiber cereal, whole fruit, or high fiber pasta and veggies in marinara sauce give you this chemical associated with happiness and peace in a healthy way. Dopamine booster foods like green tea, grilled chicken, or Greek yogurt give you a steady boost of this feel-good chemical associated with motivation, productivity, and vigor.

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Rehab Your Diet in 5 Simple Steps

While August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, many mothers have questions year round. One of the most common is about how diet may impact their milk and thus affect their baby. Opinions and traditions abound. Some cultures avoid cold foods, some avoid gassy vegetables and some avoid very spicy foods.

Many cultures have traditional foods believed to help moms have a strong milk supply. Most of these are based on a whole grain like barley, oats, brown rice or whole wheat. Whole grains are high in B-vitamins, which are important for making milk. Leafy greens, high in folic acid, also seem to support a strong milk supply.

The good news is most moms can eat whatever healthy diet they enjoy. During pregnancy, the flavors and essences from your diet go through your amniotic fluid so the baby has been swimming in and swallowing the flavors from your table for months. Generally the baby is already accustomed to those flavors by the time he or she encounters them again in your milk.

This is one of the significant differences between breast milk and formula. Babies who take formula receive the same drink several times a day for many months. It never changes. A breast-fed baby is introduced to a variety of flavors appropriate for his or her own culture through mom's milk. This is helpful when the baby begins solid food because he or she is already accustomed to the flavors of the family's meals.

"So you mean I can have Thai food?" a mom often asks.

If you ate Thai during your pregnancy, your baby is already familiar with it, just like the babies born to women who breast-feed in Thailand. On the other hand, if something would be a new flavor to your baby because you didn't eat it during your pregnancy, try a moderate amount, mildly seasoned, the first few times the baby will be receiving it through your milk.

Occasionally, you may find that your baby is exceptionally fussy after something you ate. If this happens, think back to what might have been new or excessive in your diet in the previous four to 24 hours.

If a baby becomes steadily fussy, the primary offenders are usually dairy and soy. In these cases, continuing to breast-feed is best because a baby who reacts to dairy or soy through mom's milk would be very uncomfortable drinking standard formulas. It may be necessary for you to eliminate the offending foods from your diet for a week to see if there's an improvement. If so, continue to eliminate it for several weeks to allow the baby's gut to heal before reintroducing the food to your diet.

But be careful not to misread the signs. If your baby is fussy, he or she could just be hungry.

If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask for help. Lactation consultants can provide valuable advice and guidance for breast-feeding moms.

Excerpt from:
Mom's diet plays a role in breast-feeding

ScienceDaily (Aug. 8, 2012) New research sheds more light on the diet and home ranges of early hominins belonging to three different genera, notably Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo -- that were discovered at sites such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai in the Cradle of Humankind, about 50 kilometres from Johannesburg. Australopithecus existed before the other two genera evolved about 2 million years ago.

Scientists conducted an analysis of the fossil teeth, indicating that Australopithecus, a predecessor of early Homo, had a more varied diet than early Homo. Its diet was also more variable than the diet of another distant human relative known as Paranthropus.

An international team of researchers, including Professor Francis Thackeray, Director of the Institute for Human Evolution at Wits University, will be publishing their latest research on what our early ancestors ate, online in the journal, Nature, on August 8, 2012. The paper titled 'Evidence for diet but not landscape use in South African early hominins' was authored by Vincent Balter from the Ecole Normale Suprieure in Lyon, France; Jose Braga from the Universit de Toulouse Paul Sabatier in Toulouse in France; Philippe Telouk from the Ecole Normale Suprieure in Lyon in France; and Thackeray from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in South Africa.

According to Thackeray, the results of the study show that Paranthropus had a primarily herbivorous-like diet, while Homo included a greater consumption of meat.

Signatures of essential chemical elements have been found in trace amounts in the tooth enamel of the three fossils genera, and the results are indicators of what South African hominins ate and what their habitat preferences were.

Strontium and barium levels in organic tissues, including teeth, decrease in animals higher in the food chain. The scientists used a laser ablation device, which allowed them to sample very small quantities of fossil material for analysis. Since the laser beam was pointed along the growth prisms of dental enamel, it was possible to reconstruct the dietary changes for each hominin individual.

Thackeray states that the greater consumption of meat in the diet of early forms of Homo could have contributed to the increase in brain size in this genus.

Australopithecus probably ate both meat and the leaves and fruits of woody plants. The composition of this diet may have varied seasonally.

Apart from the dietary differences, the new results indicate that the home-range area was of similar size for species of the three hominin genera.

The scientists have also measured the strontium isotope composition of dental enamel. Strontium isotope compositions are free of dietary effects but are characteristic of the geological substrate on which the animals lived.

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Early human ancestors had more variable diet

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Making changes to a person's diet or lifestyle is normally a requirement to manage any medical condition, but thanks to the developers of a new supplement, those of Asian descent who suffer from a condition called Asian Glow, will now be able to eliminate it with no changes to their diet.

"We understood that most people would rather not have to change their diet or lifestyle to fix their Asian Glow symptoms, so we developed a product that not only eliminates the problem, but doesn't require any diet or lifestyle changes," said Paul Rowe, spokesperson for Goldwin Health, the creators of the new supplement called AF Formula.

Rowe explained that those of Asian descent, who experience Asian Glow have an enzyme deficiency that prevents them from processing alcohol normally. As a result of their inability to process alcohol, an accumulation of acetaldehyde (a metabolic byproduct of the catabolic metabolism/processing of alcohol) causes the body to react by blushing the face or causing the skin of the face (and sometimes the neck and upper body) to become blotchy.

"AF Formula has been tested and proven to eliminate the embarrassment that Asian Glow causes," Rowe stressed. "Other alternatives to managing this condition require people to make drastic changes to their diet. AF Formula is a simple daily supplement and our customers often write in to thank us because before us, there really wasn't any solution for this huge problem."

"After taking AF Formula for about three weeks, a person will then be able to process alcohol normally, without the embarrassing symptoms of Asian Glow," Rowe stressed. As to why anyone suffering with Asian Glow should try AF Formula, Rowe noted that those who have used the supplement are living proof that it works.

"I'd been looking for an Asian Glow treatment for years, but all that was available was advice on changing my diet or using antacids in advance before I decided to have a drink," said one customer. "I just wanted something simple and reliable and that's what I've found with AF Formula. I haven't blushed when drinking since taking the supplement. Quite simply, it works."

Go here to read the rest:
New Asian Glow Supplement Requires No Change To A Person's Diet

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What happens when the First Amendment and paleo diet advice collide?

What happens when the First Amendment and paleo diet advice collide?

The paleolithic diet has sparked plenty of discussion in the nutrition world (and on this web site) in the last few months. Lots of people are looking for advice on how to get in on this meat and vegetable-centric way of eating that claims inspiration from the simple wild foods a hunter-gatherer might have been lucky to find.

But when Steve Cooksey a paleo-proponent who describes himself as formerly obese, sedentary and diabetic on his blog heard from the state of North Carolina that his advice to readers violated a law against nutrition counseling without a license, he bit back. He filed a First Amendment lawsuit.

According to The New York Times:

"'Cooksey's advice,' his lawyers wrote, 'ultimately amounts to recommendations about what to buy at the grocery store more steaks and avocados and less pasta, for example.'

"'The First Amendment simply does not allow North Carolina to criminalize something as commonplace as advice about diet,' they added."

But that's not how the state sees it. The North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition posted a statement on its website about Cooksey, saying it had never harassed him as some of Cooksey's supporters had claimed and noting that its mission is to "protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of North Carolina from harmful nutrition practice."

According to the Times, Charla M. Burill, the executive director of the board, called Cooksey in January and told him that a complaint had been filed about the advice he was dispensing. Later, she sent him papers showing specific instances in which she felt he had violated the law.

See the rest here:
Paleo Diet Blogger Sues State For Trying To Regulate His Advice

Aug. 7, 2012, 3:11 p.m.

Can you pick an eating disorder by a person's dietary preference?

At first glance it seems that you can. A cross-sectional study has found that individuals with a history of eating disorders are considerably more likely to have been vegetarian in the past, vegetarian now and primarily motivated by weight.

Furthermore, 68 per cent of those who had had an eating disorder perceived that their vegetarianism was related it.

"[The] results shed light on the vegetarianism-eating disorders relation and suggest intervention considerations for clinicians [such as investigating motives for vegetarianism]," the researchers wrote in The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The vegetarianism-eating disorders relation comes from various studies including one published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Researchers found that the most common reason teens gave for vegetarianism (a loose term given that some still ate chicken or fish) was to lose weight or prevent gaining it.

"I'm not really surprised," says the dietitian Tara Diversi of the findings. "My area is eating disorders and I tend to see that in practice quite a lot . . . [taking a whole] food group out of the diet is a socially acceptable way to reduce food."

Dr Sloane Madden, co-director of The Eating Disorder Service at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, agrees. "I'm certainly not saying that being vegetarian equates with eating disorders . . . [but] it sits with a fixation around food and weight and calories," he says. "The motivation seems to be tied up with a belief that vegetables are lower in calories and healthier and more likely to facilitate weight loss."

It makes sense that some sensitive young minds may associate meat with physical as well as literal beefiness. But, as satisfying as it is to slap labels on life choices, it is rarely cut and dried.

The director of the Australian Vegetarian Society, Mark Berriman, says. "it does make sense insofar as young women seeking to reduce weight would perceive the reduction/elimination of animal fat as a significant step for them to take, making vegetarianism attractive".

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Diet of disorder? Save

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter Latest Exercise & Fitness News

FRIDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) -- I rolled into the St. Helens, Ore., rest stop, 172 miles into my single-day ride of the 204-mile Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic, truly unsure how I was going to make it the rest of the way.

Despite my best efforts, I had hit the wall. I had been eating and drinking the entire long day, focused on replenishing the thousands of calories I'd been burning, and still it hadn't been enough.

"When you're out there for extended periods, your body gets depleted," said Nancy Clark, a registered dietitian in Boston who has written about nutrition for cyclists. "It gets depleted of water, it gets depleted of calories. You want a constant infusion of carbs to fuel your muscles and brain, and liquids to replace the loss of sweat."

Nutrition and hydration had been my two major concerns as I trained. I had only ridden in bicycle "centuries" (100 miles) before, so the STP -- a one- to two-day race held on July 14-15 this year -- would be double any previous exertion.

I tried different sports drinks and supplements during my training rides in the months leading up to the big event, and experimented with snacking at different times during the rides.

This, it turns out, is the right way to go. "Upon starting to train for an endurance event, you should also start to create your fueling strategy," Clark said. "While training, you need to determine what food and fluids you prefer for fuel during exercise."

I stopped training the week before the Seattle-to-Portland ride, to give my legs time to be fully rested.

"It takes 24 to 48 hours for muscles to become completely fueled, after you've tapered off your exercise," Clark said. "You probably didn't need to take that much time off, but it didn't hurt."

In the couple of days just prior to the big day, I began loading up on carbs.

See the original post here:
Race-Day Diet Can Make or Break a Competitive Cyclist

Let's face it: The rules of weight losseat less, move more, treats in moderation are a drag.

And they don't fit with most dieters' quick-fix, thinner-by-dinner expectations. Cue diet crutches: tricks, based on scant science, that may speed up results. So if a friend swears that munching on grapefruit gets her into skinny jeans, or a coworker credits ice water for his sleek physique, should you try it too?

Not so fast. Some diet crutches are helpful, some harmful, and some won't do much either way. We asked registered dietitians for the bottom line ("skip it," "try it," or "do it right") on the most common diet crutches:

1. "Cleansing" your system: Skip it It sounds simple: Drink "body-flushing" liquids and eat little or no solid food. But just because celebs do it doesn't mean you should.

"Will you see the weight loss? Absolutely. But it isn't safe, in terms of getting the nutrients you need," says Amy Shapiro, RD, founder of Real Nutrition NYC. Once you eat solid food, you'll gain back the pounds.

Because the liver and kidneys remove toxins, a "cleanse" is unnecessary and even harmful, says Sonthe Burge, RD, a nutritionist. It can cause diarrhea, "so you can't go far from a bathroom," she says. Other side effects: Headaches, lack of energy, and trouble focusing. _______________________________________________

More From Health.com:Best Superfoods for Weight Loss

Little Daily Tricks to Wake Up Slimmer

25 Ways to Cut 500 Calories a Day ________________________________________________

2. Filling up on fiber: Try it "Fiber is not absorbed well by the body, but is also very filling, which makes it a great choice for people trying to lose weight," says Dr. Natalie Digate Muth, an American Council on Exercise spokesperson.

See more here:
Diet crutches: What works and what doesn't

A change in your food habits that leads to a well-balanced and relatively low calorie diet will pay dividends both in your immediate food bill but also in your personal energy level, and appearance.

Anyone who has ever paid attention to their health, even a little, knows that there is some correlation between their personal health and well being and what they choose to eat. Eating a well-balanced and relatively low calorie diet is good for almost anyone (though youll find yourself getting into a lot of debate when you get more specific than that).

The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.

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A change in your food habits that leads to a well-balanced and relatively low calorie diet will pay dividends both in your immediate food bill but also in your long term health costs, your personal energy level, and your appearance.

At the same time, anyone who has attempted to make radical changes to their diet all at once has found it very, very difficult to stick with. We are creatures of habit on both a mental and a biochemical level, and there is a very strong push to maintain our current diet.

So, what do we do? Recently, I talked about utilizing a buddy to help with adopting a positive new habit in your life. Today, were going to look at the benefits of taking it one step at a time.

For me and for most of the peole Ive interacted with in my life the key to success with any challenging habit is to take steps that are sustainable above all else. If you cant sustain a particular routine in your life, youre going to revert back to your previous routine.

Buddies help you build sustainable routines, of course, but another strong tactic is to simply take it gradually. Adopt a single new tactic or a very limited number of them and focus entirely on making those work in your life.

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How to change your diet. Gradually.