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Are carbohydrates really the enemy?

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:55 pm

Are carbohydrates really the enemy? 08 Mar 2012

Sharon Hultzer

THE dieting world is certainly an ever-growing one with variations of extreme fads and diet methods repeating and reinventing themselves through the decades. Many self-professed lifetime dieters have developed strong views on what works and what doesnt work, what foods are friends versus which ones are foes. The ultimate aim of most weight-loss diets is to lose weight as quickly and painlessly as possible, often with little regard for long-term success and health. Options range from starving, to eating only fruit, to drinking only soups, to surviving on salads and water. Lately, the most spoken-about diet in the media is the high protein and fat, very low (or no) carbohydrate strategy.

What is the truth behind these weight-loss methods, and is there a one-size-fits-all option that guarantees success to everybody prepared to put in the effort?

Simply stated, weight loss requires that we put less fuel into our body than what we use. In other words, expending more energy than we eat will place us in a negative calorie balance forcing the body to use up its stored fuel sources. The frequently asked question is: Does it matter what fuel source we give the body? Should we eliminate certain sources completely and eat specific food groups to encourage speedier results?

As we have discussed before, people dont all respond the same way to the same dietary changes. Some people lose weight relatively easily when reducing fat in their diet, and others seem to lose weight best when reducing starchy foods. Our genetic make-up certainly plays a role, but the basics still remain. Our body needs a balance of all the main macronutrients to survive healthily. Completely eliminating any of these groups has serious health implications.

We need protein to build and repair muscles and cells on a daily basis. Carbohydrates are the essential source of glucose that our brain in particular needs to function, as well as an essential source of glycogen for powering our muscles. Fats are also needed to keep our cell walls healthy and to allow for adequate hormone production. All these macronutrients are used for a plethora of other functions this is simply a brief overview.

The most famous very low-carbohydrate diet is the Atkins diet. It allows eating as much protein and fat as required, while severely limiting all carbohydrate-containing foods, including starchy vegetables (such as butternut), potatoes, breads, crackers and even fruit. In the absence of adequate carbohydrate, the body burns up fat as a fuel source which is, of course, the attractive draw card. However, the fat is not broken down completely (as it would be in the presence of carbohydrate) and yields ketones and a state called ketosis. Prolonged ketosis causes the body to metabolise muscles, tissues and organs to find additional fuel. This can be damaging to the body, not to mention the associated feelings of weakness and tiredness. In the state of ketosis, the body loses a lot of water. This leads dieters to believe they are achieving weight loss, but it is not fat that is being lost and as soon as any carbohydrate is eaten, the water weight is quickly recovered.

While no-carbohydrate diets are dangerous and have not been shown to yield any better weight-loss results in the long term, there may be a place for adequately designed low-carbohydrate diets. It is possible to develop a lower carbohydrate diet that will ensure that the minimum-required carbohydrate is available to protect against muscle breakdown. This may be effective in certain individuals yielding a speedier weight loss initially.

This initial better result is short-lived however. Long-term follow-up studies show that similar weight-loss results are achieved after 12 months when following a diet containing moderate carbohydrate (what we would term a balanced diet). If you are going to attempt a low-carbohydrate diet, dont simply follow a general plan. Ensure that you plan it with your dietician to avoid dangerous complications.

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Are carbohydrates really the enemy?

New diet, exercise energize teen

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:55 pm

A year ago, Nick Turnbeaugh, 17, looked into a mirror pondering adulthood. "I looked at myself and said, 'If I'm this heavy now, what will I be when I'm 30?' "

Today, Turnbeaugh weighs 163 pounds, which is 87 pounds lighter than his peak weight of 250 pounds. His new weight is perfect for his 5-foot-11-inch frame.

Now he likes the guy in the mirror. "I never realized what I used to look like," he said. "I'm astonished at what my body can do now.

"I'm getting more confident."

Last semester, his grades jumped from middle C to a B average, the highest grades he has ever achieved.

Experts say physically fit youngsters do better in school, for any of a number of reasons, from being clear-headed and healthy to being less self-conscious and distracted by teasing or bullying.

Turnbeaugh said to make the change, he had to hate obesity more than he loved junk food. And he hated what obesity had done to his life.

Turnbeaugh's weight had set his life off balance for as far back as he could remember. The most wrenching times were when other children teased him.

"I had to change schools in junior high because it got so bad," he said. "People don't realize, that really hurts."

He added, "When I was with my friends, they'd get the girls and not me. It wasn't fun."

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New diet, exercise energize teen

Do diet supplements help you lose weight? Fat chance!

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:55 pm

Study found few 'wonder pills' had randomised clinical trials to back up dietary claims

By Claire Bates

Last updated at 5:28 PM on 7th March 2012

Weight loss: Impossible without reducing calories and exercising, says Professor Melinda Manore after studying a range of diet pills

Diet supplements are often advertised as extreme fat burners or craving quashers. But evidence used to support these claims simply doesnt add up, a leading U.S nutrition expert has warned.

Professor Melinda Manore from Oregon State University analysed the research used to support hundreds of diet pill claims.

She found no evidence that any single product was a 'wonder pill' causing significant weight loss and found some even had detrimental health effects.

'What people want is to lose weight and maintain or increase lean tissue mass,' Prof Manore said.

'There is no evidence that any one supplement does this. And some have side effects ranging from the unpleasant, such as bloating and gas, to very serious issues such as strokes and heart problems.'

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Do diet supplements help you lose weight? Fat chance!

Weight loss supplements 'not effective'

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Washington, March 7 : An Oregon State University researcher, who reviewed the evidence surrounding hundreds of weight loss supplements, has said that no research evidence exists that any single product results in significant weight loss and many have detrimental health benefits.

A few products, including green tea, fiber and low-fat dairy supplements, can have a modest weight loss benefit of 3-4 pounds (2 kilos), but it is important to know that most of these supplements were tested as part of a reduced calorie diet.

"For most people, unless you alter your diet and get daily exercise, no supplement is going to have a big impact," said Melinda Manore of Oregon State University.

Manore looked at supplements that fell into four categories: products such as chitosan that block absorption of fat or carbohydrates, stimulants such as caffeine or ephedra that increase metabolism, products such as conjugated linoleic acid that claim to change the body composition by decreasing fat, and appetite suppressants such as soluble fibers.

She found that many products had no randomized clinical trials examining their effectiveness, and most of the research studies did not include exercise.

Most of the products showed less than a two-pound weight loss benefit compared to the placebo groups.

"I don't know how you eliminate exercise from the equation. The data is very strong that exercise is crucial to not only losing weight and preserving muscle mass, but keeping the weight off," Manore said.

Manore, professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at OSU, is on the Science Board for the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Her research is focused on the interaction of nutrition and exercise on health and performance.

"What people want is to lose weight and maintain or increase lean tissue mass," Manore said.

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Weight loss supplements 'not effective'

Weight loss supplements are no good

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Washington, March 7 (IANS) Weight loss supplements are not really effective in helping you shed weight and may have unpleasant or serious side-effects.

Melinda Manore, from Oregon State University, reviewing evidence surrounding hundreds of weight loss supplements, concluded that no single product results in significant weight loss and many have side-effects.

"What people want is to lose weight and maintain or increase lean tissue mass," Manore said. "There is no evidence that any one supplement does this. And some have side effects ranging from the unpleasant, such as bloating and gas, to very serious issues such as strokes and heart problems."

A few products, including green tea, fibre and low-fat dairy supplements, can have a modest weight loss benefit of three to four pounds, but it is important to know that most of these supplements were tested as part of a reduced calorie diet, the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism reports.

"For most people, unless you alter your diet and get daily exercise, no supplement is going to have a big impact," said Manore, according to an Oregon statement.

Manore looked at supplements that fell into four categories: products such as chitosan that block absorption of fat or carbohydrates, stimulants such as caffeine or ephedra that increase metabolism, products such as conjugated linoleic acid that claim to change the body composition by decreasing fat, and appetite suppressants such as soluble fibres.

She found that many products had no randomized clinical trials examining their effectiveness, and most of the research studies did not include exercise. Most of the products showed less than a two-pound weight loss benefit compared to the placebo groups.

"I don't know how you eliminate exercise from the equation. The data is very strong that exercise is crucial to not only losing weight and preserving muscle mass, but keeping the weight off," said Manore, professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at Oregon.

Manore said the key to weight loss is to eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats, reduce calorie intake of high-fat foods, and to keep moving.

"Adding fiber, calcium, protein and drinking green tea can help," Manore said. "But none of these will have much effect unless you exercise and eat fruits and vegetables," Manroe added.

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Weight loss supplements are no good

Magic Weight Loss Pill Doesn’t Exist, Most Supplements Are Ineffective.

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

March 7, 2012

After studying weight loss supplements and the body of evidence surrounding them, an Oregon State University researcher has found that no single product is proven 100 percent effective. In fact, many can be harmful to your health.

Melinda Manore posted her study online in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.

Manore is the professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at Oregon State University, and is a member of the Science Board for the Presidents Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Manore found that some of the products she researched, such as green tea, fiber, and low-fat dairy supplements, did achieve a small weight loss benefit of no more than 4 pounds. However, Manore warns that it is important to remember that these products may have been effective because they were used in tandem with a reduced calorie diet.

For most people, unless you alter your diet and get daily exercise, no supplement is going to have a big impact, Manore said.

The supplements studied fell into four categories: products such as chitosan that block absorption of fat or carbohydrates, stimulants such as caffeine or ephedra that increase metabolism, products such as conjugated linoleic acid that claim to change the body composition by decreasing fat, and appetite suppressants such as soluble fibers.

In her research, she found that clinical trials examining the supplements effectiveness were not randomized. Furthermore, the research studies for many of these supplements did not include a daily exercise regimen as a part of the trial. In fact, the majority of the products showed less than a 2 pound weight loss when compared to the placebo.

Manores research focuses on the effects of nutrition and exercise on health and performance.

In her study, Manore said What people want is to lose weight and maintain or increase lean tissue mass. There is no evidence that any one supplement does this. And some have side effects ranging from the unpleasant, such as bloating and gas, to very serious issues such as strokes and heart problems.

Manore suggests the old fashioned method of healthy diet and exercise as a means to lose weight, rather than taking supplements to build muscle or shed pounds.

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Magic Weight Loss Pill Doesn’t Exist, Most Supplements Are Ineffective.

Weight loss coach looks to help others follow her lead

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Camille Tirzah could practically live in the blue jeans she wore a little more than five years ago when she weighed 232 pounds.

But the Ocean Ridge resident lost the excess weight and kept it off. Her story was featured on the cover of People magazine, and now she's advising and encouraging others as a weight loss coach and certified nutrition specialist for Personal Physician Care, 4800 Linton Blvd.

Once a pre-diabetic patient herself, Tirzah is focusing on patients who are diabetic and are looking for weight management programs.

The success stories have been gratifying.

"One patient's endocrinologist has almost taken him off of his medications. He has been a diabetic for years, and in three months, he is experiencing an almost reversal of diabetic condition," Tirzah said. "It's doctor-supervised, individual-customized, not one-size-fits-all."

Tirzah focuses on body mass index and healthy eating.

"There are no quick fixes to losing weight," she said. "But over a very short amount of time, patients will feel the satisfaction of improved overall health, appearance and vitality."

Founded by Dr. David Neuman, Personal Physician Care is one of the largest primary care practices in Delray Beach, with seven doctors, two-dozen exam rooms, a doctor-supervised weight-loss program and an aesthetics center.

Tirzah and Personal Physician Care have recently partnered with Pharmanex, a nutritional and dietary supplement company, to bring the BioPhotonic Scanner and the LifePak Nano daily supplement package to the practice. Every weight loss patient is monitored via hand palm checks and given a Skin Carotenoid Score. The score quantifies antioxidant activity in the body.

The scanner gives patients a score of between 10,000 and 50,000 tissue carotenoid concentrations. The score is logged via a keychain card that accesses a computer program.

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Weight loss coach looks to help others follow her lead

Weight-loss supplements deemed a waste of money

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Weight-loss supplements advertised as fat blockers, appetite suppressants or body-composition changers usually have little effect especially over the long term and may even harm you, according to a new U.S. study.

Of the hundreds of products reviewed by Oregon State University researcher Melinda Manore, many were scrutinized in randomized clinical trials to prove their effectiveness, and only a few products such as green tea, fibre and low-fat dairy supplements resulted in a modest weight loss compared to placebo groups.

Manore, whose study was published in Tuesday's online International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, also notes that most of the supplements that had any weight-loss benefit were also tested as part of a reduced-calorie diet, meaning purchasing such products usually amounted to a waste of money.

"There is no strong research evidence indicating that one specific supplement will produce significant weight loss, especially long term," her study concludes. "Some foods or supplements may complement a healthy lifestyle to produce small weight losses and/or prevent weight gain over time."

"For most people, unless you alter your diet and get daily exercise, no supplement is going to have a big impact," Manore, a professor of nutrition and exercise sciences who is on the science board for the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, said in a release.

In the U.S., weight-loss supplements are a $2.4-billion-a-year industry. The overall weight-loss industry in Canada and the U.S. is estimated to be worth $44 billion US.

Health Canada notes that an increasing number of Canadians are using health products for weight loss, including prescription drugs and natural health products. However, since 2007, Health Canada has issued warnings involving at least 170 weight-loss products, including the supplement Hydroxycut, which in the U.S. has been linked to at least a dozen cases of liver toxicity and one death.

Although some weight-loss supplements may provide benefits when used properly as part of a weight management program, misuse can pose serious health risks, Health Canada warns. It urges anyone considering use of weight-loss products especially people under age 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those who have any medical conditions or serious diseases such as heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes to discuss any potential risks with a health-care practitioner.

The supplements examined in Manore's study fell into these categories:

Chitosan, which blocks absorption of fat or carbohydrates.

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Weight-loss supplements deemed a waste of money

Professional Eaters Devour Giant Pizzas, Then Go on Diet

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/07/12)- Today DietBet.com, an online social dieting game that gives players the opportunity to compete to lose weight, announced several members of All Pro Eating will pull a dietary 180 and participate in a dietbet. This out-of-ordinary weight-loss challenge kicks-off with a "last supper" competitive eating contest of gigantic New York style pizza slices followed immediately by a weigh-in at the perfect location for such an event, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium, located at 234 West 42nd Street, on Friday, March 9 at 11:30 am.

The public is invited to cheer on the eaters as they bulk up before embarking on their four-week weight loss competition. Hopefully the competitors -- and the scales -- can handle getting a little cheese grease and tomato sauce on them from the 32" Koronet pizzas. The eating contest will be immediately followed by the official weigh-in to kick off the dietbet.

Players who reach their goal of dropping four percent of their starting weight in four weeks will split a $1,000 pot. Trained to do nothing but consume everything in front of them as quickly as possible, these men-turned-eating-machines will think twice before competing over the next month in wing-offs, hot dog races, taco triathlons, and milkshake marathons.

Members of All Pro Eating participating in the competition include:

The Champ, The Cannon, and Sisco-Kid will be competing live at Ripley's Odditorium on 42nd Street, while the others will be weighing in remotely. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square's own Greg Dubin, known as the "Great Dubini," will emcee the fattening festivities.

"Competitive eaters going on diets, giant slices of pizza -- you know we're excited to host DietBet's event," said Michael Hirsch, president/general manager of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square. "At Ripley's, we celebrate the unexpected and can't wait to watch this group of pro-eaters in their last meal before starting such an unbelievable feat."

DietBet injects fun, competition, and social collaboration into Americans' seemingly never-ending quest to shed extra weight. Players use the DietBet message boards to offer both encouragement and trash talk. Getting into the spirit, Will "The Champ" Millender recently shipped a case of Twinkies to Todd "The Hungry Genius" Greenwald.

"I've been in all kinds of eating competitions and this is one of the most unusual," said Jammin' Joseph Larue. "Getting professional eaters to lose weight... it's like asking fish to walk or librarians to scream."

"We relish the opportunity to watch these expert eaters tackle a different kind of food-related competition. We're curious to see what they do to fill the time. Maybe Joel 'The Cannon' will get into Words With Friends," said Jamie Rosen, DietBet's founder. "Traditionally, 'diet' has been viewed as a four-letter word and we're proving that with DietBet, weight-loss can actually be fun."

About DietBetDietBet is an online social dieting game that gives players the opportunity to win money through weight-loss competitions. Dietbetters play with friends and co-workers and put money into a pot; whoever reaches the goal by the end of four weeks wins the pot (or splits it). It's motivation through friendly competition, with real rewards. Founded by Jamie Rosen and launched in December of 2011, DietBet makes losing weight fun. Find DietBet on Facebook and Twitter.

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Professional Eaters Devour Giant Pizzas, Then Go on Diet

Stoudemire uses program to lose weight

Posted: March 7, 2012 at 10:54 pm

UpdatedMar 7, 2012 4:15 PM ET

Amar'e Stoudemire began a weight-loss program 10 days ago in an attempt to shed 15 pounds, and the results were evident Tuesday night.

The Knicks forward told the New York Post he has already dropped about 10 pounds in 10 days, getting down to 250 pounds from 260. Stoudemire said the goal is to get to 245 pounds.

He looked quicker and more explosive Tuesday, racking up 26 points and seven rebounds and hitting 10 of 18 shots. Stoudemire was the lone starter to play with the second unit that staged a fourth-quarter comeback in the 95-85 loss to the Mavericks.

Stoudemire came to camp bulked up and appeared slower to the rim, prompting the medical staff to decide on implementing a weight-loss program.

"Sometimes you have to understand what it takes to get better," Stoudemire said. "I had an offseason where I picked up a lot of muscle. Ten pounds of muscle. Now I'm going to get back to my normal self of attacking the rim."

Stoudemire blamed a back injury suffered during last spring's playoff loss to Boston and the ensuing six months of rehab for putting him out of rhythm.

He credited his high metabolism with helping him drop the weight quickly, adding, "I changed eating habits and am doing wind sprints after practice."

The 29-year-old is averaging 17 points per game this season, down more than six from last year, and he failed to make the All-Star team for the first time since 2006 when he was injured.

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Stoudemire uses program to lose weight


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