“In preliminary guidelines released last week, the Food and Drug Administration said the scope of the law [that requires restaurants to post calorie contents of their meals] stretches beyond restaurants to encompass airlines, trains, grocery-store food courts, movie theaters and convenience stores that qualify as chains. Within grocery stores, the agency said, it is considering including salad bars, store bakeries, pizza bars and delicatessens. Stadiums aren’t listed since they aren’t chains.”

“The notion that a gluten-free diet can help people lose weight or avoid carbohydrates is a myth. “Many packaged gluten-free products are even higher in carbs, sugar, fat and calories than their regular counterparts, and they tend to be lower in fiber, vitamins and iron,” says Shelley Case, a registered dietician on the medical advisory board of the Celiac Disease Foundation. “Gluten-free does not mean nutritious,” she notes.

Gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye, is not only a key ingredient in baked goods. It’s also used as a thickening agent in ketchup and ice cream. It helps ferment vinegar and alcoholic beverages. It’s even in lip gloss and envelope adhesives.

For people with celiac disease, ingesting even tiny amounts of gluten can set off an autoimmune reaction that flattens the finger-like villi lining the small intestine. The most common symptoms are bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation, as well as early osteoporosis. The autoimmune reaction can also cause skin rashes, chronic fatigue, bone and joint pain, neurological problems, liver problems, diabetes, infertility in both men and women and cancers, including lymphoma. An estimated three million Americans have celiac disease—and the vast majority don’t know it because it can have no symptoms or mimic other diseases.

Separately, a smaller group of people have a specific allergy to wheat; exposure can lead to rashes, asthma and even anaphylactic shock.

A third category of people—as many as 20 million Americans—appear to be sensitive to gluten without having full-blown celiac disease. For them, symptoms may be less typical, involving depression, mental fogginess, mood swings and behavior changes. Much less is known about this group.” As reported by the Wall Street Journal.

What would you give up to avoid weight gain? Sex, a promotion or the internet? According to an article in USA Today most people would rather lose weight than, say, keep their jobs. Yet many people don’t want to give up their favorite foods or take any measures to lose the weight.

Although there is no magic food that will make you lose weight quickly there are some nutritious foods that can fill you up with fewer calories.  Staying away from processed foods and choosing wholesome foods from the four food groups will help you lose weight and leave you feeling satisfied all day.

Grapefruit. Start your day off with a half a grapefruit. There is a reason why grapefruit is touted as the number one weight loss food.  In a study by Dr. Ken Fujioka at the Scripps Institute in La Jolla subjects who ate fresh grapefruit during a 12 week study lost more weight than those who didn’t eat grapefruit.

Almonds. When a snack attack hits you choose a high fiber nut to keep hunger at bay.  Studies show that a reduced calorie diet supplemented with almonds was associated with a greater weight reduction.

Peppers. Turn up the heat for more calorie burn. A group of scientists at Laval University in Quebec showed that adding red pepper to meals increased diet induced thermogenesis and fat burning for energy.

Salmon. Full of heart healthy Omega 3 fatty acids the fish oil in salmon may hep you burn fat faster.  A study completed by Trevor Mori at the University of Western Australian Department of Medicine shows that eating one daily fish meal can hep with weight loss.

Yogurt. Eating  a low-fat dairy product a few times a day helps with weight loss.  A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition conducted by Dr. Zemel showed that participants who ate a low calorie diet supplemented with 5 servings of dairy a day lost weight and body fat.

“Secrets of a Former Fat Girl” by Lisa Delaney chronicles her seventy pound weight loss journey and lessons she learned about herself along the way. She shares some great mantras and tips that affected real change not just related to dropping major amounts of weight. Regardless of your size this book is for anyone who struggles with dietary issues on a daily basis.

Does it seem like every time you look in the mirror you find a new wrinkle? Don’t despair. Here are some sure fire ways to protect your skin and make it glow.

An ice cube a day keeps the weight away. That’s according to the scientists working at Desert Labs Hoodia. Hoodia is an ancient supplement used for thousands of years by the San Kalahari Bushman. Proven to ward off appetite during long journeys, the active ingredient, P57, signals your brain you’re full. It’s touted as the most highly effective all natural choice to quick and easy weight loss.

According to the Desert Labs Hoodia:

“If you are a woman who exercises, get ready to do some math. Last week, researchers at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago announced a new formula for calculating a woman’s maximum heart rate, a measure commonly used by athletes to pace themselves and monitor their progress. In a study of nearly 5,500 healthy women, scientists discovered that a decades-old formula for calculating heart rate is largely inaccurate for women, resulting in a number that is too high.”

Read more at the NY Times

Illustration Credit: Alex Nabaum for the LA Times

“Between 10 trillion and 100 trillion microbes, mainly bacteria, dwell in a person’s colon and small intestine. They function together almost like another of the body’s organs, influencing, among other things, how many calories we extract from our food and whether we make or burn fat. Researchers have discovered significant links between gut bacteria and weight and metabolism in mice — and are starting to find similar associations in people.”
Read more of this LA Times story.

Story Credit: Amber Dance, Special to the Los Angeles Times

‘Tis the season to show off your toes. But weekly visits to your pedicurist can actually reek havoc on your footsies. Nail polish removers are made up of acetone, an irritant, and most nail polishes are full of toxins such as formaldehyde, phthalates and other chemical solvents. So what can you do to take better care of your feet? Bring your own products to your pedicurist. Use G2 Organics Nail Polish Remover to strip away polish without the harsh chemically smell. Then polish it off with a water-based nail polish from Acquarella, whose shades span from blues and greens to your more traditional reds and pinks.