A New Study: Will Oligofructose Be the Answer to Weight Loss?

Fifty healthy but overweight residents of Calgary, Canada will have a chance to test oligofructose. It is a natural fiber found in certain plants and vegetables like chicory, onions, leeks, garlic, and tomatoes. Researcher, Dr. Raylene Reimer and her colleagues at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology will require participants in the study to take a dietary supplement containing the fiber for three months. They will not be asked to change any other aspect of their diet or lives. The researchers will be documenting the participants’ body fat ratios over the course of the study. In a related study … Continue reading →

Xenical Over the Counter? The FDA Just Said Yes

This is breaking news for diet-conscious individuals around the country. The FDA has just approved Orlistat, currently sold under the name Xenical, to be sold over the counter. Xenical is a fat-blocker. Essentially, what is does is to reduce the amount of fat absorption in your body. Approximately ¼ of the fat you consume (which equates to 100-250 calories) is absorbed by the drug, aiding in weight loss. The fat is expelled in loose stools. In order for this to happen, users take the recommended dosage with meals. People taking Xenical are advised to follow a low-fat eating plan and … Continue reading →

Benefiber

As I mentioned in my blog about Metamucil, many of us who are trying to lose weight are also fighting some of the side effects of being overweight like heart disease, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes or even full blown Type II Diabetes. Fiber, any fiber, can help us in this battle with our weight and with the accompanying health conditions. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine recommends that women under 50 get a minimum of 25 grams of fiber a day. Whether it is soluble or insoluble fiber doesn’t really matter. You just need to get that fiber. So … Continue reading →

Emergen-C

This is a fantastic product! I tried it on a whim after seeing it available at my local Wal Mart. My husband and I tried a powdered multi-vitamin once that was terrific but it cost about a dollar a serving which just didn’t make good financial sense to us. Emergen-C, on the other hand, makes great financial sense at about 25 cents a serving! The one thing many people who are trying to lose weight lack is energy. I couldn’t believe the amount of energy packed into one little serving of the Super Orange Energy Booster! It not only has … Continue reading →

Metamucil and Weight Loss

OK, I’ll admit that the topic of fiber in our diets is something you might expect to find in a health blog by a vegetarian but this definitely belongs in a weight loss blog. Truth be told, I am a carnivore. I don’t have the discipline for a vegetarian diet. I believe human beings were given canines so that we too can rip into meat. After 39 years of living in this skin of mine, I have discovered that my body runs a whole lot better when it is running on a combined fuel of protein and vegetables. (Sadly, I … Continue reading →

Carbohydrate Blockers Do Work

I am a carboholic. I have a major problem with starchy carbohydrates. The problem is that I love them. They are comfort food. Cookies, bagels, homemade bread, if it starts with flour then I love it. The problem for me is twofold: 1. These sorts of things do terrible things to my blood sugar. (Raising it and then dropping it to unheard of lows to the point where I need to take a nap.) 2. Whenever I eat starchy carbohydrates I retain lots of extra water so that my body can process and digest them. (A single bagel can show … Continue reading →

Does Green Tea Help with Weight Loss

In the past few years, we have seen increasing information pertaining to green tea and weight loss. While many people enjoy a soothing cup of green tea in the morning or with dinner, does it really help a person lose excessive weight. The answer is yes but in addition, green tea has been proven beneficial for a number of health issues. I have personally used green tea supplements and consumed green tea, being pleasantly surprised that it does work. Another supplement discussed in recent years is ephedrine, which has proven dangerous and even deadly. For this reason, ephedrine has been … Continue reading →

Best Supplements for Losing Weight

With the United States in a serous obesity epidemic, researchers have found that intervention is essential. As you probably know, excessive weight not only makes a person feel sluggish and self-conscious, it also increases potential health risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and more. Therefore, if you are carrying around too much weight, you definitely want to take measures to get into a healthy weight zone for your body structure, age, and height. Many of the diet supplements you find on the market focus on one of two things – appetite suppression and fat loss. Although … Continue reading →

Risks of Diet Pills

Over the years, we have seen many negative stories surrounding diet pills. Even those advertised as being “all natural” have proven unhealthy and even dangerous for some individuals. While it is true that diet pills can often help a person lose weight, it is essential that you understand exactly what is being put into the body. The one thing many people miss is that diet pills and even supplements can have a bad interaction with other diet pills and supplements, as well as prescribed medication. Therefore, prior to taking anything, you definitely want to talk to your doctor so he … Continue reading →

How Effective is Xenical for Weight Loss?

For some people anxious to drop unwanted pounds, Xenical has been prescribed. Although there are people who have had decent results from this weight loss drug, a number of clinical studies still leave us to wonder the true level of effectiveness. For instance, studies show people treated with this weight loss medication, as well as maintained a low calorie diet with no more than 30% of the calories coming from fat, achieved great results. In addition, research on Xenical identified the results of the drug in addition to diet was far greater than just the dieting alone. The focus of … Continue reading →