Our next question comes from San Francisco. MM wants to know if she is looking to lose a few pounds and is wondering if alli is the right choice for her.
First of all, alli has a wonderful website (www.myalli.com) and I would encourage anyone considering the product to check out their website. They even have a quiz you can take to see if you are a good candidate for the product.
How does it work? alli, the only FDA approved over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss product currently on the market, works by preventing the body from absorbing some (approximately 25%) of the fat that you eat. Because of this, an individual can lose about 50% more weight than dieting without the use of the product. alli promotes gradual, modest weight loss of about 1-2 pounds per week.
Is it right for you? alli asks you the following questions so that you can see for yourself:
Are you willing to do the hard work to lose weight gradually?
Are you committed to following a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet (an average of 15grams of fat/meal)?
Do you understand that if you take alli with a meal containing too much fat that you may get bowel changes that may include gas with oily spotting, loose stools and more frequent stools that may be hard to control?
Are you committed to eating smaller portions?
Are you committed to making time to be more physically active?
There is also a wt/ht chart and the product is not recommended unless you weight at least the amount shown in the chart. For a 5'3" person, the product is not recommended unless you are at least 152 pounds.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Full of Fiber
Okay, for this next question, we're going to get a little "graphic." When you think about fiber, you often think about your bowels all in the same thought. Our next question comes from Huntington Beach and it is this:
I notice my bowel movements are smooth and soft and "normal" when I eat fiber from natural sources, but different when I eat foods that are supplemented with fiber or have fiber added to them. Why is that and is it better to eat the natural fiber foods?
Answer: First of all, let's define fiber. It is the part of plant foods that your body can't digest. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. High fiber foods are typically low in calories and fat and loaded with vitamins and minerals. As far as the fiber itself is concerned, it is virtually the same whether it is in a supplement form or in the food itself, so I'm not sure why it is affecting your bowel movements differently. However, hydration status and activity level also play a huge role in "normal" bowel movements, so if either of these altered at all, it may be due to that instead of the fiber.
Side note:
What is the difference between Soluble and Insoluble Fiber? Soluble fibers absorb many times their own weight in water. Soluble fibers, therefore, tend to give you an increased sense of satiety. Insoluble fiber passes through the intestine almost unchanged. Both kinds help to make your bowel movements softer and easier to pass. However, when increasing the fiber in your diet, do it SLOWLY until you reach the recommended goal of 21-25 grams/day for women and 30-38 grams/day for men.
Lets hear it for the beans! Beans are a FABULOUS way of adding fiber to your diet! They are a great source of protein, low in fat and contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. In addition, research has shown that diets including beans may reduce the risk of certain cancers as well as heart disease, currently the number one killer of Americans. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans developed by the USDA recommends that Americans eat 3 cups of beans/week. The current average is only one cup per week.
I notice my bowel movements are smooth and soft and "normal" when I eat fiber from natural sources, but different when I eat foods that are supplemented with fiber or have fiber added to them. Why is that and is it better to eat the natural fiber foods?
Answer: First of all, let's define fiber. It is the part of plant foods that your body can't digest. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. High fiber foods are typically low in calories and fat and loaded with vitamins and minerals. As far as the fiber itself is concerned, it is virtually the same whether it is in a supplement form or in the food itself, so I'm not sure why it is affecting your bowel movements differently. However, hydration status and activity level also play a huge role in "normal" bowel movements, so if either of these altered at all, it may be due to that instead of the fiber.
Side note:
What is the difference between Soluble and Insoluble Fiber? Soluble fibers absorb many times their own weight in water. Soluble fibers, therefore, tend to give you an increased sense of satiety. Insoluble fiber passes through the intestine almost unchanged. Both kinds help to make your bowel movements softer and easier to pass. However, when increasing the fiber in your diet, do it SLOWLY until you reach the recommended goal of 21-25 grams/day for women and 30-38 grams/day for men.
Lets hear it for the beans! Beans are a FABULOUS way of adding fiber to your diet! They are a great source of protein, low in fat and contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. In addition, research has shown that diets including beans may reduce the risk of certain cancers as well as heart disease, currently the number one killer of Americans. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans developed by the USDA recommends that Americans eat 3 cups of beans/week. The current average is only one cup per week.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Hoodia -- Is it Safe?
My latest inquiry is from M.E. out in Southern California. Her question is in regards to appetite stimulants... are they effective? Are they safe? Specifically, are there any side effects or reasons not to use Hoodia, which she has used in the past and worked well for her. I should put here that M.E. only wants to lose 5-6 pounds; she is not obese. She already exercises regularly and eats an overall healthy diet; she is just struggling to lose that last little bit of weight.
First of all, what is Hoodia? Hoodia is a genus that contains many species, one of which is Hoodia gordonii, which is the species currently being investigated for use as an appetite suppressant. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia, but the supply is scarce due to the plant being difficult to grow and due to the fact that it takes 4-5 years to mature. As a result, there are many counterfeit products out there claiming to contain 100% pure hoodia, when in fact they do not. Some experts claim that as many as 80% of the Hoodia products on the market are counterfeit. This brings us to our next question.....
How do I know if I am getting a pure product? One way is to look under the "Other Ingredients" on the label. It should say "None" in this spot. Secondly, you can go to Alkemists Pharmaceuticals at http://www.alkemist.com/ to check for yourself. They do testing on many products, including many hoodia products. Desert Burn, Hoodoba and Hoodia Hoodia are three products that have been consistently verified.
Does it work? This is debatable. The only way to truly know is to try it for yourself and see. There is currently no published scientific evidence that supports that Hoodia gordonii works as an appetite suppressant. That may mean that it doesn't work or it may just mean that research hasn't yet proven it. Research has not disproven it either.
What makes it act as an appetite suppressant? If in fact Hoodia gordonii is an appetite suppressant, it is due to the active ingredient known as P57.
Are there any side effects or reasons not to use the product? There are not any known side effects to using the product. However, it is not recommended that diabetics, pregnant or nursing women, children or people with liver or kidney disease use the product. The warning for diabetics is due to the fact that there is a theory that the product may work due to the P57 tricking the brain into thinking it has enough blood sugar, when in fact it does not. This may cause diabetics to become hypoglycemic. The warning for the other groups of individuals is a general precaution due to lack of research showing the products safety. One final note on the safety is to make sure you drink enough liquids while taking Hoodia gordonii. If it suppresses your appetite, it may also suppress your thirst and dehydration could result.
So, to answer your question, M.E. from Southern California.... since you do not fit into any of the categories of people stated above and you have found Hoodia gordonii to work in the past, then there is no reason not to try it again! Just make sure you are using a pure product and check back to let us know the results!
First of all, what is Hoodia? Hoodia is a genus that contains many species, one of which is Hoodia gordonii, which is the species currently being investigated for use as an appetite suppressant. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia, but the supply is scarce due to the plant being difficult to grow and due to the fact that it takes 4-5 years to mature. As a result, there are many counterfeit products out there claiming to contain 100% pure hoodia, when in fact they do not. Some experts claim that as many as 80% of the Hoodia products on the market are counterfeit. This brings us to our next question.....
How do I know if I am getting a pure product? One way is to look under the "Other Ingredients" on the label. It should say "None" in this spot. Secondly, you can go to Alkemists Pharmaceuticals at http://www.alkemist.com/ to check for yourself. They do testing on many products, including many hoodia products. Desert Burn, Hoodoba and Hoodia Hoodia are three products that have been consistently verified.
Does it work? This is debatable. The only way to truly know is to try it for yourself and see. There is currently no published scientific evidence that supports that Hoodia gordonii works as an appetite suppressant. That may mean that it doesn't work or it may just mean that research hasn't yet proven it. Research has not disproven it either.
What makes it act as an appetite suppressant? If in fact Hoodia gordonii is an appetite suppressant, it is due to the active ingredient known as P57.
Are there any side effects or reasons not to use the product? There are not any known side effects to using the product. However, it is not recommended that diabetics, pregnant or nursing women, children or people with liver or kidney disease use the product. The warning for diabetics is due to the fact that there is a theory that the product may work due to the P57 tricking the brain into thinking it has enough blood sugar, when in fact it does not. This may cause diabetics to become hypoglycemic. The warning for the other groups of individuals is a general precaution due to lack of research showing the products safety. One final note on the safety is to make sure you drink enough liquids while taking Hoodia gordonii. If it suppresses your appetite, it may also suppress your thirst and dehydration could result.
So, to answer your question, M.E. from Southern California.... since you do not fit into any of the categories of people stated above and you have found Hoodia gordonii to work in the past, then there is no reason not to try it again! Just make sure you are using a pure product and check back to let us know the results!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Welcome to My Personal Dietitian!
As a Registered Dietitian for over 9 years, I have had the opportunity to work in many different places, with many different people and in various areas of expertise. Currently, I work at an outpatient facility affiliated with a large community hospital. While I spend most of my time working with diabetics and people who are getting and/or have had bariatric surgery, we see anybody and everybody who has been referred by their physician to see a dietitian. However, there are many people out there who, for whatever reason, don't get referred to a dietitian, don't live near an outpatient facility offering dietitian consults or have transportation issues. Many people who would benefit from seeing a RD can't or don't see one. For this reason, I am setting up this blog to come to you! Feel free to ask me any and all nutrition-related questions. We will discuss various topics from heart-healthy recipes, to the latest weight-loss trends to how to treat, from the nutrition stand-point, various dieseases or health-related conditions.
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