Fucoidan- a Diet Supplement

Fucoidan is one of the polysaccharides; it is known as a sulfated polysaccharide and is found in many varieties of brown seaweed. It is also found in the sea cucumber. There are 2 types of Fucoidan being researched at this time; F-fucoidan- which has sufated esters of fucose. The second type is U-fucoidan- which is made up of 20% glucuronic acid. They can now be found as diet supplements. The seaweed is found in several places, including Japan, Hawaii, Norway, and Tonga.

Many Japanese eat this seaweed with beneficial results. In order to combat diseases like cancer, there has been a lot of research done to see how the body can be made stronger.
Research has been going on with Fucoidan since 1970. There have been many exciting discoveries.

Especial emphasis has been laid on the immune system. It is this system that allows the body to fight against disease, even terminating cells that have mutated. The body also eliminates toxins and poisons in the system. Toxins enter our systems through the air we breathe and the food and water we ingest. Due to environmental pollution, we are more at risk now than ever before.

Fucoidan has been shown to help the body with cellular communication. This enables the body to function better and will enable the immune system to be more efficient. It has also been found to help with cell regeneration by helping to increase stem cells. It has been proven to help with many functions of the body. It enables the body to be stronger and resist diseases. It even helps our bodies fight cancer.

As such it has been available as a diet supplement in Japan since 1997. The pharmaceutical industry has now developed gelceuticals. These are diet supplements that are gel based. They are made from whole foods, such as Fucoidan. They are easy to digest and are more efficient in this form.

Fucoidan, found in brown seaweed, has received endorsement from the Hallal and Kosher associations. This has increased its demand among ethnic and even non-ethenic groups of people.

Fucoidan is extracted from brown seaweed. This is grown on special seaweed farms in Japan and also grows naturally in cool temperate waters. It is also found in deep, cold ocean water. In fact, the species Ascophyllum nodosum can be found in the artic. Freshly cut floating plants are harvested as these have the least amount of pollution.

With the growing amount of research being done on Fucoidan, more beneficial properties are being found, and we will find even more uses for this essential sugar.

Vitamins for Women –-cutting Through the Clutter to Find the Best Supplements

When reading about female health issues, invariably the subject of vitamins for women will come up. With so many options, choosing the right vitamins can be a web of confusion. Please keep in mind that many authors now use the word vitamins interchangeably to refer to not only vitamins, but also minerals, phytonutrients, amino acids, enzymes, herbs and other nutrient forms found nutritional supplements.

Women’s Nutritional Needs

Because of their unique nutritional needs at various times in their life cycle, women require gender specific nutrients when it comes to vitamins for women. To maintain a healthy diet, the average female requires five to eight daily servings of fruits and vegetables. This is no simple task given the typical diet of women today and the stressful lifestyles most lead. It has been reported that nearly half do not eat any fruit and 80 percent only eat leafy green veggies, which contain protein, fiber and antioxidants, once every four days.

Furthermore, consider the fact that numerous vegetables have lost much of their nutritional composition in the last 60 years. A good example is spinach. 100g of spinach has lost 137mg of its vitamin C content since 1950.

When your body doesn’t get the nutrients it eventually develops marginal deficiencies which can produce a whole host of problems which many people do not recognize as health problems at all. Some of the more common include:

• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Nervousness
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Muscle weakness

And, with sustained nutrient deficiencies, the average person puts themselves at risk for serious diseases, such as cancer, hypertension, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

So, if the average diet is unable to supply the all nutrients needed in sufficient daily amounts, what can a woman do to make sure her body is protected? The answer is really quite simple – sensible supplementation.

By taking quality, science-based supplements with the correct balance of vitamins for women, along with a wide range of all types of micro-nutrients, a female will be able to keep her body in balance, maintain higher energy levels and greatly reduce the risk of developing the serious degenerative diseases mentioned above.

High Vitamin Doses Are NOT Required!

Before you rush out to purchase a multi vitamin and mineral formulation, it is important to remember that if you already maintain a reasonable diet, you don’t need supplements with high doses of vitamins and minerals.

Most vitamin supplements available in the market contain way over the top dose amounts of vitamins and minerals. These are the cheapest ingredients in supplements! While they are important, they are only required in small amounts to top up marginal deficiencies which are common in many western diets.

Far more important are the total number, dose amounts and potencies of key phytonutrients and herbal extracts contained in a supplement – these play a much greater part in determining the efficacy and value for money of a supplement. Consumers must learn what to look for and how to compare these ingredients.

Derived from plant extracts, phytonutrients are powerful, antioxidant disease fighters. While there are many vitamins for women type products containing some phytonutrients and standardized herbal extracts, virtually all supplements are manufactured to a price and can’t afford to include enough nor in sufficient potencies to be of much benefit.

Clinical studies have shown certain phytonutrients, amino acids and herbal extracts to be particularly powerful and effective and in treating numerous health conditions and for preventative health measures. These are highly efficious ingredients that should be in your multi ingredient health supplement. (All of them are included in the supplement I use).

• L-Glutathione
• L-Carnosine
• Bilberry
• Resveratrol (high potency)
• Turmeric (high potency)
• Zeaxanthin
• Tocotrienols

L-Glutathione – A Key Ingredient!

L-Gluthathione is the most abundant antioxidant enzyme in your body, and crucial for cell health and organ survival. As a person ages, their production of this vital substance decreases. However, because of its exorbitant cost (around $800 / kilo, wholesale) most supplements do not include it in their list of ingredients.

Supplements containing L-Glutathione must contain it in the reduced form so that it can penetrate the intestinal cell walls. Supplement manufacturers often cut costs by including the much cheaper ‘regular’ form which offers extremely low absorption levels. L-Glutathione is one of the key ingredients in supplements which is highly susceptible to destruction by stomach acid. Any supplement containing it must have a professional delivery system in the form of enteric coating. Consumers must be sure to check on this to avoid wasting money on ingredients with low levels of bioavailability.

To see a list of other ingredients effected by stomach acid please follow this link: bioavailability of nutritional supplements

Hormonal Pre-Cursor Herbs

In addition to phytonutrients, herbal extracts are key ingredients in vitamins for women products. Certain herbs help to maintain and/or re-balance hormone levels during menstruation and menopause and help ease discomfort and associated symptoms. The five most clinical established hormonal precursors are:

• Black Cohosh
• Red Clover
• Dong Quai
• Wild Yam
• Isoflavones

These are key ingredients to look for in vitamins for women supplements!

Amino Acids – Powerful Proteins

Known as the building blocks of proteins, amino acids play a key role in increased energy, healthy immune, nervous and musculoskeletal systems, balancing hormones and blood sugar and overall brain health. Essential amino acids and derivatives include:

• L-Taurine
• L-Arginine HCL (conditionally essential)
• L-Methionine
• L-Threonine
• L-Tyrosine
• L-Carnosine
• L-Glutathione
• L-Proline
• L-Lysine
• N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
• Carnitine / Acetyl-L-Carnitine

What To Look For In The Best Supplements

In order to identify professional grade supplements offering the strongest and safest health and lifestyle benefits, a few simple criteria should be followed. These should be clearly spelled out on a supplement company’s website. If they are not, ask yourself why.

1. Make sure that all herbal extracts and active enzymes are standardized. This guarantees the potency and amount of the disease fighting active ingredients.

2. Safety, purity, and potency, are all guaranteed when a supplement manufacturer sources all raw materials from GMP registered and audited facilities.

3. All ingredients MUST have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) to confirm potency. Reputable and transparent supplement companies should make copies available to customers and potential customers on request. I know mine does as I requested to see several of their COA’s in the past.

4. Look for supplement companies who self manufacture. There are not many out there (you can count them on one hand) but those that do have invested a huge financial commitment and are more quality focused – they’re not just out to make a quick buck like many companies who contract out their manufacturing.

The absolute highest standard possible is self manufacture to pharmaceutical level GMP (Good manufacturing practices). This is the level that the company whose flagship supplement I use achieves.

By taking the time to study labels and know what to look for when it comes to vitamins for women you will end up with a safe, high quality supplement that does what it promises to and is true to its label. These types of products are few and far between in the supplement industry.

Many supplements lack product integrity and are poorly put together by marketers and doctors rather than by highly qualified bio-scientists who work with the latest cutting edge science.

Ufc Diet Supplement

The cross-training required in the fighting style of MMA commands proper dieting and food supplement matching to your physical structure and the of combat arts you are mixing.

The normal supplements utilized in bodybuilding are naturally false in the unrivalled preparation of No Hold Barred. Bodybuilders are exclusively occupied in developing mass, which in UFC gets the Ultimate fighter to rigid encumbered and unprogressive. The enduringness, strength and resilience asked in No Hold Barred postulate specialized food supplement coming from varied and fitness addition.

Athletes are equipped with an battery of conditioning techniques, and as a result, they repeatedly turn lost. consistently, untested athlete’s purpose is blindfolded by the common thinking that bigger muscled frame adequate puissant vale tudo fighter that will submerge their oppositions and impress people.

The most important aspects of No Hold Barred training and fighting is to work up a overwhelming indefatigable endurance and the power to produce utmost force for a supreme lenght of time. Outstanding combatant who wants to experience a successful MMA career need to focus on endurance and forget straightaway renown to privilege a durable attainment and choose exclusively the ethical supplementation required to maximize their body endurance elasticity and power.

It’s true for the general aspect of the sport as stated by J. Barnett, the look is consequential in a professional UFC show where fighter’s livelihood hope further on fan base and marketing competence than flourishing impressive record, but for an completed athlete, the oversize champions in the sport are frequently similar to freak show or pumped up cheats like: Bob the beast Sapp, Kevin Randleman and others that do not have wonderful fighting fight record but are mass preferred… for a short time.

Beating Candida With Diet and Nutrition – Part 4

Many women (and men) suffering from yeast infections resort to the remedies found in a drug store: creams, suppositories, and other “medical” remedies. The problem with these is that they tend to help for only a short period of time and then the yeast comes back with a vengeance. In my experience, there are other, more effective ways to combat this evil menace.

Probiotics are those little bacteria numbering in the billions that help you live a good healthy life. They help to process food and enhance the absorption of B vitamins. You can end the chronic yeast infection that plagues you by simply starting a daily long term use of probiotics.

Do not use deodorant sprays, which are unnecessary and which contain chemicals that can irritate the vaginal lining. Moreover, it is important to note that the vagina cleanses itself by secreting a discharge which flow downward, removing bacteria, old cells, and menstrual blood when present. Normal vaginal discharge is minimal and is either clear or white and sticky.

Chronic yeast infection is indicated by a variety of symptoms depending on the specific type of infection. In the case of women, for example, vaginal infection by yeast shows in recurring symptoms of itching, sensation of burning, and abnormality in discharge. Gastrointestinal infection is shown by symptoms of heartburn, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. Respiratory allergies with sneezing and wheezing is another indicator of the condition. Menstrual abnormalities in women can also point to infection with yeast. Anxiety, depressed mood, frequent memory lapses, and lack of concentration are all symptoms associated with the effect of chronic candidiasis on the nervous system. Fatigue, headache, and irritability are some of the other general symptoms associated with yeast infection.

You can buy yeast infection treatments over the counter (OTC) in drugstores without a prescription from the doctor. Some examples of common treatments are: Miconazole, Tioconazole, Butoconazole and Clotrimazole. Unfortunately, these treatments only treat the symptoms and should not be considered cures. These treatments can also be dangerous to use and most women develop a tolerance to them after extended use. The only way to cure yeast infections is to treat the root cause through natural means.

Chronic yeast infections have signs and symptoms that vary depending on the location of the infection. This infection is very common to women. Its signs and symptoms consist of a white discharge that is itchy and irritating to the vagina. It can affect the surrounding outer tissues of the anus where a moist patch appears on the contiguous skin of the anus. Candida yeast infections also cause pain during sexual intercourse and a burning sensation during urination.

It has been found yeast infections affects three out of four women. In the United States, nearly 50% of college women have been diagnosed with yeast infection at the early age of 25 and almost 5% of those diagnosed go on to develop chronic yeast infections. Candidiasis can be easily treated but you should know and understand how it can be prevented so it will not lead to serious infections.

Endometriosis Diet And Nutrition Can Reduce Symptoms

Diet changes can help reduce the symptoms of endometriosisAdjusting what you eat can bring about many positive physical and metabolic changes, as well as improving our health. Many of you may be aware that various illnesses and diseases have responded very positively to changes in diet, and Endometriosis is no exception.~ sharpen our mental alertness
~ help us to stop feeling so sluggish
~ give us more energy
~ regulate sleep patterns
~ regulate bowel movements
~ balance blood sugar levels
~ regulate metabolism
~ regulate body weight
~ control hyperactivity – especially in childrenThe diet in modern day western society has become depleted of vital nutrients for many reasons. Intensive farming has robbed the soil of vital trace elements which used to be taken up by the crops as they grew, and in turn we consumed them. We rely so much on convenience foods now, which are very low in goodness. Much of our fresh produce like fruit and vegetables is actually gassed and then stored in warehouses for months.Scientists, health researchers and others have now found that the lower your food intake, with fewer calories and proteins, the longer you will live. We simply do not need the food intake that we have in the West.Food is our fuel, it makes us function, grow, replace worn out cells, gives us energy, and feeds the entire body. Food is the secondary requirement to life, with oxygen being the first basic requirement. More important than food is our daily requirement for water. We need lots of it; plain, fresh water. Yet most people only drink a small proportion of what the body really needs.~ Carbohydrates, which provide the chief source of energy for bodily functions and muscular exertions
~ Fats which are the most concentrated form of energy. Three fatty acids are essential in the diet because the body cannot make them itself.
~ Proteins, which are the building blocks in food, the construction materials for growth and repair of cells
~ Fibre, indigestible parts of plants which provide roughage and aids digestion
~ Vitamins and minerals – the organic substances which the body cannot make, but which it requires in small amounts to maintain healthControlling your diet to help you deal with Endometriosis is an excellent starting point. As I have said earlier, we really are a reflection of what we eat, and the body responds very quickly to what is put inside it. Let me emphasize that point thus:So the body is very sensitive to what is put in it, and sometimes that sensitivity is quick to show up. Unfortunately other sensitivities are not noticed and will creep up on us, which is when we suffer from dietary deficiencies and a lack of trace elements. There are times when our body gives us clues that we have a deficiency and we start to have cravings for certain types of foods.SO WHERE DO WE START!Endometriosis is an estrogen-sensitive condition, but the painful menstrual cramping that occurs is predominantly due to prostaglandin synthesis in the body. Prostaglandins are naturally occurring fatty acids, which are derived from dietary sources. The body can produce different types of prostaglandins through a complex series of pathways.~ Evening primrose
~ Safflower oil
~ Walnut oil
~ Flax seeds/oilIn addition to decreasing bad fat intake, the diet should also consist of high fiber. Not only does this help with good digestion, but it is also thought that a diet high in fiber can decrease total circulating estrogens. It is recommended to incorporate 25 grams per day of fibre. Good sources are:The following foods are recommended to modulate estrogen levels by incorporating one or two servings a day:FOODS TO AVOIDNote: Meat, dairy and eggs promote the pro-inflammatory prostaglandins.~ beans, peas, lentils
~ onions
~ garlic (raw or lightly cooked)
~ carrots (contain beta-carotene)
~ live yogurt (good for healthy intestinal flora)
~ rhubarb
~ seeds and sprouted seeds
~ ginger
~ green teaFoods containing natural plant sterols can be helpful. They are thought to block the estrogen receptors, so in turn excess estrogen in the body cannot lock-in to these receptors. These include:VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTSThe following is a list of supplements that will help women with Endometriosis:Zinc – is essential for enzyme activity, helping cells to reproduce which will help with healing. Zinc is also reported to boost the immune system and helping to create an emotional sense of well-beingIron – women with Endometriosis tend to have very heavy periods which can lead to an iron deficiency. This can lead to anemia which is characterized by extreme fatigue and weakness.Vitamin C – is well known for helping to boost the immune system and help provide resistance to disease. It is also used in the body to build and maintain collagen within the body.Vitamin E – plays an important role by increasing oxygen carrying capacities and also strengthens the immune systemOTHER USEFUL SNIPPETS:Auto immune diseases are thought to be triggered by free-radicals in the body, which could be an added factor in Endometriosis. Free radicals are destructive molecules and are found naturally in the body but can be made worse by pollution, stress, illness and smoking. There are minerals and vitamins that will help to fight off these free-radicals because of their antioxidant properties, including: vitamins A,C,E, CoQ10, selenium, vitamin B complex, as well as specific supplements being sold specifically as Antioxidants.~ increase omega-3 fatty acids
~ avoid meat, dairy products, wheat and sugar
~ increase fiber
~ modulate estrogen intake
~ avoid caffeine and alcohol
~ avoid refined foods, e-numbers, additives
~ minimize or avoid soy products as they contain high levels of phytoestrogens, and soy contains a particular toxin which seems to be particularly detrimental for women with Endometriosis
~ peel fruit and vegetables to remove toxic chemicals
~ eat organic produce wherever possible
~ drink lots of filtered or mineral water

Diet And Nutrition Questions And Answers

1. Should you aim for zero fat in your diet?

No you should not aim for zero fat. Fat is essential for maintaining healthy skin and hair. It also acts as a transport for the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The deal with fat is that is contains 9 calories per gram, and this is why fat foods are considered high calorie. Despite its bad reputation, you do need between 15-20% of your diet to be comprised of fats to maintain health. Most of this will come indirectly through your regular eating and it’s a fat chance (pun intended) that you’re not getting enough already!

2. Can I eat carbohyrates at night time?

Yes, however you should make sure that the carbohydrates come from complex sources like brown rice, vegetables and salads.

3. What is the best diet to keep blood sugars normal for a Type II Diabetic?

The same diet that is best for everyone. A diet that is well balanced with all the macronutrients, low in simple sugars and full of natural vitamins and fiber. It’s all about keeping the sugar levels stable while providing enough calories and nutrition through whole foods. Just like when we were cave women and men!

Everyone may want to take a look at tweaking the diet a bit if for instance you have food allergies or cannot digest red meat. But other than that the standard is always the same. I prefer a 20 percent fat, 50 percent protein and 30 percent carbohydrate myself.

4. If you already eat healthy with no real avail, than how can you trick your body into losing weight?

Check again to make sure that your standard of eating healthy jives with a nutritionists and if that is the case start working out harder.

5. Can a body-builder/weightlifter be a vegetarian?

Yes, there are quite a few people who have done it. It is especially easy to do if you allow eggs, milk and whey protein under the label of vegetarian. If you are going strict vegetarian it gets harder but comes down to some serious planning and using various foods to produce complete proteins.

6. What are some good sources of low fat protein for someone who doesn’t really like meat or eggs very much?

Some good choices of low fat protein for someone that does not like or can not eat meat or eggs would be:

Low fat cottage cheese

Skim milk, soy milk

A variety of sea foods

Beans and lentils

Low fat yogurt

Whey protein

7. What are bad carbs vs. good carbs?

Carbs are the preferred source of energy for the body. When you eat carbs your body converts them to blood sugar or glucose. This glucose is stored in your muscle cells and liver for use when needed (like training!). When weight lifting, it is mostly this stored energy that your muscles use for contraction fuel. As with any calories you eat, any excess carbs that can’t be utilized are stored as fat.

Some sugars are more conducive to a good-looking physique than others. This is where the good carb verses bad carb comes into play. There are three kinds of carbohydrates:

Monosaccharides (one-sugar molecule)

Disaccharides (two-sugar molecules)

Polysaccharides (three or more sugar molecules)

Monosaccharides and disaccharides are called sugars or bad carbs while polysaccarides are usually called complex carbohydrates, glucose polymers or good carbs. This is where the real good stuff begins. Because the good carbs contain three or more sugar molecules, they take longer to break down. The longer it takes the body to break these carbs down, the more time it has to use them as opposed to storing them as fat. A good way to gauge the quickness of the break down is something called the glycemic index.

8. Can eating 5-8 healthy balanced meals a day cause diabetes in the long run?

I cannot find or have not heard any evidence that would support that idea. In fact during all my research I have found the exact opposite to prove itself over and over. Large infrequent meals put quite a load on the body and create large surges of insulin response. This as you may know over time is one of the factors that can lead to the onset of diabetes. There is actually a study done on older subjects that states A higher meal frequency acutely subdues glucose excursions and reduces insulin and FFA levels during the daytime in older Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus subjects. You can find that study here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nutritional Health Products Store Nutritional Weight Loss Vitamin Health Supplements

Slimming and Diet Supplements: Do You Need Them?

Every year, millions of people are tricked into buying slimming and diet supplements that work very poorly, if at all. You may have even been one of these people. These days, diet products are flooding the markets by the thousands. How can you ever choose the right one for you?

The first thing you have to keep in mind is that ninety percent of the products out there don’t work at all. In fact, they may be causing you more harm than good. Some of the more popular weight loss pills of the past decade contained harmful ingredients. Be especially wary of products that claim that they can help you lose an inordinate amount of weight in a short period of time. An advertisement that claims to help you “Lose 20 Pounds in Three Days!” may sound good, but weight loss at that rate is downright dangerous to your well-being.

Most slimming supplements work by suppressing your appetite and blocking your body from processing carbohydrates. Both results are undesirable, and can have damaging effects on your health. You would be attaining a short-term goal (immediate weight loss) by sacrificing a long-term one (excellent health).

As you can see, choosing the right slimming and diet supplements for you can be difficult; especially if you are not well-informed. In the interests of your health, you should spend a little time researching on the supplements that contain only safe, natural ingredients – which means those with the least side effects. Ideally, your supplement should not be something that manipulates your body’s processes; instead, it should provide the vitamins and nutrients that your body requires for peak performance.

Better yet, you should try not using slimming supplements at all. Not only are supplements potentially harmful, they can also be quite expensive. It is more than possible to lose your excess weight through a sensible eating and exercise regimen. It’s really simple. Just reduce your calorie intake and increase your exercise work.

The Exceptions

While most people don’t really need to use slimming and diet supplements, a small portion of the population does. These are the people who have difficulty losing weight despite being on a strict weight loss program. If you have been dieting and exercising for a significant period of time, say about a year, and yet are not enjoying any appreciable result, then you just might need a slimming supplement.

Before using any sort of diet and slimming supplement, consult with your doctor. Get a check up. Ask your doctor if a particular supplement is likely to help you. If not, ask him for alternatives. If he cannot give you much information, talk to your pharmacist. More than anyone, he will be familiar with the various supplements in the market today, which makes him a tremendous resource.

An overview of the newest diet drugs – Part 1

Do you desire to be thinner and look better? Do you wish to exude energy and beauty? Do you think you are over-weight, do you feel lethargic and slow, do you desire more activity and fun in your life?

These are big questions posed by many companies who claim to have products on the market that are perfect for you; However, what is really important to you? Is it really the results of these products which you pursue, or is it the idea of what you could become if you believe claims that many drug companies make to coerce you into buying their products?

As consumers, we need to focus on the important areas of a product before we try it. The questions you ask yourself should not be so simple as “Do I need to lose weight?”. Granted, buying the newest aerobics video will not necessarily hurt you, the drug ingredients used in diet supplements could result in serious damage to your body.

We can divide diet pills into two types: prescription-only drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) diet pills. OTC products may not be any safer than the prescription products. Examples of prescription diet pills include brands like: Meridia (Sibutramine), Xenical (Orlistat), Adipex, Bontril, Didrex, Phentermine and Tenuate. The only difference is the FDA has considered over-the-counter supplements to be “safe for almost everyone, as long as consumers read the labels”. You may be thinking, “Oh, it’s fine to take supplements on the market… All my friends are raving about this product! Besides, doesn’t the FDA regulate these products”?

The FDA does not regulate diet supplements on the market, though the FDA does monitor and control what goes out to the consumer as a prescription. This means product details can often be shaky, washy, and perhaps unsafe by not giving full warnings and side-effects. The FDA monitors the production of these products, but does not test, back, nor claim results to any of them or any ingredient listed on the label. Labeling is done by marketing in the company and is not monitored or tested for quality or safety, so long as the company doesn’t end up killing millions by selling their products to people. This has happened before, in cases such as Phen-Phen and Ephedra. Many companies claim a lot of things. Here, we are going to take a look at what really goes on in the consumer world regarding “weight loss miracles”?

One thing to think about before going out into the supplement world to slim yourself down is that the FDA isn’t

Weight loss supplements: Do they really work?

Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Natalie. I am 39 years old. I am five foot two and I weigh (at last check a week ago) 267 pounds. This puts me firmly in the category of obese. No two ways about it.

I have been, over the course of my 39 years, various sizes and shapes. I have tried diet, exercise, pills, herbs…pretty much everything on the market. I’ve gone days without eating. I’ve done the all yogurt diets and the all protein diets. I’ve paid thousands and thousands of dollars on diet related materials and supplements.

And yet? I’m still fat.

There are a lot of reasons for it. I’m the first to admit that I love food, and I love eating. I really, really do. I like good food, and I’m a decent cook, so I have the capacity to give myself good food.

If diet supplements did what they claimed, I would be 150 pounds. But diet supplements aren’t the answer.

The most basic reason? They treat the symptom, not the disease.

The disease is not the size and shape of our bodies. That is a symptom of the disease.

The disease goes much, much deeper than that and it is rooted in the very bowels of our society. There is no magic pill that will treat the disease. Only education and changes in the way our society treats the poor, the food available to our children in our schools, the cost of eating healthy meals and the knowledge of the average American in what healthy eating actually is can possibly treat the disease.

Have you ever attempted to feed a family on minimum wage? I have. It means pasta and rice. It means bread. It means a whole lot of processed foods because that is all that can be afforded on the money budgeted for food.

Have you ever tried to eat a healthy meal at a healthy rate of consumption while in elementary school? My 13 year old neice gets 15 minutes to eat her lunch in school. She eats at a healthy rate, and barely has time to finish a sandwhich and her milk. Everyone around her shovels their food into their mouths so that they can eat enough to get them through the rest of the day.

I’m not trying to excuse myself from responsibility here. I fully accept that I am the way I am because I made me this way. And, I accept that sometimes supplements can give us a support system, when they are used properly and treated as support, not as some magical pill that will melt the fat away.

Losing weight is hard work. It requires healthy eating, and healthy movement. It requires changing how we think about food, modifying our relationship with food as well as how we live. It also requires money. And that money is better spent on fresh vegetables and fish than it is on the latest miracle drug or breakthrough pill or Hollywood secret diet.

Next Page »