 | A WEIGHT OFF MY MIND | March 2003
Helping Thyroid and Autoimmune Disease Patients Lose Weight and Feel Great
from Mary J. Shomon
Author of Living Well With Hypothyroidism, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, and The Thyroid Diet Success Guide |
| IN THIS ISSUE:
Canadian Research Points To Beneficial Health And Heart Effects Of A Low-Carbohydrate Diet
FDA Opens Door For Generic Synthroid
10 Signs That You Need A New Doctor
4 Proven Ways To Nurture Your Will-Power
Autoimmune News
The Awesome Apple: Why An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away
You're Being Lied To About Weight Loss
University Of Illinois Study Supports Weight-Loss Advantage Of High-Protein Foods
Interactive Cholesterol Information Web Site Launched
Start Losing Lose Weight Now! Revised "Thyroid Diet Success Guide" Published
Notes From Mary: Eight Of My Best Diet Tips
BACK ISSUES:
Online, back to December 2001
A Weight Off My Mind email edition is published monthly, and is copyright 2001-2002, by Mary Shomon.
Web: http://www.thyroid-info.com
Email: diet@thyroid-info.com
Regular mail: Mary Shomon, P.O. Box 565, Kensington, MD 20895-0565
Fax: 425-977-1175
IMPORTANT NOTE: All information in this newsletter is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should always seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and always consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, herbal therapy, supplement or other self-directed treatment.
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Welcome to the fourteenth issue of "A Weight Off My Mind," Mary Shomon's email newsletter for thyroid and autoimmune disease patients who are interested in losing weight and feeling better through diet and nutrition. You are receiving this issue because you signed up to receive this free email report. (Note: If you are no longer interested in receiving future
issues, or you wish to unsubscribe, email
weightoffmymind-unsubscribe@topica.email-publisher.com. If
you have something you'd like to see covered in future issues, drop me a line anytime at diet@thyroid-info.com.
IF YOU’VE SENT ME A QUESTION: If you wrote me a personal message or question with your "subscribe" message, I'm afraid that my system automatically extracts email addresses, so I didn't see your message. Feel free to send it again to me at diet@thyroid-info.com, with a subject line that doesn’t say “subscribe.”
CANADIAN RESEARCH POINTS TO BENEFICIAL HEALTH AND HEART EFFECTS OF A LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIET
The Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology recently published a study out of the University of Guelph that examined the effects of a very-low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and health in overweight women. Twenty women completed the eight-week trial that significantly reduced their daily carbohydrate intake (from 232 grams to 71 grams) and calories (from 1996 to 1366 calories/day), while protein and fat remained the same. The average weight loss was 11 pounds and body mass index decreased with a loss of 3.4% body fat. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased by an average of nine mmHg and diastolic blood pressure also went down by seven mmHg. Also, total cholesterol decreased, which was accounted for by a decrease in low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) with no change in
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL or "good" cholesterol). Total triglycerides were also greatly reduced, as was the ratio of triglyceride/HDL. Also, there were no significant changes in fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, glucose tolerance, free or total insulin-like growth factor.
Order Your Thyroid Diet Success Guide Now!
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The researchers concluded that caloric reduction aside, carbohydrate restriction to 70 grams or less with concomitant energy restriction, without changes in protein or fat consumption, promotes weight loss, improvements in body composition, blood pressure and blood lipids without compromising glucose tolerance in moderately overweight women. |
Reference: Meckling, Kelly A.; Gauthier, Melanie; Grubb, Rebecca; Sanford, Jennifer, "Effects of a hypocaloric, low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss, blood lipids, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and body composition in free- living overweight women," Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, Vol. 80 Issue 11, November 2002, pgs. 1095-1105.
FDA OPENS DOOR FOR GENERIC SYNTHROID
In mid-March, the FDA turned down Abbott's request to change the way generic thyroid drugs are evaluated, paving the way for generic competitors to Synthroid. Was the Abbott proposal just a stalling tactic? Would you want a generic Synthroid? Find out more now.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aasynthroid-bioequiv.htm
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10 SIGNS THAT YOU NEED A NEW DOCTOR
Do you leave message after message for your doctor, and never get a return call? Does your doctor dismiss the Internet as a source of quackery and nonsense? Does your doctor regularly recommend remedies that only he or she sells? Does your doctor sit at his or her desk and read, go through mail, or type on the computer while you are having an appointment? These are just a few signs that it might be time to find a new doctor. Explore these 10 signs, and see if it might be time for someone who can make a real difference in your health.
http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/aabaddocsignsa.htm
4 PROVEN WAYS TO NURTURE YOUR WILL-POWER
- by Jonni Good
© 2003 Jonni Good - All Rights reserved
http://www.stress-free-weight-loss.com
Do you wonder how people ever find the will-power to stay away from the fattening foods you love?
Here's a simple plan in four steps that will help you create the persistence and will-power that's needed in order to follow through with the decision to lose weight.
1. Discover your true purpose for wanting to go on a diet.
Right now, say to yourself "I need to lose weight." Did that statement excite you? Probably not.
To be successful in following through with any major life change, including a healthy new diet, you need help from the powerful control center in your subconscious mind.
So do what it takes to build a strong, positive picture of success that your subconscious mind can get excited about.
Can you truly say you have a burning desire to lose weight? If you can't say that yet, it's a pretty good bet that sooner or later you'll find a piece of chocolate cake on your plate.
Work on this step - nurture it, feed it, build on it -until you feel a compelling desire for change.
2. You need a plan that is reflected in your actions.
"Intending to" or "trying to" do the plan does not count. Most people stop at this step, simply imagining themselves taking steps towards change, but never actually changing anything.
Don't let that be you. Find the weight loss program that meets your needs, and then act as though it matters each time you make a choice of what you eat. It will matter, if you've paid attention to step #1.
When you get up each morning, think about the choices you made the day before, and compare those choices with the plan you've chosen.
Did you make sure that your plan was reflected in your actions?
If not, recommit yourself each morning. If you find that you never follow the plan, it may be time to reconsider the program, and find one that better fits your needs.
3. Do not allow any negative suggestions to come into your mind from your relatives, friends or acquaintances - or yourself.
They don't mean to, but many people who really care about you will offer the opinion that you've chosen the "wrong program" (no matter which program that may be). They will try to get you to change your mind, in the spirit of helpfulness. Or they'll offer you sweets and treats, saying that "you deserve it, just this once." Or they'll tell you that you look just fine, and don't need to diet at all!
Don't allow this kind of loving sabotage destroy your commitment to health.
And remember that your own internal judge may also offer you negative, discouraging thoughts. Gently move these thoughts out of your mind. If you really desire a thinner, healthier body, you'll need to let go of the habit of picking on yourself.
4. Join with a group of people who share your burning desire, and who will help you follow through with your plan.
Look for someone who is already losing weight, and who shows some real excitement about it. She'll love to have your support and encouragement, and her own enthusiasm will be contagious. You can actually gain a lot for your own morale by giving her help when she seems to need it.
But remember, choose your diet buddy wisely.
Serious about losing weight? Then print out this short list, and check yourself daily to see if you're nurturing your will-power with your attitudes and actions.
Jonni Good created the program that uses proven strategies for changing your mind, so you can change your body. Find the success you're looking for in Jonni's self-study program called Weight Loss: How to Keep Your Commitment
http://www.howtothinkthin.com
AUTOIMMUNE NEWS
If you're not getting "The Autoimmune Report," my free email newsletter on autoimmune disease, you're missing out on key stories that can affect your health! Here are just a few stories reported in the current issue!
To subscribe, send an email to autoimmune-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com.
Or email autoimmune@thyroid-info.com with the Subject: "Subscribe Autoimmune."
THE AWESOME APPLE: WHY AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY
We're all familiar with the age-old saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." But, do you know why this frequently uttered phrase is true?
According to nutritionists, both apples and apple products are loaded with a variety of nutrients that have been shown to help maintain your health:
- Just one apple contains as much soluble fiber as a piece of whole wheat bread or a half cup of raw broccoli. This type of dietary fiber has been shown to both help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
- Apples, apple juice and apple sauce are great sources of both the natural sugar, fructose and water-which provide a natural source of energy to keep you moving and hydrated throughout the day.
- At just 80 calories, an apple is a low-calorie, tasty treat for those watching their weight.
- Apples and apple products contain between 3 and 8 percent of the Daily Value for potassium. Consuming 3,500 milligrams of this essential nutrient each day may help reduce high blood pressure.
- Apples are also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C. This antioxidant aids in guarding the body against damaging free radicals, those nasty compounds that accumulate in our bodies and ultimately wreak havoc on our healthy cells. Apples provide about 10-15 percent of the recommended daily intake (DV) of vitamin C.
On top of all of those fabulous nutrition facts, apples are naturally 100 percent cholesterol, fat, and sodium free-which make this fruit a nutritious nibble for those concerned with their heart's health.
As you can see, there are a number of reasons to dive into a jar of applesauce or grab an apple for an on-the-go treat. However, researchers only recently discovered the true power behind one of America's favorite fruits.
In the September 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dr. Paul Knekt and colleagues reported that eating apples regularly may help reduce the risk of asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. This is just one of several studies that have linked health benefits to a newly discovered class of compounds that are abundant in both apples and a variety of apple-based foods.
"Nutrition scientists have identified other disease fighting compounds, besides vitamin C, in apples," explains Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, an associate director and chief of antioxidants research laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. He explains that these compounds, called flavonoids, are powerful antioxidants that are associated with reducing the risk for many diseases associated with aging-such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
According to nutrition researchers at Cornell University, almost all of the apple's disease-fighting fury comes from these recently revealed phytonutrients. "Just one small fresh apple with the peel (approximately 100 gams) provides the total antioxidant activity equal to 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C," states Dr. Rui Hai Liu, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at Cornell. And, "while it's the peel that's highly concentrated in these phytonutrients, all parts of the apple contribute to its health-protecting benefits," says Lori Stern, R.D., a nutritionist with Mott's Inc., the nation's leading producer of branded apple juice and sauce.
But, the good news doesn't stop there. If you're a fan of applesauce and apple juice, research has found that these foods contain many of the same nutrients found in the whole apple. Just remember, every time you pour yourself a glass of refreshing 100-percent apple juice, dive into a jar of applesauce, or grab a piece of this fantastic fruit, you're not only satisfying your sweet tooth; you're also helping your body defeat disease.
Source: NAPSI
YOU'RE BEING LIED TO ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS
by Shawn LeBrun, Certified Personal Trainer
Well, here it is, late night TV and I'm flipping through the channels trying to find something good to watch.
As I'm surfing the tube, I notice a huge amount of weight loss infomercials.
And you know what, most of them literally make me sick to my stomach.
Not because I despise TV, but because I can't stand it when companies blatantly lie to unsuspecting consumers and make MILLIONS in the process doing it.
But as I continue to promote the truth about weight loss with my personal training business and my fitness website, the truth is muddled in the sea of confusion that's created by companies
throwing weight loss solutions at consumers 24/7.
The companies pushing these bogus products will continue to make millions as I continue to fight an uphill battle, trying to shed some light for people as to what it really takes to lose weight
and get in shape.
Am I bitter that these companies are making millions?
Nope.
Am I bitter that they're doing it at the expense of people who really are unsure of the best way to go about losing weight and getting their health back?
Absolutely.
I know firsthand what it really takes to lose a lot of weight and get in great shape.
And not once was it from an "Ab Stimulator Belt" you wear at work or from a "Fat-Loss Patch" you place on your arm.
Nor was it from a "Magic Juice Drink" you sip for 2 days straight while not eating another morsel of food.
And now that I think about it, it also wasn't from Coral Calcium or Metabo-Super-Fat-Burning-and-Crime-Fighting Pills.
It sure wasn't from an "Ab-Crunch-Whatever-You-Call-It", you know, the machine you use for 3 minutes while watching TV and are supposed to lose 20 pounds in a week.
But as I continue to watch these commercials like a deer caught in the headlights, I almost fall for the best marketing money can buy-- the "pictures-never-lie" testimonials.
You know, the old "before and after" photos (as hard as I looked, I couldn't see the airbrushing).
Hey, if it's in a picture, its gotta be true!
And right before I catch myself reaching for the phone to order (chuckle, chuckle) I ask myself "Why is it these types of commercials clutter the TV mostly at night or on Saturday morning?"
Is that when the most gullible tend to watch a lot of these blatant lies and scam products being peddled to them?
Who knows, but Letterman is on and I need to change the channel before I get any sicker to my stomach.
Visit Shawn LeBrun Fitness, a website where no magic potions or miracle pills exist. Just the plain old fitness truth. While there, subscribe to the FREE "Change Your Body" newsletter.
http://www.shawnlebrunfitness.com
ARE YOU GETTING THE FREE THYROID NEWSLETTER?
If you're a new "Weight Off My Mind" subscriber, you may not know about my monthly thyroid newsletter, "Sticking Out Our Necks," which features thyroid-related news and information, both conventional and alternative. Each monthly issue covers a variety of the latest thyroid disease news and information of interest to patients and practitioners. If you signed up for this diet newsletter, you are NOT automatically subscribed to the monthly thyroid newsletter, so get on the list for this free monthly now! Or, send an email to diet@thyroid-info.com with "Subscribe Thyroid News" in the subject. |
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS STUDY SUPPORTS WEIGHT-LOSS ADVANTAGE OF HIGH-PROTEIN FOODS
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, recently studied the amino acid leucine, found in high-protein animal foods (beef, chicken, fish, milk products and eggs), and discovered it may play a major role in losing fat and maintaining muscle.
Published in the February issue of the Journal of Nutrition, Donald Layman, PhD, compared a high-protein, leucine-rich diet with a high-carbohydrate diet on 24 middle-aged women who averaged about 182 pounds. All the women consumed about 1,700 calories per day, but the protein-rich group took in approximately 30% of their calories from protein, 41% from carbohydrates and 29% from fat sources. They averaged about 125 grams of protein daily, with a goal of 0.73 grams for each pound of body weight.
The women ate about 10 ounces of meat daily over the 10-week study -- including one beef serving -- as well as three servings of low-fat milk or cheese and at least five servings of vegetables. Meanwhile, the high-carbohydrate group ate only half as much protein, getting 16% of their total calories in protein, 58% from carbohydrates and 26% from fat. They averaged
0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight.
While weight loss was about 16 pounds for all the women, those in the high-protein group lost more body fat and retained more lean muscle than those in the high-carbohydrate group. Dr. Layman also found that several months after the study was concluded, the high-protein group continued to lose weight while the high-carbohydrate group did not.
The study also showed that women in the high-protein group were less hungry between meals and also experienced more stable blood glucose levels and reduced insulin response following meals than the high-carbohydrate group. Both groups had reductions in total blood cholesterol, but the high-protein group also had decreased triglyceride levels.
Reference: Layman, D, Boileau, R, Erickson, D, et al., "A reduced ratio of dietary carbohydrate to protein improves body composition and blood lipid profiles during weight loss in adult women," Journal of Nutrition, 133(2), 2003, pages 411-417.
INSIDE MARY SHOMON'S MEDICINE CABINET
Find out what thyroid medicine I take, as well as my daily supplements and vitamins, what I take to fight colds and flus, things that help with weight loss, enhance energy, and help hair and skin.
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INTERACTIVE CHOLESTEROL INFORMATION WEB SITE LAUNCHED
For people who want easy access to a single source for cholesterol news, research study findings
and personal cholesterol tracking tools, a new Web site, http://www.cholesterolontarget.com, has been launched. The Web site is designed to help patients document their journey toward a more heart-healthy cholesterol goal. The site is "unbranded" and does not discuss specific cholesterol-
management products.
People who register on the Web site receive new customized content at each log-in to help them achieve compliance with treatment. The site also contains general health news, smoking cessation and medication programs, and exercise compliance information. Links to the latest cholesterol guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are also available on the site.
This first-of-its-kind Web site for cholesterol management can be tailored to allow each person to access interactive tools, such as:
- Cholesterol Goal Calculator - Estimates what a user's cholesterol goal should be. This is based on the number of risk factors a user has and the calculated risk of having a heart attack within the next 10 years.
- Mini-Heart Risk Assessment - Helps to estimate chances of having a heart attack within the next 10 years and is designed for adults ages 20 and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a form of fat or "lipid" found in the blood and all cells of the body. It is critically important in helping to form cell membranes, steroid hormones and other essential tissues. However, excess cholesterol in the blood in the form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can cause a buildup of plaque in artery walls. This restricts blood flow and can cause
heart attack or stroke. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol, the greater a patient's risk of heart disease. Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects more than 12 million men and women nationwide and accounted for approximately one in every five deaths in 1999.
Approximately two-thirds of cholesterol is produced by the body, while the other one-third comes from cholesterol in the diet. The amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood is controlled by the liver, which produces cholesterol and uses it to make bile acids (which are used in digestion), and by the digestive tract, which absorbs cholesterol from both food and from the
bile made by the liver.
LDL-cholesterol goals recommended by the NIH vary based on each person's medical history and individual risk factors for heart disease. The LDL- cholesterol goal for all patients with CHD is <100 mg/dL. Last year, the NIH implemented new cholesterol guidelines, known as adult treatment panel III (ATP III) guidelines, which expanded the number of patients eligible for
treatment and increased the number of patients with a recommended LDL-cholesterol goal of <100 mg/dL, adding certain high-risk patients without existing CHD.
START LOSING WEIGHT NOW! REVISED "THYROID DIET SUCCESS GUIDE" PUBLISHED
| Thousands of people have already ordered their copies of the "Thyroid Diet Success Guide,” and people are reporting that the low-glycemic approach featured in the guide is helping them slowly and safely lose weight.
Thousands of people have already ordered their copies of the "Thyroid Diet Success Guide," and people are reporting that the low-glycemic approach featured in the guide is helping them slowly and safely lose weight. And now, I've updated the guide for 2003!!
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Just a few of the key features in the updated and revised 35-page Guide include:
- Is Your Thyroid Causing Your Weight Problem
- Weight Loss Requirement: Optimizing Your Thyroid
- Common Questions About Thyroid and Weight Loss
- Do Your Doctor's Mistakes Stop You From Losing Weight
- The Habits of Successful Weight Loss
- Menstrual Cycle Linked to Weight Loss
- Weight Loss Secrets for Thyroid Patients
- The Thyroid/Weight Loss Connection - Some Theories
- How To Lose Weight With Hypothyroidism
- Stevia for Sweetening
- Thyroid Diet Newsbriefs
- Nuts for Nuts: Can They Help your Diet?
- Weight Loss Success: How I Lost 25 Pounds in 12 Weeks
- Choosing a Good Protein Bar
- Dieting for the Disinhibited: "Am I Really Hungry?"
- How Much Weight Do You Need to Lose?
- The Ultimate Thyroid Exercise Program
- Seeing Results with Weight Loss and Exercising
- Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Overview
The "Thyroid Diet Success Guide" features a diet plan that you can follow, and specific information on exercises, and many other tips and resources. The Success Guide will help you get on the right track, with information that has actually helped other thyroid patients -- including me -- to effectively lose weight!
 | Order online now, securely, using Visa, Mastercard, American Express or your Discover card, via secure processing with CCNow.
DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE ORDERING!
US ORDERS: $12, plus $2 shipping and handling, for U.S. online orders
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Buy Your Thyroid Diet Guide Online Now |
FAX OR MAIL ORDERS
You can also order by fax, or mail. For an order form you can print out, visit http://www.thyroid-info.com/dietbook.htm. U.S. cost is $15, outside the U.S. is $25.
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To order by phone, call our toll-free order line during weekday business hours at 888-810-9471 to order using your credit card. If you'd like a call-back, leave a message with your name and number, and Pat at the office will call you back to take your order. U.S. cost is $15, outside the U.S. is $25.
DELIVERY TIME: Don’t forget to allow 10 days to 2 weeks from receipt of your order for delivery of your Thyroid Diet Success Guide.
SPECIAL OFFER: We had the “Mini-Guides” reprinted, so every Weight Off My Mind subscriber who purchases The Thyroid Diet Guide will receive a free pocket-sized "Mini-Guide" that summarizes the key diet tips in a portable, easy-to-carry format!
NOTES FROM MARY: EIGHT OF MY BEST DIET TIPS
Just like you, I am working every day to continue on my weight loss program. People always write and say, "Mary, tell me what do YOU do?" Here are a few of my best tips that I regularly use to help stay on track, diet-wise...
1. Fruit Juices with Stevia
If you're a fan of fruit juices, but don't want the high calories and carbohydrate contents, you can try what I do. Get unsweetened lemon juice, or unsweetened cranberry juice (Trader Joe's and many natural groceries have the unsweetened cranberry juice). Mix the unsweetened juice with water or seltzer, and add a natural, calorie-free, non-glycemic sweetener like stevia. You get the taste and much of the health benefits of juice, but far fewer calories and carbs.
2. Fat Free Half & Half
I'm not a huge dairy person, but I really like my cup of tea or coffee with some cream -- NOT skim or low-fat milk. But regular cream is too high in fat, and the non-dairy creamers have carbs and all sorts of bizarre ingredients. Try fat-free half and half. You get an incredibly rich flavor, no fat, low carbs, and if you use just a splash, it's not much in the way of calories.
3. Ezekiel Bread
 Many health food stores, and stores like Whole Foods, Fresh Fields, Trader Joes and others carry Ezekiel Bread made by "Food For Life." This is a sprouted grain, flour-free bread, high in fiber, DELICIOUS, and it's a terrific substitute for regular breads. It's a guilt-free bread that you can include in a low-glycemic diet. To find a store near you that sells Ezekiel Bread, go to:
http://www.food-for-life.com/locator.asp.
4. The Meat/Fish Salad & Ezekiel Bread Meal
One of my favorite fast meals is to take some warmed up leftover meat, chicken or fish (or if you're feeling indulgent, a pre-prepared grilled salmon filet -- I get them from Trader Joe's), and put it on a salad (no iceberg lettuce, use romaine or spinach for optimal nutrition.) Add a dash of sea salt on the salad. Take a little olive oil and flax oil, mix with balsamic vinagrette and drizzle the dressing over the salad. Toast a slice of Ezekiel bread on the side, and just a dab of butter (size of a pea) for flavor. You have a healthy, high fiber, low-glycemic meal in about 2 minutes!
5. Water, Water and MORE Water
I know everyone tells you how important it is to drink water, but I"m going to tell you again. If you are not drinking AT LEAST 64 ounces of water every day, you're going to find it hard -- if not impossible -- to lose weight. I could eat 800 calories a day, but if I don't drink just boatloads of water, I won't lose. Conversely, on days when I eat a normal amount, but drink a great deal of water, I hop on the scale the next day and usually find that I've lost. I can't emphasize ENOUGH how important this is. Get yourself a sport bottle. Or buy the sports-topped bottled waters. Carry them around with you all the time. Keep them at your desk, at your bedside, while you're exercising, while you're in the car, watching television, talking on the phone. Drink drink drink. And when you think you've had enough, drink some more!!
Order Your Thyroid Diet Success Guide Now!
| 6. Pure Protein Shakes
I don't think I could live without these!
Worldwide Nutrition makes these shakes -- I use the "Pure Protein" shakes that have 21 grams of protein, but they also have an "Ultra Pure Protein" version with 35 grams of protein. The shakes are delicious -- they come in Chocolate, Vanilla and Capuccino flavor, and have less than 10 grams of carbohydrates per can, almost no fat, and are high in fiber. They don't contain aspartame (it uses sucralose -- "Splenda" -- for its sweetness, and it's really very delicious, doesn't have that artificial sweetener after-taste), and are very low-glycemic.
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 I frequently have one of these with a small piece of fruit for a fast breakfast. And while I try not to eat anything after dinner, there are those nights when you are just starving starving starving, and you know you can't go to sleep without eating something. Usually, that's the time you're tempted to hit the microwave popcorn, or eat a pile of Ritz crackers. So I will pop open a Pure Protein, and it does the trick. And for some reason, while I don't tolerate protein shakes you make yourself using skim or 2% milks very well (and they seem to make me gain weight -- probably bloating, lactose intolerance and dairy allergy), these shakes don't have the same effect.
You can get the Pure Protein shakes at many health foods stores, some GNCs, Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's has the best price, I've found.
7. Rhodiola
A supplement I've been taking for almost two months is Rhodiola. It really helps tremendously with energy and fatigue. Rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb that increases the body's resistance to stress, and has been used in the traditional medicine of Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries. I find I can work out more energetically if I've taken my rhodiola earlier in the day as well. I tend to take one in the morning, and then one mid-afternoon -- during my slump period -- and find that it helps my energy greatly. And since I'm one of those people who eats when I'm tired -- to try to bolster my energy -- getting more energy and NOT eating has a double whammy positive effect on my diet.
| As for me, my main challenge now is perking up and getting my energy back. I'm starting to feel better, and sleep better, but one of the main after-effects of going through such a stressful time has been fatigue. I just had my thyroid checked, and will find out the numbers soon, but in the meantime, a new supplement I've been taking to help is Rhodiola. It really seems to help with energy and fatigue. Rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb that increases the body's resistance to stress, and has been used in the traditional medicine of Russia, Scandinavia, and other countries. I find I can work out more energetically if I've taken my rhodiola earlier in the day as well. I tend to take one in the morning, and then one mid-afternoon -- during my slump period -- and find that it helps my energy greatly. And since I'm one of those people who eats when I'm tired -- to try to bolster my energy -- getting more energy and NOT eating has a double whammy positive effect on my diet. The product I've been using is Longevia Rhodiola Rosea from Longeverco. It's actually a synergistic combination that includes rhodiola along with other herbs, fruits and extracts that help complement the rhodiola. I get mine from Iherb.com.
Go to Iherb's Rhodiola page now. |  |
Note: For those who want to know all the details about rhodiola, here is an excellent scientific article.
8. Ginseng Tea
 | Another thing I've been using for energy (are you noticing a trend here?) is ginseng tea. I frequently have this as my first cup in the morning (my dear husband actually makes me a cup every morning!) to perk me up and get me going. When it comes to ginseng tea, I'm a one-tea woman...Long Life Three-Ginseng is the only one I drink. It has a naturally sweet taste, so it needs no sweetener, and it's just delicious. It's not always easy to get at health food and vitamin stores, but some do carry it. I get mine online from Iherb.com
See Three Ginseng Tea at Iherb now. |
Live well,
-- Mary
All
information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a
substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical
conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health
issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a
new treatment program. Please see our full disclaimer.
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