FitSugar

What's the Deal With: Leptin

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:00:00 -0700

I have come across the word "leptin" a lot recently and instead of just skimming over it and knowing it is vaguely related to weight, I thought I'd do a bit more research.

Leptin (from the Greek word leptos meaning thin) is a hormone that helps control appetite and metabolism. In a normal weight person, when body fat increases, leptin levels rise which signal the brain that it needs to speed up metabolism and decrease appetite. According to Leo Galland, M.D., author of The Fat Resistance Diet, when folks are overweight the leptin message gets lost and the body cannot regulate its fat stores.

New research indicates that inflammation, a condition in which your immune system is kicked into overdrive, may lead to weight gain and make losing more difficult. Doctors think inflammation interferes with leptin production. So from a nutritional perspective you should eat inflammation fighting foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Simply put, leptin is part of the complicated chemical process that helps regulate weight.

Why Weights?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Some women fear strength training, but lifting weights twice weekly will probably not get you Madonna's arms. So don't skip it; there are many reasons to add resistance training to your fitness routine and here's a new one. Combo workouts that include both cardio and strength training are more effective at curbing appetites, which for most of us is a good thing.

Participants in two 16-week studies performed in South Africa and the US who combined aerobic and strength training elements in all their workouts had the greatest control over their intake of carbs, fats, protein, and overall calories when compared with groups who did these two forms of exercise independently. Recently we learned that running had a greater impact on appetite reduction than weight training, but now it looks like combined they are even more effective. Researchers feel that the one-two punch of cardio and weights somehow alters the metabolism making exercisers feel full sooner.

Next workout warm up with 20 minutes of cardio and keep your heart rate up with a circuit workout. If you need a workout to follow, I have a few circuit workouts for you to try.

Source

Another Reason to Exercise: It Curbs Your Appetite

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0800

The dark mornings, the all day cold, the overloaded schedule - who out there isn't having a hard time exercising these days? Here's a little bit of information that should help get you to the gym and onto the treadmill. Exercising decreases your appetite, and cardio does this more than lifting weights. In a small study, running for 60 minutes released two types of appetite controlling hormones, where lifting weights for 90 minutes only released one such hormone. The participants who ran actually ate less as well; their stomachs seconded the hormonal discovery. Hopefully this news will help you squeeze in some kind of workout into your hectic schedule.

Source

Food Review: Forze GPS Shakes and Bars

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:46 -0800

I'm typically wary of fitness drinks with gold packaging; they remind me of the weird muscle-building brands I see at the gym. But when I read the label on Forze GPS shakes and bars, I was intrigued.

This line of snacks, including chocolate and vanilla shakes and four flavors of energy bar, is described as a "weight management tool designed specifically for athletes." They promise to activate your appetite control signals, so they can be used as a between-meal or pre- or post-workout snack. Hear what I thought about their taste and the results.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup Linked to High Blood Pressure

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

No matter how much the Corn Refiners Association tries to convince us that high-fructose corn syrup is healthy, I'm not buying it. Now I have another reason to avoid it: new findings have linked high-fructose corn syrup to high blood pressure, aka hypertension.

In the past 20 years alone, Americans have increased fructose intake by 30 percent, and that increase tracks closely to the rise in obesity. But it may also be contributing to high blood pressure. A team of doctors at the University of Colorado Denver studied more than 4,500 adults with no prior history of hypertension and tracked their fructose intake with a dietary survey. The results are pretty persuasive, so read all about it.

Anne Hathaway Drinks Thermo Bubbles to Boost Fat Burning

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Hollywood is getting ready for the Oscars, and Us Weekly is making us privy to celebs' red-carpet secrets. Among their arsenal of tricks is trainer David Kirsch's Thermo Bubbles ($40 for 10 servings). Supposedly Anne Hathaway, among other actresses and models, partake in this herbal drink that claims to "melt away the fat naturally" along with boosting energy and metabolism levels.

Each 16-oz. serving contains 10 calories with no added sugar. Its ingredients are white tea, guarana (which makes the list of a prominent cardiologist's dangerous diet supplements), ginseng, and green tea. The energy boost probably comes from the caffeine in the green tea. Drinking this fizzy beverage, made from powder you add to water, is said to curb appetites, and the website claims Thermo Bubbles won't give you the jitters or make you crash like coffee or other energy drinks can.

To find out if this can help you lose weight read more.

I don't believe this is the magic pill to make fat melt away, and I am not a fan of appetite suppressants. Your body needs calories to burn in order to function. Kirsch recommends drinking his bubbly twice a day, making this an expensive habit - well over $50 a week. But what happens when you stop drinking it? Will your raging appetite return? The best way to lose weight is to exercise and limit your calorie intake under the amount of calories you're burning, without dipping under 1200 calories a day. Why not just drink some green tea, which is considerably cheaper and offers a bevy of health benefits? Or try these five foods to boost your metabolism.

Source

Diet Tip: Curb Cravings With Mint

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We're always looking for ways to fight cravings when they arise, and one my tricks of the trade is mint.

Yes, mint does wonders to keep my cravings under control as its strong scent is a natural appetite suppressant. I keep a mint scented candle in my kitchen and I like to light it at night. Not only does it keep the house smelling good, I feel like I am less likely to give into late night snacking temptations. Other simple ideas are to sip mint tea, chew sugar-free mint gum, or simply brush your teeth. It may all be psychological, but it works for me so I can't complain. Try it out and see if mint helps keep your cravings under control too. If not, check out some other great ideas for curbing cravings.

Source

Would You Buy Weight Loss Lip Gloss?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

There are so many weight loss products out there it is hard to decipher from those that work and those that don't. Some products, however, make it very easy to say, "Save your money."

Beautiful lips-skinny hips is the slogan for Joey New York LipFIT Lip Gloss ($15.00), which is a lip gloss that apparently curbs appetite. This is because it contains a blend of peppermint, grapefruit and spearmint fragrances and when applied to the lips, the fresh minty aroma has been 'proven' (uh-huh) to safely help inhibit appetite. The gloss also contains ingredients to firm and plump lips instantly; all while making you feel not hungry. I think a more appropriate slogan would be Beautiful lips-You'll Probably Still Want the Chips. Still interested? Buy it from SkinStore.com.

I know, I know... I am a skeptic at heart, but I am still curious, would you buy it?

Appetite - decreased

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:05:43 -0700

Overview

Definition
Alternative Names
Considerations
Common Causes
Home Care
Call your health care provider if
What to expect at your health care provider's office

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

Appetite is the desire to eat. A decreased appetite is when you have a reduced desire to eat. This occurs despite the body's basic caloric (energy) needs.

Alternative Names

Loss of appetite; Decreased appetite

Considerations

Any illness can affect a previously hearty appetite. If the illness is treatable, the appetite should return when the condition is cured.

Loss of appetite can cause unintentional weight loss.

Depression in the elderly is a common cause of weight loss that is not explained by other factors.

Common Causes

Emotional upset, nervousness, loneliness, boredom, tension, anxiety, bereavement, and depression
Anorexia nervosa
Acute and chronic infections
HIV
Pregnancy (first trimester)
Cancer
Hypothyroidism
Medications and street drugs
- Chemotherapeutic agents
- Amphetamines
- Sympathomimetics including ephedrine
- Antibiotics
- Cough and cold preparations
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Demerol
- Digitalis

Home Care

Protein and calorie intake can be increased by eating high-calorie, nutritious snacks or several small meals during the day. Liquid protein drinks may be helpful.

Family members should try to supply favorite foods to help stimulate the person's appetite.

You should keep a record of what you eat and drink for 24 hours. This is called a diet history. If a person with anorexia nervosa consistently exaggerates food intake, strict calorie and nutrient counts should be maintained by someone else.

For loss of appetite caused by taking medications, ask your health care provider about changing the dosage or drug. Never stop taking medications without first talking to your health care provider.

Call your health care provider if

Call your health care provider if you are losing a lot of weight without trying.

Note: To calculate the percentage of weight loss, divide the weight lost (in pounds) by your previous weight (in pounds) and multiply by 100.

For example, if a person weighing 125 pounds loses 10 pounds:

10 divided by 125 = 0.08
0.08 times 100 = 8% weight loss

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and will check your height and weight. Your diet and medical history will be reviewed. The doctor wll ask questions about your decreased appetite, including:

Quality
- Is the decreased appetite severe or mild?
- How much weight has been lost?
Time pattern
- Is loss of appetite a new symptom?
- If so, did it start after an upsetting event, such as the death of a family member?
What other symptoms are also present?

Tests that may be done to determine the cause of a decreased appetite may include:

Barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy (if colon cancer is suspected)
Liver function tests
Kidney function tests
Thyroid function tests
Abdominal ultrasound (if a specific abdominal cause is suspected)
Upper GI series
Pregnancy test
Urine drug screening
HIV test
Complete blood count (CBC)
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

In cases of severe malnutrition, nutrients are given through an intravenous (IV). This may require a hospital stay.

Review Date: 7/21/2006

Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Fact or Myth? Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:07 -0800

"Starve a fever, but feed a cold." This saying plagues me every time I take the temperature of one of my girls. I always wondered if the catchy saying holds any truth.

The saying, which dates back to the late 16th century, is unfortunately wrong. Whether you're sick with or without a fever, it's best not to stress out your immune system by eating too much or too little. When your temp is above 98.6° F, the way to get healthy quicker isn't to fast, but rather to stay hydrated with plenty of fluids and eat in moderation. You probably won't feel like eating much anyway, so don't force yourself, but if you do have an appetite, here's a list of some foods and beverages that could make you feel better and speed up your recovery time.