5 Ways To Ditch Your Sweet Tooth In Time For Christmas

If you’ve already polished off the Christmas chocolates then now is the time to learn how to curb your cravings. Follow these top tips to make sure you don’t pile on the pounds over the festive season. 

 

Change your diet

There are many reasons why we all suffer sweet cravings at one time or another - but more often than not it’s because we are lacking something in our diet.

A recent study by U.S. researchers found that teenagers who skipped breakfast were prone to obesity but those who ate a protein-rich breakfasts were found to have less food cravings and were less likely to overeat later in the day.

They concurred that eating a high protein breakfast increased levels of the brain chemical dopamine, the 'feel-good' messenger that regulates food intakes and cravings.

The study's leader, Professor Heather Leidy, of the University of Missouri-Columbia, said: “Our research showed people experience a dramatic decline in cravings for sweet foods when they eat breakfast.

“However, breakfasts that are high in protein also reduced cravings for savoury - or high-fat - foods.

“On the other hand, if breakfast is skipped, these cravings continue to rise throughout the day.”

If you struggle with cravings, try changing your eating habits and eat little and often. This helps keep your blood sugar level stable and eliminates your body’s need for a quick sugar fix.

Adding more substance to your lunch can also help. According to Yale researchers, when women add three ounces of meat, poultry or fish to their lunch, they eat 31 per cent fewer sugar calories during the rest of the day.

Take your mind off it

It can be hard to focus on anything else when a craving strikes, so try going for a walk or doing a workout. Not only will this give you something else to focus on but it will also release endorphins, the same as those released from sweets and treats, to leave us feeling more calm and relaxed.

Walking after a meal is the perfect alternative to a desert and will also help you burn off some of the calories consumed during your meal.

If after trying everything else the cravings are still there, then try brushing your teeth or gargling with mouthwash. As well as the minty flavour, the aftertaste never mixes well with sweets and you should lose your craving.

A little of what you like…

Every now and again the best way to combat a craving is to give in to it, but only in moderation. If you are going to completely fall off the wagon then this option is not for you, but if you want a treat then make sure you go for quality over quantity.

One square of a high quality, high cocoa chocolate bar should curb any craving and is better for you, and lower in calories, than a regular bar.

If you want to create your own snacks so you don’t have to face temptation too often, you can try covering nuts or dried fruit in chocolate or mix the healthier snacks with chocolate chips.

By treating yourself you avoid the feeling of missing out which is often the reason for dieters failing.

Go cold turkey

If you are not the type of personality to be able to stop after one piece of chocolate or a handful of nibbles then the best option to get rid of your sweet tooth is to go cold turkey and cut out sugar completely.

If you can manage 72 hours sugar-free then you will find that not only do the cravings die down but your taste buds will adjust and many things will become too sweet.

Be prepared though as you can feel tired, so if you are going to give it a go it is essential to eat properly to keep your energy levels up.

Change your perfume

We know how a smell can influence our taste buds, even sometimes making us hungry when we thought we were full, but researchers, at St George’s Hospital in London found that the smell of vanilla can have the opposite effect and actually reduce cravings.

Researchers tested a skin aroma patch that releases the aroma of vanilla and found that the test group lost an average of 5lbs a month compared to the placebo group, which lost an average of just 2lbs.

Evidence showed that those wearing the vanilla aroma patches also reported a positive eating change in their diet and felt more in control of what they ate.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/5-ways-ditch-sweet-tooth-time-christmas-090000734.html

How to get started in healthy living — part 3B

Improving your diet and increasing healthy activity

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is perhaps the lynchpin of healthy living. Not only does it keep all your body systems working efficiently, it also provides energy, protects your heart, helps prevent and fight off disease, maintains a healthy body weight, contributes to healthy skin, hair and nails and even influences mood.

Exercise for a healthy life

Despite myriad campaigns and initiatives, we still aren’t getting out and about nearly often enough to benefit our health. The average person in the UK watches 26 hours of television per week! The latest statistics show that 56 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women aged 16 to 54 fail to reach the recommended levels of physical activity for health benefits. No wonder obesity is such a problem in this country ... But we remain sedentary at our peril: regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes — as well as the risk of premature death.

Take action

• Stop and think before you make a journey. Could you walk it or bike it instead of driving? If it will take under 15 minutes to get there, then the answer is yes!
• Be more aware of how you use your body. Bend your knees when you pick up heavy objects, sit at your desk properly and try to keep your stomach pulled in and shoulders back and down.
• Find a fitness goal that you can work towards. It could be something as simple as being able to walk up all seven flights of stairs at work, or entering a charity fun run.  
• Think of a sport or fitness activity you loved as a child — perhaps netball or judo, cross country running or ballet — and find somewhere that you can give it a go again. It may rekindle your enthusiasm …
• Avoid labor-saving devices in and outside the home — like the remote control, the food processor, the elevators and escalators, the shopping home delivery service — even the ‘no-scrub’ bathroom cleaning fluid!
• Invest in a pedometer (they are not expensive) and monitor your steps for a full day. The goal is to reach 10,000 steps per day, but if you are like most people, your total may be closer to half of that. Aim to build up by 200 steps per day. 

Drink more fluids

Many of us spend a lot of time in a state of ‘hypo’ hydration. We’re not officially dehydrated but just slightly under-hydrated. This can make you feel sluggish, impair mental function and increase the risk of constipation. It also doesn’t do wonders for your complexion. Experts recommend that we consume 1ml of fluid for every calorie we take in — which means that the average UK woman needs around 2l, the average man needs 2.5l of fluid per day. Happily, at least a third of this comes from the moisture in the foods we eat — but it is still important to ensure you drink fluids regularly throughout the day (it doesn’t have to be water — though water is a calorie-free, sugar-free, additive-free choice). If you exercise, then starting at a level of hypohydration practically guarantees that you won’t perform to the best of your ability — so be especially vigilant if you are active.

Take action

• Keep a bottle of water handy — on your desk, in your bag or in the car — you’ll be surprised how often you take a sip from it.
• Drink a cup of water for every cup of tea or coffee you drink.
• Swap sugary carbonated drinks for sparkling water. Don’t drink too many diet drinks — the acid in them is harmful to teeth and there is still controversy over the safety of the artificial sweeteners they contain.
• Swap at least some of your caffeinated beverages for decaffeinated ones. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes the body shed water. ‘Water-processed’ decaffeinated coffee is free from chemicals and much tastier.
• If you are exercising for more than 45 minutes, consider drinking an isotonic sports drink instead of water.
• Monitor the color of your urine. If you are adequately hydrated, it should be the color of pale straw. Dark urine, infrequently passed, is a sure sign of dehydration.

Alcohol consumption

Excess drinking has become so much part of our culture that many of us barely notice we are doing it — but health practitioners certainly are – with worrying increases in alcohol related diseases from cirrhosis of the liver to heart problems, stroke, obesity, some cancers and alcohol-related accidents. Stick to the recommended amounts and you can enjoy alcohol without harming your health (there’s some evidence that consuming modest amounts of alcohol is actually healthier than being teetotal) – but unfortunately, many of us are overdoing it. A survey by the Royal College of Physicians found that one in five women aged 25 to 44 had ‘binged’ (defined as consuming more than six units in one session) at least once in the previous week while in 2001, the Chief Medical Officer’s report stated that liver cirrhosis had increased seven-fold in the last 30 years in women aged 35 to 44 and eight-fold in men of the same age group.

Take action

Know your units. The maximum recommended amount is four units per day for men (but no more than 21 per week) and three units per day for women (but no more than 14 units per week), necessitating at least two alcohol-free days per week. Keep a ‘drink diary’ to find out how much you are really drinking on a weekly basis.

• Find a glass at home and mark on it with tippex or nail varnish the amount that constitutes a unit of your usual favourite tipple. For beer drinkers, that’s half a pint, for wine drinkers, 125ml and for spirit drinkers, 25ml constitutes a single unit.
• When you’ve finished an alcoholic drink, fill the glass with water and don’t drink another one until you’ve finished the water.
• Don’t get involved in ‘rounds’. You often end up drinking just because it’s been bought for you, even though you already feel you’ve had enough.
• Don’t drink alcohol when you are thirsty. Make your first drink a large soft one, otherwise you will gulp it down too quickly.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach — either drink with food or eat before you go out.
• http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/how-to-get-started-in-healthy-living-part-3/

Do artificial sweeteners raise diabetes risk?

"Artificial sweeteners may promote diabetes, claim scientists," reports The Guardian. But before you go clearing your fridge of diet colas, the research in question – extensive as it was – was mainly in mice.

The researchers' experiments suggest artificial sweeteners, particularly saccharin, change the bacteria that normally live in the gut and help to digest nutrients.

These changes could reduce the body's ability to deal with sugar, leading to glucose intolerance, which can be an early warning sign of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers only directly tested the effect of saccharin in an uncontrolled study on just seven healthy adults over the course of a week. It is far too early to claim with any confidence that artificial sweeteners could be contributing to the diabetes "epidemic".

In the interim, if you are trying to reduce your sugar intake to control your weight or diabetes, you can always try to do so without using artificial sweeteners. For example, drinking tap water is a far cheaper alternative to diet drinks.

What kind of research was this?

This was animal and human research looking at the effect of artificial sweeteners on bacteria in the gut and how this influences glucose metabolism.

Because of differences between species, results in animals may not always reflect what happens in humans, but they allow researchers to develop a better idea of how things might work.

They can then use this knowledge to develop ways to test their theories using information that can be obtained in humans. This study has carried out both the animal and early human tests of their theories. But the human part of this study was relatively limited, as the focus was on the animal research.

The researchers carried out a cross-sectional analysis of artificial sweetener exposure and indicators of metabolic problems and gut bacteria. This approach is not able to determine whether the sweetener could be contributing to the outcomes seen, or vice versa.

The researchers also tested the short-term effect of saccharin on people who never consumed the sweetener, but without a control group.

What were the basic results?

The researchers found both lean and obese mice consuming the artificial sweeteners saccharin, sucralose or aspartame in their water over 11 weeks developed glucose intolerance, while those consuming just water, glucose or sucrose did not.

Saccharin had the greatest effect on glucose intolerance, and the researchers focused most of their experiments on this sweetener. It caused glucose intolerance within five weeks when given at a dose equivalent to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maximum acceptable daily intake in humans.

The researchers found the mice consuming the artificial sweeteners did not differ in their liquid and food consumption or their walking and energy expenditure compared with the controls. These factors were therefore considered to not be causing the glucose intolerance.

However, treating mice with antibiotics stopped the artificial sweeteners having this effect. Mice with no gut bacteria developed glucose intolerance when the researchers transplanted gut bacteria taken from mice consuming saccharin or being treated with saccharin in the lab. These results suggest the sweeteners were having some effect on the gut bacteria, which was causing the glucose intolerance.

The researchers also found drinking saccharin changed the types of bacteria in the mice's guts. Drinking water, glucose or sucrose did not have this effect.

The bacteria in the gut are involved in helping to digest nutrients. The specific changes seen in mice consuming saccharin suggest the sweeteners could be increasing the amount of energy that could be harvested from these nutrients.

In their human studies, the researchers found:

• Long-term artificial sweetener consumption in 381 people who were not diabetic was associated with greater waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, levels of glucose in the blood after fasting, and worse glucose tolerance.
• People who consumed artificial sweeteners had a different gut bacteria composition from people who did not consume artificial sweeteners.
• Four out of seven healthy adult volunteers who did not normally consume artificial sweeteners developed worse glucose tolerance after consuming the maximum US FDA-recommended level of saccharin for six days. These four people showed gut bacteria differences compared with the three people who did not show an effect, both before and after consuming the saccharin.
• Transfer of gut bacteria from the volunteers showing a response to bacteria-free mice caused the mice to develop glucose intolerance. This was not seen if they transferred gut bacteria from the non-responding human volunteers to mice.

Conclusion

This fascinating and controversial study in mice and humans suggests artificial sweeteners, particularly saccharin, could lead to glucose intolerance by having an effect on gut bacteria. The fact that both the animal and human experiments seem to support this adds some weight to the findings.

However, the researchers' investigations in humans are currently limited. They assessed the link between long-term artificial sweetener consumption and various indicators of metabolic problems, such as fat around the waist, using a cross-sectional design. This cannot establish which came first and therefore which could be influencing the other. Also, the only confounder in humans that seemed to be considered was body mass index.

The researchers also only directly tested the effect of one artificial sweetener (saccharin) in an uncontrolled study on just seven healthy adults over the course of a week. Saccharin is less commonly used than other artificial sweeteners, and the participants also consumed it at the maximum US FDA-recommended level (equivalent to 120mg a day).

The findings suggest – at least in the short term – saccharin may only affect glucose response in some people, depending on their gut bacteria. Larger studies, which also incorporate a control group, are needed to see whether they support the results and whether other sweeteners have similar effects.

Some earlier human studies have found links between artificial sweeteners and weight gain and increased diabetes risk. However, it has generally been assumed this is because the people who consume more artificial sweeteners because the sweeteners contain no calories already have problems with their weight, which is why they are at more risk, not vice versa (reverse causation).

This study raises the intriguing possibility that artificial sweeteners could also be directly affecting how our bodies respond to sugar. However, this research is only in its early stages, and we cannot say for certain whether artificial sweeteners are contributing to the diabetes epidemic.

In the interim, if you are trying to reduce your sugar intake, you can do so without replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners.

For people trying to lose weight and those with diabetes who are trying to control their blood sugar, it is important to do what works for them as this is more likely to be sustainable in the long term.

For some people, substituting food and drinks containing artificial sweeteners, rather than those containing sugar, may help with these goals.

At this stage, it is far too early to drop artificial sweeteners from the arsenal of sugar alternatives that could be used to fight the diabetes and obesity epidemic.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/09September/Pages/Do-artificial-sweeteners-raise-diabetes-risk.aspx

How To Find The Best Cleanse For Weight Loss

Our modern world presents many health challenges including a polluted environment and obesity. Many people look for answers but only find confusing, contradicting information and band-aid solutions. We all have different goals, lifestyles, and demands on our time and finances. However, your ideal cleansing system should provide a long-term solution, fit into your routine, be effective, and improve your overall health and sense of well-being.

Because of our constant exposure to pollutants, we need to protect ourselves on an ongoing basis. A simple one-time cleanse is not going to protect you in the long run. A weight loss fad may help you lose weight today only to gain it back in a month. Ideally, you want a solution that fits into your lifestyle and can give you the results you want over the long term.

When thinking long-term you want to find something that you will stick with. If you are busy, you don't want a system that is time consuming. If you work, you don't want a harsh cleanse that will send you running to the bathroom every half hour. Ideally, you want a simple, effective system that is flexible and will work with you - not against you.

When evaluating a system you have to determine if it is effective or not. Does it provide fast, visible results? Are there testimonials from other satisfied customers? Is it backed by reputable scientific research? If you can't find support for this outside of a company's marketing material then you should move on.

Probably the most important factor when choosing a system is determining if it promotes a healthy lifestyle. You want something that is based on good nutrition and contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and other vital nutrients. Use common sense and avoid simple 'solution-in-a-pill' formulations, as they can't address the complex needs of a healthy lifestyle.

Something that can help ensure you get the most from your experience is a system that includes support from a professional. A good system will be flexible and be able to fit your lifestyle. However, it may take the assistance of a knowledgeable coach to help you integrate the necessary components into your daily routine. Such programs are available and can include support free of charge.

Finally, you want to find a product that is within your budget. When considering a system you should realize you are making an investment in yourself. You may have to pay a little extra but the return on your investment will be better health, weight normalization, and an overall improved sense of well-being.



http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Find-The-Best-Cleanse-For-Weight-Loss&id=7568075

How to get started in healthy living — part 3A

Improving your diet and increasing healthy activity

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is perhaps the lynchpin of healthy living. Not only does it keep all your body systems working efficiently, it also provides energy, protects your heart, helps prevent and fight off disease, maintains a healthy body weight, contributes to healthy skin, hair and nails and even influences mood.

Eat more healthy foods 

Most of us eat too much processed and refined food (containing excess sugar, fat and salt) and not enough whole grains, fiber, fruit and vegetables. The average daily intake of fiber in the UK, for example, is 12g per day — significantly less than the 18g target, while a recent Nutrition and Diet Survey found that although fruit and veg consumption has increased, the average is still less than three portions per day.

Take action

• Take a daily pill. According to the Harvard Medical School, most people benefit from a daily multivitamin and mineral complex, particularly if they don’t eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, if they regularly miss meals or rely on highly-processed foods.
• Up your antioxidants. These naturally-occurring compounds fight disease-causing free radicals in the body and are found mainly in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Vitamins A, C and E and the mineral selenium are powerful antioxidants, so foods rich in these micronutrients are a great place to start.  
• Eating more fruit and vegetables is one of the simplest things you can do to enhance your health — and up your antioxidant intake. While ‘five-a-day’ is the well-known recommendation, the ideal is seven to nine portions, according to many experts. Don’t get stuck in the trap of eating the same varieties, day in day out. Make it a rule never to leave the house without having consumed one of your five a day, and always have another one in your bag or car.
• Avoid trans fats. Increasingly, evidence is building to suggest that this type of ‘manufactured’ fat is more harmful even than saturated fat — no safe level has been established. Read food labels and avoid products with the words ‘hydrogenated vegetable oils’ or trans fats on.
• Switch to wholegrain and brown versions of rice, pasta and bread — these are more nutritious, in terms of their vitamin and mineral content, and also contain more fiber than white varieties.
• Eat more fish. There is strong evidence that the 'omega-3 fatty acids' in oily fish helps to protect against heart disease. Eat sardines, salmon, herring, mackerel or fresh tuna once a week, and another type of non-oily fish once a week. 

Maintain a healthy body weight

More than half the adults in the UK are overweight, one in five are obese. If you are overweight, losing weight and making healthier food choices is crucial to better health, as obesity is associated with an alarming number of diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, some types of cancer, arthritis of the back and legs, gallstones, breathing problems, some complications of pregnancy and depression. One study found that just a 10 per cent weight reduction helped overweight people reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and increase longevity. The two main factors are reducing overall calorie intake and reducing fat intake.

Recent research from the University of North Carolina found that portion sizes have expanded not just in the home but also when we eat out — it’s quite common to be eating a serving that is up to three times larger than a ‘standard’ portion, piling on additional calories. The average British diet contains 41 per cent fat — significantly higher than the recommended maximum percentage of 30 per cent. What’s more, too much of the fat we eat comes from unhealthy saturated and trans fat sources (derived from meat and dairy products, pastry, fried food, refined and pre-packaged products and cakes), which is damaging to heart health.

Take action

• Weigh yourself and check your body mass index. If you are overweight, aim to lose 0.2 to 0.4kg (0.5 to 1lb) per week. Don’t be tempted by quick-fix diets. The best way to keep weight off is to lose it slowly and sensibly.
• Don’t cut out, cut down. Instead of banning cookies from the house, for example, allow yourself one in the morning and one in the evening instead of eating half the packet.
• Learn what portion sizes look like. For example, a serving of cheese should be about the size of a matchbox, a serving of meat the size of the palm of your hand. While what you eat is obviously a very important part of the equation, even very healthy food, like wholegrain bread, oily fish and pasta, when eaten to excess, is fattening.
• Reduce your use of oil or fat in cooking. You can substitute water, tomato juice or white wine — with a dash of soy sauce — for oil in pan frying.
• Go easy with fat-filled condiments and sauces, like mayonnaise, oily salad dressings, rich or creamy sauces and gravy.
• Trim visible fat from meat, and don’t eat the skin of meat or fish. Opt for leaner cuts, such as back bacon rather than streaky, chicken breast rather than leg
• Don’t forgo dairy products, as these are the richest source of calcium, which has an essential role in muscle contraction and in metabolism. It’s also vital in maintaining bone health, as calcium is a component of bone. Go for low fat versions instead.
• ‘Frontload’ your diet, so that you eat most of your calories earlier in the day and eat lightly in the evening. One study found that people who skipped breakfast or lunch and ate most of their calories in their evening meal had lower metabolisms than ‘frontloaders’, while research has also shown the body is more responsive to insulin in the morning, and therefore more capable of handling carbohydrate efficiently compared to in the evening, when the action of cortisol is more likely to cause carbohydrates to be converted and stored as fat.
• http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/how-to-get-started-in-healthy-living-part-3/

In For A Sugar Shock?

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Sugar has been enemy number one in the media lately – but do you know just how much you’re consuming? The white stuff could be lurking in some surprising places, writes Susan Griffin

There’s no point sugar-coating the facts; we’ve got an obesity crisis on our hands. A quarter of all adults and a fifth of children are classified in this way, and it’s taking its toll on our nation’s health – an estimated one third of UK adults also have pre-diabetes.

Sugar is increasingly being blamed as one of the key culprits in this worrying epidemic, but it’s not just the frosty coating on a doughnut, or the number of teaspoons of the white stuff you add to your cups of tea that’s the problem (after all, the occasional treat is allowed!).

No, the biggest problem is hidden sugar, the – sometimes vast – quantities that’s been heaped into seemingly ‘non-treat’ foods and drinks to add flavour and sweetness.

Because despite efforts to label foods more clearly, it’s still not always possible to know (unless you’ve done a lot of homework beforehand) what’s sugar-laden and what’s not.

Thanks to the recent scary news reports, we do now know that a single can of fizzy drink contains seven to nine teaspoonfuls of sugar – but it’s not simply a case of cutting out the obvious suspects like these drinks, or chocolate and cakes from your diet. There’s a whole heap of hidden nasties lurking in our food these days.

“We are a country hooked on sugar, which has been added to our food to improve taste. Most people are wise to the products that contain high sugar levels, however, they may not be aware just how much they are consuming,” says Zoe Frith, in-house nutritionist for Prestige Purchasing.

“The biggest surprise for consumers is the hidden sugars in savoury products which can be unexpectedly high, such as canned goods, ready meals and sauces. We have got used to these sweetness levels in our food and, as such, are in a viscous circle – a sweet-tooth nation which would notice the difference if sugar levels were lowered.”

The Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is recommending that around 5% (down from 10%) of people’s daily energy can come from free sugars (those added to food or contained in fruit juices, honey, syrups and sweetened drinks). That would amount to 25 grams of sugar for women and 35 grams, or seven to eight teaspoonfuls, for men.

If you want to keep to this, it’s crucial you know exactly what sugar really goes into what, so the chairman of Action on Sugar, Professor Graham MacGregor, warns of some of the worst culprits you need to be wary of…

:: So focused are we on opting for the ‘healthy’ option that we don’t take the time to read the label properly. Yeo Valley O% Fat Vanilla Yoghurt contains the equivalent of five teaspoons of sugar and the Muller Crunch Corner Strawberry Shortcake Yoghurt fares even worse with six teaspoons.

:: When time is of the essence, most of us will pop into a coffee shop for a quick pick-me-up but without realising what sugar high we’re setting ourselves up for. The Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream (and skimmed milk) contains the equivalent of 11 teaspoons of sugar, while the Pret A Manger Very Berry Latte (with milk) isn’t far behind with seven teaspoons.

:: You might think water is a much safer option – and you’d be right if you kept it plain and simple, but Glaceau Vitamin Water, Defence was found to have the equivalent of four teaspoons of sugar, that’s the same as a packet of Butterkist Toffee Popcorn or a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosties (with semi-skimmed milk).

:: We might already associate quick and easy ready meals with dubious amounts of salt, but sugar is hiding in there too. For instance, Sharwood’s Sweet And Sour Chicken With Rice contains the equivalent of six teaspoons of sugar (the same as Cadbury’s Hot Drinking Chocolate); Heinz Classic Tomato Soup has four; Ragu Tomato And Basil Pasta Sauce comes in at three and Pot Noodle Curry King Pot two.

http://www.silversurfers.com/health/health-features/sugar-shock/

Have We Discovered The Obesity Hormone? And Will Blocking It Keep Us Slim?

We're always looking for ways to cheat the system, when it comes to obesity and weightloss.

For those of us who aren't so sold on the traditional - and let's be honest, much safer and more straightforward - technique of using diet and exercise as a method of weight management, we're often looking around for an easy way out.

Global obesity is a real issue, but is this the answer? [Associated Press]

Well, if easy ways out are your cup of tea, this new research could be all your prayers answered.

By blocking a particular enzyme, which in turn blocks a particular hormone we can trick the human body into metabolising everything that it digests, with much more efficiency.

So basically, you will literally be able to have your cake and eat it.

You too could be Gwyneth Paltrow eating a burger [Goop]

The Break Down

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or hormone. It's the one that helps you to feel elated.

There is something called "peripheral serotonin" though, which can also be present in the body.

Scientists at McMaster University have discovered that the presence of this peripheral serotonin may be directly related to the efficiency with which your body metabolises the food you put in it.

The serotonin regulates how our bodies burn calories.

Watching a control group of mice, as scientists often do, they observed that lighter mice had less of this brand of serotonin than the heavier mice.

Showing that this serotonin may hinder the body's ability to properly process food intake.

Taking the lighter group of mice aside, the ones which had developed an enzyme mutation inhibiting serotonin production, they then fed them a diet of high fat, to immitate the consumption of the average American.

They found that these mice still managed to remain light.

The Next Step

Is this the key to weight management? REALLY? [REX]

Gregory Steinberg, one of the scientists involved in the study, has said: “What we discovered is that if we remove this enzyme either genetically or if we inhibit its activity using a chemical, a drug, the mice have low levels of serotonin and they didn't develop diabetes, obesity, or fatty liver disease,” Steinberg said.

The implication is that this process may be replicable among human beings.

And we'll be able to eat all the fatty fry up breakfasts we please!

What's The Problem?

If we think about this seriously for a minute, it becomes incredibly difficult to imagine any sensible doctor or nutritionist sanctioning the use of chemical inhibitors in order to allow people to stay slim while still eating unhealthy foods.

While this research may be used in part or even in full, in order to help treat and prevent cases of heart disease and obesity, we highly doubt it will be a "miracle drug" available to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Also, as this is such new research, we have no grasp of the longer term implications for the human body.

Sorry to say it folks, but a healthy nutritional intake and regular exercise is still our doctrine of preference.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/have-we-discovered-the-obesity-hormone--and-will-blocking-it-keep-us-slim-121812408.html

5 Ways To Ditch Your Sweet Tooth In Time For Christmas

If you’ve already polished off the Christmas chocolates then now is the time to learn how to curb your cravings. Follow these top tips to make sure you don’t pile on the pounds over the festive season. 

 

Change your diet

There are many reasons why we all suffer sweet cravings at one time or another - but more often than not it’s because we are lacking something in our diet.

A recent study by U.S. researchers found that teenagers who skipped breakfast were prone to obesity but those who ate a protein-rich breakfasts were found to have less food cravings and were less likely to overeat later in the day.

They concurred that eating a high protein breakfast increased levels of the brain chemical dopamine, the 'feel-good' messenger that regulates food intakes and cravings.

The study's leader, Professor Heather Leidy, of the University of Missouri-Columbia, said: “Our research showed people experience a dramatic decline in cravings for sweet foods when they eat breakfast.

“However, breakfasts that are high in protein also reduced cravings for savoury - or high-fat - foods.

“On the other hand, if breakfast is skipped, these cravings continue to rise throughout the day.”

If you struggle with cravings, try changing your eating habits and eat little and often. This helps keep your blood sugar level stable and eliminates your body’s need for a quick sugar fix.

Adding more substance to your lunch can also help. According to Yale researchers, when women add three ounces of meat, poultry or fish to their lunch, they eat 31 per cent fewer sugar calories during the rest of the day.

Take your mind off it

It can be hard to focus on anything else when a craving strikes, so try going for a walk or doing a workout. Not only will this give you something else to focus on but it will also release endorphins, the same as those released from sweets and treats, to leave us feeling more calm and relaxed.

Walking after a meal is the perfect alternative to a desert and will also help you burn off some of the calories consumed during your meal.

If after trying everything else the cravings are still there, then try brushing your teeth or gargling with mouthwash. As well as the minty flavour, the aftertaste never mixes well with sweets and you should lose your craving.

A little of what you like…

Every now and again the best way to combat a craving is to give in to it, but only in moderation. If you are going to completely fall off the wagon then this option is not for you, but if you want a treat then make sure you go for quality over quantity.

One square of a high quality, high cocoa chocolate bar should curb any craving and is better for you, and lower in calories, than a regular bar.

If you want to create your own snacks so you don’t have to face temptation too often, you can try covering nuts or dried fruit in chocolate or mix the healthier snacks with chocolate chips.

By treating yourself you avoid the feeling of missing out which is often the reason for dieters failing.

Go cold turkey

If you are not the type of personality to be able to stop after one piece of chocolate or a handful of nibbles then the best option to get rid of your sweet tooth is to go cold turkey and cut out sugar completely.

If you can manage 72 hours sugar-free then you will find that not only do the cravings die down but your taste buds will adjust and many things will become too sweet.

Be prepared though as you can feel tired, so if you are going to give it a go it is essential to eat properly to keep your energy levels up.

Change your perfume

We know how a smell can influence our taste buds, even sometimes making us hungry when we thought we were full, but researchers, at St George’s Hospital in London found that the smell of vanilla can have the opposite effect and actually reduce cravings.

Researchers tested a skin aroma patch that releases the aroma of vanilla and found that the test group lost an average of 5lbs a month compared to the placebo group, which lost an average of just 2lbs.

Evidence showed that those wearing the vanilla aroma patches also reported a positive eating change in their diet and felt more in control of what they ate.

https://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/5-ways-ditch-sweet-tooth-time-christmas-090000734.html