In a Duke University study researchers found that Splenda may not be as healthy as previously thought, and may instead cause weight gain, kill beneficial intestinal bacteria and block the absorption of prescription drugs.

Over the course of 12 weeks, researchers gave varying dosages of Splenda to five groups of rats and then collected their fecal pellets. Though all of the rats consumed the same amount of food, the rats that received the Splenda treatment gained significantly more weight than the control group, and continued to do so even after treatment was stopped. “We found that the [sucrose] actually causes a decrease in the microflora,” said lead researcher Dr. Mohamed Abou-Donia, professor of pharmacology, cancer biology and neurobiology. “Generally, the microflora is responsible for the synthesis of vitamins and acts as protection from bad microbes.”

But Dr. Pao-Hwa Lin, assistant research professor of medicine, noted that the results of the study cannot necessarily be applied to humans, although he acknowledged that Splenda could interfere with some medications.

The company says that [Splenda] is derived from sugar, but there is some processing that is deriving this sucralose [and] we are not sure whether it is really safe or not,” she said. “However, [ the findings do ] need to be confirmed in humans.”

Because the study was performed on rats, some students said the results will not deter them from using the sugar substitute.

“The perception is that [artificial sweeteners] are healthier than pure sugar,” freshman Zhe Ma said, adding that he prefers their taste to that of sugar.

Although the study was funded by the Sugar Association, which lobbies for the national sugar industry and sued Splenda in 2004, Abou-Donia said the group was not involved in conducting or analyzing the study.

“I had the idea of doing the study, and asked the Sugar Association if they would fund it. They said yes,” he said. They did not, however, “have any input on the planning or performing [of ] the study, interpretation of the results or [the] writing of the [study],” he said.

In previous studies, researchers discovered that between 60 and 95 percent of ingested sucralose which is a component of Splenda is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Abou-Donia wanted to find out what this excess sucralose does in the gut.

The findings of the study were posted on The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health’s Web site.

The sad fact about the modern diet is that it is severely lacking in vital nutrition. Nature has provided the full complement of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, proteins and essential fatty acids that are required to nourish the body. Like it or not, we have transitioned over the last three decades to a diet and lifestyle that severely diminishes your health. Up until relatively recently, Americans ate food with more wholesome ingredients. They were also less harried; less attached to their technologies, less sedentary and had a lot less toxic exposure. Our 21st century world has now created a cornucopia of lab created imitation, toxic foods that are severely depleted of nutrients and we live in an every more polluted environment. The result is that the modern diet and lifestyle are more artificial than natural. The harmful consequences to the health of everyone are monumental.

Bee Wilson, the author of The Way We Eat Now: How the Food Revolution Has Transformed Our Lives, Our Bodies, and Our World has written the following:

Research is revealing just how devastating this transition has been. What we eat now is a greater cause of disease and death in the world than either tobacco or alcohol. In 2015 around 7 million people died from tobacco smoke, and 2.75 million from causes related to alcohol, but 12 million deaths could be attributed to "dietary risks" such as diets low in vegetables, nuts and seafood or diets high in processed meats and sugary drinks.

The rise of obesity and diet-related disease around the world has happened hand in hand with the marketing of fast food and sugary sodas, of processed meats and vegetable oils and branded snack foods.

Some of these changes are happening so rapidly it's almost impossible to keep track. Sales of fast food grew by 30 percent worldwide from 2011 to 2016 and sales of packaged food grew by 25 percent. Somewhere in the world, a new branch of Domino's Pizza opened every seven hours in 2016.

More than half of the calorie intake in the US, 57.9 percent, now consists of ultra-processed food. While we now produce and consume more food than ever, our modern diet is killing us. What we eat on a daily basis is the primary cause of disease and death in the world than either tobacco or alcohol.

Something is seriously wrong with the food we consume, how it is grown and processed. A 2016 study published in the journal Obesity Research & Clinical Practice found that it's harder for adults today to maintain the same weight as those 20 to 30 years ago did, even at the same levels of food intake and exercise. The authors examined the dietary data of 36,400 Americans between 1971 and 2008 and the physical activity data of 14,419 people between 1988 and 2006.

They found a very surprising correlation: a given person, in 2006, eating the same amount of calories, taking in the same quantities of macronutrients like protein and fat, and exercising the same amount as a person of the same age did in 1988 would have a BMI that was about 2.3 points higher. In other words, people today are about 10 percent heavier than people were in the 1980s, even if they follow the exact same diet and exercise plans.

The Weight Gain Dilemma

What is really happening here? To answer that question, it is necessary to delve into the many key factors that have changed over several decades.

First or all, people are now exposed to way more chemicals that are known to create hormonal disruption, insulin resistance as well as weight gain. As an example, pesticides, flame-retardants, and the substances in food packaging are all known to interfere with many physiological processes that signal your body to put on and maintain weight. The body, therefore, becomes much better at storing fat than burning fat for energy.

Then there is the problem of prescribed medications. The use of prescription drugs has risen dramatically since the '70s and '80s. The estimated total number of prescriptions that will be filled in the US in 2021 is a staggering 4.76 billion! About 66 percent of adults take prescription drugs (Health Policy Institute, 2021). Many people take several medications at the same time. Remember, there is always a long list of side effects associated with any medication, not to mention the additional interactions from combining drugs.

For instance, some anti-depressants are now one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the US. They have now been linked to weight gain. In fact, the cocktail of prescription drugs that many people take routinely have a whole host of serious side effects, including impairing metabolism and increasing weight.

The third factor is the realization that our microbiome has been profoundly altered since 1980s. It's well known that some types of gut bacteria make a person more prone to weight gain and obesity. Not only are Americans prescribed antibiotics on a grand scale, they are also as eating animal products that have been treated with antibiotics, which are known to have devastating effects on the microbiome. The ubiquitous spraying of toxic chemicals, such as glyphosate, which is the main ingredient in many popular herbicides, also has a disastrous effect of the microbiome.

These are just some of the many harmful influences comprising modern life that did not exist three decades ago. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that there is a huge price to pay when it comes to our health from this grand experiment of modern living. And weight gain is one of the consequences of these changes.

Chlorella - Safely Addressing the Many Causes of Weight Gain
If you are finding it difficult to lose weight then you may have arrived at awareness that it is time to make changes. There is one superfood that addresses the many underlying issues, which have been recognized as contributing to weight gain. Chlorella is a tiny one-cell fresh water algae that is a mighty source of nutrition for healing and detoxing the body. There are many ways that Chlorella have been proven to address the many causes of weight gain.

Reduces Cravings with Optimal Nutrition
Taking chlorella for weight loss is effective because of its very high nutrient content. Eating foods with empty calories creates a lack of feeling satisfied. Chlorella has a comprehensive profile. It contains all the B-complex vitamins (including B12), zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, iodine, omega-3 essential fatty acid, and the enzyme pepsin. Chlorella also contains 57 percent of bio-available protein and all the essential amino acids. It is one of the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D. In addition, it has more beta-carotene than carrots and more than five times more chlorophyll than wheatgrass. Chlorella is also a rich source of carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Including Chlorella as part of your daily nutrition will help to reduce cravings from empty calories as well as help to balance blood sugar.

Chlorella helps in another way for weight loss. It is high in iodine, a necessary mineral to support thyroid function, which is often an issue for people struggling with weight. This essential mineral is often missing in modern diets.

Chlorella has one of the highest sources of chlorophyll. A study from 2013 found that high fat meals containing chlorophyll promoted weight loss, partly by suppressing the desire to eat more by promoting feelings of fullness.

Supports a Healthy Microbiome
Chlorella has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and supporting a healthy microbiome by promoting the production of gut flora. There is increasing evidence that links microbial health and obesity. In addition, the more overweight a person, the less there is a healthy diversity of microflora. By supporting healthy microbiome, Chlorella is also assisting to increase the diversity of beneficial gut flora.

Chlorella promotes the multiplication of beneficial bacteria's like lactobacillus in the stomach at four times the normal rate. Chlorella is rich in fiber, which is a prebiotic and encourages beneficial intestinal microflora production. A healthy gut microbiome increases feelings of fullness at meal times, improves better absorption of nutrients, helps to balance hormones, and will produces feel good neurotransmitters. A healthier microbiome also means a more effective detoxification of harmful toxins from the body. Chlorella encourages more regularity and clearing out the intestines to prevent the re-absorption of toxins.

Blocks the Production of Fat Cells
A study showed that incorporating Chlorella onto your diet can block the production of fat cells and even shrink already existing ones. The research has found that Chlorella can shrink fat cells by decreasing the amount of fat held within them. A research team in Japan has also found that chlorella promotes weight loss by controlling gene expression to produce reductions in body fat percentages, fasting glucose levels, and total circulating cholesterol.

Another study conducted on healthy individuals as well as those with "high-risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases" suggested that "chlorella intake resulted in noticeable reductions in body fat percentage, serum total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels." These factors are associated with helping to maintain your ideal weight.

Detoxifies Harmful Toxins
As you lose weight, toxins are released from your fats cells. Without support to help with detoxification, they can be easily reabsorbed by the body. Therefore, It is critical to safely remove these toxins. Another feature of Chlorella is its ability to effectively detoxify heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and other environmental pollutants and chemicals. One of chlorella's most significant health benefits is that it wraps itself around even the most stubborn toxins in the body such as cadmium, lead, mercury, bisphenol A, poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), glyphosate and all other pollutants. More importantly, it not only eliminates them from the body but also prevents them from being reabsorbed. In our toxic world, it is imperative, not only for your health but also for weight loss, to safely remove harmful toxins.

Chlorella - Essential Support of Weight Loss

Like so many nutritional products, the real benefits are only available when you know more about how and where the product was grown and processed. The nutrition and therapeutic power of Chlorella is only fully available when it is grown in pristine conditions, processed and packaged correctly. BioGenesis is an exceptional company that ticks all those boxes. As a 100 percent Australian owned and operated company, it is the only 'Australian Made, Australian Grown' licensed producer of organic Chlorella. From its farm in tropical Queensland, right through to packing and distribution, its products are grown and processed in Australia to the highest quality standard. Unlike many other Chlorella farms, the pristine water and abundant sunlight of BioGenesis from its tropical Queensland farm insures the purest and most nutrient dense algae product available any where in the world.

Chlorella is a unique nutritional product that supports weight loss in many ways. It is available either as a powder (ask 3-5 grams daily) or tablets (5 tablets twice a day). Nature has packed all the necessary vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, prebiotics, proteins and a comprehensive detoxification capacity into one small but mighty unicellular plant that provides your body with optimal nutrition, microbiome support and clearing of harmful toxins.

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18800884/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19723054/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178863/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24331771/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33572056/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32698537/
7. Nutrients 2014 May 5;6(5):1861-73. doi: 10.3390/nu6051861
8. Curr Pharm Des 2016;22(2):164-73. doi: 10.2174/1381612822666151112145226
9. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May; 93(5): 1080-1086.

Because of the metabolic problems occurring in fibromyalgia and CFS, two in-house studies done in our research center showed an average 32 1/2 pound weight gain in this illness. As most of you have found, trying to lose this weight before one has addressed the underlying metabolic problems can be near impossible.

• 0.4 percent were underweight;
• 25.9 percent normal weight;
• 29.9 percent overweight;
• 43.8 percent obese.

When comparing the people with fibromyalgia who were obese with those who had normal weight, the study did find what we have often seen before as well. People suffering with obesity report higher prevalence of abuse (48 versus 33.9 percent, P = 0.016) and sexual abuse (17.3 versus 6.8 percent, P = 0.01) than those with normal weight.

My problem with the study? Although this study was well done, and I applaud the authors, their writing does reflect the general lack of understanding of this illness and the people who suffer with it. The study conclusion? "Physicians treating FM should discuss weight loss with their FM patients. Even if increasing BMI [weight] is not intrinsic to FM, it contributes to poor mood and functional outcome and should be a treatment goal."

As if most people with fibromyalgia who have weight issues haven't tried to lose weight!

So here are a few important points to keep in mind if you start hearing stuff related to this study:

1. Our studies showed that the average 32.5 pound weight gain occurred after the fibromyalgia symptoms began. In other words, the weight gain was triggered by the illness not the other way around.
2. The decreased metabolism likely directly contributes to the weight gain. Until this is addressed, it is unlikely that the person will be able to effectively lose weight. Just saying, "lose weight" without addressing these is setting the person up for failure. Key factors that must be addressed for the weight to be lost and the overall symptoms to improve are:

A. Optimizing thyroid function?even if the blood tests are "normal."

B. Optimizing adrenal function. Elevated cortisol can cause weight gain, and inadequate cortisol can cause sugar cravings and food cravings that trigger weight gain.

C. Optimize sleep. Sleep contributes to the production of growth hormone which increases muscle mass and lowers fat. Inadequate sleep is associated with an average 6 1/2 pound weight gain and 30 percent increased risk of obesity.

D. Treat the Candida. Candida overgrowth in the gut has clinically been shown to trigger sugar cravings, and the increased sugar intake can contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain. The sugar craving caused by low blood sugar (from adrenal fatigue) is an irritable "feed me now or I will kill you" kind of feeling. The sugar cravings from Candida are more what I characterize as "the happy Twinkie hunter," where you are happily going through the kitchen cabinets looking for something sweet. It is not uncommon in fibromyalgia to have both. When the underlying adrenal and Candida issues are addressed, not only will you feel dramatically better, but also the weight can come down and the sugar cravings resolve.

E. Begin a walking program. Many of us are afraid to exercise because of the postexertional crashing. Unfortunately, this lack of exercise results in deconditioning, which is devastating in this illness. So start a walking program, and wear a pedometer. Look to increase your walking by about 50 steps a day as able. See my article on Exercise Friend or Foe in Fibromyalgia? In the April2016 issue of TotalHealth for more information.

The free Energy Analysis Program at www.EnergyAnalysisProgram.com can analyze your symptoms, and even pertinent lab tests if available, to show you how to optimize energy production and metabolism in your case.

Please do not beat yourself up over the weight gain. It was out of your control. But now with understanding the causes, not only can you feel better, but the weight can also come down as well.

References:

1. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/851088?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=24960PZ

Well the holiday season is finally here (again!) and I know you’re thinking what I’m thinking; food indulgence marathon! Of course, there’s also that nagging concern about the holiday weight gain that comes from giving into all those guilty pleasures. To let you enjoy the holiday festivities, here are five great ways to keep off the extra pounds without having to go through another ridiculous fad diet that will only make you fatter in the long-run.

But before we get to that, let’s first get to the truth about holiday weight gain.

Obesity has gone prime time. We Find evidence of its presence where ever we look: in every neighborhood, every mall, every school and every workplace. Hardly a day goes by without the news reporting on some aspect of the looming obesity crisis. However, the epidemic is not confined to just the wealthy developed world. Even desperately poor countries such as Nigeria and Uganda are wrestling with the dilemma of obesity. China, which was once one of the world’s leanest countries, is not immune. In fact, it has one of the fastest-growing obesity rates in the world and one quarter of its urban youth is presently overweight. It is projected that by 2015, 200 million Chinese will be not just obese, but morbidly obese. The looming obesity epidemic is sending chills through the global community. Worldwide, more than 1.3 billion people are overweight, whereas only 800 million are underweight—and these statistics are diverging rapidly.

The problem of expanding waistlines is more than merely a vanity concern. There are serious health consequences from sporting that beer belly. Being overweight can radically change the course of a person’s life. Fat is toxic and potentially lethal. Just carrying as few as an extra 4.5 kilos (10 pounds), over your ideal weight is considered a serious risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, hormonal imbalances depression and cancer. In fact, at least 30 different diseases are related to being overweight. So, what’s going on here? If people were to follow the advice offered by medical professional, public health officials and the experts from the weight loss industry, the problem should be easily solved. Their call to action basically involves turning your back on all those sugary, high carbohydrate, processed, junk foods and switch to a low calorie diet fortified by plenty of exercise. They say it all boils down to a very simple equation: take in fewer calories and burn more.

Sounds logical. The only problem is that this decades old approach is a dismal failure. For the vast majority of people, it doesn’t work. In fact, long-term success for attaining permanent weight loss is only achieved by a mere 2–5 percent of those very determined and lucky dieters.

A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. It certainly appears that the traditional approach to winning the battle of the bulge does indeed, seem insane.

If there are answers and successful strategies to stem the tide of this serious health epidemic, they will need to be sought elsewhere.

It’s time to discover some of the missing pieces of the weight loss puzzle.

Secrets of the Brain-Belly Connection
Do you value your brainpower? Certainly the one faculty that everyone wants to hold onto throughout a life’s lifetime is a fully functioning, intact brain. Unfortunately belly fat can deliver a serious blow to your aspirations.

Overwhelming evidence now reveals that your expanding waistline will put a serious crimp on your brain size as well as brainpower.

Researchers set out to discover if being overweight posed a danger to the brain. They scanned the brains of 94 people over the age of 70. They were looking to see the differences in the brains of people who were of normal weight (BMI under 25), overweight (BMI 25–30), and obese (BMI over 30). (BMI stands for body mass index, an approximation of body fat based on height and weight.)

Their results were quit shocking. Overweight people have 4 percent less brain tissue than people of normal weight. And, for obese people, the findings were even worse. They had 8 percent less brain tissue than people of normal weight.

The study not only showed that carrying extra weight degenerated the brain but it also accelerated its aging. Researcher Paul Thompson shared his observation, “The brains of overweight people looked eight years older than the brains of those who were lean, and 16 years older in obese people. Type 2 diabetes, which is common in the overweight, is known to accelerate the aging of the brain and the onset of dementia. But the relationship between brain size and weight still stood when the researchers accounted for this, suggesting it is the fat itself that is causing the problem. It is thought that high levels of fat raise the odds of the arteries clogging up, cutting the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. This could cause brain cells to die and the organ to shrink.” The high demands put on these brain areas may make them more sensitive to changes in oxygen levels.

Another study used magnetic resonance imaging to compare the brains of 44 obese individuals with those of 19 lean people of similar age and background. The obese individuals had more water in the amygdale—a part of the brain involved in eating behavior. It also showed smaller orbitofrontal cortices in obese individuals, important for impulse control and also involved in eating behavior. These findings strengthen the “slippery slope” theory of obesity. The neural changes that occur when you are overweight, affects the parts of your brain that influence and control so many behaviors necessary to make healthy choices.

Further studies indicate that those with the most belly fat (visceral fat mass) suffer the greatest mental declines over time—and that central or abdominal obesity, in particular, accounts for more than a three-fold increase in dementia risk.

What’s even more worrying is that increased belly fat is linked to decreases in total brain volume, independent of BMI. This can cause changes in another area of the brain, called the hippocampus, which is responsible for long-term memory, spatial memory and navigation. Finally, excess belly fat also appears to contribute to lesions in the brain’s white matter, especially in diabetic patients—linking it not just to memory loss, but also to increased risk of stroke.

Obesity is also causes changes to the immune system, which are fanning the flames of inflammation throughout the body. This increased inflammation can impact the brain and lead to a vicious cycle of gaining more and more weight: obesity leads to inflammation, which damages certain parts of the brain, which in turn leads to more uncontrolled eating and more obesity.

There are many areas of the brain that are affected by being overweight.

• Frontal and temporal lobes—critical for planning, memory and impulse control
• Anterior cingulate gyrus—responsible for attention and executive functions
• Hippocampus—important for long-term memory, spatial memory and navigation
• Basal ganglia—essential for proper movement and coordination

Here is the catch-22. Those extra kilos impair brain function and compromise the particular areas of brain that impact a person’s ability to have a keen memory, control impulses and follow through on any kind of planning. It, therefore, becomes more difficult to successfully commit to any kind of program, especially a weight loss program. Since the impulse control part of the brain is affected, controlling those urges to help yourself to another donut or a second helping of mashed potatoes is a Herculean effort and generally doomed to fail.

Vitamin D —A Key to a Healthy Metabolism
There is one really important nutritional player when it comes to our health. This superstar nutrient is the sunshine hormone, vitamin D. (Vitamin D is really a steroid hormone rather than an actual vitamin.)

Vitamin D truly deserves the title of superstar. Each year, vitamin D research discovers additional health benefits conferred by this sunshine vitamin. Vitamin D receptors are found throughout the body including the brain. Optimal levels are absolutely necessary to insure healthy bones, healthy arteries, a robust immune system, balanced moods, optimal cognitive function, protection from hypertension, allergies, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune conditions, and fertility and PMS. Most significantly, vitamin D has been proven to be protective against 13 different kinds of cancer.

Optimal Levels of Vitamin D Are Critical for Health Here are some basic facts you need to know about vitamin D. It is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that is both made by the body and from our diet. In order for the body to produce vitamin D (cholecalciferol), the skin must be exposed to ultraviolet light, primarily from the sun. Vitamin D is further metabolized in the liver and kidneys to create the fully active form of vitamin D. Thus variations in sun exposure due to latitude, season, time of day, sunscreen use, skin pigmentation, and age will determine how much vitamin D the body makes.

Although it is known that vitamin D play a vital role for the well-being of infants, children, adults and the elderly, we presently have a global pandemic of chronically low vitamin D levels. It’s estimated that 85 percent of the American public are deficient, and as much as 95 percent of all its senior citizens. Vitamin D deficiencies are also widespread throughout the UK, with 86 percent of the population deficient in the winter and 57 percent in the summer.

Even though Australia’s is described as “sun burnt” country and is one of the sunniest countries in the world, a surprising number of its citizens are severely lacking in vitamin D. A recent report stated that as many as 1 in 3 Australians may have low vitamin D levels.

For all those on a weight loss quest, vitamin D is one of those missing pieces you have been searching for. There is overwhelming evidence that confirms the importance of keeping your vitamin D levels up to get your extra kilos down. Not only does it help achieve weight loss, it also improves other risk factors such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and blood sugar imbalances. If you are feeling hungry all the time no matter how much you eat, you might want to have your vitamin D levels checked. What drives insatiable hunger is the relationship between low vitamin D levels and a hormone called leptin. Leptin is a messenger molecule made in fat cells that communicates to the hypothalamus, letting it know how much fat is stored in the body. It is the hormone that communicates that you are full.

Low vitamin D levels interfere with the effectiveness of leptin. Researchers at Aberdeen University, Scotland found that obese people produced 10 per cent less vitamin D than people of average weight. The study discovered that low levels of the vitamin in blood interfered with the function of leptin, which tells the brain when the stomach is full. The study also found that excess body fat absorbs vitamin D, stopping it from entering the bloodstream. Dr Helen MacDonald, of Aberdeen University’s department of medicine and therapeutics, said: “Obese people had less vitamin D and the link between obesity and vitamin D deficiency was statistically significant.” Overweight people, shirking the sun or not taking adequate vitamin D supplementation thwart their dieting efforts in another way. Low vitamin D levels have been shown to increases fat storage. A 2009 Canadian study found that weight and body fat were significantly lower in women with normal vitamin D levels than women with insufficient levels.

It seems that fat people may be less able to convert vitamin D into its hormonally active form. A Norway study found that the more participants weighed, the lower their vitamin D levels tended to be. The researcher, Zoya Lagunova, MD, believes that obesity is associated with lower vitamin D levels since vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. “Much of the vitamin D produced in the skin or ingested is distributed in fat tissue, so obese people may take in as much vitamin D from the sun, food, or supplements as people who are not obese, but their [blood] levels will tend to be lower. Obese people may need more vitamin D to end up with the same levels as a person whose weight is normal.”

How much less vitamin does an overweight person make? As it turns out, increased fatty cells can decrease the ability to make vitamin D by a factor of 4. That means that if you are carry extra weight, you may make only one quarter the amount of vitamin D compared to a leaner person. Vitamin D is also an important factor in diabetes. Low levels of vitamin D has been linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. After following more than 5,000 people for five years, an Australian research team found that those with lower than average vitamin D levels had a 57 percent increased risk of developing diabetes, compared to those within the recommended range.

Low levels of vitamin D are also known to nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease if you already have diabetes. Diabetics, who are deficient in vitamin D and cannot process cholesterol normally, tend to have it build up in their blood vessels, hence increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Vitamin D also helps keep blood sugar levels under control. In type 2 diabetes the body can’t use insulin it produces efficiently to control blood sugar levels. Vitamin D plays a role by increasing the release of insulin. In one study, researchers evaluated the vitamin D levels and the chance of developing unbalanced blood sugar metabolism. In this study, subjects were evaluated for serum vitamin D levels and followed for 7 years to determine the effects on blood sugar metabolism. The study showed that the subjects with the highest vitamin D levels had a 40 percent increase in supporting optimal future blood sugar balance.

If you want to lose weight and keep it off, it is critical to check your vitamin D levels. The higher your vitamin D levels the higher your leptin levels and the more your blood sugar will remain balanced. Vitamin D helps your body respond to the correct metabolic messages. High vitamin D levels increase your ability to lose weight and losing weight will increase your vitamin D levels. All of which will reduce your risk of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, not to mention most chronic illnesses.

While it is important for most people to take vitamin D supplementation, especially the overweight, children and elderly, it is critically important to check your vitamin D levels. Taking a vitamin D supplement may not get you into optimal range, which is where you want to be. Its optimal blood vitamin D levels that count. The proper blood test is called 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH), which is included in the basic blood workup. In Australia optimal levels should be 150–200 nmol/L. In the U.S., optimal levels should be between 70–100 ng/mL. Do not settle for less than optimal levels if your goal is the best health possible.

Like so many women, the midlife middle spread seemed to have sneaked up on me. I knew I had just emerged from two years of major life changes with its accompanying stress. Well, really, to be totally honest, MAJOR STRESS! However, I was not at all prepared for my doctor’s rather blunt comment.

Rather tactlessly he said. “What has happened to you? You look like you are six months pregnant.”

Now I knew I had been carrying some extra cortisol-induced weight around the midriff, but I guess denial is a really wonderful thing. I really didn’t think I looked that overweight. Stepping onto his scale really ripped the veil of illusion from my eyes!

For most women, weight gain is the bane of our existence. It is a culturally induce fat phobia. Aside from our vanity, extra-weight is a health hazard. In 2004 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked obesity as the number one health threat facing America. More than 60 percent of women over the age of 20 fall into the overweight category. That’s makes it 64.5 million of us. If we’re talking obesity that means almost 35 million more are in that category.

Americans spend a lot of money on weight loss programs and diets—$50 billion annually! That’s an awful lot of our hard earned cash.

Whether we like it or not, the older we get the less efficient our body becomes at detoxifying, maintaining a dynamic metabolism, balancing hormones and managing blood sugar. All of these issues can add to ever upward-creeping weight. Popular drugs also play their part. It is well acknowledged that HRT, anti-depressants, statins, and blood pressure medications list weight gain as side-effects.

I have not been immune from this obsession with body image. There were times when I have been thin. And there were times when I have been fat. I dieted and fasted and cleansed and starved and exercised until I was blue in the face.

Over the years I cleaned up my nutritional regime. I basically ate a gluten-free, sugar-free, soda-free, processed- food free, organic food diet. I exercised (sometimes). I made the extra effort to manage my stress levels. I took my nutritional supplements. I balanced my hormones (naturally). I went to sleep at a decent hour (going to bed after 11 p.m. and getting less than seven hours increases weight gain).

I thought I was doing everything right but my weight loss was stalled. I couldn’t get it to budge. So, it’s no wonder that my doctor’s comment was such a blow to my self-image and my fruitless efforts.

Enter the Ultimate Fat Loss and Body Resculpting Program One day, a chance comment about a new kind of weight loss program changed my life. I was introduced to HCG, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, an obscure hormone that I had never heard of before.

It seems that HCG plays a major role in our survival. I learned that although it is produced in every cell in our body, it is found in very high amounts during pregnancy. One of its jobs is to ensure the survival of the pregnant mother and fetus by signaling the hypothalamus to release stored fat to be used as fuel and nourishment. Under the command of HCG, these fats reserves will provide 1500–2000 calories a day of energy and nutrition.

However, it is important to emphasize that HCG is a sex hormone found naturally in both sexes. Its action is identical in men, women, and children, young and old alike.

Its message is simple—open the rusty hinges on those doors holding in long term storage fat.

What HCG does for a pregnant women, is what it can also do for the rest of us. This amazing hormone has become the key ingredient to one of the most successful permanent fat loss and resculpting programs ever created. We have Dr. A. T. W. Simeons to thank for that.

Dr. Simeons was an English medical doctor who discovered that HCG had a major impact on fat loss by regulating the hypothalamus. The main function of this master gland is homeostasis, or maintaining the body’s status quo. Ultimately the hypothalamus can control every endocrine gland in the body. It also regulates other factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, and body weight.

The message that HCG gives the body is to release reserves of long-term stored fat. That’s the ugly fat that we struggle so hard to rid ourselves of. It’s the fat that is stored in our abdomen, thighs and hips. This is also the fat that accumulates as fat pads in our arms, knees, back and neck. For men, it’s the fat that piles up in their abdomen, making them look several months pregnant.

The most frustrating thing about this variety of fat is that no amount of dieting will ever touch it. It is only accessible with HCG. The body seems to hold on to it for dear life as part of its survival strategy.

The first to go when we start the usual, run-of-the-mill diet is water, muscle and subcutaneous fat—the fat that gives shape to our face and fullness to our breasts. No wonder most diets result in saggy and toneless skin.

But HCG is totally different. It releases ONLY the long-term stored fat, it actually helps the body to properly redistribute weight and regain firmness in the body. So on the HCG program you not only lose pounds, you lose inches! No sagging… no loose skin. In fact, it actually helps to tone your body.

And the most amazing thing is that Dr. Simeons discovered people were able to lose a pound of fat a day on average. While most weight loss programs recommend one or two pounds a week, the HCG program enables people to lose as much as a pound a day as well as eliminating inches.

An important aspect of this program is the discovery that the HCG program actually resets the body’s metabolism. When the program is followed precisely, you are able to regain a healthy metabolism. This is key to making sure your weight will stay off. Yo-yoing can then become a thing of the past.

The Thyroid Is Not the Answer
I used to believe that the thyroid would help with fat loss. However, according to Dr. Simeons, that is not the case. In fact, the thyroid plays no part in releasing the fat that causes us to be overweight and obese. This was quite a revelation to me.

Dr. Simeons writes: When it was discovered the thyroid gland controls the rate at which body-fuel is consumed, it was thought that by administering thyroid glandular to obese patients their abnormal fat deposits could be burned up more rapidly.

This, too, proved to be entirely disappointing because as we now know, these abnormal deposits take no part in the body’s energy-turnover—they are inaccessibly locked away.

Thyroid medication merely forces the body to consume its normal fat reserves, which are already depleted in obese patients, and then to break down structurally essential fat without touching the abnormal deposits. In this way a patient may be brought to the brink of starvation in spite of having a hundred pounds of fat to spare.

Thus any weight loss brought about by thyroid medication is always at the expense of fat of which the body is in dire need.

Dr. Simeons’ Gift to an Overweighted World
Dr. Simeons’ program was a major innovation for the approach to permanent weight loss. He established a successful clinic in Rome it the 1960s, which catered to the rich and famous. There are many clinics in Europe and South America that continue to use Dr. Simeons’ program successfully.

The good news is that you no longer need to be a celebrity to afford the wonderful benefits of HCG.

While Dr. Simeons original program revolved around injections of HCG, there is now a more convenient and easy method to get the exact same results.

Are you skeptical of such a program? Well, I certainly was. The original program required a daily subcutaneous self-administered injection of HCG. There was no way I would do that.

But I then learned that there was another HCG option. This involved taking oral drops of an HCG homeopathic remedy daily. Homeopathy, a 200 year-old healing approach, based on the emerging science of energy medicine that imprints the energy of a substance without using the actually physical substance. The body is literally able to read the information and create the desired outcome. In the case of homeopathic HCG, it has the exact same effect as the more unpleasant and expensive HCG hormone injections.

The Best Part is its Absolute Effectiveness and Safety
So, I decided to give it a try. Using the HCG homeopathic drops along with following Dr. Simeons’ protocol of specific foods in specific amounts for a specific period of time I embarked on this experiment. The best part of all, this program requires no specific exercise routines nor expensive eating plans nor special dietary formulas.

Now for most of us, stepping onto a scale to weigh in is equivalent to an extreme masochistic act. However, on this HCG program, it was closer to a religious experience. I would step on the scale in the morning and excitedly discover that a pound of fat had literally dematerialized from my body every day.

But it wasn’t only the fat. It was also the inches. My old clothes were literally falling off me. I wasn’t hungry at all. My energy was off the charts. And before my very eyes I saw my body transforming. The midriff disappeared and my hips and thighs are the thinnest they have been since my 16th birthday! An accomplishment I never thought possible in this lifetime. And wonders of wonders—my muscle tone actually improved.

During this 23-day protocol, I lost 15 pounds and 2 dress sizes.
The most impressive part of this amazing program was that by resetting my hypothalamus and my metabolism, my weight has not varied more than a pound in several months. It appears that Dr. Simeons was right. By improving metabolic functioning on the HCG program, there is a greater likelihood that this new weight loss is here to stay.

Since venturing into the HCG world, I have assisted many of my patients and friends on this protocol. Every single one of them has been successful. Men seem to have a fat loss advantage over women; they are much bigger losers on this program. However, the good news is that everyone can be a big loser.

Not only did they loss pounds and inches, they have all gained health benefits—joint and knee aches and pains disappeared, blood sugar levels returned to normal, blood pressure was lowered, sleep improved, energy increased, skin tone rejuvenated and food cravings disappeared.

It’s not often that a weight loss program can deliver such fabulous results. In fact, there is no weight loss program that I know of that can safely release long-term fat reserves nor reset the hypothalamus for on-going weight maintenance.

Could the wonderful discovery of Dr. Simeons be the solution for the growing epidemic of obesity with all of the accompanying chronic health problems?

I have no doubt that in our diet-crazed world of people desperately seeking help, this is truly the ultimate fat loss and body resculpting program.

I have now developed an integrated program based on Dr. Simeons’ work using a comprehensive homeopathic protocol. To learn more about it please visit my Web site www.whatwomenmustknow.com.

Thank you Dr. Simeons for providing the answer to our weight loss prayers.

If I were to tell you there is a fungus living in your intestines that produces 180 chemical toxins capable of making you feel dizzy and fatigued, shutting down your thyroid, throwing your hormones off balance, and causing you to crave sugar and alcohol, all of which make you put on weight—would you believe me? You probably wouldn’t— few doctors even realize the extent of damage caused by yeast overgrowth but the above scenario is all too true.