May 1998

Overcome your food addictions, lose weight

Many of us go on a diet and exercise program with plenty of determination, only to be blown off course when the Easter bunny arrives and we find ourselves inexplicably unable to eat just one chocolate egg.

As I explained in my book, Healing Depression, many of us have hidden food sensitivities that affect our moods. At first, the foods to which we are sensitive make us feel great. After years of overeating common food culprits like wheat, dairy, or chocolate, however, we may end up feeling exhausted and depressed .

What's even less well known is that research now shows that those who are able to identify and eliminate these food sensitivities are often able to lose weight much more easily.

Carbohydrate Addiction

Researchers are now finding that some susceptible individuals respond to carbohydrates in the same way alcoholics respond to alcohol - the more carbs they eat, the more they crave.

Although carbohydrates are a healthy part of a balanced diet, for these people, eating high-carbohydrate foods stimulates the release of more insulin than is necessary, which in turn leads to even less satisfaction, so the urge to eat sets in again.

According to Prescription for Nutritional Healing and The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, if you feel hungry again soon after eating, keep a food diary to identify your hidden triggers. Ask me for a questionnaire if you want more information.

Eat Low on the Glycemic Index

Even if you do not have food addictions, you will feel happier if you control the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain.

How do you do that? Keep your blood sugar balanced. When your blood sugar drops, your serotonin level does too. If you eat the Standard American Diet (referred to by many nutritionists as SAD for the sad state of affairs in the way we eat), you may find yourself with roller coaster moods, constant cravings, and a Dr. Jeckyl-Mr. Hyde personality.

When you go to plan your next meal, ask yourself what you will be doing for the three hours afterwards. Opt for complex carbohydrates low on the Glycemic Index at your regular meals. If you are engaged in high intensity exercise, choose quick energy foods just before your workouts.

Rapid Inducers of Insulin Secretion

100% Glucose

80-90% Carrots, honey, corn flakes

70-79% Whole-grain bread, white rice, potatoes, millet, Weetabix cereal

Moderate Inducers of Insulin Secretion

60-69% Bananas, brown rice, white bread, Shredded wheat cereal, raisins, Mars Bars, beets

50-59% Peas, spaghetti, potato chips

40-49% Oatmeal, sweet potatoes, oranges

Slow Inducers of Insulin Secretion

30-39% Butter beans, haricot beans, black-eyed peas, apples, ice cream, milk, yogurt

20-29% Kidney beans, lentils, fructose

10-19% Soybeans, peanuts

Source: Dynamic Nutrition for Maximum Performance

How Shaklee Nutrition Can Help

Shaklee Fiber Supplements. High fiber diets do many wonderful things - protect you against colon cancer, prevent and cure irritable bowel syndrome, balance your blood sugar - and now, according to one study, they help you lose weight. In a study just reported this April, the U.S.D.A. Human Nutrition Research Center has found that if a man kept his calories constant but doubled his average fiber intake from 18 to 36 grams a day, he would end up with about 130 fewer calories. A woman who doubled her fiber consumption from 12 to 24 grams would get 90 calories fewer a day - equivalent to 9 to 10 lbs. over a year's time. Shaklee has several excellent fiber formulations containing both soluble and insoluble fiber - ask me which one would be best for you!

GLA. According to Prescription for Nutritional Healing, taking at least 250 IU of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) a day helps control the appetite.

Vita Lea Multivitamin. Even the very conservative American Council on Exercise acknowledges that anyone on a low-calorie diet is at high risk for vitamin deficiencies. Also, regular exercisers often need more. For example, female athletes are at risk for iron deficiency because they would have to eat about 3,000 calories a day to get all the iron they need without supplementation.

Instant Protein. Shaklee instant protein, made from the soybeans lowest on the glycemix index, has been proven to stabilize blood sugar for at least four hours.

Shaklee Slim Plan. This meal replacement contains chromium to stabilize blood sugar levels as well as about 35 percent of your RDA of vitamins and minerals.

If you have not already received them, ask me about my previous newsletters dealing with vitamins and minerals to control food cravings.

Touch for Health, Brain Gym and Blood Sugar

Although all exercise can stabilize blood sugar levels to some extent, ask me to demonstrate these specific techniques:

Neurolymphatic Stimulation. There is a point on the left side of the body, on the rib cage, about two-fingers-width below the breast, that will balance the spleen meridian and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Inner earlobe. Squeezing the flap of the inner ear stimulates an acupuncture point believed to help control the appetite.

The Rocker. Sit on the floor and cross your legs. Supporting yourself with your hands behind your back, rub your tailbone. This Brain Gym exercise improves your ability to focus mentally, stimulates the cerebrospinal fluid, and may help to even out your leg length as well as balance your blood sugar. This is one of my favorites - I always joke that the only thing the Rocker won't do is make you better looking!

Tapping Procedure to Control Overeating. This is a multi-step acupressure procedure that I have used successfully to help clients stop smoking, give up foods to which they were addicted, and lose weight. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

For further information about Shaklee nutrition, Brain Gym, Touch for Health, and personal fitness training, feel free to contact me