Tag Archives: weight loss
August 4, 2017

Ever tried green coffee?  I haven’t, simply because I’m not a coffee drinker.  But I have heard mixed feedback from those who have tried it.

green coffee

Green coffee beans are nothing but unroasted coffee beans.  Chlorogenic acid is believed to be the main active ingredient in green coffee. This ingredient is also believed to increase body metabolism and aid in weight loss, although there is no substantial evidence for it.  Green coffee has therefore found it’s way into the must-have lists of weight watchers.  Some people claim that green coffee has helped them to lose weight but some others are skeptical about it.

For someone who is not used to drinking coffee, green coffee could have the same negative effects as regular coffee because both contain caffeine.  So, taste it if you wish but do not go overboard with it.

Green coffee is also available with probiotic spores.  The spores help to improve your gut bacteria levels.

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July 15, 2013

Feels good to take a break from routine.  I’m back from a fabulous, fun-filled vacation and will resume writing from today.  If you have anything interesting to say, please do write.

Not sure if any of you read my articles on ‘Lactose Intolerance’ and ‘Ragi’ in The Times of India.  If you did, comments are welcome.

I came across an article in Reuters which said there is no scientific evidence to support blood-type diets.  I felt good after reading it.  Nutritionists and dietitians have been saying over and over again that fad diets for weight loss are just that – fads – and no matter what fad diet you try, it doesn’t work in the long run.  The best and healthiest way to lose weight is to eat sensibly and exercise regularly. So, if you’re planning to go on a weight loss program, please do so with the help of a qualified dietitian, and do not fall for advertisements which promise quick weight loss.

 

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May 6, 2013

Although I thought that the interest in GM diet had died down some time back, last week I received yet another query on its benefits / harmful effects.  So, I’m reproducing my article on GM diet that was published in The Times of India about 10 years ago.  Read on………

GENERAL MOTORS DIET

Almost everyone who wants to lose weight has heard of General Motors Diet, commonly called GM diet.  It was originally developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and was intended for their exclusive use in the 1980s.  The intention of this program was to help the employees be more aware of wellness and fitness.   After all, healthy employees make a healthy company!

The GM diet-makers also believed that it would improve attitudes and emotions because of its cleansing effects in the body.  The seven-day plan of GM diet is thought to burn more calories than the body receives.  Theoretically, yes.  But the human system is more complicated than this.

The rules of GM diet read thus – no alcohol, compulsorily 10 glasses of water per day, all fruits except bananas on day one, all vegetables on day two, a mix of fruits and vegetables on day three, bananas and milk on day four, beef and tomatoes on day five, beef and vegetables on day six, brown rice, fruits juices and vegetables on day seven.  Beef has been replaced with rice in the Indian version.  This diet would sound bizarre to any nutritionist!  A repeat is advised for further weight loss.  Pulses are disallowed because they are high in calories.  Recipes have been made up revolving around the GM diet.

On the positive side, GM diet is good for a week if done once in a blue moon believing that it will ‘cleanse’ the system.  However, naturopathy medicine doesn’t allow any kind of meat for cleansing the human system.  Only those who are fit to withstand the low energy intake should go thru this ‘cleansing process’.

On the negative side, when on a low energy diet like GM diet, the body tends to hold back the fat reserve and burns muscle for energy that is required for daily activity. The initial rapid weight loss is mostly water loss from the body, which can easily be replaced.  Once, the person goes back to eating normally, the muscle builds back along with some fat and the original fat continues to remain in the body, so the person gains back most of the lost weight.  The second and subsequent attempts at weight loss become more and more difficult because the basic rate at which the body burns calories (BMR) slows down.  Following this diet repeatedly can deplete the body of energy and some important nutrients when needed. Unfortunately, we cannot supply nutrients in installments on different days for the body because the functioning of all nutrients is inter-related.   Many followers of GM diet have steadily gained back their weight.

A sensible meal pattern works very well for weight loss and good health.

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March 6, 2013

Bariatric surgery, aka weight loss surgery, sometimes called metabolic surgery, is becoming more common these days than where it was 10 years ago.  Bariatric surgery is done in 4 different ways but sleeve gastrectomy (where a slice of the stomach is removed to reduce its size) is being used more frequently now.  A shrunken stomach holds less food than a normal sized one.  So it goes without saying that food intake is much reduced and as a result, weight plummets down.

Bariatric surgery is performed on obese patients of BMI (Body Mass Index) more than 35.  More recently, doctors have observed that bariatric surgery where gastric bypass method is used, not only brings down excess weight but also reduces or reverses diabetes.  Somehow the pancreas seem to function effectively after the surgery and this brings down the blood glucose levels.  However, more cases need to be studied before it can be advised as a routine procedure for diabetic patients.

If your BMI is greater than 35, and your looking to lose weight and keep it off permanently, bariatric surgery can be one of the options.  There would be life-long dietary restrictions after bariatric surgery.  Think about it, discuss with your family members and speak with a bariatric surgeon before you decide to have a bariatric surgery.

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February 19, 2013

I came across a news item recently that mentioned the top 5 diet trends for 2013 in the US.  The article said that the trends have been derived from a nationwide survey answered by 200 registered dietitians.

Here are the 5 diet trends –

  1. Natural and simple foods with few ingredients and minimally processed are ‘in’.  Low carb is ‘out’.
  2. To lose weight, consumers will look for wheat belly / gluten free diets along with commercial diet programs.
  3. Dietitians, social media and smart phone apps are the top 3 resources for nutrition advice.
  4. Consumers will focus on eating high quality calories. It’s not about the total calorie intake but where the calories are coming from.
  5. Fruits and veggies remain king.  Consumers will look to include more plant based foods in their diets.

My take on this – most of these trends can be applied for Indians too.  However, I would not go with commercial diet programs or gluten free diet plans as a means to lose weight.  If you’re looking to lose weight, approach a qualified dietitian for help.

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