Diet drinks are calorie free or very low in calories, but there are factors that must be taken into consideration. Diet soda is 100 percent nutrition free as well as calorie free. A diet soda has little to no calories doesn't mean it is good for you or would help you lose weight.

Artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks are made of chemicals that are designed to damage the body and is getting something sweet. For example, it is 180 times sweeter than sugar. New research suggests that consuming sugary drinks, even if they are artificially sweetened, may lead to cravings for sweet items in general. This means that over time, as the body becomes used to sweet beverages, it begins to crave sweetness from other sources. This can lead to bringing on sweets that actually are filled with a lot of fat and calories.

Further, if you give your body something that tastes like soda,it has lot of calories, but they aren't there, your body begins to search for the calories promised, but not delivered. In other words, drinking a diet soda actually makes the body hungry. That is the opposite effect of what you want, obviously.

So, instead of diet soda, drink water. Keep in mind that carbonated beverages do not add to the total amount of water that you should be drinking each day. In fact, for each can of soda, you should subtract a glass of water that you may have had that day. The body requires pure water to flush out toxins and fat.

Follow the LInk :theweightlossmiracle dot com

I would start with adding lots of fiber at least 35 grams a day and you will naturally lose weight. Google it up check it out on youtube and you will get bombarded with info on fiber in your diet. You can go to my site www.nuvitaesoftdrinks.ws and see a soda drink with 12.5 g of fiber per can. Also you can watch some videos on fiber, and if your interested and want more info send me an email.

Good health to you!

Hi nuvitaesoftdrinks.ws,

I did what you asked and researched fibre and this is what I came up with.


© 2003 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 133:3141-3144, October 2003

Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Research Communication
Fermentable and Nonfermentable Fiber Supplements Did Not Alter Hunger, Satiety or Body Weight in a Pilot Study of Men and Women Consuming Self-Selected Diets1,2
Nancy C. Howarth, Edward Saltzman, Megan A. McCrory, Andrew S. Greenberg, Johanna Dwyer*, Lynne Ausman, Daniel G. Kramer and Susan B. Roberts3

Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111 and * Frances Stern Nutrition Center, New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111

3To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: susan.roberts@tufts.edu.

Little is known about the relative effects of fermentable fiber (FF) vs. nonfermentable fiber (NFF) on energy regulation in humans. We compared 27 ± 0.6 g/d supplements of FF (pectin, ß-glucan) and NFF (methylcellulose) for their ability to decrease ad libitum energy intake (EI) and hunger, increase satiety and cause spontaneous body weight and fat losses. Men and women (n = 11) aged 23–46 y, BMI 20.0–34.4 kg/m2, consumed first NFF and then FF for 3 wk each, with a 4-wk washout period between phases. Daily satiety assessed with analog scales was higher with NFF than FF (60.7 ± 1.0 vs. 57.7 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.01). However, there were no differences in reported EI (NFF < FF by 7%, P = 0.31, NFF < baseline by 9.5%, P = 0.11), body weight (NFF 0.13 kg, P = 0.73; FF 0.13 kg, P = 0.60) or fat percentage (NFF –0.3%, P = 0.56; FF –0.1%, P = 0.66) within either phase. In contrast to findings in animals, NFF was more, rather than less satiating than FF, and use of neither NFF nor FF preparations was associated with body weight or fat loss. These pilot results suggest no role for short-term use of FF and NFF supplements in promoting weight loss in humans consuming a diet ad libitum.

If you can post some gold standard abstracts (accepted by reputable peer reviewed journals) I would love to see them.

Cheers

all these easy weight loss pills-drinks are a complete scam imo. There is no such thing, I guess surgery would be the closest thing to it. Most popular diets like ornish work but you have to stick to them and also change your lifestyle so you do not just gain back all the weight you lost.

Reducing Weight is one of the main challenge in these days...The dietary products made from Acai berries have a higher concentration of antioxidants and these products are the key to a great health.The regular consumption of acai berry products helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce weight and help to fight against cancer

Another good post to check is this one.

Do You Really Need a Spring Detox? http://www.healthcastle.com/detox_diet.shtml

Cheers

The best way in losing weight are still regular exercise and proper diet.. Always make sure you eat your breakfast, drink a recommended number of glasses of water regularly, and avoid to sleep late. These simple things are more effective other than anything which may risk your health.

I think it is very hard to lose weight and besides this it takes some time. I am of the opinion that the only way you can lose weight is through an appropriate diet and some physical exercise. I do not like diet drinks because I think they do the contrary of what was initially intended. I drink two liters of water every day instead of drinking soda or something else.

Weight loss by using pills is not a hard way. Pills are helpful for getting over weight problem. Just need to make sure that pills should be real pharmacy otherwise there can be side effects. One of my friends was suffering from weight problem. He has used Phentermine for loosing weight and that was beneficial for him.
He got from here http://www.phentermine-effects.com

There's NO easy way to lose weight

Losing weight requires commitment, dedication, self-belief, and time.

Everyone has different ways to lose weight, but the fundamental basics are:

1) Have the right attitude and determination
2) Be careful about what you eat
3) Be more active in life

Everyone has different lifestyles - but from my personal weight loss experience, this is what i did

1) Have the right set of mind. Having the support of friends and families help enormously
2) Pick up my favorite sports - soccer and tennis
3) Join the gym. Do it with friends to make it more interesting. Get on the treadmills, rowing machines, and exercise bikes.

4) Eat healthy

Good advice Charles Henderson,
And may I add most people eat a lot more food than they need.

Cheers

Yes , you are right, loosing weight loss it the tuff task for the fat man/women. But these days there is much natural supplement that can reduce weight loss, like acai berry supplement. Much searches says that it is safe and secure. Everyone can use it and can be fit and healthy there is no side effects. it strengthen the immune system and reduce weight and help to fight against cancer.

Yes , you are right------------- many are wondering if there is a need to be concerned about negative side effects. This is hilarious because asking about the side effects of acai berries is the same as asking what the side effects of eating a banana are. Acai berries are an all-natural fruit grown in nature, just like any other fruit. And also like any other fruit, the acai berry is nutritious, delicious and completely void of any negative side effects.

Hi kundanmuskan78,

You do not hold scientists in very high regard mate, most of what you have said on your 3 posts today have been proven to be untrue, by scientists, and they had no need to manipulate the evidence.

As for suggesting that things that grow natural must be good for you and have no side effects, you have to consider Belladonna ( Deadly Nightshade) which has killed a few famous people throughout history, Strycknine from the Strychnos nux vomica tree. Remember Latrine (B17) it was called, it was made from peach seeds until they discovered people were dying from arsenic poisoning because from time to time peach seeds naturally contain arsenic.

Cheers

Hi Charles,
Check the link you posted for green tea evidence, it cannot be found. Green tea has several papers supporting this claim, particularly for Thais and I think from memory Chinese. It looks to be true to me but just be very careful about supplements and all of their manufacturers claims, on this forum there is hardly a day goes past without some absolute rubbish being written up as true.Fools and money are easily separated and boy do the supplement manufacturers know this.

Mind you not all evidence based medicine is really evidence based, some of it was evidence biased medicine as we are finding out. The pharmaceutical companies are the other side of the coin to the supplement manufacturers, and they share the same morals and ethics.

Check this!!

Article Index ||| NCAHF Home Page

"Thermogenic" Products
William T. Jarvis, Ph.D.

Supplement promoters have created a new marketing term, "thermogenics," which literally means "heat generation." The idea is that these products alter the metabolism in a way that causes the body to use more energy. The effect is a more energetic you, and accompanying weight loss. These products tend to be alike in their active ingredients, although some variations are seen. The following analysis was done on one product, ThermoChrome 5000. The information is useful for judging similar products. NCAHF advises consumers to read the labels of products. Information is often available on ingredients not covered below. NCAHF advises caution on the use of thermogenic products (see the NCAHF Position Paper on OTC Herbal Remedies (1995).

Ingredients listed in the brochure for ThermoChrome 5000 include Ma huang, kelp, gotu cola, ginseng, white willow, saw palmetto, L-carnitine, hawthorn berry, ginger, ginkgo biloba, boron proteinate, chromium picolinate, and chromium proteinate. Following is a discussion of each of these major ingredients.

Ma huang is one of several names on herbal products containing members of genus Ephedra. Serious adverse effects associated with products containing Ma huang have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Among these have been hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitations (rapid heart rate), neuropathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, and memory loss. The ephedras contain various stimulants, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and norpseudoephedrine, as well as other chemicals. Ma huang products are sold for weight control or as "energy boosters." The "energy" in Ma huang is a drug which stimulates the central nervous system producing a feeling of high energy, well-being and alertness. These products often contain other stimulants which may have synergistic effects which increase the potential for adverse side effects. The effects of Ma huang on the nervous system are similar to amphetamine and caffeine. (Congressional testimony by David Kessler, MD, JD, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, July, 1993)

Kelp is an imprecise generic term for the ash obtained from burning any kind of coarse seaweed. Kelp has been used in folk medicine for many ailments. The active ingredient which may be in kelp is iodine. The concentration of iodine in seaweeds is extremely variable both among different species and within the same species. Iodine's important role in thyroid function is well known, but iodine deficiency is almost unknown in this age of iodized salt. Administering extra iodine beyond the ability of the thyroid to use it is worthless in the short-term, and in the long-term may present some health risks. Even if iodine were effective in causing the body to produce increased amounts of thyroid hormones, this would not be recommended for weight reduction. Experts do not recommend the use of kelp for any therapeutic purpose.

Gotu kola. In Sri Lanka it was observed that elephants, mythologized for their longevity among beasts, are fed extensively on gotu kola. This gave rise to the reputation of the herb as a longevity promoter, and a remedy for a dozen other ailments, for people. Scientific studies have shown that in relatively large doses the drug has a definite sedative effect in small animals. Also it has exhibited some anti-inflammatory activity, and apparently stimulates wound healing. However, there is currently no evidence to support the use of gotu kola as a longevity promoter or to substantiate any of the other extravagant claims made for it as a revitalizing and healing herb. Substantive data on its safety and efficacy are simply nonexistent.

Ginseng has some documented mild useful physiological effects in small animals. Probably the best documented side effects of ginseng are insomnia, diarrhea, and skin eruptions. However, even the prolonged or excessive use of ginseng appears to involve relatively low risk. Although purported to increase sexual experience or potency, there is no scientific evidence to support this. Ginseng is intensively searched for in the wild. It has been declared an endangered species and quality root retails at more than $20 an ounce. This demand encourages counterfeits. In one study, an analysis of 54 ginseng products showed that 60% of those analyzed were worthless and 25% contained no ginseng at all.

White willow bark is claimed in ThermoChrome promotions to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and swollen joints due to rheumatism and arthritis, and help neuralgia. These claims are probably true. White willow contains salicin which is converted in the body to salicylic acid, the same active ingredient that is in aspirin. However, unlike aspirin, white willow bark's label has no warning as FDA requires on aspirin. Aspirin labels warn that children should not take aspirin for chicken pox or influenza symptoms because of an association with Reyes syndrome; and, because white willow bark shares many of the same chemical properties and the same side effects as aspirin, white willow should also be avoided by aspirin-sensitive adults. Some stroke patients are also advised to avoid aspirin.

Saw palmetto is alleged to contribute lipase (an enzyme which splits fat) to the fat-burning process. Since the body makes its own lipase, there is no benefit to be derived from an herb containing lipase. Lipase can rightly be claimed to aid digestion as it breaks down fat in the intestinal tract, but the lipase has no role in burning fat for energy. Saw palmetto would therefore be an unnecessary ingredient in a weight control product.

L-carnitine is a metabolite which is synthesized in the liver from lysine and methionine (amino acids). American diets are high in protein from which lysine and methionine are derived. There is no daily requirement for carnitine because the body makes its own. Kenney says, "There is no scientific support for claims that carnitine supplements can slow the aging process or help in weight control. While it is appealing to think that ingesting more carnitine would speed up the burning of body fat because of its known role in intracellular fatty acid transport, it should be noted that body fat accumulates within specialized fat cells (adipocytes) and carnitine plays no role in the release of fatty acids from these cells. Neither is there any evidence that extra carnitine can increase the uptake of fatty acids from the blood or increase the rate the body's cells burn fat." (Kenney, 1987*)

Hawthorne. Modern research has revealed that the berries, leaves, flowers and bark of the hawthorn tree contain cardioactive principles. Scientific study shows it acts on the body in two ways: first, it dilates the blood vessels, especially the coronary vessels. Second, it apparently has a direct, favorable effect on the heart itself which is especially noticeable in cases of heart damage. Hawthorne's action develops slowly. Its toxicity is low as well. Some hawthorn components produce marked sedative effects which indicate an action on the central nervous system. Further studies are urgently needed for a drug as potentially valuable as this one. Until additional research has been carried out, prospective users of hawthorn for heart and circulation problems should consider all the consequences. Users of self-selected medicines almost always do so as a result of self-diagnosis. It is a very dangerous practice when such vital systems of the human body as the heart and blood vessels are involved. For this reason, self-treatment with hawthorn is neither advocated nor condoned.

Ginger. Scientific studies seem to indicate that ginger has value as a preventive of motion sickness. The antiemetic (prevents vomiting) action is due to its local action in the stomach, not to central nervous system activity. There are no reports of severe toxicity in humans from eating ginger, but some recent pharmacological studies seem to indicate that very large overdoses might carry the potential for causing depression of the central nervous system and cardiac arrhythmias. In the meantime, further investigations of these constituents and the therapeutic properties of ginger are warranted. The ThermoChrome claim that ginger "calms an upset stomach" is misleading. Ginger appears to calm a stomach which is upset from motion sickness.

Ginkgo biloba. Standardized ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is used extensively in Europe for ailments associated with decreased cerebral blood flow, particularly in geriatric patients. It is extensively prescribed by physicians. Clinical and pharmacological studies have shown that GBE promotes vasodilation and improved blood flow in the arteries and capillaries, and that GBE reduces the clotting time of blood. This may be of concern to those already taking anticoagulants. Very large doses of GBE may cause restlessness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant effects of a mild nature. GBE has not obtained the status to which it may be due. However, people should not self-diagnose any condition or self-prescribe any medication which has the systemic effects of GBE. (Tyler, 1992*)

Boron is utilized by the body in metabolism of cholesterol containing hormones. There is no established RDA for boron. There is no evidence yet established indicating a need for a boron supplement. It is found in vegetables, fruits and nuts. For normal, healthy individuals buying a boron supplement on the strength of existing scientific evidence is unnecessary and economically wasteful.

Chromium picolinate is made in the liver and kidney and binds with minerals to move them around the body. Chromium's biologically active form is called glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which helps the body use glucose. Research has shown that if blood glucose levels were normal and there were no signs of chromium deficiency, there will be no response to chromium supplements. While glucose metabolism is a major factor in diabetes, studies have found that most persons with diabetes are not chromium deficient. Although a severe chromium deficiency can lead to elevated blood glucose levels, this is not a factor in causing diabetes. In three studies in which persons with diabetes took a chromium supplement, the supplement had no effect on blood glucose control. Chromium is found in a wide variety of foods and is a nutrient, not a therapeutic agent (medicine). As for improving how the body handles glucose, chromium benefits only persons who are chromium deficient. Normal people with no signs of a chromium deficiency show no benefit after chromium supplementation. If normal, healthy adults take a chromium supplement, a safe and adequate amount is 50 to 200 micrograms a day. Extravagant claims for chromium supplements are highly questionable. (Franz, 1993*)

ThermoChrome 5000 contains many pharmacologically active substances. Like most dietary supplements, it is marketed under lower standards than American consumers have come to expect from medications. Its combination of ingredients may not be safe for use by certain individuals. NCAHF advises consumers to avoid the use of such products.

Resource Documents

* The ephedras Lawrence Review of Natural Products June, 1989.
* Reins tightened on diet aids, products must prove worth (Keller) Environmental Nutrition March, 1994. (Includes list of products "not proved safe or effective" containing ephedra, chromium, amino acids, etc.)
* Warning: herbal remedies can blow your mind (Burros) New York Times 8/23/93.
* Outlawing of ephedrine questioned (Papinchak) Las Vegas Review-Journal 3/31/91. (Even the outlaw state of Nevada found that it could not tolerate the free-booting of ephedra.}
* Herbal diet drug causes one death and other attacks (Bullock) Emergency Medical News August, 1994. (The herbal product Formula One promoted for weight loss and energy caused cardiac arrest fatality. Eight people, including six teenagers, were treated in emergency depts for palpitations and anxiety attacks related to the use of the product which combines ephedrine and caffeine. The health dept sought a recall citing the company for not listing ephedrine or caffeine on the label and for not providing adequate warnings.)
* Kelp: Laminaria, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, May, 1992.
* Gotu cola: Centella asiatica, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Dec, 1988.
* Ginseng: Panax, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Sept, 1990.
* Saw palmetto: Serenoa repens, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, March 1994.
* Carnitine--who needs it? (Borum) Nutrition Today, Nov-Dec, 1986.
* N,N Dimethylglycine and L-carnitine as performance enhancers (Tonda) Annals Pharmacotherapy 1992;26:935-7.
* Carnitine and lipid metabolism (Borum) Contemporary Nutrition 1990;15 (8).
* Carnitine (Borum) Annual Reviews of Nutrition 1983;3:233-259.
* Carnitine: A New Vitamin Breakthrough? (Kenney) NCAHF Newsletter, 1987;l0(1)1.
* Hawthorn: Crataegus, Lawrence Review of Natural Products Jan, 1994.
* Ginger: Zingiber, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Nov 1991.
* Ginkgo biloba, Lawrence Review of Natural Products, Feb, 1994.
* Ginkgo biloba, in Should herbal remedies remain in FDA regulatory limbo? (Tyler) Nutr Forum 1992;9(6):41-5
* Chromium picolinate; exchange of views by proponent (Evans) v critic (Lefavi) Int J Sport Nutr 1993;3:117+.
* Efficacy of chromium suppl in athletes, emphasis anabolism (Lefavi) Inter J Sport Nutr 1992;2:111+.
* Natural products & athletes: facts & fiction (Barron) Annals Pharmacotherapy 1993;27:607+. (Contrasts claims versus science on 19 alleged performance enhancers (includes chromium picolinate)
* Sports nutrition fraud (Short) NY State J Med 1993;93:112+.(Discusses chromium supplementation; challenges anabolic claims, questions safety and efficacy.)
* Chromium: Is It Something Special? in Living Well With Diabetes (Franz) Internat Diabetes Ctr, Mpls, Winter, l993.
* Tyler V. The Honest Herbal. Haworth, 1993.


Cheers

How to Start Losing Weight

* First, I want you to forget everything that has happened so far. Forget about your dieting failures, forget about any recent weight gain you might have experienced, forget about your fat tummy or thighs and give yourself a clean sheet. I know this is easier said than done, but it's very important if you want to lose weight and take back control of your life.

* Second, I want you to stop trying to be the "perfect dieter". No one is perfect when it comes to dieting and losing weight - not me, not you - no one! So you are going to make mistakes. You may crash in the first week. You may go on a huge eating binge in the second week. You may not do a single minute of physical exercise in week 3. It doesn't matter. Why not? Because when (not if) these things happen, you are gonna start over. And eventually you will get it right and achieve all your weight loss goals. Trust me.

* Third, don't "wait" to have a bad day or bad week on your diet. Instead, you are gonna plan for it. You are going to assume that your weight loss program goes up in smoke and you are going to have an "action-plan" to help you recover and start losing weight again. So sit down and plan what to do.

Maybe arrange to phone a close friend for support. Or decide to take a long walk. Or clean out your garden shed. It doesn't matter what you choose, as long as you have a program of action organised. Because when your diet plan flies out the window, you are gonna feel REAL guilty and start eating lots of calories. By having a specific plan to fall back on, you will overcome your temporary dieting problem and return to your weight loss plan.

* Fourth, I want you to stop thinking that dieting is a pain in the butt. The truth is, a healthy weight loss diet is not boring, or painful or uncomfortable. It is your passport to a new life. It is going to open up wonderful opportunities for you. The only thing that is boring, painful and uncomfortable is staying overweight. But you are gonna change all this. You are going to follow a healthy diet and lose weight and enjoy every moment.

Hi Anne,
Thanks for posting this. I am a new member here and I have struggled all my life with my weight. I lost weight in the past year or so with Dr. Cohen's diet but as soon as I was off it I lost it and craved my chocolate and sweets so badly that I gained alot of the weight right back on. I am having a problem now with getting my immune system back up to par because of how strict the diet was and how much harm I had done to my body over the harshness it caused me.

I am researching the Metabolism dieting way and I really believe that there is something to this because alot of us suffer from alot of the same symptoms of overeating and craving sweets which all in all leads to diabetes and so many health problems.

I appreciated your post because you said don't beat yourself up over little slip ups when you are not perfect, we all just have to perservere with this problem we have with weight.

Any one have anything to add on the metabolism diet please let me know.

Thanks,
Aussiejo

Tea helps improve body metabolism. Maybe you can start drinking tea.


Regards,
Suzette Marks, Health and Fitness / Weight Loss Writer:
[Colon Cleansing][Resveratrol Supplement][Acai Berries][Eye Creams][Mineral Cosmetics][Green Tea and Weight Loss]

Hi Suz,
Oh I love my green tea and have found some nice one's by Lipton with honey & cranberry flavors...even found the asian lose weight tea in the store....
I'm seeking food that are good for you and they maintain your metabolism or boost it to help you lose weight.... I found a Metabolism B diet online and have been doing research on it.
Thanks for your post and your help,
Cheers, Aussie

Hi Charles Martin,

you still haven't shown any compelling evidence that normal colons even block up, there are a lot of clever people who don't think it does, balance the debate, mate, with good sound research.


HEALTH JOURNALSEPTEMBER 28, 2009, 8:33 P.M. ET
Inner Beauty: A Healthy Colon
By MELINDA BECK

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Does your colon really need cleansing?

Few issues divide the worlds of conventional and alternative medicine quite so starkly.

According to a profusion of Web sites, clinics and wellness spas, the typical American diet of processed foods, pharmaceuticals, stress and lack of exercise is clogging up our lower intestinal tracts, leaving them inflamed and lined with waste—and leaking toxins into the body that cause problems ranging from headaches and chronic fatigue to arthritis and cellulite. All that "stubborn fecal matter" also contributes to bulging bellies and expanding waistlines, cleansing proponents claim.

Eliminating the buildup, either with supplements or laxatives, or by flushing the colon with warm water—a practice known as "hydrotherapy" or "colonics"—can dramatically improve a person's health and well-being, proponents claim. "Colonics help people get rid of what's in there, so they have a sense of 'Wow! That's what I should feel like,' " says Kim Dupre, who is owner of Wellville Healing Arts Center in Durham, N.C., and certified by an international organization of colon hydrotherapists.

Gastroenterologists pooh-pooh many of those claims. Healthy colons are self-cleaning, they say, and evacuating the colon via other means can do serious harm, even causing the sluggishness the cleansing purports to fix. "I've seen a lot of colons and the notion that people have pounds of feces and evil toxins built up in there is pure fantasy," says John I. Allen, a Minnesota gastroenterologist who has performed more than 20,000 colonoscopies, including many in patients who haven't drunk the traditional medical cleansing preparation beforehand. Claims for colonics and other forms of cleansing, Dr. Allen says, "just play to people's fears and desire to lose weight."


The notion of emptying the intestines to cure illness was common in many ancient cultures, too. Egyptians performed enemas in rivers using hollow reeds. Colonic irrigation was been a staple of European spas for centuries, and it was all the rage in 17th-century Paris to have several enemas a day.

In the U.S., colon cleansing was common until the early 19th century, when conventional physicians began to challenge the lack of scientific evidence and condemn some practitioners as quacks.

In recent decades, colon cleansing has ridden a wave of interest in alternative medicines. Hydrotherapy spas—from storefront clinics to luxury resorts—have sprung up, especially in the South and West. And the Internet has fueled a boom in sales of at-home cleansing products. Generally combinations of fiber, herbs, vitamins and stimulants, they often make enticing claims ("Ever wonder how the stars lose weight so quickly?" "Flush out up to 30 pounds!"). Some Web sites feature photos of long strands of rubbery-looking goo that customers claim they have expelled. ("I have lost some of the most horrific things you could imagine, and I have proof!")

Some Web purveyors even suggest that cleansing can cut one's risk of colon cancer; there is no such evidence, medical experts say.

Attorneys for Oprah Winfrey and Mehmet Oz, a cardiologist and author, filed a suit last month in federal court in Manhattan accusing 40 Internet marketers of implying that their colon cleansers and dietary supplements have received the celebrities' endorsements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned some makers of colon cleansers about unsubstantiated claims, and some consumers have complained about being lured in by "free" trial offers for products, only to find themselves charged $80 or more per month for shipments that are difficult to cancel.

Even within the colon-cleansing community, there is a wide spectrum of practices and competing claims. Steven Horne, a past president of the American Herbalist Guild, says use of home-cleansing products can result in startling results. But the expelled goo shown in online photos is most likely the mucilaginous fiber in the purging products themselves, combined with black bile from the liver, he says. "People do pass this stuff, but it's a myth that it's coming off the lining of their colon."

Still, Mr. Horne says modern diets can irritate the lining of the GI tract and allow toxins to invade the body and cause illness—what he and others call the "leaky gut syndrome"—and that cleansing can help eliminate many health problems. He advocates a combination of natural fiber, digestive enzymes and herbal supplements.

"Not everybody needs to do this," Mr. Horne says, "but people who have chronic sinus problems or weak immune systems or general aches and pains seem to benefit a lot." He concedes there are few scientific studies to support the practice but adds, "I'm comfortable with that, because I've seen it in clinical experience."

Dr. Allen, who is on the American Gastroenterological Association's board of governors, says there is some scientific basis for leaky gut syndrome, but the problem is rare and primarily affects the small intestine. "If you biopsy a normal colon, there is no inflammation," he says. And there are illnesses, like inflammatory bowel disease and liver failure, in which toxins do affect the whole body. But cleansing proponents, he says, "have taken literature on disease states and tried to extend it to normal people."

Practitioners of colonics say their procedure is natural, because it avoids the use of laxatives and exercises colon muscles. A therapist inserts a rubber tube into the rectum and infuses up to 20 gallons of warm water into the colon (a traditional enema uses far less water and involves only the last few inches of the colon). When the water is drained out, it brings fecal matter with it. The procedure often includes an abdominal massage.

"We are like personal trainers for the colon—we help re-educate those muscles about how they should be moving," says Ms. Dupre, who adds that many of her clients are constipated and need to change their diets. "Otherwise, colonics are just a band-aid." She usually recommends a series of three to five weekly sessions (at $85 each), and monthly after that.

Gastroenterologists say that about 15% of the population suffers from constipation at some point, and some conditions and medications increase it. The best remedies are to increase dietary fiber, ideally from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and to consult a physician before trying other measures.

Some gastroenterologists worry that colonics can wash out beneficial bacteria and create infections, abscesses and electrolyte imbalances; there have been cases of rectal perforations. That is one reason that some hydrotherapists are pushing states to have formal licensing procedures. As of now, only Florida licenses colon hydrotherapists. Texas requires patients to have a doctor's prescription; Rhode Island prohibits the practice.

Brian Landzberg, a Manhattan gastroenterologist, says people's notion that they have pounds of backed-up stool in their colons is helping to feed distorted body images. He says he frequently sees patients who have abused laxatives in an effort to lose weight or flatten their stomachs. "Those are some of my toughest patients to treat," he says, because overuse of some bowel stimulants can damage the nerves and walls of the colon and prevent it from functioning properly.

Some patients, he says, are so convinced they are constipated that only transit marker studies—which follow the passage of small markers through the intestine via X-ray—can persuade them that their "transit time" is normal. "There is a degree of obsession that goes along with this," says Dr. Landzberg. "You can't just accept a patient's report that they are constipated."

Even "natural" laxatives, such as the plants senna and cascara, can harm the bowel, Dr. Landzberg says, adding, "The public has grown increasingly wary of the side effects of pharmaceuticals. I would like to see people bring that same degree of healthy skepticism to 'natural' products."

Where practitioners of conventional and alternative medicine do agree is in recommending improvements in the average American diet, to avoid gastrointestinal problems and lower the risk of colon cancer.

"We do see a lot of constipation in Western civilization," says Dr. Landzberg. "We don't drink enough fluids. We are too sedentary, we have weakened abdominal muscles, and we don't take enough fiber in our diets. But the answer to that is not artificial colon cleansing. A well-balanced diet with a good portion of soluble fiber—with lower fat and a calcium supplement—makes a happy colon."

— Email: healthjournal@wsj.com
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My experience with weight loss diet pills are the temporary results and frustration of having the weight come back after getting off the diet just as quickly since the weight loss tips given are not something that will work with your body.

If you seriously want to lose weight and keep it off, you cannot follow these fad diets and their ridiculous claim of proven weight loss tips.

The ineffectiveness of these diets is always revealed in a short time and people are starting to get wise about these particular diets, and will head off in search of a new craze to satisfy their urge for weight loss success.

The real truth is that people are always searching for new weight loss tips because they want to lose pounds quickly, naturally and safely and they want immediate results.

Here is the full article Shane for anyone that wants to read it.


http://www.buzzle.com/articles/lose-belly-...y-fat-fast.html


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thanks john for this useful link....

i think weight lose is not so much easy as to say, but it's not impossible. first thing we should control on our digest system but after that if we gaining extra weight so we should have a proper time table for daily activities like having food, work ,exercise etc.

Walk 20-30 minutes daily after your last meal. These will help you to speed your metabolism up before the food has a chance to get settled in and lower your body fat storage

for losing weight you have to forget the fast food that value meals and combos even exist they seem like a better deal, but they're just not worth the extra calories.stick to a grilled chicken sandwich or a child's hamburger and a side salad when you're on the run.

The best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity.

There is sufficient data from research studies to suggest that Green tea can help you lose weight faster. See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18006026 - this study on obese Thais shows that Green tea helps in weight loss by increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation. There is a chocolate tea (CocoPure) that I love especially when I’m on a diet. It combines pure cocoa (with real chocolate flavor – the kind we crave for the most especially when we know we can’t have any!!!) and green tea. There is no sugar in it but it contains a natural sweetener called stevia so it tastes sweet. With just 10 calories a serving I found it a good way to satiate my chocolate cravings and lose weight! It’s got fiber, too. Someone was looking for a study that shows fiber can help lose weight? Here’s something I found: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11396693

This is very common and important topic which is used by mostly health related site owners and they prefer lots of different ways to lose weight. But here i got something different idea then others. Really very impressive.

Really a educative and informative post, the post is good in all regards,I am glad to read this post.

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i think this is the most common topic for health sites and forums. I have read many sites and forums on this topics but here i found some different way of lose the weight.

Yes , you are right------------- many are wondering if there is a need to be concerned about negative side effects. This is hilarious because asking about the side effects of acai berries is the same as asking what the side effects of eating a banana are. Acai berries are an all-natural fruit grown in nature, just like any other fruit. And also like any other fruit, the acai berry is nutritious, delicious and completely void of any negative side effects.