Flush Fat Cells with H2O?

Having spent my teen years in a beach town in Southern California, I was acutely aware of how to keep my growing body from growing too much. Along with the three Rs, most of the girls in my class were also fluent in a myriad of weight-loss tricks. The Grapefruit Diet, The Pineapple Diet, Scarsdale, etc. etc. One rumor that was whispered through the ranks was that simply drinking water would flush the fat cells from the body.

Fast forward 20-ish years and I'm a freelance writer researching the topic, for an article for Self Magazine...

Here's the gist of the article.

Wouldn’t it be nice if the most effective exercise you needed to do to burn fat was lift, gulp and swallow? According to Donald S. Robertson, M.D., founder and medical director of Southwest Bariatric Nutrition Center in Scottsdale, Arizona –it is. Over the last 30 years, Dr. Roberston has helped thousands of people loose thousands of pounds at his weight loss center touting water as the only viable magic potion. “Water not only suppress the appetite, prevents bloating and it is essential for the body to metabolize fat,” he explains. In fact, Dr. Robertson insists that if you don't drink enough water it may cause fat cells to multiply because of the liver's inability to metabolize lipids. Metabolically speaking, he continues, “If a person does not drink enough water, the liver has to slow down and eventually stop it’s fat burning duties to help the kidney flush toxins [including fat cells] from the body.”

“Yes, water is essential to health, No! – it is not a weight-loss-elixir” counters Susan Kleiner, PhD, R.D and author of a series of book geared towards nutrition and human performance including, Power Eating: A Nutritional Guideline for High Performance Athletes, published by Human Kinetics. “This type of sensationalism is misleading and can lead to dieting frustration,” explains Dr. Kleiner who penned an article for the Journal of American Dietetic Association. Ironically, her article concluded that most people suffer from mild dehydration and would benefit from drinking more water. However, she does not support the idea that simply drinking more water will get you into that teensy weeny bikini by summer.

Bottom Line:
“Drinking water is essential whether you are trying to loose weight or maintain a healthy body,” states Kleiner, “however, there is no conclusive evidence supporting the concept of water intake corresponding with the number of fat cells in the body.” In other words, ‘lift, gulp, swallow’ needs to be accompanied with a few huffs and puffs (cardio) to achieve successful weight loss results.

More on Water and weight-loss...

Another article on the topic written in 2004 by Webmd, with a title leaning towards water as a magic pill, (in this case a metabolism revv-er), demonstrates, the research is inconclusive. The author sites a study in Germany. www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040105/drinking-water-may-speed-weight-loss

More on Fat Cells

For a fun (if you like this stuff) explanation of the life and time of a fat cell check out this illustrated posting.

www.scribd.com/doc/6611452/How-Fat-Cells-Work

Why Seaweed Wraps Work

Here is an article I edited for the EVO Spa newsletter, written by Dan Fryda, of Spa Technologies International. He brings up some very good points... Not drinking the algae-spiked kool-aid? Read the New York Times article posted below.

Why Seaweed Wraps Work

Every sickness, every disease can be traced to a mineral deficiency”
Dr. Linus Pauling, Nobel Laureate 1954

Toxin: (from Greek meaning an arrow that was dipped in poison)

You might be surprised to learn that seaweed detox treatments do more than firm up bodies…they play an important role in your health and quality of life. Toxins are poisons that are aimed at undermining your health and can rob you of vitality. And that the minerals contained in algae in their blended perfection can act as an antidote to the myriad of environmental aging factors we call toxins.

What are toxins?

Some toxins are contaminants ingested into the body by finding themselves in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. They are in the form of heavy metals like mercury, lead, cobalt and cesium. Some are even radioactive including strontium-90 and an isotope of iodine that are known to contaminate our food and water. These contaminants attack vital organs including the liver and kidneys.

The other group of toxins is generated as by-products of cellular metabolism. These toxins are proteins and they attract water, lots of it to the point that they create congestion of the body’s lymph system. That feeling of bloat is not only uncomfortable it leads to the infiltration of these toxins in vital organs and fat. The accumulation of toxins leads to a range of problems ranging from unsightly cellulite to serious health issues. These toxins cannot only decrease our quality of life they have been shown to drastically reduce life expectancy (see Alexis Carrell sidebar).


Toxins in our environment.

It is now universally conceded that our topsoil is impoverished due to a century of erosion brought on by modern methods of farming. The use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers, have depleted the minerals in our soil. Pesticides kill the rich fauna that make the topsoil their home—bacteria, larva and worms. Worms in particular constantly tunnel our topsoil making it porous and aerated. When the rains come, the spongy topsoil absorbs the water. But when worms are killed off by pesticides, the soil hardens into a clay consistency. Water is not absorbed; rather it runs off the surface eroding the top layer of soil with it. The runoff diminishes the topsoil and the minerals with it. This process has reduced the average topsoil in North America by more than 80% over the last century.

Another example of toxic exposure, is if a nuclear reactor has a leak or a major breakdown such as Chernobyl or Three Mile Island. Strontium-90 gas escapes and strontium-90 contaminates the soil. Grass and grains that grow in the contaminated soil absorb this dangerous element, which cows graze on. The milk produced by these cows are now contaminated with Strontium-90 and we humans might consume it in the form of a variety of dairy products ranging from cheese to ice cream

The consequence of such shortsighted agricultural practices and accidental contaminant leaking is devastating. Combined with environmental stress and a diet that is formulated with chemical additives, and the result is catastrophic to health.

How toxins can affect our bodies.

The human body itself is made up of 70% water that is qualitatively identical to seawater. The remaining 30% of the body is made up primarily of minerals and trace elements. Minerals are the building blocks of DNA and proteins. When there is a lack of any one of these vital minerals, there are health repercussions as noted by Dr. Linus Pauling. Lack of calcium can lead to water retention, bloat and eventually osteoporosis; lack of magnesium leads to a feeling of stress and skin that lacks tone; lack of potassium translates into lack of energy and poor cellular metabolism.

Why seaweed treatments work?

Since seaweed is nature’s richest source of minerals…as well as nature’s most balanced source, seaweed detox wraps are used in Europe to help the body eliminate toxins. Seaweed grows in seawater and seawater is chemically identical to blood plasma and the body’s fluids. There is an abundant source of minerals and other vital elements such as copper, zinc and manganese that is relatively untapped—the sea. The oceans cover 70% of the earth’s surface or 400 million cubic miles of mineral water. Seaweeds are plants that dwell in this mineral soup. Nutritionally, they provide more than five times as many minerals per ounce than the most mineral-rich vegetables. Further, seaweeds provide us with a perfect balance of these elements, which are 100% compatible with the human body. The calcium and magnesium levels in seaweed help to decongest the blood and lymph systems. Swelling is reduced and the body can evacuate toxins from the tissues and eventually out of the body. Additionally magnesium is vital in cellular renewal so your skin looks more radiant. Potassium and selenium fight off free radicals to protect cellular integrity and prevent premature aging. And if this is not enough, seaweed improves circulation so your legs look radiant. Because the minerals contained in seaweed are the smallest in molecular size, they easily penetrate through the skin to feed the body (University of Rennes study: 1963).


//Read this article below on seaweed therapies -including quotes from Dan Fryda, I tend to take the author's side... it's mind-body thing, best served with a healthy dish of fresh seaweed salad.

www.nytimes.com/1996/03/24/magazine/appearances-the-seaweed-factor.html

Coffee Good or Bad – you choose

I love coffee, not necessarily for its taste, more like the ritual surrounding it. A steaming cup of coffee in a ceramic mug reminds me of my grandmother, hence connects me to her every morning. The thought of giving it up to see if the caffeine is truly the cause of my occasional skin problems and underarm sweating (I swear it goes from my lips to my pits) was impossible. Hence I’ve found information to support my habit. There are plenty of reasons not to drink coffee, however, if you have an emotional tie to it, like I do…read on and feel good about your choice.

The bad...

Coffee takes the rap for a wide variety of ills, from that spare tire around your middle, to bad skin, and indigestion. As an acidic beverage, it wreaks havoc on the body’s pH level, which can encourage arthritis, hormonal issues and skin problems. As a stimulant, drinking coffee can exhaust your adrenal gland hence compromising your immune system. It is also said to lead to mineral depletion and health problems including; osteoporosis, acid indigestion, candida, liver and kidney stones.

Coffee and weight gain? Have you seen those infomercials blaming belly fat on coffee? The premise is simple chemistry and summed up by Barry Sears, MD, renown nutritional speaker and author of The Zone: “the breakdown of caffeine causes the pancreas to release too much insulin, thus creating a climate in which excess carbohydrates are stored as fat and are unavailable for use as energy by your brain. Although caffeine is a metabolic stimulant, the ultimate effect is to increase your appetite and contribute to weight gain and thus caffeine should be avoided by anyone working to reduce body fat.”

The good...

On the flip side, coffee has proven beneficial for reducing the risk of type two diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, headaches, cavities, and colon cancer. Researchers at Harvard University studied a group of people (slightly over 100K) for nearly twenty years, and concluded that up to six cups daily reduced the risk of diabetes for men by over 50%, and for women, 30%. A recent article in Web MD titled, Coffee the New Health Food, highlights a handful of positive health benefits learned for these studies, here is an exerpt…

"Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good."

Consider this: At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones.

Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis.

There's also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.

If you drink coffee for pleasure, and don’t discount positive brain chemistry as a health benefit here is my Faux Mocha trick. Instead of a typical mocha, which weighs in around 400 calories, I like to add a splash (1/4 cup), of either chocolate soy milk, or regular low fat chocolate milk to my morning cup. The result a great start to my day for just 50-ish calories.

There’s lots more to this discussion as there always is… but as is our intention, this is just a little, excuse the pun, food for thought.


Sources:

http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food

www.drsears.com/