Tag Archives: supplements

Cleansing: What’s all the crap about?

Posted on January 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

I was asked about a particular, we’ll call it a “weight loss product” for lack of a better term recently.  Fortunately I knew about this product, so it was easy to say, “AVOID.”

But, I hadn’t paid any attention to it so I thought I would take a look again, just in case it had changed.  First place I went on the products website was the legal area.  Here are the first two lines that I found.

DSHEA Disclaimer

The statements (appearing on this Web site) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. XXXXXX products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Weight-Loss Disclaimer

The weight loss testimonials presented apply only to the individuals depicted, cannot be guaranteed, and should not be considered typical. An unpublished 2008 university study showed a statistically significant weight loss of 7 lbs during the first 9 days of the Cleansing and Fat Burning System.  As with any health or fitness program, a sensible eating plan and regular exercise are required in order to achieve long-term weight loss.

Wow…if those aren’t two statements that say, “We really have no clue if this really works or if it’s safe but give it a try.  Oh yeah and well, it won’t work with lasting results unless you eat sensibly and exercise.”

I’m not done.

“The XXXXX cleanse is unique because it not only removes impurities at the cellular level, it builds the body up with incredible nutrition. Besides detoxing the body, XXXXX teaches people a wonderful lesson that they don’t need to eat as much as they are accustom to and eating healthy choices are really important and also a lot of the food we are eating is nutritionally bankrupt.”

I’ve been saying part of that for a long time.  We don’t need to eat as much as most people do.  That is about the only thing I can agree with on this product.  It may also leave you as financially bankrupt.

Any weight loss product that is set up as a multi-level marketing system should also make you think about credibility.  You’ve probably guessed it by now, the product, or more accurately product line, is Isagenix.  But, it isn’t even so much this particular product I have a problem with as much as I do with the idea of a cleanse or detox in general.

If you really need to, uhm, clean yourself out, I would suggest fiber, anti-oxidents, multi-vitamins and water.  If you want to clean out your wallet, give it to charity…it will do more good there.

And yes, somewhere out there, someone is going to tell me, “You’re wrong!! I’ve lost 5 million pounds using a cleanse.”  OK, so you did…how much have you gained back and I’m willing to bet you gained it back faster than you lost it and congratulations, in the process deprived your body of some necessary vitamins and minerals in the process.  Of course you will lose weight on a cleanse.  It’s calorie deprivation.  We’ve talked about that before, remember?  Not enough nutrition, your body starts to eat it’s own muscle for protein, you lose muscle, can’t burn fat as well…and let the weight gain begin, again.

Gotta Go!!!

Another interesting thing about poop products, yes I said it, one of the statements is that it doesn’t contain caffeine, but on the ingredient label, it’s right there…green tea.  Yes green tea has caffeine.  Honestly, the claims made by these products are full of crap.

The essence of these products is simple.  Replace a couple of meals (real food), with some sort of liquid mess or chewy tablet (not real food), followed by calorie deprivation and a path straight to cravings and bingeing.

Keep it simple everyone.  Eat real food.  Exercise sensibly.  Rest and repeat regularly.

If you are looking for simple quick tricks and short cuts to get healthy, you’ll find yourself forever looking for those answers as you bounce up and down on the scale for the rest of your life.

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Why you should supplement with Omega 3′s

Posted on June 2, 2010 | 1 Comment

One of the most talked about nutritional components out there for the last few years is Omega 3 Fatty Acids.  They have really only been on the radar of science for about twenty five years although they have been known about much longer than that.

The reason that they are so talked about, is they are one of the few supplements that has not come under fire for all the bad they do to while offering just a few benefits.  The reality is just the opposite.  It is difficult to find any negative information about them, while the benefits are abundant.

Omega 3′s come from several sources but the most well-known are fatty fish like Salmon and Tuna, Eggs and grains like Flax and Hempseed.

There are several reasons that I include Omega 3′s in my nutritional plan.  The original reason was during my first pregnancy, I like any other ‘Mom to Be’, picked up books on how to best care for my growing baby.  Omega 3′s were touted as being excellent for the development of the brain and spine of Jr.  The human brain is about 60% fat (remember calling someone a fat head – not all that wrong were ‘ya) and around half of that is DHA Omega 3′s, so it stands to reason that the best way to feed the brain is with its most common element.

But the benefits don’t just stop there:

1. Pain Relief

2. Anti-Inflamatory

3. Higher Intelligence

4. Better Brain Function

5. Mood Elevator

6. Anti-depressant

7. Better Cardio Vascular Function

8. Cardio Vascular Disease Fighter

9.Immune System Strength

10. Fat Burner

11. Metabolism Booster

I think that right there is a pretty good list.

I recommend that you try to get as much of your nutrition from foods, so here is a list of things you should be eating, but sometimes for some people supplements are the way to go.  Always get the best quality that you can.

Tuna, Salmon, Cod, Grouper, Snapper, Flaxseed, Butternuts, Hempseed, Walnuts, Pecans, Hazel Nuts, Grass fed animals.



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All Supplements are NOT Created Equal

Posted on April 27, 2010 | 1 Comment

Full Disclosure

Today’s post is supported by an article from Dr.Oz, some of which is included at the end of this post.  I will include the link for the entire article at the bottom.  There is also a very special offer in this post.

Ever since I turned my life around from the “Former Fat Girl Days” I have understood the importance of dietary supplementation.  There are six main nutritional components that your body requires.  Protein, fat, carbohydrates, water, vitamins and minerals.  Each has a role in both basic nutrition and system function.  For example, a carbohydrate comes in many forms that equate to energy while the Glucose part of carbs feeds the brain…yes, that is why Carbs are NOT the enemy.

There are many reasons why you should, and in some cases need, to take supplements.  But knowing which ones, how much, what combinations, etc, etc can be mind-boggling.  I’m not going to try to tell you I have all the answers but I can tell you what you need to look for and well, as I found out today….DR.OZ agrees with me!!

There are times when you want specific supplements like Folic Acid and Iron when you are pregnant or extra calcium when you are recovering from breaking a bone or diagnosed with Osteoporosis.  Likewise, there are times you need to avoid some supplements at other times like Vitamin K when you are taking a prescribed blood thinner.

There are very few government guidelines or rules for supplement manufacturers can be so perverted that a clever label can allow for many ingredients not to be listed that you may not want.

I became so frustrated when I was looking for a great protein supplement that I gave up on the “Cake Mix” Brands that are sold in ‘reputable’ supplement stores and formulated my own!  That was the only way that I could guarantee the ingredients, the label integrity and the purity of what it is…a great tasting, nutritionally sound protein supplement.  Here are the benefits you get with Health and Fitness Systems Protein Powder.

The BEST Protein Supplement

No Bloat, Feel Great – Unlike most protein powders which leave you bloated, constipated and with an upset stomach – Health and Fitness Systems Protein– works with your body to break down amino acids and sugars for superior absorption and digestion.

Burn More Calories – Each serving of Health and Fitness Systems Protein contains 22 grams of high quality metabolism boosting proteins.

Feel full Longer – Unlike cheap bulk protein powders, the superior purification process of Health and Fitness Systems Protein results in the preservation of glycomacropeptides, which have been shown in scientific studies to signal your brain that you are full. This makes it easier to eat less and lose weight.

Mixes Instantly – Just add water for a fast and creamy shake that you’ll look forward to each and every day.

Instant Energy!  Kick your Red Bull habit

Email me: info@georgetownfitnessbootcamp.com with the code “Try Before You Buy” in the subject line and I’ll send you a free sample of Health and Fitness Systems Protein. No one else will do that!

Here’s the Dr. Oz highlights.

Dietary supplements encompass a wide range of products that includes vitamins and minerals, herbal products, amino acids, tissue extracts and other compounds.  Many dietary supplements – which I’ll refer to as supplements – are extremely helpful in preventing illness; for example, folic acid can prevent birth defects, and calcium and vitamin D can prevent fractures.

However, not all supplements are effective.  There are tens of thousands of supplements sold in the US, and while some are very effective, many are not.  Even worse, some might actually cause more harm than good.  Little is known about the safety of supplements, because Congress requires that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assume that all supplements are harmless until proven otherwise.  Because the government does not ensure supplement safety, it’s especially important that consumers are careful when purchasing supplements.

Here I’ll summarize some of the most important safety concerns with supplements and then provide advice for selecting supplements safely.

Manufactures of supplements do not need to prove that their supplement is effective before selling it.

Manufactures of supplements do not need to inform consumers about side effects even when the ingredients are known to cause side effects.

Little is known about the health effects of combination herbal supplements.

The amount of ingredients listed on labels is often inaccurate.

Contaminants have been found in many supplements, especially those sold over the Internet.

Here are 8 tips for safe use of supplements:

  1. The best way to use supplements safely is to avoid supplements you don’t need. Use supplements only if you have reliable information that the ingredient(s) will benefit you.  Accurate information can be found at the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
  2. Select supplements with only the ingredient(s) that you need.  If you need vitamin D then select a supplement that only contains vitamin D.
  3. Avoid supplements with more than one herbal ingredient.  It is very difficult to determine the effect that multiple herbs will have on your health.
  4. If you take prescription medications or have health conditions, ask your physician if the supplement you are considering is safe for you.
  5. Avoid supplements that are sold to treat an illness, for example supplements sold to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.  These supplements are more likely to be contaminated with prescription medications.
  6. Avoid supplements that claim to help you lose weight or improve sexual or athletic performance.  These supplements may not only be contaminated with prescription medicines but also with dangerous analogs.
  7. Purchase supplements in retail stores rather than over the Internet.
  8. If you experience a side effect from a supplement:

By carefully selecting and using supplements, you can obtain the most benefit from supplements while minimizing the chances of serious side effects.

Here is the link to the full article:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/hidden-dangers-dietary-supplement

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