HEALTHY LIVING


Natural Ways to Shed Weight Without Resorting to Diet Pills


BY KATHRYN MCKENZIE N


ow that the holidays are over, many Americans are focused again on watching their weight —


and shedding the extra pounds they gained during the season of festive cheer. That means an uptick in diet pill


prescriptions, weight-loss book sales, and other anti-obesity efforts, with Americans spending about $20 billion each year on such approaches. Yet, research shows these


conventional methods aren’t significantly addressing the nation’s growing obesity epidemic. In fact, nearly four in 10 Americans are clinically obese and another third are overweight, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now for the good news:


Health experts say there are natural ways to lose weight and boost your health at the same time — without resorting to diet pills and other expensive, ineffective methods. Two of the most effective weight-


loss drivers — fiber and probiotics — are easy to incorporate into your diet. Here’s a primer.


MORE FIBER Many studies show that a diet rich in fiber — the indigestible part of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains — is an effective way to lose pounds and combat diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic health conditions. But most Americans don’t get enough of it to make a difference.


David Brownstein, a board-


certified family physician and medical director for the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan, says dietary fiber is one of the most underappreciated factors in maintaining digestive health and combating obesity. “Over the two decades that I have been practicing medicine I have seen thousands of patients with digestive system


Brussels sprouts, broccoli, apples, oranges, prunes, and oatmeal. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and changes as it moves through the digestive tract. Foods packed with insoluble fiber: dark green leafy greens, root vegetable skins, whole-wheat products, nuts, and seeds. In addition, two specific types


HEALTHY DIGESTION Probiotics found in yogurt aid digestion and, ultimately, weight loss.


of fiber have been a key focus of nutritional research: Fibersol-2 (maltodextrin)


is a soluble corn fiber that acts as a low-cal bulking agent.


Inulins are part of a class


of dietary fibers known as fructans in more than 36,000 species of plants, including wheat, onion, bananas, garlic, asparagus, and chicory.


TAKE YOUR PROBIOTICS Probiotics are beneficial bacteria in yogurt, sauerkraut, aged cheeses, and other foods. They help


complaints,” says Brownstein, a Newsmax contributor and editor of Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health newsletter. “Issues of the [gastrointestinal]


tract are some of the most common reasons people see a doctor or take over-the-counter or prescription drugs. In fact, seven out of 10 people suffer from digestive health concerns and more women than men tend to get these problems.” There are two broad types of fiber,


soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is fermented by bacteria in the digestive tract. Good food sources include kidney beans, pinto beans,


to digest food, and they play an important role in regulating weight. Health experts recommend eating


foods with good bacteria, but you can also take probiotic supplements. To choose an effective probiotic: Use a formula with multiple strains of researched and clinically documented probiotic bacteria. Use a formula that has been tested to resist stomach acids and enzymes in the digestive tract. Choose products with important strains of probiotics, including Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus.


SOURCES: Medical News Today, BMJ, University of Maryland Medical Center, Harvard School of Public Health, Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, University of Illinois


JANUARY 2019 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 81


JOSEP SURIA/SHUTTERSTOCK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92