Kesslers's campaign

Dr. David Kessler writes about our drive to overeat and the mechanisms that encourage the behavior in his new book entitled, "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite."
See the article in the Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124084009832659309.html
We eat and continue to crave high fat, high sugar salty foods even when we are full. Kesseler asks why and investigates how to overcome these urges?
Kessler holds the food industry responsible but conceeds that The food industry gives consumers exactly what we want. Processed foods are designed as highly stimulating products, encouraging us as consumers to ask for more. High fat, highly salted and sugary foods stimulate the reward centers in our brains. To overcome the stimuli we must replace one desire for another. Fast food for exercise? It can be done but it is not easy which is another reason group support helps. We are not alone in this; our culture via the food industry drives an obsession with food that encourages overeating and weight gain. Reteaching is essential and we must start now with the children in the schools and adults in the health clubs. Kessler is calling for a public health campaign and as he led the way with tobacco he can lead the way with food to improve our health and well being.

Breakfast foods matter for cell health

Researchers evaluated breakfast foods to determine how different meals affected the functioning of the blood vessel lining otherwise known as the endothelium. What they found was that high glycemic index foods mattered. Subjects ate either cornflakes, which are high on the glycemic index, a low glycemic index high-fiber cereal, a glucose supplement, or just drank water. After the meal researchers measured the function of endothelial cells. Subjects who ate the cornflakes or glucose supplement had the most impaired cell function. This is a problem since impaired function may translate to damage and this can lead to atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Changing school lunch

We already teach children about food at school. We teach them by serving them fast food, that french fries and chicken nuggets are standard fare. We can change it by changing school meals and teaching children to cook, grow, and understand how to eat well. We eat what we see and know so if we clean up school lunch, we can teach our youth to eat well. This is how it works. Let's give them excellent, locally grown, nutritious food. Otherwise we fail.

obesity in America

As I have been saying...
The obesity rate in the US continues to rise. Beware- because if things continue as they are by 2030, 86% of Americans will be overweight. Read the latest research with grief.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/07/americans-are-fat-and-getting-fatter-according-to-a-new-report-that-finds-adults-and-children-in-the-us-continue-to-pack-o.html

Nutrient rich breakfast ideas

Nutrient Rich Breakfast
1. Organic nonfat yogurt, berries of any sort, seeded berries are an excellent source of anti-oxidants, a bit of honey and chopped nuts.
2. Oatmeal with flaxseed, almonds, milk or soy milk and dried blueberries or raisins and a bit of cinnamon.
3. Omega 3 farm fresh eggs, spinich, garlic and onion. Make an omelette.
4. Whole grain toast and natural peanut butter, fruit spread or honey. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Whole grain english muffin and hummas.
6. Cottage cheese with fruit and slivered almonds.
7. A poached egg, toast and tomatoes.
8. A whole grain high fiber cereal, milk and raisins.
9. One whole-grain English muffin, 1ounce melted low-fat cheese and tomato slices

Vitamin D and weight loss

There may be a link between Vitamin D levels in the body at the start of a low-calorie diet may encourage success.

Subjects in the study had vitamin D levels that many experts are considered insufficient. The authors of the study found that baseline, or pre-diet, vitamin D levels predicted weight loss in a linear relationship. For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol - the precursor form of vitamin D and a commonly used indicator of vitamin D status - subjects ended up losing almost a half pound (0.196 kg) more on their calorie-restricted diet. For each 1-ng/mL increase in the active or "hormonal" form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), subjects lost nearly one-quarter pound (0.107 kg) more.

Additionally, higher baseline vitamin D levels (both the precursor and active forms) predicted a greater loss of belly fat.

Choosing high nutrient dense foods

Choose High Nutrient Dense Food
Breakfast
 Pick high-fiber, whole-grain cereals.
 Instead of adding sugar (processed from natural cane or beets), top with fresh fruit, such as sliced bananas or strawberries.
 Choose old-fashioned rolled oats rather than instant, flavored oatmeal. Top with honey, walnuts, raisins, low-fat milk.
 Choose whole fruit or pure fruit juices rather than "stripped" juices that have added high-fructose corn syrup added.
Snacks, desserts
 Fruit
 Have a cup of plain yogurt with a half-ounce (2 tablespoons) of raw walnuts and a tablespoon of honey.
 Mix equal amounts of raw almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, and filberts; eat one or two tablespoons a day as a snack (nuts are exceptionally nutrient-dense – they are tiny warehouses of important trace minerals, as well as protective fats, and natural vitamin E).
Midday and evening meals
 Sandwiches made with whole-grain breads, lean meats, tomato slices, lettuce and a little mayonnaise (mayonnaise is a good source of vitamin E)
 All kinds of fish, broiled or baked
 Fill half your plate with veggies.
- Two or three servings of vegetables, some raw (such as salads, carrot sticks), some cooked; choose some fresh vegetables as often as possible.