Preventing Sugar Bellies at Christmas and 2013
22 Dec 2012
"Look at that beer belly!" is an often heard remark. But are beer drinkers getting a bad rap? There’s good evidence that may be the case as some beers contain a mere 60 calories. This is why a recent study from the Harvard Medical School says it’s about time we renamed this problem, the "Sugar Belly". So can you fight this universal problem during the holidays?
Vasanti Malik, a researcher at The Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, reports in Nutrition Action Health Letter that the average North American consumes at least 15 teaspoons of sugar daily. This is mostly from sucrose (table sugar), fructose and glucose. Malik says these calories are contributing to the sugar belly.
It’s not just men who develop spare tires. Malik tracked 50,000 women for four years. She found that weight gain was greatest (about 19 pounds) when these women went from drinking one sugar-sweetened drink a week to one a day.
Kimber Stanhope at the University of California also showed that when comparable groups of people were given 25 percent of their calories in either fructose or glucose, there was an increase in belly fat in those given fructose. It’s this fat that’s linked to heart disease, rather than fat just below the surface of the skin.
These are not isolated findings. A Danish study showed that when people were given three 12-ounce cans of sugar-sweetened drinks daily for several months this increased bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and decreased good cholesterol. In addition, the amount of liver fat doubled. This is a sad commentary on our lifestyle that even young children are now developing fatty degeneration of the liver.
Belly fat triggers a vicious cycle of events. Insulin resistance develops as obesity increases, making it harder for insulin to push sugar into cells. This increases blood sugar and sets the stage for Type 2 diabetes and all its serious complications. Today Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic of unparalleled proportions affecting five percent of the population. But remember that belly fat, although it’s often due to sugary drinks, is also related to too many calories of all kinds.
So how can you fight the sugar belly this holiday season and in 2013? You must consume fewer calories than you burn up. To help you do this there’s "The Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker", a natural remedy that claims it’s possible to have your cake and eat it too.
This may sound too good to be true, but there is science behind this claim. The ingredient in this case is an extract of the white bean that decreases the absorption of starches. Starch is a form of carbohydrate present in potatoes, pasta and bread.
During the process of digestion our bodies convert carbohydrates into sugar. The sugar is then used for energy or stored as fat. The Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker slows down this process so there’s less breakdown of starch into sugar. This allows part of the food to pass through the intestines before it can be converted into sugar and then fat so fewer calories are absorbed. Fortunately, this physiological process does not affect the digestion of healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains and fruits.
Studies show that this natural remedy blocks over 50 percent of calories from starches and 30 percent from fats. It also decreases carbohydrate and sugar cravings and has a positive effect on cholesterol blood levels.
I realize it’s hard not to cheat over the holidays, but the Ultimate Starch and Fat Blocker can at least help to keep weight under control. Then, according to The Journal of International Research, those who use this remedy during 2013 can lose 6.45 pounds a month. That’s over 72 pounds a year! It’s available at Health Food Stores.
The usual dose is two to three capsules at the start of a meal and it is well tolerated. Only a few complain of gas and diarrhea. And remember, this remedy should not be used as a substitute for healthy eating.
My best wishes to all for a happy, safe and healthy holiday season.
