Your Newsletter

But it's only One Soft Drink
Millions of consumers who choose diet soda as a healthier alternative to traditional sugar-sweetened soft drinks may be in for a surprise: According to a new report from the Framingham Heart Study researchers, consumption of just one soft drink per day, whether diet, regular, or even caffeine-free, is associated with a 50% higher risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. They looked at data from nearly 9000 patients, and concluded that the consumption of 1 soft drink per day increased 4 out of 5 metabolic syndrome components compared to 1 or less soft drinks per week. It is thought that the high sweetness of soft drinks conditions our brains to prefer other sweet items. Interesting, don't you think?

How about water?

Can Chewing Gum Promote Weight Loss?

Research indicates that chewing gum may be used as a tool to help manage weight, increase focus, alertness and concentration and help relieve lifeâ€™s everyday stresses according to the American Diabetic Association. Chewing gum may aid appetite control by reducing hunger and decreasing calorie intake. Gum can also be a low-calorie substitute for high calorie snacks. If you chew 2 sticks of gum at 5-10 calories each instead of eating 2 cookies at 140 calories each, you can save 260 calories!

Did you notice any gum chewing during the world series? Many athletes and coaches chew gum to improve concentration and alertness. (Maybe the Red Sox chewed more gum than the Rockies? Just kiddingâ€¦)

Tips for managing your weight with chewing gum:

* Pop a piece of gum in your mouth to signal the end of a meal

* Chew gum between meals when you feel the urge to grab a high-calorie snack

* Chew gum to avoid â€œstress eatingâ€ or â€œboredom eatingâ€

* Chew gum while cooking to keep from nibbling during food preparation

* Scientists at the Mayo Clinic have observed that chewing gum burns 11 calories/hour!

(But sorry, this doesnâ€™t count towards your daily exercise)

Chewing sugarless gum can be a great way to avoid snacking in addition to freshening breath, reducing cavities and relieving stress and boredom.

Obesity Influences Frequency of Migraine Headaches
According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, obesity appears to be associated with migraine headaches, but not necessarily other types of hedaches. Among survey respondents with migraine, very frequent headaches were reported by 7.4% of those in the overweight category, 8.2% in the obese category, and 10.4 in the morbidly obese category (BMI > 40), compared to 6.5% in the normal-weight category (BMI < 25).

Can Dietary Interventions Help Survive Breast Cancer?
A recent trial know as the Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study (WHEL) enrolled 3088 women with previously treated early-stage breast cancer in a lifestyle change group consisting of telephone counseling, cooking classes, increasing intake of vegetables, fruits, and fiber, and following a low-fat diet. Unfortunately, there appeared to be no benefit to reducing breast cancer recurrence risk with this intervention. While discouraging, a similar study (Women's Nutrition Intervention Study, or WINS) did demonstrate a 24% risk reduction by following a healthy diet. Why the discrepancy? In the WINS trial, women lost an average of 6 pounds; in the WHEL trial, there was no significant weight loss in the intervention group.

So, what's the take-home message? While healthy eating certainly promotes wellness, in and of itself there does not seem to be a benefit to reducing recurrence risk of breast cancer. However, even a small amount of weight loss (6 pounds) has dramatic benefits. So for 2008, focus on losing at least 6 pounds, and keeping it off! Certainly a fruit, vegetable, and fiber-rich diet can be very helpful in attaining this goal, let alone all the other benefits of following a healthy diet.

In another study, the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) said this October that the link between body fat and cancer is closer than generally realized. They report convincing evidence of a link between excess body fat and 6 types of cancer, including bowel, breast, esophagus, pancreas, uterus, and kidney. The report recommends maintaining a healthy weight, limiting processed meats such as ham and bacon, limiting alcohol to 2 units a day for men, 1 for women (a unit is a half pint of beer or small glass of wine), and breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months of a baby's life, followed by complementary breastfeeding. The report specifically does not recommend dietary supplements as prevention. The report makes 10 recommendations including 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, rising to 60 minutes, drinking water rather than sugary drinks, eating fruit, vegetables, and fiber, and limiting salt consumption. Further details can be found at http://www.dietandcancerreport.org/

Does Lycopene Reduce Cancer Risk?
Have you been caught up in the media blitz that Lycopene prevents cancer? A recent FDA review has concluded that there is "no credible evidence" to support an association between lycopene, an antioxidant found abundantly in tomatoes, and a reduction in the risk of any form of cancer. The FDA also found only "very limited credible evidence" that tomatoes and tomato sauce can reduce cancer risk (See Journal of National Cancer Institute 2007;99:1074-1085). Further research is needed to see if Lycopene has any benefit for prostate cancer, but the FDA feels there is very little evidence of a benefit.

However, there are so many untold stories. As an incentive for you to share your success with others, and to reward you for a job well done, we are making YOU the following offer:

From October 1^st, 2007, until December 31^st, 2007, instead of a $20 gift certificate for your time, we are offering a gift certificate of $1 per pound lost, up to $100.

Yes, you read that correctly: For your completed submission with your comments, before and after picture, we will give you a gift certificate of $1 per pound lost, up to $100^**. Have you lost 50 pounds? Thatâ€™s a $50 gift certificate! 75 pounds? 100 pounds?

Reward yourself for your success, and use your success to motivate others. Stop waiting and take advantage of this offer! Submission forms are available at the front office, or on-line at www.clinicalnutritioncenter.com.