Weight Loss

 Lecithin is a major constituent of cell membranes and cell membranes are essential to the integrity of cells (true); leading to claims that it is necessary for you to take Lecithin Supplements (false).  

In your intestines is an enzyme lecithinase that hydrolyzes most of the lecithin before it goes into your body, so little of any lecithin supplement you take will actually reach your body tissues intact.

Bottom Line: This is not an essential nutrient; your liver will make all that you need.

Lecithin is a lipid (a fat), every gram of lecithin adds 9 calories of fat to your diet. High doses may cause GI distress, sweating, and loss of appetite.   

One in seven US adults are using weight loss supplements-by 2110 there is a prediction that this will be at least a trillion dollar business. So it is not a surprise to open any given magazine and find an ad, or several, for a product that will produce instant weight loss. Redline Princess caught my eye since they advertise this product to be designed just for women.

Designed just for women and contains yohimbe, an herb used to treat male impotence. Not only is yohimbe used for male impotence it is on The German Commision E (gold standard for herb research) list of unapproved herbs. Safe only if you are under the care of a physician.

Warning: Not to consumed by those under 18, if you are pregnant or breast feeding, have low blood pressure, have a seizure disorder, or liver problems. This is just a sample, there are two paragraphs of precautions. 

Please, before you purchase Redline Princess or any weight loss product read the fine print.    

Soup may be your best friend when it comes to losing those extra pounds but not because there is some kind of magic power in soup.

Pennsylvania State University did a study for five weeks with 60 participants; soup was serve as a starter the first four weeks. In this study researchers used a light vegetable soup with more broth than vegetables. After eating the soup there was a 15 minute waiting period before serving the main meal; the fifth week of the study no soup was served before the meal.

When the participants ate soup before eating the main meal they consumed 15 to 20% fewer calories. In case you are curious lunch was pasta-cheese tortellini in tomato sauce.

Of course the reason the soup worked is because the participants started to feel satisfied before the pasta arrived so therefore eat less pasta.

Important to remember: The soups used in this study were all made-in-house and none with heavy cream.

Bottom Line: It is thought that eating soup as a starter at least four times a week could lead to a substantial weight loss. Soup is certainly much safer and cheaper than weight loss pills.   

Yohimbe: An evergreen tree that grows in western Africa, Cameroon, the Congo, and Gabon. 

Yohimbe, used in many over the counter weight loss products, may or may not produce results. In Africa yohimbe has been used in the past for fever, coughs, leprosy, and as an aphrodisiac; in the United States, before Viagra, yohimbe is a presciption drug prescribed for erectile dysfunction.

The Commission E in Germany, the herbal regulatory agency, has placed yohimbe on their list of unapproved herbs for the following reason:

Too small a dosage has no effect and too large a dose is toxic; the proper dose varies with each person.

Anyone with the following health problems should not take yohimbe:

Kidney or liver disease, stomach ulcers, heart disease, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder.

If you are taking a product containing yohimbe and experience any of the following symtoms-Please stop! 

Dizziness, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.

As small a dosage as 40mg. a day may prove to be toxic.