Hoodia Gordonii is Legal for sale in the US

Many readers are searching information about if Hoodia Goordonii is legal to be sold in the USA.

 

The answer is YES.

 

As a dietary supplement, the product is neither evaluated nor registered under FDA. However, regulations on dietary supplements are applied.

 

But the product is legally sold into the United States.

 

Buy Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills, Noni Juices and Aloe products at http://www.hoodialatina.com
Buy aloe raw materials and finished products at http://www.aloetrade.com.ar

Will you lose weight as a vegetarian?

Studies show meat-eaters have a higher body-mass index

By Karen Collins, R.D.

MSNBC

Updated: 1:05 p.m. ET Sept. 23, 2005

If you read weight loss advice in diet books, magazines, or on the Internet, you might conclude that a vegetarian diet is a guaranteed way to lose weight. Although surveys show that vegetarians tend to weigh less than meat-eaters, you may not experience sustained weight loss by turning vegetarian.

A recent study compared the eating habits of people before and after they began eating vegetarian. After following a self-selected vegetarian diet for six months, the calorie consumption of these people dropped by almost 200 calories per day.

Their weight did not change, but people seemed to be leaner. There were reductions in their waist and hip measurements, as well as their skinfold measure of body fat stores.

Read the Full Story at MSNBC

Overweight and Obesity Rapidly Increase - WHO

The World Health Organization Warns of the Rising Threat of Heart Disease and Stroke as Overweight and Obesity Rapidly Increase
Thursday September 22, 7:57 am ET

WHO Urges Healthy Diet, Physical Activity, No Tobacco Use

GENEVA, Sept. 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over one billion people are overweight globally, and that if current trends continue, that number will increase to 1.5 billion by 2015. This warning comes in advance of World Heart Day on 25 September.

Overweight and obesity are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death and accounts for over 17 million deaths every year. Once considered a problem only in wealthy countries, WHO estimates show that overweight and obesity are now dramatically on the rise in low and middle-income countries. This is due to a number of factors, including a global shift in diet towards increased energy, fat, salt and sugar intake, and a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the sedentary nature of modern work and transportation, and increasing urbanisation.

According to WHO estimates, more than 75% of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in countries as diverse as Barbados, Egypt, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States.(1) Estimates are similar for men, with over 75% now overweight in, for example, Argentina, Germany, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United Kingdom.(2) Notably, the Western Pacific islands of Nauru and Tonga have the highest global prevalence of overweight where nine out of every 10 adults are overweight.

"The sheer magnitude of the overweight and obesity problem is staggering," said Dr Catherine Le-Gales Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. "The rapid increase of overweight and obesity in many low and middle income countries foretells an overwhelming chronic disease burden in these countries in the next 10 to 20 years, if action is not taken now."

Raised body mass index is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. WHO estimates that over the next ten years, cardiovascular disease - primarily heart disease and stroke - will increase most notably in the regions of the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa, where cardiovascular disease-related deaths are predicted to rise by over 25%.

WHO welcomes and supports this year's World Heart Day, taking place on Sunday, 25 September 2005, which draws attention to this problem and focus on the importance of maintaining Healthy Weight, Healthy Shape.

"The real tragedy is that overweight and obesity, and their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable," said Dr Robert Beaglehole, WHO Director of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion. "Approximately 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use."

The WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control describe the actions needed to reduce tobacco use and support the adoption of healthy diets and regular physical activity.

Additional important risk factors, disability, death and economic projections for heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases will be released by the World Health Organization in its forthcoming publication, Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment, due to be launched later this year this year. The report will present the latest scientific information and make the case for urgent action to turn back the growing global threat of chronic diseases.

Note to Editors:

Overweight is defined as body mass index greater than 25; Obesity is defined as body mass index greater than 30. Body mass index (BMI) = [Weight in kilograms divided by Height in cm divided by Height in cm] x 10 000

(1) Full list includes: Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, Egypt, Fiji, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Niue, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

(2) Full list includes: Argentina, Austria, Cook Islands, Germany, Greece, Kiribati, Kuwait, Malta, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Source Yahoo News

Obesity to increase by 50pc: WHO

Obesity - Worldwide - WHO
From correspondents in Geneva
September 23, 2005

THE number of overweight and obese people worldwide is set to increase by half over the next 10 years, heightening their health risks, the World Health Organisation said today.

About one billion people are currently affected worldwide, and the figure is set to rise to 1.5 billion by 2015 if the trends continue, the WHO said ahead of annual World Heart Day, which is marked on Sunday.

Excessive weight and obesity - the next step up - are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the No.1 cause of death worldwide, claiming more than 17 million lives a year.

Long seen as a problem of the rich world, it is on the increase in poorer nations.

The change is tied to a global shift in diet towards foods containing more fat, salt and sugar, said the WHO.

It also highlighted reduced physical activity because of the sedentary nature of many modern jobs, plus growing reliance on motorised transport particularly in sprawling cities.

According to the UN health agency, more than 75 per cent of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in countries as diverse as Barbados, Egypt, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the US.

Estimates are similar for men, with more than three-quarters now overweight in, for example, Argentina, Germany, Greece, Kuwait, New Zealand, Samoa, and Britain.

"The sheer magnitude of the overweight and obesity problem is staggering," said Catherine Le Gales-Camus, the head of the WHO's noncommunicable diseases and mental health division, in a statement.

"The rapid increase of overweight and obesity in many low and middle income countries foretells an overwhelming chronic disease burden in these countries in the next 10 to 20 years, if action is not taken now."

Excessive weight increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

"The real tragedy is that overweight and obesity, and their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable," said Robert Beaglehole, a senior WHO expert.

"Approximately 80 per cent of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40 per cent of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use."

Source The Australian

Obesity affects wealth as well as health

The Philadelphia Inquirer Wed, 21 Sep 2005 6:27 PM PDT
It's familiar news by now that America's obesity epidemic is both dangerous and costly. Obesity significantly increases the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, and is associated with at least 112,000 deaths a year. The economic impact is equally startling: Obese patients add an estimated $75 billion a year to the nation's medical bill.

 

Full story at Philly.com

Protein Diet, Exercise Aids Weight Loss

By JIM PAUL
Associated Press Writer

September 22, 2005, 1:57 PM EDT

URBANA, Ill. -- A high-protein diet can make regular exercise more effective for women trying to lose weight -- helping to build muscle while trimming body fat, a small study suggests.

In a four-month period, the protein-rich diet along with exercise significantly reduced abdominal fat and triglycerides, risk factors for heart disease, according to findings published in the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

"People thinking about doing exercise want a return on that investment," said Donald K. Layman, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus, who led the study. "Our way of looking at it is the protein-rich diet basically boosts the benefit of doing exercise."

The study was largely funded by beef and dairy interests. A nutritionist not involved with the study said that what the research really showed is that exercise is important for losing fat and preserving muscle.

"That's exactly what we want to have happen in a weight reduction diet," said Roberta Anding, a clinical dietitian at the Baylor University College of Medicine who works with the Houston Texans football team.

She cautioned that diets should not be protein-dominant and noted that the average American eats "more protein than we need to begin with."

Many high-protein diets, such as the Atkins plan, have fallen from favor with consumers in recent months. Layman's diet for the study was lower in fat and called for more fruits and vegetables than the Atkins diet.

The research was funded by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Kraft Foods and the Beef Board.

Forty-eight women took part in the study, eating about 1,700 calories per day. Half ate a diet rich in meat and dairy while half ate a diet that contained more complex carbohydrates, such as rice or pasta.

Each group was then split between women who were asked to walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and women who were required to walk at least that much and participate in two 30-minute weightlifting sessions per week.

The low-exercise group was voluntary and averaged less than 100 minutes per week. The other group was supervised and averaged more than 200 minutes of exercise per week, Layman said.

All the women who exercised at least 200 minutes per week lost about the same amount of weight whether they ate a high-protein or a high-carb diet. But almost all the weight lost by those who ate the protein diet was fat, while almost one-third of the weight lost by those on the high-carb diet was muscle.

While the research involved only women, there is no reason to believe that men would not have the same results, Layman said.

Shirley Washington swears by Layman's diet. Even though she is still overweight at 267 pounds, she has lost 90 pounds while following it.

"It's been really easy," said Washington, a 55-year-old Chicago grandmother. "I tell anyone if you can't make it on this eating plan, you can't make it."

* __

On the Net:

The Journal of Nutrition: http://www.nutrition.org

University of Illinois Division of Nutritional Sciences: http://www.nutrsci.uiuc.edu

Source NYNewsday

Protein diet, exercise aids weight loss

Protein - diet - exercise - weight loss

 

URBANA, Ill. (AP) — A high-protein diet can make regular exercise more effective for women trying to lose weight — helping to build muscle while trimming body fat, a small study suggests.

In a four-month period, the protein-rich diet along with exercise significantly reduced abdominal fat and triglycerides, risk factors for heart disease, according to findings published in the August issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

"People thinking about doing exercise want a return on that investment," said Donald Layman, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus, who led the study. "Our way of looking at it is the protein-rich diet basically boosts the benefit of doing exercise."

See the Full story at USA Today

The cost of obesity in USA

Obesity - Cost - Employees

 

The Costs of Obesity Among Full-time Employees

Obesity costs employees up to 2,500 dollars a year in absenteeism and medical costs, according to a survey.
Obesity can lead to various kinds of ill health. In a study, the research organization RTI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have managed to put a cost on being overweight for those who are employed. For male employees the costs range from 460 to 2,030 dollars a year, for female employees the costs are between 1,370 and 2,485 dollars a year. For women, these costs are driven mainly by absenteeism. The higher a person's body mass index, the more their overweight costs them.

An employee of healthy weight misses about three days a year from work through illness or injury. For a women who is 100 pounds overweight, the number of days lost is eight. This is something that employers perhaps need to give more attention to. They could try looking for effective strategies for reducing weight among their workforce.

Using nationally representative datasets of 20,329 and 25,427 adults of full-time employed persons aged 18–64, the authors estimated the annual excess cost of medical expenditures and absenteeism related to obesity. Excess annual medical costs for men range from $162 for those with BMI of 25.0–29.9 men to $1524 for those with BMI of 40.0. Excess annual absenteeism costs ranged from $6 to $440 for those groups. For women, annual medical costs range from $474 for those with BMI of 25.0–29.9 women to $1302 for those with BMI of 40.0. Excess annual absenteeism costs ranged from $94 to $812 for those groups. Based on the typical prevalance of overweight and obesity among employed people, these risk factors account for $277,000 in medical costs and absenteeism in a typical firm with 1000 employees.

Source
American Journal of Health Promotion September/October 2005

Obesity Increases Risk of Miscarriage

Obesity - Risk - Miscarriage

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Pounds can become an obsession during pregnancy, but they should be a concern before conception. Obesity increases women's risk of miscarriage and other serious, even life-threatening, complications.

Dieting during pregnancy is a big no-no _ it can harm the baby.

With obesity on the rise, new guidelines urge obstetricians and gynecologists to bring up the long-taboo subject before their patients ever become pregnant, and to take special steps when mothers-to-be are too overweight.

Among those steps: Nutritional counseling so they don't gain too much during pregnancy; earlier-than-normal testing for gestational diabetes; and consulting with an anesthesiologist about safe sedation well before the due date, in case an emergency Caesarean section is needed.

If there's ever a time women are going to improve their own health habits, it's during pregnancy, notes Dr. Laura Riley of Massachusetts General Hospital, who co-authored the guidelines published this month by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Mothers-to-be are keenly aware that everything entering their bodies can go straight to their developing babies.

See full story at WINKTV.com

Buy Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills, Noni Juices and Aloe products at http://www.hoodialatina.com
Buy aloe raw materials and finished products at http://www.aloetrade.com.ar

Obesity spreading to middle, low income countries: WHO

Obesity - Developing countries - low income countries - WHO

New York, Sept 23 (PTI) Obesity and overweight, which account for more than 17 million preventable deaths every year, is fast spreading to middle and low income countries, the United Nations said.
Worldwide, its health agency said, there were more than one billion obese people and if the current trend continues, it could rise to 1.5 billion with next dacade.

The dramatic rise of obesity and over weight related problems in low and middle income countries is attributed to a global shift in the diet, United Nation's health arm World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a warning issued ahead of World Heart Day on September 25.

It said increased fat, salt and sugar intake and a trend towards decreased physical activity due to the sedentary nature of modern work and transportation and increasing urbanization have aggrevated the problem.

"The sheer magnitude of the overweight and obesity problem is staggering," WHO Assistant Director-General of Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health Catherine Le-Galhs Camus said.

"The rapid increase of overweight and obesity in many low and middle income countries foretells an overwhelming chronic disease burden in these countries in the next 10 to 20 years, if action is not taken now," she added.

According to WHO estimates, more than 75 per cent of women over the age of 30 are now overweight in countries as diverse as Barbados, Egypt, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the United States. PTI

Source PTI News

Raising HDL - a new challenge for functional foods?

HDL – LDL - Omega 3 - Chia - functional foods

By Jess Halliday
23/09/2005 - Too much emphasis is placed on lowering LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol and not enough on raising levels of HDL ‘good’ cholesterol, say cardiology experts – a view that may mean functional food makers are missing out on marketing opportunities too.

HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol helps keep arteries clear of LDL (low density lipoprotein), one of the main culprits in causing heart attack as it since it allows plaque to build up and narrow the arteries.

In an article published online yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from John Hopkins University say that current guidelines in the US do not consider raising HDL cholesterol as a primary or secondary goal in reducing the risk of heart disease – rather, they focus on lowing LDL cholesterol levels.

“We have reached a turning point in the prevention of coronary heart disease from an emphasis during the last 15 years on lowering LDL cholesterol levels to an emphasis in the next decade on raising levels of HDL cholesterol,” said lead author Roger Blumenthal MD, associate professor and director of the university's Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center.

Baldeesh Rai, dietetic advisor for UK cholesterol charity Heart UK, told NutraIngredients.com that the emphasis remains largely the same in the UK, but that the emphasis is slowly changing. For the past two years, cardiologists have been gearing up to the LDL:HDL ration message, but it has not yet filtered through to many GPs and the media.

Dietary measures to raise HDL cholesterol include consuming omega-3 fatty acids, swopping from saturated to monosaturated fats, eating more soluble fiber and increasing physical exercise.

In addition, consuming small amounts of alcohol may help raise HDL levels is due to its polyphenol content.

Rai said that there is definitely scope for functional food makers to turn there attention to HDL – and indeed, it is already happening to some extent. For example, fruit juice drinks containing higher levels of polyphenols are being launched to the market.

For the moment, however, they do not make claims about HDL cholesterol, since such claims need to be backed up by very rigorous research. But Rai said that a study has just got underway to investigate how much the polyphenols in Pomegreat, a pomegranate juice drink endorsed by Heart UK, can help with HDL cholesterol.

In Europe, there is certainly a need for foods that promote heart health: cardiovascular disease is responsible for 38 per cent of deaths in men and 41 per cent of deaths in women.

Low HDL cholesterol is defined as less than 40 milligrams per deciliter of blood in men and 50 milligrams per deciliter in women.

According to Blumenthal, every milligram per deciliter increase in HDL cholesterol lowers a person's risk of having a fatal heart attack by three percent.

As well as being beneficial for people trying to prevent a build up of LDL cholesterol in the first place, HDL cholesterol can be helpful in preventing the arteries narrowing again after surgery to clear them. Earlier this year Leatherhead Food International published a report on the market for heart health products.

It valued the market at $3.6 billion market in 2004, and expects that sales will grow by nearly 60 per cent over the 2004-2009, to reach nearly $5.7 billion by 2009.

Cereals make up the largest slice of the market because they are naturally high in fibre, but foods designed to lower cholesterol reduction continue to dominate in terms of new launches.

Susie Johnson of Leatherhead's market intelligence department told NutraIngredients.com that while there are a lot of food and drink products positioned for general cholesterol lowering, she is not aware of any that make specific mention of HDL cholesterol.

There are five ingredients that are added to products aimed at lowering cholesterol: phytosterols, soya, oatbran, psyllium (a husk used almost exclusively in Japan and Australia) and wholegrains.

External links to companies or organisations mentioned in this story:

• Leatherhead Food International

• Heart UK

Source Nutraingredients.com

Stella Labs aims to draw up hoodia benchmark

9/21/2005 -

By Jess Halliday

Stella Labs is seeking to put an end to controversy over Hoodia gordonii testing methods by contracting independent laboratories to corroborate the findings of IBC Labs, the facility it routinely uses to test its bulk material.

Hoodia, a cactus-like plant, has been eaten by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert to reduce hunger and increase energy for around 100,000 years. Its reputation as an effective appetite suppressannt has led to a surge in demand in the United States, but the market has become swamped with adulterated material that is either cut with other substances or is of a different species that does not contain the active molecule.

This has meant that suppliers of genuine South African Hoodia gordonii need to have rigorous checks in place to ensure authenticity.
But if the laboratories have different testing methods and therefore come to different conclusions as to bio-active molecules and purity standards, that task becomes a lot more difficult.

As a first step towards solving the conundrum, Stella Labs has sent replicate samples of its Hoodia gordonii to testing laboratories that dispute each other's chemical methodology.
Stephen Holt of Holt MD Lab, a client of Stella Labs, said: “It is important to apply science when defining a standard. A validated reference standard needs to be defined, a proven test methodology needs to be applied and measurable quantitative results need to be disclosed.”
Stella Labs managing director Craig Payton told NutraIngredients-USA.com that the initial step is to reconfirm IBC's testing results for Stella's own material. Preliminary results are expected to be delivered within a month.

Source: Nutraingredientes

Aloe vera coating may prolong freshness, safety of fruits and vegetables

By Mark T. Sampson

22/09/2005
Aloe vera gel is best known for its therapeutic effect on burned or irritated skin, but in the future you could be eating the gel as a healthful additive to your fruits and veggies.

Researchers in Spain say they have developed a gel from the tropical plant that can be used as an edible coating to prolong the quality and safety of fresh produce. The gel, which does not appear to affect food taste or appearance, shows promise as a safe, natural and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional synthetic preservatives that are currently applied to produce after harvesting, the researchers say.

Although a number of edible coatings have been developed to preserve food freshness, the new coating is believed to be the first to use Aloe vera, according to study leader Daniel Valero, Ph.D., of the University of Miguel Hernández in Alicante, Spain. His study will appear in the Oct. 5 print issue of the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the Society’s peer-reviewed publication.

Valero and his associates dipped a group of common table grapes (Crimson Seedless) into Aloe vera gel and stored them for five weeks under low temperature while exposing a group of untreated table grapes to the same conditions. The colorless Aloe gel used in this study was developed through a special processing technique that maximized the amount of active compounds in the gel, Valero and associates say. The gel can also be applied as a spray, they add.

The untreated grapes appeared to deteriorate rapidly within about 7 days, whereas the gel-coated grapes were well-preserved for up to 35 days under the same experimental conditions, the researchers say. The gel-treated grapes were firmer, had less weight loss and less color change than the untreated grapes, measures which correspond to higher freshness, they say.
A sensory panel (10 people) evaluated the quality of both the untreated and the gel-treated grapes by consuming some of the grapes. They found that the gel-treated grapes were generally superior in taste.

The researchers believe that the gel works through a combination of mechanisms. Composed mostly of polysaccharides, the gel appears to act as a natural barrier to moisture and oxygen, which can speed food deterioration. But the gel also enhances food safety, the scientists say. Based on previous studies by others, Aloe vera gel appears to contain various antibiotic and antifungal compounds that can potentially delay or inhibit microorganisms that are responsible for foodborne illness in humans as well as food spoilage.

Although the health effects of Aloe gel on human consumption were not directly measured in this study, the coating is believed to be safe, the researchers say. They note that Aloe vera gel has been used as a functional ingredient in some foods and beverages for years. In addition to preserving table grapes, which are highly perishable, the gel can be applied to other fruits and vegetables, they say. Further testing of the gel on other types of produce is anticipated.
The gel also offers potential environmental benefits, the researchers add. It could provide a greener alternative to sulfur dioxide and other synthetic food preservatives that are commonly used on produce and increasingly the target of health concerns, they say.

Valero and his associates have filed a patent application in Spain for their gel. It could appear in the U.S. consumer market within a year, Valero estimates, noting that the gel is a natural product and is unlikely to face any major regulatory hurdles. Funding for this study was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the European Commission via FEDER (European fund for regional development).

Source: Eurekalert

E-AcneTreatment.com Explains How to Treat Acne Naturally

Acne Treatment - Aloe Vera - Omega 3

Added: (Thu Sep 01 2005)

According to E-AcneTreatment.com, there are many natural acne treatments available for purchase. These contain various plant extracts that work to dry up the pimple and sooth the skin. Most of these products contain vitamin E, grapeseed oil, calendula, aloe vera, witch hazel or essential oils. For example, tea tree oil applied to acne has been found to be effective for hundreds of years. An herbal blend that can help with acne consists of equal parts of the herbal extracts of sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock, and cleavers. Take half a teaspoon of this blend three times daily.



Maintain a healthy kitchen with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat foods containing healthy omega-3 oils such as ground flaxseeds, salmon, and sardines. Drink six to eight large glasses of water a day. Vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as chromium and zinc, all play a role in reducing and preventing acne. Avoid refined sugar, fried foods, and trans fat (such as milk, milk products, margarine, and any hydrogenated vegetable oils). Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.



E-AcneTreatment.com also explains that stress is popularly thought to be a cause of acne. Yoga, exercise, breathing techniques, biofeedback, massage, and meditation may be beneficial. Chinese, Ayuredic, Tibetan and Japanese herbal medicines can be used to treat acne. Massage is often recommended for people with skin problems. It can help to increase circulation and lymphatic drainage and speed the healing of blemishes.

Source PressBox UK

Food allergies: a problem and an opportunity

Food allergies: a problem and an opportunity
By Staff Reporter

21/09/2005 -
A study analyzing food allergies and intolerance in the United States suggests that the “free-from” market has far from peaked.

Indeed, foods and beverages specifically made for individuals who have – or believe they have - food allergies remains a fast growing segment. One in three Americans believe that they have a food allergy, even though various government and medical association statistics suggests that the incidence rate is probably closer to one in 25.
In addition, numerous studies attest to the dramatic rise in food allergies in the United States. In fact, the number of children who have food allergies has quadrupled over the last few decades, and the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reports that the number of children allergic to peanuts increased two-fold over a single five-year period from 1997 to 2002.

A growing awareness of the problem among the general public, along with high-profile media coverage, has created an active and growing, if sometimes difficult to understand, market for free-from products. A new report from Research and Markets attempts to analyze the categories that have had the greatest impact on food and drink markets.

“Considering these factors - the rise in the incidence of food allergies, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, customer buying trends, confusion about food allergies, and ongoing media coverage - it is believed that the market for free-from products will enjoy continued growth,” said the company in a press release.

“However, growth will not occur in all segments and it will likely come with sharp shifts as new information becomes available. Barring a medical breakthrough, the free-from market also will become an increasingly differentiated food category as labeling and awareness makes these products stand out in consumers' minds.”

This is especially pertinent given the general trend towards greater consumer awareness. Though estimates also vary widely for food intolerance, a condition in which the body is unable to produce enough of the natural digestive chemicals to break down a particular type of food, the FDA estimates that approximately 28 per cent of Americans suffer from some form of this condition.

The effects range from mild inconvenience to life threatening, and the two most common culprits are lactose (found in milk-based products) and gluten (found in wheat-based products). More than 170 foods have been identified as allergens, including fruits, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, mollusks, peas, lentils, and beans other than green beans.

The report also examines US consumer attitudes towards food allergies and free-from products, and secondarily on the retail market for foods that are manufactured and targeted specifically at consumers who suffer from food allergies, food intolerance, and who are following avoidance diets. Foods that have been specially manufactured (e.g., pasta) to cater for a gluten-free diet, for instance, are included within this definition.

For more information visit Research and Market's website.

Source Nutraingredients.com

The future of the European Supplements Industry

The future of the European supplements industry: challenges and strategies

Europe - Dietary Supplement industry - health food - challenges - opportunities

By Jess Halliday

20/09/2005 -
The European dietary supplements market has yet to achieve saturation and the next six years will present the industry with a unique set of challenges and opportunities, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Estimated to be worth $6.5 billion (around €5.2 billion) in 2005, the growth rate is expected to peak at 4.4 percent over the next year, then drop to a steady 4.1 percent for the subsequent five years. By 2011, the market is predicted to be worth around $8.2 billion (€6.6 billion).

But this growth will not come about through plan sailing, according to a report from the market researcher.

It anticipates that the industry will have to grapple with the effects of regulatory curbs on health claims without thorough scientific evidence, the positive list of ingredients and the limitations this may present on innovation, and the 2001 and 2002 European Directives which may make it difficult to achieve product innovation.

Moreover functional foods, the fastest growing sector of the food industry, share many of the same aims and outcomes as supplements. There is a danger that these may detract from the traditional supplements industry.

Nonetheless, certain factors are conspiring to make the coming period one of opportunity. In particular, ageing populations are eager for products designed to help prevent certain health conditions, and they are stimulating demand for health products.

The Frost & Sullivan report takes a close look at five health platforms for supplements: bone health; gut health; heart health; immune health; and mental health.

Consumers nowadays have a far greater understanding of disease prevention and ingredients used in dietary supplements, and are increasingly willing to self-medicate.

Not only is this spurred by rising healthcare costs, but throughout Europe, medicines previously available only on prescription are also being deregulated to be available over the counter.

Balancing this, however, is a drive for natural products and positive consumer attitudes towards dietary supplement products.

The report makes several important recommendations for supplement companies wishing to take advantage of these positive trends, without the challenges standing in their way.

One of the most important points for companies manage their media. At a time when consumers are bombarded with often contradictory health information, they can easily become confused. It is down to the company, therefore, to ensure that the right information is received about their product.

“The transfer of information to the consumer is a key driver for growth in the European dietary supplement markets,” said Frost & Sullivan research analyst V. Meenakshi Sundaram.

“Manufacturers need to take a proactive approach in dealing with issues related to negative press coverage and enhance customer awareness by promoting credible scientific research on the benefits of dietary supplements.”

It also says that undertaking thorough tests of their products and ensuring they have solid scientific backing can help prevent consumer confidence ebbing away – as well as to meet high safety and efficacy standards.

Where segments of the population are identified as “high potential”, such as the ageing population, manufacturers should develop marketing strategies and position themselves so as to be attractive to them.

Moreover, they need to make sure their products are readily available to consumers wherever and whenever they want to buy them. That means supplying them through mass-market channels such as supermarkets, rather than just relying on health food stores and pharmacies.

Finally, Frost & Sullivan makes suggestions on how to deal with the entry of low cost Asian manufacturers into the market, and European outsourcing to the Far East:

“Mergers and acquisitions among existing market participants will increase the bargaining power of manufacturers, enabling them to take advantage of the economies of scale,” said Sundaram.

External links to companies or organisations mentioned in this story:

1. Frost & Sullivan

Source Food Navigator

Male cosmetics mega trends

Male cosmetics mega trends embrace feminine values

Cosmetics - Metrosexual - Personal care products -

By Simon PItman
8/23/2005 -

The much heralded ‘metrosexualization’ of the cosmetics sector is really happening, as the latest market report points to the emergence of far more complex and demanding male consumer values. But fear not, macho values are still present, industry should note.

Only a few years ago the dedicated shelf space for male cosmetic and personal care products was limited to shaving foam, body washes and, at a push, shaving balm. That selection has mushroomed in recent years, unveiling a mind boggling array of products catering to needs as diverse as body hair removal and self-tanning lotions.

The latest report from Datamonitor entitled Evolution of Global Consumer Trends, looks at how a clear understanding of the current consumer values, attitudes and behavior for this category combined with the current social trends, can be used to gauge what is driving buying habits.

Datamonitor's research points to a polarization in male attitudes, with the more effeminate metrosexual values now living side-by-side along more macho attitudes. This, the report claims, is leading male consumers to be more unsure of what their role is at they reconcile the two extremes.

Obviously these conflicting attitudes are something marketers should be aware of when targeting males – and with cosmetic and personal care products often touching on both extremes of this spectrum, this awareness should be particularly fine-tuned.

But with the gentle erosion of these macho values, more egalitarian roles are becoming the norm, which is contributing the feminization of the male consumer, something which in turn is having a big impact on their consumer habits.
Backing this up a Datamonitor survey has shown that 73 per cent of European and US men said that spending time in front of the mirror was ‘important' or ‘very important', compared to 72 per cent of women with the same response.
Given this level of vanity in men, it is not surprising that Datamonitor is predicting that the European and US male personal care market is set to rise from $31.5 billion in 2003, to reach $37.6 billion in 2008.

Datamonitor's research also points to the fact that it is the younger generation that is embracing the more feminine consumer values, as they come to experiment new products and grooming practices.

A number of leading industry players are beginning to latch on to this type of demand, with L'Oreal launching its comprehensive men's skin care and personal care range, Men's Experts, on the global market towards the end of last year.

Likewise increasingly sophisticated products that have traditionally catered to female vanities are being marketed to men. Last week CosmeticsDesign-Europe featured the latest launches for the men's personal care segment in Europe, featuring anti-wrinkle creams, bronzing products and toning gels from manufacturers that included Biersdorf and Shiseido.

However, Datamonitor also points out that, at the same time, a lot of the old macho attitudes still exist – a fact that marketers should not avoid. Boys will be boys, the report states, implying that they still like cars and beer. And for this segment of the market the feminization of other males is often held in contempt.

Datamonitor believes that male grooming can be produced and marketed according to these contradicting values by adjusting the market mix accordingly – something that can be achieved through product mix and distribution strategies.
The report singles out one particular example of a ‘metrosexual' product utilizing an unusual distribution channel: O'Keeffe's Working Hands Handcreme, which in the US is being distributed through hardware and home center channels.
This strategy provides a good means of making a supposedly feminine product seem more acceptable because it is being channeled through a traditionally macho retail environment.

The positioning of male personal care products is going to be vital to the success of future product launches if marketers want to say on the right side of the consumer. Either way, this seems to point to a tricky balancing act.

Source Cosmetic Design

EFSA approves nutrition claims for omega 3-s - Chia omega 3

EFSA approves nutrition claims for omega-3s

Chia – Omega 3 – Chia seeds – Chia oil – Chia powder

07/09/2005 -

Europe’s food risk assessment body has issued its opinion on nutrition claims for products containing omega-3 fatty acids, which will be used in forthcoming laws on nutrition and health claims.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to review the scientific merits of claims proposed for addition to the annex of the law, still under debate by European officials.

EFSA's panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies approved all of the proposed claims, stipulating in each case which kinds of foods could carry the claims.

They include ‘omega-3 fatty acid source', which must contain more than 15 per cent of the daily recommended nutritional intake (2g/day for an adult male) per 100g/100ml, and ‘high in omega-3 fatty acids'. For this second claim the food must contain more than 30 per cent of the RNI.

Other nutrition claims that could be used include ‘high monounsaturated fat', ‘high polyunsaturated fat' and ‘high unsaturated fat', each with specific conditions.

The claims, specifically those referring to 'omega-3 fatty acids', will be important as consumers become increasingly aware of the health benefits of these fats.

Claims making a direct reference to these health benefits, or 'health claims', have not yet been finalised by the Commission and are likly to be more eagerly awaited by many food makers than nutrition claims.
Europe's nutrition and health claims law is scheduled to go through a second reading in parliament at the end of the year. If passed, these nutrition claims would apply for all member states.

More information on the opinion can be found here.

Source Nutraingredients.com

California - Governor signs bills on obesity

Governor signs bills to trim obesity in schools Toughest diet rules in nation for students

Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Friday, September 16, 2005

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, kicking off a statewide campaign to reduce obesity, signed landmark legislation Thursday that will raise nutritional standards for food sold at California schools and ban the sale of sodas on all campuses by 2009.

California will have the toughest school food nutrition guidelines in the nation when the new laws take effect. The legislation, which Schwarzenegger signed over the objections of the California Chamber of Commerce and food manufacturers, drew praise from educators and physicians who see it as a way the state can make a significant difference in shaping the health of the state's children.

SB12 sets nutrition standards for schools with the aim of limiting the amount of calories and sugar content that children consume. SB965 will extend the state's ban on the sale of soda during school hours to high schools, allowing only milk, water, juice and electrolyte drinks to be sold. The ban already applies to elementary and middle schools.

The restrictions will apply only to food sold at schools and does not affect what students can bring to campuses.
Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Whittier, who sponsored both bills, gave the governor credit for standing up to beverage producers. She had worked on the issue for seven years, facing stiff opposition from soda companies.
And even after the bill was signed, the head of the American Beverage Association said the obesity problem won't be solved through "unnecessary restrictions."

"We believe this complex problem would be more effectively addressed by educating students on the importance of living a balanced lifestyle, consuming a variety of foods and beverages in moderation and exercising every day," said Susan Neely, president and chief executive officer of the association.

Schools could lose money from vending contracts, officials acknowledge. But Escutia said the companies can instead market their water or other beverages on school grounds. The restrictions do not apply to foods sold during fund-raising events as long as they are sold 30 minutes after the school day ends.

A third bill signed by the governor, SB281 by Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, spends $18.2 million to provide fruits and vegetables for school breakfast programs.

"California is facing an obesity epidemic," said Schwarzenegger, who is expected to announce today in San Diego that he will seek re-election. Citing statistics showing that Californians have gained 360 million pounds over the past decade, Schwarzenegger said obesity costs the state $28 billion a year for health care.

The bill signing was the high point of a daylong summit on obesity hosted by Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver, who invited Lance Armstrong and Dr. Phil McGraw, along with corporations and medical professionals, to talk about the growing health crisis in the state.

Experts said obesity leads to diabetes, heart disease and cancer, which have helped increase state and national health care costs. Approximately 30 percent of Americans are obese -- a huge increase over the past decade that can be linked to lifestyle choices, said Dr. William Dietz, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.

To kick off the day, Schwarzenegger, Shriver and Armstrong led several hundred schoolchildren on a walk around the Cal Expo fairgrounds.

"We as parents have to lead by example," said Armstrong, winner of the Tour de France the past seven years. "Showing our kids what it's like to have healthy lifestyles and what it's like to eat right and exercise is so important."
During the walk, kids flocked to the action-hero governor and the cycling champion to get their autographs. London Donson, 14, a sophomore at New Tech High in Sacramento, got Schwarzenegger's signature on two DVDs of the governor's movies.

London said he considers himself fit and does not eat junk food. But when asked, he admitted that he eats food from Taco Bell once a week before church.

"That's my splurge," he said.

Not everyone is convinced the legislation will work. Andrea Onstot, a senior at Colfax High School, said that while it would be good to have choices other than pizza at school, kids' lifestyles are not likely to change.

"They really need to change the mind-set," she said. "Kids don't have dinner with their parents; they see their parents do unhealthy things."

Participants in the summit admitted that parents sometimes don't have the resources to encourage healthy lifestyles. The California Endowment, a nonprofit organization that sponsored the summit, has launched a $26 million initiative to reduce the high rate of obesity and diabetes in poor neighborhoods.

In the six local communities, including Oakland, the endowment is working to bring in farmers' markets and provide safe places for children to be able to exercise.

"These are the kind of comprehensive policies and environmental changes that lead the way for healthier eating and exercise in underserved communities," said Robert Ross, president and chief executive officer of the group.
McGraw, who closed the summit, said it will take a multifaceted approach to change the way America eats.
"It needs to be cool to eat healthy," said McGraw, the popular TV host known as Dr. Phil. "People need to be educated about the consequences of their behavior."

What the bills do
Newly signed legislation is designed to restrict the sale of junk food at school campuses.

SB12
Establishes food standards for all K-12 schools. By July 1, 2007, an individually sold snack may have no more than:
35 percent of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs, non-fried vegetables and cheese packaged for individual sale).
10 percent of its calories from saturated fat (excluding eggs and cheese packaged for individual sale).
35 percent sugar by weight (excluding fruits and vegetables).
175 calories (in elementary schools).
250 calories (in middle and high schools).

An individually sold entree may have no more than 4 grams of fat per 100 calories and not exceed 400 calories. Foods that do not meet the standards may be sold at least one-half hour after the end of the school day for fund-raising purposes.

SB965
Extends restrictions on the types of beverages that can be sold in elementary and middle schools to include high schools. By July 1, 2009, only the following beverages can be sold in high schools during school hours:
Fruit- and vegetable-based drinks that are at least 50 percent fruit juice without added sweeteners.
Drinking water without added sweeteners.
Milk products including 2-percent, 1-percent, nonfat, soy, rice and other similar non-dairy milk.
An electrolyte replacement beverage that contains no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving.

SB281
Spends $18.2 million to provide fruits and vegetables for school breakfast programs.

Source: California Legislature

Published on San Francisco Chronicle

Schwarzenegger Puts Muscle Behind Anti-Obesity Campaign

Schwarzenegger Puts Muscle Behind Anti-Obesity Campaign
Fri Sep 16,11:14 AM ET

Arnold Schwarzenegger is putting his political muscle behind a campaign to raise awareness of medical problems associated with obesity.

The governor and first lady Maria Shriver are calling the campaign the Get Healthy California Summit. The focus is on health, nutrition and obesity.

The summit kicked off Thursday with Schwarzenegger, Shriver, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and about 800 area students taking part in a 1K walk around Cal Expo.

The governor put his pen into action Thursday by signing three bills aimed at combating childhood obesity. One bill will ban soda and junk food from school campuses, and add more fruits and vegetables to school meals.

"Working as a unified team, we are going to do it. We are going to terminate obesity in California once and for all. And we are going to make California the nation's model for health nutrition and fitness," Schwarzenegger said.
The one-day summit brought together what one person called "strange bedfellows" -- a collection of industry leaders, many of whom oppose limiting snack foods at schools. But many also announced new healthy alternative lines of products.

"We have found that focusing more on health and wellness, it's not only good for our consumers, it's good for our business," said Kraft spokesman Mark Berlind.

To highlight the problem of obesity in California, the governor's office said Californians have gained 360 million pounds over the last 10 years, and the cost of treating obesity-related health problems has been $28 billion.

Armstrong -- an admitted fitness fanatic -- talked about how parents play a role in their children's lifestyle choices.
"We as parents have to start teaching how to live healthy lives, active lives, quality lives," Armstrong said.

Source Yahoo News

More on Antioxidants - Aloe

Health
Sunday September 18, 2005
More on antioxidants

Common questions about antioxidants, answered.
What are free radicals and where do they come from?

A free radical is an atom or a molecule that has one or more unpaired electrons. This property makes the free radical very unstable. As a result, it tends to attack adjacent molecules in an attempt to “steal” an extra electron to regain stability.

Uncontrolled free radicals will destroy healthy cells, thus leading to a host of chronic degenerative diseases.

Free radicals are not dangerous as the body is able to neutralise them. However, an overload of free radicals in our body may be too much for the natural body defences to overcome.
Excessive formation of free radicals is caused by cigarette smoking, car exhaust fumes, UV rays from sunlight, drugs, excessive alcohol, fried oily food, industrial smoke, chemicals, stress, heavy metal toxicity and so on.

What can I do to protect myself against free radical damage?
You may want to look into diet and lifestyle modifications to help minimise the negative effects of free radicals. Consuming lots of fresh vegetables and fruits rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants (such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and selenium) will help neutralise free radicals. Alternatively, you may choose an anti-free radical supplement.
If you’re a smoker, stop the habit! It may be difficult at first but it will be beneficial in the long run. Limiting alcohol consumption is also advisable. Exercising regularly also helps maintain overall health and flush out toxins through sweating. Apart from that, managing stress wisely is also important for both physical and mental health.

See full Story at The Star Online

Pennsylvania to screen kids for obesity

Pennsylvania to screen kids for obesity
Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As they wait for their children's first report cards to come home this year, elementary-school parents across Pennsylvania also can expect to get a separate report on a key indicator of their children's health.

For the first time, the state Health Department is requiring school nurses to compute students' body-mass index -- or height-to-weight ratio -- during annual growth screenings of children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Parents will get letters about the results that will encourage them to share the information with their family doctors. The letters will explain whether the BMI is above, below, or within the normal range for the child's age and gender.

"Schools have screened students for height and weight for about 50 years," Health Department spokesman Richard McGarvey said. "They're simply taking what they've already been screening for and calculating the BMI."

The measurement will be required for students up to eighth grade next year, and for all students in the 2007-08 school year.

Pennsylvania joins four other states that already collect BMI data during student growth screenings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Arkansas, California, Florida and Missouri.

About 35 per cent of Pennsylvania's children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, according to a state Health Department study of more than 25,000 students' health records during the 2001-02 school year.

A pilot test of Pennsylvania's BMI reporting requirement in the fall of 2003, which involved 4,390 students at 10 schools, produced similar results.

"When you have a kindergartner who weighs 80 pounds, that's concerning,'' said Nancy Alleman, a nurse at one of the test schools, Sylvan Heights Science Charter School in Harrisburg.

But Dr. Reginald Washington, a Denver pediatrician who co-chairs an obesity task force for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the recommended doctor visit is a simplistic solution.

"If you're a general practitioner, you see patients probably every 10 minutes. It takes about an hour of counselling and evaluation to even begin to do something about obesity," Washington said. "To say, `Here's a piece of paper and the world will be right,' is foolish."

A BMI-notification program that the East Penn School District in Emmaus instituted in 2001-02 got off to a rocky start, partly because parents weren't informed ahead of time, said parent Lisa Lechmanik.

School officials also didn't consider that in some cases, muscle contributed to a high body-mass index, she added.

"They have athletes that are training year-round, and some of the premier athletes were getting these letters," including two of Lechmanik's children, who have since graduated, she said.

The furor died down after the district made several changes, including giving parents the option of not getting the letters, she said.

Schools should be prepared to help children address weight problems by educating them about proper nutrition and providing adequate exercise time, among other things, said Ivy Silver, founder of A Chance to Heal, an advocacy group for people with eating disorders.

"They should develop programs so kids who are possibly at risk have the wherewithal to better manage and take care of themselves," Silver said.

Beth Trapani, spokeswoman for Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity, a nonprofit group that is helping the department publicize the BMI screening, said remedies need not be complicated.
"We're talking about simple, easy changes that can make a big difference -- switching to skim or low-fat milk, eating more fruits and vegetables," Trapani said.

Source CTV.ca

Obesity in California

Governor Takes Aim at Junk Food in Obesity Summit
Written for the web by Elizabeth Bishop, Internet News Producer

With obesity a problem that costs California an estimated $30 billion per year in lost productivity and health costs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday launched a summit on the issue. He's focusing on children, encouraging them to exercise more and eat healthier.

He began the day by walking a little more than half a mile with elementary school children from across the Valley.

Schwarzenegger brought together the public and private sectors to encourage both better eating and fitness in the Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity at Cal Expo. However, he told the assembled children he needs their help, too.

"We need a commitment from all of you. Don't eat always all the junk food? OK? Stay away from the junk food and exercise every day. Do I hear your commitment to exercise every day?" he asked the children.

To underscore the aims of the summit, Schwarzenegger signed legislation to limit sales of soda and junk food on public school campuses.

According to a study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, two-thirds of teens in the state drink soda every day, and nearly half eat fast food. More than 9 percent eat fast food twice a day, according to the study.

News10 reporter George Warren checked one Sacramento school that's already made the switch to healthier food.

Source News10ABC.net

Experts seek tough rules on dieting ads

Experts seek tough rules on dieting ads
By Judith Duffy, Health Correspondent

HEALTH experts have called for better regulation of advertisements which offer “miracle” cures and promise instant weight-loss to desperate slimmers.

They warn that unscrupulous manufacturers are getting away with making unsubstantiated claims about their products. By the time any action is taken, many vulnerable people have already been conned.

Professor Mike Lean, head of the department of human nutrition at the University of Glasgow, will raise the issue at a two-day conference on food, diet and health in October.

He said: “There is a big issue about protecting the public. Anyone can go and advertise a weight-loss treatment which has no evidence for effectiveness or safety. There’s no way of controlling it.

“Many of the advertisements out there are illegal and at the moment there is no agency calling them to task. If somebody raises a complaint, the Advertising Standards Authority will withdraw the advertisement, but by that time it’s been seen by millions of people. ”

His view was backed by Ian Tokelove, spokesman for campaigning group the Food Commission, who said the slimming industry was guilty of “highly misleading” advertising.

A spokesman for the ASA said that while they carry out some monitoring of adverts, they were primarily a complaints-led organisation.

18 September 2005

A protein-rich, low-fat diet aids wight loss, studies say

A protein-rich, low-fat diet aids weight loss, studies say
By Charles Stuart Platkin

Syndicated columnist

Low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb, slow foods: What's left?

How about a high-protein, low-fat, moderate-carb diet — exactly what works, according to research. Protein makes you feel full longer than carbs and fat do. And, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, you don't even have to eat low-carb to get results.

According to lead study author Dr. D. Scott Weigle, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, "If you compare different diets, all with the same percentage of carbohydrates, the satiety was significantly higher when daily intake was almost one-third protein."

In the study, the participants lost weight on a diet of 30 percent protein, 50 percent carbs and 20 percent fat. One segment of the study group was able to eat whatever they wanted as long as they maintained the 30 percent protein intake. They spontaneously dropped their average daily intake by 450 calories, resulting in an average weight loss of 11 pounds over 12 weeks.

Many studies are now reporting the positive effects of protein on weight loss. In a recent review in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard University's School of Public Health, confirmed protein's weight-loss power.

Why protein works
First of all, high-protein foods slow the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, and slower stomach emptying means you feel full longer and get hungry later. "The evidence also suggests high-protein meals lead to a reduced subsequent calorie intake," says Hu.

Protein also helps keep blood sugar stable, avoiding the quick rises that can occur when you eat carbohydrates. Also, eating foods that are low-fat, low-carb and high in protein will help you avoid other less-healthy, high-calorie foods.

Lastly, the body uses more calories to digest protein than to burn fat or carbohydrates. Hu believes you could burn 30 more calories per day simply by eating a diet of about 30 percent protein. See full story