Chitosan - PREVIEW
The lifestyles of western cultures have been determined to be major contributing
factors in diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The most
commonly cited factors are inadequate fiber intake, excessive consumption of
fats, and a lack of exercise. Educational efforts have resulted in an increase in
involvement in various exercise regimines. The consumption of fats, however,
continues to increase in spite of the dire warnings that have been publicized. A
reduction of fat intake, from an average of 40 percent of the diet to less than 25
percent could have dramatic effects on the health and well-being of the population
as a whole. Intake of fiberous foods reduces fat consumption generally
through the bulking action of the fibers which leads to a feelings of fullness.
Some fibers have an ability to entrap fats in their gelatinous matrix and prevent
their absorption. The most effective fiber for preventing fat absorption is chitosan.
Chitosan’s fat entrapment properties can be enhanced by combination
with ascorbic acid and other dietary ingredients. Fat entrapment by chitosan has
been shown in animals and can be readily demonstrated. The use of chitosan in
nummerous environmental, agricultual, biomedical, and health-related areas is
well documented. Chitosan has been found to be safe for oral consumption. ...
INTRODUCTION
Stated simply, Chitosan is an extraordinary fat binder. Chemically speaking,
Chitosan is an amino polysaccharide that has the ability to “bind” lipids in the
stomach before they are absorbed through the digestive system into the bloodstream.
The presence of fats in the blood can raise cholesterol levels, contribute
to cardiovascular disease and cancer, and most importantly, promote obesity.
Not only does chitosan attract and inhibit fats, it offers an array of other
desirable physiological benefits that can foster optimal health and longevity. In
an era where everyone is interested in decreasing their fat intake, Chitosan can
act as a remarkable supplement. When taken prior to eating or during a meal, it
can significantly reduce the body’s absorption of dietary fats.
Of equal significance is the fact that when Chitosan is combined with other
compounds such as citric acid, ascorbic acid and phytochemicals called indoles,
its action is enhanced, making it far more valuable as both a fat binder and
dietary health aid. Fat is responsible for more of our health “ills” than any other single substance. Chitosan provides a simple and safe complement to smart eating
and exercise to control lipid levels. ...FEARING FATS: There's Plenty of Cause Overview
A wealth of scientific evidence now exists which should have turned each
and everyone of us into a fat “phobic.”1a-e In other words, virtually every health
expert agrees that a high fat diet is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, various
types of cancer and premature death.
It’s no secret that excess dietary fat poses a tremendous health risk. The
United States National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization and
many other scientific institutes have confirmed the frightening hazards of fat.
Health proponents generally concur that excess fat can significantly shorten
one’s lifespan.
More than 10,000 medical papers are published every year dealing with obesity
and cardiovascular disease, two of the most insidious killers of Americans.
Western eating habits, which promote fatty, salty, sugary foods, have created
massive widespread disease and tremendous suffering.
Studies have shown that fat is the macronutrient associated with overeating -
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• BACON CHEESEBURGER/HARDEE’S 39
• BURRITO SUPREME/TACO BELL 22
• HAMBURGER DELUXE/WENDY’S 21
• QUARTER POUNDER WITH CHEESE/MCDONALD’S 28
• SAUSAGE BISCUIT WITH EGG/MCDONALD’S 33
• POPCORN CHICKEN/KFC 45
• WHOPPER/BURGER KING 36
TABLE 1. Total fat grams in single servings.4
and obesity.2 In spite of this finding we are eating more fat and becoming fatter.
The average absolute fat intake has increased from 81 to 83 grams per day over
the last ten years.3 Our obsession with fatty foods has exacted an enormous toll in
the form of rampant obesity, clogged arteries, hypertension, heart attack, stroke,
breast cancer, etc. Many of us remain oblivious to the fat gram count of foods we
routinely pop into our mouths, unaware that one fast food entree may contain
more fat grams than one should consume in one given day. Take a good look at
the following list of foods which have been assessed for fat c ...The Relationship between Cervical, Uterine and
Endometrial Cancers and Lipids
The cascade between a high-fat, low-fiber diet, obesity, and dangerous estrogen
levels also plays a role in the development of cervical, uterine, and endometrial
cancers.13 It has been reported by the National Academy of Science that
“diet is responsible for 60 percent or more of all cancer in women. The most
important dietary change you can make to protect against these diseases is to
reduce dietary fat to less that 30 percent of total calories, preferably to less than
25 percent.”14 ...Prostate Cancer And Fat
The incidence of prostate cancer has also been linked to fat consumption for
all ethnic groups.15, 16 Animal studies have shown that the promotional effects of
a high-fat diet on prostate cancer can be found even in the mother’s preconceptual
diet and the early adolecent diet.17 Conversely, mice fed a low-fat diet demonstrated
dramatic drops in prostate tumor growth rates.18 ...Colo-rectal Cancer and Fat
Dietary fat intake has been closely related to the incidence of colon cancer in
this country.19, 20 “Diet is probably the major determinant of the risk of colo-rectal
cancer; there is evidence that fruit and vegetables and fiber reduce risk and that
meat and animal fat increase risk[.]”20 Due to the action of intestinal microflora,
undigested meats and fats can be chemically altered to form carcinogenic chemicals
chich can damage the lining of the colon and promote the formation of cell
mutations.21 Again the case for a high-fiber, low-saturated-fat diet is evident. ...Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Fat Consumption
Overview
If we let ourselves become obese, we are much more prone to developing
heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and several forms of cancer.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading
cause of death and disease in our country—512,000 people die of heart attacks
every year (American Heart Assoc. 1995, Statistical Report).
Blood cholesterol levels are the primary indicators of one’s risk of CHD. It
is not surprising then that ten of the twelve points listed by the National Heart
Foundation of Australia relating diet and coronary heart disease involved cholesterol
levels.22 The take-home message was to eat a high-fiber, low-saturated-fat diet, and increase the amounts of essential fatty acids in our diets.
---------------------------------------
a) Elevated total blood cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg per deciliter
b) Elevated LDL cholesterol levels greater than 130 mg per deciliter
c) HDL cholesterol levels that create a ratio of total cholesterol to HDL
cholesterol greater than 4.5 to 1
d) Obesity
e) Fat stores which accumulate above the waist
TABLE 2. Cholesterol factors that increase the risk of developing heart disease.
...HDL and LDL Cholesterol
There are both “good” and “bad” forms of cholesterol. The “good” form of
cholesterol is found in the form of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). The ‘bad”
forms of cholesterol are the low-density lipoproteins (LDLs).
The types of fats we eat influence how much and what type of cholesterol
we make. Saturated fats are particularly good at raising low-density lipoprotein
or LDL cholesterol. The more of this type of cholesterol we have floating around
in our bloodstream, the greater our risk of developing atherosclerosis, heart
attack and stroke. The more HDL cholesterol we have (high-density lipoproteins)
the lower our risk of coronary heart disease.
The liver is constantly trying to clear out the bad cholesterol by dumping it
into the intestines. If we have sufficient amounts of the right kinds of fiber in
our diet, our bodies dispose of cholesterol waste rather than reabsorbing it back
into the blood stream. If we don’t eat sufficient amounts of the right kinds of
fiber, the cholesterol waste is reabsorbed and adds to the toxic stress on the
body—especially the liver.
The obesity factor is emerging as much more important than previously
thought.23, 24 New findings strongly suggest that even a relatively small amount
of excess weight (between 10 and 20 pounds) can predispose one to the development
of heart disease.25 ...Boosting Fiber Consumption To Prevent CVD
--------------------------------------------
a) Over 13 million people in the United States have diabetes.
b) Women represent about 60 percent of all new cases of diabetes.
c) Diabetes is more common among Native American, black, and Hispanic women
than among white women.
d) Women with diabetes are at greater risk for CHD.
e) Women with diabetes are at greater risk for developing endometrial cancer.
TABLE 3. Diabetes in the United States
“Dietary fiber reduces blood fat and blood pressure.”26 While most of us
know how important it is to reduce the amount of fat we consume, many of us
remain oblivious to the very profound role that fiber plays in helping to keep our
arteries clear, preventing obesity and expediting elimination of toxins from the
bowel. 27
Ideally, a decrease in dietary fats combined with an increase in fiber and
exercise comprise the winning prescription for preventing CHD.28, 29 Coronary
heart disease is an insidious killer which can go undetected until it’s too late.
...Diabetes and Body Fat
A recent examination of diabetes in the U.S. revealed some startling facts:30
The increased incidence of diabetes with age has long been known.31
However, if one looks more closely, it is obesity, not age, that is the more directly
related factor.32 Becoming overweight is one of the most significant contributors
to the development of adult-onset diabetes.33, 34, 35 Biological mechanisms
explaning how obesity leads to diabetes have been proposed.36 But this is much
less important than the fact that diabetes, like obesity and heart disease, is
strongly affected by what we eat.30 Again high-fat, low-fiber diets coupled with
a sedentary lifestyle are a prescription for disaster. Is it any wonder then that
diabetes, obesity and heart disease so often occur together in what has been
called “generalized cardiovascular-metabolic disease”?37, 38 Some individuals
with non-insulin dependent diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) overcome this disorder
just by losing excess weight, a fact which highlights once again the perils of
those extra pounds. ...Aches and Pains
The dietary factors that are considered to influence the formation of cholesterol
gallstones include high intake of cholesterol and fat and low intake of
fiber.39 Similarly our high-fat low fiber diets which make us obese lead to
osteoarthritis.40 The extra weight we carry puts extra strain on our joints, can
cause osteoarthritis, and is one of the reasons we avoid exercise— it definitely
hurts! Our western eating habits are giving us some very real pains. ...All Calories Are Not Created Equal
When we eat more than our daily energy requirements (and most of us do),
the extra energy is stored as fat. The human body is designed to stockpile fat
very easily. This tendency is related to innate mechanisms intended to protect us
against starvation or the threat of a diminished food supply. Fat cells provide
extra fuel which can be utilized if necessary to sustain life. Those survival fat
pounds settle on the hips, waist, thighs, upper arms and back, not to mention
around organs, like the heart and kidney. Some ethnic groups, whose ancestors
repeatedly suffered from famines, are especially efficient in energy storage.
These include the Pima tribe48 in the United States, the Aborigines of Australia,49
and many of those of African descent.41
Fats are very readily converted to pounds. Carbohydrates and proteins
require more complicated digestive processes to convert and store their energy
than fat does. Calories from carbohydrates and proteins are usually burned and
thrown off as heat (thermogenesis). Naturally, overeating proteins and carbohydrates
can result in weight gain, however the body has to work harder to convert
these nutrients to fat stores. It takes 20 to 25 percent of the energy in carbohydrate
and protein to convert them into body fat. It only takes about 5 percent of
the energy content of dietary fat to store it as body fat. Fat is also twice as energy
dense (9 calories per gram) as carbohydrates or proteins (4 calories per gram)
making fat at least twice as dangerous from a weight gain standpoint.50 Blood
taken from an individual soon after they have eaten a double cheeseburger,
french fries and a thick milk shake will often be a milky pink color due to the
infusion of fat from the digestive system. This fat circulates throughout the system
until it is either burned or stored.
A Winning Combination
Most people would agree that exercise combined with a low-fat, high-fiber
diet wo ...Overview
Chitosan is a natural product that inhibits fat absorption. It has the potential
to revolutionize the process of losing weight and by so doing, reduce the incidence
of some of the most devastating Western diseases we face today. Chitosan
is indigestable and non-absorbable. Fats bound to chitosan become nonabsorbable
thereby negating their caloric value. Chitosan-bound fat leaves the
intestinal tract having never entered the bloodstream. Chitosan is remarkable in
that it has the abilty to absorb an average of 4 to 5 times its weight in fat.60
The same features that allow chitosan to bind fats endow it with many other
valuable properties that work to promote health and prevent disease. Chitosan is
a remarkable substance whose time has come.
Chitosan: A Brief History
Chitin, the precursor to Chitosan, was first discovered in mushrooms by the
French professor Henri Braconnot in 1811.61 In the 1820’s chitin was also isolated
from insects.62 Chitin is an extremely long chain of N-acetyl-D-glucoseamine
FIGURE 2. a) Chitosan full structure
b) Abbreviated Chitosan structure
c) Fanciful "crab oligomer" Chitosan structure showing functional claw
glucoseamine
units. Chitin is the most abundant natural fiber next to cellulose and
is similar to cellulose in many respects. The most abundant source of chitin is in
the shells of shellfish such as crab and shrimp. The worldwide shellfish harvest
is estimated to be able to supply 50,000 tons of chitin annually.63 The harvest in
the United States alone could produce over 15,000 tons of chitin each year.64
Chitin has a wide range of uses but that is the subject of another book.
Chitosan was discovered in 1859 by Professor C. Rouget.65 It is made by
cooking chitin in alkali, much like the process for making natural soaps. After it
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• Waste Water Purification • Stabilizing Oil Spills
• Stabilizing Fats in Food Preparation • Antibacterial Protection fo ...MECHANISMS OF CHITOSAN FAT- BINDING
The exact way(s) that Chitosan prevents fat absorbtion is not fully understood
but a number of experimental observations support two basic mechanisms.
The first mechanism involves the attraction of opposite charges which can be
compared to the attraction of opposite magnetic poles. The second entrapment
mechanism can be compared to the effect of a net. In the first mechanism the
positive charges on chitosan attract the negatively charged fatty acids and bile
acids binding them to the indigestible chitosan fiber.
This mechanism can explain why chitosan reduces LDL cholesterol levels.
Our bodies make bile acids in the liver using the cholesterol from LDL. When
chitosan binds bile acids it increases the rate of LDL loss thus improving the
LDL to HDL ratio. If enough bile acids are bound, the fats are not solublized,
which prevents their digestion and absorption.
The second mechanism (figure 2) describes a netting effect of chitosan fiber.
In this model the Chitosan wraps around fat droplets and prevents their being
attacked and digested by lipid enzymes. Fats unprotected by Chitosan are digested
and absorbed. The “netting” mechanism has been seen to operate in vivo. 108
Substances that Enhance the Action of Chitosan
Fibers can be likened to a tangled-up chain. Fibers must “unravel” in order
for them to be of maximum benefit to us. “Unraveling” is especially critical for
chitosan because each link has a hook on which to attach lipids. Chitosan can
absorb an average of 4 to 5 times its weight in lipids. Reports of numbers above
and below this range have also been reported and may well reflect the rate or
extent of unraveling that had taken place. Fiber formulations can be prepared
that unravel rapidly and swell quickly. These highly effective formulations are
called superabsorbants. When certain substances are added to chitosan, its
remarkable fat-binding ability can be significantly enhanced.
A ...CHITOSAN SAFETY
Chitosan is not only very useful, it is also very safe. Chitosan has been used
extensively in nummerous industrial, health, and food applications.66,71
Nevertheless, all substances when taken improperly or in gross excess can be
detremental to our well-being. For example, water is normally safe when swallowed.
On the other hand, breathing large amounts of water can be deadly.
Similarly breathing air is relatively safe whereas intraveneous injections of air
are usually fatal.
To determine the relative safety of various foods, scientists run experiments
to determine the food’s toxic level or LD50. Chitosan has been found to have an
LD50 of over 16 grams/day/kg body weight in mice.122 Chitosan is a fiber
which expands to form a gel in the acidic environment of the stomach. The
problems encountered with extremely high doses of chitosan were caused by
gastric dehydration and impaction due to the expansion of the fiber.123 To put
these data in context, the authors compared Chitosan to common sugars stating
“[I]t appears that chitosan is less toxic than these substances.”122 Mice are not
men. For safety purposes data gathered in mice is divided by 12 to get the
human equivalent.124 The relative LD50 in humans then would be 1.33
grams/day/kg. Given that an average person weighs 150 pounds or 70 kg, this
means that the toxic amount for a person would be greater than 90 grams per
day. Conservatively, one could feel very confident below the 10% level, or 9
grams per day. Clinical studies have used amounts in the 3-6 grams per day
range with no adverse effects. As with any fiber, a person is well advised to
drink plenty of water. Changing our diets affects our colon function.
Constipation or diarrehea may occur in some persons depending on their individ-ual constitutions and on how well the Chitosan supplement was originally formulated.
Even though Chitosan is not digestible by our enzymes, it can and is degraded
by soil and water mic ...WARNINGS
YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE CHITOSAN IF YOU:
• Have Any Kind of Shellfish Allergy
• Are Pregnant or Breast-feeding
(NOTE: If you are taking medication of any kind, check with your physician
before taking Chitosan. Some drugs may be bound to the Chitosan.)
The delicate nature of pregnancy and breast-feeding are always approached
with additional caution. Even substances as safe as Chitosan are customarily
issued with a cautionary note regarding use during these times unless overwhelmingly
positive results from a huge number of well-controlled tests with
pregnant subjects is available. In the case of Chitosan the potential loss of essential
fatty acids (which we generally are already deficient in), fat-soluble vitamins,
and certain minerals needs to be taken into consideration. Unfortunately
saturated fats don’t come with such a warning label.
Another caution involves allergies. Nearly all food substances will trigger
allergic reactions in persons with extreme sensitivies. Since Chitosan is derived
from shellfish, those persons with extreme shellfish allergies are advised to be
cautious. Tests with a small number of persons with extreme shellfish allergies
have not demonstrated an allergic response. This is an encouraging but very preliminary
result. Reasonable and sensible consumption should always be the rule.
...HOW TO TAKE CHITOSAN
The best way to take Chitosan is prior to eating a high-fat meal, which is
usually lunch or dinner. Do not take with essential fatty acids, fat soluble vitamins,
minerals or medications with Chitosan as their bioavailability may be
inhibited. In order to avoid any type of nutrient deficiency, take your other supplements
in the morning, when Chitosan is normally not used. Taking one to two
grams of chitosan is adequate for most meals.
(NOTE: Whenever taking any form of fiber, drinking at least 8 glasses of water
per day is highly recommended.) ...SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
1 . Chit osan Provides a Realist ic Approach t o Fat and
Fiber Int ake.
Low-fat, high-fiber advocates have recommended a diet that is calorically
fueled between 10 and 20 percent fat and includes 35 to 45 grams of fiber.
Unfortunately, most of us, no matter how good our intentions are, will not be
able to sustain this type of diet. Therefore, if we are going to face facts, a diet
that reduces fat to 20-30 percent of the total caloric value and increases fiber to
20-30 grams/day is much more realistic and will help significantly in controlling
weight, avoiding artery disease and promoting good colon health.
Taking Chitosan prior to eating a meal can make dietary fat goals much more
attainable while promoting a number of desirable health benefits. Because obesity
ranks among the top ten diseases (which, by the way, are almost all related to
obesity), the availability of a safe, health-promoting fat binder is desirable.
Weight control needs to be realistic and effective. Workable weight loss programs
are few and far between and usually involve a life style that many of us
can never incorporate. While Chitosan is not a panacea for maintaining our
youthful figures, it could be a very powerful dietary complement, facilitating
what might otherwise be unattainable. Lowering the amount of dietary fats we
eat, exercising more, and making sure we get enough fiber seems to be the winning
combination for health and longevity. Chitosan is a valuable tool to use in
attaining optimal nutrition and robust health.
2 . Chitosan Is an Effective Fat Binder.
While all the previously mentioned properties of Chitosan are notable, its
extraordinary ability to bind fats promises to be its most valuable asset. To reiterate,
getting rid of fat after it has been stored as adipose tissue is much more difficult
than neutralizing its effects before it enters the blood stream. Chitosan
accomplishes this formidable task by converting fat i ...REFERENCES
1 a. The Surgeon General’s “Nutrition and Health Report.”
b. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “National Health
and Examination Survey (NHANES III)”
c. The National Academy of Science’s. Diet and Health Report: Health
Promotion and Disease Objectives (DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 91-50213,
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1990).
e. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
2 Rolls BJ. Carbohydrates, fats, and satiety. Am J Clin Nutr 1995; 61(4
Suppl):960S-967S.
3 McDowell MA, Briefel RR, Alaimo K, et al. Energy and macronutrient
intakes of persons ages 2 months and over in the United States: Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Phase 1:1988-91. Advance data from
vital and health statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; No. 255.
Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics; 1994.
4 Center for Science in the Public Interest and McDonald’s Nutrition and
You—A guide to Healthy Eating at McDonald’s: McDonald’s Corp,1991.
5 Bray GA. Appetite Control in Adults. In: Fernstrom JD, Miller GD eds.
Appetite and Body Weight Regulation. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1994:1-92.
6 Michnovicz JJ. How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer. New York:
Warner Book Inc. 1994:54.
7 Carcinogens and Anticarcinogens in the Human Diet. National Research
Council Report, National Academy of Sciences, 15 Feb. 1996.
8 Van Tallie TB. Obesity: adverse effects on health and longevity. Am J
Clin Nutr 1979:32: 2723-33.
9 Somer E, M.A. R.D. Nutrition for Women. New York: Henry Hold and
Company, 1993:273.
10 Swaneck GE, Fishman J. Covalent binding of the endogenous estrogen
16A-hydroxyestrone to estradiol in human breast concer cells: characterization and
intranuclear localization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1988:85;7831-5.
11 Colditz GA. Epidemiology of breast cancer. Findings from the nurses’
health study. Cancer1993;714:1480-9.
12 Hennen WJ. Breast Cancer Risk Reduction. The effects of suppleme ...THE HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL USES OF CHI-TOSAN
1 . Chitosan Is A Natural Antacid
Studies have shown that Chitosan is an effective and highly safe antacid.97 A
U.S. patent has also been issued in this area.107
2 . Antihypert ensive
Some clinical studies have found that Chitosan worked as an antihypertensive
agent. It lowered blood pressure in male subjects which were fed a high salt
diet.99 It also has the ability to decrease blood levels of chloride, which decreases
the activity of an angiotensin converting enzyme. Angiotensin is vital to the
maintenance of normal blood pressure.100
3 . Antibact erial/ Anticandida/ Antiviral Properties Of
Chitosan.
a) Chitosan has been effectively used to treat acne. It is able to inhibit certain
bacteria which cause the inflammation associated with acne.91
b) Chitosan has exhibited the ability to kill candida in clinical tests involving
mice due to its effect on protease action.92
c) When used as a food preservative, Chitosan exhibited stronger bactericidal
activity than lactic acid.93
d) In some tests, Chitosan even demonstrated a dramatic anti- parasitic
action.94
e) Chitosan very impressively reduced the amount of bacterial translocation
which can occur after a burn injury. It is believed that by reducing the bacterial
population of the colon, the potential for a life threatening infection to set in after
a trauma is decreased.95
f) Chitosan has demonstrated the ability to kill certain viruses.96
4 . Wound And Ulcer Healing And Chitosan.
Tests using topical applications of Chitosan found that it promoted faster
healing of wounds or abscesses that had become infected with staph infection.88
Topical applications of Chitosan decreased coagulation time which is vital to the
healing of wounds like bleeding ulcers.89
5 . Anti-Plaque Action Of Chitosan In The Mouth.
Because of its antacid action, Chitosan increases the pH in the mouth.
Chitosan also binds bacteria that cause dental plaque and s ...OBESITY: A 2Oth- Century Plague
Overview
Our modern, fast-paced, high stress, sedentary lifestyle with over-abundant
caloric intake is a prescription for obesity. Obesity is an especially critical problem
for black women who have nearly twice the rate of obesity of white
----------------------------------
a) The overwhelming majority of all adults are unhappy with their appearance and
fitness.
b) More of our children are obese today than ever before.
c) Two out of three people will regain the weight they lose on a diet program within
one year.
d) 33 billion dollars is spent annually on weight-loss programs.
e) 33 percent of all adult Americans are over weight.
TABLE 4. Obesity in the United States
women.41
Culturally, being overweight is not looked on graciously, even by
physicians.42 There has been no end to the torture we have put ourselves through
to be or at least look thin. From corssets to stomach stapling and liposuction to
wiring our jaws shut, we’ve tried it all. So where are we today? The following
are indicators of abundant obesity:
Research and public education efforts are in agreement that excessive dietary
fat is the primary cause of adult obesity.2, 46, 47 Despite the fact that food manufacturers
have flooded the supermarkets with low-fat, artificially sweetened, “lite”
products, we are fatter than ever before.
Is maintaining a healthy weight really that difficult? In its simplest form
gaining or losing weight is a matter of the balance between energy in and energy
out. This simplistic approach led to the early starvation diets. Unquestionably,
these conventional very-low-calorie diet plans do not work. For most of us the
first thing we lose is our sense of humor; then maybe some weight or possibly
our self-esteem. The fact is, as most of us have regrettably discovered, that
drastically reducing our calorie tally only serves to slow our metabolism and
make us even more efficient at the business of storing and ...
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