Dietary Supplements

On any given day, about half of all American women (and girls) are on a diet.

We spend over 40 billion on diets and weight loss products. But still 65% of us are significantly overweight. Are those supplements ineffective or we simply buying the wrong products?

To find out which supplements are right for you,

you must answer the question:

"What kind of eater are you"?

Everyone holds certain associations with food. In many cultures, being fed means being nurtured and cared for. During times of high stress, many people look to food for comfort. One way you can keep track of your food associations is by keeping a daily food journal. Note any moods, certain times of day, (or days of your menstrual cycle) that inspire you to eat when you really aren’t hungry. You may notice a pattern.

Interestingly, emotional eating and food disorders may have physiological underpinnings. It may be that your neurotransmitter balance is off, creating a serotonin depletion that interferes with your ability to handle stress. Or it may be that the cross-talk between one or two of hunger hormones has been disrupted due to chronic lack of sleep or sleep apnea. Corticotropin, a signaling factor involved in appetite, is orchestrated by the limbic system, the part of the brain that processes emotion. Fear, anxiety, and depression all work along this axis and as such can influence how hungry you are and when.

Recognizing a pattern of emotional eating will help you to get a handle on whether or not your caloric intake is related to your body’s physical signals, hormonal situation, or - as is so common with women - to a kind of emotional black box that no amount of food can fill.

Once you have a clear idea of how you eat, you can begin to peel back another layer to understand why. And after that you will easily discover which supplement is right for you.

If you are Craving Sugar, consider:

CarbCrave Complex

This supplement is designed to help lessen appetite and curb excessive carbohydrate/sugar cravings by affecting the appetite and mood centers of the brain.

Ingredients:

5-HTP- a precursor for serotonin, the "well-being hormone" released by
the consumption of carbohydrates and associated with improved mood.

dl-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine support production of certain substances (dopamine and epinephrine) responsible for the sensation of well-being.

Vitamin B6 is necessary for carbohydrates metabolism.
Rhodiola (an herb) strengthens the body’s resistance to stress and fatigue, common triggers for undesirable eating behaviors.

Chromium picolinate has the potential to promote more healthful patterns of carbohydrate intake and reduces mood fluctuations.

Relora® (an herb) helps to reduce stress-related snacking of sweets by 76%.

GlucoFunction

It is a combination of nutrients, antioxidants and herbal extracts designed to promote healthy carbohydrate metabolism and pancreatic function to support healthy glucose utilization.

It contains:

Chromium, magnesium and zinc - nutrients involved in glucose metabolism and utilization. They also improve fat metabolism and increase lean body mass.

Biotin- improves sugar metabolism.
Vanadium promotes healthy carbohydrates metabolism, particularly supporting its utilization in the muscles.
Cinnamon promotes healthy carbohydrates and fat metabolism.

Bitter melon, is a traditional Indian vegetable noted for its ability to support healthy sugar metabolism.

Gymnema sylvestre keeps pancreas healthy and supports insulin production.
Vitamin C & alpha lipoic acid are powerfu lantioxidants involved in almost all metabolic reactions in the body.

If you are a Stress-Eater:

Mood Food

         • Support for Overall Nervous System      

         • Support for a Healthy Mood     

         • Support for Synthesis of Serotonin     

         • Nutritional Support for Carbohydrate Cravings  

Mood Food™ features a combination of nutrients that function as neurotransmitters and support the overall nervous system and a healthy mood.    

Magnesium is important for vital cellular functions and carbohydrates metabolism.  

5-HTP and Vitamin B-6, as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, are included for their important role in serotonin synthesis.     5-HTP may enhance endorphin levels and result in a mood lightening effect.

Satiet-ease

influences brain to promote satiety, positive mood and decrease food cravings. In addition, it supports emotional well-being and moderates occasional stress.
Ingredients:

Relora® - natural herbal blend (Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense) which improves satiety and occasional stress. These extracts support healthy cortisol and DHEA production, helping to lessen food cravings, support healthy body fat distribution and promote emotional well-being.
Tyrosine- (amino acid) is responsible for improving mood and mental function. Tyrosine helps to maintain a healthy response to environmental and emotional stress.
Rhodiola rosea - Siberian plant, has demonstrated the potential to improve stress tolerance and decrease stress-related fatigue, both important factors in maintaining physical and emotional well being.

If you are craving Carbohydrates, Alcohol or Drugs:

Appe-Curb

Appe-Curb contains special nutrients that help satisfy the "reward cascade" of the brain.  Satisfying the "reward cascade" of  the brain may help in reducing carbohydrate and calorie cravings while improving mood swings and increasing energy.  By helping to restore all the major neurotransmitters,  Appe-Curb aids in creating a balance in the brain and a feeling of well-being.

Ingredients:

Vitamins C and B-6

Chromium picolinate to support carbohydate metabolism.

dl-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine to support production of dopamine and epinephrine responsible for the sensation of well-being.

L-Glutamine to support lean muscle mass.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to enhance endorphin levels and improve mood and sleep.

If you are craving Fatty Foods, consider:

Lipo-BC (Fat Burner and Weight Loss)

This supplement is a unique combination of B-vitamins that work together to dissolve fat and cholesterol and prevent them from accumulation in the liver. Lipotropic substances include fat digesting enzymes, amino acids, and fat emulsifiers. We utilize Lipo-BC in our weight management program as a method to effectively normalize metabolism.
   Lipo-BC will successfully:

• Emulsify fats and carbohydrates
• Protect nerves and muscles
• Increase lecithin in the liver
• Promote fat burning
• Release stored bile      

Ingredients:

Choline and Inositol are two important nutrients that work together helping the body metabolize and transport fats.
Niacianmide helps to metabolize cholesterol and triglycerides
Biotin works to utilize B Complex vitamins in the body and help folic acid convert to its biologically active form. Biotin contributes to the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates and cell growth.

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)

CLA is a form of one of the essential fatty acids, the linoleic acid. CLA is derived from safflower oil.

It promotes Lean Body Composition and benefits weight control.
Several studies have shown that conjugated linoleic acid reduces body fat and increase lean muscle mass.

If you are Hungry all the time, consider:

Diucaps

This supplement controls appetite and mood and enhances serotonin, the "well-being" hormone. It's effective in treatment of: Alcoholism, Anxiety, Depression, Hyperactivity and Weight Loss

Ingredients:

Phenylalanine, an essential nutrient amino acid, can inhibit appetite by increasing the brain's production of the neurotransmitter NE (norepinephrine). Phenylalanine also causes the brain to release the hormone CCK (cholecystokinin), which decreases appetite.
It usually takes several hours for the L-Phenylalanine to be converted to NE by the brain, so the first effects are not noticeable until that much time has passed.

Pantothenic Acid supports healthy triglycerides and lipid metabolism.

Vitamins C and B6 are required for this conversion and are included in this formula. Since the NE is stored in the brain for a few days, there will be a lag of a few days between dose changes and full response to the dose change.

CitriMax™ plus ChromeMate®

It is an all-natural, non-stimulating formula consisting of Garcinia cambogia fruit extract and chromium polynicotinate.
• Garcinia cambogia extract - supports natural weight management without causing irritability, jitteriness and mood swings, like several other appetite suppressants. Extracted from the rinds of the fruit Garcinia cambogia from India, it influences appetite and energy levels in natural way. It also promotes healthy blood lipid levels and decreases cholesterol.
• Chromium polynicotinate - enhances the effectiveness of Garcinia and inhibits production of new fat from carbohydrates, thus supplying the energy to burn already stored fat. Chromium supports healthy weight in combination with exercise for overweight females, as indicated by a study at the University of Texas, Austin. It also promotes healthy body composition in overweight women.

Prescription Diet Pills

History of Diet & Weight Loss Drugs and Pills

Each year, about 17.2 million Americans buy diet and weight loss pills hoping to lose weight. Using drugs to speed up weight loss, burn extra fat or control obesity has always been irresistible. Many dieters prefer to use weight loss pills or diet drugs to control their weight and shape rather than follow a healthy diet and exercise plan.

In the 50s and 60s diet pills were mainly amphetamine derivatives (speed). But due to addiction, doctors stopped prescribing drugs for weight loss. Diet and exercise then replaced drug therapy, temporarily. But in 1973 the FDA (the food and drug administration) approved a new drug for weight loss, called fenfluramine (trade name Pondimin). Then came dexfenfluramine (trade name Redux) in 1996. Some doctors prescribed phentermine (another type of weight loss medication) in combination with fenfluramine and the combined weight-loss drug was called fen-phen. Phentermine was also used in combination with dexfenfluramine (known as dex-fen-phen).

The drugs worked by increasing Serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical (neurotransmitter) associated with improved mood, appetite and satiety. Fen-phen had a double action. It tricked the brain into believing the stomach was full, and increased a person's metabolic rate.

People did lose weight on these diet and weight-loss medications, but in 1997 after reports of heart valve disease, the makers of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine withdrew these diet pills from the market. Prescriptions were no longer written for Redux, Pondimin or fen-phen.

During the 18 months that fenfluramine (Pondimin) and dexfenfluramine (Redux) were being used as weight loss drugs, 14m prescriptions were written for people who wanted to lose weight.

The medication drug called Sibutramine (trade name Meridia) is the newest weight-loss drug currently being prescribed and many others are in development or waiting for FDA approval.

Remember:

You must restore your health and

hormonal balance before you try to lose weight.

Think of it as getting healthy from the inside out.

Only once you’re in balance can you lose weight and keep it off.

Call us at 688-1900

if you need help!