Happy weight loss news: Cocoa boosts metabolism, and diet sodas help you slim

In a perfect world, chocolate would rank as the number one health food. Now a new study takes dieters one step closer to that perfect world by revealing that cocoa can boost your metabolism, reported Confectionery News on Aug. 22.

Cacao Beans for Weight Loss

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Researchers discovered that mice who ate food supplemented with 10 percent cocoa powder gained less weight than their cocoa-deprived pals. But more studies need to be done to determine whether chocolate can actually prevent weight gain.

Some studies, however, have shown that moderate amounts of dark chocolate do have some health benefits. Researchers at the University of L'Aquila in Italy found that study participants who consumed dark chocolate daily lowered their potential for insulin resistance by almost 50 percent, according to Women's Health magazine.

Because dark chocolate has healthy fats, it causes sugar to be absorbed more slowly, thus avoiding insulin spikes. In addition, Swiss scientists discovered dark chocolate can help with stress.

Neuroscientist Will Clower is so impressed with the weight loss benefits of dark chocolate that he even wrote a book about it: "Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight: New Science Proves You Should Eat Chocolate Every Day." He emphasizes that it's important to eat the right type and amount to reap the full weight loss benefits.

But what if you love chocolate so much that you regularly indulge in enormous hot fudge sundaes. Can you cancel the caloric impact by super-sizing your diet soda as well? Alas, no evidence exists to support that philosophy. But a new study has shown that replacing beverages containing sugar with artificially sweetened drinks reduced fat accumulation and weight in children, reported the Atlantic on Aug. 22.

In some ways, the decision to use artificial sweeteners involves choosing the lesser of two evils. Sugar has been linked to conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease as well as weight gain. And while some reports have shown artificial sweeteners aren't the ideal food, a new meta-analysis shows that when you substitute artificial sweeteners for sugar, you are more apt to experience "modest weight loss."

The new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, emphasizes that swapping is the best way to benefit from artificial sweeteners. For example, if you typically drink a can of Coke every afternoon, you can take in fewer calories by drinking a diet Coke instead.

As for those previous studies showing that artificial sweeteners cause weight gain? They examined what happens if you consume artificial sweeteners as an isolated substance. Dr. Barry Popkin, a renowned professor of global nutrition at the University of North Carolina, noted that such studies are based on atypical uses of sugar replacements, making them invalid.

Eat Chocolate To Get Thin

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Shred Diet melts 20 pounds in four weeks Study supports fast weight loss

Ready to fight flabby fat? By becoming a member of what Dr. Ian Smith has dubbed Shredder Nation, you can lose up to 20 pounds in four weeks. Dr. Ian explained how the diet works on Rachael Ray's Thursday talk show.

30 day shred diet plan

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Dr. Smith is author of "Shred: The Revolutionary Diet: 6 Weeks 4 Inches 2 Sizes," and emphasizes that the plan is designed to boost your metabolism with carefully calibrated cycles. The different phases are designed to provide variety while taking off pounds quickly.

The phases include Foundation, with four meals and three snacks; Accelerate, to supercharge weight loss; Shape, to provide "calorie confusion" and Tenacious, the final phase for reaching goal. For those who want to take off the weight faster, Dr. Ian recommends his supercharged "Super Shred: The Big Results Diet: 4 Weeks 20 Pounds Lose It Faster."

However, some have questioned whether a diet designed to provide rapid weight loss is safe and sensible? Prevailing wisdom is that slow, steady weight loss is safest and, once dieters have achieved their goal weight, most effective.

That "wisdom," however, is a myth, according to a new study in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Losing weight quickly actually works better, reported "Good Morning America" on Thursday.

Krista Casazza, assistant professor at the University of Alabama and author of the report, discovered that weight loss success in the "real world" contradicts what most diet experts advise. Losing weight faster makes it more likely that dieters will keep off the weight.

And if you've ever delayed a diet because you weren't "ready" to start, just do it, says Casazza. The famous "I'll start the diet on Monday" mantra doesn't equate to success.

As for the "Super Shred" diet's emphasis on how many pounds you lose? That theory that you shouldn't weigh yourself all the time also is a myth, according to the professor's research. Casazza’s study revealed that dieters who step on the scale daily actually increase their odds of weight loss.

In addition, Dr. Ian puts the focus on losing large amounts of weight, which contradicts what many weight loss gurus urge. But he's right, according to this new report.

And the University of Alabama professor urges dieters to think big. "Striving for something unreasonable like losing hundreds of pounds often drives you to engage in ambitious, out-of-the-box thinking," she declared.

The 21-Day Shred Exercise and Diet Program

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Camille Grammer battles cancer; diet cures; yacon syrup supplement

Former "Real Housewife" Camille Grammer is going public with her radical hysterectomy for early stage endometrial cancer. To help other women learn from her experience, she talked with Dr. Mehmet Oz on his Thursday talk show. Plus: Find out how to use food as medicine, and get an update on Dr. Oz's weight loss supplement controversy.

Yacon syrup

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Camille is taking a positive attitude about her future. "My life is moving forward and I'm feeling very well," she told Dr. Oz.

Helping Camille share what women should know, Dr. Lauren Streicher emphasized that endometrial (uterine) cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy. When diagnosed early before it has spread, the five-year survival rate is 95 percent.

Signs of uterine cancer include abnormal bleeding and spotting. An important step in reducing your risk: Maintain a healthy weight.

Obese women are three times as likely to develop uterine cancer. Obesity is viewed as the probable reason that the rates of this type of cancer are increasing in the nation.

In addition, Dr. Oz dished up diet-friendly ways to use food as medicine. His guest expert: Jack Bishop from America’s Test Kitchen, which recently authored "The How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook."

If you suffer from muscle pain, try sweet potatoes because they are high in potassium. Enjoy a sweet potato three times a week to minimize your risk of muscular aches.

Got indigestion? Jack suggests using ginger root, which also can help with nausea.

And if you have a headache and want a non-medication solution, try Crimini mushrooms. Saute in oil with seasonings for a snack or as a side dish to a meal.

While Dr. Oz emphasized the use of food rather than supplements for health solutions on this episode, he recently was grilled by a Senate subcommittee for his frequent emphasis on remedies such as green coffee bean extract for weight loss, reported the South Florida Times on Wednesday.

Claire McCaskill, chairwoman of the Senate’s consumer protection panel, challenged him for his statement that green coffee bean extract is "magic weight loss cure for every body type." Admitting that his descriptions tend to be "flowery," Dr. Oz said he will publish a list of products that he thinks really can help with weight loss.

Although Dr. Oz emphasized that no supplement can replace diet and exercise, he insisted that featuring products such as yacon syrup on his show offers hope to viewers. He describes his role as a health talk show host as a "cheerleader" and feels these weight loss supplements might give someone extra incentive to try a diet and fitness plan.

However, in many cases Dr. Oz features supplements without emphasizing that they should be used in conjunction with diet and exercise. When he featured yacon syrup, for example, he announced that his own test of the product involved women who ate one teaspoon of yacon syrup with or before each meal.

"They were told not to otherwise change their usual diets or exercise habits," emphasized Dr. Oz. On average, the women lost about three pounds in four weeks and reduced their waists by two inches.

But rather than tell viewers to try it with diet as he indicated to the Senate, Dr. Oz advised those who wanted to try it for weight loss to take one teaspoon of yacon syrup before or with each meal. He noted that it could be "especially helpful if you are overweight or obese."

And although Dr. Oz has declined to recommend brands thus far, many products are advertised using his name. This use of his name for promotional purposes is particularly egregious online, with descriptions such as "Pure Yacon Syrup...Dr Oz Recommended Low Calorie Sugar Substitute & Metabolism Booster."

Yacon syrup

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Belly-flattening diet ranges from weight loss supplements to cheese

In the mood to blast belly fat and boost weight loss? Dr. Mehmet Oz says he has the answer for flattening your tummy with the newest discoveries. He revealed them on his talk show Monday, including tips on high-fat dairy backed by a new study.

Weight-Loss Foods to Lose Weight Fast

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When it comes to stubborn sags and fat bags, belly fat ranks on the top of the list of hard-to-budge spots. Dr. Oz says one key is to implement safe solutions for boosting your metabolism and thus accelerating weight loss. But if you think that means cutting fat, you're wrong.

Dr. Oz advises avoiding fat-free and low-fat foods, because they often replace fats with sugar. He recommends eating Swiss cheese, which is high in calcium, to flatten your belly.

And a new study supports his claim that full-fat dairy foods are safe. Researchers challenged the theory that eating dairy foods high in fat, such as cheese and butter, increase the risk of dying, reported Medical Xpress on Monday.

After completing their study, they found no risk of cardiovascular disease or other problems. Instead, they discovered that high fat dairy is healthy, said dietitian Therese O'Sullivan.

"Dairy fat has been shown to increase the good cholesterol in the blood," she revealed. In addition, the beneficial bacteria can "help with our gut biome," which has been shown to boost weight loss.

In addition to dairy, Dr. Oz recommends healthy fats such as avocado and olives. And to season that avocado, try hot sauce, which Dr. Oz says boosts your metabolism.

Another metabolism booster is green tea. Dr. Oz recommends two cups a day.

Seeking a supplement? Try L-Arginine, which helps your body burn more fat when you exercise. In addition, use acacia powder to stay full and cut down on your food.

For weight loss weapons, eat foods high in water, says Dr. Oz. Examples include cucumbers, watermelon and strawberries.

Do you suffer from carb confusion? You're not alone: Many dieters are unsure about the difference between "good" carbs and "bad" carbs.

Foods That Cause Belly Fat and Upset Your Stomach

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Shun sugar and processed foods to lose weight and prevent disease

We have heard for years that childhood obesity is an epidemic. But now a recent study indicates that we may have underestimated the crisis, reported the Wall Street Journal on Monday.

High Sugar Foods

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Up to 25 percent of children ages four to 18 have excess body fat but are not identified when the body mass index (BMI) scale is used, according to a new study that included 37 separate studies."BMI is not capturing everybody who needs to be labeled as obese," summed up study leader Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, director of preventive cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Thus the latest statistics on childhood obesity may not reveal the full extent of the problem. During the past three decades, childhood obesity has doubled. Currently, almost 20 percent of children and teens ages six to 19 are obese - but that statistic is based on BMI.

And it's not just children who are affected. Many obese adults appear to have given up on attempts to lose weight, reported the Clinical Endocrinology News on Tuesday.

In a national survey, about 60 percent of obese adults admitted that they weren't trying to lose weight. And that statistic shocked even researchers.

"That’s a surprisingly high figure. It suggests a dire need to better educate the public about the health consequences of obesity and the importance of addressing the problem with their doctors," said Z. Jason Wang, Ph.D., at a joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society.

In addition, Wang expressed concern about the methodology most of these individuals used. Only one in 20 of them chose bariatric surgery or prescription weight loss medication. The rest were experimented with options ranging from over-the-counter supplements or their own diet.

However, those who took the more aggressive approach reported that they were more satisfied with the results. "This finding may mean that diet and exercise alone just don’t work for a lot of people," said Wang.

Looking at the bigger picture, what is causing this epidemic of obesity and corresponding conditions such as diabetes and heart disease? In an exclusive interview, Dr. Robert Lustig noted that sugar is part of the problem.

Author of "Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease," Dr. Lustig noted that "many foods can promote obesity." And although sugar is part of the problem, he lists potato chips and French fries as the top two culprits.

However, "the sugar-diabetes and sugar-heart disease connections are much stronger. Sugar is integral for the development of chronic metabolic disease, because it overwhelms the liver and drives insulin resistance," he explained.

Dr. Lustig recently participated in the creation of a documentary entitled "Fed Up." He emphasizes that it has several key points to make.

It's not about obesity or personal responsibility. Instead, it's about the food environment - and Dr. Lustig blames the government for being "complacent and complicit with the food industry in altering the food environment to our detriment."

And a key message that he makes echoes that of Robb Wolf, author of "The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet." All calories are not created equal. Or, as Dr. Lustig says: "A calorie is not a calorie."

In an exclusive interview, Robb told me that he often hears from dietitians who feel that the Paleo diet is too "restrictive" for removing or limiting certain food groups. They urge moderation.

However, said Robb, "I find this position interesting also in that the implication here is that 'all food is equal.' A cupcake is apparently equal to an apple. Can that possibly be correct?"

And in line with Dr. Lustig, Robb emphasizes, "some food is in fact better than other food." He declines to "spin this yarn that all foodsare created equal" and a calorie is a calorie whether it comes from cupcakes or cucumbers.

Just as with the Paleo diet, the response to the "Fed Up" film has been 80 percent positive and 20 percent negative, Dr. Lustig revealed. "The 'hatefuls' are people who are entrenched in their "calorie is a calorie" mantra (e.g. many dietitians), professional detractors who like to stir up animus for their own gain, people covering for the food industry, and people who are so hooked on sugar and processed food that they can't see their way clear."

The question: What will it take to halt the onslaught of processed foods loaded with sugar, salt and trans fats? "The food corporations don't care what they sell," said Dr. Lustig. He's a believer in cooking up your own meals rather than buying processed foods, and recently concocted a cookbook "The Fat Chance Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes to Help You Lose the Sugar and the Weight."

"And right now they're selling a lot, so they won't change without pressure. Public health doesn't have the clout, so nothing is happening yet. That pressure will have to come from business, insurers, government, or the people," he added.

Slowly but surely, he has noted changes. "We're seeing small efforts in each of these stakeholders to change the paradigm. Hopefully over the next couple of years, those outcries will grow louder," he added.

For parents with obese children, Dr. Lustig feels that dessert once a week is fine. "But if every meal is dessert, then it's not dessert, is it?"

And for adults who want to shun sugar and boost weight loss, Dr. Lustig offers this advice: "Any diet that gets insulin down will promote weight loss. The things that make insulin go up are high sugar and low fiber."

Conversely, foods low in sugar and high in fiber make insulin go down. "A low-sugar high-fiber diet is called 'real food.' Any diet that promotes real food works," he declared.

Robert Lustig reveals foods with loads of hidden sugar

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