Weight Loss Fads Exposed

A new industry has risen out of the ashes of our obesity problems.  It is an industry that makes giant promises with miraculous results.  They shout, “Drink our shake! Take this pill! Watch your fat melt away!”  But, this weight loss industry is nothing but a band-aid for a giant wound.

True sustainable weight loss takes a lifestyle change, not another diet.  We must learn to adopt nutrition and portion control, not meal replacement shakes and  pills.

It is quite easy to sniff out a weight loss fad.  They can seem very attractive, but they cannot offer lifelong results.  Here are some things you want to look out for:

• Over exaggerated promises of dramatic weight loss in a very short amount of time.
• Pills that contain stimulants that are called fat burners.  Ephedra and caffeine are common stimulants.  These pills can be dangerous.
• Plans that have you go a period of time without eating.  Some request you replace a meal twice a day with their shake.  Others require you consume only their drink for several days and consume no other foods.

I believe there is a skewed view of what it truly takes to overcome obesity.  Prescription medication for lifestyle disease has failed to bend the obesity and disease curve. It takes hard work, determination, and a willingness to fight.  Sadly, society doesn’t seem to value these things anymore.

Just as Americans like their “fast food,” they also like “fast results.” We have become a culture of instant gratification.

•  If we want warm food, then we microwave it and it’s ready in just a minute.
•  If we want to buy something and don’t have the money, then we charge it to a credit card.

I believe this has had a crippling effect on people.  It has created a society looking for the easy way out.  People give up when something takes time and hard work. It’s as if no one has heard the phrase, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Many companies have taken advantage of the fact that we are an instant results culture.  Websites, multi-level marketing companies, magazines, and even health food stores promote the newest weight loss products.  This has always been an area of the natural health industry that has made me very uncomfortable.  I cannot promote something that isn’t going to work.  And even if it did help someone lose a couple pounds, they are not making a true lifestyle change towards whole body nutrition.  My personal hope is that together we can create a conversation about a real, practical solution for the prevention, treatment and reversal of our obesity epidemic.

The Weight Loss Pill Scam

I hate to burst your bubble, folks.  But, there is no magic pill!

In a world where quick-fix diet schemes abound, you’d be wise to look at any magic pill with a healthy dose of skepticism. No pill on the market is going to give you dramatic weight loss results. Yes, there are carb blockers, fat burners, and diuretics you can safely take.  But the results are minimal, if you have any results – at all!  And most of those bottles say on the label that best results are seen only in cooperation with a healthy and reduced calorie diet.

Fat burning pills have become all the rage in the last 15 years.  However, these stimulants can be very dangerous!  Many states have even outlawed stimulants like ephedra from even being sold!  Other diet pills contain strong laxatives.  These laxatives can create dependency and cause nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

No pill alone is going to safely change your waistline. Eating whatever you want while losing weight is just not reality.

Mounting evidence proves that the solution to lifestyle and diet-driven obesity-related illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and even cancer, won’t be found at the bottom of a prescription bottle. You must change your eating habits to lose weight and keep it off!

Meal Replacement Rip-offs

I cannot even count the number of times I have been approached about the newest “nutrition shake.”  Marketing giants have recently begun to switch the words “weight loss” with “nutrition” in order to boost sales of their meal replacement drinks.

Though this is brilliant marketing ploy, the basis of the shakes has stayed the same. They are still extremely calorie restrictive, filled with chemical sweeteners and artificial ingredients.  Using the word “nutrition,” leads customers to believe that those shakes are good for them.  This could not be any further from the truth!

Those who promote these shakes promise false realities, such as:

•  “You can get everything you need, plus your daily vitamins and minerals in just one delicious glass!”
• “It is so easy to lose weight and you’ll have so much energy from all the nutrition you’re getting!”
• “Just two shakes a day instead of two of your largest meals and you’ll be healthier than ever!”

These types of endorsements make me shudder.  It’s as if they are saying that their shake not only tastes better, but also is better for you than a plate full of fresh vegetables.  Using a nutrition shake to replace real, vitamin rich foods is not an even trade!

My biggest problem with meal replacement shakes isn’t even the advertising!  It is the ingredient list!  Many of these companies use the cheapest raw materials possible to make the base of their shakes.  Then they add synthetically made vitamins and minerals to add “nutrition.”  Each time I am approached with the latest and greatest nutrition shake, I read the ingredients and I am always terribly disappointed.

When I look through ingredients on a label, I have several “red flag” ingredients I look for.  The majority of meal replacement products contain a slew of ingredients that are unpronounceable and definitely don’t sound like food. If your food ingredients are created in a lab somewhere, you can bet there’s a study out there discussing the potential health risks.

The most common ingredients in meal replacement shakes that raise my “red flag” are:

Dangers of Soy (protein, isolate, etc.)

Soy is an extremely cheap raw material that makes for a cheap protein source.  91% of all soy is genetically modified.  If it does not specify on the label that it is GMO free, you can bet money it is not natural.  But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to soy.  Even if the soy is GMO free, it may still cause many health issues.

Soy acts like estrogen in the body, which causes hormonal disturbances that can lead to:

1.  PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
2. Infertility
3. Low testosterone
4. And breast cancer

…Just to name a few!

Soy also contains something called phytic acid.  These phytates actually block the absorption of important vitamins and minerals in the body.

Soy also contains goitrogens, which inhibit the thyroid from working properly.  Those with hypothyroidism are advised to never eat soy products.

And lastly, soy is a high allergen food.  I personally have a severe food intolerance to soy.  It causes major digestive upset if I consume it.  I have found that I am far from alone.  Soy is one of the most common amongst foods that cause both allergic and digestive reactions.

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Dangers of Artificial Flavors

These lab made flavors are meant to fool you into enjoying what you taste.  But, where are those flavors coming from and what are the potential effects of those ingredients?

There are hundreds of different chemicals used to make all the different flavorings.  None are truly 100% safe.

MSG is one of the most commonly used artificial flavors and has been found to cause not only allergic reactions, but also neurological damage!  Other artificial flavors can also cause:

• Allergic reactions
• Respiratory distress
• Migraines
• And digestive disturbances (1)

Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are amongst the most dangerous things you can ingest in your food.  The popular sweetener aspartame is linked to everything from MS (multiple sclerosis) to cancer!

In attempt to disassociate themselves from the dangers of aspartame, many companies have switched to sucralose.  They claim it is safer and more natural.  However, sucralose has been shown in studies to disrupt the intestines natural balance. (2)

The components of sucralose are toxins and long-term consumption has been linked to shrinking the thymus gland, as well as nervous system disorders, migraines and even cancer.

It can lower your good intestinal bacteria by up to 50% and increase your intestinal pH!  It has also been determined that sucralose can be stored in our body via our fat cells!

And you want to drink one or two meals a day of this?

Below is a list of the more popular nutrition shakes being sold today that contains ALL of the above listed ingredients.  I recommend staying away from these companies, even though they make big claims about how good for you they are.

• Medifast
• Body by Vi
• Herbalife
• Slimfast

Just because someone has lost a lot of weight using one of these shakes, does not mean they are good for you!  Drinking shakes for two meals a day is not a true lifestyle change, so most people gain the weight back when they return to eating.  Remember, these liquid diets don’t contain “real” food.  However, if you prefer to drink your meal, I have a healthy option for you.

Homemade Healthy Shakes

I don’t deem all shakes as evil.  A shake, in my opinion, should contain real food! It shouldn’t be a chemical laden powder designed to restrict calories and trick you into feeling full!

The best way to incorporate real food and true nutrition into a shake is to make your own!  I don’t recommend you replace two full meals with a homemade shake, but they do make a great breakfast or a healthy snack!

Not every homemade shake is created equal.  Making a chocolate peanut butter ice cream shake probably isn’t going to solve your obesity problem.  Blending food together changes nothing but the texture.  The fat, calories and sugars that were there before are still there!

Designing your homemade health shakes can be a lot of fun and is a great way to get the whole family involved in eating healthy.  Shakes are also one of the best ways to get picky eaters to get their fruits and veggies.

The fun part is experimenting with all kinds of different flavors.  However, there are three things you want to make sure are in each shake in order to have balance.

Protein

Choose healthy protein sources like:

1. Unsweetened yogurt or kefir
2. Whey protein powder (make sure it is sugar and rBgh free)
3. Rice protein powder
4. Egg white protein powder

Healthy Fat

• Avocados
• Coconut oil
• Full fat coconut milk
• Full fat unsweetened yogurt (also counts as a protein).

Low Sugar Fruits and Veggies

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Kale
• Cilantro
• Parsley

If your shake is not balanced with adequate protein and fat compared to carbohydrates, your blood sugar will rise and crash.  This will ultimately destroy your weight loss efforts.  Having both healthy fat and protein in your shake will help keep you satisfied, as well as balance your blood sugar until your next meal.

Here are a few of our favorite family shake recipes.

For those of you who enjoy peach pie, I recommend trying this shake since it is so creamy and delicious!

Vanilla Peach Pie Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 can of full fat coconut milk
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (whey, rice, or egg white)
• 2 cups of frozen organic peaches
• 15 drops of stevia or 2 packets
• 1 small sprinkle of cinnamon
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract

Directions:

Blend 30 seconds to 1 minute in a high-speed blender.  If it is too thick, you can add some water.  This recipe makes 2 servings.

If you are looking for a way to sneak more green vegetables into your diet, this is a great way to do it!  Though the shake is green, you won’t even taste the vegetables!

Green Power Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened Greek yogurt or kefir
• ½ avocado cubed
• 2 cups fresh organic spinach
• 2 cups of frozen organic berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.)
• ½ cup of water
• 10 drops of stevia or 1 ½ packets (or to taste)

Directions:

Blend until smooth.  Makes one serving.

For those chocoholics out there, this shake is for you!  It’s got the chocolate taste you crave, but is low sugar and packed with whole food nutrients!

Raspberry Chocolate Delight Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 scoop chocolate protein (whey, rice, or egg white)
• 1 cup organic frozen raspberries
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 8-10 drops of stevia or 1 packet of stevia
• 1 tsp cacao nibs or 70%-80% dark chocolate pieces

Directions:

Blend all the ingredients for 30 seconds to 1 minute, except the nibs or chocolate pieces.  Add the chocolate and pulse to blend 2 to 3 times.

In this video, I make my favorite Raspberry Chocolate Delight Shake and show you an excellent way to flush your body of toxins and keep it as tuned up as possible. I am talking about ways that anyone can gently remove the harmful toxins that are slowing down their bodies to restore their health. All for mere pennies. And from the comfort of your own home! This recipe is excellent tools to support your weight loss and help you avoid as many additional toxins as possible.

Skip the Fads and Bust the Fat!

Jumping from one fad diet to another is not going to help you in beating an obesity problem.  It will only leave you tired, hungry, and unsatisfied!  Instead, start eating balanced meals, use portion control and cut out processed foods!

There is a solution to our obesity epidemic. But it is not at the bottom of a pill bottle. It is at the end of our forks Create a healthy lifestyle for yourself, not a life of dieting ups and downs.  You will see the weight begin to fall off without the expensive pills and shake mixes.

It is simply more effective than any medication and works better, faster, and cheaper, not just as prevention, but also as treatment for what ails us in the 21st century.

Beating obesity is about a life dedicated to eating healthy, not the latest weight loss fad. We ate our way into this mess and we must eat our way out. We have the power to take back our health. Let’s start today.

Instead of those expensive shakes that promise you unrealistic results, try one of my homemade, real food, nutrition shakes!

What about you? Have you been ever been sucked into the latest fad in weight loss?  Did you get the long-term results you were looking for?  Comment below.

 

References:
(1) http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/21/msg-is-this-silent-killer-lurking-in-your-kitchen-cabinets.aspx
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800291