Holistic Review F: fat & sugar control for natural health.

    1. Improved blood sugar stability may help anyone to stay younger and healthier.

Blood sugar affects everyone, not just diabetics. If your blood sugar varies between slightly too much and slightly too little, this might not show up on tests, but might affect energy and long term health. Involuntary muscle twitches when eating sweet food, or trembling when hungry, are strong indications of blood sugar imbalance. As individual incidences, these are not significant, but as a repeated pattern, these are potentially related to diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease, stroke and general aging. The basic answer is to reduce sugar and to increase vegetables as described in chapter E. However natural supplement pills offer substantial help, especially B complex, chromium, vinegar and cinnamon extract.

    2. Being overweight is caused by many factors, not just "eating too much" and "exercising too little".

Other factors are sugar and refined foods (as discussed in chapter E) and changes in glands and hormones due to aging (as discussed in chapter G). We agree somewhat with a "low carb" diet but we disagree with a "high protein" diet. We especially caution against the stressful and indigestible soy proteins in most "high protein" snacks and cereals. A spoonful of unsweetened whey or casein protein is better, and insted of increasing stress, can reduce the stress of meeting basic protein needs. Beyond that, the basic key for a healthy low-carb diet is simply to eat more vegetables as explained in chapter E.

    3. We wish to focus experimentation on the Cider Vinegar Diet Formula by Now Foods. 

The long-term results are uncertain, and by itself this is certainly not a cure-all. However, this interesting formula, including chromium, vinegar and herbs in one convenient pill, can potentially help somewhat with numerous fundamental problems:
...reducing appetite
...improving digestion
...preventing kidney stones and gall stones
...preventing urinary tract infections
...balancing acidity
...balancing blood sugar
...automatic "caloric restriction" for longevity (see chapter Y).

Product guide f1: the best and most basic fat & sugar control supplements.

    *   Cider Vinegar Diet Formula capsules by Now Foods. 

Main ingredients: cider vinegar powder, chromium, and glucomannan. We are uncertain whether powdered vinegar might have the same value for diabetics which is claimed for fresh vinegar. However it probably helps to balance acidity if not blood sugar. Chromium is basic for improving sugar metabolism, and is often taken by athletes as a performance enhancer, as well as by diabetics. Glucomannan suppresses hunger much like hoodia, but more gently.

    *   Full Spectrum Cinnamon capsules by Source Naturals. 

Composed mainly of premium quality cinnamon extract. Most other cinnamon capsules are either very expensive, or else mainly composed of low grade cinnamon powder. Cinnamon does not suppress blood sugar like many products, but instead helps to improve insulin reception. Therefore almost everyone might be wise to take a bit of cinnamon every day for life.

    *   Super CLA Blend by Life Extension Foundation. 

In addition to being the best quality CLA oil (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), this brand is in a small capsule so that you are less likely to become annoyed by taking it for life. If your family history shows a tendency to grow fat, you might want to replace some of your fish oil supplements with CLA. In experiments, rats who were fed CLA developed no fat, while others on the same diet became fat. In addition, CLA is suspected to help prevent breast cancer.

    *   25 mg. 7-Keto by Now Foods. 

Why are so many people thin when young, but become fat when old? Largely because of the fall in hormone production. 7-Keto gently supplies the materials needed to produce hormones more easily. Research indicates that 100 to 200 mg. daily can safely promote weight loss. On principle, we believe it is best to avoid such large doses. However with no 7-Keto at all, you are definately skating uphill. Everyone over 35 should consider a normal dose of 25 mg. of 7-Keto daily, or every other day. For more details, see chapters G and E.

    *   Stevia Balance by Now Foods. 

Stevia extract is sweeter than sugar, but is from a natural herb with no calories and no side effects. In addition, stevia may help to balance blood pressure and to discourage the bacteria that cause plaque. Unlike sugar substitutes, stevia does not cause diahrea or the sense of eating a refined chemical. Stevia extract is said by many people to have a licorice aftertaste, but which many others are unable to detect. Stevia is often said to be "untested" for health safety. In fact however, stevia has been clinically tested in several countries, especially Japan. Stevia has also undergone the more rigorous test of being taken regularly by tens of thousands of people. Stevia Balance by Now Foods also contains inulin fiber (FOS), which some experts believe is better than acidophilus in promoting healthy digestive bacteria. Stevia Balance can be used in baking, and easily can enable you to reduce sugar by 75%.

(We suggest ideally, crystalline fructose or tupelo honey for the remaining 25%. However for most people, it is good enough to use organic white sugar, unrefined sugar cane or similar products. Whatever form of sugar is used, the main factor is to cut down on the total amount.)

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