| Dieting with whole grains reduces abdominal fat
When you calculate the calories in your weight reduction diet, be sure to include the value of whole grains. An important clinical study of people age 20 to 65 shows that dieters who included plenty of whole grains not only lost more belly fat, they reduced an inflammation marker linked to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Over the 12-week study, all dieters got the same weight-loss advice, but half of them ate whole grains instead of refined grains. The two groups lost the same amount of weight, but the whole-grain group lost significantly more fat from the abdominal region than those who ate white bread and other refined grains. The whole grain group also experienced a 38 percent decrease in C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker linked to the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. The reduction was similar to that seen with the use of statin drugs. Senior researchers for the study say a lot of foods claim they contain whole grains but are not really major sources. They recommend finding products in which at least 51 percent of grain comes from whole grain. Examples of such foods include oatmeal, whole grain cereal, brown rice, granola bars, popcorn and whole-wheat crackers. |
By Colleen McCleery, MD, OB/GYN—Exuberan® by Virtua Menopause is a mixed bag of little surprises. While most women look forward to saying goodbye to tampons and pads, far fewer are excited to now experience hot flashes and night sweats. And it’s probably fair to say that weight gain is the least popular and often least expected “side effect” of this hormonal shift. Considering many women struggle with their weight on a good day, it’s not surprising that this is the number one complaint from patients who are going through this transition. The biology of menopause During the late 40s to mid-50s, a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases and no longer performs its job to regulate the ovaries. During this increase in FSH, other hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decrease. A decrease in testosterone can lead to weight gain and decreased energy. And, not surprisingly, estrogen loss has far-reaching effects beyond hot flashes. It contribut...
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