Diet Stop !!!

Infant Nutrition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:10:00 +0000

Children between the ages of birth and one year are considered infants. Infants grow very rapidly and have special nutritional requirements that are different from other age groups.

Purpose

Infant nutrition is designed to meet the special needs of very young children and give them a healthy start in life. Children under one year old do not have fully mature organ systems. They need nutrition that is easy to digest and contains enough calories, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to grow and develop normally. Infants also need the proper amount of fluids for their immature kidney’s to process. In addition, infant nutrition involves avoiding exposing infants to substances that are harmful to their growth and development.

Description

Infancy is a time of incredibly rapid growth and development. Getting the right kinds of nutrients in the right quantities and avoiding the wrong kinds of substances gives infants the best chance at a healthy start to life. Parents are responsible for seeing that their infant’s nutritional needs are met. Infant nutrition is so important that the United States Department of Agriculture has developed the WIC program. This program provides free health and social service referrals, nutrition counseling, and vouchers for healthy foods to supplement the diet of pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are low-income and nutritionally at risk. In 2004, WIC serve about 7.9 million people, including 2 million infants and 1.9 million pregnant and nursing women.

Breastfeeding

Human milk is uniquely suited to the nutrition needs of newborns. Many health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) support the position that breast milk is the best and most complete form of nutrition for infants. The AAP recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and that breastfeeding should continue for at least 12 months.

Breastfeeding in the United States slowly increased in acceptance in the last decade of the twentieth century. In 1998, 64% of American mothers breastfed their babies for a short time after birth. Only 29% were still breastfeeding by the time their baby was 6 months old. The United States Department of Health and Human Services developed a set of health goals for the nation to aim for by the year 2000. One of these goals involved breastfeeding. The Healthy People 2000 goal was for 75% of American women to breastfeed their babies for a period immediately after birth and 50% to breastfeed for the first 6 months of their infant’s life. Although there is significant variation in support for breastfeeding among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States, no racial group met this target. In 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services estimated that:

45% of African American mothers breastfed their infants for a short time after birth; &19% were breastfeeding at 6 months; 9% at 12 months.
66% of Hispanic mothers breastfed their infants for a short time after birth; 28% were breastfeeding at 6 months; 19% at 12 months.

Required nutrients for infant formula

Nutrient	Minimum(1) per 100 kilocalories	Maximum(1) per 100 kilocalories
Protein (g)(2)	1.8	4.5
Fat:
grams	3.3	6.0
% calories	30.0	54.0
Essential fatty acids (linoleate):
mg	300.0
% calories	2.7
Vitamins:
A (IU)(3)	250.0 (75 mcg)	750.0 (225 mc
D (IU)	40.0	100.0
K (mcg)	4.0
E (IU)	0.7 (with 0.7 IU/g linoleic acid)
C (ascorbic acid) (mg)	8.0
B1 (thiamine) (mcg)	40.0
B2 (riboflavin) (mcg)	60.0
B6 (pyridoxine) (mcg)	35.0 (with 15 mcg/g of protein in formula)
B12 (mcg)	0.15
Niacin (mcg)	250.0
Folic acid (mcg)	4.0
Pantothenic acid (mcg)	300.0
Biotin (mcg)(4)	1.5
Choline (mg)(4)	7.0
Inositol (mg)(4)	4.0
Minerals:
Calcium (mg)(5)	50.0
Phosphorus (mg)(5)	25.0
Magnesium (mg)	6.0
Iron (mg)	0.15
Iodine (mcg)	5.0
Zinc (mg)	0.5
Copper (mcg)	60.0
Manganese (mcg)	5.0
Sodium (mcg)	20.0	60.0
Potassium (mg)	80.0	200.0
Chloride (mg)	55.0	150.0
(1) Stated per 100 kilocalories (Kcal)
(2) The source of protein is at least nutritionally equivalent to casein
(3) Retinol equivalents
(4) Required to be included in this amount only in formulas that are not milk based
(5) Calcium to phosphorus ratio must be not less than 1.1 nor more than 2.0

(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

68% of white mothers breastfed their infants for a short time after birth; 31% were breastfeeding at 6 months; 17% at 12 months.

Healthy People 2010, the health goals set for Americans during the first decade of the twenty-first century, include eliminating the differences among racial groups in the rate of breastfeeding. The goal for 2010 is for 75% of all women to be breastfeeding shortly after birth, 50% to be breastfeeding at 6 months, and 25% to breastfeed for a full year.

ADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING. Research comparing formula-fed and breastfed babies convincingly shows that both full-term and premature breastfed infants have certain advantages over formula fed infants. One of the most important advantages conferred by breast milk is an increased resistance to infection.

An infant is born with an immature immune system that does not become fully functional for about two years. Since immune system cells makes antibodies to fight infection, an incompletely developed immune system leaves the infant vulnerable to many bacterial and viral infections. However, the nursing mother has a fully developed immune system, and many of the antibodies and other components of her immune system pass into her breast milk. Nursing infants take in their mother’s antibodies along with the other nutrients in breast milk. These antibodies survive passage through the infant’s digestive system and are absorbed into the infant’s blood, where they help protect against infection. Well-designed studies have repeatedly documented the fact that breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, bouts of diarrhea, respiratory infections, and cases of meningitis than formula-fed babies. Overall, the death rate of breastfeed babies during the first year of life is lower than the death rate of formula-fed babies.

Another way that breastfeeding protects against infection is by keeping the infant from being exposed to waterborne contaminants. In developing countries, many water supplies are contaminated with bacteria and chemicals. Using this water to mix formula increases the exposure of the baby to these pathogens and toxins. Breastfed babies do not have to worry about being exposed to this type of contamination.

Another advantage of breastfeeding is that infants are unlikely to gain too much weight. Childhood obesity is a major concern in the United States. Since mothers are unable to measure how much breast milk their baby consumes, they are less likely to encourage overfeeding. Research suggests that breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Other research suggests that the rate of other chronic diseases such as asthma, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and various allergies appears to be lower in breastfed babies than in babies fed formula. Premature babies especially appear to benefit from reduced chronic disease as a result of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding also provides benefits to the nursing mother. To start with, breastfeeding is more economical than buying formula, even taking into account the extra food—about 500 calories daily— that the mother needs to eat when she is nursing. Since

KEY TERMS

Antibodies—proteins produced by immune system cells that destroy or disable viruses or bacteria. Antibodies are generally specific to each species of virus or bacteria, so that antibodies against one type of virus will not affect another type.

celiac disease—a digestive disease that causes damage to the small intestine. It results from the ability to digest gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Exclusive breastfeeding—All an infant’s nutrient and fluid needs are met from breast milk.

Meningitis—a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain.

Type 2 diabetes—sometime called adult-onset diabetes. This disease prevents the body from properly using glucose (sugar).

celiac disease—digestive disease that causes damage to the small intestine. It results from the ability to digest gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley.

breastfed babies on average get sick less than formula-fed babies, the family is also likely to save money on doctor visits, medicine, and time off from work to care for a sick child.

The mother’s health also benefits from breastfeeding. Nursing mothers tend to lose the weight they put on during pregnancy faster than mothers who do not nurse. The hormones that are released in the mother’s body when her infant nurses also help her uterus contract and become more nearly the size it was before pregnancy. Mothers who nurse their babies also seem to be less likely to develop breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer early in life. Finally, breastfeeding offers psychological benefits to the mother as she bonds with her baby and may reduce the chance of postpartum depression.

DISADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING. Although breast milk is the best food for an infant, breastfeeding does cause some disadvantages to the mother. Initially babies breastfeed about every two to three hours. Some women find it exhausting to be available to the baby so frequently. Later, when the infant is older, the mother may need to pump breast milk for her child to eat while she is away or at work. Fathers sometimes feel shut out during the early weeks of breastfeeding because of the close bond between mother and child. In addition, women who are breast feeding must watch their diet carefully. Some foods or substances such ascaffeine can pass into breast milk and cause the baby to be restless and irritable. Finally, some women simply find the idea of breastfeeding messy and distasteful, and resent the fact that they need to be “on tap” much of the time. For women who cannot or do not want to breastfeed, infant formula provides an adequate alternative.

Formula feeding

Although infant formula is not as perfect a food as breast milk for infants (it is harder for them to digest and is not a chemical replica of human milk), formula does provide all the nutrients a baby needs to grow up healthy. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates infant formula under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). The FDA sets the minimum amounts of 29 nutrients that must be present in infant formula and sets maximum amounts for 9 other nutrients. Some of these nutrients include Vitamins A, D, E, and K, and calcium. Some formulas contain iron, while others do not.

Substances used in infant formulas must be foods on the approved Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list. Facilities for manufacturing infant formula are regularly inspected by the FDA, and the manufacturer must keep process and distribution records for each batch of formula. Every container of formula must show an expiration or use by date. The FDA must be informed of any changes made to the formula.

Infant formulas are either cow’s milk based or soy based. Infants who show signs of lactose-intolerance (colicky, restless, gassy, spitting up) usually do well on soy-based formula. Formula comes in three styles:

ready-to-feed. This is the easiest type of formula to use. It can be poured straight from the can into a bottle. It is also the most expensive form of formula.
Concentrated liquid. This needs to be mixed with an equal portion of water. Concentrated liquid is less expensive than ready-t0-feed.
Powder. This needs to be mixed with water. Advantages are that it is the least expensive formula and that it keeps longer than the liquid varieties. The main disadvantage is that it requires accurate measuring of powder and water.

Reasons to formula feed

Not every woman wants or is able to breastfeed. Aside from personal preference, here are some reasons why some women should formula feed.

They are adoptive parents.
They have HIV, active tuberculosis, or hepatitis C. These diseases can be passed on to their infants through breast milk.
They use street drugs or abuse prescription medicines. Many drugs pass into breast milk and can permanently damage a baby’s health.
They are taking chemotherapy drugs, certain mood stabilizers, migraine headache medications or other drugs that pass into breast milk and whose effect on the infant is negative or unknown.
They have alcoholism or are binge drinkers. The alcohol they drink will be present in breast milk.
They have difficult to control diabetes and may have increased difficulty controlling their blood sugar level if they choose to breastfeed.
They are going to be separated from their baby for significant periods.
They have had breast surgery that interferes with milk production.
They are emotionally repelled by the idea of breastfeeding.
A few babies are born with a genetic inborn error in metabolism that prevents them from digesting any mammalian milk. These babies must be fed soy-based formula in order to survive.

Pros and cons of formula feeding

Formula feeding has some definite advantages. Anyone, not just the mother, can feed the infant. This gives the mother more flexibility in her schedule and allows the father or other relatives to enjoy a special closeness with the baby that comes with feeding. Also, the mother does not need to be concerned about how her diet affects her baby and she does not need to worry about breast milk leakage. In addition, since formula is digested more slowly than breast milk, feedings are less frequent. Some women feel uncomfortable nursing in front of other people or find it difficult to locate places to nurse in private. Formula feeding eliminates this problem.

There are also disadvantages to formula feeding. Aside from the fact that formula is not an exact duplicate of breast milk and is harder to digest, it also costs more and requires more advance preparation. Bottles need to be washed, and the water used to mix formula, at least in the early months, needs to be boiled or be special bottle water suitable for infants. The Academy of General Dentistry warns that some public water supplies are fluoridated at levels too high for infants, and that fluorodosis of the primary (baby) teeth may result. Fluorodosis is a cosmetic problem. It causes brown spots on the teeth, but does not weaken them in any way. Finally, formula must be refrigerated once it is mixed or a can is opened. It can only be kept about 2 days in the refrigerator, so is there is more likely to be waste. Likewise, when traveling, bottles need to be refrigerated. Although most babies do not mind cold formula, many parent like to heat their child’s bottle to body temperature, another inconvenience when traveling.

Transitioning to solid foods

When an infant is between four and six months old, most pediatricians recommend introducing the infant to solid food. By this age, infants begin to have the muscle coordination to swallow runny solids. If there is a family history of food allergies, some pediatricians recommend waiting until 6 months or older to start solid food.

Normally solid feeding begins with a small amount of iron-fortified rice or other single-grain cereal mixed into a slurry the consistency of thin gravy with formula or breast milk. The infant is then offered a small amount of cereal on a small spoon. It may take many attempts before the infant is happy with the new food. After runny cereal is accepted, a thicker cereal can be offered. When the child eats this with ease, parents can begin feeding one new pureed food every week. Commercial baby food is available in jars or frozen. Baby food can also be made at home using a blender or food processor. Portions can be frozen in an ice cube tray and thawed as needed.

About the same time babies begin eating solid food, they are ready to take small sips of apple, grape, or pear juice (but not citrus juices) from a cup. Juice should not be served in a bottle. By the end of the first year, infants can eat a variety of ground or chopped soft foods that the rest of the family eats.

Foods that should not be fed to infants

Some foods are not appropriate for children during their first year. These include:

homemade formula. The nutrient requirements for infants are very specific and even a small excesses or deficits of a particular nutrient can permanently harm the child’s development.
cow’s milk. Plain cow’s milk should not be offered before 6 months, after this it can be introduced in small amounts as part of weaning foods but should not be offerd as the main drink before age 1. The cow’s milk in formula has been altered to make it acceptable for infants.
honey. Honey can contains spores of the bacterium Clostritium botulinum. This bacterium causes a serious, potentially fatal disease called infant botulism. Older children and adults are not affected. C. botulinumcan also be found in maple syrup, corn syrup, and undercooked foods.
well cooked eggs can be offered between 6-9 months (later if any family history of atopy), fish (can be offered from 6-9 months, shellfish, peanuts, and peanut butter. These often trigger an allergic reaction during the first year.
orange, grapefruit, or other citrus juices. These often cause a painful diaper rash during the first year.
home prepared spinach, collard greens, turnips, or beets. These may contain high levels of harmful nitrates from the soil. Jarred versions of these foods are okay.
raisins, whole grapes, hot dog rounds, hard candy, popcorn, raw carrots, nuts, and stringy meat. These and similar foods can cause choking, a major cause of accidental death in infants and toddlers.

Precautions

Mothers with certain health conditions such as those mentioned above should not breastfeed. Women with chronic diseases should discuss this with their healthcare provider.

Mothers using certain drugs should not breastfeed.

Parents using concentrated liquid and powdered formulas must measure and mix formula accurately. Inaccurate measuring can harm the infant’s growth and development. Water used in mixing formula must be free of pathogens, contaminants, and excessive levels offluoride.

Interactions

Street drugs, many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and alcohol pass into breast milk and have the potential to permanently harm an infant’s growth and development. Before taking any drugs, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman should consult her healthcare provider. Caffeine also passes into breast milk. Some women find that even moderate amounts of coffee or caffeinated sodas cause their infant to become restless and irritable, while others find little effect. Breastfeeding women should monitor their caffeine intake and try to keep it to a minimum.

Complications

Many women have trouble getting the newborn to latch on and begin breastfeeding. This can usually be overcome with the help of a lactation consultant or pediatric nurse. Breastfeeding can cause the mother to develop sore, infected nipples. This is usually a temporary condition that should not be a reason to stop breastfeeding.

Complications from bottle feeding tend to be related to the infant’s difficulty in digesting formula. Some infants become gassy and colicky and may fuss, cry for long periods, and spit up cow’s milk-based formula. A switch to soy-based formula on the advice of a healthcare professional usually relieves this problem. Other complications of formula feeding are generally related to improper mixing of formula.

Parental concerns

Breastfeeding parents often are concerned about whether their baby is getting enough milk, since there is no way to directly measure how much milk a baby consumes when nursing. Newborns should have a minimum of 6-8 wet diapers and four bowel movements during the first two weeks of life. As the child grows, these numbers will gradually decrease. In addition, a woman’s breasts should feel hard and full (sometimes even painful) before nursing, and softer after nursing. Newborns nurse every 2–3 hours, but they should seem satisfied after nursing. The most definite sigh that the baby is getting enough food is that he or she is gaining weight.

Infants grow in irregular spurts. They may eat hungrily for a few days and then eat little few days later. Parents often worry about this, but it is a normal occurrence.

The transition to solid food is often a slow process. Infants eat very small amounts and often must be exposed to a new food multiple times before they will eat it willingly. Since childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States, parents and caregivers should avoid encouraging the infant to overeat.

5 Things I've Learned By Stopping The Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:05:00 +0000

Every so often, I awaken upset, look in the mirror, and decide that I need to diet, stop eating gluten, juice, or lose weight.

For about two seconds.

Then, I stop myself and remember that diets don't work. Or, more accurately, diets do not work long-term.

Most importantly though, I remember that diets do not solve my interpersonal relationships and negative self-talk. Translated: People do not like me because of the size of ass.

Diets, as we understand them, are often society-approved manifestos of self-loathing and 'unacceptable' thinking. This is because most diets are marketed a means to change what we falsely believe is wrong with our physical form.

Put another way: when you commit to a diet, you are subconsciously telling yourself that there is something wrong with you. Now, I know that that is a whoa statement, but think about it:

When was the last time you dieted because you loved yourself in that moment?

Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of choices we can make to affirm our health and exercise our self-care. And, some of these choices will certainly affect our eating habits. But still, when we decide to diet we need to ask: what don't I love about myself in this moment and is that true?

After many years of suffering, I learned to stop dieting. Period. I don't allow myself to diet, because, for me, dieting is a maladaptive response to some negative feedback in my mind that I need to offer some love to. And, while this means that I lose the fairytale of body (control) equals happiness, I gain insight about myself!

Don't diet to 'fix' something. Don't diet to better define yourself. Maybe, let go of the idea of 'diet' altogether.

Here's what I've learned sans diet...

1. I know what hunger feels like.

When we're constantly dieting, we lose sight of what hunger feels like. (Yes. Hunger shows up with a physical feeling!) Instead of asking what does my body need?, dieting externalizes and codifies food choices; we eat by schedule and plan, instead of our tummies! This means we often ignore or over-feed our hunger cues. And, in my experience, the misappropriation of hunger cues is exactly where craving and binge eating comes from. When we ignore our bodily insight, we tend to make heroes (or villains) out of muffins! Don't do that.

2. I have a woman's body.

The first time I heard my sweetie call my body womanly I cried. (True story! It was a hot mess...) Then, I remembered, a woman is who I am meant to be. Not only does diet mentality inform how we feed ourselves, a dieting mentality sets unnecessary parameters on what we should look like! Letting go of the diet allows for us to look like ourselves. Sure, this might take some getting used to (it did for me...), but ultimately, looking like you is a beautiful thing!

3. Happiness is not found on my plate.

When I learned to stop planning for a daily diet, I realized that I was starving away other needs that I had! Dieting creates a hyper-consciousness about food choices and (temporarily) distances us from our other hungers. Sometimes, we need a hug. A massage. A kickin' yoga class. And, when we are nourished appropriately, we learn better feel what we *actually* need to nourish our bodies.

4. I've actually learned to trust myself more.

By not surrendering my food choices to an arbitrary plan, I actually learned to trust myself more. And, this makes sense! It's hard to trust yourself when you are actively telling your body that some plan knows better than you! The more I've learned to listen to my body and eat based on my choices, the more I've learned to love and trust myself. The best part—these empowering feelings permeate into all of my choices.

5. I like chocolate... but, not that much!

When all foods are valid, tastes change. You might find that those foods you "love" you actually just like. You might remember that kale tastes pretty good! When I eat what my body wants, I find that my mind learns to crave less. Experientially, I come to recognize that most of my cravings were born out of rules, rigidity, and dieting!

When I am intuitively nourishing myself, there is no physical reason to crave anything. In fact, if I feel a craving popping into my head it's usually because I've deemed something 'bad' or denied my body. Nutritionists teach that there are no "bad" foods; this is often called the "non-diet approach." For me, non-dieting means I do not have to live in extremes. I no longer compulsively crave chocolate because I have it when I want. It actually *is* that simple. Sure, I still indulge from time to time. But, indulgence is my choice—not a primal act of defiance.

Our bodies are highly intelligent. We just have to give them room and space to sweetly share what they instinctually know!

Are YOU ready to ditch your diet?

Stop Dieting and Start Living

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:04:00 +0000

You’ve heard it so many times that you probably say it in your sleep. "Diets don’t work; if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to make a lifestyle change."

But what does a lifestyle change look or feel like, and how do you know when you’ve made one? The way some people talk about it, you’d think there’s some sort of mystical wisdom you get when you “make the change” that tells you when and what to eat, and how to stop worrying about the number on the scale. Does this mean you’ll finally stop craving chocolate and start liking tofu?

The basic difference between a diet mentality and a lifestyle mentality is simply a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective may not make tofu taste better than chocolate, but it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving your goals, avoiding unnecessary suffering along the way, and hanging onto your achievements over the long haul.

Trust me on this. I’ve lost well over 350 pounds in my life—I know how to do that. But I also put 200 of those back on again, getting bigger each time. The 150 pounds I lost a few years ago is staying off, because I’ve changed my perspective.

Here are the main ways a diet differs from a lifestyle:

A diet is all about numbers—the number on the scale and the number of calories you eat and burn. Success is defined in terms of how well you stick to your numbers.

A lifestyle change is all about you. It’s about lining up your eating and physical activity with your real goals and desires. Success is defined in terms of how these changes make you feel about yourself.
The diet mentality assumes that reaching a certain weight is the key to finding happiness and solving other problems. That’s why messing up the numbers on any given day can be so upsetting—it means you’ve messed up on just about everything that really matters.

The lifestyle approach assumes that being overweight is usually the result of other problems, not the cause. Addressing these problems directly is the best way to solve both the problems themselves and your weight issues. This means focusing on many things, not just the numbers on the scale or the Nutrition Tracker. Numbers only tell a small part of the story, and “bad” numbers often provide good clues into areas that need attention.
Going on a diet involves an external and temporary change in eating technique. You start counting and measuring, and you stop eating some foods and substitute others, based on the rules of whatever diet plan you are using. Maybe you throw in some exercise to burn a few extra calories. You assume that it’s the technique that produces the results, not you. The results of a diet are external; if you’re lucky, you may change on the outside—but not on the inside. Once you reach your goal weight, you don’t need the technique anymore, and things gradually go back to “normal.” So does your weight—and then some. And, of course, all the problems you hoped the weight loss would solve are still there.

Making a lifestyle change involves an internal and permanent change in your relationship with food, eating, and physical activity. You recognize that the primary problem isn’t what you eat, or even how much you eat, but how and why you eat. Eating mindlessly and impulsively (without intention or awareness) and/or using food to manage your emotions and distract yourself from unpleasant thoughts—this is what really needs to change. Learning to take good care of yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually—so that you don’t want to use eating to solve problems it really can’t—is a lifelong learning process that is constantly changing as your needs and circumstances change

Senators to Dr. Oz: Stop Promising Weight-Loss Miracles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:03:00 +0000

A Senate subcommittee told Dr. Mehmet Oz to quit making unfounded claims about "miracle" dietary supplements—because he is feeding a sordid, under-regulated industry and a misguided culture of shortcuts.

“I can’t figure this out,” Senator Claire McCaskill prompted Mehmet Oz yesterday, from halfway across a capacious hearing room. Her tone implied that, at least to some degree, she had figured it out.

That was the reason her subcommittee summoned Oz to Washington.

“I get that you do a lot of good on your show. I understand that you give a lot of great information about health in a way that’s easily understandable. You’re very talented, you’re obviously very bright, and you’ve been trained in science-based medicine." Accolades piled up until a buckling of decorum was imminent.

"Now, here are three statements you made on your show."

McCaskill read Oz’s words from past segments of The Dr. Oz Show back to him with a clinical formality that underscored their absurdity:

“You may think magic is make-believe, but this little bean has scientists saying they’ve found the magic weight loss cure for every body type: It’s green coffee extract.”

“I've got the number-one miracle in a bottle to burn your fat: It's raspberry ketone.”

“Garcinia cambogia: It may be the simple solution you’ve been looking for to bust your body fat for good.”

McCaskill continued, as if reproaching a child. “I don't know why you need to say this stuff, because you know it's not true. Why—when you have this amazing megaphone and this amazing ability to communicate—would you cheapen your show by saying things like that?”

“If I could disagree about whether they work or not,” Oz contested, speaking quickly but betraying more diffidence than his face seems used to bearing, “and I'll move on to the issue of the words that I used.”

In the world of health-media broadcasting, the words one uses are a pretty central issue. At least Oz agreed to be a witness at the hearing, “Protecting Consumers from False and Deceptive Advertising of Weight-Loss Products,” saying that he is a “cheerleader for this process.” McCaskill noted that other media and advertising players declined to participate.

“Take green coffee bean extract,” Oz continued. (The hearing's cold open was actually a 2012 clip from The Dr. Oz Show in which Oz endorsed the extract’s powers effusively, saying, "When turned into a supplement, this miracle pill can burn fat fast for anyone who wants to lose weight. It’s very exciting, and it’s breaking news … The coffee bean, in its purest, raw form, may hold the secret to weight loss that you’ve been waiting for!")

“I'm not going to argue it would pass FDA muster if it were a drug seeking approval,” Oz said in a tone strikingly contrasted to his TV segment, “but, among the natural products out there, this is a product that has several clinical trials.”

McCaskill called him on that claim. “The only one I know is 16 people in India, paid for by the company that was, in fact, written up by somebody who was being paid by the company producing it.”

“I have five papers, plus a series of basic science papers on it as well,” Oz said, literally holding a stack of what appeared to be journal articles over his head. He also said that he never takes money for endorsements on the show.

“We could spend a lot of time arguing the merits of whether coffee bean extract is worth trying or not,” Oz said—downgrading his appraisal from miraculous to “worth trying”—before changing the subject away from the bean extract, toward the elusive nature of scientific truth. “Many of the things we argue that you do with regard to your diet are likewise criticizable. Should you be on a low-fat diet, a low-carb diet? I spent a good part of my career recommending that folks have a low-fat diet. We have come full circle and no longer recommend that. It wasn't working for our patients. It is remarkably complex, as you know, to figure out what works for a dietary program.”

Oz cited complexity and, in the next breath, a need for simplicity in health messages.

“Well then why would you say that something is a miracle in a bottle?” McCaskill asked.

“My job, I feel, on the show is to be a cheerleader for the audience,” Oz spoke quickly again, moving into platitudes but never appearing disingenuous. “When they don’t think they have hope, when they don't think they can make it happen, I look everywhere, including in alternative healing traditions, for any evidence that might be supportive to them. To get folks to realize there are different ways they could rethink their future. That their best years aren't behind them. They are in front of them. They actually can lose weight. I actually do personally believe in the items I talk about in the show. I passionately study them. I recognize oftentimes they don't have the scientific muster to present as fact, but nevertheless, I would give my audience the advice I give my family."

“The scientific community is almost monolithic against you in terms of the efficacy of those three products that you called miracles,” McCaskill said. “When you call a product a miracle, and it's something you can buy, and it's something that gives people false hope, I just don't understand why you need to go there.”

Dietary supplement companies can make outlandish claims in advertisements, and they are not regulated for safety until reports of harm get the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Within that system, media messages are a turning point for whether a product is condoned or condemned. Oz, with his credible position as a professor at Columbia University and television show that reaches millions of viewers every day, occupies a critical place at the intersection of mainstream medicine and “alternative” weight-loss products. His power, yesterday’s Senate hearing made clear, will significantly influence the future of the diet-supplement industry.

***

"Snooki holds herself out as an expert in fitness," read a 2013 class-action federal lawsuit against the makers of diet pills called Zantrex.

At $40 per 14-day supply, Zantrex High Energy Fat Burner is a caffeine pill that claims on its site to confer “546 percent more weight loss than the leading ephedra-based diet pill.” Nicole Polizzi, Snooki, was temporarily the face of the pill after she publically lost weight in a short period of time. She is no longer in the ads, but the pill is still on the market.

Around the time of that lawsuit, you might also have walked into GNC and purchased something called geranium extract, a “natural” product promising an energy boost and weight loss, only to find that it contained an amphetamine derivative called dimethylamylamine (DMAA) and was linked to a couple deathsand more than 80 health complaints to the FDA, at which point, last year, the FDA sent letters to companies asking them to stop selling DMAA-containing products.

Unlike drugs, dietary supplements do not need approval for safety or effectiveness before they go to market. When safety issues arise, the FDA can investigate and take steps to remove a product. But in order for the FDA to ban a compound in a dietary supplement, it is required to undertake a series of lengthy scientific and legal actions. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, proprietors themselves are responsible for evaluating the safety of their products before marketing them—but the FDA is underequipped to police adherence to that across the massive industry. (Senators Richard Blumenthal and Richard Durbin introduced the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act in August of 2013, which would require dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the FDA and disclose the known risks of any ingredients on their labels; the bill remains in committee.)

Fraudulent health claims in advertising are the domain of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Since the first FTC case against a weight-loss scam in 1927—when, as McCaskill noted during the hearing, the pages of True Romance magazine advertised that upon using a product, "excess fat is literally dissolved away, leaving the figure slim and properly rounded, giving the lithe grace to the body every man and woman desires"—the FTC has filed more than 250 cases challenging false and unproven weight loss claims. That’s an average of just a couple per year. Four settlements were announced in January, and a complaint was filed in federal court just last month against a seller of green coffee bean extract.

Because the problem is bigger than the FDA and FTC are able to police, self-regulatory bodies within the supplement industry, like the Council for Responsible Nutrition, represented at the hearing yesterday by CEO Steve Mister, play a part. But even Mister emphasized that more must be done to protect consumers, “who unrealistically yearn for a magic bullet.” Mister pointed both to increasing resources and enforcement by the FTC and FDA, and also called on the media and retailers to reject advertisers who are making illegal claims.

The FTC has ventured into consumer education with a list of “Gut Check” dietary claims that consumers should recognize and avoid—including warning signs like “causes substantial weight loss no matter what or how much the consumer eats” and “causes substantial weight loss by wearing a product on the body or rubbing it into the skin.” (As a general rule, if a dietary supplement is delivering an energy boost and weight loss, it’s most likely high-dose caffeine, thyroid hormone, or an amphetamine derivative.)

70 percent of Americans are obese or overweight, which costs the country $190 billion every year in related healthcare costs. A 2013 Gallup survey said that 50 percent of Americans want to lose weight, but only half that many report seriously putting effort into it. The market for simple solutions is massive, and its pervasiveness is costly in that it undermines legitimate weight-loss messages. It’s in the context of that type of public-health threat and consumer fraud that the senate subcommittee took Oz to task.

“I don't think this ought to be a referendum on the use of alternative medical therapies,” Oz said. “I have been criticized for having folks come on my show talking about the power of prayer. Again, as a practitioner, I can't prove that prayer helps people survive an illness.

“But it’s hard to buy prayer,” McCaskill said.

“Yes,” Oz smiled. “Prayer's free. That's a very good point. Thankfully, prayer's free.”

In defending green coffee bean extract, Oz said, “I say it all the time: I don't sell it, and these are not for long-term use. ... If you can lose a pound a week more than you would have lost doing the things you should be doing already—you can’t sprinkle it on kielbasa and expect it to work—but if that trial data is what's in your life and you get a few pounds off, it jump starts you and gives you confidence, and you follow the things we talk about every single day including those seven items, I think it makes sense.”

“Where I do think I made it more difficult for the FTC is in the intent to engage viewers,” Oz said, “I used flowery language. Language that was very passionate but ended up not being helpful, but incendiary. It provided fodder for unscrupulous advertisers. That clip you played is over two years old, and I have done hundreds of segments since then. We have specifically restricted our use of words.”

“I have not been talking about products in that way for two years,” Oz later reiterated. “And it has not changed at all what I’m seeing on the Internet. Frankly, it’s getting worse, so I completely heed your commentary. And I realize, to my colleagues at the FTC, that I have made their jobs more difficult.”

McCaskill refuted Oz's claim to have reformed, noting that just three weeks ago he said that a supplement product "literally flushes fat from your system. … Every time you cheat on your diet, I want you to grab one of these tiny, itty-bitty pills. This tiny tablet can push a lot of fat out of your belly.”

“It seems to me that if you said, every time you cheat on your diet, I want you to take a walk, that would eliminate the problem that is at the root of this hearing today. That your credibility is being threatened by a notion that we can take an itty-bitty pill to flush fat out of our systems. In January, you called forskolin ‘lightning in a bottle’ and ‘a miracle flower to fight fat.’”

“I know that you feel that you’re a victim,” McCaskill said, “but sometimes conduct invites being a victim. I think if you would be more careful, maybe you wouldn’t be victimized quite as frequently.”

“I know you know how much power you have,” McCaskill continued. “You are very powerful. With great power comes a great deal of responsibility. And I know you take it seriously, and I know you care about your audience and America’s health. You are being made an example of today because of the power you have in this space. We didn’t call this hearing to beat up on you. We called it to talk about a real crisis in consumer protection.”

“Your comments about the language are well heard,” Oz said. “I host a daytime TV show where I feel a need to bring passion to people’s lives about what they can do. … And I appreciate your kind words about the power I have. I’m in a position where I’m second-guessing every word I use on the show right now.”

“When I feel as a host of a show that I can’t use words that are flowery, that are exultatory, I feel like I’ve been disenfranchised,” Oz continued, “like my power has been taken away to get people. You don’t want to be on a pulpit talking about how passionate you are about life and thinking, well you know, if I use that word it’s going to be quoted back to me. And yes, the hundred words around it are all about doing other things right. So, I’m very respectful, I’ve heard the message, I’ve told my colleagues at the FTC, I get it.”

“Okay, good.” McCaskill paused. “No one’s telling you not to use passion. But passion in connection with the words ‘miracle pill’ is a recipe for disaster.”

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Laura

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Many people think that eating or drinking anything other than water right after a workout will make you gain weight. The truth is that if you don't do something to recover, your blood sugar takes a dive and free radicals are released in the blood.

This can not only lead to unhealthy cravings later on but can also damage your skin. So Laura always eats or drinks something replenishing right after a workout. A healthy protein shake, as sold by many fitness centers, is a great idea. Or just look at her recipe below!

Laura's Beauty Tips

This New York model's favorite beauty tip is something we should all take note of. She has always loved her beauty sleep, and a firm believer that your skin can always benefit from more rest.
All cells, including skin cells, regenerate over night. According to Laura, "If you want younger skin, get some rest!"
Another way that Laura keeps her eyes looking young and fresh is to use a highlighting shadow. Just apply an iridescent white or silver color in the inner corners of eyes to brighten them up and make you look years younger!

Laura's Recipe

Sweet Potato Wedges
Ingredients:
1 large sweet potato
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Mixed herbs / cumin / mild chilli powder
These delicious sweet potato wedges are low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber. They're also really filling so they're a great diet food. This recipe makes about 2 portions.
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 6
2. Peel the sweet potato and cut into wedges
3. In a bowl, mix together the wedges, olive oil, salt, pepper and the spice of your choice
4. Place the wedges flat on a baking tray lined with foil, and bake for about 25 minutes or until tender and golden
For a little variety, you can do the same with potato, pumpkin, yams, and parsnip.

Recovery Shake
Ingredients:
Acai (high antioxidant berry from Brazil)
Blueberries
Blackberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Rice milk

Just mix it all together in the blender! The berries can either be fresh or frozen. For thicker consistency, add a small amount of rice or soy milk. For thinner, add more milk.

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Sorelle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Sorelle lives in an apartment with her dog and this ensures that she follows a faithful exercise regime - she needs to get up and walk him for at least 30-45 minutes everyday. Since walking the dog consumes quite a lot of time, Sorelle stays interested by listening to audio books on her iPod.

Since stress releases excess Cortisol, a hormone responsible for storing abdominal fat, Sorelle tries to keep her stress levels as low as possible. She soaks away her stress when time allows by adding aromatherapy essential oils to her bath.

For a relaxing herbal bath, try adding 5 drops Chamomile, 3 drops Geranium, 5 drops Lavender, and 2 drops Lemon into a warm bath.
Sorelle also keeps her sweet tooth satisfied by a selection of 0 calorie fruit teas.

Sorelle's Beauty Tips

Sorelle keeps her skin porcelain smooth by avoiding make-up when unnecessary. Make-up interferes with the skins natural healing process so letting it breath can really work wonders.

Sorelle's Recipe

Cranberry Cleanser
Ingredients:
1 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1 cinnamon stick
sliced ginger
1 tsp. honey
2 Raspberry tea bags
Orange rinds and cinnamon sticks for garnish

In a saucepan, heat cranberry juice, cinnamon stick, sliced ginger and honey just until its boiling. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and cinnamon stick. Pour into mugs with orange slices and cinnamon sticks.

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Annie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Have you ever read the book 'French Women Don't Get Fat'? As a French Canadian, Annie subscribes to the same theory, that eating in moderation is the best way to lose weight and live a great life.
She doesn't restrict her diet to certain food groups, and she even has a glass of red wine when she feels like it, with all its benefits for the heart. An occasional piece of dark chocolate also has great antioxidant qualities.

Annie's daily diet starts with a full breakfast comprised of fruit, soy milk and nuts. This gives her energy for the day and prevents her from needing to snack before lunch.
Annie avoids caffeinated beverages such as coffee to keep her long legs cellulite-free. Excess caffeine contributes to a build-up of chemicals and toxins and can cause cellulite to build up under the skin.

Lunch is usually something healthy and filling like a fish dish, pasta or sandwich. Dinner is then lighter, for example a salad or soup, with definitely no carbs at night!
If Annie needs to snack between meals, or has a long modeling shoot without a lunch break, she snacks on nuts.

In addition to eating light, Annie keeps in shape for her swimwear shoots by doing Yoga three times a week. This tones her body, stimulates her mind and improves her posture.

Annie's Beauty Tips

Annie keeps her skin beautifully smooth with a great, home-grown beauty tip. She adds a small amount of baking soda to her daily facial wash, turning it into a refreshing, light facial scrub that gently removes dead cells.

For Annie's modeling career, she needs to take care of her hands and nails. To ensure that her cuticles stay in great shape, she gives herself manicures with sea salt and olive oil. Just mix together and rub gently into your cuticles!

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Annie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Annie's Beauty Tips

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Gillian

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Gillian's diet consists primarily of vegetables like pulses and legumes (eg. Beans, Tofu etc). Although these can contain high levels of protein, Gillian's regular gym visits mean she needs to add extra protein-enriched foods. She allows herself lean fillets of fish, like tuna and swordfish, and the occasional chicken or turkey breast.

Gillian's Beauty Tips

Gillian swears by Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. It's intense moisturizing action offers relief to dry skin, particularly on your face. This is a great idea for travellers too, as aeroplane air can quickly dry you out.
She tends to suffer from very dry lips, so she also uses a tooth brush to exfoliate them twice a week. Move the toothbrush in a gentle circular motion, add water to rinse, then apply the Eight Hour Cream on top.

Lastly, Gillian is a great believer in exercise as good for your health and well being. She does 1 hour each morning of weight lifting and ball exercises, plus 30 minutes of cardio 2-3 times a week.

Gillian's Recipe

Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
1 Medium Onion, finely chopped
2 Large Carrots, grated
1 Leek, finely chopped (sometimes I vary with 2 celery stalks)
4 New Potatoes, grated
1 can of Flageolet Beans, drained
1 Organic Vegetable Stock Cube, mixed with 1ltr of boiled water.
Salt/Pepper to season
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Put 1 tbsp of the olive oil into the pot and sauté the onions over a medium heat for approx 4 minutes. Add the grated potatoes and carrots and cook for a further 5 minutes, then add the leek/celery and heat until all of the vegetables are al dente (approx 3 mins).

Pour in the vegetable stock and keep on the heat until it boils, then take off the heat and slowly puree in your blender. Once it's all been blended to your liking, pour back into the pot and place over a low heat. You can add in Chilli flakes now if you wish (they increase your metabolism) and extra salt/pepper to taste.
Once it's boiling again, add in the can of Flageolet Beans and cook for a further 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow to sit for a few minutes before serving.

This recipe will provide approx 4-6 servings, so a great food to keep in your fridge when dieting!

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Gillian

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Gillian's Beauty Tips

Gillian's Recipe

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Kerstin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:32:00 +0000

During a long day modeling its sometimes hard to avoid hunger pangs. Kerstin always carries a bag of almonds with her to snack on. As well as being a great low fat snack, almonds help regulate blood sugar levels and curb food cravings.

As a model and actress, Kerstin knows the importance of maintaining a very straight and correct posture. Standing straight improves the appearance of the body shape instantly. For exercise she loves to practice Yoga and Pilates to keep her body in tip top condition and her posture perfectly straight.

Kerstin also sprinkles cinnamon on yogurt, cottage cheese, cereal, apple sauce and in her tea. Cinnamon naturally speeds up metabolism and stabilizes blood sugars, just what you need to aid fat loss!

Kerstin's Beauty Tips

Kerstin keeps her complexion young and beautiful with Clarins face products. She likes it because it absorbs easily, has a delicate fragrance and makes her skin supple and soft.
Kerstin has always tried to be a conscientious model and has turned down fur commercials in the past.
Clarins is perfect for her and other animal lovers because they don't test their products on animals.
One more tip from this German beauty - flax seed capsules promote healthy skin and a speedy metabolism. Just take them with your vitamins in the morning!

Kerstin's Recipe

Baked Stuffed Eggplant
Ingredients:
1 eggplant (aubergine)
Olive oil, extra virgin
1 onion
Mushrooms
Pesto
Cheese
Salt
Pepper

Slice one big eggplant into two halves, scoop them out with a teaspoon and place in a bowl. Spread a little olive oil inside, then place in the oven and leave for about 10 minutes at 200C (or 400F).
Chop some onions and fry in a pan until golden brown, then add the flesh that you scooped out of the eggplant, plus with the mushrooms. Add a little salt, pepper and pesto.

Remove the slices of eggplant from the oven, and fill with the fried vegetables. You can also grate some cheese on top. Put back into the oven and leave for another 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and has a golden colour. Delicious!

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Kerstin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Kerstin's Beauty Tips

Kerstin's Recipe

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

As a committed vegetarian, Kelly gets all the antioxidants she needs from a diet high in fruit and vegetables. She maintains her soft skin and clear complexion by eating a variety of fruits between meals, instead of high calorie snacks. She incorporates other foods like avocado and brown rice into her meals for extra beautiful skin.

Kelly's Beauty Tips

Kelly keeps her skin soft and wrinkle-free by staying out of the sun as much as possible.
During long, outdoor photo shoots she's careful to apply SPF30, making sure not to make the common mistake of missing her ears and neck.
Kelly also uses hair products with SPF protection. Most people don't even consider the effects of UV rays on their hair, but they can easily make it dry, brittle and full of split ends.
If you don't have any SPF hair products handy, spraying on a thin layer of quick-drying sun lotion will have the same effect.

Kelly's Recipe

Brown Rice with Tomato & Avocado

Ingredients:
1 cup of brown rice
15 cherry tomatoes
1 avocado
few sprigs cilantro
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon (squeezed)

Cook brown rice as directed. Mix all ingredients together, then season to taste and serve on a flat plate. This should serve 2 people, and at 300 calories each its great for a light lunch or dinner.

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Kelly's Beauty Tips

Kelly's Recipe

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Robbie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Robbie keeps her metabolism high with a combination of food and exercise. She adds Cayenne pepper to food and snacks to increase her body temperature and help her burn fat faster. She is a regular at her local gym, where she lifts weights to increase her muscle mass. Remember - muscle burns 90% more calories than fat!

Robbie also eats plenty of mussels, shrimps, and squid. They are very low in calories and fat, yet high in protein. For fruit and vegetables, she hits the local farmers market every week to keep her fridge stocked with fresh, seasonal produce.

This Aussie model boosts her circulation and detoxifies her body by alternating hot and cold showers. This is done by turning the shower to a cold setting for 2-3 minutes, then to a hot setting for 2-3 minutes, and repeating 2-3 times.

Robbie's Beauty Tips

What's Robbie's favorite beauty tip? Robbie uses Vaseline to keep both her lips and the skin under her eyes super hydrated.
"I think Vaseline is the cheapest and most under rated beauty secret of all time", she says.

Other fans of Vaseline include Jessica Alba and Tyra Banks, who use it anywhere from their feet to their face. Its also great for pushing back nail cuticles.
Vaseline is not this Aussie stunner's only skin secret - she exfoliates regularly and swears by MD Formulations face and body scrub as the best she's ever tried.

Robbie's Recipe

Tuna Tartare

Ingredients:
8oz fresh tuna (240 cal)
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil (40 cal)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped (5 cal)
2 sprigs cilantro (1 cal)
1/2 shallot (14 cal)
lemon juice(1 cal)
salt
pepper

Chop the tuna in small cubes and place in a bowl. Add the pressed garlic, cilantro leaves and the chopped shallot (or onion). Take it out of the bowl and manually press it into a ball shape, then place on a plate.
Add a couple of small sprigs of cilantro (coriander) for presentation and season to taste. Drizzle with lemon juice and serve with a slice of lemon.

This could be an appetizer for two - at 140 calories each its a really tasty, guilt-free dish. Or you can keep it all for yourself and have it as a main course!

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Robbie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Robbie's Beauty Tips

Robbie's Recipe

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Nyree

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:00 +0000

At the start of her modeling career, Nyree lost 20lbs by cutting out chocolate, chips and high calorie fast food.

She avoided temptation by keeping low fat snacks around the house instead.
Nyree drinks Perrier with a splash of fruitjuice to keep the calories down, while providing a refreshing hydrating drink.

Her favorite snacks? Sweet potatoes, grilled in the oven and dipped in ketchup. Looking for other ideas? How about low fat popcorn, edamame, pickles or low fat frozen yoghurt.

Nyree likes to vary her workout to avoid routine and boredom. Her favourite exercises are swimming and hiking. She always has a coffee before any kind of workout. Consuming a caffeinated drink within an hour of exercise keeps her going longer and encourages muscles to burn fat.

Nyree's Beauty Tips

Nyree needs to take good care of her hair to combat frizziness and split ends. She takes a heavy night cream, by Estee Lauder or any other cosmetic company, and rubs it into the ends of her hair. The cream's moisturizing action is comparable to any expensive hair cream.

Nyree's Recipes

Skin-Restoring Delicious Guacamole

Ingredients:

2 avocados
1 tomato
Half an onion
1 clove garlic, grated
lemon/lime juice, fresh
cilantro (coriander)
salt
This is a quick and easy 10-minute recipe that will impress houseguests and is all-natural and healthy for your skin. Just chop and mash up all the ingredients in a bowl, then throw a couple of sprigs of cilantro on top for presentation.

Strawberry & Mint Salad

Ingredients:
10 Strawberries
2 Cherry Tomatoes
2 Peaches
Chopped Mint
Dash of Olive Oil
Dash of Balsamic Vinegar
Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

Another easy recipe - just chop up the fruit and tomato, add the mint and drizzle a little Balsamic and olive oil. Serves 2, and its only 180 calories each!

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Nyree

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Nyree's Beauty Tips

Nyree's Recipes

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Ruby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Ruby adds a daily health tonic to her routine to keep her energized and healthy for photoshoots and TV commercials. Aloe Vera juice is packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which rid the body of harmful toxins and increase her metabolism.

To stay lean and invigorated, Ruby practices deep breathing. Deep breathing delivers more oxygen to the body - essential for burning fat. Extra oxygen through deep breathing increases your metabolism and energy, in addition to speeding up the elimination of toxins.

Ruby sticks to a healthy, low fat diet that keeps her body in great shape and her complexion perfect. Her day starts with a filling breakfast - favorite choices are oatmeal with dried fruit, muesli with yogurt, low fat cottage cheese with berries, or egg white omelet with fresh veggies. For lunch she eats a salad, then dinner is steamed veggies with brown rice and either chicken or fish. If she feels like a snack she picks up some low fat cheese, nuts or fruit.

If Ruby has any swimwear or underwear shoots coming up, she replaces lunch or dinner with vegetable soup for a few days for some quick weight loss.

Ruby's Recipes

Detox Juice
1/4 quarter cup of Aloe Vera Juice with 3/4 fresh orange juice

Easy and Quick Tomato and Chickpea Soup
3 tomatoes
Half an onion
1 can chickpeas
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Basil as a garnish
Salt

Steam the onion and tomatoes (or boil in a little water if you don't have a steamer). Throw tomatoes, onion, chickpeas, Apple Cider Vinegar and salt into the blender. 2 servings.

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Ruby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Ruby's Recipes

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Ruby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:16:00 +0000

Ruby's Recipes

Real Model Diet & Beauty Tips: Valerie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000

To keep Valerie's metabolism high, she stays fit by running along Manhattan's East River and playing basketball and other sports. Every model knows that the best way to improve your metabolism is to increase your muscle mass. That way you can burn more calories even when at rest.
Over the year portions have increased, but so have the size of plates. Valerie uses appetizer-sized plates to eat her main meals. This really is the size everyone should be using.
Valerie lives in NYC and is always on the go so has to eat out often. She always starts her meal with a broth-based soup or a salad with a low-calorie dressing. This way she gets full and eats less over the course of the meal.
Valerie bans all junk food 99% percent of the time but once in a while, when that craving for dairy milk arises, she fully enjoys it and doesn't feel guilty.

Valerie's Beauty Tips

As a model based in New York, Valerie knows the importance of having perfect skin at castings and shoots. She keeps her complexion clean and blemish-free by exfoliating twice a week.
Valerie makes sure to drink lots of water, to keep her skin fresh and youthful. She also swears by Ambi foam cleansing facewash every day.

Valerie's Recipe

Low Fat Hummus
Ingredients:
1 can of chick peas
1 tablespoon low-fat peanut butter
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 to 2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup finely minced parsley leaves
1 teaspoon Sesame Seed Oil
1 tablespoon paprika
salt

This is a great, low fat, hummus snack that substitutes peanut butter and sesame oil for the more traditional tahini. Just take all the above ingredients (except the parsley and sesame oil) and blend until pureed.
Then take out of the blender and mix in the parsley leaves and sesame oil, and leave in the refrigerator for a few hours. Lastly, add the paprika as a garnish and serve with chopped vegetables like carrots or celery.

A Real Model's Diet: Anna

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Anna has put together a delicious three day diet for us, based on our favorite weight loss foods.
You'll be surprised how filling and tasty some of these meals are. You don't need to follow the whole diet, but take a look through and you might find something useful.

Anna's Diet: Day 1

Breakfast
Oatmeal
Skimmed Milk
Handful of frozen blueberries
Coffee with milk
Total 295 calories
Lunch
Sardine Sandwich - a tin of sardines in olive oil or sunflower oil, 2 tomato slices and chili flakes on 2 slices of brown bread
Total 300 calories
Snack
Small bag of Almonds
Total 100 calories

Dinner
Grilled Chicken and Kobacha salad
(Grilled chicken breast with the skin removed, mixed with 1 cup of Kobacha Squash, spinach leaves, avocado, tablespoon olive oil and balsamic vinegar)
Total 400 calories
Snack
1 glass of white wine
Total 120 calories
Day 1 Total = 1205 calories

Anna's Diet: Day 2

Breakfast
1/2 Grapefruit
1 Slice Wholewheat toast, thinly spread with almond butter
Coffee with milk-
Total 202 calories

Lunch
Chickpea salad - 1/3 tin of chickpeas, 1/4 onion, 1 tomato, black olives, basil, chopped fresh chilies or chili flakes, 1 tablespoon olive oil
A couple small pieces of bread
Perrier
Total 440 calories
Snack
Blended Blueberry smoothie - 1 cups blueberries, 1 small plan yogurt, milk
Total 250 calories
Dinner
Grilled Fillet Steak and salad - Rocket lettuce leaves, tomatoes and olives with a light vinaigrette
Total 350 calories
Snack
Kobacha Squash wedges - baked then served with salt and ketchup
Total 100 calories
Day 2 Total = 1342 calories

Anna's Diet: Day 3

Breakfast
Omelet - 2 eggs, low-fat cheese, 1 tomato, a couple chopped mushrooms and chili flakes
Coffee with milk
Total 350 calories
Lunch
Sardine salad
1 slice whole wheat bread
Fresh Orange juice
Total 300 calories
Snack
1 Grapefruit
Total 64 calories

Dinner
Chickpea and Kobacha squash salad - grilled Kobacha, chickpeas, beets and crumbled feta
Total 420 calories
Snack
Plain yogurt with blueberries and a tablespoon honey
Total 200 calories
Day 3 Total = 1334 calories

A Real Model's Diet: Gillian

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Gillian has been successfully working as a fashion model in Asia and around the world for years. On this page she has prepared a 3-day food diary for us.
Just like most diets followed by real models, it featured lots of snacks, small portion sizes and healthy food for her complexion. Click on any of these links to take you straight to Gillian's diet for day 1, 2 or 3.

Gillian's Diet: Day 1

8:30am Breakfast
Large piece of Melon (50 calories)
Piece of wholewheat bread with boiled egg with a slice of smoke salmon (200 calories)
Black coffee (9 calories)
Total 259 calories

1:15pm Lunch
Salmon sashimi with Brown Rice (200 calories)
Starbucks Non-fat Latte (160 calories)
Total 360 calories
4:30pm Snack
Low fat muffin (150 calories)
Total 150 calories
7:30pm Dinner
Roast Chicken (250 calories)
Broccoli (100 calories)
Glass of white wine (120 calories)
Total 470 calories
Day 1 Total = 1239 calories

Gillian's Diet: Day 2

8:45am Breakfast
Blended Banana Almond power smoothie
1 banana (100 calories)
Handful of almonds (50 calories)
1 cup of skimmed milk (90 calories)
Total 240 calories
12:50pm Lunch
1 med size bowl of Greek Salad (250 calories)
Piece of whole wheat bread (170 calories)
Perrier (0 calories)
Total 420 calories
3:50pm Snack
Low fat yoghurt (190 calories)
Total 190 calories
8:10pm Dinner
1 fillet of snapper (220 calories)
1 cove minced garlic (4 calories)
Asparagus (20 calories)
Spinach (20 calories)
Glass of cranberry juice (125 calories)
Total 389 calories
9:00pm Snack
1 cup of frozen grapes (60 calories)
Total 60 calories
Day 2 Total = 1299 calories

Gillian's Diet: Day 3

9:30am Breakfast
Luna bar (200 calories)
Black Coffee (9 calories)
1 banana (100 calories)
Total 309 calories
1:30pm Lunch
Tuna salad
Can of tuna in vegetable oil (200 calories)
Cucumber (10 calories)
Half bag of baby spinach (20 calories)
Cherry tomatoes (30 calories)
Balsamic vinegar (10 calories)
Squeezed lemon juice (2 calories)
Total 272 calories
4:00pm Snack
1/4 cup dried apricots (100 calories)
Total 100 calories
8:00pm Dinner
Low calorie pizza
1 wholewheat pitta bread (170 calories)
1 sliced tomato (30 calories)
Part skimmed ricotta cheese (80 calories)
Fresh basil leaves (2 calories)
Total 282 calories
9:30pm Snack
Bowl of Edamame (120 calories) Total 120 calories
Day 3 Total = 1303 calories

A Real Model's Diet: Robbie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Robbie is a successful Australian model whose career has taken her around the world. Click on any of these links to take you straight to Robbie's diet for day 1, 2 or 3.

Robbie has faced the usual pressures of the modeling industry, but has managed to stay healthy and beautiful. Here is her diet from 3 typical days. Remember that Robbie is a regular at her local gym - the more exercise you do, the less strict your diet can be!

Robbie's Diet: Day 1

8:00am Breakfast
Bowl of wholegrain cereal with soy milk (240 calories)
Coffee with soy milk (10 calories)
Total 250 calories

10:30am Snack
Banana (100 calories)
Total 100 calories
1:45pm Lunch
Tomato and Cucumber Sandwich with Low Fat Mayonnaise(260 calories)
Orange Juice (100 calories)
Total 360 calories
4:30pm Snack
Small Bag of Almonds (100 calories)
Total 100 calories
8:00pm Dinner
Baked Salmon with Steamed Broccoli & Garlic (350 calories)
Cup of Fresh Blueberries (120 calories)
Total 470 calories
Day 1 Total = 1280 calories

Robbie's Diet: Day 2

8:45am Breakfast
2-Egg Omelette with Chopped Tomatoes (215 calories)
Black Coffee (9 calories)
Total 224 calories
10:30am Snack
Low Fat Yogurt (90 calories)
Total 90 calories
1:10pm Lunch
6-8 pieces salmon avocado roll (300 calories)
Cup of green tea (10 calories)
Total 310 calories
3:30pm Snack
Chewy granola bar (130 calories)
Total 130 calories
7:00pm Dinner
Grilled Chicken Breast with Salad of Walnuts, Cranberries, Tomatoes (350 calories)
1 Glass of White Wine (120 calories)
Total 470 calories
8:50pm Snack
Frozen Cherries (100 calories)
Total 100 calories
Day 2 Total = 1324 calories

Robbie's Diet: Day 3

9:30am Breakfast
Fruit Smoothie with Extra Soy & Flax Seed (250 calories)
English Breakfast Tea with Skimmed Milk (10 calories)
Total 260 calories
1:00pm Lunch
Vegetable Wrap with Hummus Spread (250 calories)
Diet Coke (0 calories)
3 Slices of Pineapple (100 calories)
Total 350 calories
5:20pm Snack
Protein Bar (200 calories)
Total 200 calories
8:00pm Dinner
Tuna Tartare (180 calories)
Edamame (100 calories)
Low Fat Brownie (100 calories)
Total 380 calories
9:30pm Snack
1 Cup Salted Popcorn (50 calories)
Total 50 calories
Day 3 Total = 1240 calories
You've probably noticed that this diet has a lot of snacks. Its actually been shown that it is possible to lose weight by reducing portion sizes and increasing the number of meals per day. Eating more meals can actually make you slimmer!