I've said it before: When it comes to weight loss, there are no quick fixes -- well, at least none that are healthy and effective in the long run. These days, there's a lot of buzz about one quick weight loss plan. Dubbed a miracle pill, this once-daily medication has been shown to shrink study participants two clothing sizes in six months, more effective than any other pill on the market.

Here's the scary part: Originally developed to treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, tesofensine alters the chemicals in the brain that control appetite and hunger. The side effects include diarrhea, nausea, constipation, insomnia and mood changes. Yikes!

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Well this is one of those subjects, that I, even with all of my degrees and such ... I just can't wrap my head around explaining it perfectly to you. I guess that's what links are for!

Let's just put it this way, a combination of: fruit, gas, fermentation, constipation, pelvic rotation and inflammation can be causing your back pain. I don't think this article will provide the answer to everyone's back pain, but for some ... maybe so!

The article even suggests that a "pooping situation" or "lack of pooping situation" might be responsible for weight gain. So! Without further a-doodoo, click here.

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One recent story that's been populating my google reader several times over is the recent comparison of diets. In short, low-carb diets were found to be the most successful, followed by the Mediterranean diet, with low-fat diets in last place.

But don't be so quick to trash all your bread and pasta. Low-carb diets aren't all their cracked up to be. I'm Not Obsessed recently revealed one very big problem with low-carb plans: Not enough fiber, leading to digestive issues, particularly constipation. As someone with IBS (read: regular digestive issues) I would stay away from this kind of diet, and I'm not expert but maybe you should too.

The key, if you ask me, is balance. Low-carb diets can help you slim down, but don't take it to an extreme. Make sure you're still getting a bit of healthy, whole grain fiber in your diet. You know, to keep things moving.

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In the market for a tasty, healthy treat? Try blueberries. Why? Read on and you'll find a handful of reasons.

Blueberries are quite low in calories -- there are only 83 calories in one cup, says CalorieKing.com. If for some reason, this is too much for you, you can burn these calories off with any one of the following: 11 minutes of walking, four minutes of jogging, three minutes of swimming, or six minutes of cycling (based on a 35-year-old female standing 5.74 feet tall and weighing 144 pounds). Or you could just pick some berries yourself -- I did the other day and spent about 45 minutes walking up and down rows of bushes, sweating my butt off. I surely burned off a serving or two of these blue berries. Really, though, it doesn't matter to me whether or not I burn them off because they are so darn good for me, the health trade-off is worth the caloric intake.

According to the The World's Healthiest Foods, blueberries are superbly healthy for these reasons.

• They are good for the heart, the brain, and the eyes.
• They protect against colon and ovarian cancers.
• They promote gastrointestinal health.
• They help relieve diarrhea and constipation.
• Their antioxidants neutralize free radical damage to cells and tissues.
  
  

Clearly, blueberries are bursting with health benefits. So buy some, pick some, eat some. They'll do your body good. So will the following antioxidant-rich foods.

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There are plenty of medical breakthroughs out there that have changed our lives for the better, and though some might think the enema is one of them, most would prefer not to bring that up in conversation. But in the Russian city of Zheleznovodsk, located in the Caucasus mountain region, a spa recently erected a monument to the procedure.

The monument, an 800-pound bronze bulb syringe being held by three angels, was accompanied by a banner that read, "Let's beat constipation and sloppiness with enemas." The Caucasus mountain region is famous for its spas and mineral waters, which are used during enemas to relieve digestive problems.

The sculptor says that the statue was made with "irony and humor," while the spa's director said that, "The enema is almost a symbol of our region." I guess everyone is good at something... but I'm not sure that something needs to be bronzed!

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Olive oil is a great source of healthy fats, helping to lower cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular complications. However, a recent Men's Health article listed five alternative uses for this healthy kitchen staple, many of which may come as somewhat of a surprise.

1. Remove Paint From Your Skin. No longer do you have to deal with the putrid stench of paint thinner to wash that lavender wall paint off your hands. Evidently, olive oil's lubricant properties softens your skin and the paint itself, making it much easier to scrub away.

2. Ease Constipation. A doctor at the London Nutrition Clinic was quoted in the Men's Health article as saying that taking two tablespoons of olive oil will soften your stools and make your sit-down session a bit more tolerable (well, that's me paraphrasing what he said. His actual quote was far more charmingly British.)

3. Fight Bad Breath. Bacteria in your mouth is one of the main causes of raunchy breath. Rinsing once or twice daily with a tablespoon of olive oil will bind the bacteria together, helping to reduce the smell (and thus increasing your chances of finding a date for this weekend).

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Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

Are you getting your share of psyllium? Ok, let's start from the beginning -- do you know what psyllium is? Many don't. And those of you who have heard of it may not know much about it. Perhaps you've heard about psyllium from none other than Regis Philbin? He's been touting the benefits of psyllium fiber in All Bran Cereal on TV commercials that have appeared all over the airwaves. And it really is a part of a nutritious diet.

Here's a bit of history: Psyllium comes from the seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, which can be found in parts of Asia, Northern Africa and the Mediterranean. Typically, only the husks of the plant are used, and these days, they're cultivated around the globe. Traditionally, psyllium has been known as a great source of fiber -- it contains roughly 70% soluble fiber and 30% insoluble fiber.

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Flaxseed is fast becoming a new health buzz word. It's scientific name translates as "most useful," and this is exactly what flax has become in the world of nutrition.

Flax is fiber-filled and can aid in digestion and relieve constipation. It's a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid, and can cut the incidence of sudden heart attacks. It's also been implicated in the decrease of menopausal symptoms -- try 1 to 1.5 ounces of flaxseed a day and see if it brings you some relief.

Adding flax to your diet isn't hard. It can be purchased in seed, oil, or powder form and can be sprinkled or drizzled on salads, bagels, hot or cold cereals, and more. There are just two rules for the use of flax: Limit your intake to two tablespoons per day and store your goods in the refrigerator to slow oxidation.

So tell us: Do you flax?

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Irritable bowel syndrome may have something to do with your personality, a study shows. The condition, which is characterized by inflammation of the gut and embodies moderate to severe symptoms like diarrhea and constipation, may be linked to anxiety and stress.

I believe it -- mostly. I have IBS and I'm also an anxious person, despite my best attempts to be laid-back. I saw a naturopathic doctor who went as far as to tell me that it was really just all in my head and if I learned to calm down I could be rid of IBS. And while I think what he says has some sort of merit, I think that's over-simplifying the problem. 'Calming down' (read: changing my entire personality) isn't very easy, and I have severe symptoms whether I am in super-stressed-out mode or on relaxed-vacation mode.

What do you think about all this?

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Okie doke. So I think we all know the awesome effects a lifestyle full of fruits and veggies can provide. A lighter leaner body, higher brain function, resilience to an infinite amount of illnesses and diseases, etc. But, what about the ill side effects? Well there are a few...and what brings them up is a conversation one of my new personal training clients and I had today.

Her first appointment was three days ago, and as a result of our initial session she has given the old heave ho to all the floury and sugary snack foods in her cabinets, and splurged on fruits and veggies. I'm thrilled she took my advice and have major confidence she's going to reach her fitness goals. But she paid a minor price this weekend for her zealousness and I thought it would be fun to discuss. I would have chosen for her to be more gradual in her approach to adding fruits and veggies, but she was so gung-ho, it would have been strange to tell her to revert back to her crackers for a while.

Fiber isn't called 'roughage' for no reason. It's found in dark leafy greens, green beans, fruit skins, and root vegetable skins. Fiber can't be digested so it literally just passes right through your digestive tract, and the kind found in fruits and veggies passes largely intact. This can lead to gas, tummy discomfort and bloating. Not delightful. Right?

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Though the cause of irritable bowel syndrome isn't exactly clear, researchers think they may have found a clue in how the disease develops.

They studied over 600 participants who had no history of the condition, but who had all come down with gastroenteritis. Each was asked to fill out a questionnaire that assessed mood or personality issues and to fill out a follow up survey three and six months later. Forty nine of the participants had developed IBS at the follow up check ups, and higher levels of perceived stress, negative feelings, and anxiety were deemed to be a risk factor. Interestingly, perfectionism and depression were not found to put patients at a higher risk of developing the disease.

Experts have long thought that IBS -- which causes such symptoms as cramping, constipation, or diarrhea in patients -- may have a psychological or emotional component and this study seems to firm up that suspicion. Read more about irritable bowel syndrome here.

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