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How to Build a Healthy Summer Pantry
Summer is a great time to clean out your pantry and restock your shelves. And while it might seem like a daunting task, trashing the old and unhealthy and bringing in the new and nutritious is not that hard. It just takes a good shopping list and about one to two hours at a high quality supermarket with a variety of brands, says nutritionist Jenny Flora of Canyon Ranch Health Resort, who recently talked healthy pantries with That's Fit.
That's Fit: What does a pantry say about a person?
Flora: Your pantry says a lot about you. If you are choosing higher quality carbohydrates, fruit, breads and cereals, those foods that are minimally processed (the fiber intact), then they will have a less dramatic effect on blood sugar as opposed to those which are highly processed with all the fiber, and in many cases, the protein removed. This is about mostly shopping on the outer corridor of the supermarket, choosing more fresh foods and shopping in the natural foods/organic section. If you are filling up your refrigerator and downsizing the dry storage, you're doing a better job than most families.
That's Fit: How can a pantry make or break a diet?
Flora: Shopping for snack foods that are high in unhealthy fats can add hundreds of calories a day to your diet. High fat foods such as chips, candy, cookies and cakes are not only high in calories (we call them dense-calorie foods) but also can have a detrimental effect on blood sugar and insulin levels, promoting fat storage rather than fat burn.
Worst Restaurant Meals of 2009
Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy non-profit just released their 2009 Xtreme Eating Award winners. To keep your diet in check, order these fat and calorie-laden choices rarely, not regularly, then make sure to split with a friend. Here are three winning diet losers:The Cheesecake Factory's Fried Macaroni and Cheese -- The king of cheesecake's appetizer has 1,570 calories and 69 grams of fat. So you're supposed to order this before the entree, then finish off with a slice of cheesecake? Don't get on the scale the next day, drinking water with your meal won't make up for this calorie bomb.
Red Lobster's Ultimate Fondue -- This sourdough, cheesy bread bowl has 1,490 calories, 40 grams of fat and a whopping 3,580 grams of sodium. Can you say water retention? Order the jumbo shrimp cocktail for your meal and skip dessert.
Applebee's Quesadilla Burger -- A quesadilla is fat-filled enough. Then add in a burger, bacon, mexi-ranch sauce and a pile of fries -- 1,820 calories, 46 grams of fat and 4,410 grams of sodium, provided you don't succumb to the upsell chili and cheese add-on over the fries.
For those times when you're ordering calorically blind, legislative help is in sight. CSPI says 2009 is the year for menu-labeling laws. Armed with 1,820 calories in bold print, maybe you won't pull the trigger so often on these diet disasters. Right?
Check out the gallery below for more high-calorie foods being served across the country.
Outrageous Fast Food
Domino's BreadBowl Pasta, 3-Cheese Mac-N-Cheese, whole dish
Calories: 1460
Fat: 56 g
Sodium: 2840 mg
You know it's mac and cheese and you know it's surrounded in calorie-loaded carbs, but did you know this deceptive dish counts as two servings? And that's probably why this order puts you near your daily fat allowance and way past the recommended daily salt intake. If you have the willpower -- eat one serving, or half the bowl!
*Note: The nutrition information isn't available on Domino's Web site. AOL Health requested the information from Domino's directly.
Rachel Been, AOL
Domino's BreadBowl Pasta, Chicken Alfredo, whole dish
Calories: 1400
Fat: 50 g
Sodium: 2140 mg
If you're craving chicken alfredo, and you happen to be at Domino's, consider ordering their bread-less version. In comparison it contains a lighter 600 calories, 29 fat grams and 1080 mg of sodium.
*Note: The nutrition information isn't available on Domino's Web site. AOL Health requested the information from Domino's directly.
Rachel Been, AOL
Quiznos Tuna Melt, large
Calories: 1760 calories
Fat: 133 g
Sodium:2120 mg
If you want to stick to the government's health guidelines, eat this over the space of two days or you'll go overboard on fat. And hold the dressing on this one -- it'll save you 370 calories and 40 fat grams. Yikes!
Melanie J. Kramer, AOL
Wendy's Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich
Calories: 470
Fat: 24 g
Sodium: 930 mg
Don't let the "premium" and "fish" in the name fool you into thinking this new order is lean. For a truly lighter option from Wendy's try the Grilled Chicken Go Wrap, which contains 260 calories, 11 fat grams and 760 mg of sodium.
Rachel Been, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Boston Blue Burger
Calories: 1466
Fat: 98 g
Sodium: Not available
This burger contains more than a day and a third's worth of fat grams -- or a fat content equivalent to four meals. It also contains about three-fourths of a day's worth of calories, and who knows what Ruby Tuesday's doesn't want you to know about the sodium content!
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Dunkin' Donuts Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
Calories: 390
Fat: 23 g
Sodium: 1000 mg
While this bad boy doesn't compare to the train wreck of a breakfast platter from McDonald's (see slide 22), do you really want to eat nearly half a day's worth of sodium for breakfast?
Keith Morrison, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Veggie Burger
Calories: 1007
Fat: 53 g
Sodium: Not available
Okay, this is a tough one to understand. Store-bought veggie patties like those available from Garden Burger, Boca Burger and Morningstar Farms, usually amount to about 100 calories and 5 grams of fat without any fixings. Which begs the question, just what kind of fixings is Ruby Tuesday's adding in? To be fair, this meat-free version is lower in calories and fat than most of the other burger options available from Ruby Tuesday's.
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Ruby Tuesday's Kids' Mini Turkey Burgers and Fries
Calories: 873
Fat: 46 g
Sodium: Not available
If you're watching your weight while eating out, you might think that the kid's menu is a safe place to order from. That's not necessarily the case at Ruby Tuesday's. While the kids' minis are certainly lighter than their adult counterparts, they also contain about 70 percent of the fat adults should consume in a day.
Note: Dietary recommendations for calorie, fat and sodium intake are not available.
*Nutrition Information varies by location.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Hardee's Monster Thickburger
Calories: 1420
Fat: 108 g
Sodium: 2770 mg
This monster tops out your daily fat and sodium. Talk about scary!
James A. Finley, AP
Burger King Steakhouse Burger
Calories: 950
Fat: 59 g
Sodium: 1950 mg
This new BK burger packs half the calories and nearly all of the sodium and fat you should have in one day. If you eat it, don't even think about ordering a side of fries. A small order would tack on an extra 340 calories, 17 fat grams and 590 mg of sodium.
Keith Morrison, AOL
Natasha Henstridge Says She Damaged Her Body With Diets
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
Quick-fix diets and wonder weight loss pills might seem innocent enough, but they're not, says actress Natasha Henstridge, who reveals that yo-yo dieting has done long-term damage to her body.
"My body's definitely gone through a change since coming off all the crazy yo-yo stuff," says the 34-year-old actress, whose body is a lot more curvaceous now than it was in the 1995 sci-fi thriller "Species." That was one killer bod. Unfortunately, there was just nothing natural -- or healthy -- about it.
Henstridge says Hollywood drove her to take drastic measure to be skinny. "There's always pressure in this business to stay thin to the degree that I've done some things that probably weren't the smartest things in the world," she says about taking over-the-counter diet pills and Chinese herbs, which ultimately slowed her metabolism and caused her to gain weight.
"Those things have a huge effect on your metabolism and all of a sudden, when you decide to go clean and healthy, things are changing in your body because you've done a little bit of damage," says the mom of two, who is clean and healthy now -- she keeps active with mountain biking and boot camp workouts, and she was recently spotted with fiancé Darius Danesh taking a trapeze class.
Check out the gallery below for more extreme celebrity diets.
Unhealthy Celeb Diets
It's no surprise that skipping meals is one extreme way some celebs lose weight. But the article claims that Paris Hilton starves herself because she was once spotted in a Manhattan restaurant drinking Red Bull and water instead of ordering a meal. We'd love to see Paris gain some weight, but skipping a meal does not equal a pattern of starvation. Bottom line: Extreme calorie-cutting may work in the short-term but sending your body into starvation mode usually means overeating (and weight gain) is just around the corner.
John Parra, WireImage.com
Britney Spears gets called out for taking Adderall, a drug used in treating attention-deficit disorder. Adderall abuse is certainly on the rise and one reason is its side effect, loss of appetite. Because the drug can act as an appetite suppressant and Britney takes it, the article concluded she uses it as a diet aid. Bottom line: Take prescription drugs as directed by your doctor. Why? Adderall's other side effects include addiction, depression and psychosis.
Toby Canham, Getty Images
Mary-Kate Olsen gets a smackdown for her coffee-habit. The article claims Hollywood is in the grips of a trend where stars drink the caffeinated stuff to boost metabolism and suppress appetite. while Mary-Kate is often photographed with coffee, we're not sure how much she consumes or how it figures into her weight control. Peterson's scary story about a starving star who drinks coffee instead of eating has nothing to do with Mary-Kate. Bottom line: While drinking coffee can result in a slight metabolism increase, you'd get a better boost (and fewer jitters) from exercising more and cutting a few calories from your diet.
Marcel Thomas, FilmMagic.com
Once photographed jogging with weights in both hands, Teri Hatcher is labeled an overexerciser. We're in total agreement that this TV star is borderline skeletal and that running with weights is a no-no, but the since we didn't talk to her (and neither did their reporter), we can't comment on whether her exercise routine is unhealthy or not. We do know that we'd like her to put on a few pounds. Bottom line: Exercise is key for weight control and overall health, but when it rises to the level of obsession -- an increasing problem -- it's time to seek professional help.
Eric Charbonneau, WireImage.com
Jared Leto is on the list for using the Master Cleanse to lose the weight he gained to play Mark Chapman in the new film "Chapter 27." Peterson tells a horror story about a client (not Leto) who got sick using the juice fast. We don't disagree that the diet is sketchy; if used for more than a few days, it can be outright dangerous. Bottom line: Liquid diets should only be used when under a doctor's care.
Steve Granitz, WireImage.com
Marcia Cross has been very honest about the pressure in Hollywood to be thin, and was recently quoted saying, "It's like they pay me not to eat." Maybe that's why she was spotted by an "insider" drinking juice in a restaurant while her husband ate a full meal. Bottom line: Many celebrities may feel their jobs rest on how they look, but a lot of stars aren't going to diet extremes. Need inspiration? Look to the celebs losing weight the right way.
Charley Galla, WireImage.com
The fact that Lindsay Lohan was found in possession of cocaine doesn't mean she's thin because of drug use as the 'Daily News' would like you to think. We certainly can't make a case for Lohan being a responsible person with good judgment considering her recent trouble with the law but we won't jump to conclusions about how she maintains her weight. Bottom line: Using drugs won't necessarily make you thin. It's never a good idea to use any illegal substances.
Tony Barson, WireImage.com
Roller Derby - Go Retro With Extreme Fitness
Is Pilates just a little too tame for you? Do your typical fitness classes leave you craving a little competition? Why not go retro with fitness and try roller derby? Roller derby has been around since the 1920s, and it's popularity has ebbed and flowed. But flat track roller derby is making a comeback and it puts an edge, a competitiveness, and some fun on fitness like almost nothing else can. Roller derby certainly isn't a sport for wallflowers. But if you've got the need for speed and you're ready to get a little rough, joining an amateur league might just be the extreme fitness outlet you're looking for.
For Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan, author of "Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track," roller derby was love at first sight. "I got started because I was kind of at a crossroads in my life and was looking for a way to meet people. The first time I saw a derby I thought 'I just have to do that.' I was a regular exerciser and was always a skate rat when I was young."
Hilary Duff's Healthy Diet Habits
Hilary Duff is one of the rare tween stars who ended up turning out -- well, really normal. No sex tape, no hospitalizations from "exhaustion" and (surprising for any woman in Hollywood these days) no crazy diet hang ups. We met up with Hilary yesterday while she helped light the Empire State Building up red in honor of the annual AIDS Walk New York, which she will be walking in on Sunday. It's not just a fantastic cause; the six-mile stride is also a good workout. So what else is Hilary doing these days to stay in such great shape? Check out our interview to see what she has to say about getting motivated and how she's getting her body beach ready. That's Fit: You have a great body? Do you have a really strict exercise routine you try to stick with?
Hilary Duff: My schedule is really unpredictable, so I couldn't say I get to work out four days a week or five days a week. I try to just squeeze in whenever I can. I work with a great trainer who I do circuits with when I can, and I also do Pilates.
Story continues below the gallery.
Hilary Duff
Actress Marion Cotillard and singer/actress Hillary Duff attend the Bike in Style Challenge Winner announcement and awards ceremony at the LVMH Tower Magic Room on June 2, 2009 in New York City. Bike In Style Challenge Winner Announcement And Awards Ceremony LVMH Tower Magic Room New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16819467), contact WireImage.com
Jemal Countess/WireImage.com
Actress Marion Cotillard and singer/actress Hillary Duff attend the Bike in Style Challenge Winner announcement and awards ceremony at the LVMH Tower Magic Room on June 2, 2009 in New York City. Bike In Style Challenge Winner Announcement And Awards Ceremony LVMH Tower Magic Room New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16819466), contact WireImage.com
Jemal Countess/WireImage.com
Actress Marion Cotillard and singer/actress Hillary Duff attend the Bike in Style Challenge Winner announcement and awards ceremony at the LVMH Tower Magic Room on June 2, 2009 in New York City. Bike In Style Challenge Winner Announcement And Awards Ceremony LVMH Tower Magic Room New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16819465), contact WireImage.com
Jemal Countess/WireImage.com
Designer Donna Karan, Actress Marion Cotillard and singer/actress Hillary Duff attend the Bike in Style Challenge Winner announcement and awards ceremony at the LVMH Tower Magic Room on June 2, 2009 in New York City. Bike In Style Challenge Winner Announcement And Awards Ceremony LVMH Tower Magic Room New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16819451), contact WireImage.com
Jemal Countess/WireImage.com
Singer/actress Hillary Duff attends the Bike in Style Challenge Winner announcement and awards ceremony at the LVMH Tower Magic Room on June 2, 2009 in New York City. Bike In Style Challenge Winner Announcement And Awards Ceremony LVMH Tower Magic Room New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16819449), contact WireImage.com
Jemal Countess/WireImage.com
Actress Hillary Duff attends the 2009 AIDS Walk in Central Park on May 17, 2009 in New York City. 2009 AIDS Walk New York Central Park New York, NY United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Brian Killian/WireImage.com To license this image (57468770), contact WireImage.com
Brian Killian/WireImage.com
Actress and singer Hillary Duff attends the 2009 AIDS Walk in Central Park on May 17, 2009 in New York City. 2009 AIDS Walk New York Central Park New York, NY United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Brian Killian/WireImage.com To license this image (57468690), contact WireImage.com
Brian Killian/WireImage.com
Actress Hillary Duff attends the 2009 AIDS Walk in Central Park on May 17, 2009 in New York City. 2009 AIDS Walk New York Central Park New York, NY United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Brian Killian/WireImage.com To license this image (57468769), contact WireImage.com
Brian Killian/WireImage.com
Actress Hillary Duff attends the 2009 AIDS Walk in Central Park on May 17, 2009 in New York City. 2009 AIDS Walk New York Central Park New York, NY United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Brian Killian/WireImage.com To license this image (57468767), contact WireImage.com
Brian Killian/WireImage.com
Actress Hillary Duff and TV personality Carson Kressley attends the 2009 AIDS Walk in Central Park on May 17, 2009 in New York City. 2009 AIDS Walk New York Central Park New York, NY United States May 17, 2009 Photo by Brian Killian/WireImage.com To license this image (57468734), contact WireImage.com
Brian Killian/WireImage.com
Healthy Mexican
If you're heading out to eat, try these tips that will help you enjoy Mexican food without the guilt:
- Skip the chips. If you can stop at three or four chips dipped in salsa, then go ahead and enjoy. (And please send me some of your willpower.) But when that big basket of chips is dropped off at your table, most people keep reaching for more without realizing how many they're eating.
- Just say no to the margaritas. I know, I know ... they're ridiculously yummy. But margaritas can be up to 45 calories per ounce. Considering the margaritas most restaurants serve are roughly the size of a swimming pool and made with sour mix, that can really add up. Heck, margaritas even made Forbes' list of the most fattening drinks.
- Soup it up. Want an appetizer? Try a gazpacho or a black bean soup. Not only are these options significantly lighter than nachos or other appetizers, they're tasty and provide some decent nutrition.
- Go lean with protein. Opt for grilled chicken or shrimp instead of beef.
- Don't get fried. Chimichangas, chile rellanos, flautas and other fried entrees really bump up the calorie count. Avoid the fried foods altogether.
- Switch up your sides. Many dishes will come with refried beans, guacamole or other sides. Ask for other options such as seasoned rice or rice and beans (neither of which is low-cal, but it's a slightly better option).
- Know the language. The menu descriptions should let you know what you're ordering, but you can still keep your eye out for a few key words: asada (grilled), pollo (chicken) and arroz (rice).
- Go veg. More and more restaurants are offering vegetarian options. Even if it's not on the menu, you can request something like vegetarian fajitas.
Cheerios: Drug or Breakfast Cereal?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has thrown a stern warning in the direction of General Mills. Cheerios is not a cholesterol drug, they remind the cereal maker in a letter on May 5, so it should stop acting like one on the yellow box. The little toasted O's stepped over the line with the claim that a regular diet of Cheerios could "lower your cholesterol 4 percent in six weeks." The FDA is not thrilled that Cheerios is marketing itself as a cholesterol drug on its box and website, and sent a detailed letter letting the company know it had waded too far into drug territory.
With an ever expanding list of claims made by food manufacturers, from flavored water claiming to be equivalent to eating a piece of fruit, to cereal lowering your heart numbers -- Cheerios is just one example of a growing trend of health claims on processed foods.
London Mayor Surprised by His Wax Double
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but when you're faced with an exact replica of yourself, it's a little hard to blame your weight gain on optical illusions.That's what London Mayor Boris Johnson recently discovered when his wax likeness was revealed at Madame Tussuad's. The museum captured the 44-year-old mayor's friendly, tousled look perfectly, and his expanding waistline a little too well. "It's only when you see yourself in 3-D res you realize just how fat you are," Johnson tells the Daily Mail. "I have got to get out and start jogging more. I have to lose some weight."
Johnson concedes that the waxworks did an accurate job with his replica. He's not blaming that spare tire on an artist's creative license. "It's a brilliant job they have done," he says. "It is an amazing, eerie, lifelike, spooky version of myself."
Kim Kardashian's Reveals Her Diet and Workout Secrets
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian shows off her beach body in Miami, Florida.
John Parra, WireImage
Kim and boyfriend Reggie Bush get romantic at Wet Republic at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
RD / Kabik / Retna
Kim strikes a pose for photographers in Los Angeles.
John Parra, WireImage.com
Kim hits the red carpet at the 7th Annual "Los Premios MTV Latin America 2008."
Getty Images
Kim Kardashian attends the Slimfast "Style Your Slim" fashion show.
Chris Weeks, WireImage
Kim Kardashian arrives at the 14th Annual Make-A-Wish Ball.
Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images
Kim out and about in Manhattan.
Brian Ach, WireImage
Kim arrives at Spike TV's 2008 "Video Game Awards."
Alexandra Wyman/WireImage
Anna Faris "Fattens Up" for Her Big Day
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment
It's definitely wedding season, and I'm going to bet you know someone who's getting married in the coming months. And more than likely, the bride you know is watching her weight. Did you know that 70 percent of brides want to lose 20 pounds or more before their weddings, and 20 percent resort to "extreme" dieting behaviors like skipping meals and taking laxatives?It's a disturbing trend for sure, but there's at least one bride-to-be who isn't worried about dropping weight for her wedding day. Funny girl Anna Faris told People magazine, "I am fattening it up!"
Faris has made no bones about the fact that she's not a huge fan of keeping a strict diet and exercise routine, and it sounds like her fiance, Chris Pratt, isn't looking to change her. "Now that I have a man, I'm like, 'Oh, I don't have to try anymore!' Now I can eat. We love to splurge at home. We love to cook. My fiance is an incredible eater, and so he's really fun to feed, and it's great to share some wine and watch a movie," explains the "House Bunny" star, who adds, "He's always like, 'Baby, don't lose that butt!"
Workout Songs to Motivate Your Moves
Here at That's Fit, we want to motivate your moves too. So we pulled together some of our favorite tracks that power us through even the most stringent routines.
Top 10 U.S. Cities for Walking
If you want to tie up the laces on your walking shoes and hit the pavement, the No. 1 city in the United States to do it is San Francisco where the city government has not one, not two, but 12 agencies devoted to walking issues and concerns.San Francisco was followed on this list by Boston, with its patterned intersections that encourage walking, and New York City, where its residents log the fewest vehicle miles. "The Top 25 Walking Cities in America" is compiled annually by Prevention magazine, along with the American Podiatric Medical Association and Sperling's Best Places.
The top 10 walking cities in America are:
1. San Francisco, California
2. Boston, Massachusetts
3. New York, New York
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5. Chicago, Illinois
6. Washington, D.C.
7. Seattle, Washington
8. Honolulu, Hawaii
9. Portland, Oregon
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
High Heel Workout
Let's face it. There's nothing sexier on a woman than a great pair of heels. They make your calves look amazing, and (assuming you don't wobble and shake) walking in heels makes you look confident and sexy. I can imagine wearing heels when out with the girls, at work (though I work from home and have the luxury of working in bare feet) or while out on a date ... but wearing heels at the gym? Really?Rosalind Neilen, a Florida-based trainer, has come up with the High Heel Workout. It's not just a workout designed to help you look great in heels ... you actually pull out your Jimmy Choos for part of the class.
"I live in Florida and October (when she first introduced the workout) is our month for getting out of flip flops and looking like a person for a change," Neilen says. The six-week High Heel Workout (two 30-minute sessions each week) will get you walking like a diva in no time. Neilen says the results you'll see won't just apply to showing off at the beach. "You want to walk over to your man without spilling that martini."
Elisabeth Hasselbeck Touts G-Free Diet
Elisabeth Hasselbeck once feared food because it made her tired, messed with her blood sugar levels and left her bloated. Then she discovered she has celiac disease, which means she's allergic to gluten (found in barley, oats, wheat and rye). She's embraced a gluten-free diet ever since and says she feels so much better.Elisabeth talked Monday on "Good Morning America" about the G-Free diet, and she claims that even if you don't have celiac disease, this is a great diet for just being healthy. "The View" co-host dishes out all the details in her new book, "The G-Free Diet," but here's what she shared on her visit to GMA.
- The G-Free Diet is a very energizing meal plan.
- It's all about replacing, not removing, items from your diet. You can still have a cookie if you want one.
- Some gluten alternatives are rice, corn, millet and amaranth (Maggie talks about amaranth in this post).
- Many brands are going G-free.
- There is such a thing as gluten-free pasta.
Learn more about the G-Free Diet here. And for a few of Elisabeth's favorite gluten-free recipes, click here.
Do you follow a G-Free Diet? Tell us how it makes you feel? And is it good for weight loss and/or maintenance?
FDA Advisory Prompts Hydroxycut Recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer advisory today for some Hydroxycut products.
The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems involving liver problems and jaundice, and one death from liver failure. A 19-year-old male died in 2007, but the FDA didn't learn of his death until March of this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.
It is unclear at this time which ingredients are harmful. The company, which sold nine million units in 2008, has agreed to voluntarily recall a range of its products.
Click to see which items are part of the Hydroxycut recall.
For more information on diet pills and supplements, click on the gallery below.
Weight Loss Supplements
By Karen Asp
If you believe the ads, you just need to pop a pill to take off extra pounds. If only it were that easy. There may, however, be a few supplements that can aid your weight loss, keeping in mind, that you still need to eat healthy and exercise regularly. To find out what works and what doesn't we tapped Connie Diekman, R.D., director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and immediate past president of the American Dietetic Association and Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., board-certified nutritionist and author of 'The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth,' for the scoop on 10 common supplements.
Hydroxycut: Avoid Most Products
In May 2009, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products because some are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. As a result, the company has agreed to recall 14 Hydroxycut products from the market. For a complete list of recalled products, visit the FDA's website.
AP
Ephedra: Avoid At All Cost
Even though the FDA banned ephedra, this stimulant has been showing up online. Studies have shown that ephedra can aid weight loss, but the side effects, which include high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, heart attacks, and stroke, can be deadly.
Chromium: Try It
Chromium, which occurs naturally in the body, helps regulate blood sugar and utilize carbohydrate, and although few studies have shown any correlation between chromium supplements and fat loss, chromium may still aid weight loss. That's because chromium helps keep insulin levels down. High levels of insulin, after all, make fat burning almost impossible. Although chromium may not cause weight loss, by lowering insulin, it may remove an obstacle to taking off weight.
How to Take It: Try taking 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate or chromium nicotinate daily.
Guarana: Skip It
In supplement form, guarana is a concentrated source of caffeine that's supposed to increase your metabolism. However, while it might help you drop pounds temporarily, it doesn't provide lasting weight loss and could raise blood pressure and heart rate.
Green Tea Extract: Try It
Green tea contains a compound called EGCG that may stimulate metabolism. Several studies, in fact, have linked green tea extract to a reduction in body fat and increase in thermogenesis, or the rate at which calories are burned.
How To Take It: Pop 270 mg per day or drink three cups of green tea a day.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Try It
Commonly called CLA, this amino acid exists in animal foods like beef and dairy products. It plays a role in the health of your muscles and tissues and may help you lose abdominal fat.
How To Take It: Have 3.4 grams daily.
Yerba Mate: Skip It
Yerba mate is a concentrated plant source of caffeine that's supposed to boost metabolism. Although you might see a temporary drop in weight, changes aren't long-lasting. Plus, as with all stimulants, side effects include increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Recent studies have also shown yerba mate may increase the risk of some cancers.
Chitosan: Skip It
This bulking agent comes from the bones and shells of shellfish, and manufacturers claim it suppresses appetite and blocks fat absorption. Yet no studies show any weight loss benefits.
Pyruvate: Skip It
Pyruvate, which exists in foods like red wine, apples and cheese, promises to make you lean and help you shed body fat. The bad news? No study has shown that consuming pyruvate in supplement form will have this effect on your body.
Getty Images
