Keep moving forward...

I hope you are all doing well and have had a successful first two months for 2011. Many of you (hopefully all of you) have set goals and resolutions to do something to Make Life Better in some form of personal development. One of the keys to long term success, be it in business or personal health is setting appropriate goals and developing metrics to track your progress.

In 2009, researchers from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, reported that participants who weighed themselves more frequently were associated with greater weight loss. This is not new data. Another group, from Drexel University, reported in 2007 a similar finding - that participants who frequently weighed themselves reported greater weight loss. Even more so - participants who stopped weighing themselves reported an increase in their body weight. Participants who lost at least 30 lbs and have been able to keep the weight off for at least one year share, as a common behavior, frequently weighing themselves. (As an aside - they also ate breakfast.)

Now whether you choose to track your body weight, your waist circumference or your body fat percentage - that is up to you. What is important is that you start keeping track of something. Tracking your progress is a simple exercise that reminds you of your goals and in the process creates a mechanism whereby you will make future positive choices throughout the day. Will all your future choices be the "right" ones (e.g. eating more fruits and vegetables or exercising)? Perhaps not at first, but over time, as you begin to replace poor eating habits with good ones, they will be.

One of the simplest habits that you can start to build is consistently drink Slim. Slim is the key to improving your nutrition and your health. There are many apps, calendars, websites, etc... that are at your disposal to track your progress. You can only see differences but if you are tracking them. The key is STARTING and DOING. "When you track performance - performance improves. When you track performance and report it - performance is accelerated." (Thomas S. Monson) Make it a family affair -get your spouse or loved one to join in with you. Perhaps a friendly wager to see who can have the greatest transformation is what you need to get motivated. Whatever it is - TRACK IT. Get out, get started and keep track of your peformance.

A matter of the heart...

What is the number one selling nutritional supplement in the United States? If you were like the majority of Americans who guessed a multi-vitamin, don’t feel bad – but you’re wrong. In fact, the number one selling nutritional supplement is an omega-3 supplement from fish oil.

What are omega-3 fatty acids and in what foods can they be found? Omega-3 fatty acids or n-3 fatty acids are part of a class of chemicals called polyunsaturated fats. Their name is due to the presence of the first carbon-carbon double bond at the third carbon from the methyl end of the fatty acid. Omega-3 or n-3 fatty acids are found in fish, like salmon, mackerel, sardines and krill. Marine-based sources of n-3 fatty acids, like OmegaLife-3, are particularly rich in two specific types of n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).

Another frequently asked question is, "What the big deal about n-3 fatty acids? The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine recently answered this question (see here and here). It's also helpful to go through a short history lesson to learn about the importance of n-3 fatty acids. In the early 1970’s a group of Danish scientists traveled to Greenland and by dogsled went to visit the Inuit or Eskimo population. They were investigating why this group of people had very low incidences of cardiovascular disease with a primary diet that consisted of mainly fish and seal. After repeated expeditions and drawing many blood samples, these scientists discovered that it was the n-3 fatty acids from the fish, particularly EPA and DHA that reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease in the Inuit population. (As an aside - we had the pleasure of having Dr. Dyerberg visit the office. He has a great mind but more importantly, is a terrific person.) Since that time, further research has confirmed the benefits of n-3 fatty acids, again primarily, EPA and DHA, on the following:

· Reduces triglyceride levels

· Lowers blood pressure

· Inhibits platelet aggregation

· Reduced inflammation

The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish a week (see here). A very simple, cost-effective way to improve your cardiovascular health is to supplement with an omega-3 product. Look to OmegaLife-3 or Salmon Omega as your sources of n-3 fatty acids.

Dietary guidelines...

As many of you are probably already aware, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released new dietary guidelines for Americans (you can see them here). In their own words, "... the recommendations encompass two overarching concepts:

- Maintain calorie balance over time to achieve and sustain a healthy weight.
...
- Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods and beverages. ..."

These two concepts are lofty and noble and the guidelines are safe. A bit too safe and I'm not the only one who thinks this. The folks over at Harvard agree with our take on refined sugars and carbohydrates (here). They also are in line with how we feel about Vitamin D (here, here and here). The guidelines are far too passive on Vitamin D and not in line with the current research for such low recommendations.

Here is one simple, free guideline recommendation for you - drink Bios Life Slim. Slim utilizes a dietary fiber matrix with clinically proven results (go here to see the results on the fiber matrix for yourself) for cholesterol management and blood sugar regulation. It's safe (gluten free) and easy to use (mix and drink). The simple addition of fiber to your diet will have marked impact on your overall health not just on the reduction of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risks - but your overall health. Get started with Slim today for a healthier you.

It's not only good for the heart but it's great for the mind as well...

I am, of course, referring to exercise. While many of us are well aware of the many benefits that exercise provides to our cardiovascular system - it has one benefit that should be enough motivation to get us up and off the couch. Exercise really does boost the brain. In a recent study conducted by a research group at the Salk Institute, investigators showed that aerobic exercise improved the spatial memory of the group that was randomized to the aerobic exercise arm. They found that aerobic exercise increased the volume of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for spatial orientation, navigation and the consolidation of new memories. The research group also confirmed the increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) a sort of MiracleGro for neurons.

The main takeaway from this research is that is DOESN'T MATTER what age you are - exercise will help keep you thinking in a vibrant manner. The type of exercise you do can be simple and fun. Just be sure to get your heart rate up (be sure to check with a physician if it's been a while.) A great time to exercise is first thing in the morning. As you get your muscles firing, you'll soon see that you get your firing as well. If you need an extra kick in the pants to get off the couch, use Bios Life E. Bios Life E will help you get your body and your mind firing on all cylinders!

The battle of the bulge...

This is not a reference to World War II but rather to what is happening now in the world. A couple of recent popular media outlets (Bloomberg, Independent, and are referencing a recent article published in the medical journal Lancet. The results are - globally we are getting fatter. In the US, 2/3 of the population are overweight, 1/3 is obese. In Mexico - 1/3 of the population is diabetic, while in Japan, where 25% of population is diabetic, diabetes is considered the national disease. The recommendations from the article are that dietary and exercise interventions are needed. What is needed is a Slim intervention.

Here is an example of what a Slim intervention can do that comes to us from Scandinavia. The young man is Jonas Karlsson. Jonas is from Sweden. Jonas over the course of the past year, using Slim and Bios Life E, has lost over 50 kilos (that's over 100 lbs). Here is a comment from his mother Evalis, "Please share with others...about how you can change your life, even when its really difficult. And that its possible to feel so much better even with asberger, adha and low activity. And that its possible to beat a eating disorder with Bios Life Slim.

Jonas almost never went to school, just between 1-3 class. The other kids was treating him very bad and the grown up want better. Jonas never thought that he could have a work or anything. Today Unicity and their products have a so warm place in his heart so he talk to people on internet everyday about this. And he inspire other people to start with Slim and E."

Wow! Over 50 kilos is an outstanding result! Congratulations Jonas! Jonas, through his personal experience, discovered the additive benefits of combing Slim and Bios Life E on his fat-loss goals. Slim provides the fiber content and the 7X slimming material that lowers the glycemic load of your meals, keeping your insulin loads low. Bios Life E, provides polyphenos, specifically catechins, that have been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and increase fatty acid oxidation (fat burning). Jonas discovered, what many others are just now realizing, that Slim is great, but it's even better with E.

National Brest Cancer Awareness...

Earlier this month, I was at the airport, getting ready to board a flight to Japan. I was doing the usual traveler things, like read, check email, etc... I happened to glance over at the desk near our gate and I saw the agent wearing a bright pink tie. I thought to myself that it looked nice and matched his suit - when out of the corner of my eye I spotted another gate agent in a dress suit that was again, bright pink. It finally dawned on me, when I spotted the pink ribbon, that this airlines was participating in the promotion of Breast Cancer Awareness month (Way to go Delta!). Since that time I have noticed athletes from football players wearing pink cleats to baseball players swinging pink bats all with the desire to help raise awareness of this incredibly debilitating disease that affects our greatest treasures, our ladies. So here is a shout out to all of the great ladies in our lives! Get checked early and get checked often because we need all of you.

Now on a different note, it's interesting that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October. In the US, the weather is cooling, the days are getting shorter and autumn is definitely in full swing. With shorter days however, comes less sunshine and it's that very sunlight that helps our bodies produce one of the most effective yet under-rated vitamins - vitamin D. We have highlighted vitamin D before (see here, here and here) and the breadth and depth of its benefits are impressive. Vitamin D is found in fish, dairy products, and mushrooms among other foods. However, epidemiological study after study shows that most Americans are vitamin D deficient. Not having enough vitamin D can reduce the absorption of calcium and increase the risk of rickets and other bone-related ailments. Not having enough vitamin D increases your risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But as the weather turns colder - not having enough vitamin D reduces the vitality of your immune system leaving you at a greater risk for flu's and colds. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D. Last year we reformulated Bonemate Plus to increase the vitamin D dosage to 4000 IU a day. If you don't drink milk or eat a lot of fish - start doing so. But an even more convenient way of getting vitamin D is by taking 2 caplets of Bonemate Plus, twice a day. Vitamin D is the nutritional flu shot and we all need more of it.

What to do about type II Diabetes...

The Reuters news agency released an article in which they covered a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on diabetes. In this report, the CDC predicts that the prevalence of type II diabetes will increase from one in ten adults to one in five or one in three adults. This is a staggering increase in a disease that is preventable.

A quote from one of the study's authors, "These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type-2 diabetes," CDC diabetes expert Ann Albright said in a statement.

Another quote, "The CDC says about 24 million U.S. adults have diabetes now, most of them type-2 diabetes linked strongly with poor diet and lack of exercise." This is a disease that is costing the US more than $174 billion (that's nine zeros) in the treatment of diabetes. Treatment that includes cases of blindness (diabetes is the number one cause of blindness), kidney failure and amputations. Check out data from the CDC showing the rise of diabetes and obesity.

This doesn't have to be so. Type II diabetes can be prevented! It starts with making the choice to be different - to take control of your life by starting to eat healthier and be more active. One of the simplest dietary choices you can make is to add more fiber to your diet. Use Bios Life Slim with your two largest meals and see what the impact will be on your body. You will feel a more stable distribution of energy over time, an increased sense of satiety and best of all - you can measure these results!

Why do we measure fat loss success by inches lost?

Many people ask us, "Why do you measure inches lost as a metric of success with Bios Life Slim?" It's a great question. We have been ingrained that body weight is a key metric for health and appearance. This is calculateg taking body weight, in kilograms, and dividing it by height, in meters squared yielding a value known as body mass index (BMI). There are very good studies correlating lower BMI's with improved health. However, one of the key criticisms of the use of BMI is that it doesn't distinguish how weight is distributed. For example, a person in good health with lots of muscle mass will likely be penalized with a high BMI (this is usually the case for many athletes) even though there is very little health risk.

Recently, there were two articles which demonstrated the use of an alternative method for assessing body weight distribution as it relates to health risks and that is waist circumference. One of the reasons for using waist circumference is that it directly measures increased fat mass around your organs, fat known as visceral fat. Visceral fat is more metabolically active and secretes more hormones and inflammatory signals known as cytokines than non-visceral fat. Therefore - it's important to have a measure that accounts for the distribution of fat in the body.
Now, in one study - investigators from the American Cancer Society examined the relationship between increased waist circumferences (WC) and your risk for early death. They found that very high WC's (defined as > 47 inches (120cm) for men or >35 inches (90 cm) women) doubled your risk of death. They concluded that WC has a positive correlation with mortality.

In the second study, a group from Germany, wanted to see if there were differences between BMI and WC in terms of risks for developing type 2 diabetes. Through the results of their study - they determined that neither measurement by themselves is an appropriate measure for assaying the risk of diabetes. In other words - in order to accurately assess the risk for type 2 diabetes both parameters needed to be measured. Other results from this study is that individuals with a BMI >25 and large waist circumferences are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Interestingly - individuals with normal weight but large WC have the same risk as pre-obese folks with small WC's. The important point to take home is that WC matters! Start using waist circumference a measure for how you are doing in changing your body. Set your goals to be >40 inches for men and >35 inches for women. Track your Slim progress and see how Slim helps you get healthy by dropping inches off your waist.

The roughage diet...

In the monthly newsletter for August sent by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) the feature was on fiber. Many of us know that fiber is good for us but most of us are simply not getting enough fiber in our diet. The most current guidelines for fiber intake are for men between 35-40 grams per day and for women between 25-30 grams per day. On average, Americans are only consuming 12-14 grams per day or only about half of the recommended amount. I'll speak more to how we can improve on that below.

One question that is frequently asked is what are the benefits of fiber. A quote from the newsletter states, "Fiber can relieve constipation and normalize your bowel movements. Some studies suggest that high-fiber diets might also help with weight loss and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer." We have the studies (go to http://www.unicityscience.org/ for reprints)!

Dr. Gertraud Maskarinec of the University of Hawaii is quoted stating the following about how fiber can slow the absorption of sugar in the intestines, "With diabetes, it's good to keep glucose levels from peaking too much," She continues, "We found that it's mostly the fiber from grains that protects against diabetes."

Another benefit of fiber is weight management - here's another money quote, "Weight loss is another area where fiber might help. High-fiber foods generally make you feel fuller for longer. Fiber adds bulk but few calories. "In studies where people are put on different types of diets, those on the high-fiber diets typically eat about 10% fewer calories," says Slavin. Other large studies have found that people with high fiber intake tend to weigh less."

So what can you do to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Here are a few suggestions:

• Add fruits, vegetables and nuts to your diet.



• Switch to whole grains; substitute wheat bread for white bread or whole wheat pasta for traditional pasta



• Slip in more beans - legumes are a good source of fiber and protein



• Lastly - add Slim to your diet. Each serving of Slim contains 4 g of dietary fiber of which the majority is soluble fiber.

You can get all of benefits of fiber with Slim including improved blood sugar regulation, better portion control with your meals, regular bowel movements and normalized cholesterol levels. Get slim using Slim! Better yet - get slim using Slim and share Slim with a friend.

What to do about hot flashes?

At a recent family reunion, one of my super fun aunts, showed me a t-shirt that she had recently purchased. We laughed and laughed about it. We try to use humor to keep us young.

In reality there is nothing fun about getting old. Our joints creak a little more, or we tend to forget things more often. It's just no fun. One of the greatest contributors to accelerated aging is obesity. As many of us know - being overweight can increase our risk for many other disease states including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. However it doesn't have to be that way.

In a recent article that will be published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a research group lead by Alison Huang M.D. from the University of California at San Fransico explored how losing weight would effect hot flashes, a common issue in women during menopause. They had observed that women with high body mass indices (BMI's) had more frequent and more severe hot flashes than women with lower BMI's. This group hypothesized that women who reduced their body weight would have less frequent or less severe hot flashes.

To test this hypothesis - researchers randomly created a control group and a weight loss intervention group of ladies (average age 53). The ladies in the weight loss intervention group were advised to undergo lifestyle and behavior changes designed to reduce their body weight by 7 to 9% over a six month period of time. This included increasing their activity, improving their nutrition and restricting their caloric intake.

Here are the results, according to the research authors, "in analyses of all women reporting bothersome hot flushes at the initial stages, decreases in weight, BMI and abdominal circumference were each associated with improvement in self-reported hot flushes during six months." Interestingly there were not any "significant associations between changes in physical activity, calorie intake, blood pressure or overall self-reported physical and mental functioning and change in bothersome flushing." This observation lead the authors to conclude that improving one's BMI may halp in alleviating hot flashes but there may be more to it.

So how does one improve their body mass index? Let me offer three simple suggestions. First - establish a regular meal pattern. Eat three healthy, well-rounded meals each day. Try very hard to do it the same time each day. Give yourself at least four hours between each meal and at least twelve hours between dinner and breakfast. This simple rule we call the Bios Life Slim 4-4-12 rule. Your first meal of the day should include lots of lean protein and fiber (think Lean Complete).


Second - add fiber to your diet. Use Slim prior to your two largest meals. This will help you adhere to the 4-4-12 rule through improved blood sugar regulation. You will also find that you won't each as much due to the improved appetite control from Slim. Lastly - walk. Walk at least 10,000 steps each day. This simple exercise will do wonders for your body's ability to utilize insulin. Shedding extra body fat will do wonders for your psych and your health so START TODAY!

Where are you on this map?

Trust for America's Health released a report this month on the state of health within the US. As part of their report, they have a map, shown here, listing the percentages of obese people on a state by state basis. The TFHA gave the US a failing grade in terms of health as measured by body mass index. Obesity is clearly a problem and this is another report illustrating the problem.

A key quote from executive director, Jeff Levi, "Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region and income."

Some other key features of the report are:

1. The number of states where adult obesity rates exceed 30 percent doubled in the past year, from four to eight --Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.
2. Adult obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in nine states, 35 percent in 34 states, and 30 percent in 43 states and D.C.
3. Rates of adult obesity for Latinos were above 35 percent in two states (North Dakota and Tennessee) and at 30 percent and above in 19 states.
4. Ten of the 11 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South, as are the 10 states with the highest rates of hypertension.

Another quote, "Obesity rates among the current generation of young people are unacceptably high and a very serious problem," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. "To reverse this national epidemic, we have to make every community a healthy community. Americans are increasingly ready and willing to make that investment."

Here is a simple investment to make in improving your own health and the health of others, Bios Life Slim! There is a huge need for this product. According to the latest figures 67% of Americans are overweight and it's estimated that roughly 24 million Americans have type II diabetes. We need to get this product into as many hands as possible! You have the product and you have the tools - now in the infamous words of Nike, JUST DO IT!

Which do I eat?

In a recent journal article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a combined research group from Harvard asked the question of what are the benefits of eating brown rice versus white rice? To answer this question it's important to note the differences between the two forms of rice. Brown rice is the intact rice grain. White rice through different manufacturing processes has been stripped of the outer bran and germ portions leaving the starchy endosperm. Both types of rice have had their impact on blood glucose measured relative to white bread, a measurement called the glycemic index (for more on that go here). High glycemic index (GI) values have consistently been shown to correlate with increased risks of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The GI for brown rice is 55 while the value for white rice is 64. So what if you substituted brown rice for white rice? How does that simple substitution affect your risk for T2D? Well - according to the results of this study - that by simply replacing 50 g of white rice a day with the same amount of brown rice reduces your risk for T2D by over 15%.

Now - think of how much more you can reduce your risk for T2D by making that simple lifestyle change and by making another, supplementing with Bios Life Slim? Studies have shown the positive impact of blood sugar regulation by supplementing with Bios Life Slim. In a previous study using the same Biosphere fiber found in Bios Life Slim - showed a 17% reduction in pre-prandial glucose measurements and a 36% reduction in post-prandial glucose measurements. Furthermore, there was a 15% drop in HbA1c numbers. Powerful numbers for the estimated 24 million people with T2D.

If you have T2D or find yourself at risk with eleveated insulin resistance start using Bios Life Slim NOW! Start using the Slim 4-4-12 rule and establish a regular pattern of eating your meals. It's really simple and Slim is the product makes the difference and gives you results you can measure.

Congratulations to Damu Cherry!

For those of you who may not know, we have among our distributors an Olympic athlete named Damu Cherry. Over the past few months, she and Jared have developed a correspondence and we have been able to learn a lot about her. Damu agreed to try using some of our products. She had been using in the past, products like Low-Oz and Myocap. We asked if she would be interested in trying Bios Life E and she said yes.

Here is an excerpt from an email she sent to Jared regarding the product feedback.

"Super Energy (Red) - Great for an energy boost before an intense day! Excellent for focus during long hurdle workouts! I also use the packet before I go to the weightroom to give me another boost!! (Awesome)

Super Energy (Green) - I use the green 2-3 hours after workout to help me get through the rest of my day (massage, chiro, stretching) I do not feel as tired after practice and it keeps me alert while driving..."

Currently, Damu holds the world's second fastest time in the 100 meter hurdles. She recently best the US favorite at the Drake Relays in Iowa (you can see a blurb here). To add to her accomplishments she just wrote in her most recent results from her race in Montreil, France. She finished in first place! Congratulations again Damu!

May is Arthritis Awareness month...

During this month of May - we will focus on Arthritis Awareness. The Arthritis foundation has a nice website with lots of information. Arthritis is inflammation in your joints. There are over 100 arthritis and arthritis-like conditions with the most commonly known being rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and juvenile arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by pain, inflammation and fatigue. The CDC reported in 2005 that 46 million adults in the US will have doctor diagnosed arthritis. According to that same report, 19 million adults have activity limitations attributed to arthritis.

So what can you do about arthritis? We will be posting about this topic all throughout the month of May. But to get you started there are two simple things you can do for arthritis. The first is get to an appropriate body weight. If you are overweight or obese, you are increasing your risk for arthritis. According the Johns Hopkins Arthritic Center, being 10 pounds overweight increases the force on the knee by 30-60 pounds with each step. Ouch!

Start using Bios Life Slim. Bios Life Slim can help reduce the amount of wear and tear that comes from carrying excess fat on your body. Slim works best as part of an established regular meal pattern. Eat three healthy meals a day, with four hours between each meal and don't eat after dinner. It's one simple rule and one simple product - Slim is the difference. Slim can help you in your quest to transform your body and by extension - your life.

The second simple thing you can do is to get moving. Walk, cycle, swim are among a few of the activities you can do to get your body moving. Regular exercise can keep the joints flexible. Regular exercise also reduces your risk of metabolic syndrome (high cholesterol, high blood sugar, large waist circumference, etc...). Get the most out of Slim by 4-4-12 and moving and see how this changes your life for the better!

Start Your Day Off Right

- 1 Rule
- 1 Product
- Slim is the Difference




The 4-4-12 system requires that you wait to eat 4 hours after breakfast, 4 hours after lunch, and 12 hours after dinner to put your body in a fat burning state. Studies have shown that a high-protein, low carbohydrate meal is a healthy way to start your day - you'll have more energy and you'll burn more fat.

However, this can be a challenge sometimes... I pulled up some nutrition facts for common American breakfasts, and it's not a pretty picture. Dieter beware! If you start your day off like this, you're not going to lose weight!

A great way to start your day is a glass of Slim and a glass of Lean Complete; you'll get lots of fiber, protein, and will feel full until lunch - helping you stick to the 4-4-12 system.

Lean Complete Comparison

Cortisol is Making You Dumber

This is a follow up to my previous post (see below).

In addition to causing glucose levels to rise and growing your waist line, cortisol also destroys your memory! That’s right, excess cortisol damages your mind. Long-term exposure has been shown to cause neurons to shrivel – destroying neuronal connections and the memories that were stored in those connections.

So what happens if you have elevated cortisol levels for extended periods of time? A disease called Cushing's Syndrome perfectly illustrates the effects of long-term cortisol exposure. Cushing's Syndrome is a disease caused by a tumor which abnormally elevates cortisol levels.

Studies done on patients with Cushing's Syndrome have shown that the levels of cortisol are directly proportional to the loss of neurons! So more cortisol = Fewer neurons. These patients are also characterized by abdominal weight gain.

Reduce your stress - laugh! Here is a link to an interesting article talking about how laughter really is the best medicine. Laughter helps to lower cortisol levels, boost your immune system, and lower blood pressure.

The Stress Connection

Ever wondered how stress causes weight gain?

Stress creates elevated levels of cortisol, a hormone which is part of the fight-or-flight response, an important part of survival. Because of its role as a "survival" hormone, its physical manifestations include things that increase an organism's chances of survival in dangerous situations. These include:

• Suppression of the immune system - When you're worried about surviving the next few minutes, your body doesn't care about you getting the flu in a few days.
• An increase in blood sugar concentrations - Cortisol causes the liver to make more glucose and it also blocks insulin receptors at tissues and organs not essential to survival. When you're trying to survive, you don't care if your bladder has enough glucose.
• Protein is converted to glycogen - When fleeing a potentially dangerous situation, you need readily available supplies of energy. Glycogen satisfies this criteria, but you're robbing your protein stores to create even more glucose.
• Your body stores fat - Extreme fasting causes an increase in cortisol, which, paradoxically increases the amount of fat your body stores. The reason? Your body is afraid it isn't going to have enough energy in the future, so it creates more fat, a very efficient way to store and receive energy.

End result: your cells become insulin resistant, your blood becomes awash in glucose and you put on weight.

We rarely have situations where we need to flee from lions or other predators, situations that the fight-or-flight response was created to handle. But, our modern, fast-paced and stressful culture keeps this response active at low levels for days on end. This contributes to poor health, including obesity. And obesity isn't the only negative effect. In my next post, I'll discuss how stress is making you dumber.

Meditate, do yoga, play with your grandchildren, listen to calming music - find what relaxes you and try to set aside time as often as possible to do those things!

New book time...

Here is a book that you should add to your reading list. It will literally revolutionize your life. The title is Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain and the author is Dr. John J. Ratey.

I know I won't do the book justice with a simple synopsis but you need to know that the evidence it mounting/overwhelming on the benefits of exercise and your mind (think mood, stress, and interestingly learning). Our CEO, Stewart Hughes, had recommended this book about a year ago. I didn't take notice (mainly because I had a number of other books I was reading at the time) until my wife started reading it and telling me some of the really cool things she was learning from this book. Thank goodness I listened my wife. I have rekindled my love for exercise and am making it a point to get out and be more active in some way each day. You can too!

Random post

This post has nothing to do with nutrition or Unicity. I am fascinated with these photos from the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland. Amazing! The earth is an amazing creature.

Beware of the dangers of stressful eating...

So you have submitted your taxes (Hurray!) and now can breathe a sigh of relief. In stressful moments or shortly following stressful moments, we often turn to foods that are high in fat or sugar or both to gain a sense of relief.

Recent research suggests we may be doing more damage than good. In a study published in Nature Neuroscience, a research group at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida, examined the effects of high caloric foods on dopamine signaling in rats. The premise of their research lies in the observation that obese individuals continue to eat food even after obtaining the calories needed for their energy needs. To paraphrase their question, "What is the mechanism that drives people to continues in a compulsive behavior?" They looked for inspiration in one area that shares a similar behavior pattern, drug addiction.

So - this group took a group of rats implanted an electrode in their brains and trained the rats to reward themselves via an electrical stimulation in response to their eating habits. They then divided the rats into three groups based on the amount of time they were exposed to the high fat chow (no access, restricted access and extended access). The rats that had the most access to the high fat chow quickly gained weight. The restricted access group tended to be heavier but not enough to be considered statistically significant. What was interesting was that has the rats in the extended access group got heavier, the brain stimulation reward (BSR - the training via electrical stimulation) threshold got higher - meaning they needed to eat more to reward themselves.

Further examination of the feeding behaviors among the three groups was illuminating. The groups who had access to the high fat chow shifted their preference of food by eating more calories from the high fat food. The restricted group shifted 67% of their caloric intake to the high fat food and the extended access group ate 95% of their calories from the high fat food. The results show that the rats tried to eat as much of the high fat food as possible, a pattern of eating known as binge eating.

Another results showed that as the rats got heavier, the density of the D2R (membrane dopamine receptors - these are receptors responsible for binding the neurotransmitter dopamine and signaling a reward response) decreased. This resulted in more high fat chow needing to be consumed in order to trigger the same reward response.

The last result I'll discuss was with a fresh group of trained no access, restricted access and extended access group of rats. These rats were then granted equal access to the high fat chow. However, half of each group was exposed to a light cue and then "punished" via an electric foot shock, while the other half was left alone. The light cue seemed to have no effect in deterring the groups from their behaviors. However, when combined with the foot shock, the no access group and the restricted access group significantly reduced their caloric intake from the high fat chow. The extended access, overweight group was resistant to both the light cue AND the foot shock. They ate right through their punishment. WOW!

Now there are more results from this study that show some strong evidence for food being a trigger for additive behavior. In particular, foods that are high in fat, high in sugar and salt - foods that are deemed "palatable". In times of stress we need to ask the question - why am I eating this food? Am I hungry? Am I trying to divert my attention from a particular traumatic event? Ask these honest questions. If you are hungry - eat an apple. Decide prior to the event what you will eat and when you will eat it. A great way to relieve stress is by exercising - go for walk. Get on your bike but DON"T BINGE EAT. Keep to your eating schedule. Maintaining a regular eating schedule will help in your moments of crisis because you have already committed to the schedule. We would love to hear how you deal with stress. Post your comments or send us an email at science@unicity.net