Pomegranate season typically runs from October to January, making it peak season to enjoy this amazing fruit!

In addition to their high vitamin C content, pomegranate’s are high in antioxidants, which help the body fight free radicals that cause cell damage. Pomegranate juice is higher in antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberry and cranberry juice.

Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols, plant chemicals known to reduce the inflammation process associated with heart disease. Chronic  inflammation in the body has been linked to an increased risk of  heart disease and stroke.

While scientific research is still in its early stages, there are a number of studies that suggest pomegranates may prevent or help treat certain types of cancer. According to a study done by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Pharmacy, pomegranates produced anticancer effects in experimental models of lung, prostate and skin cancer. Similarly, a three year University of California study concluded that drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day may cut down the effect of prostate cancer in men. Specifically, the study showed that the period during which PSA levels in men treated for prostate cancer remained stable, increased by nearly four times.

TIP: A perfectly ripe pomegranate will be heavy and have smooth, deep red skin. Older pomegranates normally weigh less than the fresh ones as they contain less juice and tend to be more dried out.

Considered a sacred fruit in many cultures, pomegranates are very versatile and make a great addition to everything from salads to sorbets.

Pomegranate and Cucumber Salad

This salad is the perfect accompaniment to any holiday festivity!

• 2 pomegranates
• 2 large cucumbers
• 1 can of garbanzo beans
• 2 cloves of garlic pressed
• 4 or 5 fresh basil leaves chopped

Vinaigrette:

• extra-virgin olive oil
• red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Peel the cucumbers and cut into small cubed pieces. Remove the seeds from the pomegranates and discard the rind. Add both the cucumbers and pomegranate seeds to a serving bowl.

Drain and add the garbanzo beans, garlic and basil and toss all the ingredients together.

Using 1 part red wine vinegar to 2 parts olive oil, add the dressing to the salad and mix thoroughly. Allow salad to rest in the fridge briefly before serving. Enjoy!

• A short term fix: In an attempt to lose weight quickly we often drastically cut our calorie intake or restrict certain food groups. This normally only works for so long before we grow tired of a restrictive diet and subsequently abandon all efforts. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight in time for bikini season, it’s more beneficial long term to adopt a different lifestyle that involves a permanent commitment to healthy eating and exercise. Most importantly it must be a plan that’s easy to stick to!

• No support system: Too many people try to lose weight without a support system. Research shows that people who have the support of family and friends to keep them on track, are more successful at losing weight and keeping it off.

• Hormone imbalance: Hormones play an active role in weight loss. A hormone imbalance can cause dramatic weight gain and make it virtually impossible to lose weight. It was discovered about 10 years ago that most people who are chronically overweight are also leptin resistant. Leptin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that controls hunger, cravings and how the body uses energy. When the brain is responding normally to leptin, it signals us to stop eating when we’ve had enough food to eat. However, in about 85% of the population that are overweight, the brain actually becomes resistant to its signals.

• A Dysfunctional Metabolism: Contrary to what you might think, many overweight people don’t take in any more calories than people of average weight. They also exercise and still continue to gain weight. These types of people suffer from a slow or dysfunctional metabolism. Some people suffer from hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone, making it very hard to increase metabolism without medication. A simple thyroid test and proper treatment is essential to diagnose this problem. Supplementing your diet and exercise regime with Ignite Maxx™ will boost metabolism to help you burn up to 600 calories a day!

• Stress: Another precursor to slow or difficult weight loss is stress. The body’s response to chronic stress affects metabolism, blood sugar, hormonal function and appetite. Not surprisingly this can cause the body to hold on to its fat stores, increase hunger and cravings, as well as impair the body’s ability to burn calories.

Recent research shows, however, that sugar cravings are not simply an overwhelming lack of willpower. Many current scientific studies show that their body craves sugar that it does not need for energy, as a result of an imbalance in the vital hormones. These hormones regulate the processing and storage of energy and signal us to either feel satisfied or eat more energy-producing foods. Do you crave foods even though you know that they may be contributing to you being overweight? You’re not alone. This new research may help you understand why it may not totally be your fault. So don’t be so hard on yourself. For many, if leptin resistance is present, which is the case with nearly all forms of obesity and many who are overweight, you are set up to fail from the start. Sheer willpower won’t be able to overcome these powerful hormonal signals.

Leptin is a hormone that works in the hypothalamus of the brain, controlling the use of energy in the body and the feelings of satiety or fullness after eating. Researchers have discovered that, when another body chemical known as PTP1 B is produced in excess, it prevents leptin from entering the brain to reach the hypothalamus and essentially renders it useless. This situation is known as leptin resistance and it is commonly found in obese individuals.

Sugars are the body’s primary source of quick energy and without leptin to regulate their use, they are quickly stored as fat. Until leptin is once again able to reach the hypothalamus and normal functioning resumes, the body will continue to crave the sugar that it feels it needs for energy. In actuality, those sugars are unnecessary and help to compound the obesity problem, but without leptin reaching the hypothalamus, the brain never gets that signal.

Hormones such as leptin are powerful regulators of normal body functions and also of emotions such as moods and desires. The feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability that are experienced by many people at various points in their lives, are often related to hormonal balances in the body. It is no wonder, then, that the current research continues to show the connection between sugar cravings and problems with leptin signaling in the body.

References:

Blum K et al. LG839: Anti-obesity effects and polymorphic gene correlates of reward deficiency syndrome. Advances in Therapy. 2008;25(9):894-913.

Drewnowski A et al. Is sweetness addictive? Nutrition Bulletin. 2007;32(s1):52-60.

“HORMONES!”

If you’ve ever had cravings that you just can’t keep under control, this new science is going to blow your mind. At the same time it will  give you the biggest sense of self satisfaction you’ve ever experienced because you’ll finally understand why.

Ladies and gentlemen, how powerful are hormones?

I know from being married and having a pregnant wife that they’re more powerful than a tornado, hurricane, flood, and thunder and lightening all mixed together.

So I  R-E-S-P-E-C-T them.

One common misconception about overweight or obese people is that they could lose weight if they really wanted to.

In the words of Lee Corso…

“Not so fast my friend!”

New studies show that gaining a lot of weight and then trying to take it back off is far more complex than simply not being able to control yourself, or being lazy or weak.

The process of gaining weight is just that, a process. There are hundreds and thousands of neurochemically mediated synapses that go a bit haywire.

There are ‘checks and balance’ systems in the body that get toppled. Organs and cells start struggling just to deal with the excess stress.

This is, in part, the start of many disease processes.

So I get a little defensive when the ‘gurus’ start blaming people for not eating right and exercising enough.

We all should, by now, understand the amazing life giving properties and benefits of exercising and eating right. But the fact is we don’t. There is no perfect diet and there is no perfect exercise program.

Thankfully, we are all unique.

And although I love nutritional science and practice orthomolecular medicine and I respect exercise physiology. The absolute truth is, when you are dealing with humans, there are no absolutes.

Why?

Each one of us is a different combination of quantum energy. (Don’t get scared by the big metaphysical word, I’m done.)

For example, I might drink a few beers and want to reminisce and hug all over you. The guy next to me might have a few and want to brawl.

Same beers…but two different chemical bodies that they were poured in to.

In science, if you mix A with B in equal parts, every time you will get C. That’s reproducible science. Whenever humans are involved, you don’t know what B is, exactly.

So here’s my point- let me ask the ‘majority’ of people who have struggled with weight this one very important question in regards to eating right and exercising…

“How’s that worked out for ya?”

What some of you may be very surprised to hear is that a lot of people will answer, “Not very well!”

You see for many people, losing weight has been a futile battle to fight powerful hormonal responses in the body gone awry. Even those with the best intentions were set up for failure to start with.

These processes are why willpower alone won’t take the weight off. And they are a big reason why people can’t ‘stick’ to diets or exercise routines.

Before I go on, let me fervently say that I am the biggest exercise and nutrition advocate around. Don’t misconstrue this into thinking that I discount those vital health needs.

So… if you are one of those people who can’t stick to a diet or if you have taken weight off and it comes right back on, I’m going to share some facts with you that you may have never heard. Basically, your weight problem is a hormone imbalance.

The Master “Fat Burning Hormone”

The way that we either burn calories for energy or store them as fat, is largely determined by a balance of hormones in our bodies. With a sub-par diet, too much stress, and not enough rest, our hormones can get out of balance.

The hormone leptin is primarily responsible for the regulation of metabolism and weight by decreasing hunger and food consumption, as well as being responsible for utilizing fat for energy.

How important are these functions in determining whether you can or can’t lose weight?

If leptin is prevented from doing its job in the body, the chemical signals to tell you to stop eating never reach the brain. Instead, the body is signaled that more calories are needed. Therein lies the problem…

“Willpower Is No Match For Hormones”

People wonder why willpower alone won’t take the weight off. Willpower is no match for the brain’s hormonal signals that are telling you that you need more food.

Even the toughest among you can sustain it for only so long. And then what happens? I think you know… you’re right back to where you started.

Research shows that most people struggling with weight problems have high blood leptin levels. You may say to yourself, “If  leptin is so powerful and it burns fat and controls cravings how could I have high levels?”

It’s called leptin resistance. It’s very similar to insulin resistance…and most overweight people suffer from it and don’t even know it. It is extremely common.

Leptin is prevented from getting into the brain where it needs to  signal the body to

1) Stop eating and 2) Burn fat.

Without leptin working in the brain, it is all but impossible to regulate appetite, metabolism and weight, and that, my friend, is why willpower alone may have fallen short.

So with bookstore shelves devoting entire sections to diet and exercise, you would think America would have all the tools necessary to be in tip top shape, yet statistics on obesity and being overweight continue to rise.

How big of a problem is this ‘leptin resistance’ thing?

HUGE!

“I believe that the discovery of leptin resistance is the key to freeing millions of overweight Americans from the tyranny of yo-yo dieting, food cravings and a continual struggle with their weight.”

Leo Galland, M.D.,
Author, “The Fat Resistance Diet”

In fact, many studies are pointing to the fact that insulin resistance happens because of leptin resistance. More studies need to be done, but the new science shows that the hormones insulin and leptin are literally intertwined in terms of their function.

Fact: 80% of all type II diabetics are overweight. Coincidence? I think not, as is backed by the newest research.

Hmmmm…where do we go from here?

Brand New Science Gives Promise

Leptin resistance occurs, in part, when a protein in the body, called PTP1 B, interferes with leptin’s ability to cross into the hypothalamus of the brain and do its thing, burn fat, stop cravings.

Science and big pharma companies have been trying to isolate a way to potently ‘block’ PTP1B, in order to restore the powerful fat burning effects of leptin.

Why?

Because it’s the NEXT BIG THING.

One of the most respected naturally minded doctors in the world, Dr. Joseph Mercola, owner of the worlds most popular natural health newsletter and website recently said that,

“Several pharmaceutical companies are already busy at work trying to identify drugs that would make good candidates for inhibition of PTP1B in people.”

Why?

Because it’s the next big thing; 0besity, huge (sorry for the pun), diabetes, huge, a nation overweight and getting worse…huge! When it comes to the research and development of leptin and insulin sensitizers, there aren’t too many things  bigger right now that medical and pharmaceutical research is trending towards.

If they could find an answer to this problem, it would be…you guessed it…huge. It’s probably safe to say that this could be the biggest breakthrough in weight loss science in the past 20 years.

In the labs right now, scientists have been able to block PTP1B in mice and guess what? There is a huge decease in overall body fat and as much as an 80% increased capability for the them to be resensitized to insulin and leptin. And boys and girls, those are THE two master hormones for controlling your weight and metabolism.

But, here’s the kicker… even when the mice were fed high fat diets, they still didn’t gain weight.  Are you with me, so far?

I think you may be starting to see why this just may be the new ‘holy grail’ of weight loss science.

So why am I so excited?

Eureka… We’ve Done It!

The best thing is it’s an all-natural plant based compound!

It is a berberine formulation that has been specifically and proprietarily bound to fatty acids. The body can actually use it to increase leptin signaling and restore fat burning and decrease false and unnecessary hunger cravings.

Currently there is only one clinically validated compound that can potently block PTP1 B levels, thus reestablishing normal leptin signaling by actually crossing the blood brain barrier and addressing the malfunction at its source.

It’s called LeptiPro™ and it’s in a proprietary formula called LepToThin™.

LeptiPro™ has been clinically proven to restore normal leptin signaling by blocking PTP1B, thereby, naturally balancing and resensitzing  the signaling of your fat burning and hunger commanding hormones in the body.

So it now allows leptin to flow to the brain and signal the body to stop eating and burn excess fat.

How’s that for an answer to your prayers?

This is the pinnacle of leptin re-sensitizing thus far in the medical community. People who have tried LepToThin™ with LeptiPro™ say,

“It’s the most powerful appetite suppressant I’ve ever experienced.”

Those who have failed with diet after diet, only to put on the pounds again, are experiencing reductions in weight that they have never experienced before in their adult lives.

Why?

Because it works directly on the brain. And it’s all natural, with virtually no side effects as you may expect with drugs.

It’s been called ‘the anti-diet’ pill because it has no harmful effects or jittery effects on the body like a typical diet pill.

While it’s obviously important to eat a healthy diet when you are trying to lose weight, it takes more willpower than you can muster to avoid sugary snacks if you are leptin resistant.

By addressing leptin resistance and restoring balance to the body, you’ll have your hormones working FOR you and not fighting thousands of years of physiological history with sheer willpower!

So, if you’ve struggled with your self image regarding your weight or if your self confidence took a hit because of your failure with ‘dieting’… you can take a big breath and realize that it wasn’t all your fault.

Now, when you get the weight off, come back here for guidance on exercise and a leptin enhancing, anti-inflammatory diet so you can keep it off for good!

You have suffered enough and you wouldn’t want to have to learn that lesson again.

Oh, by the way, when you do get to your ideal weight, the LepToThin™ formula will help you to keep it off as well.

LepToThin™ with LeptiPro™ has set a new standard in weight loss science. If you’re interested, you can order it here starting March 30, 2009.

View the Press Release Here

References:

Anonymous. Fat and free will. Nature Neuroscience. 2000;3(11):1057.

Considine RV, Sinha MK, Heiman ML, Kriauciunas A, Stephens TW, Nyce MR, Ohannesian JP, Marco CC, McKee LJ, Bauer TL, Caro JF. Serum Immunoreactive-Leptin Concentrations in Normal-Weight and Obese Humans. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1996;334(5):292-295.

Martin SS, Qasim A, Reilly MP. Leptin resistance: a possible interface of inflammation and metabolism in obesity-related cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008;52(15):1201-10.

Nature.com September 2002 Protein PTB1B Inhibitors For Diabetes

Male or female, we all want to look our best and feel healthy. A woman’s weight is closely tied with her self-image. She’s been trained by the media and society to be pretty, nice, and thin. And when she’s not thin or at her ideal weight, it’s more difficult to be pretty in her own mind.

You’ve been waiting for years for science to solve the obesity problem. You’ve had enough of diets that don’t work and gave up hope you can eat anything since every calorie seems to multiply itself by a factor of 5. And you’ve had it with food cravings that keep your mind focused on food all day long.

Why has your body turned against you? Where is your answer?

With all the thousands of research studies published each year, isn’t it possible that there is an answer somewhere? Maybe…

Newly Discovered Hormone Affects Your Weight

The hormone leptin itself was just recently discovered. When it was, it was viewed as the ‘new frontier’ of weight loss. Why? Well, it may have something to do with the fact that two of its most influential effects are on controlling cravings and burning body fat. But as the science advanced we learned that due to a number of factors, mainly overeating and eating too much of the wrongs foods, people who were chronically over weight and obese were resistant to leptin’s powerful effects. That reason is now known as “Leptin Resistance.”

The truth is that leptin is exceptionally crucial to your body to function optimally. The hormone has a hand in controlling the two most important factors in weight control; food intake and fat storage. But also sexual development, immunity, GI function, reproduction, the nervous system during stressful times, brain function and red blood cell production.

“Leptin Resistance” is extremely similar in nature to “Insulin Resistance” and although most people are completely unaware that they even have this hormonal dysfunction, it is extremely common. “Leptin Resistance” occurs when the body is no longer efficient at carrying Leptin across the blood-brain barrier to the brain, specifically the hypothalamus. In order for Leptin to perform it’s ‘weight loss magic’ to control your body weight and metabolism, it has to do so from the hypothalamic centers in the brain. When brain levels of Leptin are low because the brain never ‘hears’ or ‘receives’ it due to “Leptin Resistance” -  food cravings and weight gain occur because the body believes that it is hungry and will daily go into a state of persistent fat storage.

“NORMAL BRAIN LEVELS OF LEPTIN ARE ABSOLUTELY VITAL IF YOU WANT TO CONTROL YOUR BODY WEIGHT AND METABOLISM”

The Research Proves It

By restoring leptin sensitivity, weight may come off like never before and food cravings can be subdued. You may can lose weight safely, and that’s not all: thyroid function can improve.

In a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in February of 2009, when calories were restricted 40% for 25 days, significantly reduced leptin, thyroid hormones and increased corticosteroid levels resulted. Leptin replacement for the last 10 days of the study normalized the leptin and TSH levels.

In a University of Miami study reported in August 2008, leptin replacement in a 5-year-old morbidly obese boy with leptin gene mutation resulted in substantial increases in the rates of brain development with some skills increasing more than what was expected for his age. High blood pressure reversed totally as did high levels of insulin and fat abnormalities.

In another case study, a female with type 2 diabetes treated with leptin replacement decreased her insulin resistance and lost weight.

Scientists have found that overweight individuals can have leptin resistance. In fact, researchers at Harvard, in the journal Developmental Cell, say that “Almost all forms of obesity are leptin-resistant ….”  Leptin resistance is similar to insulin resistance and results in health problems that can contribute to diabetes and lead to diabetes medication.

If you have been chronically over weight or obese, chances are there has been a strong reason why you haven’t been able to lose weight. Most likely, you are suffering from leptin resistance. Let’s chalk one up for science here, as this is a BIG discovery. People are now searching for ‘leptin supplements.’

What you need to do is increase your leptin signaling pathway. There is only one supplement I know of that does this, LepToThin™. When you improve leptin signaling, it’s truly natural weight loss.