Can coffee play a role in helping people to lose weight and reduce the risk of adult-onset diabetes? That seems to be the case, according to a number of studies reported in medical journals.

One clinical study published in the scientific French review Phytothrapie demonstrated fat-reducing effects of a green (non-roasted) coffee bean extract. One group of volunteers was given 400 mg of a decaffeinated green coffee extract daily, and the second group received a placebo. After 60 days of supplementation, participants who received the green coffee extract had lost 5.7 percent of their initial weight. By contrast, the group that received a placebo had lost 2.8 percent of their initial weight.

While this study does not show the kind of rapid weight loss touted by many diet fads, it does point to a steady decrease in weight as a result of the use of green coffee extract. Furthermore, since the extract was decaffeinated, the weight loss does not appear to be due to a calorie-burning effect noted with caffeine.

Coffee, one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, contains a plethora of naturally-occurring compounds, including several classes of antioxidants. Coffee is already known to be a preventive factor against mild depression, Parkinsons disease, and colon and rectal cancers. Now it appears that compounds in coffee also help to regulate blood glucose, reduce fat production, and enable steady weight loss.

The compounds responsible for the weight-controlling effects of coffee are antioxidants known collectively as the chlorogenic acids. These acids appear to slow the production of glucose in the body after a meal, by modifying the activity of certain enzymes in the liver. Additionally, the chlorogenic acids cause a more slow and sustained release of glucose into the body after eating, thereby reducing the production of new fat cells.

This process sheds favorable light on the practice of drinking an espresso after a meal. Espresso, made by steam expressing finely ground coffee, is rich in flavor and aroma and chlorogenic acids, but not very concentrated at all in caffeine. Drinking an espresso after eating causes a suppression of glucose production and release, in addition to causing the body to produce more gastric juices, which aids digestion.

Furthermore, coffee also appears to act as a preventive factor in type 2 diabetes. In one Harvard University in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that drinking coffee daily reduces the risk of the disease. In another study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Amsterdam concluded that regular coffee consumption is associated with considerably lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And yet another study conducted in the Netherlands showed a direct connection between coffee consumption and lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

What conclusions can we draw from this work? For a start, coffee with lots of cream and sugar will do little to control weight or prevent diabetes, due to the load of calories in such a beverage. But black coffee, espresso, coffee with a small amount of milk, or a green coffee bean supplement all appear to support weight reduction and lower rates of diabetes. In the studies cited above, decaffeinated coffee and caffeinated coffee alike worked equally well.

Just as it has been discovered over the past few years that coffee provides significant antioxidant protection, it now appears that coffee consumption may play a valuable role in fighting epidemic obesity and high rates of diabetes. These studies suggest that drinking coffee daily and enjoying an espresso after a meal may provide significant benefits to health.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. Chris is the author of 14 books, including Hot Plants, Tales from the Medicine Trail, Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise, The Whole Food Bible, Psyche Delicacies, and the international best-selling yoga book, The Five Tibetans. Richard Branson features Chris in his new book, Screw Business as Usual. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at http://www.MedicineHunter.com

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Coffee: An effective weight loss tool

Carnie Wilson

Carnie Wilson is holding on to her career and health, thanks to a second weight-loss surgery.

The Wilson Phillips singer underwent lap-band surgery on January 18, People reports. In the procedure, a silicone gastric band is placed around the top portion of the stomach to treat obesity by reducing the amount of food consumed. Since undergoing the surgery, Wilson has lost a total of 30 pounds.

Dramatic Celebrity Weight Loss: Check out before and after pics "It was the right decision for me and I'm doing really well so far," Wilson says. "It's all about taking good care of myself."

Wilson, 43, underwent gastric bypass, a different weight-loss surgery, in 1999 and ultimately lost 150 pounds. She regained some of her weight, however, and even appeared on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club in 2006 in another attempt to shed the pounds. Her doctor advised her to consider having the gastric band placed after she had regained two-thirds of her weight, her blood-sugar levels began climbing, and she became in danger of developing diabetes.

Bridesmaids scene-stealers Wilson Phillips launch reality show for TV Guide Network

In the upcoming premiere of TV Guide Network's reality show, Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On, Wilson's health becomes the focus when it's apparent she won't be able to keep up the rigors of a comeback tour if she doesn't lose weight. She reveals to her fellow bandmates, her sister Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips, that she's decided to undergo the lap-band surgery four weeks before their comeback tour is scheduled to kick off.

The group has also reunited to record the comeback album Dedicated which will drop on April 3. The album will cover songs originally sung by their famous musician parents Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas.

The eight-episode reality series Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On premieres on Sunday, April 8 at 9/8c on TV Guide Network.

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Carnie Wilson Undergoes a Second Weight-Loss Surgery

Danny Moloshok / AP

Singer Carnie Wilson has reportedly had a second weight-loss surgery in a dozen years. A bariatric medicine expert says that's rare.

By JoNel Aleccia

A second weight-loss surgery for singer Carnie Wilson has raised questions about repeat procedures, but a bariatric medicine expert says though its rare, its not necessarily unwise.

In effect, shes added something to her first surgery, said, Dr. Robin Blackstone, president of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. It gave her enough of a boost so that she could get her weight down.

Wilson, 43, had lap-band surgery on Jan. 18, according to People magazine, and has shed 30 pounds. Wilson previously lost 150 pounds after gastric bypass surgery 12 years ago.

"It was the right decision for me and I'm doing really well so far," Wilson told People. "It's all about taking good care of myself."

There are no statistics about the number of people who get two or more weight-loss surgeries as part of the 200,000 procedures performed annually in the U.S.

Its actually pretty rare, Blackstone said.

The two procedures are very different, she noted. Gastric bypass works by reducing the size of the stomach, but also by bypassing part of the small intestine. Its primarily a metabolic treatment, meaning it works by affecting the way the intestine signals the brain regarding hunger and fullness.

Excerpt from:
Why Carnie Wilson got weight-loss surgery again

20 March 2012 Last updated at 10:19 ET

Heading to a sauna before a race is a common ritual for many jockeys - not to relax, but to lose those few extra pounds before racing.

Racing legends including Frankie Dettori have spoken in interviews of their battles to stay under their "natural weight".

Tony McCoy, who stands at 5ft 10in tall, has been known in the past to slim down for some rides to 10 stone, a stone-and-a-half below his natural weight, with a punishing diet of saunas and snatched snacks.

A recent academic study found 82% of the 99 jockeys surveyed took "extreme measures" when dieting, ranging from exercising with "sweat suits" to fasting, skipping meals or vomiting before a race.

The Berkshire-based Professional Jockeys Association is now employing three extra members of staff to help stop jockeys using dangerous methods to lose weight.

Anna-Louise MacKinnon, medical advisor at the association, based in Newbury, said they had recruited three new members to their nutrition team to bring new ideas and approaches to diet.

She said there was no "hard evidence" that rapid weight loss methods were dangerous, but said anecdotally she had been told by jockeys that head injuries and concussions were harder to recover from when the rider was dehydrated.

She said there were also concerns about dehydration weight-loss methods leading to a lack of concentration which might lead to more accidents while riding.

Susan Lennie, a lecturer in nutrition at Robert Gordon University, warned that jockeys could damage their health by losing too much too quickly.

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Jockeys in dieting 'extreme measures'

Cory Kidd thinks he can help solve our obesity problem--with the help of a robot named Autom.

People have tried everything from acupuncture to hypnosis to compulsive teeth-brushing in order to shed a few pounds. Now, thanks to Cory Kidd, theres a new weight-loss tool at dieters disposal: robots.

Over the past 14 years, Cory Kidd has worked at the intersection of human health and robot design, first as a student at Georgia Tech and MIT, where he received a PhD in human-computer interaction, then as CEO of Intuitive Automata. His interests in psychology, health care, and robotics have all come together with his latest project, Autom, a robotic personal weight-loss coach that keeps track of how much you eat, your exercise habits, and your personal fitness goals.

Not much bigger than a toaster, and with a tablet-like interface for recording your progress, Autom talks to you in soothing Siri-like tones, offering words of motivation and advice. The core algorithm driving Automs conversations allows it to adapt to each individuals needs and habits, and adjust its daily pep talks accordingly. Autom also possesses expressive, blue eyes that even offer up the occasional wink. (The mere fact that the robot is able to wink without coming off as creepy is somewhat of a design miracle in itself.)

But while Autom is undeniably cute, is it worth the $199 price tag when there are countless free or affordable weight-loss apps and websites? Kidd says yes, and he's betting that consumers will agree.

Studies have shown that when people have the same interaction with a robot and a screen-based character, they remain engaged longer with the robot and find the information presented more informative and credible, Kidd said.

For Kidd, the lessons he learned in academia have gone on to inform nearly every stage of Automs development, from the design of its artificial intelligence to its charming outer shell.

Over the last decade, I have spent a lot of time conducting human-robot interaction studies and developing an understanding of how people respond to different features of robots. We combined that with the industrial design expertise of one of the other founding team members (Chief Design Officer) Erica Young, by studying product trends in home appliances and health care technology. As a result, Autom looks enough like an appliance to not look out of place in a kitchen (the obvious home base for a weight-loss robot) while possessing a handful of human-like traits to help it maintain a personal touch. Its certainly come a long way since the early prototype, a gnarled mess of wires and eyes.

The simplicity and cleanness of the robots design is perhaps its greatest strength, acting as a blank slate that may inspire any number of emotional reactions from the user. People project their own ideas about what a robot should look like onto it--Rosie from the Jetsons, Wall-E, or a retro '80s sci-fi robot. This tells me that we've done a good job balancing our own design with enough openness to allow for this projection.

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Cory Kidd's Saving The World From Obesity With An Army Of Cute Robots

Getting a grip

William Bisset

Mental adjustments are called for as William Bisset continues his weight loss challenge.

It's OK if you're wondering why I'm wearing a wig and pole dancing. I, too, struggle to comprehend why I get myself into these situations.

The video this week shows interviews with a scientist regarding essential fatty acids, a chat about life in general with Peta Mathias and gym and pole dancing experiences.

A week of beginnings:

Exercise: On Wednesday I went to the gym for my first workout. I was mildly horrified that I had to get up early enough to begin at 6.30am. Research indicates that you get better results exercising in the mornings. The rest of the day I felt fantastic, and I didn't feel sore because I stretched well. Last week's gym assessment measured me at 124 kilograms, with a body-fat ratio of 44 per cent. This is high, when ideally I should be between 25 to 29 per cent. The doctor and Performance Training both say I need to lose about 40kg.

It has been suggested to not lose weight too quickly it would seem 12 or more months should be enough time to safely reach my desired weight. As Justin from Performance Training said: "It has taken you a long time to put the weight on, so it will take some time to take off."

The way I figure it, 12 months will happen regardless of what I do now. March next year will come eventually, it may seem forever but it will come. I often reflect that if I started 12 months ago, I would be at my ideal health level now. So, a little mental-adjusting required and before I know it, I'm ridiculously good looking! For now, I will be going to the gym three times a week, and to supplement this I am exploring a range of activities that offer dynamics in my physical journey.

I plan to discuss what activities are available with local organisations like Sport Canterbury. I'm thinking sports like squash it's great exercise and I can have some fun at the same time. I will meet more people, which in turn will add to my journey "to a better life".

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Pole dancing to a 40kg weight loss

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

After researching the effects of two fat burners recently recommended by TVs Dr. Oz, Neutra Corp. (OTCBB: NTRR.OB - News) announced today that it will add both raspberry ketone and African mango to its all-natural Pure Plus Weight Loss supplement.

Both new ingredients fit Neutra Corp.s mission to provide powerful, natural remedies with no side effects or dependency risk. Raspberry ketone, an organic compound that produces the smell of raspberries, can help boost the efficiency of the metabolism by increasing the bodys core temperature, increasing the bodys ability to burn fat. African mango helps reduce appetite, burn fat, increase energy and regulate the efficiency of the hormone leptin.

Both ingredients have skyrocketed to popularity after being touted as miracle fat-burners on The Dr. Oz Show. By adding both to its new weight-loss formula, NTRR plans to produce the first supplement to boost the effectiveness of raspberry ketone and African mango by infusing them with Bio-Energy. In addition, NTRR will be able to offer consumers the benefits of both ingredients in one product, a huge savings over purchasing both separately.

By manipulating their subtle subatomic energy patterns, NTRR could potentially turbocharge raspberry ketone and African mangos organic fat-fighting power without using chemicals or additives. Boosting the fast, powerful effects described by Dr. Oz to his massive TV audience could help differentiate Pure Plus Weight Loss from its competitors on store shelves.

Neutra Corp. is developing new products to compete in the rising nutraceuticals industry alongside Qualsec Vitamin Spice (OTC:VTMS.PK),Nutraceutical International Corp.(NASDAQ:NUTR), Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESRX), andVitamin Shoppe(NYSE:VSI).

For more information on NTRRs nutraceuticals initiative, please visit http://www.neutracorp.com/investors.

Follow NTRR on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/neutracorp.

About Neutra Corp.

Neutra Corp.(www.neutracorp.com) is a healthy lifestyle company that specializes in the development and marketing ofnutritional supplements, nutrient boosters, herbal remedies and othernatural wellnesssolutions. The company is currently working to produce a full range of products to address every component of a healthy lifestyle, including muscle building, weight loss and general wellness through a daily nutrition regimen. For investing information and performance data, please visitwww.neutracorp.com/investors.

Originally posted here:
NTRR to Add Both Raspberry Ketone and African Mango to New Weight-Loss Supplement

AUSTIN, Texas, March 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Women over 40 can lose weight and feel great if they follow three principles of leading a holistic lifestyle plan custom-made for them by Austin Wellness Coach Justine SanFilippo.

"I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your life are connected. Does stress at your job or in your relationship cause you to overeat? Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we will look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole," said SanFilippo, who received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the largest nutrition school in the world which counts Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Mark Hyman as faculty members.

"People ask me 'How do I lose weight?' My approach is not to dwell on what is good or bad about a person's diet. Instead, I work with my clients to create a happy, healthy life and slowly change their diet in a way that is sustainable and rewarding," said SanFilippo, a nutrition coach who works primarily with women over 40 in the greater Austin metropolitan area. "I want women to never, ever have to go on a diet again. We will work together to create a lifestyle change that is easy for them to keep."

"Together we'll work to reach your health goals in areas such as losing weight, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, and maximizing energy. As we work together, you'll develop a deeper understanding of the food and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance and health," said SanFilippo, who speaks about health and nutrition to corporate wellness groups.

Here are some concepts that weight loss coach SanFilippo explores woman over 40 years of age who want to lose inches and wonder why they can't find time to exercise.

Bio-individuality: The concept of bio-individuality is that each person has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person's food is another person's poison, and that's why fad diets tend to fail in the long run.

"Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I'll support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background. I use a personalized, holistic approach to ensure that you will have great success," she said.

Primary Food: It's easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of nourishment and fulfillment. It's not just the food we eat, but all of the other factors present in our daily lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment.

"When these 'primary foods' are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right foods for your body to living an inspired, fulfilling life," she said.

"I'll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods on the planet and teach you how to find what's healthiest for your unique body!" she said.

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Austin Fitness Coach Justine SanFilippo Offers Weight Loss Tips for Women Over 40

Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured on the site!

Name: Nancy Pettit Age: I'm a sizzling 63-years-old! Height: 5'6" Before Weight: 275 to 280 pounds

How I Gained It: Its not like I woke up one morning to suddenly find myself fat, frumpy and frazzled; Id been like that for a lifetime. As a kid, family meals were large and included home-baked bread, cookies and pie. I was a chubby grade-schooler with an insatiable appetite and seemed drawn to carbohydrates and fat.

Weight was a frequent topic with my mom and grandma. They talked about dieting regularly and yet all family members except my father were overweight or obese. My dieting career began in sixth grade when my mom and I started using candy-like caramels to be eaten with a cup of hot water or tea about half an hour before meals for appetite-suppression. I counted calories and spent summers at fat camp; once school resumed, I spent money earned babysitting on corn nuts or shoestring potatoes from the school vending machine and made frequent stops at the drug store for candy bars or a chocolate sundae from the Dairy Queen on my walk home from school.

I was mortified to be the heaviest girl in the classroom and was frequently nagged by my mom about my weight. She said things like "Fat girls don't danceBoys don't ask fat girls out on datesYoure going to have your picture taken so stand up straight and suck it inGet on the scale and lets see how much damage youve done.

Dieting and binging became my pattern; Id be "good for a while by skipping meals or only having liquid shakes, and then reward myself with candy and ice cream.

I did all kinds of fad diets. In anticipation of my wedding and the ensuing photographs, my mother told me about a clinic in town that offered diet shots with a 500 calorie diet plan. I was accustomed to dieting for special occasions and looked great in my size 12 wedding dress. After the honeymoon, I blew out of my trousseau and went right back to construction worker-sized servings!

Then I heard about a diet doctor who had a program using "rainbow pills" and started his regime. Each week I got four envelopes containing red, yellow, blue and green pills, each to be taken at various times of the day along with a very low calorie diet. I didn't feel well, but behaved around food and lost weight. When I was unable to continue to afford the pills, my weight rapidly returned.

Over the next two decades, my aunt and grandma paid for me to go to several dieting centers, but my pattern was predictable: get on a diet for a special occasion, get off the diet, repeat. We spent thousands of dollars for program fees, medication and diet food. In 1991, I talked my husband into enrolling in a diet program but once I reached my goal weight of 140 pounds, I celebrated by porking-out and couldnt get back in the diet groove.

For the next few years, I half-heartedly dieted with always the same results: I'd lose weight initially, then feel hungry and moody and become unable to sustain the diet long enough to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

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Weight Loss Success: Nancy Pettit Found A Diet Plan She Could Stick To And Lost 140 Pounds