Regardless of your choice of diet, you need to be taking supplements
One of the most common questions I receive from people inquiring about my low-carb lifestyle is regarding vitamin supplements. They want to know specifically what I take and why I take them. I've briefly blogged about this before, but this was such an interesting topic that I decided to dedicate Episode 10 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube" to go over the ones that Christine and I currently take.
Some people erroneously think that they can get all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need by simply eating the right kinds of foods in their diet. Unfortunately, that is next to impossible to do which necessitates the need for supplementation. There are arguments both for and against taking vitamins, but I personally feel better and healthier over these past four years since I added DAILY supplementation to my lifestyle. Nobody will ever convince me otherwise.
See EXACTLY what I am taking in our latest YouTube video:
We'd love to have your feedback about Episode 10 at YouTube, including any supplements that you take that I did not mention. Plus, your comment will make you eligible to win another very special surprise prize that will be announced in our next episode. Click here to leave your comment and GOOD LUCK in the contest.
Special CONGRATULATIONS to one of my LowCarbDiscussion.com forum readers ChrisTina (aka Mrs. A), whose screen name at YouTube is xf89, for being the winner of our previous surprise giveaway contest from Episode 9. She won certificates for 10 FREE Atkins Nutritionals bars just for leaving a comment and for being fortunate enough to be chosen in our drawing. YOU could be the next winner, so be sure to leave a comment at Episode 10 TODAY! :)
Get caught up on our YouTube videos real fast by clicking on the following links:
- Promo video--A half-minute promotion of the new video series - Episode 1--Introduction of Jimmy & Christine Moore - Episode 2--What kind of fruits can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 3--What kind of veggies can you have on a low-carb diet? - Episode 4--What does a low-carber do for something sweet? - Episode 5--Why is fat so healthy for you on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 6--Which restaurants can you go to on the low-carb lifestyle? - Episode 7--What are the best new low-carb books you need to read? - Episode 8--Why should you be eating a lot more eggs? - Episode 9--If you're gonna do Atkins, do it by the book
We are continuing to grow in the number of subscribers to our YouTube videos, so keep sharing and telling others about them. We value your input about how to make the videos even better, so don't hesitate to let us know your thoughts at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Your constructive criticism and suggestions for future topics for me and Christine to talk about are greatly appreciated. THANKS as always for your faithful support for the work we are doing to educate, encourage, and inspire others who are livin' la vida low-carb through these videos.
When it comes to our health in the 21st Century, one of the worst things you could ever hear from your doctor is the dreaded "c" word. Yes, I'm referring to cancer.
I'd be surprised if ANY of my readers have not at all been impacted by this horrible disease personally, through a family member, or among your circle of friends. It comes on like a roaring lion and grips hard to try to devour and destroy everything it touches.
I've seen it personally in my own life recently with my former Minister of Music Steve Dyar. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December 2006 and just finished up his months-long grueling chemotherapy treatments. Now his throat won't open up to allow him to eat and we are praying for a miracle to happen in his life.
The local talk show host had prostate cancer in March and another famous radio show host is going through this with his wife who has cancer of the uterus. Cancer is ruthless and is not a respecter of persons. It doesn't care who you are and will seek to destroy your life completely.
Thankfully, there are some things we can do as a dietary defense for defeating cancer that one of my extremely knowledgeable readers passed along to me after conducting some research on the subject responding to the asinine study claiming the Atkins diet leads to colon cancer.
With that said, here is a superb guest column which lists the specific vitamins and nutrients you should consume to put yourself in the best position to ward off cancer nutritionally. It's not guaranteed, but having a plan is better than no plan at all.
Special THANKS to my reader for sharing this with us today:
A DIETARY DEFENSE FOR DEFEATING CANCER
Less than a hundred years ago cancer was a very rare disease indeed. In fact, it was so extraordinary that patients with cancer were prominently discussed in medical textbooks and journals.
Thanks to the "many benefits" of our modern, "balanced" diets, cancers are now widespread, affecting more than 30 percent of the entire population of this planet.
The skyrocketing cancer rates are, not unsurprisingly, completely in accordance with the skyrocketing intake of overly-processed, nutritionally empty carbohydrates from sugar, starch and corn syrups.
Cancer therapies have done little to improve survival rates since the "war on cancer" was declared in the 1970's. Actually, nothing that now can be cured could not be cured then. So clearly the best approach to cancer is prevention.
Traditional diets, containing animal and plant foods farmed by nontoxic methods, are rich in factors that protect against cancer. Many of these protective factors are in the animal fats. Vegetarianism, for example, does not protect against cancer. In fact, vegetarians are particularly prone to cancers of the nervous system and reproductive organs.
So what are the nutrients that protect against cancer? They are:
Vitamin A: Strengthens the immune system. Essential for mineral metabolism and endocrine function. Helps detoxify. True vitamin A is found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil; fish and shellfish; and liver, butter and egg yolks from pasture-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin A than the typical modern American diet.
Vitamin C: An important antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals. Found in many fruits and vegetables but also in certain organ meats valued by primitive peoples.
Vitamin B-6: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes. Most available from animal foods.
Vitamin B-12: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Found only in animal foods.
Vitamin B-17: Protects against cancer. Found in a variety of organically-grown grains, legumes, nuts and berries.
Vitamin D: Required for mineral absorption. Strongly protective against breast and colon cancer. Found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil, lard, shellfish and butterfat, organ meats and egg yolks from grass-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin D than the typical modern American diet.
Vitamin E: Works as an antioxidant at the cellular level. Found in unprocessed oils as well as in animal fats like butter and egg yolks. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Strongly protective against breast cancer. Found in the butterfat and meat fat of grass-fed ruminant animals.
Cholesterol: A potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. Found only in animal foods.
Minerals: The body needs generous amounts of a wide variety of minerals to protect itself against cancer. Minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium are vital components of enzymes that help the body fight carcinogens. Minerals are more easily absorbed from animal foods.
Lactic Acid and Friendly Bacteria: Contribute to the health of the digestive tract. Found in old fashioned lacto-fermented foods.
Saturated Fats: Strengthen the immune system. Needed for proper use of the essential fatty acids. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats. Found mostly in animal foods.
Long-Chain Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help fight cancer on the cellular level. They are found mostly in animal foods such as butter, organ meats, cod liver oil and seafood.
Co-enzyme Q10: Highly protective against cancer. Found only in animal foods.
Conversely, here are some of the compounds found in processed foods that have been linked to cancer:
Trans Fatty Acids: Imitation fats in shortenings, margarines and most commercial baked goods and snack foods. Strongly associated with cancer of the lungs and reproductive organs.
Omega-6 fatty acids: Although needed in small amounts, an excess can contribute to cancer. Dangerously high levels of omega-6 fatty acids are due to the overuse of vegetable oils in modern diets.
MSG: Associated with brain cancer. Found in almost all processed foods, even when "MSG" does not appear on the label. Flavorings, spice mixes and hydrolyzed protein contain MSG.
Aspartame: Imitation sweetener in diet foods and beverages. Associated with brain cancer.
Pesticides: Associated with many types of cancer. Found in most commercial vegetable oils, fruit juices, vegetables and fruits.
Hormones: Found in animals raised in confinement on soy and grains. Plant-based hormones are plentiful in soy foods.
Artificial Flavorings and Colors: Associated with various types of cancers, especially when consumed in large amounts in a diet of junk food.
Refined Carbohydrates: Sugar, high fructose corn syrup and white flour are devoid of nutrients. The body uses up nutrients from other foods to process refined carbohydrates. Tumor growth is associated with sugar, HFCS as well as starch consumption.
Questions or feedback about what you think of this list? Leave a comment below!
NOTE: Much of the information provided in this list is taken from the Weston A. Price web site. Special THANKS to my readers for pointing out this for proper attribution.
VIBE is a liquid nutraceutical dietary supplement for optimum health
Getting on a nutritionally sound diet such as livin' la vida low-carb takes preeminence over anything else you can do when it comes to your weight and health. It is the backbone of every healthy lifestyle and there is no compromising on what you are putting in your mouth if you intend to keep your body healthy.
The same goes for your vitamin supplements. I am a strong proponent of taking vitamins as part of your health routine. From day one of my low-carb lifestyle, I have taken a variety of dietary supplementation to go along with my healthy diet. It's been a decision I have not regretted and the benefit is I've never felt this good in my entire life!
However, the more I have researched the various kinds of vitamins available on the market today, I am becoming thoroughly convinced that those old traditional "brick" vitamins that you can buy at the drugstores and Wal-mart are not the most ideal way to allow your body to benefit and absorb all the nutrients you think you are getting.
That's why I was happy to find out about a company called Eniva and their fantastic VIBE brand of liquid vitamins. What a truly revolutionary blend of all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to get you through the day.
Watch this local news story on VIBE that recently aired:
The twin brothers who run Eniva are committed to helping transform people's lives with their VIBE vitamins. What makes these vitamins so different?
Three specific things come to mind:
1. VIBE has the correct particle size
Because VIBE is available in liquid form, the particle size of the nutrients are so microscopic that they almost immediately begin absorbing into your body down to the actual cell level of the body where true life-changing processes take place and where it can do the most good.
2. VIBE is water soluble
Traditional "brick" vitamins must be digested, broken down, and then redistributed to the body--BUT 90 PERCENT OF THOSE VITAMINS NEVER GET USED! Yikes! That's a lot of wasted money! VIBE is a liquid so it goes to work as soon as it is consumed.
3. VIBE is good for your whole body
VIBE is so much more than just vitamins. It has one of the highest anti-aging values of any supplement on the market today and targets the cardiovascular system, boosts the immune system, and promotes healthy cells which translates to better skin, bones, hair, and so much more! VIBE is a complete total body formula.
Okay, so you might be wondering what exactly you get in a 1 Fl.oz. serving of VIBE. Are ready for all of this? It's gonna blow your mind!
- Just 30 calories - 2,000 IU Vitamin A - 120 mg Vitamin C - 500 IU Vitamin D - 30 IU Vitamin E - 1.5 mg Thiamin - 1.7 mg Riboflavin - 16 mg Niacin - 2 mg Vitamin B6 - 400 mcg Folic Acid - 12 mcg Vitamin B12 - 300 mcg Biotin - 10 mg Pantothenic Acid - 100 mg Calcium - 20 mg Phosphorus - 150 mg Magnesium - 5 mg Zinc - 25 mcg Selenium - .5 mg Copper - 1.8 mg Manganese - 120 mcg Chromium - 175 mg Potassium - 37 mg PROPRIETARY TRACE MINERAL BLEND, including Boron, Germanium, Strontium, Sulfur, Nickel, Cobalt, and Vanadium - 6,500 mg ANTIOX PROPRIETARY BLEND, including Natural Extracts from Acai Berry, Cranberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Carrot, Elderberry, Hibiscus, Lemon, Lime, Apple, Orange, Blackcurrant, Oregano, Chokeberry, Grape, Pumpkin, Tomato, Pomegranate, Wolfberry, Stevia, Grape Seed, and Citrus Bioflavonoids - 280 mg HEARTPRO PROPRIETARY BLEND, including D-Ribose, CoQ10, L-Carnetine, Malic Acid Isolated, Lecithin, MixedTocopherols - 3,500 mg COLLAMAX PROPRIETARY BLEND, including Green Tea Leaf Extract, L-Lysine, L-Proline, Aloe Vera Gel, Glucosamine HCI, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, and Leucine - Other ingredients: Purified water, citric acid, natural gums, potassium sorbate, and benzoic acid
WHEW! Did you know they could pack so much into a little one-ounce serving? Yep, they sure can and it is absolutely LOADED with good healthy nutrition for your body.
Isn't it time you started catching a good VIBE for your heath? CLICK HERE to learn all about VIBE and join the revolution for yourself!
Mark Sisson helping people learn the importance of good nutrition
Have you ever wondered when you stepped inside of your local drug or health food store and saw all those vitamins and other dietary supplements lined up in such an intimidating display exactly how much of what you really need? Believe me, I have and you can go broke buying the WRONG kind or quantities if you don't know what you are doing.
If anyone knows what proper nutrition and healthy supplementation is supposed to look like, then I would think a former marathon runner and world-class athlete would qualify. That's exactly what Mark Sisson is which explains why he is the perfect person to create a business called Primal Nutrition.
You may recall when I blogged earlier this year about Mark's incredibly entertaining and educational blog called Mark's Daily Apple where he espouses healthy living the low-carb way. Mark and I have a mutual respect for each other since our basic dietary and blogging philosophies are mirror images. You could even sense that when he interviewed me for his blog back in March.
But Mark Sisson is a much more professionally qualified health and fitness blogger than I'll ever be because he was a key player in bringing the triathlon to the Olympic games as an official sport. Yep, Mark is a bona fide athlete who deserves to be heard because he knows from whence he speaks.
When he retired from professional competition, Mark decided he wanted to build upon his own personal health experiences to provide high-quality supplement information and products to the public. He began by publishing numerous articles on fitness, health and wellness which you can enjoy at his blog as well as at my LowCarbNewsline.com web site now (check out his latest column making the "Case Against Cardio"--AN INSTANT CLASSIC!). Additionally, he has been interviewed by the health and fitness media as well as participating as an in-demand consultant in professional sports.
Prior to founding Primal Nutrition in 1996, Mark was the chief operating officer and head of research & development for America's #1 top direct-to-consumer nutritional supplement company. In other words, he has a solid reputation for knowing his stuff as it relates to vitamins and supplements.
As a strong supporter of livin' la vida low-carb, Mark wants to help his fellow low-carbers get the most potent, complete, cutting-edge, premium nutritional supplements available on the market today. He knows you don't have time to research the ingredients in thousands of bottles with stuff you can't even pronounce in them! That's why he created Primal Nutrition.
The first thing you'll notice is the product line is quite small--JUST FOUR BASICS IN ALL! But that's by design. Mark wants people to get what they need to be healthy and then just live their life without worrying about whether they are getting the right supplements or not. Primal Nutrition gives you the peace of mind to know you are.
No matter how young or old you are, these supplements will help with such health ailments as aging, blood sugar control, weight and pain management, mental health, sleep, performance, energy, and more. As a 52-year old man, Mark knows firsthand how important it is to remain healthy as your body naturally matures and goes through the life cycle. He's living proof it CAN be done!
I have personally used the multivitamin packs, omega supplements, and Responsibly Slim products for the past month and would like to share my experiences with each.
DAMAGE CONTROL MASTER FORMULA
Most of you know I have been a big proponent of taking at the very least a multivitamin when you are livin' la vida low-carb. Regardless of your dietary preference, though, a solid multivitamin will help ensure you are getting exactly what you need nutritionally.
This beautifully-packaged product holds a one-month supply of 60 little waterproof packets each containing six capsules (taken twice daily!) with the right amount of 51 healthy nutrients your body needs (you can see a complete listing of these nutrients by clicking here). If you were to try to purchase all of these on your own, you could very easily spend up to $500 for just a one-month supply of products you can't be sure about! Yikes!
I replaced much of my supplementation (except fish oil which I'll discuss in a moment) by switching to the Damage Control Master Formula and feel absolutely fantastic. It sure is convenient just ripping an easy-to-open packet of six capsules in the morning and then again at night instead of opening 8 or 9 different bottles as I have been doing for the past three years. Not anymore!
This literally is a premium multivitamin for anyone looking to get everything they need in one dose. You'll be interested to know that there's also a "junior" version with 42 vital nutrients as well as a basic "budget-conscious" version that is perfect for children and youth. You'll never have to worry about your multivitamin again!
VITAL OMEGAS
I love my fish oil supplements and consider them a key part of my low-carb lifestyle. There are so many health benefits from adding this supplement to your diet that I don't know anyone who shouldn't be taking it. But getting the wrong kind can actually cause damage to your body rather than help it. EEEK!
One of the most common problems with fish oil capsules is most of them go rancid sitting on the shelf in the drugstore or at Wal-mart for months on end. One surefire way of knowing whether your fish oil supplement is rancid or not is if you have fishy burps soon after taking them. Not good!
That's what I have enjoyed about taking the Vital Omegas. No more fishy burps, so I KNOW I'm getting a top-of-the-line fish oil supplement that will help rather than harm me. This is the purest, most concentrated form of fish oil I've seen available on the market today--BAR NONE!
RESPONSIBLY SLIM
When you are livin' la vida low-carb, protein is a crucial part of your weight loss and muscle-building routine. Most protein powders are simply overloaded with sugar and lack enough fiber to be as useful to the people using them. That's what makes Responsibly Slim protein powder different.
It is both high-protein (24g) and high-fiber (8g) to give you a nice one-two punch in your weight loss routine. Responsibly Slim comes in either chocolate or vanilla flavors and tastes fantastic. I've had the chocolate and mixed it with water and ice in a blender for a delicious low-carb snack or meal replacement.
One word of caution for people on Induction or in the early stages of livin' la vida low-carb: Responsibly Slim contains 7g sugar per serving to improve the taste and texture. However, those low-carbers who are in the midst of or near their goal weight with a higher carbohydrate allowance can add this product into their routine.
Take a moment and check out Mark Sisson's Primal Nutrition health supplements for yourself sometime! They will help you become healthier that you ever thought possible!
If you are like me and enjoy taking supplements as part of your low-carb lifestyle, then you will definitely want to read this World Net Daily story about something the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is currently proposing that could directly impact your life. This may sound like a very sick joke, but it is DEAD SERIOUS!
According to FDA Docket No. 2006D-0480, aka the "Draft Guidance for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration," the government agency would take over regulation of all vitamins, supplements, and any other natural health remedies. What would this mean? Well, any natural remedy items, even bottled water, would then be considered "drugs" coming under the strongarm authority of the FDA.
In fact, pretty much anything and everything that can be used to treat disease would fall under FDA control. Here's the language they use in this draft proposal:
Biologically based products include, but not limited to botanicals, animal-derived extracts, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, prebiotics and probiotics, whole diets and “functional foods.” A botanical product intended for use in treating a disease would be generally regulated as a drug. “Functional foods” may be subject to FDA regulation as foods dietary supplements, or drugs under the Act.
If the manipulative and body-based practices involve the use of equipment (such as massage devices) or the application of a product (such as lotion, cream, or oil) to the skin or other parts of the body, those products may be subject to regulation under the ACT.
Does all this sound preposterous? Think again. Imagine this:
Do you own a home gym for medical purposes? It would need FDA approval for use or commerce. How about heading down to your local drugstore to find your favorite vitamins? Good luck because the FDA would need to give their go-ahead. In fact, any store caught selling vitamins without the FDA's magic stamp could be prosecuted for "practicing medicine." Yikes!
FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach has put this draft guidance on the fast-track for implementation, but they are soliciting feedback from concerned citizens through May 29, 2007. The original date was set for Monday, April 30, 2007, but they decided to extend it for an additional month since there has been such an outcry from the public. You can send your concerned comments and reaction to the FDA about this by using their feedback form.
With one out of every three Americans using nondrug treatments for their health at an estimated cost of $5 billion annually, it appears the FDA is watching out for their buddies in the pharmaceutical industry. The medical establishment doesn't like the fact that people are getting healthy without the use of their overpriced medications. Sure, there are SOME drugs that do some fantastic work, but a lot of people find equally effective relief from all-natural homeopathic remedies.
Ever since I've been taking supplements like so many do on a daily basis as part of my low-carb lifestyle, I have not had to see the doctor because I haven't been sick. That's a fact that apparently doesn't sit too well with the medical profession. It's not all of them, but the people in powerful positions are none too happy that they're losing out on "business" from people who are supposed to be sick. Twisted, ain't it?
We've already seen severe restrictions to vitamins in our neighboring countries Mexico and Canada as well as in Europe where you even need a prescription from a doctor to have access to them. EEEEK! Don't you know the FDA would love to bring this policy to the good ole United States of America. They've been working on it for a while now.
I've previously blogged about the concerted effort to outlaw vitamins in this country before, but the FDA has stepped it up. What makes this bad is the outright corruption that already exists in that government entity and it's well-documented. Can you say Vioxx? Or their approval of the wheat gluten imported from China that was responsible for the pet food contamination that killed thousands of beloved pets? Shall I continue?
If you care about this issue as much as I do, then leave your feedback for the FDA TODAY! You have until May 29, 2007 to voice your concerns about this important issue. Let Commissioner von Eschenbach hear from us all!
Get ready for the brand new Diet Coke Plus coming in April 2007
The "healthy diet soda" wars continue on with the upcoming release of the brand new Diet Coke Plus™ coming to a store shelf near you in April. With nationwide distribution set for next month, The Coca-Cola Company is excited to provide their very first calorie-free, carbohydrate-free soda product that has been infused with vitamins and minerals.
According to the nutritional label, Diet Coke Plus includes 25% of the recommended daily allowance of niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 as well as 15% of the RDA for magnesium and zinc in each 12-ounce serving. It is sweetened with an aspartame/ACE-K blend that has become the industry norm for just about every diet drink nowadays.
Attempting to get a leg up on their primary competition--Pepsi-Cola North America--as that company is set to release their own diet "energy" drink called Diet Pepsi MAX in June 2007, Coca-Cola North America is seeking to provide their loyal consumer base with a diet soda product that will serve as a supplement to their healthy diet, according to Coke's senior VP Katie Bayne.
“Consumers, including Diet Coke drinkers, are increasingly looking for more beverage options, and we wanted to offer them the convenience of a calorie-free beverage that is a good source of several essential vitamins and minerals, and one that delivers on the great taste that they have come to expect from us,” she said.
This is the second such "energy" drink that will be released in 2007 by the #1 beverage company in the world. In January 2007, the Coca-Cola Company in conjunction with Nestle launched Enviga, aka "The Calorie Burner," under a cloud of controversy from some who believe the product is misleading to consumers. But many people have been curious about the product likely BECAUSE of the criticism which is why Enviga spokesman Ray Crockett reports in this news story that it is "doing very well."
I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to try the new Diet Coke Plus today when the media press kit arrived at my door this morning. The packaging for this product is top-notch as we have come to expect from the folks at Coke. It's includes the famliar Diet Coke logo along with a multi-colored "Plus" with the wording "Diet Coke with vitamins & minerals" listed on the product.
Here's the packaging for the 20-ounce bottle, 12-ounce can, and 12-pack:
I really didn't know what to expect when I went to taste this new Diet Coke Plus. I just assumed it would taste like all the other new aspartame/ACE-K drinks that have come out over the past year or so including Diet Pepsi Jazz and Coke Zero. Boy was I wrong!
When I took my first swig from the 20-ounce bottle, I noticed a somewhat recognizable (but not in a good way!) taste I hadn't had in my mouth in a while--REGULAR Diet Coke! EWWWW! I'm so used to drinking my FAVORITE Diet Coke product--that would be Diet Coke with Splenda--that this Diet Coke Plus was not nearly as sweet as I have grown accustomed to.
Nevertheless, after that initial shock to my tastebuds, I put it back in the fridge for a few hours and tried it again to discover that although it wasn't nearly as sweet as say Coke Zero or Diet Coke with Splenda, it is certainly a little bit sweeter than a regular Diet Coke. I'd have to say that the creators of this new drink have hit a pretty happy medium between the aspartame-only and the aspartame/ACE-K blend versions that fans of both should enjoy Diet Coke Plus.
Even still, whenever a new version of Diet Coke comes out the diehard lovers of the original version worry that their beloved drink is changing formulas. Not to worry, loyal fans of regular Diet Coke who do not want the ACE-K! The Coca-Cola Company learned their lesson about messing with a formulation (remember New Coke from the 1980s?), so you can rest assured your favorite diet soda is not gonna change one bit.
“The millions of current Diet Coke devotees across America shouldn’t be concerned – America’s #1 diet sparkling beverage is staying just as it is,” Bayne added.
Diet Coke Plus is the next in an ever-growing line of Diet Coke products on the market today, including original Diet Coke, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Diet Coke with Lime, Diet Cherry Coke, and Diet Coke with Splenda (which I'll explain in a moment why it is still hanging around despite the fact it was supposed to be discontinued in 2006).
You will begin seeing advertising for Diet Coke Plus in the near future with the slogan "Great Taste Has Its Benefits." They want to push the fact that this Diet Coke product has several essential vitamins and minerals while giving people the familiar taste of Diet Coke they have grown accustomed to. It's an intriguing concept that will certainly capture the attention of a public looking to live healthier. We'll have to wait and see if that can translate into positive sales numbers.
Personally, I like the idea of having a vitamin-infused diet soda. Heck, if you're gonna drink diet soda (and I AM!), then why wouldn't you want to add some vitamins and minerals to the mix to make it even better? Drinking just four 12-ounce cans of Diet Coke Plus daily will provide you with 100% of the RDA of vitamin B in your diet. Now that's just cool!
I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Coca-Cola North America spokeswoman Susan McDermott today about a few concerns from the low-carb community regarding her company. On the issue of aspartame use, she said they have conducted field marketing tests and the aspartame/ACE-K blend has been preferred by consumers as well as universally accepted across the industry as the blend for sweetening diet drinks. Fair enough.
When I stated that many of my readers would prefer a Splenda/ACE-K blend instead, McDermott insisted that aspartame is the most tested artificial sweetener in history and has been found to be completely safe by the Food & Drug Administration. While I acknowledged her point, I did express that my readers would like to have some more Splenda-sweetened options available as well. She said there are no new Diet Coke products in the works for the rest of 2007, but to not give up hope for the products you desire in the future. I guess we'll just have to be patient for now. :)
Speaking of Splenda, I asked McDermott specifically about Diet Coke with Splenda and what the availability of this product was like in 2007 since it was set to be discontinued last year. She said the product tends to sell great in certain regions and not at all in others, but it is still available for purchase. With so many different Coke products available today, local stores will only stock what they think they can sell. So if you want it and it isn't available in your area, then let the manager of your favorite grocery or retail store know. I was assured it IS available!
I'm so glad they took the feedback from so many of my readers last year after all and decided to keep Diet Coke with Splenda around for a little while longer just for us. Awww, wasn't that just so nice of them? :) Now if we can only get them to make Diet Cherry Coke with Splenda (and maybe caffeine-free), I'll be one happy camper!
Feel free to send your comments and feedback to The Coca-Cola Company regarding what you think about their product line by clicking here.
FUZE beverages are deliciously low-calorie and low-carb
Finding a healthy low-calorie, low-carb beverage amongst the neverending sea of sugar and high fructose corn syrup products that flood supermarket shelves nowadays can be a next-to-impossible task. But I recently had the opportunity to try one of the most refreshing beverage products I've ever seen since I began my low-carb lifestyle that is absolutely PERFECT for people who are livin' la vida low-carb.
The company is called FUZE and they are located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. They've been around for about six years and have their products available in all 50 states. Although I've never heard of them before, I'm certainly glad I know who they are now!
FUZE offers various flavored beverages that taste awesome and provide unbelievable amounts of essential vitamins and minerals to help energize your day. Many of them are sweetened with Splenda and ACE-K, which make them friendly to the low-carber looking for something different to drink with added health benefits.
This isn't a carbonated beverage, but it doesn't need to be. One sip of these FUZE beverages and you'll become a quick believer that healthy really can taste good, too!
The Slenderize line of FUZE products are aspartame-free (YEAH!)
Be sure to check out the various exoctic flavors in the low-calorie, low-carb Slenderize line as well as the not-what-you expect green and white teas that actually are enjoyable to drink! These products are gorgeously packaged in a huge 18 fl oz glass bottle that gives you plenty to drink as a power-up before your workout or a way to cool down afterwards. At around $1.50 a bottle, it's a good value, too!
Honestly, I did not expect these FUZE beverages to be as kind to my tastebuds as they were, but they REALLY are. Frankly, it surprised me and I'm happy to report to you they are well worth the effort to find them in your area to see for yourself. Click on the "Fuze Finder" at the top of the cool FUZE web site to see the availability where you live.
When I sent an e-mail to the FUZE company to tell them how much I enjoyed their products, they invited me to share my health tips for their readers who visit their web site to benefit from. And so I did and they are now posted at DrinkFuze.com. Click on the "Health Tips" link at the top of their web site and it will take you to a page with my picture along with a short bio about me and my ten health tips. COOL!
Here's are my tips that they published on their site:
- Don't wait to do something about your weight and health. START TODAY!
- Be a natural skeptic of anything you read or hear about healthy living.
- Constantly educate yourself with the latest health information and research.
- Completely eliminate sugar from your diet. You just don't need it!
- Don't assume all juices, fruits, and vegetables are healthy. Some have more sugar than a can of soda or candy bar!
- Avoid white flour, starchy, and processed foods, too. While they may not be sugar when they go in your mouth, your body metabolizes them as such which will cause a negative impact on your blood sugar releasing large quantities of the hormone insulin. Sustained amounts of insulin can lead to full-blown diabetes.
- Learn to relax and enjoy life with your family because it's way too short to be stressed out. Fun, engaging fitness activities are an excellent stress reliever.
- Water is your best friend, so drink up to your heart's content!
- Eat protein at every meal to satiate your appetite and get adequate fiber to stay regular. Green leafy vegetables are a MUST on a daily basis!
- Flood your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to function at optimum levels. Drinking Fuze beverage products is an EXCELLENT way to give your body that supplemental super-boost it needs to get through the day. :D
Yeah, we got the low-carb message out to people who may not otherwise hear it presented in a positive and uplifting manner. Super duper dippity doo!
FUZE was so pleased to receive my enthusiastic response to their beverage products that they have agreed to give me not one, not two, but THREE CASES OF THE SLENDERIZE VARIETY PACK to give away. This prize package includes 3 Strawberry Melon, 3 Cranberry Raspberry, 3 Tangerine Grapefruit, and 3 Tropical Punch and YOU could win. That's a dozen of these outstanding FUZE drinks just for reading my blog.
See, aren't you glad you stick around and read what I write about here?! :D To enter for your chance to win, here's what I need from you:
1. Your name 2. Your mailing address (No P.O. Boxes please) 3. Answers to the following questions (found at DrinkFuze.com) - What is the slogan for FUZE beverages? - Who started the FUZE beverage company? - Which floor is the FUZE offices located on?
Send your answers to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net no later than this Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 12:00PM EST. The three winners will be selected amongst the ones who provide the correct responses. If you are lucky enough to be selected as a winner, then your case of FUZE Slenderize products will be shipped directly to the address you provide in your entry. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
Interestingly, the FUZE people told me that the Slenderize line was featured in a diabetes magazine in 2005, so many diabetics are already aware of the FUZE beverage line. Then, another big group of potential customers for this product were gastric bypass surgery patients who said this is the only thing they can drink that won't come back up. TMI!
So...could people who are livin' la vida low-carb be the next wave of faithful consumers for FUZE beverages? Once low-carbers get a taste of this stuff, there's no doubt in my mind they will. Do what you can and find FUZE beverages in your area. They are truly an amazing drink worth checking out!
Today I'd like to highlight ten recent news stories I have come across lately that I just haven't had time to blog about. Machine-gun blogging, so to speak! :)
First, I found one of the most incredibly interesting articles about the vegetarian vs. meat debate that I've read in a very long time in this London Daily Mail column. It was written by a man named Alex James who decided after 17 years that it was time to give up his vegetarian lifestyle and to come join the happy world of us carnivores. Welcome home, Alex! While he still uses phrases like "carcass" to describe meat (a common tactic by vegetarians to make meat sound more disgusting somehow), he has certainly made a 180-degree turn for the better.
Second, Kirsten Hawkins provides what I thought was a reasonable column combining the best of the low-fat diets with the best of the low-carb ones. It reminded me of this blog post I wrote following my interview with low-fat diet guru Dr. Dean Ornish in October 2005. She makes some good points worth pondering for both sides of the low-fat vs. low-carb debate.
Third, you have GOT to read this AOL Money interview with Jim Skinner. He is the CEO of the world's largest fast food restaurant chain and has been credited with their financial turnaround in recent years. You will flip out when you read what he had to say about the company's position on a healthy diet. Here's just a snippet:
"I put an emphasis on what we call balanced, active lifestyles. When you look at the kinds of choices we've provided, we've done more work here than probably any other restaurant company in trying to be part of the solution to...the world's obesity problem...We love the passion of people who want us to serve food that we feel has those characteristics that everybody wants when they're eating. But most of the time what they say is not factual relative to the quality of our food, the very high standards we have around our food safety - yet since we're the lead dog, we're the ones that people point to. I just don't think it's fair."
Awww, WAH WAH WAH! NO FAIR to blame us for obesity! Frankly, Mr. Skinner, while I am not in favor of the lawsuits against your company, I do think your company could be doing a whole lot more to improve the options at your restaurants. To say you've done more to address obesity is absurd despite your latest public realtions stunt. Also, you might want to share that vision with your British CEO!
Fourth, more ignorance about what the Atkins diet really is continues in this Bland County (VA) Messenger story. Another brilliant dietitian seems to think that eating the popular low-carb Atkins diet means you "cut out entire food groups" and that "there isn't enough information and research out there to determine the diet's long-term effects." Yadda yadda yadda! These people keep repeating the same old arguments over and over again, but they're just not sticking anymore since the truth is getting out there about livin' la vida low-carb.
Fifth, how about this Scoop story about the "safest way to avoid death?" Have you seen this amazing study that shines the light on the number of deaths that have happened as a result of taking dangerous prescription medications as compared with taking healthy vitamins and minerals? Does it surprise you that there have been ZERO deaths from taking natural remedies? How many deaths have happened from prescribed drugs, hmmm? That's why it's scary to think there are people who want to outlaw vitamins in America. EEEEK!
Sixth, a creepy new Big Brother-type action against obesity is happening in the UK according to this Times Online story. Believe it or not, "hit squads" of nutritionists would be sent into the houses of obese families to give dietary advice and help wean families off junk food. Oh my gosh, God help us if this were to ever happen in the United States of America! Yes, Dr. Ornish, I will eat that low-fat tofu and rice for supper. DOUBLE EEEK!
Seventh, the Auburn Journal discusses that fact that one-third of Americans, or 71 million people, are currently on a diet--the highest number since 1992. They report that calorie-counting and lower-fat will be en vogue in 2007 and that restaurants will follow suit to accommodate this need. How many years have we heard this crap spouted off and it's still not making a dent in the obesity epidemic? Just eat low-carb already people!
Eighth, why is it that people try to be cute by making fun of the low-carb lifestyle? It's like Christianity--it's okay to slam away at it with everything in the world, but don't you dare talk about Muslims or any other religion. The same goes with Atkins and low-carb. This (MS) Sun-Herald column proves that yet again in an op-ed written by a chef named Robert St. John who obsesses over a Pop Tart while on a make-shift diet of his own. Here's how he describes livin' la vida low-carb:
"I once tried Dr. Atkins' torturous method of carbohydrate deprivation, and three weeks into the diet wrote this paragraph in my journal: 'Everyday I get an afternoon craving for a Milky Way bar. 'Just eat some pork rinds or beef jerky,' they say. I tried that. Pork rinds are smelly and greasy, and it takes approximately 37 hours to chew one single piece of beef jerky. Note to future Atkins dieters: 50 pounds of dried beef or fried pig skins can't come close to one tiny bite of a chocolaty, silky, heavenly, wonderfully delicious Milky Way bar - Pure joy in a brown wrapper."
What a freakin' idiot! He's merely perpetuating the myths about low-carb even further with his ignorant and ridiculous hyperbole. Here's some advice to all you Atkins haters out there--stop trying to be cute, just read the book already!
Ninth, we FINALLY have a positive story about low-carb in this Times Online article featuring two women who have been obese their entire lives and sought to discover the very best way possible for them to lose the weight. While they discuss the importance of looking at the emotional aspect of why you got fat to begin with, check out the actual nutritional approach they recommend in their diet plan.
"So I studied the diet books, worked out the most do-able way of eating — the high protein, low-carb method — and fiddled and tweaked until it became, well, palatable."
Well SHAZAM! Of all the diet books out there, including all those so-called healthy low-fat, low-calorie, portion control plans, the ONE way of eating that they found the "most do-able" was livin' la vida low-carb! It's about time they figured it out!
Tenth and finally, this Globe & Mail story gleefully gloats that fewer than one percent of Canadians are on a self-prescribed low-carb diet. Hmmm, that's interesting to note. I wonder if you re-phrased the question to say "Are you eating less sugar, white flour, starchy veggies, and processed foods" if there would be a different result? Me thinks there would be. It's unfortunate that the term "low-carb" has been hijacked as a negative thing in the media and by health experts, but it's truly the healthiest way to eat.
That should be plenty for you to chew on for today. Like I said, I've been behind on a lot of blogging lately during this busy month of January. I'm not complaining, just sharing with you that there's a bottomless supply of information I'm always trying to provide to you day in and day out. THANKS so much for reading and feel free to comment on any or all of these ten topics. SEE YA!
If you thought cannibalism was outlawed, think again!
Just in time for Halloween, I've got something so wickedly gruesome and freaky to the max that it will very likely turn your stomach worse than anything you have seen or heard in a long time. It sounds like something straight out of horror movie!
If you are squeamish or if you are easily grossed out, then you probably want to stop reading right now. But if you think your stomach can take it, then read on.
Believe it or not, there is a real company on the Internet right now at this very moment which actively promotes doing something with the body of your loved ones who pass away that is so off-the-wall crazy, there's no way I'd ever be able to make something like this up. What is it?
They make nutritional supplements out of dead bodies.
I'm not kidding!
The company is called Modern Man Eater and, as the name implies, they encourage people to pass on the "unimaginable power" that comes from ingesting the elements made from the body of your Grandma Martha, Aunt Sally, or Uncle Joe. Heck, they'll even make vitamins out of your dog Buster if you would like! Again, this is NOT a joke! It's as real as real can be.
Check out this ominous plea on the front page of their web site:
"The Question is: When you Die, Do you want your Life Force to Vanish or Passed on to your Children and their Children The Ancients knew. Warriors regularly fed themselves upon the Organs of defeated enemies to steal their Strength and Energy. In Pre-History, Families consumed their freshly Dead Ancestors so that their Wisdom and Essence is Preserved and Carried On within the Family."
EWWWW! This company is BEYOND sicko, they're a bunch of whack jobs! They think the work they are doing is continuing on a supposed tradition of passing on the family heritage one bite at a time. Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick.
Here's the process they use for making ingestible pills for consumption:
"Your Loved one's body will be separated into its Discreet Components, then Dried, Distilled, and Processed into Vitamins, Minerals, and Food Additives that can Strengthen your entire Family for years to come! Sanitary and Food-Grade Quality. Not only Good for your Body but truly feeds your Soul."
Blech! I'm turning white now from this...not sure if I can make it through the rest of this post. But I'll try.
What supplements come from one dead human body? Check it out:
Hair: First the Corpse is entirely Shaven and Hair collected. Then, via Hydrolysis, the Cysteine is Leeched out, purified, and Converted to the biologically valuable Vitamin L-Cystene.
Blood: All the Blood is Drained, Dried, Collected, Powdered and Encapsulated. These are the best iron-heavy Multi-Vitamin available!
Next, the Corpse is boiled to remove the meat from the bones.
Bones: The Bones are ground to a fine Powder, mixed with water and an agregator compound and formed into Calcium Tablets.
Meat: All of the remaining flesh is then Freeze-Dried and ground into a protein-intense, powdered nutritional supplement. Suitable for Energy Shakes, spicing up dinner, or mixed into foods such as scrambled eggs or oatmeal.
Mmm mmm yummy! Makes you wanna shake some Uncle Buck on your omelette for breakfast, doesn't it? Has anybody seen the Pepto Bismol?!
This process is known as anthropophagy (which is just a fancy word for "cannibalism!") and the Modern Man Eater company is pitching this line of garbage to unsuspecting strangers who are actually buying into this crap! Ignorance is bliss, but this is ridiculous!
Apparently, they've been doing this since 2003 and they say it's legal.
But look at this hat dance they make about the legality of their work:
"Well, lets put it this way: It is legal to have a dead body shipped anywhere in the world that you'd like. It is legal for us to do what we do in the country we do it in. Finally, the product we return to you is indistinguishable from similar agricultural or non-controled pharmaceautacal products, thus it is legal to be imported back to any country."
That would be a yes-no-maybe, in case you missed it! :)
Regarding the safety, they claim the vitamins made from the dead bodies are "of the same quality you find on the shelf of your local pharmacy." However, if the person who died was poisoned or had something like mad cow disease, they say they wouldn't recommend their service in those instances. Hey, they've got to have some sense of ethics, ya know!
Apparently, the Modern Man Eater service ain't cheap either since they are such small run productions and because every part of the machinery is thoroughly cleansed after each slaughte...er, I mean, use. No cross-contamination from one job to the next. Isn't that comforting?!
Whatever you do, just don't mention the "C word" around them because they think it's a touchy subject. Ya think?! They actually go so far as to defend Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous cannibal killer from the 1990s, by claiming he would not have committed those horrible murders to all those innocent people he killed to eat if he had a "legal, safe way to satisfy his needs without having to harm a single living thing" such as the service offered by Modern Man Eater. Are you kidding me?!
Like any other business, they even have testimonials from actual satisfied customers. Let's see what some of them have to say about their Modern Man Eater experience:
"My bones were just plain getting eaten up by the osteo-porosis. But after eating all the calcium from my mother, I feel SO much better. My bones are strong again. I can feel my mother's spirit within them making me strong again, just like she did when she was alive" -Ota Mae Wilson, NY
"My father was always strong as a bull. Both mentally and physically, he was a mountain of a man. Though I was no wuss myself, after taking his blood capsules, I have truly come into my own as family patriarch. Somehow, when things go badly now, I can look into myself and find the inner strength there I was lacking previously." -Jim Johnson, Jackson, MS
"Ever since I was a little girl, I always knew I had a small gift. But, Halleluyah!, After we feasted on GrandMama's powdered, dried, protein conveniently mixed into a and tasty stew, I have inherited all her supernatural gifts and powers. I've gone from Acolyte to Priestess almost overnight!. Thank you Modern Man-Eater! Our family legacy is saved!" -Laetitia Laveau, New Orleans, LA
"Our family traditions from many centuries had recently been abandoned due to changes in our legal system. Now we can return to the ways of our ancestors and not run afoul of the authorities. Thanks to MME." -Umpepa Mi Mau, Paupua New Guinea
Oh...my...freakin'...goodness! Have we digressed as a civilized society THIS much that we now celebrate something as sinister and maniacal as eating the flesh and bones of a fellow human being? What kind of person are you to actually even consider something as asinine as this? It's incomprehensible to me and goes beyond any logical explanation in my mind. This has got to be the most bizarre thing I think I've ever heard of in my entire life.
So, the next time you're at a funeral, think about what it would be like to have a cupboard full of vitamins compliments of the dearly departed. That's a Halloween freak show I don't ever want to see for as long as I live! Somebody please wake me up from this nightmare because now I'm totally wigged out by it! 8-O
One of the questions that inevitably comes up when I start talking about my low-carb lifestyle is vitamins. People ask me, "Why do you need to supplement your diet with vitamins if you are eating healthy? You should be getting all the vitamins you need from the foods you are eating, right?"
HA! I just love the flawed premise of questions like this. It assumes that there is a way for people to make changes in their diet alone that will enable them to get all the nutrients their bodies need to perform at their very best. Don't you wish?!
But anyone who researches this subject even a little bit already knows it is next to impossible for you to consume enough foods these days to adequately supply your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Even with the most nutrient-dense diet you can possibly eat, you still need supplementation to your diet. There's just no getting around it!
Most interestingly to me about supplements are all the forces at work trying to get them banned. The big pharmaceutical companies REALLY don't like people taking vitamins because people are getting healthy without the use of drugs. Oh no, we can't have that now, can we?!
But as I state in one whole chapter of my book "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb," vitamins are vital for a healthy lifestyle and can make your low-carb experience that much more enjoyable and effective. Isn't that a part of the transformation process that happens inside of you when you make permanent life-changing actions? Yes, it most DEFINITELY is!
Let's see what Kent has to say about this topic in his video today which was actually in response to a question posed to him by a woman who e-mailed him regarding her experience just starting off on the Atkins diet.
Here's what she wrote to Kent:
“I’ve been very faithful and am over the Induction flu, but now I don’t have ANY energy. I slept great last night and I feel like I could lay down right now and take a nap. I’m not skipping meals, I’m taking a multivitamin, and am drinking loads of water. What can I do to get my energy back up?”
This gave Kent the perfect opportunity to discuss this topic.
ATKINS DIET: ROLE OF SUPPLEMENTS
VERY interesting stuff, isn't it? I really wish I had known about all of this BEFORE I started the Atkins diet back in January 2004, but I have learned a lot about it ever since. That's why I proudly post my weekly menus which include the supplements I take along with my diet and exercise routine.
Here is what I am currently taking:
3 teaspoons of liquid multivitamin (no iron) 1 brick men's multivitamin (no iron) 200mg Co Q-10 200mcg Chromium Picolinate 250mg Acetyl L-Carnitine 1 brick B Complex Vitamins 6 tablets Shaklee Super Calcium Magnesium Plus 2 caplets Fibercon 2 softgels Atkins Essential Oils 3 softgels 1000mg each Fish Oil Concentrate
Kent hits on most of these supplements and talks about why every low-carber should at the very least be taking a multivitamin, chromium picolinate, biotin (which is usually included in some multivitamins), L-Carnitine, CoQ-10, and omega-3 fish oil supplements. These are all basic supplements for anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb and you should really consider adding them to your diet if you are not already taking them as part of your low-carb lifestyle.
Regarding the question he received from the woma with no energy on Atkins, Kent said she is probably still getting used to the low-carb lifestyle as she is very early in the diet and that taking the right supplementation could actually help boost her energy significantly.
Also, Kent encourages her and anyone else starting out on a low-carb program that this way of eating provides the added benefit that you are "off that train" of blood sugar spikes that can zap your body of the energy it needs to survive. In other words, you will notice a steady surge of energy levels once you get your body into a ketogenic state and fat-burning commences.
Plus, when the weight loss comes (and it will!), you'll experience that much more of a boost just when you need it. It's the beauty behind livin' la vida low-carb that makes me proud to be associated with this healthy nutritional approach!
Kent provides a boatload of links at his blog to articles about the various supplements he recommends to help educate you further about why they are important. I encourage you to check it out and post your comments regarding this video to his blog.
Do you have a question that you would like Kent to address in a future "how to do Atkins/low-carb" video? He would be happy to hear from you and possibly feature it in a future video. Click here to share it with him and be sure to tell him "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" Man sent you. THANKS again for the educational videos, Kent!
