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Weight Management

Lessons from My Fat Dad Author

by Lisa Schofield | April 1, 2016

A quick interview with Dawn Lerman, MA, CHHC, LCAT, AADP, author of My Fat Dad: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family, with Recipes, about supplements she suggests for your customers seeking to lose weight the healthy way—and keep it off.

VR: What does the role of metabolism play in one’s weight—and what causes it to go sluggish?

Lerman: The rate of your metabolism determines your ability to control your weight. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you burn, the slower your metabolism the harder it is to lose weight. But you can lend your metabolism a hand and speed it up, by working out regularly and adding strength training, 3 x a week. Also adding certain spices to your favorite recipes can get your engine burning.

Ginger can increase your metabolism by about 20 percent for three hours! This is namely because of gingerols and capsaicin—two compounds it is loaded with that boost metabolic rates. Grate it and boil it into a tea and sip through out the day or added it to your favorite chicken soup recipe.

Cinnamon boosts your metabolism, aids in digestion, and can even help regulate blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes. Try adding to your morning oatmeal or even a cup of coffee.

Cayenne pepper is a staple of Chinese and ayurvedic medicine that’s known to kick up your body’s temperature and boost your metabolism. An added bonus is that the capsaicin content in cayenne helps your brain release endorphins. Add it to anything you can think of beans, soups, even ground lean meat.

Tumeric contains curcumin, an active component with anti-inflammatory benefits and rich in antioxidants. Adds a burst of flavor and color and helps control sugar cravings. Try adding it in a quinoa dish or sprinkle in on roasted chickpeas. The combo of spice and protein is great for speeding up your metabolism.

VR: What supplements do you feel are most effective in helping someone lose weight effectively and safely—in conjunction with an improved diet and exercise?

Lerman: There is no substitute for exercise and diet but I try to make sure all my clients take a good mulitvitamin. Getting adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals is vital for proper metabolism. Metabolism is the chemical reaction that your body uses to turn the food you eat into energy.

VR: What supplements do you feel are best at curving cravings?

Lerman: Sugar is one of the strongest cravings. It is the main sought after snack when you are stressed or over -tired. It will call your name in the wee evening hours and have you rushing to the vending machine at 3: 00. You can employ a variety of techniques to try to gain control over your cravings like eating regular meals and snacks to keep your blood sugar levels steady and choosing fiber-rich whole foods over refined treats. But if you’re deficient in nutrients that help you manage the way your body uses sugar, there are several supplements that can help you curb those hankerings for the sweet stuff.

Probiotics

Probiotic help flood the gut with friendly bacteria – which can help reduce cravings for sweets.

L-glutamine

100-300 milligrams of L-glutamine every few hours can help curb your cravings for sweets. While you can both manufacture the amino acid glutamine and obtain it from your diet such as in meat, Poultry: dairy nuts, eggs, beans and seafood, when your body undergoes stress, you may become deficient in this nutrient—and begin reaching for comfort foods like sweets.

Magnesium

Magnesium deficiencies can lead to cravings for sugar or chocolate. The recommended dietary intake is 400 milligrams per day, but many Americans consume less dietary magnesium than they should. Good food sources of magnesium include nuts, beans, spinach and whole grains. If you aren’t getting enough this is an important vitamin to supplement.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the winter when we are not in the sun. It is one of the reasons we have a larger appetite in the winter.

Omega-3s

Many diets are lacking in omega 3 fatty acids obtained naturally from nuts, salmon and avocadoes. Supplementing omega three will boost you mood and activity level thus helping with sugar cravings. An extra bonus is glowy skin.

Chromium

Chromium is an important mineral for balancing blood sugar levels.

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