Over 40, apple-shaped (excess abdominal fat), struggling to lose weight but continuing to gain, battling high blood triglycerides, low HDLs (the good cholesterol) and high blood pressure.   Do you recognize this woman? If it’s not you, you likely know someone who fits this description. It’s a profile that goes along with a condition called metabolic syndrome (formerly known as […] read more »

Will weight loss help my diabetes management, or reduce my risk for developing diabetes?   Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin, and/or does not use it effectively. The result is that glucose (sugar) – the body’s main source of fuel – builds up in the blood, causing numerous health problems, including kidney failure […] read more »

  Fat suffers from a bad reputation. It’s in recovery mode when it comes to fat in our food. Long gone are the days of fat-free eating advice as the value of healthy fat from food is increasingly appreciated. But when it comes to fat on our bodies, well, that’s another story. Our body fat does play some pretty important […] read more »

  Most people might think that if anyone needs a strict eating plan, it’s a person with Type 2 diabetes. After all, eating to manage diabetes is simple if we understand food exchanges and count carbohydrates, right? Not so fast. If that were true, there probably wouldn’t be so many people who struggle to keep their blood sugars in a […] read more »

Part II: Diabetes Medications, Steroid Hormones, Antihistamines, Anti-Hypertensives, Migraines While we’d all like to be medication-free, there are cases in which regularly taking medicines is the best option for protecting our health. But as we saw in Part I of Medicines & Weight Gain: Is Feeling Better Making You Fat, some drugs we commonly take for mood disorders and epilepsy seem […] read more »

Part I: Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics Does this sound like you? You started taking antidepressants with the hope they would give you a boost, but instead, you feel like they’re creating another problem. You’ve gained 20 pounds since you started them, and it looks like the pounds are continuing to pile on. Or maybe you don’t even realize […] read more »

A new study suggests a genetic link between PCOS and type 2 diabetes. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when ovarian cysts block a woman’s normal ovulation and menstrual cycle. While the problem sounds straightforward, the disease is complex, born from both multiple genetic components and environmental factors. PCOS affects up to five percent of the female population, and those diagnosed […] read more »

Do you have irregular menstrual periods, sometimes missing cycles and/or experiencing excessive bleeding? If so, you might be one of the estimated 70% of women with irregular menstrual cycles who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO or PCOS). A hereditary disorder that creates a hormonal imbalance, PCO produces higher than normal levels of male hormones.   Symptoms Can Include: irregular periods […] read more »

Wouldn’t we all love to find a nutrient, herb or other substance that will prevent or cure just about anything that ails us? Certainly, we hear about plenty of products these days that supposedly offer such miracle benefits. Have you heard any of these? “This new fiber binds the fat you eat and causes you to lose weight.” “Serotonin will […] read more »