Many of you have probably heard about the over-the-counter weight loss drug Alli.  It is a less potent version of orlistat, which is a pharmaceutical drug used for weight loss.  The way that it works is that it binds to a fat enzyme in the digestive tract, so that about one quarter of fat from the diet is not digested.  It just passes through the digestive tract.

Leaving fat undigested in the intestines can lead to a host of digestive problems.  In fact, side effects of Alli include oily and loose stools, fecal incontinence, frequent or urgent bowel movements or flatulence.  What this does to the balance of microflora in the digestive tract is not healthy.  Fat is not meant to pass through undigested.

That is only the beginning.  Recently, the FDA began an investigation of the hepatotoxicity of Alli.  Apparently, Alli (and its pharmaceutical counterpart) may cause liver damage.  So not only does it wreak havoc in the intestines, but it may be getting absorbed and moving into the liver, causing further damage there.

Sure, the idea of taking a pill and eating all the fat we want is certainly attractive.  But the big picture cannot be overlooked here, folks.  Weight management is a commitment.  It is a lifestyle change.  It is not a pill.  And it certainly should not be risky.

If you are tired of yo-yo dieting and taking diet pills that produce more side effects than weight loss, why not make a change?  The Fiber35 Diet was designed to be an easy way for people to lose weight based on the amount of fiber that they eat every day.  Check out the Fiber35diet website (www.fiber35diet.com) for more info on this great plan.

And if you’re looking to jump start your diet, Diet Start Cleanse can help you on your way.  It is a two-part non-stimulant cleanse designed to help boost fat metabolism, while also providing a colon cleanse to support healthy bowel function.

So take charge of your weight loss and choose a plan that makes sense, without all the risks!

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Alli, Brenda Watson, Diet Start Cleanse, Fiber 35, fiber 35 diet, healthy weight loss, hepatotoxicity, high fiber diet, microflora, The Fiber 35 Diet, Weight Loss

During these tough economic times every penny counts. That is why I am doing a new series on “Staying Healthy in an Unhealthy Economy.” In part four I discuss some quick, easy and inexpensive ways to improve your eating habits.

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Brenda Watson, Cleansing & Detox, detox strategy, fiber 35 diet, healthy foods, organic produce, organic veggie wash, simple recipes

On my recent trip to Canada I was reading Newsweek and came across a small article about getting kids to pick healthier foods in school cafeterias. One suggestion was to get rid of all the junk food choices available in most schools. This would be highly unlikely to happen and most kids, depending on their age may starve until they reach the 7-Eleven after school. Another suggestion in the article was to rename foods for the younger crowd. “X-ray vision carrots, bulk-up broccoli, groovy green beans…could this get kids to eat more vegetables? According to a Cornell researcher kindergarten kids ate the renamed vegetables 50% more than “plain” vegetables.

I don’t see this being as successful on the older kids.

How do we really get our kids to make better food choices, not only at school but at home? We educate them on nutrition starting at a very early age. This means nutritional education in school as well as at home. Very few schools include any kind of nutritional courses, and most that do start them at the teenage years which may be too late to teach the value of foods. Most children will mimic what they learn in the home environment. If at home you are serving mostly processed foods, high starches and sugar, that is what your kids will learn. And those are the types of foods they will choose when given the opportunity.

In most cases it is a matter of educating the parents as well.

Maybe some of you have seen a show that was running on The Learning Channel called “Honey, we’re killing the kids”. In this show the nutrition expert goes to a typical family’s home with children who may be overweight, unhealthy or just eating all kinds of junk food. Using computer images she shows the parents what their children will look like as adults if they continue the diet and lifestyle path they are currently on. She then goes through their kitchen and teaches the parents and the children about good nutritious food choices verses what they may be eating. She teaches not only about a healthy diet but about a more active lifestyle. She then challenges them within a three week course to use these changes and suggestions. The difference at the end of just three weeks in how these families feel and look are amazing. She then shows the parents again by computer imaging and statistics how their children may look as adults on this healthier, more active lifestyle.

Getting back to the point of where do we start, what do we do NOW to start helping our children eat better? Even if your children are older, it is never too late to start setting a good example. Try starting a program like my Fiber 35 healthy eating plan. The foods suggested, although healthy, are still delicious and allows the kids to have healthy tasty snacks. Although I target weight loss with my Fiber 35 Diet, it is a great, healthy way of eating for your whole family. The recipes are terrific and so are the eating-out tips.

Check out my fiber35diet.com website for more fiber recipes and snack ideas for your whole family. Do you have some tasty healthy treats? Share your ideas and thoughts here.

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children eat healthy, Digestive Health, fiber 35 diet, groovy green beans, healthy eating plan, healthy foods in schools, high fiber foods, the learning channel, x ray vision carrots