White Kidney Bean Extract: Starch Blockers

The rate of obesity has doubled worldwide since 1980.  As scientists continue to explore the effects of obesity on public health, they are also looking into new ways to help people lose weight.  Research has consistently found a positive correlation between an over-consumption of complex carbohydrates and obesity, thus piquing the interest of researchers in practical ways to mimic results found with reducing complex carbohydrates in the diet.  Some are looking to dietary supplements known as starch blockers. 

While it is known that an excessive intake from all macronutrients, including carbohydrates, contributes to the development of obesity, scientists are studying how starch blockers may affect weight loss.  Phaselous vulgaris, the clinical name for white kidney bean extract, is the principle ingredient in products known as starch blockers.  The concept behind these dietary supplements, according to manufacturers, is to prevent a natural enzyme in saliva and the pancreas, called alpha-amylase, from breaking down carbs into simple sugars which could prevent the body from absorbing carb calories and thereby promote weight loss. 

A study, published in the Internal Journal of Medical Science, conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which 60 slightly overweight people were given either placebo or Phase 2, a highly concentrated phaseolus extract, once daily. This single daily dose was given 30 minutes prior to a large meal rich in carbohydrates.  Over the 30 days of the study, subjects receiving Phaseolus vulgaris extract had significantly greater reduction of body weight, BMI, fat mass, adipose tissue thickness, and waist/hip/ thigh circumferences while maintaining lean body mass compared to subjects receiving placebo.  A similar study showed comparable results with 92% of the group receiving white kidney bean extract losing weight versus 62% of the placebo group.  While there is no lack of positive studies regarding white kidney bean extract, as with any dietary supplement, research studies of long term effects of use are scant.

The side effects of white kidney bean extract may block starches from digestion in the small intestine, but when they get to the large intestine, the starches ferment, give off gas and can cause bloating and diarrhea.  Another issue is adherence to continued use.   Doctors say that using starch blockers may be hard to stick to over time. 

Even though white kidney bean extracts of phaseolus vulgaris appear to be safe and have potential promise, helping overweight people lose weight can only be sustained through healthy diet and exercise. The unpleasant side effects may not be worth the potential benefits.

Isagenix Products are Verified as Genetically Modified Free

Concerned about the nature of the food you eat and whether or not it has been genetically modifed through biotechnology?

Isagenix appreciates the right of customers to make informed dietary choices with the knowledge of whether or not the foods they purchase and consume contain any genetically modified (GM) ingredient.

The company also recognizes that uncertainty can exist in the marketplace centered around the labeling of GM ingredients despite consumer protections provided by governments such as those of Australia and New Zealand. For these reasons, the company is providing confirmation  about the matter of GM ingredients and whether or not they are in Isagenix products.

This statement serves the interest of consumers in all markets (Australia, New Zealand, U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) that Isagenix does not include any GM foods or ingredients in its products, nor does the company include any additives or processing aids in its products that contain any novel DNA or protein from a GM food.

In addition, Isagenix customers in Australia and New Zealand should be assured that all Isagenix products and their labels adhere to GM food labeling requirements and are in accordance with the Food Standards Code. All products can be claimed as “non-GM” or “GM free” in accordance with Australia and New Zealand regulations that prohibit representations about food that are false, misleading or deceptive.

The company ensures compliance to these standards through extensive manufacturing audits, raw material documentation, verification of origin and identification testing used in all of our products worldwide.

Building Our Raised Bed Gardens

Tom and Russell are building the raised bed gardens.  We are excited to start the planting.  We should have lots of fresh veggies and fruit this year .... ummmm? ... I might have to learn to can!!!

The lettuce is ready to go in as soon as it stops raining a little bit this weekend ... Can't wait ... I love fresh greens for my salads!

Earth Day Trip to Territorial Seed Company in Cottage Grove

Tom and I had a great EARTH day, April 22nd, 2011.  We drove down to Territorial Seed Company and bought some seed and starts for our spring garden.  It was a totally beautiful day.  And we had a lot of fun planning the garden together.

Advice from Jillian Michaels about Calorie Deficits

Smart Tip: Often we struggle w/losing the last 5-15lbs because our calorie deficit is too HIGH. We misconstrue this as a "plateau", but in actuality our body is at a healthy weight, it's the aesthetic that we're unhappy with not our health. So if your cal deficit is over 1000 a day your body will signal a metabolic slow down as a survival response. No more than 1000 cal deficit a day is key for shred mode.

3 Veggie Penne w/Tarragon-Basil Pesto - Rachel Ray

Prep Time:  15 min

Cook Time: 15 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound penne or whole-wheat penne rigate pasta
Salt
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed of tough ends
1 small zucchini
2 handfuls, 1/4 pound, haricots verts (thin green beans) trimmed of stem ends
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 cup basil, 20 leaves
1/2 cup chopped tarragon leaves (10 to 12 stems)
Handful flat-leaf parsley
1 lemon, zested
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, a couple of handfuls, plus more to pass at table
Coarse black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it

Directions

Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente or, with a bite to it. Cut asparagus spears into 2 inch pieces on an angle. Cut zucchini into matchstick shapes. Cut haricots verts or green beans into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Add vegetables to pasta after penne has been cooking about 5 minutes. Cook veggies and pasta together 2 minutes.

While pasta cooks, toast pine nuts in a small pan until golden, then cool. Place nuts, basil, tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, cheese and a little salt and pepper in a food processor. Turn the processor on and stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until thick sauce forms.

Scrape pesto into large, shallow serving dish. Add a ladle of hot, starchy pasta water to the pesto. Drain penne and veggies and add immediately to pesto. Toss to coat pasta and vegetables evenly. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with extra grated cheese to pass at table.

Veggie Pizza Minis - Paula Deen

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
3 English muffins, sliced in 1/2
3 cups diced eggplant
1/4 Vidalia onion, sliced
1 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
1 small zucchini, grated
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup grated mozzarella
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
3/4 teaspoon Greek seasoning
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and add tomatoes. Cook until tomatoes are softened. Add salt, to taste.

Spoon cooked tomatoes evenly over English muffin halves. In a skillet, sauté eggplant and onions in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add squash and zucchini and cook until tender. Do not overcook, since they will cook some more in the oven. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sautéed vegetables evenly over the tomatoes. Sprinkle each mini pizza with balsamic vinegar. Top with mozzarella and feta cheese. Sprinkle pizza with Greek seasoning and basil.

Bake 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 8

Eat without meat.  The raising processing shipping and storage of meat can negatively impact the environment.  Aim for a few meatless meals each week, choosing beans, nuts, and legumes for protein.

I'm not sure we are ready to go vegetarian at this point, but we are having 3-4 meatless dinners a week.  We rarely eat meat at our other meals.  How about you?

Why is it Important to Detox Your Body?



In our modern environment, pollution and food processing has increased our toxic load considerably. Humans have added thousands of new chemicals that pollute our air and water. These toxins can often end up in our foods, not just in plants, but concentrated in the animals that we eat. Food is also laden with chemicals in form of pesticides, processing agents and artificial ingredients.



Diagram from http://www.dustyducts.com/



 Continual flow of pollutants into water sources increases our risk of exposure to toxins.

As our bodies are endlessly exposed to toxins, the toxins can overwhelm the body’s natural detoxification defenses. A slow accumulation of toxins in our bodies may eventually disturb our natural processes.



It only adds to our toxic load when—in an age where portion sizes have grown out of proportion—we eat a lot more food than ever before. Most of the foods available are designed, not to support us nutritionally, but to appeal to the power of our taste buds. Our busy schedules have also made processed foods all the more convenient, adding to the waistline-expanding potential of sedentary lifestyles, and putting further burden on our bodies.

Human Body



The human body has had to adapt over the generations to removing varying toxic loads. Our bodies come equipped with powerful protections in forms of detoxification or cleansing systems. They are found throughout the body: in the stomach, the intestine, the liver and the kidneys.



The liver is a primary detoxification organ, metabolizing thousands of different chemicals we’re exposed to daily. Much of what we eat must pass through our livers. As the liver breaks nutrients down, it also metabolizes toxic substances. In most cases, these toxins are cleared from the blood, then eliminated through bile or urine. At other times, they can become stored in fat. 



In addition, each individual cell contains its own inherent protections from the daily stresses of simply living. These include powerful detoxification and antioxidant enzymes, which help maintain cellular integrity so that the cell may function appropriately.



For the full article on how and why to detox click HERE.

Article found on Isagenix Health.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 7

Unplug. Its not enough to simply turn off electronics when you're not using them. When they're plugged in, they're still sucking in and wasting electricity.  Get in the habit of unplugging chargers, TVs, computers and other electronics.

We have our computers, tvs, etc., on power strips.  We click them off when we are not using them.  Does anyone know if  the power strips are still "sucking" electricity if they are plugged in?

For the full 30 Day to a Greener Lifestyle Calendar from SparkPeople see my post below.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 6

Picture from http://www.dannylipton.com/

Save Water. Turning it off while brushing is a given. Take it further by installing low-flow shower heads & the savings will add up.  Also consider a rain collecting barrel for grass & plant watering.

If you want to make a rain barrel like the one in the picture log on to Danny Lipton's website

For the full 30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle log on to SparkPeople.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 5

Visit the Library.  Instead of buying books, CDs, movies and magazines, borrow them.  The library is free, local and eco-friendly.  Imagine how many resources are saved when hundreds of people share one book from a central location.

Since we switched to using the library instead of buying our books, we have saved over $50/month .... that is a lot of GREEN .... wink!!!

To download the entire 30 day calendar from SparkPeople, see my post below.

Hungry Girl saves my Quesadilla Burger

I really loved (notice that is in the past tense!!) Applebee's Quesadilla Burger.  Unfortunately when I found out it had a mere 1,140 calories and 103g of fat this delishious dish was tossed off my favorite foods list.

This week I was looking around on Hungry Girls website and found a great swap called  "HG's Big Deal Burger-dilla.  It is only 259 calories and 5.5g of fat!!!

Hmmm??? .... Now what to do with the 881 calories I just saved!!!

For this recipe Click HERE!!

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 4

Buy Local.  On average, food travels 1,500 miles from farm to table.  Buying local supports small farmers in your community.  It also uses less fossil fuel in transit. 

I love going to the farmer's market and seeing all the fresh produce.  I can talk to the farmers and find out how they grow their products.  I feel I am buying fresher, cleaner and better tasting produce when I buy local.  It also is a big help to our local economy, rather than shipping our money outside the borders.

For the entire SparkPeople "30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle" Calendar, please see my post below.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 3

Bring your own bag. Bring reusable bags everywhere from the grocery to the mall.  If you can't afford to buy bags, then reuse the plastic ones you already have.  If you don't need a bag for your items, politely decline.

Grocery stores usually sell bags with their logos for a couple of dollars.  I love my Trader Joe bag and my uber Costco bag.

One more tip about these cloth bags.  Don't forget to wash them!  Especially if you have carried meat products.

For the entire SparkPeople 30-day calendar ... see my post below.

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 2

Today's Green Tip from the SparkPeople: Use cloth napkins. All disposable items hurt the environment, and that includes paper products like napkins. In the end, you'll save money by investing in cloth, which also looks more sophisticated.


Don't you think your family should be treated as special as company? ... Pull out the cloth napkins for everybody!

30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle - Day 1 - April 1st

Recycle!  Most people can recycle more than they do.  Paper magazines, cardboard, cereal boxes, glass, aluminum foil, cans and even grocery bags should go in your recycle bin, not the trash. 

What can you recycle that you are not already recycling?

See post below for the full "SparkPeople 30 Days to a Greener Lifestyle" Calendar  from SparkPeople.