Utah Body

Vinegar has been touted by many sources as an effective fat-burning food (see http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090622/vinegar-may-aid-in-fat-loss). I know vinegar will clean my floors and help stop heartburn, but if it burns fat as well, Utah Body is going to stock up on this stuff. Have you experienced fat loss with vinegar?

Experience Life magazine (http://www.experiencelifemag.com) has published a very intriguing article about the consumption of fats and whole milk. The magazine tells us (http://www.experiencelifemag.com/issues/september-2009/healthy-eating/skimming-the-truth.html) that, “Today, Americans buy about two-and-a-half times more skim milk each year — and about half as much whole milk — than they did in 1975.” Not so shocking. However, the magazine goes on to say that, “During the same period that the consumption of low-fat fare rose in the United States, our rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease multiplied exponentially.”

What?!?! There must be an explanation for this!

Reading on, the magazine relays the message that, “no- or low-fat dairy may actually function as an obstacle to weight loss for some people. When the fat is removed from milk, what remains are a significant number of unabsorbable fat-soluble vitamins and an overabundance of lactose, or milk sugar, with some protein but no fat to slow its entrance into the bloodstream.”

Blasphemy! How can this be?!?!

They point out that an endocrinologist at Harvard “favors the consumption of some unrefined fats for kids trying to lose weight, since fats actively promote a stable metabolism” and that “Fat is digested slowly, which helps decrease the rate at which carbohydrates are released into the system. This in turn makes the body more receptive to a pancreatic hormone called glucagon that ‘unlocks’ fat stores for energy. If there’s too much insulin from eating high-glycemic foods (like heavily sweetened fat-free yogurt), the body decreases or stops glucagon production, which stalls fat burning. Fat is also the nutrient that triggers the brain to recognize satiety, which offsets overeating.”

Whole milk will make me fat — whole milk will not make me fat; what do I do? Utah Body believes that while a lot of positive things have been discovered concerning whole milk and some fats, it is with caution that we should proceed. If you love whole milk and your body will tolerate it and you are keeping yourself active and healthy otherwise, perhaps it might not hurt to add an occasional glass to your diet. What can we say but, cheers!

We definitely are what we eat. We are continually reminded of the best foods to eat in order to lose weight, keep trim, and build a beautiful body. These “power foods” seem to ebb and flow with the times. I am boldly joining the outcry of food fanatics to add my current list of favorite power foods:

• water
• egg whites
• yams
• spinach
• quinoa
• green tea
• blueberries
• oatmeal
• salmon
• tuna
• flank steak
• chicken
• broccoli
• whole milk

Many will agree with me on most of these foods. Many of you will reel in shock at the mention of whole milk. Stay tuned to this post for my explanation as to why some whole milk should be added to a body-conscious diet.