In an age of long commutes, late sports practices, endless workdays and 24/7 television programming, the image of Mom hanging up her dish towel at 7 p.m. and declaring "the kitchen is closed" seems a quaint relic of an earlier era.
It also harks back to a thinner America. And that may be no coincidence.
A new study, conducted on mice, hints at an unexpected contributor to the nation's epidemic of obesity — and, if later human studies bear it out, a possible way to have our cake and eat it too, with less risk of weight gain and the diseases that come with it.
Just eat your cake — or better yet, an apple — earlier. Then wait 16 hours, until breakfast the next morning, to eat again.
"We have to come up with something that is a simple alternative to calorie counting," said Satchidananda Panda, a regulatory biologist at the Salk Institute in La Jolla who led the study published online Thursday by the journal CellMetabolism.
Panda and his team put groups of mice on different eating regimens for 100 days. Animals in two of the groups dined on high-fat, high-calorie chow. Half of them were allowed to eat whenever they wanted, and nibbled on and off throughout the night and day. The other mice had access to food only for eight hours at night, when they were most active.
In human terms, this would be rough: No ice cream while watching "Glee." No second glass of wine while talking things over with the spouse. Not even a late-night glass of warm milk.
The difference was astonishing. Even though they ate a high-fat diet, the mice who wrapped up their eating day early and were forced to fast for 16 hours were lean — almost as lean as mice in a control group who ate regular chow. But the mice who noshed on high-fat chow around the clock became obese, even though they consumed the same amount of fat and calories as their counterparts on the time-restricted diet.
Extra weight wasn't their only problem. The obese mice developed high cholesterol, high blood sugar, fatty liver disease and metabolic problems. The mice who ate fatty food but were forced to fast showed hardly any signs of inflammation or liver disease, and their cholesterol and blood sugar levels were virtually indistinguishable from those of mice who ate regular chow. When put on an exercise wheel, they showed the most endurance and the best motor control of all the animals in the study.
The data suggest that the stomach, the brain and the body's digestive machinery need to take a break from managing incoming fuel; otherwise, we may be working ourselves into a state of metabolic exhaustion. When combined with high-calorie, high-fat diets, the result is weight gain, a liver clogged with fat, accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries and unused glucose in the blood.
In the mice who fasted for 16 hours daily, measures of digestive hormones, cholesterol and glucose suggested that liver enzymes were working hard to break down cholesterol into bile acids. The body's stores of "brown fat," the stuff that converts extra calories into heat, were revved up, and the liver ceased production of glucose. As they burned fat, their body temperatures were actually higher, Panda said.
The results of daily fasting were "phenomenal," he said.
If only we were mice.
Leo Garcia, a 37-year-old auto mechanic whose adult years have been a steady march up the scale, said he was intrigued by the notion that he could lose some of his 250 pounds by wrapping up his mealtime early and resisting the urge to nibble. "It seems easier to do something like that than to join a gym and do cardio," he said.
But the study drew both exasperation and cautious interest from obesity researchers, who underscored that lab mice aren't tempted by fast-food restaurants with late-night specials and have no alternative to the menu and feeding schedule set by lab technicians. Being nocturnal, they also have different circadian clocks. The conclusion that humans could prevent or reverse obesity by wolfing down steak and chips for eight hours and then stopping for 16 would be premature and almost certainly dangerous, some said.
"I hope it's true, but I doubt it," said Barbara Corkey, director of obesity research at Boston University School of Medicine.
Barry M. Popkin, a nutrition expert at the University of North Carolina, said the study plies "uncharted territory" that needs exploration. A clinical trial published in 1992 suggested that eating frequent, small meals resulted in better insulin control and longevity.
"This one study cannot tell us that this science is wrong," Popkin said. "However, it is suggestive that scholars in the diabetes, obesity and other areas related to heart disease need to test this issue further in animals and humans."
Panda acknowledged that his research would need to be refined and tested in humans before it could be used to fight the war against obesity. The 16-hour fast that was so effective in preventing obesity in mice "may not be a magic number" for people, he said.
But extending the nighttime fast is a cheap and simple dietary adjustment that has no discernible side effects and doesn't require anyone to count calories or even deprive themselves — unless you just can't watch a playoff game without a beer or can't fall asleep without tea and honey.
All you need is a clock, said Panda, who noted that most after-dinner snacks are high in fat, sugar, salt and calories, and are best cut out anyway.
Research into the basic drivers of obesity — both social and biological — are under greater scrutiny than ever. Pharmacological help for the nation's 78 million obese adults and 12.5 million obese children has been elusive, as have the keys to behavior change for enduring weight loss.
Scientists acknowledge that obesity results from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, such as sedentary lifestyles, consumption of sweetened soft drinks, growing portion sizes and the increasing role of calorie-rich restaurant meals in American diets.
Panda thinks researchers may be overlooking the role that timing has on the body's response to food. In the agricultural lifestyle of an earlier time, Americans ate heartily but were thinner. They did chores, then had a big breakfast, followed by more physical activity, a hearty lunch, work and an early dinner. Soon after the sun set, it was time to sleep.
"Most people ate mostly in daytime," Panda said. Today, "our social life starts at sunset. Family time starts at the evening. So essentially, we have increased our eating time in the last 40 to 50 years."
| WEIGHT LOSS |
| Maqui Berry: Earth's Most Powerful Natural Fat Burner? |
CHILÉ, SOUTH AMERICA — An exotic new 'super fruit' from Chile, South America, is offering fresh hope for dieters.
After FOX News Channel medical contributor Dr. Manny Alvarez highlighted the remarkable healing benefits of Maqui Berry—12.6 times more powerful than Acai Berry—sales of Maqui Berry have skyrocketed, making it now one of the most popular weight-loss products in America today.
Internet searches reveal countless blog postings and Facebook messages, singing the praises of this new weight-loss wonder fruit.
Study Shows "Signficant Potency" Against Fat Cells
Clinical research shows Maqui Berry is known to have highest levels of a powerful fat-burning nutrient called anthocyanins of any food on earth. In fact, it contains over 10 times more anthocyanins than any other food source.
Studies show anthocyanins have remarkable weight loss and fat-burningproperties. A new study from Japan shows anthocyanins have "significant potency" against fat cells and strong "anti-obesity" benefits. Click here to read the study.
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| Research from Japan shows the nutrients in Maqui berry have a "significant potency" against fat cells and strong "anti-obesity" benefits. | |
What Is Maqui Berry, and How Does It Work?
Despite the recent frenzy surrounding Maqui Berry, for centuries the fruit has actually been used as a health and healing aid in a region called Patagonia — the southernmost part of South America.
Here lived a group of natives with an amazing history – the Mapuche Indians. For hundreds of years, this tribal group had never been conquered by any of their adversaries.
The Mapuches even resisted conquest by the Spaniards who settled in Chile and Argentina for over 300 years.
How were the Mapuches able to resist conquest over such a long time and against such seemingly great odds? Simply put, they were leaner, stronger, more energeitic, and healthier than their adversaries. And this appears to be due to their use of Maqui berries as food, beverage, and medicine.
Experts Offer High Praise for Maqui's Slimming Promise
According to Chris Kilham, a professor of ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Maqui berry may aid fat loss by helping support optimal blood glucose levels.
"Interestingly, intake of maqui berries or their juice causes a significant increase of insulin in the body, says Kilham. "In fact, Maqui appears to do this better than any other known plant. What does this mean? Consuming maqui berries or their juice with or after meals can help to suppress blood glucose, thereby evening out energy and preventing the formation of new fat cells. As a result, maqui may prove to be a beneficial aid in weight control."
Beyond its promise as a weight-loss aid, Professor Kilham says Maqui also demonstrates a number of other health benefits.
"The antioxidant compounds in maqui berry help to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the blood," says Kilham. "Oxidation of cholesterol is a factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke and hardening of the arteries. Regular daily intake of maqui berries or the berry juice is a smart investment in better cardiovascular health."
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| New research from Japan shows South AmericanMaqui Berry contains 10 times more fat-burning anthocyanins than any other food source. | |
How To Find a Quality Maqui Berry Product
With dozens, if not hundreds, of Maqui Berry products being sold online, selecting one that's worth your money can be a difficult and confusing endeavor.
According to consumer and business ratings, the Maqui-6: Pure Maqui Berry Extract product is considered one of the most effective and trustworthy, with laboratory tests certifying the product's potency and quality.
The website offers a 100% risk-free trial of the product, and the site does not try to trick customers into signing up for hidden offers or those controversial "auto-ship" programs.
| Raspberry Ketone: Top Doctor Touts 'Miracle' Weight Loss Supplement, But Is It Real? | |
| Stores Struggle to Keep the Popular Fat Buster in Stock | |
| Kathleen Phillips Ι May 13, 2012 | |
Updated May 13, 2012 — A dietary supplement containing compounds from raspberries has become nearly impossible to find in stores after Dr. Mehmet Oz, mentioning no specific brand, proclaimed it a fat buster and "The No. 1 Miracle in a Bottle" on his television show.
Indeed, health food stores across the U.S. have been barraged from customers seeking raspberry ketones — an extract from raspberries, which new research shows possesses extremely potent fat-fighting properties.
What Are Raspberry Ketones, and How Do They Work?
Raspberry ketones are the compounds within raspberries that give the fruit its characteristic aroma. More important to dieters, however, is new research showing these compounds can also melt away the pounds.
According to Lisa Lynn, a weight-loss expert and fitness contributor to The Dr. Oz Show, many of her clients have been supplementing with raspberry ketones and experiencing stunning fat-loss results in as few as five days
Lynn described the compounds as "very healthy" with "no side effects" and says the pills enable the body to "burn fat easier" by stimulating the production of adiponectin, a hormone found in fatty tissue that improves our ability to metabolize fat.
Studies show that thin people have higher levels of adiponectin than overweight individuals. What's more, researchers agree that the hormone improves insulin sensitivity and helps regulate weight.
Stores Across U.S. Can't Keep Raspberry Ketone in Stock
Ever since The Dr. Oz Show featuring raspberry ketone first aired in February, the phone has been ringing off the hook at Planet Nutrition in Charlotte, N.C., as soccer moms, fitness buffs, and people who just want to slim down search for raspberry ketones, according to Fox News' Charlotte affiliate.
Manager Gage Bryant says, “It's just crazy with the amount of calls, customers coming in, and having it on back order for another week or two from the distributors. I mean, it's a big deal."
Even stores that don't typically stock the product are taking note.
Healthy Home Market Natural Remedies Consultant Joy Fanning says, “So many people have come swarming in we've had to take special orders." The Healthy Home Markets have fielded lines and placed more than 200 orders for the fat burner.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Raspberry Ketone Sellling Out in Stores and Online — As of Today,May 13, 2012, Limited Supplies Available to Healthy Lifestyles Readers
Good luck trying to find raspberry ketones in stores. Many U.S. health-food retailers like GNC have been on backorder since The Dr. Oz Show first aired in February.
Even stores in the United Kingdom are completely sold out of the fat buster, according to a new report in Britain's Daily Mail online .
A few online retailers, who stocked up on raspberry ketone before The Dr. Oz Show aired, still have supplies available to customers.
According to consumer and Better Business ratings, the RazTone Raspberry Ketone formula from Applied Nutritional Research is considered one of the most effective and trustworthy, with laboratory tests certifying the product's potency and quality.
Each serving of RazTone contains 300 mg of raspberry ketones — one of the highest concentrations currently available (most products offer just 100 mg per serving).
The website offers a 100% risk-free trial of the product, with each serving working out to be just 62 cents — less than what you'd spend on a small sugary softdrink at McDonald's.
What's more, each an every order of RazTone Raspberry Ketone is a one-time-only transaction. In other words, there are absolutely no reoccurring charges or hidden offers.
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