Nutrition Know-How
First for Women
By: Ann Louise Gittleman
February 4, 2008

HELP!  I think I'm addicted to bread!

For the past three months I’ve been eating bread nonstop—and my cravings for it just won’t subside.  Plus, all the extra carbs have caused me to put on 17 pounds.  How can I make these cravings go away?  I’m desperate! 

Your insatiable cravings may be caused by a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.  One sneaky symptom of this condition is “allergic hunger”: A reactive food causes the release of opiate-like chemicals that intensify cravings for the problem food.  What’s worse, exposure to “allergenic” foods sets off an immune response that results in fluid retention, or “false fat.”  My advice: Avoid gluten for three weeks.  (You can find gluten-free products in supermarkets and online at GlutenSmart.com.)  If you do have a gluten intolerance, removing this product from your diet will eliminate the cravings.  And the swelling—along with those 17 pounds—will disappear!

Is a 24-hour cleanse a safe way to lose?

The party foods I ate over the holidays have left me heavy and sluggish.  A friend recently told me that when she’s feeling stuffed, she has only lemon juice and water for a day to “negate” the calories.  I’m curious—is a quickie juice detox a safe way to lose weight? 

You can safely flush up to 15 pounds of water weight with a one-day juice detox, but I don’t recommend sipping only lemon juice and water.  These elements don’t support balanced blood sugar, which means cravings for bread and sweets will follow.  Instead, I recommend drinking a mixture of cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.  The organic acids and anthocyanins in cranberries stimulate liver detoxification, while the ascorbic acid in the citrus juices deactivates free radicals, boosting the liver’s ability to excrete fat and toxins.  To avoid detox side effects (such  as fatigue and headaches), it’s crucial to fortify the liver and colon with healthy foods for a week before the cleanse.  To chat with other women on the detox, visit AnnLouiseforum.com.

Could fiber cure my acid reflux?

I have been treating my mild acid reflux with antacids, but I still experience some discomfort.  So I was intrigued when a pal told me that switching to a high-fiber diet eliminated her chronic indigestion.  Is there some advantages to this approach? 

Although antacids and prescription medications can help keep acid reflux in check, long-term use can lead to antacid dependency, depleted calcium stores and chronic stomach pain.  But dietary fiber is a natural fix for reflux since it has the ability to absorb excess acid in the body.  For foods rich in soluble fiber, reach for fresh produce, legumes, grains, ground flaxseed and nuts.  Or if you prefer the convenience of a fiber supplement, consider trying my Fast Track Super-GI Cleanse ($31 for 180 capsules; call 800-888-4353 to order).