Nutrition Know-How
First for Women
By: Ann Louise Gittleman
July 12, 2004

Budging a stuck scale

My book club has always unofficially doubled as a weight-loss support group, and two weeks ago we decided to try a “no frills” diet together. But everyone has lost weight-except me! I don't get it: I eat nothing but plain turkey and raw veggies. What gives?

Your menu sounds bland and aromaless-a proven recipe for overeating and weight-loss disaster. Satiation is linked with sense of smell. Chewing food releases its scent in the back of the throat, and from there the scent travels to the brain to deliver an “I'm full” signal. In fact, subjects in one six-month study lost up to 35 pounds by adding flavor crystals to their food. Try spicing up your diet with onion, Parmesan and horseradish. You'll fill up and lose weight faster!

The startling link between stress and belly fat

I recently got a great promotion. I'm excited but also super-stressed. Still, even though I've been working late, I've managed to maintain my diet and exercise habits. So I can't figure out why my belly is getting bigger. I don't have time for longer workouts. What do you suggest?

It sounds as if stress-not lack of exercise-is behind your belly bulge. Stress triggers the production of cortisol, a hormone that prepares the body to either fight of flee danger. One way cortisol accomplishes this is by switching the body into fat-storing mode, which results in an energy reserve that is kept in the abdomen for easy access in case of emergency. To undo the effects of stress and melt stubborn fat, skip the sit-ups and enjoy foods that regulate cortisol imbalances. Try almonds, avocados and bananas, all of which are rich in tyrosine, an amino acid proven to keep stress-hormone production in check.

The secret to thicker hair

I used to have shiny, healthy hair, but after I turned 40 it became dull and dry. I don't use chemical treatments, and pricey natural conditioners are no help. I think it runs in the family-the same thing happened to my mom when she hit 40. How can I overcome my bad-hair genes?

Many women's hair becomes dull or thinner due to naturally shifting hormone levels. But outsmarting Father Time is as easy as getting enough of the right nutrients. You may be short on omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, essential fats found in tuna and flaxseed oil that strengthen strands and give hair luster. (Try consuming 2 Tbs. daily of Health from the Sun Lignan Gold Flax Oil, $14 for 16oz., at unikeyhealth.com.) Biotin, a B vitamin found in beef, milk and eggs, also fortifies follicles and reverses hair loss. By upping your daily intake of both, you can nix bad-hair days for good.

Flushing trapped fat

After years of listening to a coworker talk about one diet after another, I just noticed that, for the first time ever, she actually looks as if she has lost weight. She credits it to a detox at a big-city clinic. Since I've got 20 pounds to lose, I'd also like to try a detox, but it sounds scary. Do you recommend it?

While detoxification may sound scary, it's actually a simple process of cleansing the gastrointestinal tract and lymphatic system of the wastes and toxins that promote fat storage. The trick is giving the body a rest from known fat-trapping culprits, such as trans fatty acids, sugars, hormones and pesticides. There are a lot of different detox diets out there. For one that has helped many women lose up to 12 inches within two weeks-no clinic stay necessary-look for my book The Fat Flush Plan (McGraw-Hill, 2001)