12:44 PM Mountain Standard Time on Monday, January 12, 2004

Q: The best rate of weight loss is no more than 1.5 pounds per week.

A: Fact. Any faster and you are not actually losing fat weight, but rather lean muscle tissue and water weight. Realistically, there is no quicker or safer way to lose fat weight! Remember, you didn’t gain it overnight!

Q: Fasting or skipping meals regularly is a great way to cleanse the system of impurities and encourage weight loss.

A: Fiction. Your body needs a certain amount of calories and nutrients each day for normal function. Denying the body of these essential elements throws the system into survival mode, slowing the metabolism and encouraging the storage of energy in the form of fat. You have to eat in order to lose weight.

Q: Eating brown rice is a healthier alternative to white rice.

A: Fiction. Although it is slightly better, the body still considers all rice as a quick source of energy but processes it as a sugar. It becomes glucose, then fat! Rule of thumb: 1 cup of rice = 1 cup of sugar!

Q: The low-fat and no-fat products contain fewer calories.

A: Fiction. Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories. BUT, most pre-packaged foods that boast "low-fat" or "no-fat" often are often very high in calories because of the ingredients added to increase flavor and consistency. Purchasing these products is not a license to eat them in unlimited quantities. Read labels for serving sizes and nutritional information.

Q: Reducing calories is the ultimate key to weight loss.

A: Fact! We must expend more calories than we consume in order to lose weight. There is just no getting around it! It really sounds too simple doesn’t it? Instead of making the conscious effort to make everything we eat count nutritionally, we tend to waste a lot of calories on things that don’t promote health.

Q: Nuts are a healthful and beneficial snack.

A: Fact! Although they are higher in calories and fat, they are a good source of protein and fiber and have no cholesterol. Additionally, the fat in cashews, macadamia, hazelnuts, almonds and pecans is the good monounsaturated variety that our bodies need for certain functions. Eat in moderation!

Q: Eating certain types of foods, like acidic grapefruits or very spicy foods every day, will speed up metabolism and burn fat.

A: Fiction. No food will burn fat. Some foods contain properties that may temporarily speed up metabolism, but not enough to cause weight loss.

Q: Protein bars are a terrific high-protein meal substitute.

A: Fiction! Many protein bars on the market are just candy bars in disguise. They are a highly processed. Many contain unhealthy oils, which have been shown to increase cholesterol, and inferior proteins.

Source: Kronos Optimal Health Centre, 1-800-525-5332