We are pleased to introduce you to a valuable mobile application now available with our Inherent Health Weight Tracking Application that links our comprehensive suite of weight loss web-based tools on the Inherent Health® website (www.inherenthealth.com) to iPhone® and iPad® mobile devices.

The new Inherent Diet & Nutrient Analyzer App, available FREE for iPhone and iPad users, allows you to quickly download information into your Inherent Health Diet and Nutrient Analyzer® (iDNA) account so you can conveniently track calories consumed and energy burned from exercise while you’re on the go away from your computer. The new app, available via the iTunes App Store under the Health & Fitness category, lets you easily access your iDNA® account services on the go.

The new mobile app includes a calorie and macro-nutrient tracking tool to record calories consumed for more than 100,000 different foods and energy burned for approximately 10,000 exercises. The Analyzer library now available on the iPhone and iPad can determine a food’s macronutrient content in terms of fat, carbohydrates and protein. In addition, the application matches a person’s genetics to specific menus and provides recipes for low-fat, low-carb or balanced meals.

Gene testing can reveal a lot about a person’s health. Scientists are able to decode genes associated with the risk of everything from cancer to stuttering. So why shouldn’t they be able to decipher how our bodies respond to different combinations of food and exercise?

Click the link below for more.

http://www.youbeauty.com/nutrition/dna-diet

If you have traveled by air in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed the lack of healthy food options at the airport. Like shopping malls, the majority of airports are populated with the typical fast food places, leaving little hope for those trying to avoid unwanted calories.

Photo Courtesy of Stock Images

However, things are starting to turn around as more and more airports are offering passengers a broader spectrum of culinary choices. We’ve taken the liberty of identifying the healthiest choices at fast food stops as well as some noteworthy restaurants at airports around the country.

Healthy eats at not-so-healthy places

If you happen to find yourself with limited airport choices, here are some suggested alternatives at popular fast-food restaurants:

• McDonalds: Although a Double Quart Pounder with Cheese (740 calories, 26 grams of fat) sounds like a great way to relieve traveler’s stress, it is not great for your waistline. Instead, consider the Premium Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled Chicken (without dressing) that weighs in at 230 calories, 9 grams of fat and 30 grams in protein.
• Wendy’s: Everyone loves the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger (400 calories, 24 grams of fat) but Wendy’s offers other alternatives with fewer calories and less fat. For example, you could order the Apple Pecan Chicken Salad in the half size at 170 calories, 6 grams of fat PLUS a Small Chili side at 210 calories, 6 grams of fat and still have taken in less than if you had ordered the burger.
• Burger King: Who doesn’t love the King? Well, you probably were not aware that the Whopper packs in 670calories and 40 grams of fat. Instead, you should consider the Tendergrill Garden Salad which has only 230 calories, 7 grams of fat.
• Pizza Hut Express: Pizza Hut Express is one of the most common airport food staples, perhaps because it is quick, cheap and tasty. However, a 6″ Personal Pan Pizza, the typical go-to at any Express, contains 590 calories and 24 grams of fat. While there may not be any legitimately healthy choices here, you could opt for the Classic P’Zone Half Order at 470 calories and 16 grams of fat.
• Starbuck’s: You want the Caramel Frappuccino (410 calories, 15 grams of fat) and a slice of the Banana Nut Loaf (490 calories, 19 grams of fat). However, you should opt for Starbuck’s Perfect Oatmeal which is 140 calories, has 5 grams protein and just 2.5 grams of fat. Not only is it better for you, it will keep you fuller longer.

Legitimate healthy restaurant offerings

If you find yourself at any of these airports, these restaurants are worth a visit:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): Longtime Atlanta caterer, Proof of the Pudding, aims at trimming fat and sodium while incorporating the “Super Foods” concept at its three “gourmet fresh” kiosks. A menu highlight is the Turkey Sandwich with yellow bell peppers and a Red Onion and Balsamic Vinegar Marmalade instead of mayonnaise.
• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): Cereality serves up cold and hot cereals with your choice of milk (skim, 2%, or soy) and add ins. Try the 309-calorie “Health Kick,” a mix of two popular dry cereals, dried cranberries and walnuts for 4 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein, and plenty of vitamins A and C.
• New York La Guardia (LGA): Angelina’s Metro Market dishes up fresh made-to-order salads, or cobble together your own meal from fresh fruits, yogurts, artisan cheeses, and breads. About half of the choices are organic or have some organic ingredients.

Some additional food for thought:

• When looking for healthy snack options, opt for low-fat takeout options including sandwiches, wraps and burritos. Many of these options are made-to-order and can be deconstructed to meet the criteria for Fat Trimmers, Carb Reducers or Better Balancers.
• Check out newsstands or airport convenience stores for low-fat yogurts, fresh fruit and whole-grain cereals or snacks. However, watch out you don’t fall into the candy bar trap as many of these newsstands offer less healthy options. When in doubt, always remember small portions of mixed nuts or trail mixes are a great go-to. Also, don’t forget to plan ahead for in-flight hunger; the last thing you want is to encounter an empty stomach at 30,000 feet.

As a final word of advice, to avoid drinking high-calorie sodas or spending more on bottled water, bring an empty water bottle to fill from a fountain once you are through security.

Regards,
The Inherent Health Team

Recently, a panel of experts recommended that the FDA approve a new weight loss drug called Qnexa – a compound that was previously rejected by the FDA due to serious safety concerns. Qnexa, a combination of the appetite suppressant phentermine and anti-seizure drug topiramate, is another example of society’s desperation for a wonder drug to  treat a problem of our own doing, and one that is largely preventable. Unfortunately, Qnexa will likely end up as another Band-Aid on what is proving to be a gaping wound.

Obesity rates continue to rise with no end in sight. One of the leading causes of diabetes and heart disease, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, with about a third of the population obese and more than half overweight. Unfortunately, history (and common sense) dictates that a pill will not fix the problem.

In fact, the FDA has not approved a new weight loss drug in 13 years and many of those that were previously approved were pulled from shelves due to safety concerns. In 1997, the now notorious diet pill “fen-phen” was withdrawn from the market after reports of fatal heart-valve problems in users. Meridia, another diet drug, was pulled from in 2010 after being linked to heart problems. The only prescription weight loss drug currently approved for use is Xenical, which is marketed over-the-counter as Alli. However, that drug is associated with several serious side effects, including liver problems and uncontrolled bowel movements. In fact, these bowel movements are so uncontrollable that users are encouraged to wear dark pants. Even if you are willing to deal with such embarrassing side effects, the drug offers only modest weight loss.

The takeaway from all of these failed drugs is that there is no easy and quick way to fix the obesity epidemic plaguing our society…and there certainly is no magic pill. Ultimately, if you want to lose weight, it all comes back to diet and exercise. How we move our feet and watch what we eat will be the predictor for success.

The FDA is scheduled to vote on whether Qnexa will be approved for sale by April 17. Despite serious side effects such as potential heart risks and birth defects, the drug could end up being prescribed for millions, and possibly tens of millions, of people. Although these people may lose some weight, they will  have no better understanding of what their body needs in terms of food and exercise.

Regards,

Gary Breton

Director, Genetic Test Brands

Gluten-free diets have become widely popular in a short amount of time, which begs the question, “is this just another passing fad?” One fact is true: for about one percent of Americans suffering from Celiac Disease, avoiding gluten is not just a craze but a necessity. This disease causes an immune response to gluten resulting in damage to the small intestine, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies due to improper absorption. In addition, a lesser condition known as gluten sensitivity is becoming more understood. However, there are no tests to determine if this condition is present.

Courtesy of Deposit Photos

As for the remainder of the population, the verdict is still out as to whether a gluten-free diet has any added health benefits. WebMD cautions that eliminating foods with gluten from your diet can also eliminate good sources of B Vitamins, Iron and fiber.

We are frequently asked how someone with Celiac Disease can benefit from the Weight Management Genetic Test.  The good news is that you can still maintain our recommendations for fat, carbohydrate, and protein percentages while simply choosing gluten-free foods. It may be a little bit more challenging in the beginning to read every food label, but once you determine your acceptable gluten-free replacements, meal planning will become a breeze.

With the newfound popularity of gluten-free diets, the availability of gluten-free convenience foods has increased. This can be very helpful in maintaining your new lifestyle change, however be sure to read labels very carefully. Many of these foods have increased carbohydrate or saturated fat content to make up for their lack of gluten. Tracking your food intake on the Inherent Diet & Nutrient Analyzer is the best way to adhere to your genotype diet recommendation. If using the prescribed meal plans online, here are some substitutions you can make to ensure that your meals are gluten-free.

If the plan calls for any ingredients containing barley, rye, triticale or wheat replace with one of the following grains – or a similar product labeled gluten-free:

• Amaranth
• Arrowroot
• Buckwheat
• Corn and cornmeal
• Flax
• Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
• Hominy (corn)
• Millet
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Sorghum
• Soy
• Tapioca
• Teff

Some foods are naturally free of gluten. Some examples:

• Milk not flavored with ingredients that contain gluten, such as malt
• 100 percent fruit or vegetable juices
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Butter
• Eggs
• Lentils
• Peanuts
• Seeds, such as flax
• Tree nuts, such as almonds
• Non-gluten-containing grains, such as corn
• Fresh fish, such as cod
• Fresh shellfish, such as clams
• Honey
• Water, including bottled, distilled, and spring

Best Regards,

Nicole Belanger

Customer Service Supervisor

References

WebMD

Mayo Clinic

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Kenny Before

Like many people, Kenny never noticed exactly how much weight he had put on over the last 20 years. Year-by-year his weight slowly crept up, a couple of pounds here and a few pounds there. However, in October 2010 while attending a wealth workshop, Kenny scored well in every area but what was troubling him most—his health. Only then did he come to the realization that carrying nearly 170 pounds was too much for his 5’ 5” frame to handle.

Kenny didn’t want to jump on the newest fad diet and was committed to making a lifestyle change—but he didn’t know where to begin. That’s when he learned about the Inherent Health Weight Management Test. His results indicated that, according to his genes, he would respond best to a low carb diet combined with high intensity exercise.

Kenny began making changes to his food intake immediately after receiving his results. With the help of his wife, he started reading labels at the grocery store and together they began eliminating high carb foods from their diet. For the first 30 days, Kenny used the free Inherent Diet and Nutrient Analyzer™ service’s  online journal to track what he was eating and to help ensure his diet consisted of the right proportions of each food group. Along with the changes to his diet he began working out for an hour at least three times a week. Although adding exercise to his daily routine was hard at first, over time Kenny’s energy levels dramatically increased and he hardly remembers a time where exercise wasn’t part of his daily life.

Kenny After

As he began shedding pounds Kenny took to his social network for motivation. He took pictures at his weekly weigh-ins and uploaded pictures of his meals. When Kenny had challenging days,he read the words of encouragement left by his friends and family who were accompanying him along this journey.

In the 12 months since taking the test, Kenny lost a total of 34 pounds. He feels great and credits a better understanding of his genes as the key to taking the weight off and keeping it off for good.

Regards,
The Inherent Health Team

I recently read an interesting article from The Atlantic online, “All Diets Work if You Stick to Them.” The article mentioned a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that basically concluded that all diets work if one adheres to the diet’s specific guidelines.

Oh really? What about genetics?

Like the majority of other weight loss studies, this one does not take genetics into account. And in an effort to not sound overly self-serving, perhaps it helps to take a look at the information from this prospective:

All diets appear to have similar results when they are averaged. However, there are some big differences in the amounts of weight lost among individuals adhering to the same diet. Like expected, no two individuals see the same results when following the same diet; some will lose a lot of weight, some will lose a little and some will actually gain more weight than when they started the diet.

Why? Genetics. Perhaps this is why dieting can be very frustrating. Most would agree that seeing your partner or friend lose weight while adhering to the same diet as you, and you actually gaining weight, is frustrating. But again, not everyone is the same and not everyone has the same genetic make-up.

The article also said while different diets allowed for varying proportions of carbs, proteins and fats, and some individuals found their diets harder to stick to than others, each diet “worked.”

Is that what dieting has come to? Finding something that is marginally acceptable and saying that it “works”?

Losing weight shouldn’t be a cookie-cutter, one-fits-all approach. It should be about knowing what will work best for your body and finding a way to turn that knowledge into a lifestyle. We have found that people can lose more weight by properly matching diet and exercise to their personal genotype and people on the “right” diet for their genes lost more weight than people on the “wrong” diet for their genes.

After all, your personal genetic make-up is a component of your life, so why not use that approach when losing weight?

Regards,

Gary Breton

Director, Genetic Test Brands

Shakespeare’s quote but that is the question.  Do you want to be a diabetic or do you not want to be a diabetic?”

The Center for Disease Control has solid evidence that shows a strong correlation between obesity and diabetes.  I love how one author put it “we are eating ourselves into a diabetes epidemic!”

The past weeks have seen a flurry of blogs, news blasts and tweets all commenting on the fact that celebrity cook Paula Deen was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago and is now a paid spokesperson for a pharmacy drug company.

Paula Dean is well loved. It seems people like her because she, first and foremost, is a mom. Not a fancy chef but a good cook who loves her family, wears aprons, puts her fingers in the food to taste it and laughs a lot. I reviewed her recipes (love one recipe name: double chocolate ooey- gooey butter cream cake). Let’s just say not much plant based nutrition going on here, lots of saturated fat and sugar. We need to nourish our bodies with nutrients and foods that heal our bodies. Yes, I know it is hard to change the way we eat but it is no longer an option. Why?

Currently, seven of 10 American adults are overweight or obese. It is known that being overweight and poor eating habits cause disease and it is now understood that there is a codependent relationship between diabetes and obesity. Of those diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, 80-90 percent are overweight or obese.[i] Why do you think that is? For one, greater body weight increases insulin resistance because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin.

Everywhere you turn there is another weight loss plan saying “pick me, pick me”. Please, forget about putting on a bikini for a before/after picture when you lose weight.  Instead, pick a weight program that focuses on your health. Think about a better cholesterol level, improved insulin resistance and normal blood pressure.

Courtesy of the Center for Disease Control

There are medications and drugs to help the body utilize insulin more effectively but the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) has shown that weight loss through moderate diet changes and physical activity can delay and prevent Type 2 diabetes. This study showed that people who focused on lifestyle changes reduced their risk of getting Type 2 DM by 58% while the group who received a medication (and information on diet and exercise) only reduced their risk by 31 percent. Not sure how old Paula is, but lifestyle changes were even more effective (71 percent risk reduction) in those ages 60 and older.[ii]

Paula Deen is 5’6 and weighs 160 pounds (sorry got that info from a tabloid) which means her BMI or body mass index is 25.8. According to the BMI charts she is overweight, not obese.  In order to get her weight down to a normal BMI she would only need to lose 10 pounds. And research shows that even that small amount of weight (10 pounds) can be enough to improve your blood glucose level and insulin sensitivity.[iii]

My advice to Paula is “Be an advocate by improving your health.  Help control your diabetes, lose weight, find a personalized eating and exercise program.  These changes just might be the best investment you make for your future”.

Thanks for your time,
Julianne Downes RD

Julianne Downes

Julianne Downes is a nutrition communications expert with over 15 years of integrative medicine training and education. As a registered dietitian and certified weight management trainer, she has been very involved in the development of weight management programs and is the author of personalized meal plans, a dining out guide and a 12 week DVD series.

[i] www.nikkl.nih.gov/type 2 diabetes
[ii] New England Journal of Medicine 2002; 346:393-403
[iii] www.diabetes.org/food