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There may be more myths and misunderstandings about obesity than about any other major health epidemic. Americans are constantly besieged with faulty or incomplete weight-loss information—some of it from mainstream sources. To lose weight, we are advised to avoid entire food categories (such as carbohydrates or fats) or to eat only one food category (proteins, for instance). And every new fad diet is accompanied by an avalanche of new products and marketing hype as companies try to cash in on Americans' desperate desire to slim down. The result is a stream of conflicting information that leaves many people confused.
When it comes to weight loss, fiber has not received the attention it deserves. The recent focus on carbohydrates has led some people to reduce their intake of whole fruits and some vegetables because these foods contain carbohydrates. By doing this, those dieters deprive themselves of the many benefits of a naturally fiber-rich food source. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Americans should consume about 30 g or more of fiber every day. The actual average consumption, however, is between 12 and 17 g (AHA 2005; NCI 2005).
Consumed before a meal, soluble fiber has multiple benefits. First, it is filling and causes people to eat less because they are satiated sooner. Anecdotally, LE has received reports that some people can actually cut the size of their meals in half by consuming a glass of soluble fiber mix before eating.
Equally important, consuming fiber before meals can reduce the rapid absorption of simple carbohydrates (such as refined sugar) and modulate blood sugar levels (Anderson et al 1993). A review of clinical studies of fiber shows that it has numerous weight-loss benefits, including the following:
- Soluble fiber-rich bread improved glycemic control, reduced blood pressure, and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels (Nizami et al 2004).
- Consumption of an additional 14 g of fiber per day for more than two days was associated with a 10 percent decrease in calorie intake and body weight loss of 1.9 kg over 3.8 months (Howarth et al 2001).
- A prospective cohort study showed that weight gain is slowed with higher intake of high-fiber, whole-grain foods, whereas study subjects put on more weight when consuming refined-grain foods (Liu et al 2003).
- A prospective, randomized, double-blind study showed that soluble fiber supplements can increase post-meal satisfaction (satiety) significantly (Heini et al 1998).
- A randomized controlled clinical trial demonstrated that soluble fiber can lower lipids and plasma glucose levels (Aller et al 2004).
- A clinical trial suggested that a diet rich in fiber may lower blood pressure moderately (He et al 2004).
- A highly regarded study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a high-fiber diet (50 g fiber, including 25 g soluble and 25 g insoluble) lowered 24-hour plasma glucose and insulin concentrations (Chandalia et al 2000).
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During our annual Blood Test Super Sale, members are able to request their own blood tests and pay only a fraction of the price charged by commercial laboratories. In addition to saving money, this arrangement makes it convenient for members to have their blood drawn virtually anywhere in the United States.
The Male or Female Blood Test Panels provide invaluable information you should know about your individual biochemistry.
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Male Life Extension Panel with
Vitamin D
Item #LC322582COMBO |
$462.67
$224.00 |
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- Chemistry panel (metabolic panel with lipids)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Free testosterone
- Total testosterone
- DHEA sulfate
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA)
- Estradiol
- Homocysteine
- C-reactive protein (high sensitivity)
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
New and improved - now includes SHBG
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Female Life Extension Panel with
Vitamin D
Item #LC322535COMBO |
$462.67
$224.00 |
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- Chemistry panel (metabolic panel with lipids)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Free testosterone
- Total testosterone
- DHEA sulfate
- Progesterone
- Estradiol
- Homocysteine
- C-reactive protein (high sensitivity)
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
New and improved - now includes SHBG |
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Offer good until June 6, 2011.
No substitutions allowed.
*Discounted prices apply to members only.
http://www.lef.org/blood/
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