Expert: Imran R. - 9/5/2006

Question
I am a 48 YO female, starting menopause most recently. I have gained weight gradually over the past 4 years (40 LBS) even though I walked 20 min 5X per week and ate healthy, lots of organic vegetables/fruits/fish. My weight will not budge. I crave sweets, even after a satisfying meal.
What kinf of eating/exercise plan should I be following?  

Answer
Dear Denise,

Thank you for your letter. I will outline a protocol here for you that will effectively help you lose weight.

We need to address nutrition, your thyroid, metabolism, hormones and immune system, and your vital force in general.

To begin with follow these dietary recommendations:

Cut out all soy products, except fermented soy.
Miso, tempeh and soy-sauce are healthy. [fermented]

Soy contains goitrogens which depress thyroid function. It also contains phytic acid which hinders the bodies' ability to absorb proteins, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. In general it is an enzyme inhibitor.

Make sure you avoid all artificial sweeteners:
splenda, sucralose, aspartame, nutra-sweet, equal, acesulfame potassium.

Splenda/sucralose have become very popular these days and are just as bad, if not worse than aspartame. These sweeteners are very toxic and are found in store bought vitamins, protein powders, anything sugar-free, gum, chocolate, soda... etc.

Please read labels carefully and cut out all artificial sweeteners. This is very important.

Soy and artificial sweeteners both weaken the immune system. And the immune system is one of the keys to healing illness. Therefore the more we can support immune related health, the better.

Cut out all margarine and hydrogenated fats. Cut out canola, rapeseed and soybean oils. These are very unhealthy. Replace with butter, ghee, unrefined coconut oil, sesame oil, and virgin olive oil.  

7 glasses of water per day is a good idea to help flush out toxins from the body. Warm or room temperature water, never cold. Never drink tap water. It must be filtered. Avoid drinking distilled water. It leads to mineral depletion and hair loss.

Get more sunshine, this is beneficial to your thyroid. Do not use regular sunscreens as they contain chemicals that react with UV-A, and in turn cause skin cancer. Therefore it is not the sun, but the toxins formed in cells and skin through bad diets, and the use of sun screens that causes skin cancer. The sun is a healer.

Diets themselves don't often work. One must make permanent lifestyle changes that include smarter eating, regular exercise and effective stress management. Watch what you eat, not how much. Each time one diets and restricts food, the metabolism slows.

Raw food diets, or raw food eating is absolutely the best. You will have to do some research into this. It is a large scale subject.

I also advise you chew your food properly, and completely. This is one thing that is overlooked by most. Most people do not chew their foods properly, they chew less and swallow more. This is harmful to ones digestion and metabolism.

Lastly, i will advise two thing that you should begin.

Supplementation is very important. There is a natural product called fruta-vida that you should begin taking daily. It is only available through fruta-vida international.

Website:   www.tryfrutavida.com/main  

This supplement will strengthen your immune system, help balance your hormonal and nervous system, strengthen the function of your metabolism and thyroid. It will additionally provide all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body will need. Please take 2 ounces per day on an empty stomach. 1 ounce twice daily. You will not need more.

This should then take care of cravings as well. Continue with your organic foods, i am glad you are going this way. Your body will respond, just give it a little time, it will respond and the weight will begin to drop.

I recently found a website where people have posted their results of taking the fruta-vida supplement.
Go through this when you have some time.

Site:   www.frutavidastories.com  

Lastly i advise you practice yoga; but pranayama in particular. There are a set of pranayama's (ancient breathing exercises) that can transform and vitalize the physical body.

Therefore if you are unable to eat a completely raw diet, which honestly most of us would find quite difficult, then  the use of the fruta-vida supplement and pranayama will definitely cause weight loss. Steadily.
I am therefore providing this as an alternative, tested and effective option to you.

Website:  www.divyayoga.com

Click on the pranayam link at the top, and it will give you a demonstration. I would advise you get the DVD as i believe it is quite affordable and has English language as an option. The price is in rupees. The DVD is called "Yog Science". It will teach you all the pranayamas, and asanas. Practicing this pranayama itself will bring much benefit to your health and vital force.

This concludes the protocol.

Please contact me if i can help you in any other way.

Best wishes,

Imran