Reducing fat deposits on the hips and butt in women

I was reading an article recently by Charles Poliquin on disruptions in the female endocrine system and how it can cause fat accumulation on the butt and thighs.  Given that losing subcutaneous fat off that region is one of the primary goals of most women, I thought I might share the following extract from the article...

improper levels of the right elements in the gut flora can impact the amount of fat on your legs. Let me explain. One of the ways the body excretes the bad types of endogenous estrogens, and xeno-estrogens is through a process called glucuronidation. In this chemical process, there is binding of the given estrogen to glucuronic acid via a glycosidic bond. The human body also uses this detoxification process to excrete a large variety of molecules, including many pollutants and pharmaceuticals to name a few. The problem is that when you have bad gut flora there is an abundance of this enzyme called Beta-glucuronidase. This enzyme has the nasty habit of breaking the bond between the nasty estrogen and its escort the glucuronic acid, which means that the bad estrogen goes back into circulation. When the gut flora is optimal, the activity of the beta-glucuronidase diminishes.

Now, why do you get poor gut flora? Oral contraceptives use, frequent antibiotic use, intestinal pathogens, stress and a host of other factors can be blamed. The point being: bad gut flora can lead to fat legs.

You don't have to understand all the biochemistry, just the take home point at the end.  Given that a lot of women, particularly young, career focussed women, take the pill, get sick a lot and take antibiotics, suffer from stomach issues and are highly stressed, they may want to start supplementing with good bacteria.
As stated previously, I recommend Natures Sunshine health supplements.  Here is the link for their Bifidophilus product.
http://naturessunshine.eu/uk/optimiseperformanceandwellbeing/index.asp?act=moreinfo&id=103&subcat=

I would also recommend that everyone but particularly women that fit this description, take the Healthy Lifestyle Analysis on the website.  I'm fairly certain these women will come out needing the Nutri-Calm stress relief product.

'15 Foods That Will Help You Lose Belly Fat'... my comments

There has been a lot of promotion online, by nutritionist and personal trainers like Joel Marion, Craig Ballantyne and Jesse Cannone, of Josh Bezoni's '15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast' report.  I have reproduced the list here and added my own comments.  I agree with a lot of what he has to say...  

15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast

1. Avocados: These little suckers are loaded with two nutrients that are KEY to killing belly fat: hunger-crushing fiber (11 to 17 grams per avocado!), and monounsaturated fats, which studies have shown to actually “spot reduce” belly fat. Zowie!

2. Peanut Butter: Okay, not just peanut butter, but mostly any seeds and nuts (these are the best): pistachios, walnuts, almonds (or almond butter), pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Why? They keep you full and satisfied for long periods of time, and they’re stuffed with healthy, belly-burning fats and minerals.

3. Crisco: KIDDING! Just seeing if you were paying attention. That stuff is deadly. Healthy oils like olive oil, coconut oil and brand names like Udo’s Oil and Barlean’s Oil (I like the swirl flavors) actually help you burn fat by supplying healthy oils your body needs to burn body blubber.

These first three points all relate to 'good' fats.  I am a huge fan of omega 3 fatty essential fatty acids! If you haven't already read it (or if you have), click now on this link to read the blog I wrote in the last year on how amazing these are for your health. The most important point in relation to this subject, omega 3s increases metabolic rate and leads to a reduction in fat mass and increases in lean mass!

4. These Veggies: I’ve got to thank my buddy Mike Geary for this one. Turns out certain vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, and cabbage contain special phytonutrients, such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which help to fight against environmental estrogens that can add belly fat. Mom was right…eat your veggies!

My clients who have received and read my guides to eating for weight loss will know that I endorse eating unrestricted amounts of certain vegetables, including the ones mentioned above, even when on a fat loss programme.

5. Omelets: Eggs aren’t bad, they’re nutrient-dense and loaded with belly-burning protein, vitamins B6, B12, A, D, E, and K, folate, choline, lutein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, they keep you full for long periods of time. Choose eggs that come from free-range chickens. You’ll get more healthy nutrients.

I am a big fan of eggs.  I carry hard boiled eggs around with me to snack on every day I'm at work. Another big fan is is certified nutritionist and personal trainer, Mike Geary.  Read his blog on eggs here. 
I advovate a version of the Poliquin 'Meat and Nut Breakfast'. I am not as hardline as Monsieur Poliquin.  What my rules basically boil down to are eating a no carb, high protein, high essential fat breakfast.  Recently this has, for me, meant having a four white and two yolk omlette for breakfast, with half an avocado (See no. 1) 

6. Dark Chocolate: That is not a typo. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants (nearly eight times the number found in strawberries) and it contains stimulants that can have a positive effect on fat burning, including theobromine and caffeine. It also contains a nice dose of oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat. Make sure to choose the 78% or higher cocoa levels for best results.
Most of my clients and, certainly, my fiancee know that I love dark chocolate! 

7. Oatmeal: Packed with fiber and whole-grain goodness, you can’t go wrong. Just be sure to avoid the processed, high-sugar junk out there and stick to slow-cook oats. Add a dash of cinnamon, some walnuts, berries, and a natural sweetener to taste. BAM! Good stuff.
Just not first thing in the morning. Have the protein and fat breakfast then this mid-morning.

8. Green Tea: Not only does it contain a potent antioxidant, many scientific studies have linked green tea to increased fat burning, including a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found green tea extract boosted the daytime metabolism of test subjects by 35- 43%.

9. Beans: Black beans, navy beans, refried beans, and lima beans all have 6 or more grams of fiber per ½ cup. Fiber can clean your system of pounds of “toxic waste” and reduce your belly bulge in a big way. (See “Sneaky Trick #5” for details.)

10. Berries: Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are loaded with fiber (which slows sugar absorption), and they’re packed with vitamins that can fight cravings (cravings can come from vitamin deficiencies).

11. Cinnamon: Researchers have found that cinnamon contains a type of antioxidant that increases insulin sensitivity and effectively helps to stabilize blood sugar. Bottom line…you’ll store less belly fat.

I add Chinese 5 Spice to my omlette in the morning and pure cinnamon powder to my after workout shake for this very reason.

12. Chilli Peppers: Studies have shown that the active ingredient in chili peppers and powder, something called capsaicin, increases calorie-burning, stabilizes blood sugar levels (which decreases fat storage), and is a potent antioxidant. Add some of this “spice” to your life.

13. Yogurt: Most regular yogurt is bad for your belly. It’s loaded with belly-bulging sugar (real or artificial) that you want to avoid it. However, Greek yogurts like Stoneyfield Farms Oikos Greek Yogurt (plain) are loaded with probiotics that fight belly bulge. (See “Sneaky Trick #6.”)

14. Wild Salmon: Hands-down one of the best belly-blasting foods because of its protein and high omega-3 fatty acid content. This is like a “double shotgun approach” to killing belly fat. Many people are deficient in omega-3s and when they add them to their diet the fat can really start coming off.

15. Giant Turkey Legs: You got me. I’m pulling your leg. (Get it?) I’m not just talking about turkey meat (white preferred), but any lean protein source is a good belly-blasting food. This includes wild salmon, free-range chicken, whey protein powders, and most especially grass-fed beef because it contains natural CLA—a fat that studies have actually shown to burn fat. The interesting thing about protein is your body will burn off as much as 30% of its calories after you eat it.

There you go!  That is my take on Josh Bezoni's '15 Foods That Kill Belly Fat Fast' report. Pretty spot on if you ask me!

You Won't Build Your Perfect House If You Can't Unwrap The Materials

I recently read a great analogy for digestion and macronutrient absorption. Picture this! You are renovating your home. Trying to build the house you’ve always wanted. You will need to demolish the existing structures to make room for the newer, better parts you intend to build. After the demolition work, you will have carefully selected exactly what building materials you need for the renovations and had them delivered.
The building materials will have arrived in wrapped pallets. But what if you do not have a Stanley knife or any tool that allows you to remove the wrapping? All you will have managed to do is demolish parts of your home but not be able to rebuild and have your dream house.

When you train, you breakdown muscle and energy sources and replenish them when we consume the right foods. You may be eating lean, organic meat, oily fish, colourful fruit and vegetables and supplementing correctly, but that is a waste of time if you can not ‘unwrap’ them.
The ‘unwrapping’ is done by your digestive system. In your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, there are digestive enzymes that breakdown specific foods into their building blocks, which we use to remodel the house you live in, i.e. your body.
In an ideal world, you get your digestive enzymes from two sources: endogenous construction (produced by your body) and exogenous deliver (from our food). The body’s production reduces with age, as well as when you consume refined foods, alcohol or by simply eating too fast. Cooking food also destroys the naturally occurring enzymes found predominantly in vegetables.
So, you should eat a diet full of raw, whole foods, especially vegetables, as advocated by diets like the Paleo or Primal BluePrint. However that would involve not eating out and controlling what your friends and family feed you. This is somewhat impractical for most of us. I would recommend everyone supplement with highly specialised dietary enzymes, like those found in Proactazyme.

How To Supplement
Most enzyme supplements contain animal derived (pancreatic) enzymes which, though helpful, are dependent upon the acidity of the GI tract for activation. The GI tract has differing pH along the canal thus animal enzymes are a less than absolute solution can be especially ineffective in people with decreased stomach acid production, like those on anti-indigestion medication.
Plant sourced enzymes have been found to be up to 12.5 times more powerful than pancreatic sourced enzyme formulae. They are acid-stable, working over a broader spectrum of pH values.
In addition, Proactazyme has the bonus of helping with the digestion of a wider range of foods. Whilst most animal enzymes contain a protease (protein digestion), amylase (carbohydrate digestion at pH neutral) and lipase (fat digestion), Proactazyme has all those, in addition to glucoamylase for carbohydrate digestion at pH = 3, pectinase for pectin (found in plant cell walls) and cellulase for plant fiber.
If you suffer from any of the following, it is likely that your digestive enzymes are not working and you are not breaking your food down properly

1. Bad breath, body odour, smelly feet
2. Difficulty digesting food, so avoid certain food
3. Food allergies
4. Indigestion, wind, heart burn or bloating

Proactazyme is easy to use. Just take one or two tablets before eating, at least three times per day. The added bonus is that enzymes do not trigger a negative feedback, so your body will not decrease its endogenous production. That is why everyone should take Proactazyme, regardless of whether you have any of the above symptoms list above. That way, you will be ensured to have the building materials available when you need them.