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The Link Between Weight Loss and White Kidney Bean Extract

Starch is a carbohydrate that is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and is naturally found in lots of grains and vegetables–wheat, rice, potatoes, cassava–you name it. Many people depend on carbohydrates and starch to function because it can be a primary source of our energy. (You’ve likely seen other articles I’ve written on how the body can use ketones from fat as the main energy source as well, in the absence of starch, and depending on the person, either can be a healthy approach).

But since I get a lot of questions about starch and weight loss, I thought it’d be helpful to dedicate today’s newsletter to looking at starch and a growing area of study in the field of weight loss involving blocking starch absorption.

Our body uses starch by digesting it and converting it into sugar or glucose which our cells use to produce energy. Others are stored as fats. So it seems reasonable that the quickest way to gain weight–and perhaps be overweight–is to consistently have an oversupply of carbohydrates (aka consistently eating too much of it) without burning them or converting them into energy.

This is why many people try to go on a low-carb diet. For some, this is a great approach–they feel wonderful when they eat this way! Others, for various reasons, either struggle to make this way of eating a habit or actually notice health declines when they go too low-carb. The research on starch blockers has evolved to support weight loss in people who struggle to reduce dietary carb/starch intake. 

Let me give you an example: 
Phase 2 Carb Controller, a supplemental extract of white kidney beans that has been well studied, has been found to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates. It does so by acting on amylase, the enzyme found in the digestive tract that converts starch and glycogen into sugars. According to clinical studies, Phase 2 reduces the digestion and absorption of starches up to 66% (does not appear to effect fiber absorption). 

A review of 10 clinical studies concluded that taking the supplement resulted in more weight loss than the placebo group when taken concurrently with meals containing carbohydrates. Weight loss over 3 months was an average of 6.5 lbs. vs. 2 lbs., respectively.

Some people do experience digestive symptoms such as increased gas and bloating when taking these supplements.

Now, eating some starch is part of a balanced diet. Starch and fiber both contribute to the food supply of your healthy gut bugs. I don’t think it is healthy to eat tons of starch and miss out on protein or healthy fats and I also don’t think it’s healthy to eat no carbs (think veggies, fruits). It’s really important to listen to your body and eat in alignment with how you feel best!  

I find the research on blocking starch absorption and weight loss to be most helpful to those of you who really struggle to sustain a healthy weight while maintaining consistent diet and lifestyle practices rather than to be thought of as a quick fix or magic pill.  

It is my passion to work with people like you whose health symptoms are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I can help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.

If you’re ready to discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

How to Naturally Lose Weight without Counting Calories

Yes! You read it right. You can actually lose weight–naturally–without counting calories. As discussed last week, the technique “calories in, calories out” is oversimplified and fraught with myths.
 
Instead of putting a lot of time, energy and attention on calorie counting, I invite you to start learning another approach to weight loss (or as I prefer to call it, weight release). 


 
What you need are foods that do the following:

  1. Balance your blood sugar levels
  2. Increase your metabolism

And the result of eating these foods on a daily basis are:

  1. A boost in energy
  2. Adequate sleep — goodbye insomnia!
  3. No more unnecessary cravings
  4. Normal bodily functions

With this in mind, let me share with you some foods that could do this!

  1. Black coffee — Oh the perks of being a coffee drinker! Aside from the burst in energy and concentration, coffee boosts metabolism for a short time.
  2. Green tea — It is rich in antioxidants and is associated with many health benefits, including increased energy and selective fat burning.
  3. Spicy foods — The natural chemicals in spicy foods increase your metabolic rate.
  4. Fiber-rich foods — These foods cause you to feel full because they help release satiety hormones: you will naturally eat less without even trying! Aside from that, fiber feeds the good bacteria in your gut so you’ll reap more benefits. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber.
  5. Probiotics — Obese people have different gut microbiome patterns than normal-weight individuals. One way to nurture a healthy gut microbiome is to take probiotics from food sources (like sauerkraut, kim chee, yogurt, etc), make sure you feed your gut flora with prebiotics, and consider probiotic supplements.
  6. Protein — A high-protein diet gives you that feeling of fullness and reduces your appetite. Protein also boosts metabolism for up to 80-100 calories a day. Eggs, meat, seafood, poultry, tempeh, cottage cheese, certain nuts and seeds, and a variety of high-quality protein powders are great sources of protein. 

In addition to choosing the right foods for your body (which is best done with metabolic pattern testing!), hydration, sufficient sleep, managing your day-to-day stress, and moving your body throughout the day are hugely important not only for the weight release but also for your physical, mental, and emotional health.
 
Another tip I can share is to practice mindful eating, meaning you have to be conscious of your food choices, increase your awareness while eating, and listen to your body’s needs. By doing so, you will be able to choose the right foods for you and combat emotional eating and overeating.

It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like low energy, gut/digestive issues, excess weight, mood imbalance, chronic infections, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’d like to learn more about how you can discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health
~Rebecca

Are you ready to move your “health needle?”

Hi there!
Today I have a special announcement to share with you. 📣

Since 2001, I have been helping folks to feel healthier and more at home in their bodies.
Ever since I was a kid, I watched my Dad and other relatives struggling with their weight and other symptoms ranging from anxiety to heart conditions…and I saw a whole lot of unhealthy habits too. As a kid, I didn’t know how to help. I didn’t understand that almost all of those awful symptoms were linked to habits…choices that got made over and over again every day that were keeping the people I cared about sick or unhealthy and definitely not showing up in the world as their best selves. Sound familiar?

Clearly this struggling fueled me to want to be able to help make a difference in people’s lives and to help them discover how they could feel better in their own skin.
As many of you already know, this is the mission that I’ve been on most of my life. 😍

I’ve helped a lot of people over these decades through customized programs, testing, and one-on-one coaching. But there are people (maybe you’re one of them) who just aren’t ready to take that next step to do that level of work either by yourselves or with someone to support you. And that’s okay. I really appreciate that you are part of this community and reading these newsletters and thinking about how you can move your health needle. 🙏🏻

Because of you, during the pandemic, I decided to create a program called Unstoppable Health Basics. 🎉

If you think about health building as climbing a ladder, this is the rung on which we all need to start.
The purpose of UH Basics is for you to start to lay the most essential health foundations so that you can have the physical, mental, and emotional vitality to show up as your best self. In this program we will explore the essential strategies, tools and habits you need to start steering your health in the direction that will lead to long-term, sustainable results. This is a group based and self-paced program which allows me to offer it very affordably and for you to participate flexibly on your own schedule.
Enrollment is officially open!!! 🥳

If you’d like to learn more about it and see if it’s a good fit for you, I invite you to apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session with me. 

👉 bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Again, I’m so grateful that you are part of this health building community and I’m thrilled by the possibility of you moving your health needle to the next level! 💗

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health!
~Rebecca

Healthy “Ramen” Noodle Recipe

I’m going to make today’s newsletter short and sweet. Simply, I want to share a recipe I recently created that is tasty, comforting, and gut friendly.

Why am I ALWAYS going on and on about gut health?!

Because your gut is at the root of your health. 

Your gut is where you take all the good stuff you eat and drink and transform it into the many building blocks your body needs to make energy, think clearly, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, fight infections, and clear out toxins that need clearing out daily so you can thrive. 

Healthy “Ramen” Noodle Recipe

In past newsletters, I have shared my love for shiritaki noodles made from the Japanese Konjac root. They are extremely low in calories, provide dietary fiber (which feeds a healthy microbiome) and the best thing is that they don’t really taste like much on their own, so you can use them in SO many recipes as a far superior noodle alternative!
 
So last weekend, I decided to try them with some organic, free-range chicken broth and it reminded me of healthy ramen (I ate the crappy, processed version on occasion growing up). Deelish!

How to:

  1. Get some organic broth of your choice (veggie, chicken or beef) (OR powdered miso soup is very tasty too!). I really like the Imagine brand or Butcher’s Broth brand. Pour a cup or two of the broth into a small pot.
  2. Thoroughly rinse the shiritaki noodles (my favorite brand so far is Better Than Noodles. They aren’t clear like Miracle Noodles so they look just like ramen noodles and I think the texture is great.). Pro tip: when you open up a package of these noodles, don’t smell them, lol! They don’t smell awesome, but they are great stuff.
  3. Add the desired amount of noodles to your broth (around 3/4-1 cup is good). Heat on low-med heat to just warm it up and then, if you like, add a dash of black pepper and dried parsley for a bit of extra flavor (or season it however you want, really). That’s it! Pour into a mug or bowl and enjoy!




It is my passion is to work with people like you whose health symptoms–like low energy, gut/digestive issues, excess weight, mood imbalance, chronic infections, and skin & sleep problems–are getting in the way of you living life fully and with a sense of freedom in your body. I help you to regain your health so you can feel great and free to enjoy life fully.
 
If you’d like to learn more about how you can discover where your best health has been hiding, I’d love to connect with you!
Apply for a complimentary Unstoppable Health Discovery Session. http://bit.ly/schedulinghealth (subject to availability).

Until next time, I’m wishing you unstoppable health
~Rebecca