Why dieters struggle to lose weight

Today, Saturday, August 6, 2011, PAGE 23, Science
From http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110806/0608NCW029.pdf
Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Science/EDC110806-0000160/Why-dieters-struggle-to-lose-weight
By THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, 04:45 AM Aug 06, 2011

PHOTO: Why dieters struggle to lose weight
Artwork by YEN YOK, Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
Today, Saturday, August 6, 2011, PAGE 23, Science

NEW YORK - Dieters struggle to lose weight because a lack of nutrition forces their brain cells to eat themselves, making the feeling of hunger even stronger, scientists claim.

Like other parts of the body, brain cells begin to eat themselves as a last-ditch source of energy to ward off starvation, a study found.

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The body responds by turning up the hunger signal in the brain and increasing the impulse to eat.

PHOTO: Weight watching: Dieters should only consume around 500 calories on fasting days

Last updated at 9:33 AM on 24th November 2009, By Jerome Burne
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Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York said the findings could lead to new scientifically proven weight loss treatments.

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Tests on mice found that stopping the brain cells from eating themselves - a process known as autophagy - prevented levels of hunger from rising in response to starvation.

This caused mice to become lighter and slimmer after a period of fasting, the researchers reported in the journal Cell Metabolism.

PHOTO: How To Lose Weight Without Dieting
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Dr Rajat Singh, who led the study, said that treatments aimed to recreate this process "might make you less hungry and burn more fat, a good way to maintain energy balance in a world where calories are cheap and plentiful".

PHOTO: Once you're fat, you never go back: Scientists say dieters' bodies rarely return to their former shape.
Last updated at 8:57 AM on 25th July 2011, By Tamara Cohen
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Reference

• Today, Saturday, August 6, 2011, PAGE 23, Science
• http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110806/0608NCW029.pdf
• http://www.todayonline.com/Science/EDC110806-0000160/Why-dieters-struggle-to-lose-weight
• http://goloseweightfast.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/need-help-loosing-weight.jpg
• http://goloseweightfast.com/
• http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/11/23/article-1230347-01F5DEA80000044D-436_233x423.jpg
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1230347/Feast-famine-The-diet-wont-just-help-lose-weight-youll-live-longer-brainier.html
• http://www.gizmooo.com/wp-content/uploads/10_3_featured_orig.jpg
• http://www.gizmooo.com/
• http://weightlossdiscussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/lose-weight-without-dieting1.jpg
• http://weightlossdiscussion.com/
• http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/25/article-2018217-0D25C41100000578-693_233x324.jpg
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2018217/Once-youre-fat-Scientists-say-dieters-bodies-rarely-return-shape.html

Prunes & My health

Tropical Fruits

Prunes - common varieties are French, Imperial, Italian, and Green Gage

Giant Prunes - sweet with a deep taste and a sticky chewy texture


Prunes - oval shape and a removable pit


Prunes - dried fruit is wrinkly in texture, and chewy on the inside


Giant Prunes - highest antioxidant of any fruit

Whole tree loaded with unripe prunes during the month of june


Facts about Prunes
Prunes are sweet with a deep taste and a sticky chewy texture, prunes are not only fun to eat but they are also highly nutritious. They are available all year round.

Fresh prunes have an oval shape and a easily removed pit. The dried fruit is wrinkly in texture, and chewy on the inside.

Four of the most common varieties are French, Imperial, Italian, and Green Gage.

Prunes also have the highest antioxidant of any fruit and its juice is fiber-rich.


Health benefits

(Adapted from http://jeenaskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/11/health-benefits-of-prunes.html)

They contain an antioxidant 'Phenols' which prevent damages cause by a dangerous oxygen radical called superoxide anion radical. Also they have proved to help prevent damage to our body fats.



Prunes has high content of Beta Carotene which is neccessary in cancer fighting and can help prevent conditions like heart disease, therosclerosis, colon cancer and diabetes.

Also this vitamin is known to reduce severe inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Prunes help lower cholesterol through binding bile acids and carrying them out of the body through the feces. Bile acids come from the liver to digest fats, when prunes carry out this bile, the liver has to produce more, thus using up more cholesterol which means lesser cholesterol in our circulation.

Prunes prevent constipation. It provide bulk and decrease the transit time of fecal matter. This also decreases the risk of colon cancer.



When prunes are in the large intestine they provide 'food' for the friendly bacteria. When the prunes are fermented by this friendly bacteria they produce a short chain fatty acid called butyric acid which helps keep the colon healthy.



Also 2 other short chain fatty acids are created, propionic acid and acetic acid which the liver and muscles use as a fuel.



The soluble fiber in prunes can help normalize blood sugar levels. It delays the absorption of glucose into the blood by slowing down the rate at which food leaves the stomach. This soluble fiber increases insulin sensitivity which is useful in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes. Also prunes give a sense of 'fullness' after eating a meal which can prevent over eating in obese people.



Prunes are high in potassium which is essential for heart function and normal blood pressure.One quarter of a cup of prunes contains a 316.6 mg of potassium but only 1.7 mg of sodium. This help to prevent atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.



The high amount of potassium in prunes may also help in bone conditions. High salt diets lead to urinary calcium loss which causes thinning of the bones. The high potassium levels in prunes may counteract this.



Prunes contain amino acids and vitamins that help the body to absorb iron.



Prunes can be used as a natural sweetener. They are very sweet in taste and are a great alternative to sugar.





Prunes Nutrition Facts
From http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=103

Prunes - 0.25 cup - 42.50 grams - 101.58 calories Nutrient Amount DV (%) Nutrient Density World's Healthiest Foods Rating vitamin A 844.48 IU 16.9 3.0 good dietary fiber 3.02 g 12.1 2.1 good potassium 316.63 mg 9.0 1.6 good copper 0.18 mg 9.0 1.6 good World's Healthiest Foods Rating Rule excellent DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10% very good DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5% good DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Prunes

Prunes - Both fresh and dried are valuable

From: http://picasaweb.google.com/jon88888jon/jDKJJF30#5194454919401176354

Two plums The plum is a stone-fruit tree in the genus Prunus. Its fruit is sweet, juicy and edible, and it can be eaten fresh, or dried, in which case they are known as prunes. The plum blossom, along with the peony, are considered traditional floral emblems of China.

Adapted From:
www.rarefruit-sa.org.au/Espalier/Fruit/Fruit.htm
www.prunes.net/
www.woodbridgefruittrees.com.au/html/plums.html
www.alibaba.com/.../Preserved_Prune.html
www.grandpasorchard.com/.../14/index.htm
ths.gardenweb.com/.../msg0902084120997.html
http://culinaryfool.spaces.live.com
www.organic-planet.com/products/b_Prunes.html
www.davidlebovitz.com/.../prune_blogging_2.html
http://jeenaskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/11/health-benefits-of-prunes.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=103
http://www.candidablog.com/prune-juice-to-help-constipation.php
http://picasaweb.google.com/aritheeagle/STAYGREENFRESH#5044427185844145890