**A special thank-you to Dr. Ayala for this wonderful article**

Many experts see sugary drinks as a major contributor to overweight and obesity. Large, well-preformed studies such as Harvard’s Nurses’ Health Study, which followed more than 50,000 women, have shown a correlation between consumption of sugary drinks and expanding waistlines.

Is this just a correlation, or is there a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the two? Is there something special about sweet beverages that sets them apart from other low-nutritional-value foods, and justifies “blaming” them for a disproportionate contribution to the obesity epidemic?

The science community generally agrees that when it comes to weight control a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, and weight gain is a result of consuming more calories than what one spends no matter where the calories came from. Calories from fats or carbs, junk food or gourmet meals all add up in the same way, and weight gain is just a matter of energy imbalance, in which the extra energy accumulates as fat.

On the other hand, research shows that some eating patterns are more conducive to overeating and over consumption. Paramount among the foods that lead to an over consumption pattern are sugary drinks.

There’s mounting evidence showing that when we drink beverages with calories we don’t compensate by eating less food and the extra calories in beverages are, well, just extra—much like items that didn’t go into the budget, but will nevertheless have to be paid for.

There are many studies to prove this point; here are just a few:

Nutritionist Barbara Rolls from Penn State gave women water, diet soda, regular soda, orange juice, milk or no drink before lunch. Those given caloric beverages consumed about 100 calories more than those given diet soda, water or no beverage at the meal, without significantly affecting satiety ratings (see here).

In the cute Jelly bean study, researchers gave men and women 450 calories a day of either soda or jelly beans for a month, then switched them for the next month and kept track of total consumption. Candy eaters ate less food to compensate for the extra calories. Soda drinkers did not, so they ate more calories than usual.

A new study by Richard D. Mattes and Wayne W. Campbell of Perdue University in the current edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association looks at the effects of food form (solid, semi-solid or liquid) on appetite and adds to this body of evidence.

In this study the researchers had twenty lean and twenty overweight men and women consume either a whole apple, apple sauce or apple juice of equivalent caloric value. The experiment was preformed with each participant six times, giving each person a chance to eat each of the apple forms twice, once as part of a provided fixed portion meal and once two hours after a meal.

The intent of the study was not revealed to the participants. They were actually told that what’s being tested is the food’s effect on their motor skills (which were also tested).

Appetite assessment was assessed by questionnaires, and diet records were kept for the duration of the experiment.

Here are the main results:

• The apple juice reduced hunger the least, the whole apple reduced hunger the most and the applesauce response was intermediate whether consumed with a meal, or alone as a snack.

• The appetite suppression was greatest for the whole apple when consumed as a snack.

• The participants could eat freely once they left the lab. Those that had the beverage form where looking again for food almost an hour earlier than those that had a whole apple, whether they had the food in a meal or as a snack (although in this study the subjects didn’t report they ate more after the liquid apple).

• There were so significant differences between the lean and the obese participants in regard to appetite suppression.

The authors conclude:

“Our findings suggest beverages consumed alone as an afternoon snack or when incorporated into a midday meal lead to comparable, weak appetitive effects. Stronger effects were noted with a solid form of the same food and intermediate effects were observed with a semisolid form. This suggests that energy-yielding beverage consumption poses a particular risk for promoting positive energy balance when consumed either as a snack or with a meal.”

Throughout most of human history people ate food when they were hungry, and drank water when they were thirsty. Beverages with calories were rare. Nowadays, sugary beverages constitute about a fifth of the daily caloric intake and are probably the most ubiquitous food item, ready for purchase practically everywhere. These liquids calories don’t seem to satisfy hunger (even if they do quench thirst) and are therefore a source for calories that just sneak up on you.
Looking at these studies I’d say that eating solid candy is probably a better strategy to controlling appetite than consuming that candy in liquid form, which I daresay is pretty much what many sugary drinks really are.

The good news is that since liquid calories don’t make you any less hungry cutting back on them is usually quite easy, and probably the most rewarding first step to make towards a healthier diet and a healthy weight.

Dr. Ayala

Dr. Ayala is  a physician (Pediatrics and Medical Genetics), artist, and mother of 3 school age active kids. She recently co-founded Herbal Water Inc. with my husband, Albert. She is a serious home cook, and loves to entertain. Her expertise is vegetarian food (has been a vegetarian all her life). She  strongly believes that eating healthy and enjoying good food go hand in hand. Her main interests are science, nutrition and art, and is overall a very curious person that tries to learn something new every day.

Dr. Ayala’s blog :  www.herbalwater.typepad.com

Dr. Ayala’s website :  www.herbalwater.com

Everyone knows what needs to be done to stay healthy.  It is something that we hear on a daily basis – exercise, diet, eat healthy foods, don’t drink or smoke and the list goes on…

Today I will simply share 3 tips you can apply to your life today that will help you make a change.

• Water – substitute water for regular soda or juice..if you do this at least once a day for an entire year, you will cut out 127 cups of sugar and over 90,000 calories from your diet!

• Take deep breathes – By simply taking a deep breathe for 5 minutes, it may actually lower your blood pressure.  The deep breathing will relax the body, which will reduce the blood pressure.

• Reorganize your pantry – Sounds silly but it works! Let’s face it we all have some sort of processed food items in our pantry.  Placing the processed food in the back and moving the canned vegetables and whole grains to the front, where they are more visible, your eye will see the healthy choices first.

Try implementing these 3 simple tips and you will see healthy changes occurring right before your eyes.

When I was contacted to review Mix1 I was a bit confused.  You see, I had no idea what Mix1 was, so I began to do my research.

The first place I visited was their site .  What I found was very impressive.  As a vegetarian and one that is lactose intolerant, I am always searching for products that will provide the nutrients without comprising my lifestyle.

Mix1 is a beverage company that found the solution to many individual’s challenges.  It is very difficult to find beverages that are high in protein, as well as antioxidants, without dairy or processes ingredients.

Mix1 combines all natural ingredients such as purified water, whey protein isolate, organic cane sugar, extra light olive oil and so much more.  I was still a bit skeptical even after reading all about their ingredients.  I did not want a sugar loaded drink that was also loaded with caffeine.  My entire purpose of living a healthy lifestyle would be completely compromised if I did.  But I decided to keep and open mind and agree to the review.

When I received the Mix1 products I was very pleased.  Not only was I able to drink the products because they were lactose-free but they also contain all natural sugars.  Many of the energy drinks on the market are loaded with sugar and caffeine which is very unhealthy.

The drinks have the consistency of a yogurt drink or a smoothie.  I honestly enjoyed all the flavors, which included blueberry vanilla, lime, mango, mixberry and tangerine.  The drinks that contained the antioxidant fibers were delicious as well and those flavors are dark-berry and orange-carrot.

I decided to put the products to the test and ask my children to taste them; they are my best critics and will always give me an honest opinion.  They were very pleased and really enjoyed them, so much that I had to limit them from drinking all of them:)

These products are sold nationally at Kroger and Whole Foods Market and regionally at King Soopers, Albertson’s, Fred Meyer, Costco, Ralphs as well as independent grocery retailers across the United States.

However, you will not have to go far to taste these delicious drinks.  The company has graciously donated 1 case of these wonderful drinks for a giveaway to one of readers.

One lucky reader will enjoy a case of 12 Mix1 drinks and I am sure you will enjoy them.

So the rules are easy:

1. Visit Mix1’s site and tell me something unique that you learned about the company
2. Sign up for the RSS feed to this blog
3. Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/drmommy
4. Tweet about this giveaway

Those are pretty simple rules.  Be sure to let me know which one you did because each one will earn you an extra entry. Good Luck!

*The contest will end on June 7th and will winner will be announced on June 8th*

**The winner is: Billy – Congratulations** (picked with Random.org)

** A special thank you to Jackie Silver for contributing this article.

When the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set out to find the Fountain of Youth he found Florida instead. He wasn’t the first to look for healing waters that could restore youth, either. The legend goes as far back as the time of Alexander the Great, who was reputed to have searched for such waters in eastern Asia. Today, we’re still searching for the magic fountain or pill that will keep us young forever. While there is no “magic” involved, there are ways to look and feel much younger than your chronological age. Almost daily, news reports recount the results of new research covering all aspects of anti-aging, from advancements in lasers and skin creams that stimulate collagen to revolutionary discoveries for weight loss or the latest injectables that claim to take years off a person’s face. The rapid rate of advancements and the sheer number of new inventions are enough to confuse the average consumer. Here are some tips that almost anyone can use to start making changes that can lead to a healthier, more youthful and vibrant look.

Aging Backwards Tips:

• Exercise is the Fountain of Youth. Trick yourself into working out by dancing or doing JumpSnap with your kids. You’ll have so much fun you’ll forget it’s good for you.

• Skip the fashion fads. Instead, try dressing in more simple colors and styles. Use accessories such as scarves, jewelry, belts and the latest shoe and purse styles to add pizzazz to your wardrobe.

• Try a virtual makeover absolutely free. TAAZ.com is realistic and fun. You can upload your own photo and try on all kinds of makeup and celebrity hairstyles with just the click of a mouse. Try on foundation, lipstick, blush, eye shadow, mascara and more, thin your eyebrows and plump your lips, shape the hairstyle you picked and change hair color too.

• Smile. The muscles used to smile lift the face and make a person appear younger. There are other benefits to smiling that go beyond looks. Research has shown that smiling, even fake-smiling, can lower stress levels, which in turn can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system. Studies have also revealed that smiling and laughing releases endorphins and serotonin, two chemicals that make us feel good.

• Hands can show age. Volunteers shown photos of hands without nail polish and jewelry thought the same hands looked younger with polish and bling. Add some tinted SPF 15 or higher to hide blue veins and imperfections and you’ve got instantly younger hands.

Looking younger doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. Making just a few small changes can lead to big results.

Jackie Silver is the founder and president of Aging Backwards, LLC and author of “Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young.”  (http://budurl.com/kdzv).

Follow her on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AgingBackwards
http://youtube.com/agingbackwards

**A special thank you to David Elkind, Ph.D for contributing this very interesting article.

At a book signing recently, a mother asked me to sign a book for her friend who couldn’t come herself. The mother explained that her friend’s baby had Acid Reflux and had to be constantly attended to. Inasmuch as it is a common affliction, it seemed reasonable to write about. GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflex Disorder, occurs in about 50 percent of infants (it occurs in children and adults as well) but varies in severity.

Basically what happens is that stomach contents move back up the tube (esophagus) that connects the stomach with the mouth. This happens when a ring at the bottom of the esophagus, which allows food and drink to enter the stomach, closes prematurely. In many infants this happens because this ring is not fully developed. The food may back up in the infant when he or she is burped. But sometimes this happens of itself and evidenced by spitting, repeated vomiting, coughing, and poor feeding. Sometimes it results in projectile vomiting. In the vast majority of children the problem disappears when the muscles are more fully developed.

If you suspect that your infant has GERD it is best to check with you pediatrician and learn from him or her, what might be the cause, and which course of treatment to follow. He or she may recommend a number of possible causes and remedies for an infant who is suffering from severe GERD. It has been found, for example, that babies with Acid Reflux have fewer, less severe symptoms, when they are breast fed then when they are fed only on formula. Human milk is digested more easily and is emptied from the stomach twice as quickly. The more quickly the stomach is emptied the less likelihood of Acid Reflux. Human milk may also be less irritating to the esophagus.

If breast feeding, for one or anther reason, is not possible, your pediatrician may suggest other alternatives.  If the child has a protein milk allergy, eliminating cow’s milk from the diet will often solve the problem in a mere twenty four hours. Switching to Enfamil or Similac may solve the problem for these infants. For infants with protein intolerance a switch to a formula using NeoCate or Elecare may help reduce or eliminate the symptoms. Some pediatricians suggest thickening the formula wit a tablespoon of rice formula which can also decrease vomiting. To do this however, the hole in the nipple of the baby’s bottle will need to be enlarged. Another strategy is to hold your infant’s head on your shoulder for 20 to thirty minutes after feeding. This helps to ensure that the food goes down and that the ring does not close prematurely.

For infants with uncomplicated GERD most symptoms are resolved by the end of the first year and usually earlier.

David Elkind Ph.D is the chief scientific advisor for Just Ask Baby, an online video membership service, which gives parents a unique baby’s eye view on how to effectively nurture their infant’s full developmental potential. For more information visit http://www.JustAskBaby.com