Boost Your Diet

With reduced caloric intake, it is essential that nutrition improves to account for the reduction in food quantity.

Digestive enzymes break down ingested food into usable proteins, fats and carbohydrates to provide nutrition and healthy metabolic processes. With aging or illness, digestive processes may also decline, leading to nutritional deficiencies and inflammatory conditions.

Digestive enzymes are classified based on their target substrates:

• Lipases split fatty acids into fats and oils.
• Proteases and peptidases split proteins into small peptides and amino acids.
• Amylases split carbohydrates such as starch and sugars into simple sugars such as glucose.
• Nucleases split nucleic acids into nucleotides.

A special formulation of 8 natural digestive enzymes which helps to supplement these important enzymes that play a vital role in digestive health:

Natural sources of Digestive Enzymes

Several natural sources of digestive enzymes are beneficial to our health.

These natural sources of digestive enzymes aid in the efficient digestion process and may also provide other health benefits due to their fiber content and micronutrient value.

• Fruits and vegetables such as papaya and pineapple contain proteolytic enzymes that help break down proteins into smaller compounds for easier digestion.
• Fermented foods contain lactase which is an enzyme that helps digest lactose, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
• Honey is a popular source of amylase — an enzyme that breaks starch down into simple sugars.

Different types of Digestive Enzymes

Knowing what types of enzymes are available can be a helpful tool when looking into how to break down the best food you consume.

• Amylase helps break down carbohydrates, and are released from the pancreas and small intestine, aiding in the digestion of starches, such as bread, cereals, and pasta.
• Betaine helps break down fats and is found in foods like beef, eggs, and dairy products and assists in proper digestion these types of foods.
• Bromelain, found in pineapple, helps break down complex proteins allowing us to benefit from their component nutrients.
• Diastase, also produced by the pancreas, helps break down complex carbohydrates, and helps us absorb and properly utilize these types of carbs.
• Papain is a digestive enzyme derived from the papaya plant that helps break down proteins. Papain helps us to digest meats, poultry, and fish easily.
• Pancreatin is another digestive enzyme that helps break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Pancreatin is produced by the pancreas, aiding our bodies in breaking down these essential nutrients.
• Pepsin is one of the main digestive enzymes which helps digest the proteins in food. Pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller parts to enable absorption into the body.

Additional Digestive Enzymes

• Cellulase is essential for breaking down cellulose fiber found in many plant-based foods and extracting nutrients.
• Lactase breaks down the milk sugar lactose. Some people have trouble digesting dairy products and lactase supplementation can help reduce symptoms.
• Proteases also break down proteins to be used as essential building blocks for many processes in the body.
• Lipase targets fats, helping us both extract necessary energy from them and break them down into forms we can use more effectively.

Weight Loss Nutrition

Work with Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center to target your weight loss goals and structures needed to reach your goals.

Dr Oksana Aron is a physician specialized in medical weight loss — helping people lose weight who have struggled with other methods and need clinical help.

Labels: diet, diet plan, lose weight, nutrition, nutrition facts

No more excuses

To see some weight loss results, exercise and healthy eating go hand in hand. If you’ve never been athletic, there’s still hope--because even just a little bit of exercise can do wonders for your health and weight loss goals. Here’s how.

Easy does it

You don’t need to be a marathon runner. In fact, you’re better off jogging and doing moderate exercise if you want to lose weight. The best part? All you need to do is exercise a few times a week to get some traction in your weight loss scheme.

Check out these facts:

1. You may live longer

   Specifically, an encouraging 2012 study of 52,656 American adults found that those who ran 1 to 20 miles per week at an average pace of about 10 or 11 minutes per mile … lived longer, on average, than sedentary adults. They also lived longer than the group (admittedly small) who ran more than 20 miles per week.

2. You can lose more weight
   • In one study in Denmark, a group of overweight men lost more weight when they exercised moderately for 30 minutes several times per week compared with men who worked out twice as long. They also ate less than the men who exercised more.
3. You can have more energy
   • In the same study, those who exercised longer sat around more during the rest of the day than those who exercised moderately. Those who exercised for 30 minutes a day seemed to be more energized.
   • Moving around, stretching and being more active during the day all add up! Even if you are active for 10 minutes a few times per day, a few days per week, that counts as exercise too--and every little bit helps.

Just do it

• The whole point is to not sit around too much being inactive, watching TV or using the computer. Find new ways of doing things (typing while standing, playing with the kids outside more or walking upstairs more often) to burn those extra calories. You’ll not only lose the weight, you’ll also get to enjoy life more when you improve your lifestyle and extend the number of days you get to live!

Make Your Move

Get actionable tips and support structures for weight loss from Dr. Oksana Aron Medical Weight Loss Center in Brooklyn NYC. A licensed bariatric specialist physician, she’ll set you straight on what you need to eat and do to lose up to 10 to 20 pounds of more each month. Call 718-491-5525 or book online for your initial consultation.

Labels: brooklyn, diet, easy weight loss, exercise, healthy habits, lose weight, new york, overweight, weight loss

Ketogenic Pizza

Came across this gem, a nice spin on pizza dough, topped with a traditional pizza sauce.

New Twist on Dough

Ketogenic twist on classic pizza dough, topped with sauce and more to suit. Make, bake and enjoy.

Double boil or microwave the mozzarella to soften it for the dough blend, whereas the sauce need not be heated, the pizza will all be baked along with whatever toppings you like. Prepare the dough on parchment paper.

Dough

• 4 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 2 cups mozzarella shredded & melted
• 4 tbsp almond flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tps italian seasoning
• 1 egg whisked

Sauce

• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1-1/2 tsp oregano

Toppings

Reddit user pietyp shared this recipe; Toppings whatever you like … mine was rotisserie chicken chopped up with mushrooms broccoli and red onion. [See photo] I did use some almond flour when forming the base just to give that semolina-look. It was honestly perfect. Definitely recommend..

Healthy Recipe Ideas

Find more recipes on our blog via keyword: recipe, or visit website.

Labels: carbohydrates, diet, ketogenic, recipe

Ahoy! Ahoy! ⛵

Enjoy this simplest of “recipes” we think all ages will enjoy.

Just find the veggies and dips you like and have at it!

Instructions: Gather veggies and spreads (here we used hummus) and some toothpicks. Hollow out vegetables and cut off the bottoms so they can lay flat. Assemble the boats with toothpicks and sail shapes as desired. And that’s it!

Seasonal fun, for all seasons

We loved this find just had to share with you as an all purpose healthy party snack, or anytime, nobody is watching, right? Have fun creating your own flavorful fleet!

Choose healthy meals, or make more at home

View more recipes on our website or blog.

Learn more about healthy dieting and safe weight loss with Dr. Aron.

Source: Oh Happy Day, https://ohhappyday.com/2012/05/veggie-boats/

Labels: diet, healthy foods, nutrition, recipe

Trying to cut back on bread is challenging, here is a fun a simple recipe you can try and adapt to suit your needs. Psyllium fiber is a soluble dietary fiber with clinically demonstrated health benefits.

Use of psyllium in the diet for three weeks or longer often lowers blood cholesterol levels in people with elevated cholesterol, and can lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Use of psyllium for a month or longer may produce a small reduction in systolic blood pressure.

Fiber is good for you because it is not absorbed, instead helps move food through your digestive system and other health benefits.

Ketogenic (Keto) Bread

Versatile low-carb, gluten-free, keto bread featuring psyllium fiber can also be used for BBQ hot dog or hamburger buns or even for garlic bread.

Yield: 6 rolls

Ingredients

• 1.25 cups (5 oz) almond flour
• 1/3 cup (1.75 oz) ground psyllium husk powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp cider vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp sesame seeds optional topping

Instructions

Preheat oven 350°F (175°C); also boil the water.

1. Place dry ingredients in a bowl; Add vinegar and egg whites, mix.
2. Add the boiling water, blending with a hand mixer for 30 seconds. Dough should remain thick.
3. Shape dough into 6 rolls. (Tip: Apply a little olive oil to hands first.)
4. Place on a greased baking sheet. Top with optional sesame seeds.
5. Bake on lower rack in the oven for 50–60 minutes; rolls should be a bit firm on bottom.
6. Top and serve as wish.

Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook time: 1 hour

Nutrition per bun: 165 cal, 12g fat, 2g net carbs

Keywords: Bread, Low-Carb, Wheat-free, Breads, Gluten-Free Low Calorie Diet

Labels: carbohydrates, carbs, diet, healthy foods, recipe

Healthy Diet Plan

Food awareness is important for all of us. Whether or not you are trying to lose weight, you still need to be concious of the calories you consume and quality of the nutritional content.

Nowadays, with food labels as available as they are, they don't always capture the complete picture of the quality of your food, most notably the source and processing of the ingredients, as well as informed knowlege of the additives and non-food ingredients therein.

Best Steps

Your best diet plan starts with choosing real foods with minimal processing, and solid nutritional value. Ideally, if you like to cook, you are able to steer yourself to healthier recipes and freshest ingredients. If cooking is not an option for you, you can still work within your plan and fill in as many healthy options as able, such as a fresh salad bar instead of packaged foods, etc.

Food Journal

Keeping a food diary can be a powerful insight tool, as well as a habit tracker, for what, when and how you are eating. Choose a method that works best for you:

• Paper Journal This may be the easiest way, as you can just jot down what you are eating and other observations, and go back to fill in any details when you have more time.
• Online (free) The USDA provides a national database that is most often the source for many other websites, tools and apps. You can access their database to get current food facts, via their MyPlate app.
• Other apps Many third party food trackers are available if you are more inclined to do your research for which one suits your personal style and needs. Some are visual, some more technical, some incorporate fitness tracking and more. Ideally what will work best is what is easiest for you to maintain on the go, and not be bogged down trying to keep up with a fussy app. Popular apps include Lose it and My Fitness Pal and many more popping up every year.

Thick and Thin

Most importantly now is what to log in your journal (or app). Hopefully, as Dr. Aron advises, you are eating at a mealtime in a relaxed setting, eating mindfully not rushing thoughtlessly at your desk or tv. You can facilitate this in your log:

• Why am I eating
• How hungry I am
• Where I am eating
• How I am feeling
• and of course, What am I eating

Include portion sizes and calories as minimal facts, with fat and other elements as you wish to track. Consider any condiments, and snacks and more — be honest with yourself, this is a guide for you only.

Labels: 718-491-5525, calories, diet, diet plan, fast food, healthy foods, nutrition facts

Some Foods can be False Friends

Many tempting foods in marketed as low-fat or low-calorie, or even fat-free quite often can be counter-productive to your weight loss goals. Eating real, minimally processed foods is always the best option, along with maintaining a healthy active lifestyle.

• Flavored Yogurts

  With yogurts legendary health and wellness appeal, what could be wrong? The marketing spin on flavored yogurts (event low-fat ones) can present flavorful additions like sugary preserves and non-natural sweeteners. Even pro-biotic yogurts present more marketing spin than health benefits. As always, real the label — Look for low-fat Greek yogurt varieties without additional sweeteners.

• Bagged Salads

  The convenience and comfort of a premade salad can’t be understated, just be mindful of the fillings — bacon or sweeted fruits and nuts, fatty cheeses and meats, plus high-fat salad dressing just negate any intent of Healthy and Salad.

• Granola Bars

  So much confusion about healthy here. Along with shelf-stabilizers and other additives, consider many granola bars may simply be remarketed cookies. Consider DIY your own granola mix, so you know what is in it and it will taste so much better too. Try with apples and cinnamon or other takes, and make it fun and your own.

• Coffee

  Coffee on its own is fine — our grind with coffee (sorry, we went there…) is the popular trend of creamy lattes and crazy toppings that just dose you with a big calories spike nobody needs to have.

Learn More Weight Loss tips

Visit weightlossnyc.com and start working with Dr. Oksana Aron, medical weight loss physican and diet doctor, able to help you to lose weight where other methods have not.

Labels: 718-491-5525, blood sugar, calories, diet, diet tips, dieting, healthy foods

Top Tips

Dr. Aron has compiled some of her favorite weight loss tips to help you lose weight and maintain a lifetime of healthy habits.

1. Written Goals - Remember your 12 reasons? That’s just our way of getting you started. You can and should review and update this list as you see fit. Ask yourself what motivates you, and what results you seek.
2. Observe Your Habits - Do you dine at the table, or grab and go? How much of your eating is mindless? Take stock of yourself and then reflect on habits you'd like to change.
3. Water - Drink before meals to fill up, and between meals to steady your appetite. But also water for its own sake, as your body really needs it to manage and maintain itself. Pro tip: your kidneys can only process 1L per hour, so don't overdo it.
4. Healthy Favorites - List good, nutritious foods you like and plan them into your week -- when shopping, meal planning, or even on the go. Tuck in a salad for lunch or dinner each day. Veggies every meal - Brunch and munch with broccoli or spinach. Make the flavors fun and mix it up!
5. Fresh Produce vs Juices - Fresh fruits and veggies have lots of fiber to balance out the sugars and complete the nutritional balance. Try to eat minimally processed produce as often as able.
6. Protein Balance - Ignore fad diets. Just include 4 ounces of quality protein each meal, to aid in satiety and to ensure proper balance for your health.
7. Fat Friendly - Notice what oils you're cooking with and also the types of fat you're inclined to be eating. Avoid trans fats, minimize saturated fats, and seek out healthy natural oils in your diet.
8. Fill in Fitness - Mainly, avoid sedentary life, get up and move around, even if its just household chores, or on the go errands. The cumulative effects of regular activity are far better in the long run than bursts of random fitness. That said, find fitness activities you do enjoy, and work them into your daily or weekly routine.
9. Sleep it off - Truly the easiest and most overlooked weight loss, or even health tip, is to get enough sleep, regularly.
10. Patience - Give yourself the slack and the time to make these changes, in their own time and in your own way, to ensure a lasting healthy lifestyle. Equally important is to not let others sabotage your weight loss agenda. Find workout or even lunch buddies, who share your goals and will help each other stay on track and motivated.

Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Program

Dr Aron can provide you with a personal program to reach your weight loss goals via the structures and clinically provens methods she uses. Visit her weight loss practice website at WeightLossNYC.com and start losing weight today.

Once you’ve focused on making healthy eating changes, then you can start to incorporate exercise, which will make you feel good and help you boost your metabolism.

Labels: diet, fitness, health, healthy foods, weight loss

She’s lost 60 lbs before her 60th birthday — and heading for 20 more

Her kids now in college, she looked at what she wanted to be in this next stage of her life; With most of her 83 pound weight loss goal achieved she joyfully reflects on her healthy regimen with just 20 more pounds to go before her 60th birthday.

Prep School

She’s worked out a solid routine of three healthy meals a day without any mid-meal snacks. Obviously the early weeks were the most daunting, laying down the foundation for what has become her success story 8 months later.

Managing the daily challenges of real life setup some more obstacles in her path: managing the social obligations and even day to day cravings. She worked out some new strategies along the way to making better life habits and healthy choices.

Congratulations!

Share your weight loss success story with us like Nancy did.

Images (c) 2018, Cite: Nancy Marland

Labels: diet, diet tips, dieting, drinks, health, healthy foods, healthy habits, middle age, motivation, portion control, weight loss, women

Food labels often don't tell the full story. Viewing the ingredient list can often give you more details than the numerical summaries indicate.

Many foods are marketing as having less sugar than they do by using other names for the sugars that are added. Dozens of terms including fruit juice concentrate, beet sugar, [barley] malt syrup, evaporated cane juice, corn sweeter (and many other corn syrups including the nefarious HFCS) are just some of the more innocent sounding names of added sugars.

Despite attempts back in 2016 to have FDA mandated labeling for added sugar, efforts have stalled:

“Currently, the official Nutrition Facts Label does not require disclosure of the amount of "added sugar" in a product. "Added sugar" is the amount of sugar in a food or beverage item beyond what naturally occurs in the item.” ^[1]

Ultimately the best plan is to seek and eat least-processed foods and prepare them with ingredients you fully know. Barring that, start to take note of the colorful names in your ingredient labels and start to educate yourself on what items are really in your foods and if they are counter-productive to your goal to lessen sugars in your diet.

As always, you can discuss your food concerns with Dr. Aron during any of your visits. She can help you make healthy food choices for your weight loss dieting needs.

Labels: calories, carbs, diabetes, diet, snacks, sugar

Fact not Fad

There is no shortage of diet names to confuse us all. We want to be healthy and want to go beyond just a gimmick or trend. Dr Aron surely knows fact from fad, she prescribes diets to all her patients. So here are some simple facts about what makes a diet healthy, and why it should matter to you.

“Diet is the single most significant risk factor for disability and premature death.” — American Family Physician

Well … That seems like a pretty good reason to care about your diet.

Diet Characteristics

Across the board evaluation of clinically viable food plans favor higher percentage of vegetables, limiting sugars, and replacing processed grains with whole grain sources. Important to note is that juices are not considered a proper replacement for real fruits and vegetables due to their higher glycemic index and loss of healthy fiber in processing. Likewise, potatoes fall into the carb camp not as veggies.

Making the proper substitutions can be challenging yet the clinical outcomes are meaningful in that your diet can push back on risk factors for cardio-vascular diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, and of course, diabetes.

What to do next

Fundamentally, maintaining proper nutrition is key, via proper balanced diet and appropriate food choices. Dr Aron can advise you of any items you are not sure if suitable for your weight loss progress as well as for your life.

Visit her medical practice at WeightLossNYC.com to learn more.

Labels: diet, healthy foods, healthy habits, heart health, high blood pressure, hypertension, lose weight, nutrition facts, obesity

Energy and Hunger Management

Our bodies are made of complex systems that constantly control and self-regulate countless aspects including temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and hunger…

Ghrelin: from the acronym GHR (“growth hormone-releasing peptide”) +‎ -lin (common hormone suffix), with an incidental pun on prefix greh- (“to grow”) and English growling.[1]

The Hunger Game

As we have blogged before, ghrelin is a powerful protein that our bodies use to signal hunger to the brain, a naturally produced hormone which we can indirectly affect by application of some good habits.

• The One Easiest Weight Loss Tip Ever
• How Fatty Foods Drive Hunger
• Sweet Dreams of Weight Loss Come True

Medical weight loss addresses the hunger factor to help you reduce cravings and shed weight naturally by the body’s natural pathways. The benefits of losing weight may be obvious, yet worth considering some of the less familiar aspects as well.

• The Difference Losing 20 Pounds Makes
• Can Your Daily Schedule Cause Obesity?
• Lose Weight for your Wedding Day
• Health Benefits of Losing Weight

Manage Your Weight, Improve Your Health

You can discover how easy it can be to lose weight with physician supervision. Dr Aron is a bariatric physician — medical specialist in the field of weight loss.

Contact her office to schedule an appointment or visit online at WeightLossNYC.com

[1] Sources/Image: Wikimedia, Wikipedia; Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Blog

Labels: 718-491-5525, appetite, diet, hormone, hunger, lose weight, medical, overweight, self-control

Downsize Your Diet

Downsize Your Clothes

Every moment we have a choice: to have the results we want in life, or instead to have the excuses why we don’t. What are your personal motivators? Improve your health? Feel more fit? Regain your figure? Work with medical weight loss Dr Aron to bring the future you want, closer to you today.

Lose Weight at Your Own Pace

Vegetarian patient review:

“I have lost more than 30 lbs by going to the WeightlossNYC.

When I first went to the Center, during my first appointment my weight and measurements were taken, I was given a blood test and a complete assessment consultation.

During the months that I have been going, I’ve had my ups and downs with my weight loss journey due to my trying to balance a stressful life. However, I have never felt judged or been reprimanded by Dr. Aron. I’ve complained enough to her how stressful my life is, due my job.

She’s always found time to listen and give me helpful tips. I have been losing gradually, at my own pace. She has not made me feel like I need to lose the weight very fast. She and her staff are very nice. There have been times when I stop going for a few weeks because of a lack of time, they’ve always welcomed me back.

Another thing I like about Dr. Aron is the fact that she’s open about your personal choice regarding your weight loss. When I first started with her, she had recommend that I reduce my calorie intake to what I thought was too low for me. I didn’t think I could handle the level, as I am a vegetarian, she worked with me to find come up with a more suitable level of daily calorie intake that I could deal with. She is supportive of her patients and open to suggestions from them.

She’s a great person. I whole-heartedly recommend the Center.”

— Dominique, Brooklyn, New York : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars

Start Today

Call Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center at 718-491-5525 or visit WeightLossNYC.com to start losing weight.

Labels: diet, lose weight, patient review, vegetarian, women

Weight Loss Tips for Dining Out

Nationwide statistics show Americans dining out for almost 1/3 of their meals, with almost 1/2 of their food budget spent at these establishments.[1]

Given our tendency to dine out, it is worthwhile to consider ways you can manage and maintain your weight loss dieting program on the go. Some simple guidelines follow, as well as some links to some of our more popular posts past:

• Dr Aron’s Simple Diet Tips
• Slim Down with Soup
• 7 Easy Eating Tips to Slim Down
• Gain More Self Control, Not Weight
• 5 Unusual Weight Loss Tips
• Your Social Circle Can Make or Break Your Eating Habits
• Fast Weight Loss the Low Fat Way

Simple Tips for Planning Ahead

• Avoid unlimited buffets and junk food franchises. Salad bars are good if you choose the healthy staple items not the dangerous ones.
• Cater to places with extended menus to help you find healthy choices you will like. Favor seafood and salad places for healthier fare. Soups can be good, but know what you are choosing. Ask.
• Best to plan ahead to dine out instead of splurging on surprise outings. Consider reviewing online menu before going so you will know what you will have.
• Focus on eating for nutrition, not as a social activity. Make reservations to manage your cravings and limit the temptations to drink and snack while waiting. You can even have some small healthy crudite before leaving home to settle your stomach.
• Stay away from large portions and fried food places. Know what is reasonable for you to eat and enjoy with your diet.
• Consider sharing entrees with friends to manage your portions. Don’s be shy about tossing aside bread and extra carbs. Send away any extra munchies the waiter puts on your table. Only eat what you intend to eat.
• As always, start to drink water as soon as you arrive and while waiting for meal.
• Ask your server about options — extra salad instead of a heavier side dish. Bring your own dressing if you want to be sure of low calories. Add veggies to your entree to fill you up and slow you down.

Power Tips — Know your Menu Vocabulary

• Bad: Buttery, Breaded, Buttered, Fried, Pan-Fried, Creamed, Scalloped, Au Gratin.
• Better: Grilled, Baked, Steamed, Broiled, Poached, Stir-Fried, Roasted, Blackened.
• Avoid: Cream sauces, made with milk, mayonnaise, cheese or oil.
• Look for tomato based sauces instead. Order all sauces on the side and use sparingly.

Follow Your Diet Plan

As always, follow the diet guidelines presented to you by Dr. Aron. She will have told you your calorie limits and suggested foods for you to enjoy and avoid. Fill up on water, salad and vegetables first. Focus on your friends more than the food. Slow down and pace yourself so you can enjoy your meal and not be left hungry and crave more. Your body also needs time to recognize the food in your system to trigger satisfaction. It is also more than OK to leave the table a little hungry. You never need to stuff yourself, be gentle to your body.

Looking for More Motivation to Lose Weight?

Align with Dr. Aron at WeightLossNYC™ and start losing weight today. Call 718-491-5525 or visit WeightLossNYC.com

Labels: 718-491-5525, bronx, brooklyn, cravings, diet, diet plan, diet tips, dieting, drinks, emotional eating, fast food, healthy foods, healthy habits, hunger, lose weight, ny, patient tools

Is your favorite food making you sick?

A new study in the journal Nature suggests that emulsifiers—commonly used ingredients in many favorite processed foods—may be interfering with bacteria in our digestive tracts and causing increases in metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity.

Ingredients such as lecithin, carrageenan, polysorbate80, polyglycerols and xanthan and other “gums” improve the texture and shelf-life of many supermarket foods and keep ingredients such as oils and fats from separating. They are found in many ice creams, baked goods, salad dressings, veggie burgers, non-dairy milks and hamburger patties.

In the study, when fed emulsifiers, the mice who had normal immune systems developed mild intestinal inflammation and a metabolic disorder that led them to eat more. They became obese, hyperglycemic and insulin resistant. The mice with abnormal immune systems developed chronic colitis.

Several commonly used ingredients in many popular processed foods could be interfering with bacteria in our digestive tracts yielding increases in obesity, metabolic syndrome, IBS and more. Dr Aron can help you address many of these health concerns.

Food additives could be inducing inflammation

Emulsifiers seem to change the gut microbiota (or environment) and how bacteria interact with the intestine. This paves the way for inflammation. While emulsifiers may not be the sole cause of the rise in obesity, they could very well be a factor.

Many emulsifiers and food additives are considered safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA has not determined safe levels of consumption, particularly because people consume emulsifiers in so many different foods.

Additional studies on humans are needed to better understand how emulsifiers impact humans.

Are you needing to lose weight?

Oksana Aron, M.D. is a bariatric physician and internist, specializing in medical treatment of overweight and obese persons:

“Through our comprehensive program, many individuals have lost well in excess of 20% of their initial body weight using a combination of appetite suppressants and a low calorie diet, while eating just regular grocery store foods.”

You can visit Dr. Aron’s website at WeightLossNYC.com

Citations

• Sima Michaels Dembo, MPH, is a health care consultant and writer. She is a guest contributor to this blog.
• Chassaing, Benoit, et. al., “Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome,” Nature, 519, 92-96, Published online 2/25/15. Accessed 3/5/15.
• Grossman, Elizabeth., “How Emulsifiers Are Messing with Our Guts (and Making Us Fat),” Civil Eats, February 25, 2015. Accessed 3/5/15.

Labels: 718-491-5525, bronx, brooklyn, diabetes, diet, fda, health, metabolic syndrome, ny, obese

How to Control Your Portions and Your Weight

Portion control can slip up almost anyone no matter how hard you try. How do you know if you're eating the right amount of food? You can measure everything out, teaspoon by teaspoon… or you can try this simple guide.

Portion Sizes Made Simple

Looking for a quick, easy way to know you’re eating enough but not too much? Look no further than your own hand! Every time you prepare a meal or sit down to eat outside of the home, you can follow these guides to gauge how much you should be eating by simply looking at your hands. Here’s how to measure your portions with ease.

• Meat

  A serving of meat should be 3 or 4 oz., but what does that look like? It’s about the size or your palm.

• Pasta

  This carb-packed food should be no more than a 1/2-cup serving--or the size of your clenched fist.

• Peanut butter

  A quick snack, you need no more than a tablespoon of peanut butter. The distance of your knuckle to the tip of your thumb is just the right amount.

• Butter

  Go easy on the butter, but what does that mean? Try 1 teaspoon max on your toast or about the size of the tip of your index finger.

• Ice cream

  Ice cream can easily pack on the fat and calories, so avoid. A couple spoonfuls to taste; One cup is about the size of your closed fist.

Be in control of your weight

Controlling the number on the scale starts with controlling how much and what you eat. The serving size listed on food packaging isn’t always how much you should eat. But with these guidelines, you can easily keep yourself—and your weight—in check.

Power Tip

Need advice on what’s really going to help you lose the weight? A consultation with a doctor who specializes in medical weight loss is the first step to safely losing up 10 to 20 pounds a month. Call 718-491-5525 to set your first appointment with Bariatric Physician, Dr. Aron of WeightLossNYC™

Labels: appetite, diet, dieting, lose weight, manhattan, new york, portion control, weight loss

Topics: Weight Loss, Nutrition, Health

Organic milk: Does it help you lose weight?

Organic or non-organic? Whether we’re talking about fruits, veggies, meats or dairy, opinions abound.

While some claim it doesn't make a difference, a recent study published in PLoS One proves that organic milk is healthier for you than conventional milk. Here’s why:

It’s all about the fatty acids

Cows producing organic milk are fed grass with high omega-3 fatty acids, while cows used for conventional milk are fed corn, which have higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids.

• Organic milk has a healthier balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids in all types of milk but nonfat milk, which can aid weight loss or help maintain your weight.
• In the samples taken in the study, the total amount of fat in the organic milk was the same as the conventional milk. But when comparing the types of fatty acids, organic milk had 62 percent more omega-3s and 25 percent fewer omega-6s.
• Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential to a healthy diet. Omega-3s can be found in fish and flaxseed, while omega-6s can be found in many fried foods. The right balance of both is key. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids offer health benefits, but when it comes to milk, organic milk may be your healthiest option.

Struggling with your weight?

Weight loss expert Dr. Aron will personalize a healthy weight loss plan just for you so you can lose weight fast. Call 718-491-5525 for your initial consultation, or visit WeightLossNYC.com for more information.

Labels: 718-491-5525, diet, healthy foods, ny, nyc, omega 3 fatty acid, weight loss

Dr. Oksana Aron recommends taking a fresh look at the foods you eat every day is an important healthy start. Keep switching out some of the unhealthy items in your diet with healthier ingredients, you will feel and see the difference in your diet.

There are No Secrets, Just Healthy Facts

Media love to hype up celebrity diets, but you don’t need an endorsement to read up on healthier food options for your diet.

Healthy Dieting Program

Healthier foods, healthier you

On the quest for foods that help you lose weight? Or are you in a meal planning rut? Look no further than the following healthy foods to incorporate in your next meal to mix it up and drop some pounds. The only celebrity here is you, making famous food choices to build a healthier you.

1. Black Beans

   An excellent non-meat source of protein, 1 cup of black beans give you 15 grams of protein to keep you full and satisfied

2. Green Tea

   It boosts your metabolism and may even prevent fat absorption

3. Cucumbers

   Cucumbers help you feel full and satisfied, but are low in calories

4. Olive Oil

   Its healthy monounsaturated fats lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol

5. Bran Cereal

   A high-fiber alternative to other breakfast cereals, it can help you cut calories and stay fuller

6. Pears

   With 5 grams of fiber, they're as filling as they are delicious. They also contain pectin, which helps lower bad cholesterol.

7. Dark Chocolate

   Its antioxidants may help boost your metabolism

8. Wild Salmon

   Salmon can keep you feeling full and satisfied with its high levels of omega-3s

9. Eggs

   Eating eggs for breakfast can lower your daily caloric intake by 400 calories.

10. Low-Fat Mozzarella String Cheese

    With no carbs and lean protein, it helps you feel full.

11. All-Natural Peanut Butter

    Its piceatannol content helps block the formation of fat cells.

Lose Weight Fast Diet Plan

You can lose weight quickly by calling us at 718-491-5525 for your initial consultation. By taking a holistic approach to your unique needs, Dr. Aron will help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

“Today’s diet is tomorrow’s body” — Oksana Aron, M.D.

Medical weight loss is the only clinical solution recommended by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

Visit Dr Aron at WeightLossNYC.com

Cite: rd.com; besthealthmag.ca; everydayhealth.com

Labels: brooklyn, calories, carbohydrates, carbs, cholesterol, diet, lose weight, metabolism, new york, nutrition facts, protein, weight loss

Swap This, Lose That

Looking for an easy trick to cut calories? Substitute some of your favorite foods with something just as delicious (or even more so) that’s less fattening. You’ll find yourself satisfied—and slimmer—in no time. These are a just few examples, but don't stop there. Always be on the lookout for other ways to swap something not-so-healthy for something that’s great for you.

Bye-bye, Orange Juice ~ Hello, Real Oranges

• Eating an actual orange has 3 more grams of fiber and half the sugar of a cup of orange juice.

Adios, flour tortilla ~ Hola, corn tortilla

• Swapping a 10-inch flour tortilla for a 6-inch corn tortilla can save a lot on calories and sodium.

Say No to the Sandwich ~ Say Yes to a Wrap

• To cut calories, try a 100-calorie multigrain wrap instead of a sandwich with 2 slices of bread.

Ditch the Cinnamon Roll ~ Go for Raisin Bread instead

• A better alternative for a sweet snack, try some raisin bread with low-fat cream cheese.

Skip Mixed Nuts ~ Opt for Trail Mix

• Too large a serving of nuts can be fattening, but if you choose trail mix with the right heart-healthy ingredients, you can shave off some calories and fat.

Lose Weight Every Week

Small changes like these can help you lose weight, one pound at a time. Want to make a big change and lose even more? Please give Dr Aron Medical Weight Loss Center a call at 718-491-5525 for your first appointment.

Cite: CookingLight.com

Labels: appetite, bronx, diet, diet tips, easy weight loss, lose weight, new york