Rio Grande Imports Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in Semita de Pi�a

November 2011 - Rio Grande Imports Inc. of Copiague NY is recalling 50 cases of Semita de Piña because it may contain undeclared dairy. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to dairy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Semita de Piña was distributed to the lower Hudson Valley Region, New York City boroughs and Long Island in New York State. Semita de Piña is package in a poly plastic boat with clear plastic overwrap. Product is pineapple filled pastry with the brand name of El Triunfo with a code of 11-22-11.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The problem was discovered as a result of routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by the Department’s Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of the allergen in product packages which did not declare the allergen on the label.

Consumers who have purchased El Triunfo Semita de Piña are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 631 842 4410.

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Caribbean Rum Balls Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Allergens In "Rum Balls"

November 2011 -Caribbean Rum Balls of St. Thomas, VI, is issuing this alert due to undeclared allergens, specifically: wheat, coconut, milk, eggs and sodium bisulfite (preservative). People who have allergies to any of these ingredients run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

The “Rum Balls" were distributed locally in retail stores and through mail orders. The product comes in 4, 8 and 12 ounce, white packages with the Caribbean Rum Balls name and logo. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The alert was initiated after it was discovered that the allergen-containing products were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of allergens. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

All products are being re-labeled with new ingredient listings, including sub-ingredients and citing allergens.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-340-775-6616.

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Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. Announces Nationwide Milk Allergy Alert and Recall on GFS� Sugar Caniste

November 2011 - Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. of Savannah, Ga., ISSUES ALLERGEN ALERT FOR UNDECLARED MILK in 12-ounce GFS® sugar canisters that were inadvertently filled with non-dairy coffee creamer. These items were shipped in 24-can cases labeled GFS® non-dairy coffee creamer.

Non-dairy coffee creamer contains sodium caseinate, which is a milk derivative. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The items include:

CASE LABEL: GFS® NON-DAIRY COFFEE CREAMER-24/12 ounce - Lot G293 B
Located on the side of the case.

CANISTER LABEL: GFS® SUGAR – Lot G293 B
Located on the bottom of the canister.

The recall was initiated after receiving a customer inquiry.

Customers who received product affected by this recall will be contacted directly by a Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. customer service representative. Implicated product is to be quarantined for final disposition by Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. Customers with questions or concerns about the recall may contact Diamond Crystal Brands Inc. at 800-654-5115 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

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The Biggest Gathering of Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

Alisa Fleming ~ Thanksgiving can be a tricky time of year for dairy-free living: potatoes mashed with milk, creamy beans, buttermilk biscuits, and of course, butter added to just about everything on the table. Fortunately, there are many, many wonderful dairy-free recipes available for Thanksgiving ... and I've gathered a huge selection of them for you right here. These recipes are from here on Go Dairy Free and from around the blogosphere (thanks to all of the talented contributors!).

Each year, this enormous list continues to grow as more recipes are posted. In keeping with demands, you will find a ton of recipes below that are not only dairy-free, but also vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, and even nut-free. Poke around and see which ones fit your dietary needs and cravings.

The BIG list below (now at roughly 200 recipes and growing for milk-free mavens) includes a plethora of sides and main dishes, appropriate to serve to all guests, special diet or not. However, the list of pie recipes has grown so extensively that it now requires a Dairy-Free Pie Recipe Round-Up of its own.

If you prefer to modify some family favorites of your own, see Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. Within you will find all of the staples you need, including easy recipes for a spot-on condensed creme of mushroom soup (low fat to boot!), sweetened condensed coconut milk (amazing taste and texture), 5-minute "buttermilk," homemade chocolate chunks, and two simple and nutritious sour creams. Go Dairy Free also contains some of the recipes that appear on my Thanksgiving table, including the Tender Squash Dinner Rolls, Traditional Green Bean Casserole, and the Cheese-Free Scalloped Potatoes. For last minute emergencies, Go Dairy Free is also available as an e-book in PDF format and for your Kindle, iPad, or e-Reader.

For more holiday recipes and ideas, visit our Holidays and Entertaining Section.

Article by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.

View the original article here

The Huge Dairy-Free Holiday Pie Recipe Round-Up (for Thanksgiving and Beyond)

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Alisa Fleming ~ Who says that just because you follow a special diet, you can't have your pie and eat it too? Every year, I update this listing with even more incredible recipes. It includes delicious holiday pie recipes to suit a variety of free-from needs. Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, raw, or just dairy-free, we have a pie recipe or three for you to bake, and for your entire family to enjoy ...

Quick Notes: Of course, all of the following pie recipes are dairy-free (lactose-free, casein-free, whey-free, milk-free, etc.). Plus, the recipes are gluten-free as noted, as long as you use a gluten-free pie crust. See the crust recipes near the end of this article for some great options. Also, for recipes labeled as soy-free or optionally soy-free, where margarine is called for, use Earth Balance Soy-Free Natural Buttery Spread for a good dairy-free and soy-free margarine option that bakes up beautifully.

Now, on to the recipes ...

Alisa's Perfect Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie (also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free) - Note that this is my personal pumpkin pie recipe (pictured above) and the one that I use every year. It has been tested in hundreds of households and everyone loves it! Most people seem to like it even better than Libby's, so don't be afraid to serve this pumpkin pie to all of your guests!

Milk-Free Pumpkin Pie (also gluten-free and nut-free)

Mini Raw Pumpkin Chocolate Pie Tarts (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Impossible Vegan Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Crustless Pumpkin Streusel Pie (also gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Foods Alive Raw Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Maple Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Bryanna’s Vegan Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Crustless Pumpkin Pie with Chocolate Drizzle (also gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and optionally soy-free)

15 Minute Vegan Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, and nut-free)

Wholesome Pumpkin pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

So Delicious Holiday Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Raw Pumpkin-Agave Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie (also gluten-free and nut-free)

Almost Karina's Vegan Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Almost Paula Deen's Pumpkin Pie (also gluten-free and nut-free)

Swirled Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie (also gluten-free)

Festive Raw Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Allergen-Free Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Pumpkin Tartlets (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Gingerbread Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Irresistable Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Simplest Maple Pumpkin Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free)

Maple Pecan Pumpkin Pie  (also vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free)

Ricki's Chocolate Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Chocolate Pecan Pie (also optionally soy-free)

Sweet Sue’s Pecan Pie (also gluten-free and soy-free)

Foolproof Vegan Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and optionally soy-free)

Milennium Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free)

Healthy Raw Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Sugar-Free Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free)

Eggless Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Raw Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Raw Almond-Pecan Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Simple Dutch Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, and optionally soy-free)

Food Allergy Mama's Apple Crumb Pie (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Crumbly Maple Apple Crisp (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Cinnamon Apple Crisp (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Naturally Sweetened Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Raw Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Quick and Raw Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free)

Vegan Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

GFCF Apple Pie (also gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Apple Cranberry Crumble Pie (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Brandi's Favorite Caramel Apple Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Easy Tofu Sweet Potato Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Springfield Classic Sweet Potato Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

GFCF Sweet Potato Pie (also gluten-free, optionally nut-free, and optionally soy-free)

Dad’s Sweet Potato Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Simple Sweet Potato Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

Karina's Sweet Potato Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Cranberry Mousse Pie (also egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Chocolate Silk Pie (also gluten-free and soy-free)

Butternut Squash Pie (also nut-free and optionally soy-free)

Blueberry Pie w/ Lemon Thyme (also vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free)

Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Sour Cream Raisin Pie (also vegan and egg-free)

Grain-Free Squash Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Holiday Cranberry Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Butterscotch Mousse Pie (also vegan and egg-free)

AB's Chocolate Silk Pie (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free)

See Mission: Impossible Pies for an assortment of easy, crustless vegan (dairy-free, egg-free) holiday pie recipes.

See Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for more of my favorite holiday pies, including a delicious Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Oatmeal Pie Crust (also egg-free, vegan, sugar-free, soy-free and optionally gluten-free)

Carol's Perfect Gluten-Free Pie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and optionally soy-free)

Fat-Free Oatmeal Cookie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and optionally gluten-free)

Chocolate Almond Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free)

Fat-Free Grape Nuts Crust  (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Flaky Whole Wheat Pie Crust  (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Easy Pie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free)

Gluten-Free Pie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and optionally soy-free)

3 Ingredient Pie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and sugar-free)

Oreo Cookie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, optionally soy-free, and optionally gluten-free)

Graham Cracker Crust (also egg-free, nut-free, optionally vegan, optionally soy-free, and optionally gluten-free)

Brown Rice Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Whole Foods Pie Crust (also vegan, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Nut-Free Coconut Crust (also vegan, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, and sugar-free)

Pie Crust Tips (for gluten-free and dairy-free too)

Oh yes, and do not forget the topping!  You can get a wonderful array of dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free frozen desserts at most major grocers these days. I highly recommend any Turtle Mountain brand (So Delicious, Purely Decadent, etc.; they have options that are both soy-based and coconut-based), but you might also enjoy some of the other vegan and soy-free ice cream options on the market, including Organic Rice Divine, Rice Dream, or Coconut Bliss. Again, these are available at most natural food stores and in the natural food section (a little freezer) of your local mega-grocer. For a more exhaustive list of creamy topping options, get a No Dairy Product List.

Dairy-free whipped topping is a difficult one to find in stores, but it does exist! Plus, it is surprisingly easy to make your own vegan whipped "cream" (or should I say crème?) at home. For full details on both store-bought and homemade options, see my detailed post on How to Find or Make Dairy-Free and Vegan Whipped Cream.

Now, did I miss anything? Do you have a dairy-free holiday pie recipe to share? Contact us.

Article and photo above by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.

View the original article here

Lulu�s Raw Vegan Dark and Milky Maca Chocolate Bars

Alisa Fleming ~ Lulu’s Lovepack is an amazing chocolate tasting experience. It contains each of Lulu’s perfectly sized 1oz chocolate bars, from the darkest Raw Love to the milkiest Maca Love. There wasn’t a single bar that I ate straight through. Instead, I enjoyed nibbles of each bar daily, one after the other.

Raw chocolate tends to be less refined in taste and texture than most of the chocolate bars you will find at the stores (because it is!), but that equates to so many more flavor nuances. The attractiveness and appeal of Lulu's Chocolates (organic, fair trade, and made with high quality ingredients), coupled with the unique varieties, makes it an ultimate gift for pure chocolate fans. Even as a chocolate amateur, I had fun jotting down my own “tasting” notes on each of the six raw, vegan chocolate bars from Lulu’s Chocolate …

Raw Love w/ pure vanilla bean (78%) – This was the most “familiar” tasting chocolate bar from Lulu’s. I would describe it as pure, slightly earthy, and the closest to a simplistic raw dark chocolate. I simply loved it. Raw Love was one of my favorites in this collection; an ideal pick for true dark chocolate fans.

Sedona Spice with saigon cinnamon & southwest heat (75%) – Sedona Spice is truly dark, but not bitter. Rather, it is what I would describe as a full-bodied chocolate, not unlike a good roasted coffee. Thanks to the cinnamon, this chocolate has a pleasant spice that warms until the mild heat of the chili and white pepper takes over. For some reason, I also detected licorice notes in the background of his chocolate bar, yet there wasn’t a bit of anise in the ingredients. Go figure.

Aztec Crunch with raw cacao nibs (75%) – The Aztec bar tasted very deep in flavor, but had slight caramel notes that were wonderfully comforting. It was spiked with a generous amount of crunchy coffee-like bits (otherwise known as cacao beans!). I love the way that Lulu’s adds crushed beans and nuts to their bars. The top is smooth, and dons the Lulu’s imprint, but flip the bars over, and they are spiked with tasty additions.

Smoked Sea Salt Almond with organic sprouted almonds (70%) – This was my hands-down favorite. The alluring and unique flavor of this chocolate bar was simply AMAZING. The smoked sea salt adds depth to the flavor yet blends perfectly rather than standing out as salt on sweet. Again, flip the bar over and it is littered with almond chunks. Unreal flavor, I couldn’t get enough of this one. I would love it with or without the almonds.

Chocolate Maca Chunk (62%) – Lulu’s uses maca powder, rather than milk powder to create their version of raw “milk” chocolate bars. Each of the Chocolate Maca Chunk bars contains 5,600mg of maca, and boy is it intense! Somewhat like a caramel coffee liqueur, the maca is a bit strong for me, but I loved the bites that combined the milky maca with the big dark chocolate chunks in this bar. A bar with a layer of milky maca and a full layer of dark chocolate would be sheer bliss in my opinion. Nonetheless, I could see latte lovers going gaga over the unique taste of this bar.

Maca Love (50%) – This is by far the smoothest and milkiest bar in the Lulu’s chocolate line-up. It is very rich with a liqueur-like flavor. The maca flavor takes center stage and combines with the coconut sugar for a deep caramel taste. Each bar has 7,500mg of maca … a little much maca for my taste buds, but again, perfect for coffee fans who like a rich cream and caramel flavor with their bean.

Dietary Notes: All of Lulu's Chocolate bars are Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Peanut-Free, Soy-Free, Wheat-Free, and Refined Sugar-Free (sweetened with coconut sugar). For more information, and to purchase Lulu’s Raw Vegan Chocolate, visit their website at www.luluschocolate.com.

This is a third party review by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.

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Aunt Bonnie�s Egg-Free and Dairy-Free Pecan Pie

A special holiday recipe from the kitchens at Wholly Wholesome ~ There’s no question that pie is a staple in American homes during the holidays. Pie has that inevitable quality to bring together a family after a hard-earned holiday meal to enjoy some good old family tradition. The conversations that surround a fresh-baked pie include; “how’s school going,” along with “I can’t believe how big you’ve gotten.” A homemade conversation for a down home family that brings family closer every holiday is the cornerstone for every bite of pie.

Few Americans realize the history that goes into the pies they enjoy today. Originally called a “coffin” (meaning “basket” or “box”), the pie was the beginning of every holiday meal. For hundreds of years, tracing back to our great ancestors, every meal was baked into a crusty shell and served warm with meat filling the interior. Then, pies were considered a necessity.  Today, however, pies are considered a culinary delight. Our beloved pie is so special that it is now saved for family gatherings and a sweet treat after meals.

“Pies have been a central part of our family celebrations for generations,” said Doon Wintz, President, Wholly Wholesome. “My sister, Bonnie, and I have a friendly competition at holiday meals. She makes her famous pecan pies and I make pumpkin or ice cream pies. The winner is the one whose pies are gone. Having a large and supportive family (we usually seat 40+), it always comes out a tie—no pie left. It’s a real treat to pass along our family’s tradition through wholesome, natural and organic baked-goods. We understand the importance of family and how food brings them together in a really special way.”

Pies have a serendipitous appeal for every taste bud, from Apple Pie to Pumpkin Pie – from Blueberry to Cherry, and serendipitous tastes call for serendipitous recipes, including the one here for Bonnie’s Pecan Pie. Everyone has the ability to enjoy this recipe from Wholly Wholesome including pie lovers and special dieters. Whether you’re Vegan, Kosher or just interested in Organic and Natural foods, you can find a pie that suits you at www.whollywholesome.com or www.facebook.com/whollywholesome. In the meantime, consider baking this delicious Vegan Pecan Pie for your family this holiday season.

1/2 cup unbleached cane sugar1 cup corn syrup4 tablespoons vegan vegetable margarine3/4 cup applesauce1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1 pinch sea salt1 9” Wholly Wholesome pie shell2 cups broken pecans (broken into small pieces)60 whole pecan halves (for top of pie)Combine unbleached cane sugar and corn syrup in a fry pan over a medium heat for 5 minutesMelt vegetable margarine into mixtureSet aside to cool (if you’re in a rush, put the pan on a bed of ice in the sink)Preheat oven to 400ºF.Once cooled, add applesauce, sea salt and vanillaFill pie shell with broken pecansPour syrup mixture over pecans until it’s just below the rimArrange pecan halves on top starting with the largest pecans around the outside in a circle and using progressively smaller pecan halves as you circles move towards the center. Be sure to save some nice small ones for the centerPlace on a piece of foil on top of a cookie sheet and place in the ovenReduce oven to 350 deg F. and bake for 50 minutes or until pecans are nicely toasted, but not burntPreparation time: 30 minute(s) Cooking time: 50 minute(s)

Diet type: Vegan, Dairy free, Egg free, Peanut free

Number of servings (yield): 8

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What's Available in the Eggnog Aisle for Dairy-Free and Vegan Diets

Alisa Fleming ~ Did you know that there are almost more brands of Dairy-Free and Vegan Eggnog on the market than dairy-filled ones? How cool is that? In stores like Whole Foods, non-dairy nog actually dominates the shelves, but have no fear, you can find many of these delights at “regular” grocery stores, too. The shelf-stable ones (which I will note) can even be purchased online.

Unfortunately for eggnog traditionalists and lactose intolerant dairy-free consumers who are not vegan, the market currently lacks eggnogs that are simply dairy-free (I haven't found any as of yet, anyway). In other words, all of the dairy-free “egg” nogs are also egg-free and vegan. This doesn’t make them any less delicious, but it does put them an extra degree of separation away from the traditional.

The creamy dairy-free holiday beverages don’t stop [not-so-traditional] eggnog either. I’ve included some other seasonal sips below that you might enjoy, too. That all said, here are some nog-a-licious dairy-free AND vegan options ...

Silk Nog by Silk Soymilk (refrigerated) – The brand that started the vegan nog tradition.

Holly Nog by Vitasoy (shelf-stable) – They don’t heavily promote it on their website like the others, but trust me, it’s out there in stores!

Earth Balance Organic Soy Nog (refrigerated) – Earth Balance upped the nog ante in 2011 with an organic soy-based version.

Nog Coconut Milk by So Delicious (refrigerated) – Yes, dairy-free, soy-free coconut-based nog does exist!

Rice Nog by Rice Dream (shelf-stable) – Another tasty soy-free (and nut-free) option. They don't list it on their website (at last check), but it is sold in many stores and online.

To note, I have trialed two of the above brands, both very different from one another. You can see my review here: Comparison of Rice Nog and Silk Nog.

Peppermint Chocolate Non-Dairy Beverage by Vitasoy (shelf-stable)

Pumpkin Spice Non-Dairy Beverages by Silk Soymilk (refrigerated) – Pictured above with the their soy nog.

Mint Chocolate Non-Dairy Beverages by Silk Soymilk (refrigerated) – Pictured above with their soy nog.

Mint Chocolate Coconut Milk by So Delicious (refrigerated) - Pictured below.

Did I miss any? Feel free to send me an email!

Article, recipe, and photos by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.

View the original article here

Happy Thanksgiving from Go Dairy Free!

Have a wonderful day with friends and family!

Come back to Go Dairy Free tomorrow, as we will have a big round-up of scrumptious recipes for using up those Thanksgiving Leftovers!

If you need last minute Thanksgiving guidance, see The Biggest Gathering of Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes, The Huge Dairy-Free Holiday Pie Recipe Round-Up, The Go Dairy Free Celebrations Section, and for dairy substitute recipes and my personal Thanksgiving day recipes, you can instantly get Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook via ebook (also available for Kindle, iPad, the Nook, and other e-readers).

View the original article here

Over 50 of the Best Dairy-Free Recipes for using Thanksgiving Leftovers

Alisa Fleming ~ You didn't think I would leave you hanging did you? All of these amazing Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes, and no creative ways to enjoy the leftovers? Not a chance. Waste not, want not is a saying that I truly live by, so below is a list of recipes to help prevent a single morsel of that holiday smorgesbord from heading to the trash.

Below you will find numerous delicious ways to use that leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, cornbread, pumpkin, tofurky ... yes, there are even recipes out there for using up extra faux meat. But, vegans and vegetarians need not feel shy about checking out the leftover turkey recipes too, several will work equally well with tofurky. Just like my Thanksgiving post, these recipes are already dairy-free (that is, no milk-based ingredients (no casein, lactose, whey, etc.)), so there is no need for alterations, unless you are feeling adventurous of course!

And you thought you were done cooking ...

Are you actually stuffing-ed out? Make ...

Stuffing Croutons from Gluten-Free Easily

Did that pumpkin pie call for just 1 cup of pumpkin, but you bought a big 29oz can (or two)? Make ...

Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding from Art and Lemons

Was the 25 lb turkey too big for your family, or was no one else willing to sample the Tofurky? Make ...

Turkey or Tofurky Pot Pie from Gluten-Free Easily

or ...

Turkey Enchilada Casserole, also from Gluten-Free Easily

or

Spicy ‘n Sweet Turkey Pinto Bean Chili from Simply Sugar & Gluten Free

Did the turkey steal the show, leaving that holiday ham barely touches? Make ...

Ham Loaf from The Gluten-Free Homemaker

Did the triple-batch of cranberry sauce equal overkill? Make ...

Cranberry-Sauced Muffins from Alisa Cooks

Did you get a bit rambunctious in the mashed potato arena when those 5lb bags of spuds went on for 99 cents? Make ...

Spiced Shepherd's Pie from Celiacs in the House

And for some double duty recipes, make ...

Vegan Thanksgiving Quiche from Bittersweet

Turkey & Cranberry Sushi from Closet Cooking

or ...

 Almost Martha's Pumpkin Pancakes topped with Cranberry Sauce from Alisa Cooks

Omnivorous:

Baked Turkey Croquettes (pictured below)Mashed Potato Pancakes (vegetarian, but uses eggs)Mushroom Stuffing RollsTurkey & Stuffing Burgers w/ Cranberry SauceThai Turkey Roll-UpMooshu TurkeyBasic Turkey Stock Turkey & Wild Rice CasseroleBacon Wrapped Jambalaya Stuffed ChickenMongolian Turkey & Broccoli Stir FryTurkey Broth, Turkey & Mushroom Pot Pie, Turkey & Black Bean Wraps, Herbed Mashed Potato Soup, and Shredded Turkey PosoleTurkey Pasta SaladAsian Turkey SaladSuperfood Turkey SaladMoraccan Turkey StewAsian Turkey SoupCranberry Chicken MargaritaTurkey Noodle Vegetable SoupTurkey Fried RiceBlack Friday Turkey & Stuffing SandwichMini-Meatballs in Cranberry SauceMini Turkey Pot PiesTurkey Rice Salad, Turkey Salad w/ Orange Vinaigrette, White Turkey Chili, and Turkey Noodle SoupCrockpot Cranberry Barbecue ChickenSausage & Cornbread SaladSalmon Cakes w/ Cornbread & Mashed Potatoes (choose your horseradish wisely)Cornbread MeatloafTurkey, Cranberry, & Stuffing WrapPost-Thanksgiving HoagieEasy Turkey PaninisTurkey & Stuffing Croquettes (use your leftover dairy-free gravy for a sauce)Layered Leftover Thanksgiving CasseroleQuick Thanksgiving Leftovers ChiliTurkey & Stuffin' SoupSavory Pot PieMashed Potato Salmon CroquettesYamberry Muffins (vegetarian, but contains eggs)

Vegetarian/Vegan:

Article by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets. Photos courtesy of the blogger recipes. Click through for the recipes and blogs.

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More Medical Assisted Weight Loss Programs May Be the Key to Controlling Obesity

Obesity is a growing problem in our society. What is even more serious is that obesity can lead to additional medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and cancer. This could put a strain on healthcare if it is not controlled better, especially as we move toward healthcare reform. Will effective medical weight loss programs become more available - even for those who are not morbidly overweight? Chances are quite possible.

People Continue to Try Losing Weight the Wrong Way

Meanwhile, it's not as though people aren't trying to lose weight. Otherwise the latest fad diet wouldn't become so popular so fast. Of course, people who do try these fad diets find that while the diet may work short term, the weight generally comes back - sometimes even extra.

The unhealthy starvation, the basis of most fad diets, not only ruins metabolism, but the post weight gain then affects the person psychologically. This makes it even more difficult to lose weight.

Medical Assisted Weight Loss is Only for Extreme Obesity?

Of course, another way to lose weight is through bariatric surgery. Yet this type of medical weight loss offers many options for an extremely overweight patient (morbidly obese). As it continues to prove success for such patients, however, it appears that newer, even safer procedures, such as gastric banding are emerging.

To explain how the bariatric surgical process is evolving: Gastric banding is a bariatric surgery procedure that is less invasive, is adjustable and reversible, plus it can be performed on an outpatient basis. In addition, gastric banding requires the patient to follow a stringent follow-up process with the support coming from either their surgeon or another weight loss medical professional.

Why Do Doctors and Patients Avoid Talking About Obesity?

So it seems that bariatric surgery is popular enough for such improvements to be made in the area of medical weight loss. Or is it that popular? Recent studies are still finding that patients and doctors are not talking to each other about obesity, as reported in a recent article by Medical News Today.

What's more, these studies have found that following surgery, the feeling from both the bariatric patients and the doctors is that they wish they would have addressed the issue sooner, since bariatric surgery works so successfully. The Obesity Action Coalition couldn't agree more. In fact, they expect healthcare professionals to do more, like discuss other weight loss options besides surgery.

Unfortunately, it is something that is not done. Perhaps it would be if it were covered by insurance. This, of course, may require additional training for healthcare professionals in the area medical assisted weight loss. In the long run, though, it may be worth the training.

Insurance Proposal May Pave the Way for Improvements

Well it may just change to this. For instance, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently proposed to begin allowing obesity as a covered diagnosis, in attempt to lower the obesity rate.

This may mean big changes in the healthcare community and society in general as we head toward healthcare reform. Finally, people will get the help they need to make necessary lifestyle changes to improve their quality of life.

Until then, if you are suffering from weight issues, talk to your healthcare professional. The more people who make these requests, the more medical weight loss offerings may become available sooner.

Please visit our site to learn more about medical weight loss and weight loss programs.

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Obesity: The Triumph of the Sextraverts

Overweight is not simply a matter of what you eat, and how much exercise you take, it's also closely linked with your personality. Some people are extraverts, which means that by nature they're lively souls programmed to spend their days in a constant hunt for excitement and pleasure in their immediate physical and social environment. At the opposite end of the behavioural spectrum are the introverts, who tend to shy away from social contacts and allow themselves to be preoccupied with their own private thoughts. These emotional differences play a major role in weight control. This was revealed in a study carried out at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, which compared the sex lives of matched groups of fat and slim married women. The results showed that 'in terms of erotic readiness and general sexual excitability' the fat women were nearly twice as sensuous as their slim counterparts. 'These women obviously weren't overeating instead of having sex,' the researchers concluded, 'their craving for both food and sex exists almost simultaneously.'

It's good to have a lust for life and be the life and soul of the party. One small snag is that extroversion trends to be linked with substance abuse and addictive behaviour. This means that if you're an outgoing type, you'll probably find it easier to be hooked on food and drink. That drawback can be overcome by taking firm control of your social and physical environment. Make sure that when you look around to find some way of tickling the pleasure centres of your brain you'll see a skipping rope rather than a tempting plate of chocolate biscuits. If you want to stop for a jovial chat with your colleagues at work, make a point of meeting them on the stairs rather than in the lift. And when you select your chums and lifetime partners, do your best to choose subjects who are slim rather than overweight. In that way you'll be more likely to take your evening entertainment in a bowling alley rather than a pizza parlour.

And keep taking the erotic medicine. Sexual intercourse is an energetic occupation, whether it's a vigorous romp in the hay or a few minutes refined coupling in the marital bed. Metabolic studies show that on average it uses up about 200 calories, which makes it as energetic as half an hour's jogging. So don't let your passions die when you settle down in a long term relationship. A poll carried out by researchers at Loughborough University found that married couples were far less likely to take the recommended daily level of physical activity than those living on their own. As a result married couples are twice as likely to be obese as their single counterparts. This fact has been put to practical use by dairy farmers, who have restricted the sexual activity of their heifers by fitting them with 'Wei-Gro' vaginal inserts. The insertion of these plastic chastity belts has led to an an acceleration of up to a quarter in the rate at which they gained weight.

Ursula Andress, the Swiss bombshell whose dramatic emergence from the Caribbean sea in Dr No, wearing only a skimpy white bikini with a sheath knife tied around her waist, was voted number one in the 'World's Sexy Moments'. Some years later, when she was asked how she maintained her sylph like figure, the still svelte star replied 'Loving keeps me slim.' That surely must be a more enjoyable was of keeping slim than pumping iron or running marathons.

© http://www.donaldnorfolk.co.uk 2011

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Proof That We Are Eating Ourselves to Death?

One of the greatest gifts we possess as humans is the power to choose, and we use it recklessly. We choose all kinds of things that are horrible for us. This has never been truer than when it comes to our daily nutrition choices. As Americans we have access to the best foods in the world, but unfortunately we also have access to the worst. This is where we take the turn to reckless. Instead of making healthy decisions, we make all kinds of excuses as to why it is easier and cheaper to just go thru the drive-thru and grab a happy meal. Which should be renamed the unhappy meal for the havoc it wreaks on our bodies, but that is for a different conversation.

Based on obesity rate from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) we are the unhealthiest country in the World!

This is extremely sad to me. When I am in public, sometime I just sit and observe the crowds of people. I have determined based on my purely visual study, that 80 percent of the people I see are overweight. I am not saying by any means that everyone needs to be in excellent shape and be able to run a 4 minute mile. What I am saying is that as a society we are out of control. We are growing at an excessive rate.

We will successful bankrupt on healthcare system by eating ourselves to death!

Here are some statistics to wrap you head around. The following statistics are from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

33.8% (1/3) of adults in the USA are obese (for details on how the CDC defines obese visit their website at http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/defining.html)

17% (12.5 Million) children and adolescents (age 2-19) are obese.

These numbers don't include the millions that are overweight and borderline obese. As a result of these staggering numbers the disease of diabetes is at an all-time high. The American Diabetes Association states that 25.8 million children and adults in the USA have diabetes. They estimate the cost of diabetes on the healthcare system to be $174 Billion Dollars (this dollar amount was based on 2007 statistics). Can you imagine what the 2011/2012 cost will be? $250 Billion? Maybe more?

The sad true is that we can stop this epidemic. We have the power to choose and we MUST start choosing our health over the happy meal.

Jay Nixon B.S., CFNC, SNS, CPT
jay@nixonelite.com

Jay Nixon -Weight Loss Success Coach, Certified Nutrition and Fitness Specialist - devoted to helping you achieve your weight loss goals. If you need to lose weight and have tried and failed with countless efforts, I am your solution. I will guide you through your weight loss journey and give you all the tools you need to maintain your results for the rest of your life. To start your weight loss journey call me at 818-571-5287 or visit http://www.nixonelite.com/ to schedule a consultation.

For FREE tips you can follow me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NixonElite and twitter @nixonelite

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Using Mineral Supplements With a Natural Diet

Professionals of the modern world are, invariably, on the heavier side because of the kind of lifestyle that they lead. In fact, the problem of obesity is one that has been plaguing the majority of developed nations and numerous developing countries as well. The direct cause for this problem being so widespread in the world is simply the fact that people are depending on unnaturally processed foods and gorging on fast foods too much. These foods, while extremely tasty, tend to lack the major and minor nutrients that the body needs to keep itself healthy.

Moreover, even if you switch from these types of foods to a natural and balanced diet to lose weight, you would find yourself lacking some small but equally vital nutrients because processed food items and hybrid fruits and vegetables lack them. The solution to this weight loss problem, of course, is to make sure that your body gets these nutrients with the help of natural supplements.

One type of nutrient that is particularly hard to find in right quantities these days is essential minerals. This means that, if you wish to lose weight, one of your more important targets should be to get a good natural mineral supplement. Here is some information on why your body is going to need minerals from mineral supplements to lose weight and remain healthy.

1. Minerals are a major part of hormone production and management in the human body. This means that the minerals that you will draw from your natural supplements and balanced diet would help you deal with a wide range of hormonal problems. For example, the right type and quantity of minerals can reduce the intensity of the symptoms of menopause in women. This means that the whole menopause period goes by in a much smoother manner. Moreover, as minerals also help a person deal with emotional problems, a woman suffers from minimal mood swings and emotional outbursts.

In addition to this, natural mineral supplements would allow a person to have a healthy thyroid gland, which means that the hormonal balance of the body is maintained consistently.

2. It is a well-known fact that the immune system and the bone structure of obese people are weak. A body cannot remain sturdy for long with this kind of weakness. Therefore, you need to shore up both these systems. Minerals are important components for both these systems because they strengthen the immune system of the body while simultaneously making the bone structure stronger.

3. Finally, natural mineral supplements can also help the digestive system of the body because minerals are known to make the digestive system healthy. This would, in turn, result in the body being more energetic and resistant to fatigue. It is also worth mentioning that natural mineral supplements can help the blood sugar levels of the body through facilitating the digestive and circulatory systems.

While there may be many lab synthesized mineral supplements in the market, it is crucial that you go for natural mineral supplements because your body would recognize bio-available minerals more easily.

Scott C Brunne invites you to enjoy your Ultimate Lose Weight Program for Life, using only these Natural Nutritional Products.

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Obesity In America - How Did We Get Here And What Can Be Done About It?

Oddly enough, several weeks ago, weight loss and health issues were not much of a concern to me. Granted, I was aware that I had put on some extra pounds over the years, but not to the point of being overly concerned. I had been to my family doctor earlier this year, and happily enough, she had told me that I was in "great shape". Needless to say, it left me feeling pretty good about my current physical condition, and rather complacent to trying to improve my health.

That being said, we as Americans are in some of the worse shape of any people on this planet. Statistically, 1 in 3 people in America are obese, that is over 33% of us, and that isn't including those who are just over weight. This is not only an adult issue either, this is affecting our children as well. In the history of our existence, we are the heaviest we have ever been.

You have to ask yourself, "how has this happened"? Seriously, we were once, one of the wealthiest and most powerful countries on this planet. You would think, we would have used this wealth and power to educate and intervene long before this epidemic ever even started.

Why is being over weight such a problem, you ask? Before we go into the internal physical health issues, lets take a look at the basic external issues. First of all, it is very unattractive, for the most part, the heavier one gets, the less attractive they become, and not just to others, but to themselves as well. This can certainly lead to a life of loneliness and isolation, which can have a major effect on mental health. It is all connected, so physical health issues are soon to follow.

Physical health issues are not limited to, but can include, heart disease, pulmonary issues, diabetes, and skin disorders, just to mention a few. These issues are no laughing matter, one or more of them, if not handled properly and more importantly reversed, can lead to untimely and premature deaths. Obviously this will have a huge impact on the individual who is directly going through this, but it also has serious effects on their family and friends.

More often than not, the basic cause for this growing epidemic boils simply enough down to choices. Every day, we all make the choice of what we are going to put into our bodies, via our mouth. Unfortunately, fast food has become the most common choice for a large number of Americans. Not only are you getting far to many calories from this bad decision food, but then you are washing it down with gallons of soda, (sugar, sugar, sugar). As if this isn't bad enough three times a day, then there are multiple sodas consumed though out the day, jet adding more unnecessary calories that you body just can't process and burn off in a fast enough manner.

For those who do not eat "drive in" fast food daily, they are still eating fast food at home, such as "tv dinners" and processed and refined items. The old "heat em up, eat em ups" found in the frozen section of the local grocery store. If you pay attention, some are better than others, but for the most part, you may as well go to the "drive through" because you are basically putting the same junk in your body as you would be getting, had you just gone to the "drive through". The end result is more and more fat building up, and unless something is done to change this cycle, it will more than likely not end until that person is dead.

The bottom line is, if you want to take your health back, get off all of the lousy prescriptions drugs, you need to start treating your body like the temple it should be. The only way to do this is to cut out all the processed and refined foods. Go to an all natural diet, fresh fruits and vegetables are by far the best disease fighters. Nuts and berries are also great food choices in fighting obesity and disease. Getting a little more exercise isn't a bad choice either.

It comes down to choices, and you can choose to stay on the path you are on and continue to be unhappy with your weight and run the risk of serious illness, or you can chose to change it all right now, this very day. I did a food experiment, and at first I really didn't have any particular goal, but as I started to drop pounds, I decided my goal would be to lose 20 pounds. I wanted to do this without exercising, just changing my diet. The reason for not exercising was I wanted to prove it could be done this way, because a large number of Americans are far to lazy to exercise, mostly because they are over weight and it is far to much effort for them. By doing it the way I did it, I'm hoping it will motivate at least one over weight person to at least give it a shot, even if just for a few weeks. If you don't see results, then by all means, go back to your own ways, and let fate play out as it should.

It took me 5 weeks and 4 days to achieve my goal. I eliminated all meat from my diet, cut way back on my dairy products and ate mostly fruits and vegetables, and for the most part ate them raw. I found the best way to eat raw vegetables was by juicing them, so I bought a juicer. I even went to the point of doing a 10 day juice fast in order to detox my body from all the garbage that had built up over the past 40 plus years. Be eliminating meat, refined sugars and processed foods, my grocery bill also went down as my weight was dropping too. In short, I was double dipping on the positive side of things.

Why not give this a try yourself? What do you have to lose, besides a lot of weight, prescriptions drugs and a very negative outlook on your life? All the medicine you need is growing in a garden in someones backyard, why not make that your backyard?

If you have any desire to learn any more about this amazing journey I went on, you can read all about my food experiment, how I got started on it and see the see the charted results. Click here to learn more.

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Overcome Obesity - An Epidemic Explained

Obesity is a risk factor for so many serious health problems that it has been declared a chronic disease in its own right. In the United States, more than 75% percent of obese people suffer at least one other major health problem, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, some cancers, respiratory problems, or other difficulties. But despite this toll, the ranks of the dangerously overweight have gone up by 50 percent in the past 20 years.

Experts say that there's more obesity partly because most people exercise infrequently, and labor-saving devices and entertainment such as computers and television have helped make us increasingly sedentary. We're also eating more packaged, processed, and fast foods that are high in fat and calories. One sign of this is a trend toward "colossal cuisine," with portion sizes for many foods, notably hamburgers and sodas, often double or more what was typical two decades ago. Ironically, some studies suggest that Americans are including less fat in their diets. Some experts say that this is small consolation because we're eating much more of everything, so the absolute amount of fat consumed is still going up.

Obesity is a complex disorder with a combination of causes. One theory suggests that your body determines and works to maintain a set point for weight that makes any effort to lose and maintain weight difficult. Thus, while obesity in Americans is caused largely by what and how we eat, it is also governed to some degree by genetics, by an intricate system of chemical signals that tell the body when it's hungry and when it's not, and by social or psychological factors.

Some people assume that obesity is all due to genetics and other uncontrollable factors. Genetics plays a role, but there's a great deal you can do to work toward a healthier weight. In fact, experts say that the pounds you lose first have the greatest impact on improving overall health. It's wise to start by taking small steps and building on success with these strategies:

Balance Calories--Crash diets make the body think it's starving, so it actually conserves calories. You must eat, but what? Experts say it's important to get a healthy balance of foods: The bulk of your daily calories (about 60 percent) should come from complex carbohydrates such as whole-wheat pasta, potatoes, and brown rice. Fat should account for no more than 30 percent of the diet.

Control Portions--How much you eat is just as important as what you eat. As a rule, aim for small portions of many different foods; studies find that variety will help make you feel satisfied more quickly, especially if you're eating healthy vegetables. Note that the USDA Food Guide Pyramid's suggestions for serving sizes in a healthy, balanced diet tend to be quite small: a single slice of bread, for example, or 1/2 cup of raw or cooked vegetables. Keep in mind that contrary to what you may have been told as a child, you really don't have to eat everything on your plate.

Dine Out Wisely--When eating out, order an appetizer as your entree: Often, appetizer fare is portioned large enough to make a decent meal. If you do order off the main menu, share dishes to avoid eating more than half. Order dishes that combine ingredients such as cut-up meat with a variety of vegetables, and resist the temptation to order lots of different dishes--too much sampling may lead to overeating. Be sure to ask for a pitcher of water on the table: Studies have found that the "I'm thirsty" signal that the brain sends out is often mistaken for "I'm hungry."

Graze--Eating several small meals or snacks throughout the day instead of "three square" can help you keep hunger at bay. At work, home, or when traveling, keep portions of baby carrots, berries, raisins, graham or animal crackers, and other healthful treats within easy reach.

Respectfully submitted by Idaline Hall. For more useful insider weight loss tips you might find informative, visit: http://weightlossthatfits.com/

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Treatment For a Bloated Stomach

For those of us who suffer from a stomach bloating, the two things we need to ask ourselves is what is the actual cause of a bloated stomach and then, what is a good treatment for a bloated stomach. Once we have answered the first, we can address the second. Over the last decade I have spends countless hours searching for a cure to what ailed me. While I wasn't specifically looking for a treatment for a bloated stomach as there were other things causing me more discomfort, in finding a cure for me, my bloated stomach was no longer an issue, and here's why.

The cause of having a bloated stomach is the release of hydrogen gas into your digestive track by micro bacteria (yeasts and Candida). In effect, what you are actually experiencing is a bloated intestinal track as it fills with gas. The gaseous hydrogen often works its way to your stomach and can then continue heading up causing you to burp. So now that we know that the actual cause of your bloated stomach is the yeast and Candida living in your gut lets focus on a treatment for a bloated stomach!

In a healthy individual, the intestines are managed by a ratio of 80% beneficial bacteria and 20% none beneficial. This ratio, however, in over 70% of the population is completely reversed causing all sorts of symptoms such as an uncomfortable bloated stomach. So what is the treatment for a bloated stomach? Eliminate the yeast and Candida, promote the healthy growth of the good bacteria and restore the balance of the ratio in your gut!

Step 1: Find a good yeast cleanse program. Be careful, many of the programs out there don't really focus on the actual problem but rather simply promote a healthy lifestyle change. While there is nothing wrong this, we want a program that truly addresses the act of killing the yeast and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Programs will include information on a good pro biotic and all the yeast killing supper foods such as Kale, Curry, Pau De Arco Tea and Oil of Oregano. Add these foods to your diet now as a fast treatment for a bloated stomach while you finish killing all the yeast!

Step 2: Yeast live on simple sugars! This includes candy, soda, breads, pasta, white rice, pastries and all of those other tasty foods we love so much. Give your body a rest from these foods for a month. Eat a diet of lots of veggies and healthy meats. Vegetables alkalize your body, creating a friendly environment for the good bacteria we want to promote and is one the best treatments for a bloated stomach!

For information on the candida yeast cleanse that I use every season to clean out and regulate my body visit my blog and get a FREE 60 Day Money back guarantee! And by the way, I lost 23 pounds the first time I used it!

http://thecandidayeastcure.blogspot.com/

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Are Obesity and High Cholesterol Linked?

Medically speaking, the health condition in which excessive fat accumulation on the body occurs that has negative effects on health is known as obesity. Millions of men, women and children suffer from this health condition all over the world. This condition is growing rapidly as more and more people are drawn towards a poor lifestyle that includes consumption of fatty food, less exercise and even lesser rest. All these factors lead to obesity, which in turns leads to many health conditions that take a toll on one's health. An individual is considered obese if his/her bodyweight is at least 20% higher than it should be. Also, the body mass index (BMI) should be above 30.

Obesity leads to many health problems and also causes millions of people to die each year. Although these people do not die of obesity as a direct cause, they die because of health conditions that are associated with obesity. Obesity leads to health conditions and diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, high cholesterol, heart attacks, and various types of cancers. If you are thinking that are obesity and high cholesterol linked, you know the answer now. Yes, obesity is directly related to high cholesterol. If you are suspect obesity in you or anyone around you, seek treatment so that you can live a happy and healthy life again.

Obesity treatment

This health condition can be treated in many ways and the treatment depends on the severity of it. You can opt for a surgery, use medications or try exercise. The best form of treatment is a healthy combination of diet, exercise and rest. This includes some form of lifestyle alteration as well. You can start with enhancing your eating habits. Add more healthy foods such as green vegetables, pulses, whole meal bread, and pasta. Ensure that you reduce your intake of fat as much as possible. Include fruits in your daily diet and do not consume packed foods. Fresh food is the best.

Exercising regularly is also a great way to deal with obesity. If you do not like the idea of exercising, start with light jogging and morning walks. Then, you can move on to light exercises such as cardio and aerobics. If you exercise regularly, you will not only be able to lose weight but also help you cope with stress and anxiety. You can combine a healthy diet and exercise with the use of weight loss pills. Xenical is a weight loss pill that has helped millions of people lose weight the easy way. Many people who have thought are obesity and high cholesterol linked, have used this pill to tackle both the problems.

What is Xenical?

This medication is known as Orlistat in medical terms and it is used for the treatment of obesity. It is an FDA approved oral prescription medication. Xenical prevents the body from absorbing dietary fat. Almost one-third of the dietary fat that is eaten is not digested. This drug works best if you use it with a good exercise schedule and a healthy diet.

Webmaster associated with online clinic "HealthExpress" this site provides various information on Xenical (Orlistat) and helps people in curing Obesity, resources are available on site HealthExpress.co.uk.

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Obesity Risks Increase Over Time

Here's a worrying finding for those of us carrying too much weight. When it comes to weight gain, calculation of obesity risks to your health has focused on the severity of the weight gain on its own, but paid no attention to how long that weight had been hanging around.

Some compelling new research finds that every added decade you are obese doubles your death risk. Just like pack years for a smoker, recent research calls for the "obese year" to become part of any assessment of health for a patient. Researchers believe that the health toll of all those extra pounds is far higher than we know because estimates haven't factored in the duration of a person's obesity. Today the obesity epidemic has gotten tremendous press. Sadly, there are all too many of us who fall on the high side of the BMI scale... over 25.0.

In the U.S., a full third of adults belong to the obese category. In the U.K. the number is a quarter of adults - still significant to be sure and predicted to rise. What's worse, if the current trends continue, obesity will become a prominent health problem for more and more of us the world over. Work by the researchers found that the duration of obesity has a direct impact on death risk. And this is not related to other risk factors such as age or just how heavy a person is. The team examined the health of over 5,000 patients who lived in the U.S. who were enrolled in a study that monitored their health on a two yearly basis over many decades.

Among the subjects, death risk rose by 7% for each added two years of obesity. Being at this weight for 15 to 25 years doubled the death risk, compared to those study participants who had never been obese. Death risk tripled for those classed as obese for longer than 25 years. Now you see why researchers are so concerned... the risk of death for those currently obese might be so much higher than any other time in history. What's more, people are falling into the obese categories at younger ages, which means that kids today might actually expect a shorter lifespan than past generations. Obesity often starts up to 10 years earlier compared to past records. The team of researchers suggests that the number of years you've been obese needs to be considered when doing an assessment of overall health.

If your doctor can tell you the consequences of your extra weight, in terms of how shortened your life will be, this might be enough to get some people on the road to weight loss. But scare tactics don't work for everyone. If they did, losing weight wouldn't be such a struggle for so many. The truth is, losing weight isn't quick... or easy... but it can be done by making small, manageable changes and sticking with them over the long haul. It's also important to understand that losing weight, at any age, will do wonders to help reverse obesity risks, extend your lifespan and leave you with less risk of dangerous, life altering disease.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more on obesity risks and steps you can take to reduce or prevent them.

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Obesity Deaths and Related Illness

Obesity Deaths and Related Illness are at epidemic levels in the U.S.

The Mayo Clinic track trends in obesity and states that they are seeing an increase in Obesity Deaths and Related Illness.

Latest estimates are 130 million adults are obese and estimates are as high as 15% of all children are obese. Let's get a clear understanding of the term obese: Wikipedia defines obesity as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy.

Obesity Deaths and Related Illnesses are:
High Blood Pressure, hypertensionHigh Blood CholesterolDiabetes Type 2Congestive heart failureHeart diseaseStrokeGall stonesGoutOsteoarthritisSome types of cancerComplications of pregnancyPoor female reproductive healthBladder Control ProblemsPsychological disorders

The Mayo Clinic recommends many changes to combat obesity deaths and related Illness. As do most other professional medical websites, the number one recommendation is to start making healthy changes in your diet to eliminate obesity deaths and related Illness. Most obese people have a long history of overeating and making poor food choices. Now there is a more recognized way of eating to take off weight than ever before. Many companies are offering meal replacement products and supplements that are very low in calories but deliver all the necessary nutrition in a meal replacement product.

The challenge is deciding which one will work for you. At age 62, after years of eating the wrong type food in large quantities, I had a body mass index, often listed as BMI, of 34 and fell into the obesity category. For me it meant I had to find something that was easy to prepare, mobile for eating on the go, tasted good and finally allowed me to still enjoy most of the foods I enjoy.

I found the best program for me was a meal replacement shake. The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and has grown to a multi-billion dollar annual sales company with a good record of success with their clients. The company offers clinically tested products that are reasonably priced. With this program I was able to drop my BMI to 25, lost 50 pounds and have kept it off for over 6 years and still counting. I spend about $6.00 per day for food from on this program, which is less than I spent at the fast food restaurants I ate at in the past. I have a home cooked or cooked to order out meal each day and now enjoy my old favorites and new foods like, salads, seafood, vegetables and fruits.

I do not get hungry and have more energy than I have had for the last 30 years. With all the renewed energy I decided there is a business opportunity. I had way too much energy to retire. I investigated the business side of Wellness Coaching and have enjoyed substantial income for the last 6 years while providing a needed service to my family, friends and neighbors. Partner with me by clicking here. You can get more info on Obesity Deaths and Related Illness by visiting the business opportunity site.

http://www.leavittmcbride.com/ is a source for information on weight management, income opportunities general topic discussions

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Manage Obesity With A Good Diet and Moderate Exercise, Or With Surgery - It's Your Choice

The management of obesity follows a predictable and logical sequence of approaches starting with the simplest approach, and going on to the most complex. The initial approach to weight loss will always be diet and exercise. A plan to reduce calories (smaller portions of "normal" foods) balanced with a modest exercise program is step number one.

In some cases this approach has been sincerely and consistently implemented but to no avail. You've done everything you can do and have still not lost the weight. What's next? Any other ideas? Well,...yes. You may be a candidate for surgery to reverse the trend of weight gain.

If your doctor believes that your excess weight is such that it cannot be controlled by conventional methods, he may suggest that you are a candidate for weight-loss surgery. There are two approaches that he will likely discuss with you:

• "Banding": Laparoscopic banding is a technique in which the surgeon puts a band around a portion of your stomach in to reduce its size. You will "fill up" faster and will feel more satisfied with your food intake.

• Gastric bypass surgery re-routes the path that food takes from the stomach to the small intestine. Much of the food that is eaten is not absorbed.

Both types of surgeries cause weight loss. If the stomach cannot hold more than a small portion of food, or, if the food bypasses the stomach and goes directly to the intestine, extra calories cannot be absorbed. However, these serious procedures are not to be considered lightly.

Following either type of surgery, an individual is likely to experience nausea, vomiting, and complications such as bleeding or ulcers. The large weight loss will also leave one with loose, excessive skin which often requires additional surgery for its removal.

An inherent problem following surgery is that the nutrients absorbed are so limited that one will require large amounts of vitamin and mineral supplementation. There is no allowance for extra "treats" because the stomach space is small and every bit of it is needed for healthful foods.

The decision to have surgery is serious. Hopefully a competent surgeon will not even consider you for the procedure unless you have a well-documented history showing that you have really tried to lose weight and have been unable to do so by usual means or that your life is endangered by your weight.

For the vast majority of folks a weight loss program and modest exercise is adequate.

Look at this "eating plan" before considering surgery.

By Sue Bristol, R.N.

There is only one correct way to eat.

Here's the "Secret Weight Loss Diet" that virtually EVERY successful dieter uses
(Whether or not they are even aware of it!)

"Click Here" to get your Free e-book, which will give you the "Weight Loss Secret"
http://www.how-to-loseweight-101.com/index1.html

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Is Obesity an Epidemic?

Ok let's get down to the nitty gritties of weight loss. Let's start the very beginning, the very best place to start!: as Julie Andrews would sing.

Did you know that obesity is THE greatest public health problem of the 21st century. The GREATEST! It causes any number of long term medical conditions, an inability to work so therefore increasing poverty and increases the burden on taxpayers to pay for those who are unable to pay for themselves. It also reduces the length of one's life by an average amount of nine years. Nine years! That is a whole lot of time that could be spent enjoying life with family, friends, seeing the world etc. For parents particularly, this is also affecting our children. Surely we need to take control of this aspect of our lives.

Now I recognize that some of you readers have a Body Mass Index of 19.5 - 24.5kg/m2 and so you may look on with self-righteous pity at the rest of us poor folk that struggle with our weight. I suppose you have a right to that (not that I have to like you for it), unless you are one of those that can eat whatever you like and not see any change in your weight, If you are - beware! It may yet catch up with you.

How common is it?

An organisation called Worldwatch did some research recently and found that more than 1.9 billion people worldwide were overweight. They also figured out that about 75% of all adults in rich countries (like ours!) were overweight or obese. I have to repeat that for emphasis - SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT! 3 out of every 4 people! That is astounding really. We defeat other epidemics like smallpox and then gain new ones, it would seem.

In the UK, the percentage of women who are obese has more than doubled in the time from 1980 - 1997. In 2009, almost a quarter of all adults in the UK were obese and a third of all women were overweight. 44% of men were overweight as well so they seem to even be worse off than we women are. I mean, being male is considered a risk factor in some diseases such as heart disease without adding an excess of fat into the mix.

What of our children? 30% of children aged between two and fifteen are overweight. 10% of those in reception year were obese! That is terrible! What chance do these littles have if they are already OBESE! Gosh we parents really need to pay a lot more attention to what we are exposing our little ones too. I definitely need this reminder so I KNOW I am far from perfect.

In the US, 33.8% of adults were obese in 2008 while a whopping 68% fell within the overweight and obese category! It is shocking really. The better off a nation is, the worse their eating habits tend to be.

Just to finish off on a positive note, this does not have to carry on, we are all masters of our ship and we can take the weight management steps required to change the path of humanity. Remember, every little helps!

So what is causing this epidemic of fat? How can we defeat it? Is it really as simple as 'eat less, do more'? What do you all think?

Nonny Knight is passionate about inspiring women.

A pharmacist, business owner and property investor, she shares her journey at http://mum-in-business.com/.

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Obesity - My Story

Please allow me to share my near death experience of being morbidly obese with you. And although I took control of my life and turned my obesity around, I still shortened my life expectancy considerably, due to an enlarged heart, caused by extremely high blood pressure.

I am writing this article with the hope of touching other obese people and maybe inspire them to also change their lifestyle.

To those, fortunate enough, not suffering from obesity, for better understanding of what obese people are going through. It is not all their fault as there is a number of factors leading to obesity.

My mother was a very lazy to cook, even though she was very accomplished in the kitchen. The result was that as far as I can remember there was always fast food, cookies, candy and sodas. The only proper healthy home cook food was once a month when we visited my grandparents.

Needless to say that from my days as a toddler I was always bigger than other children, this meant I was always receiving negative remarks from my peers. People made fun of me and I had to listen to a lot of snide remarks and ridicule.

My weight problems also meant that I could not excel in any type of sport and was always on the sideline, which meant I was not very popular with the opposite sex.

My unhealthy diet lead to acne which obviously made me very shy. This caused me to withdrawn from society and to spend most of my childhood in my room, with easy access to the wrong types of things to eat.

My solitary lifestyle caused me to withdraw and I started to suffer from depression. The only comfort, more food!

From my teens I contracted diabetes which forced me to a sentence of insulin injections.

My heart could not take the strain of having to work extra hard, resulting in me having a heart attack at the age of 22. At the time of my heart attack I weighed 275 pounds.

In hindsight this was a blessing in disguise as it really shocked me into seriously taking stock of my life, and forced me into making decisions to change my lifestyle, if I do not want to end in a grave at a very early age.

A big mistake was thinking I can fix the problem by myself, with a series of diets. These diets always seem to help initially, however I always regained the lost weight. I cannot even try to calculate how much money I spend on all types of pills, tables, diet shakes etc.

I also suffered from Osteoarthritis on my weight-bearing joints. I suffered from a lot of pain caused by inflammation, plus severe back pain due to bones and muscles of the back being constantly strained. This also meant decreased mobility.

I also suffered from sleep apnea and respiratory problems because of all the fat which accumulated around my neck, constricting my airways.

The constant depression and the yo-yo weight gain and loss made me decide to find help. I realized I just could not do it on my own.

Fortunately I found a fantastic bariatric surgeon; he recommended and patiently explained the various surgical options available. The more I consulted with him I started to trust him, and I realized the only way out was surgery.

The biggest change in my lifestyle came after the surgery. The most obvious change was my diet and the realization that this is a lifelong commitment. I decided to follow my surgeon's instructions and guidelines to the letter, as this was my last chance.

Crucial was my commitment and dedication to also regular physical exercises. The easiest for me was swimming as this exercise placed the least strain on my limbs. I also got in the habit of walking at least thirty minutes three times a week.

For the first time in my life I started eating lots of fruit and vegetables and to my surprise I am enjoying it. To reduce my dependence on my prescribed medicines I also started taking advice from an experienced herbalist who is guiding me in the use of herbs for blood pressure stabilizers.

This is my story, I am very proud of having made the decision to have the surgery, to follow the guidelines from my surgeon and herbalist; I am feeling full of life and have much more energy. I am also much more mobile and sleep a lot better. I even found a new job, one where I do not have to sit behind a desk for long periods of time.

I hope I will have inspired even one person to also make a change.

This is my story, I am very proud of having made the decision to have the surgery, to follow the guidelines from my surgeon and herbalist; I am feeling full of life and have much more energy. I am also much more mobile and sleep a lot better. I even found a new job, one where I do not have to sit behind a desk for long periods of time.

I hope I will have inspired even one person to also make a change.

http://www.herbsforbloodpressure.com/

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One Of The Risks Of Obesity And Effects Of Lack Of Exercise Is Chronic Pain

This probably comes as no surprise. That the risks of obesity and effects of lack of exercise can lead to the onset of chronic pain. A recent study has found that those who partake in some form of exercise for at least an hour each week have a reduced risk of pain in the back, neck and shoulders.

This finding supports the idea that obesity and being inactive might just play a significant part in the chances of chronic pain occurring in these parts of the body.

The researchers followed over 30,000 adult subjects who were taking part in a larger health study. Recordings were made of subjects' body mass index at the study outset, and the participants were also questioned about how long they exercised. They were then tracked for 11 years.

The subjects were divided into four groups based on how active they were, and four groups according to their BMI measurement alone.

The research team also examined how many of the subjects in each group developed chronic pain in the neck, shoulder or lower back. Overall, one of every ten subjects developed pain in the lower back; nearly 20% had pain in either the shoulder or neck.

After accounting for age, BMI, smoking status and the type of job (manual labor vs desk job) they had, the researchers discovered that men who exercised for 2 or more hours a week at the beginning of the research had a 25% lower risk of suffering from lower back pain; 20% less likely to experience shoulder and/or neck pain when compared to those who were not active at all.

For women who worked out for that same 2 hours each week, the numbers were smaller but still impressive - exercisers had an 8% reduced risk of lower back pain compared to those who were inactive; 9% less likely to experience neck and/or shoulder pain than their sedentary counterparts.

No surprise that weight also was a factor in chronic pain. Obese men had a 21% more risk of lower back pain compared to normal weight men; 22% more likely to have neck and/or shoulder pain than those of normal weight.

For women, obesity made it 21% more likely you'd had chronic pain in the lower back; 19% more likely to have neck and/or shoulder pain than women at a normal weight.

Remember that the study wasn't designed to prove cause and effect. No one is saying that not doing exercise causes chronic pain, or that frequent workouts would keep it at bay. Those with chronic pain are likely dealing with a complex condition that researchers have yet to understand.

These results do suggest that even moderate exercise, an hour or more each week, can compensate for the effects of being too heavy on chronic pain risk in the future. Anyone who now struggles with this type of unrelenting pain will tell you that preventing it is far better than living with it.

Pain in the lower back, neck and shoulders impacts quality of life and need for health care resources, it takes days away from work and your family and it takes a silent, steady toll on your mind and your will.

If you've been inactive for a bit, talk with your doctor before starting any exercise program to avoid any side effects of lack of exercise like pulled muscles or strained tendons. Once you get the okay, you'll be amazed at the many benefits that will come with just a little more activity as you lower your risks of obesity.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more how the risks of obesity impact on your overall health and wellbeing.

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How To Diet: Did You Know That Some Drugs Will Combat Obesity? Do You Know If They Are Safe?

There are some cases of obesity that appear to require the use of medications in order for the individual to experience weight loss. Still, these drugs are not eagerly dispensed by most physicians because the pharmaceutical management of weight is an evolving science. Perfection and predictability have not yet been achieved.

In fact, some of the "weight loss" drugs have even led to addiction.

The vast majority of drugs that have historically been used for the treatment of obesity have been removed from the marketplace because time and evidence uncovered risks that out-weighed any potential benefit. Significant adverse effects have included heart disease, hypertension, consequential alterations of mood, and even death.

Many of us remember the debacle in the mid-90's with a drug combination called "Fenphen" which took the American marketplace by storm. Within a mere two years after its introduction, it was shown that this drug caused problems with heart valves after as little as one month of treatment. Risky surgery was required in order to correct the problem.

As a result, most drugs currently prescribed are for short-term use only which of course limits their use in the management of obesity. Even so, important studies have indicated that even small weight loss (achieved by any means) significantly reduces the incidence and severity of chronic diseases resulting from obesity.

There are two major classifications of drugs that are currently used in the treatment of obesity: appetite suppressants and lipase (fat) inhibitors. The appetite suppressants subdue the appetite and thus aid the individual in resisting the temptation to overeat. Lipase inhibitors block enzymes that are needed to digest fat. (An obvious downside to the lipase inhibitors is frequent and often urgent passage of "oily" stools.)

Other types of drugs which may be dispensed to aid in weight loss are those which are actually designed for another purpose but have a collateral effect of weight loss. These would include antidepressants, anti-seizure agents, and medications used to treat diabetes. Their use for the treatment of obesity has not been sanctioned by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Why in the world would you even consider taking an un-proven (and potentially risky) drug; when there is an absolutely safe, and correct way to lose weight naturally? You didn't gain those 10, 25, 50, 100, or more pounds overnight. Why would you believe that an un-tested drug will solve your problem in a day, or two? The fact is: some person, or company, is not telling you the whole truth; so they can take your money!

There are clearly pros and cons regarding the use of drugs in the treatment of obesity. Drugs are only advisable for cases of extreme obesity and those which have not been responsive to dietary and exercise approaches. So, if you haven't tried the correct diet, and exercise plan, AND, If your doctor agrees that you are a suitable candidate, the decision will rightly be left up to you. Consider the options carefully and best of luck to you in your decision.

Drugs and obesity! A risky proposition!

by Sue Bristol, R.N.

Read my E-book and you will forget about drugs

Here's the "Secret Weight Loss Diet" that virtually EVERY successful dieter uses
(Whether or not they are even aware of it!)

"Click Here" to get your Free e-book, which will give you the "Weight Loss Secret" Kids and parents needn't be obese.
http://www.how-to-loseweight-101.com/index1.html

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Jumping Through Hoops For Lap Band Surgery

Having lap band surgery is actually a serious decision that shouldn't be made without consulting a specialist. In a perfect world the only thing that would factor into that decision is whether you are a good candidate for the surgery. Then again, in almost all cases the decision is much more complicated. Factors like emotional stability, financial situation, and insurance coverage will undoubtedly play a huge role in your ability to get the lap band surgery.

Let's take a look at the first of these other factors, emotional stability. There is a reason you are obese, and without exception it often has something to do with an emotional need that you cover up by eating. That's why all renowned programs will include some sort of mental evaluation as part of the program. For those that take this seriously, it's an opportunity to actually deal with the issues that cause you to over eat. For those that see this part of the process as a hassle, you will probably not take it seriously and you will be much more likely to regain your weight after the lap band surgery.

Then there's your financial situation to consider. The reality is that lap band surgery costs are pretty high. Most people say they'd gladly pay whatever it takes to be skinny. Unfortunately, in this case it's over 25 thousand if you don't have insurance. So unless you happen to be rich, don't expect to walk in and pay cash for the procedure. Lots of folks have went bankrupt from the medical costs associated with the lap band surgery. Have a plan and don't be one of them.

If that wasn't enough to think about, insurance coverage is something else to consider. Since most people can't pay for the surgery by themselves, having insurance do it is the only option. If only it were that simple. Insurance companies make you jump through hoops in order to have the lap band surgery. You have to have a certain BMI, you have to have multiple medical problems associated to your weight, and even if all that passes their test, you have to go on a medically supervised diet before you can get the surgery done. Honestly, it's amazing anyone makes it through the process. You can be confident though if you are one of the lucky ones, it's typically well worth it.

If you can handle the six to eight months it typically takes to get approved for surgery, you can expect a 50-80% reduction in excess weight. For most morbidly obese people that is over 100 pounds. In addition to just looking and feeling a heck of a lot better, you will also typically get healthier. Things like sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases related to obesity tend to disappear after losing that much weight.

The point here is a simple one. If you can put up with all the nonsense, and jump through all the necessary hoops, the reward is huge. You will be glad you had the lap band surgery and it will change your life.

If you've every considered getting lap band surgery you need to take a look at this site on lap band surgery costs. It's an incredible resource for anyone who is overweight and wanting to figure out real solutions for their lifelong weight problem.

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