Pop Quiz: NewMeMD 's 7 Side Effects of Drinking Soda

Here’s a little "pop" quiz  question from our NewMeMD wellness team about the average food & beverage consumption in the U.S.: 

What is the single biggest source of calories for Americans. Is it white bread, Big Macs or Hot Dogs? The answer... is actually SODA. 

You might say, "But I drink diet soda, which contains zero calories and sugar." Sounds like the perfect alternative for all you waistline watchers out there, right? Hardly so. 

Before you pop the top of that caramel-colored bubbly drink, we at NewMeMD think you should know this: Although your diet drink may not contain any calories (much less ANY nutritional value), guzzling diet sodas comes with its own side effects which could harm your health... from damaging your kidneys to even adding more inches around that mid-section.

Learning about these 7 side effects of drinking diet soda may help you kick the can for good.

1. Kidney Problems

Something you may not already know about your diet soda is that it can affect your kidneys. An 11-year study from the Harvard Medical School (on more than 3,000 women) revealed diet cola can be associated with a two-fold increased risk for declining kidney health. And get this--More than 2 sodas a day was found to cause a significant reduction in overall kidney function (yikes).

2. Metabolic Syndrome

Based on a 2008 diet soda study of almost 10,000 adults even one soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of Metabolic Syndrome, and the side effects of this condition (like belly fat and high cholesterol) can put you at greater risk for a heart attack.

3. Obesity

You read that right...diet soda doesn’t help you lose weight after all. A study from the University of Texas has found out the more diet sodas someone drinks, the more chances of that person eventually becoming overweight. Drinking just two cans of the carbonated stuff day may actually expand waistlines by, get this... 500%, because artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body’s natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods!

4. A Terrible Hangover

One of the worst things you can do with zero-calorie pop is to mix it with alcohol... like ordering a 'Vodka Diet' (vodka with any type of diet drink). Why? Because these types of cocktails could make you feel drunker, faster. Studies show sugar-free mixers generally allow liquor to enter your bloodstream much quicker, giving you a much bigger buzz (which could lead to a much more excruciating hangover the next day).

5. Cell Damage

Diet sodas contain something regular sodas don’t have: mold inhibitors. These chemicals can be found on the ingredient labels of your drinks under names such as sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. Scientific compounds such as these have the ability to cause severe damage to your DNA (our building blocks of life) by literally suffocating your cells.

6. Rotting Teeth

Diet soda has a pH of 3.2, which means it's very acidic. Just like in science lab, liquid substances with high acidity can dissolve things... In the case of diet drinks, we're referring to the destruction of your tooth enamel (as in, way more tooth decay, missing teeth and more fillings). Adults who chug three or more sodas a day can surely anticipate dental health problems down the road, so remember: just because a soda is light on the calories doesn’t mean it's light on the acidic content!

7. Reproductive Problems

Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the chemical bisphenol A (otherwise known as BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. If you ask us, all of this sure is a lot of risk to take just to sip down a substance simply because it contains zero calories, right?!

No one is saying you can't ever have a soda, but there certainly are other alternatives for improving your lifestyle and or managing your weight.

At NewMeMD we can customize a weight loss program designed for your specific needs or recommend some of our other treatments to help trim you down without any of the side effects that accompany a diet soda. 

For information about our products & services click here to visit our web site NOW.

Here's to a refreshing, much healthier (and calorie-free) solution to a smaller waistline!
--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team

The Pursuit of Happiness (& Health): NewMeMD 's 10 Healthiest & Happiest U.S. Cities

We've searched far and wide for the healthiest and happiest cities in America. 

If your city isn't on here, don't pack your bags just yet... We at NewMeMD identified just what it is exactly that put these zip codes on the list, and the info we found could help you to be happier and healthier wherever you may live!

1. Salt Lake City, UT
This part of the state named by the Ute Indian tribe long ago reportedly has significantly low rates cancer among inhabitants. And thanks to heavy Mormon influence in Utah, people tend to eat and live much cleaner in Salt Lake City than Americans do in other regions.

2. Anaheim, CA
It doesn't hurt that Anaheim is home to what's known by many as "The Happiest Place on Earth" (Disneyland), but the real reason this metropolis is at the top of the list is because statistically, residents here are more focused on fitness and tend to maintain a healthy weight (based on national standards).

3. Minneapolis, MN
This metaphorical twin of St. Paul, Minnesota boasts top scores for heart health, because the locals 'round here strongly believe that food is medicine for their hearts ("you betcha"). This city also has the highest number of Farmer's markets per capita.

4. Denver, CO
Known mostly for its winter vacation resorts and ski lodges, this Rocky Mountains region has recently been recognized for its healthy BMIs, ground-level cancer rates and significantly low numbers of those who smoke (cigarettes, that is).

5. Jersey City, NJ
The Guidos and Guidettes must be doing something right! Jersey City has the highest concentration per capita of fitness professionals and was recently documented as having the most gyms among other American cities.

6. Portland, OR
Not only is Portland the most populous city in Oregon, the people there are heart healthy, cheerful, and have easier access to affordable produce.

7. Honolulu, HI 
They may say, "Alo-HA..." but for these islanders optimal health is no joke. Recent reports show the island of Honolulu has off-the-charts mental health scores (we're guessing this has something to do with their beautiful beaches). This is just more proof that being outdoors can give you an improved sense of well-being and reduce stress.

8. Seattle, WA
They didn't just pioneer the grunge trend and bring us Starbucks coffeehouses, This city in Washington state also helps produce one of the highest number of U.S. college graduates. This, in turn, makes 'Seattle-ites' much more optimistic as individuals. Oh, and they reportedly purchase a lot more organic produce than residents in other health-conscious towns!

9. Lincoln, NE
This happy city in the Corn Husker state was recently acknowledged for having the country's lowest unemployment rate. Additionally, inhabitants in Nebraska's capital are exceptionally heart healthy overall.

10. Virginia Beach, VA
Those who call The Old Dominion home not only possess extremely healthy cholesterol levels, consumer reports show they're also huge buyers of athletic clothing (which implies they must exercise regularly, right?!)

Okay so what's the secret? The answer is, there really is NO secret as to why these cities are so happy and healthy. Put simply, inhabitants of these areas are active, they eat right and they just try to live stress-free lives as much as possible. At times it may be a struggle to live a lifestyle like this, but if YOU really want it... YOU too can achieve it!  

At NewMeMD we can customize a a healthy lifestyle or weight loss program designed for your specific needs. We understand one size does not fit all, which is why we offer a variety of physician-guided programs and packages that can be individualized with your objectives in mind.  For information about our services click here to visit our web site NOW. .

Here's to finding the pursuit of happiness & good health, along with a new YOU!

--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team

Here Comes the Sun (Dried Tomato Chicken): NewMeMD hCG Recipe of the Week

A little fun in the sun is always nice... and so are tomatoes (especially because they're allowed on most hCG weight loss programs)! 

Check out this week's featured recipe from your NewMeMD Wellness Team: 

hCG -Friendly Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Ingredients: 
- 1 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken
(organic if possible. 87 cal. per serving)
- 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth (20 cal.)
- 12 sun-dried tomato slices (NOT packed in oil. 22 cal.)
- 10 peeled cloves of garlic (10 cal)
- ½ onion sliced into thin rings (12 cal.)
- ¼ cup of white wine vinegar (31 cal.)
- dried oregano to taste (approx. 12 cal.)
- ground black pepper to taste (approx. 15 cal)

Total calories per serving: 209

Instructions:
1. Brown chicken with 1/8 cup of broth in a skillet on medium high heat. 
2. In a casserole dish: layer onions, sun-dried tomato and garlic. 
3. Top onion/tomato/garlic layers with chicken when fully browned. 4. Pour 1 cup of broth and vinegar over chicken (after it's been added to your casserole dish).
5. Sprinkle with oregano and pepper. 
6. Cover and bake for 45 min. at 350 degrees.
7. Cool then serve and enjoy eating hCG -friendly!

For more healthy lifestyle solutions or information about our medical weight loss programs & products CLICK HERE to visit our web site!

Red, White & Blueberries: Try this Patriotic hCG Recipe from NewMeMD for July 4th!

Here's a fresh & fruity recipe from our NewMeMD wellness team with a nice crunch that's perfect for the 4th of July or any summer day. It's hCG-friendly too!

Blueberry, Strawberry & Jicama Salsa

Yield: About 3 cups of fruity salsa

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh blueberries (84 cal.)

1 cup diced strawberries (46 cal.)

1 cup diced jicama (49 cal.)

1/3 cup chopped cilantro (1 cal.)

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion (17 cal.)

2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno, stemmed & seeded (8 cal.)

Juice of 1 large lime (11 cal.)

Salt, to taste

Total calories: 206

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine blueberries, strawberries, jicama, cilantro, red onion, jalapeno and lime juice. 
2. Stir until well combined. 
3. Season with salt to taste. 
4. Serve & enjoy eating healthfully!

Note: This salsa is also great with grilled fish or chicken. It is best eaten the same day it is made.

For more information about healthy living or details about our products and services CLICK HERE to visit our web site.

Here's to a nutritious Independence Day!

--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team

Eight is Enough: 8 Helpful Weight Loss Tips from NewMeMD for Women

Ever wonder how some women are in near perfect shape and effortlessly maintain their ideal weight, while others seem to be trapped in an endless cycle of dieting (marked by a series of successes and failures)?!

We at NewMeMD have figured it out: Apparently there's something that women who maintain their weight and health do that the rest of us don’t…they work smarter, NOT harder.

Here are 8 helpful tips from our wellness team to help lead you down the path to a fitter and slimmer you--

1. Eat Breakfast.

The single most common characteristic shared among women who have achieved (and maintained!) their weight loss is this: They eat breakfast. Making a conscious effort to have that famous "most important meal of the day" can reduce hunger throughout the rest of your day and may decrease your likelihood of overeating or making poor food choices later. Oh and, "breaking your fast" from overnight can also help in increase your metabolism by at least 10% so go ahead. Eat up to slim down!

2. Drink Water.

The American Heart Association says women shouldn't eat or drink more than a total 6 teaspoons of sugar daily, yet the average American takes in an extra 385 calories (that's a whopping 23 teaspoons!) of this sweet stuff a day... or an excess of 140,000 unnecessary calories a year. The solution? Chug down more H2O. Simply swapping out sugary drinks with plain (or fresh fruit-infused) water may not seem like much, but it's a huge step you can make during your Operation Shed Pounds journey. Water not only energizes your muscles, it hydrates your skin, keeps your kidneys functioning properly and makes you feel fuller longer without all those unwanted calories!

3. Introduce Healthy Snacks Into Your Day.

Got snacks? If not, go get some. Preventing yourself from feeling overly hungry is another successful tool to weight loss. Whether you're at the office or on-the-go, always keep some healthy snacks (such as carrot sticks, a piece of fresh fruit or lean, low-sodium beef jerky) on hand to keep those hunger pangs at bay between meals!

4. Eat Whole Foods First.
Whole foods like fruits, vegetables and legumes (beans) contain lots of fiber, but very few calories. They can also satisfy your hunger while delivering nutrient rich foods to nourish your body. Our general rule of thumb is to aim for 80% of your entire diet to be derived from whole (and organic if possible) food sources.

5. Make Dinner Your Last Meal Of The Day.

Restaurants have rigid hours of operation, and your fridge and/or pantry should too! Putting a “Sorry We're Closed” sign in your kitchen is a great idea if you're watching your waistline. After dinner is finally served and stored away, put up your “Closed” sign for the night (even if that means just putting a Post-It note on your fridge). Recent research shows any extra calories consumed after 7:30 PM tend to tip the scales against  what your recommended daily consumption should be.

6. Exercise Daily.

Engaging in 30 minutes of "moderate intensity" aerobic activity for at least 5 days a week in conjunction with moderate-to-high intensity strength training at least two days a week can significantly improve your cardiovascular health. One thing to keep in mind though: Daily exercise is a skill you get better at over time. As long as you stick with it, your results will be clear. So whaddaya say? Let's get moving!

7. Sleep.

Not only does catchin' some Zzzzs provide you with the energy you need to exercise daily, it also regulates your metabolism, repairs your muscles AND improves your memory so you can remember why you're working so hard to establish new habits. Try to get at least 7 to 8 hours of rest each night, and you may find yourself healthier and fitter in practically no time!

8. Sign Up for a Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program.

Medically supervised weight loss (such as our programs at NewMeMD ) provide effective treatment in a clinical setting with an experienced medical doctor or other licensed healthcare professional. Our hCG Weight Loss regimen, for example, consists of various phases which are tailored to the needs of each of our patients who are seeking weight loss. This includes a one-on-one lifestyle evaluation, prescription medications (based on our doctors' recommendations), suggested meal planning, continual weight loss support, nutritional guidance and regular monitoring of your blood pressure/heart rate.

One of the most important rules for achieving your goal weight isn't about having good luck or being on a starvation diet-- it's actually about adopting healthy habits and sticking with them.

If you've been struggling with dropping those unwanted pounds or are searching for a safe & effective weight loss program VISIT OUR WEB SITE NOW for more information or call NewMeMD to get started TODAY: (251) 287-9714.

Here's to a fitter, slimmer YOU!
--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team

Out of House & Home: How to Eat Out WITHOUT Splurging on All the Calories

Increasingly busy lifestyles, long work hours and numerous daily commitments mean eating out has definitely become a daily part of our modern lives.

Unfortunately for those of us who love to enjoy a restaurant meal, it likely means many extra calories consumed because of the mix of larger portion sizes, the heavy use of oils or butter, as well as the fat-laden sauces on top of the marvelous main courses which are included (although we could request our entrees be prepared without them, right?!).

If you're one of the many Americans finding yourself seated at a local restaurant booth more than once a week, let us help you dodge the excess caloric consumption. Here's a fail-proof guide from our NewMeMD wellness team so you can enjoy eating out without going overboard:

1. Always have a snack before you go.
Arriving in a restaurant or post-work function while you're absolutely starving is a recipe for disaster when it comes to portion (and calorie) control. In this state of mind, you are more than likely to succumb all the entrees, drinks and extras that come along with it. For this reason, grabbing a protein-rich bar, some raw veggie sticks with cottage cheese or hummus or even gulping down a protein shake an hour before your meal will help take the edge off of those ravenous feelings so you're able to make better choices from the menu!

2. Choose your cuisine carefully.
In case you weren't already aware... Indian, Chinese and Thai foods tend to contain extremely high levels of fat, because they're comprised of sauces which are heavy on saturated fat (aka the "bad fat!"). Some dishes also involves a lot of batters, trans fats, MSG or other types of fattening oils for frying. With this combination of high-fat curries and fried foods eaten with large amounts of white rice, noodles and/or breads... it's easy to see how a calorie overload can result. So which are healthier alternatives? Japanese, Greek and even modern Australian cuisines have a better and wider range of menu options that could help you make better and much lower-calorie choices!

3. Size does matter.

The truth has always been known, that if we simply eat smaller portions of everything, way fewer of us would have weight problems. If possible, try to always focus on lighter menu options (the selection at restaurants nationwide are abundant these days). When your meals are brought to the table- if it involves portions of pasta, rice or meat far larger than what you know need to fill you up, simply visualize how much you know you'd eat at your home dinner table, and take the excess off your plate to share it with your fellow diners!

4. Add vegetables.
This is one of the biggest problems with dinners (or lunches) being had away from home. Veggies are something we all need for good health, but they're also something that can also help us feel fuller and satisfied at every meal. While they can sometimes be expensive when ordered as sides, "eating your veggies" is well worth paying the extra price to both help bulk up your meal, and to prevent giving into the temptation of noshing on extra chips or even more bread.

5. Always share your dessert. 
When it comes to desserts, no one is insisting you avoid them completely. The most pleasurable part of dessert is actually gained within your first few mouthfuls, so keep your portion small... Because after noticing the average dessert typically contains as many calories as your entire meal, it'll make sense why you should definitely share it with all people at your own table (and the one next to yours, if they're open to the idea)!

Easy enough, right? Abiding by these 5 steps when dining away from your own dinner table can definitely have an impact on how many calories you consume as well as the effect overeating can have on your waistline. 

Contact us TODAY or  visit our site NOW for additional weight management support or for information about our weight management products & services.

Here's to eating right, out of house & home!

--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team

Hunger Games: 4 Solutions to Enduring Your 1st Week of Your Weight Loss Program

Changing your diet. It’s not as easy as everyone thinks (as many of you already know), which is why powering through the initial days of your recent lifestyle change or your medical weight loss program can be difficult. 

Truth is, you may experience hunger pangs, nagging cravings or even unusual food-related thoughts racing through your mind during your first week. Guess what? You're not alone-- Many of us can relate.

Fortunately there are several easy ways to cope with feeling hungry during these moments... and our NewMeMD wellness team would like to share 4 of those potential solutions with you:

#1: Try Pickles.

If your cravings are haunting you about reaching for something salty and crunchy, try having some dill pickles. They're not only fat-free and carb-free, these cucumbers-in-disguise are also allowed during your prescription hCG program. Just be sure though, that the pickles you peck at don't contain added sugars and that you're not exceeding your recommended calorie limit for the day.

#2: Have a little snack.

Considering you will have a little wiggle room on your new reduced calorie regimen, noshing on something nutritious in between meals to curb your hunger is okay (in fact, we highly recommend it). For dieters in general, dried fruit or a handful of nuts are great options. If you're on an hCG program, however, opt for fresh fruit & veggies or any of the other snack suggestions listed on your "allowed foods" list.

#3: Drink extra water.

To make your stomach feel full, gulping down more H2O can help decrease the severity of those tormenting hunger pangs. Try drinking 8-12 ounces of water within 30 minutes of feeling hungry. By doing so you may even find that you were just thirsty or dehydrated instead of ravenous (our minds tend to confuse the two).

#4: Drink Tea.

Did you know your metabolism can actually slow down to conserve energy when your body isn't properly hydrated? That's right. So if you want to boost your metabolism for maximum calorie burning, drink up! One creative way to ramp up your water consumption is to make tea. Mint, peppermint, oolong, yerba mate and green teas (organic green tea is especially great for hCG dieters) can be ideal beverages for filling up... and they can also do wonders for suppressing your appetite.

Enduring the first week of a new diet, medical weight loss program or just about any type of lifestyle/behavioral change can be tough... but it can also be much easier by implementing solutions as simple as these. Try incorporating them TODAY... so you can stick to your guns about shedding that unwanted fat. For good.

You can do this!
--Your NewMeMD Wellness Team


For information about our NewMeMD physician-supervised weight loss programs & services CLICK HERE to visit our web site!