Now, in a rush of concern over the obesity epidemic, their latest tagline is "Coming together" to fight obesity. The new commercials tell you Coke is going to protect your health by selling "smaller portion sizes and offering more low- and no-calorie choices."

If you think choosing low- and no-calorie choices are better for you than drinking a full-flavored can of coke, you might be surprised.
Just wait until you hear about this…

The average American consumes between 41 and 50 pounds of "added" processed sugar each year. That makes the average consumption between 150 and 175 pounds of sugar per year."Added" sugar is the amount above and beyond what you would naturally find in the food supply. HFCS wasn't widely used until the late 1970's. Today, over two-thirds of adults over 20 years of age are considered overweight or obese.

Real life isn't like The Biggest Loser. Chances are pretty good you aren't going to be offered $100,000 to $250,000 to get into shape. Fact is, when it comes to weight loss most folks are on their own. And it's not always easy. One of the biggest mistakes I see over and over again, is the concept of dieting.

You may not realize it but your spring allergies are likely symptoms of an overactive immune response. When that happens, it's easy to reach for an over-the-counter antihistamine. And if it that doesn't work, you can always ask your doctor for one of prescription strength. But it turns out that while some antihistamines might make you drowsy, almost all of them can make you fat!

Past research has repeatedly linked body mass index, belly fat and obesity with diabetes, heart disease and an increased risk of death. But only recently has the same link been connected to skinny fat. And even more so than any other factor.

So let's take a look at what some of this new research is showing. But I warn you. It's not pretty, and I'm not going to sugar-coat it.

Today I'm going to tackle all of your exercise concerns – from one end of the spectrum to the other – with a whole-body workout anyone can do. It addresses lower body strength, upper body strength and most important of all, core body strength. If you're in top-notch shape, you'll get a vigorous workout. If you're using a walker, you'll get a pretty energetic workout, too.

The holidays create a perfect storm for weight gain. And for those who were already battling weight before the holidays, it's a real humdinger.

So January's a great time to start back at ground zero.

Now, the following advice isn't limited to those of you moaning over the "I feel so fat after the holiday blues." It's equally effective for anyone… and everyone who needs to get rid of excess weight.

I'm not a fan of food and supplement fads. I usually prefer to let the dust settle – and double-check the science – before I weigh in.

But today's topic is too important to put off any longer.

Now, the target of this fad has become so popular because it is effective in the battle that millions of Americans are losing – controlling their weight. While this is an important benefit, it's not the main reason I want to share it with you today.

Rather, it's how effective it is at controlling blood sugar that has me so excited about it.

I'm talking about green coffee bean extract.

These days there's a lot of hype over anti-aging solutions. Some of them have solid scientific evidence behind them. Others are just another name for “snake oil” and do nothing to extend your life.

But what if there really was an oil that could hold back the hands of time on your aging clock? Well, groundbreaking research now reveals this might actually be true.

Except it isn't snake oil...

If you think the best way to avoid diabetes is to eat less sugar, you could be in trouble. Even if you aren't overweight, and don't have a typical diabetic profile.

Because one of the foods that puts the most people in danger of diabetes is not technically thought of as a sugary food. Worse, it is considered part of a healthy diet, even by the American Diabetic Association.

I'm talking, of course, about wheat.

We're all living under what I call The Great Cholesterol Hoax. And we're all paying the price. You see cholesterol is not the problem. And statins won't help.

In fact, they'll do more harm than good. Sometimes, my patients doubt me. They ask: "How could the medical community have been so wrong for so long about cholesterol?" They aren't sure whether to trust me – or their last doctor – or anyone. But when I tell them it's possible to ditch all the meds… to stop suffering from all of those side effects… and to get out from under the financial burden of their monthly drug bill… they're ready to listen. And today, I'm going to share with you what I share with them…

While eggs have mostly been redeemed, I still find a lot of misinformation in both the popular press and the medical community about whether or not they should be included in your diet and in what quantities.

The truth is, eggs are a near-perfect food that deserve an esteemed place in your diet. And it's past time to clear up all the confusion about eggs and your health.

If there's one thing we all know we "should" do to stay healthy, it's exercise. But many of us struggle to exercise regularly. We stop and start, fit it in here and there, without really committing to a regular routine.

But a compelling new study has convinced me to add strength training to that recommendation and incidentally to my own routine twice weekly. When I share the results, I'm sure you'll understand why I feel so strongly – and urgently – about this topic now. You might even take off for the gym before you get to the end of this issue!

There are two relatively newly-discovered hormones that control your appetite. Ghrelin, which tells you when to eat. And leptin, which tells you when you're full. When these signals are not in synch with your body's actual food needs, it not only effects how much you eat, but also, how much energy you have.

If there is one complaint I hear more than any other about aging, it’s the decline of energy most people begin to feel in their 40’s… and that continues – and worsens – with every decade.

Aging may be natural, but so is energy and vitality. And feeling more energetic at any age can dramatically change how you feel about your age, regardless of what number you’ll celebrate on your next birthday.

Studies have shown that this diet can counter obesity and diabetes, improve heart health, and even protect you against some forms of cancer. Since these are the top health challenges facing America today, it's no wonder you might be hearing more and more about this approach to both eating – and living.

Why You Aren't Losing Weight

Losing weight is less about willpower than you might think. And it's more about famine physiology. In other words, you might think you're dieting. But your body thinks it's starving. You see, when you deprive your body of food, it assumes there's a long-term famine at hand. It begins to store fat to survive. Which means, the more you deprive your body of food, the more fat it stores. Making dieting one of the fastest ways to train your body to get – and stay – fat.

How To Get Rid of Toxic Waist

Research is revealing, in gory detail, just how toxic the stored fat around your belly can be… and how detrimental it is to your health. It’s not good, to say the least. Most people consider fat nothing more than overeaten, unused calories. It collects inside our bodies and turns into clumps of plump, useless cells. Thanks to recent research, we are getting a much more complex picture of what fat is and how it works. And a few clues about how to get rid of it.

The Resolution Report: Issue #6

After most articles covering topics on food, nutrition or supplements, there is usually a sentence that says, "check with your doctor." And in fact, we recommend the same thing. Because aligning general recommendations with your health needs is important. But when you try to check with your doctor, you discover how little they know about food and nutrition… and maybe they don't believe in using supplements at all. Or they don't know enough about them, so they push you towards a pharmaceutical product.

The Resolution Report: Issue #5

We consider it normal to have to use an alarm clock to get up in the morning… and to hit the snooze button 25 times. We think watching television is putting us to sleep, not keeping us awake. Or that losing our memory as we get older is normal, not a consequence of long-term sleep deprivation. Most of us believe the 8-hours-a-night guideline applies to everyone else, but not us. That we can make do with less. Not true. None of it. Here's what is true…

The Resolution Report: Issue #4

In a time long, long ago, in some perfect world (perhaps of our imagination), we got every vitamin and nutrient we needed from our food. We didn’t fear eating anything toxic or bad for us. We got enough sun every day, plenty of clean water. Kids didn’t talk back to their parents. And the tooth fairy was generous and always remembered to come in the middle of the night.

The Resolution Report: Issue #3

This third issue of my special New Year’s Resolution Report is about movement for your mind and body… Notice I didn’t say exercise.

First of all, I’m pretty sure one more person telling you how important it is to exercise wouldn’t be particularly helpful. And know that if you feel resistant to the idea of exercise, you are far from alone. This is because developing the habit of exercise is completely unnatural. We weren’t made to exercise, we were made to move.

The Resolution Report: Issue #2

Should you eat for your blood type? Like a caveman? Like a rabbit? Seems like the more complicated it becomes to eat right, the easier it is to throw up our hands and give up. But since it's part of a very important New Year's resolution that I'm encouraging you to make, I want to make it as simple as possible for you.

The Resolution Report: Issue #1

This time every year, millions of people resolve to improve their health. Gym memberships surge. Dieting book sales and Weight Watchers memberships skyrocket. And for a week or maybe even a month, we all do our best. But in most cases, our best doesn’t get us very far.

How Do You Know If You're Fat?

As our understanding of obesity and its risks have gotten more sophisticated, our ability to assess body fat relative to our body mass has become more important.With sophistication, however, comes confusion.

Are You Getting Enough of This Super Anti-Aging Nutrient?

Lately, there seems to be an endless array of products promising to halt and even reverse the aging process. And some like resveratrol may live up to the hype. But separating the worthwhile from the worthless isn’t always easy.

Do this for Super Health Benefits

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of exercise as a way to stay young, healthy and energetic. But if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, here are 6 more reasons why you should get moving:

6 Steps to Breaking the New Epidemic

If it's not The Biggest Loser, it's Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Now I know—America is overweight—it's something I see in my practice every day. It's become the new American epidemic. But I'm not sure exploiting this on television will solve the problem.

Rethink That Diet Drink!

Soda doesn’t just boost the amount of empty calories we take in. Both regular and diet soft drinks also create a dangerous overload of caffeine and potentially hazardous, nutrient-depleting additives. This can stress the kidneys and may eventually double the risk of kidney disease.

Have Hollywood Stars Found The Fountain Of Youth?

Many Hollywood movie stars seem blessed with an uncanny ability to fight aging.  Their skin remains smooth with very few lines and wrinkles, their hair is thick and shiny, and they’ve still got great muscle tone with very little fat.

Drink This To Stay Young

There’s one beverage that I rely on to not only quench my thirst, but to help keep cancer, diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s at bay.

The Butterfly Effect and Your Weight

The thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck, pretty much rules your body.

Not All Fats Are Evil

Nuts are a reminder that not all fats are evil. It’s true that nuts are loaded with fat, accounting for as much as 95 percent of their calories.

Why Fiber Matters

You might not think it’s the most exciting nutrient on the planet. But if you aren’t getting enough, you’re asking for trouble.  What is this mystery nutrient? Fiber.

Skinny Fat

Normal weight obesity: it sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Even if you look like you fall within a normal weight range, you can still have weight-related health issues.

Metabolism 101

How would you like to blaze through calories without sweating at the gym? Most of us would jump at such a plan—and plenty of diet products actually make these promises.

Turn Over A New Leaf

We all know how healthful olive oil is. It can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while raising your HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

The Secret Of Resveratrol

Patients often ask me if they should start drinking red wine. I’m really not surprised— reports touting red wine’s anti-aging benefits are all over the news. What is it about red wine that makes it so healthy?

Sweet Heart?

Lately, I’ve written a lot about the evils of sugar, especially because of its link to obesity and diabetes.

Fight Fat With Fat

Consuming fat to rid your body of fat may seem counterintuitive, but for one type of fat, it’s true! Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a unique fatty acid in grass-fed meat and dairy that can actually help dieters reduce body fat.

Live Longer With This Fat

Something’s fishy in the world of longevity medicine—and it could give new life to your aging cells, especially if you suffer from heart disease.

Can The Corn

When you think of sugar you probably think of sugar cane, or maybe beets. But a field of corn—probably not. But most of the sugar in the foods we eat and the beverages we drink today comes from corn.

Trans Fat's Sneak Attack

It’s no secret that trans fat is the worst kind of fat for your health. And yet, according to the FDA, more than 40 percent of the food on grocery store shelves contains trans fat.

4 Tips For Healthy Weight Loss

Every January, people set out their list of New Year’s resolutions. Topping that list? Taking off those extra pounds. And, the weight loss and fitness industry takes full advantage of the desire to be thin and fit with special offers promising miracles.

Avoid Portion Distortion

If stepping on the scale lately sends you into shock, you may be looking for ways to lose some of that excess weight. In my next bulletin, I’ll share my four-step plan for lasting weight loss. But no matter which weight loss plan you try, one critical secret of success is portion size.

The Best Carbs For Weight Loss

It’s hard to believe that 2009 has come and gone—and here we are in 2010. If you’re like me, I always think of the New Year as the perfect time for a fresh start. For many, that means a renewed commitment to losing that excess weight.

Curb Food Cravings With Tryptophan

Recent studies have discovered that people who are extremely overweight have chronically low levels of tryptophan. Blood levels of tryptophan also plummet when you are on a crash diet.

The Longevity Supplement

Have you ever noticed that people have thinner arms and legs as they get older? As we age it becomes harder to keep our muscles healthy. They get smaller, which decreases strength and increases the likelihood of falling.

Stay Strong As You Age

Have you ever noticed that people have thinner arms and legs as they get older? As we age it becomes harder to keep our muscles healthy. They get smaller, which decreases strength and increases the likelihood of falling.

Have A Healthy Thanksgiving

Before sitting down to write this bulletin, I thought I’d get a jump on planning our Thanksgiving dinner. This year, instead of cooking all of the fat-filled, sugar-ladened favorites, I’m going healthy—lean roast turkey breast, lots of colorful vegetable dishes and whole wheat stuffing.

The Secret To A Vibrant Life

I've discovered that many people believe in the old saying that (to paraphrase Betty Davis) aging is not for sissies. In fact, I’ve heard from more than a few seniors that trying to manage the physical deterioration as they grow older is akin to the little Dutch boy plugging holes in the dike.

Why You Should Eat Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of the most misunderstood health foods around—but it’s one you should be eating every day. Chia has been around for centuries and the seeds have been a staple food source for the Native American people throughout history.

Additive-Free Diet

Unless you grow your own and make everything from scratch, you’re going to get much, if not all, of your food from the supermarket. It’s hard to eat an additive free diet, but there are some food additives that are necessary and others that you should be concerned about.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Helps Keep Weight Off

Most diet pills are designed to be taken in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. Not so with Alpha-Lipoic Acid. In fact, taking it while you’re dieting has no obvious benefit. But, the scientists say, it can “lock in” the benefits of a six-month weight loss program if it is taken afterwards.

The Truth About High Fructose Corn Syrup

It’s been called the “crack cocaine of food” by some health advocates. But now, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is getting an extreme makeover thanks to a new ad campaign.

The Power of Protein

Protein is made up of twenty different building blocks, called amino acids, arranged in thousands of different ways. It’s so prevalent that every cell in the human body contains protein.

Low Glycemic Index Diet

There is no proof that these high-priced tactics of hormone replacement can help keep you young, it may actually cause you harm. Secretagogues for natural pituitary stimulation are a much safer approach!

Secretagogues or HGH Supplements?

There is no proof that these high-priced tactics of hormone replacement can help keep you young, it may actually cause you harm. Secretagogues for natural pituitary stimulation are a much safer approach!

Benefits of Exercise

Learn about the many long-term health benefits that make lifelong exercise so rewarding.

Omega 3's and Alzheimer's Disease

While modern medicine has failed to come up with a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, a simple nutritional change could help to prevent it or maybe even slow its progression.

Foods Rich in Vitamin E

Researchers may have found a natural remedy that delays the progression of the destructive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease – large doses of vitamin E.