The "START" 30 Day High-Nutrition, Weight Management Program is a proven, whole food, herbal-based, and high nutrition program (providing adequate protein but not the so-called high (meat) protein diet). It is a perfect union of Western science, and Eastern herbal traditions. Never before have these proven approaches been brought together to help people lose weight safely and effectively. By following this breakthrough program, weight comes off fast and stays off. This weight-loss plan is healthy, convenient and portable, and includes food that can be prepared at home, the office or on the road. Also a grest program for your children.

The science behind the diet The "START" 30 Day High-Nutrition, Weight Management Program requires each person to eat one quarter cup of freshly ground flax seed per day, in addition to the other foods we suggest. The flax seed alone contains 12 grams of fiber, 13 grams of protein and 9 grams of omega 3 fatty acids.First let's dispel the belief that protein must come from animal meat. It wasn't until the 1950's that human protein requirement studies were conducted. These human studies clearly demonstrated that adults require 35-50 grams of protein per day. (Rose, W. "The amino acid requirements of adult man." Nutritional Abstracts and Reviews 27:631 (1957). Today, the average American consumes 100-120 grams of protein per day, mostly in the form of animal products.

People who eat only a starch-based (strict vegetarian, or vegan) diet have been found to consume 60-80 grams of protein per day, well above the minimum "requirement." (Hardage, M. "Nutritional Studies of vegetarians." Journal of the American Dietetic Association 48:25 (1966). There are many good sources for protein, fat and carbohydrates to obtain your calories. In our weight management program proteins are found in flax seed, raw soaked nuts, grains, vegetables, and other food herbs. Rich sources of fat include first/cold press olive oils, soaked nuts, flax, and sunflower seeds. Carbohydrates are found in food herbs, raw vegetables, fruits, sprouted grains (oats, barley, millet, brown and wild rice) and foods made from these sources. You may also eat an assortment of dressings and desserts that are made with these foods and still loose weight.

Omega 3 fats are so important in modifying the body's inflammatory response system, making them very helpful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases like allergies, asthma, arthritis, heart, and eczema. Studies have also shown that omega 3 fats can lower or adjust blood pressure, "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides by as much as 25% to 65%.

The next major point most doctors worry about in a diet is sufficient amino acids. The body is perfectly capable of taking incomplete proteins and making them complete by a recycling mechanism of mixing endogenous and dietary proteins. (Shills and Young, Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, Lea and Febiger, 7th Edition, 1988, pg. 11.)

All vegetables and grains contain all eight of the essential amino acids, as well as the twelve other nonessential ones. (Linder, Marla. Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. Elsevier, Inc. (1985). While some vegetables have higher or lower proportions of certain amino acids than others, when eaten in amounts that satisfy one's caloric needs a sufficient amount of all essential amino acids is provided. Most of the foods you eat today are loaded with huge quanties of what can best be labeled as dead in carbohydrate value. Dead from the stand point that there are few enzymes, vitamin, minerals, and amino acids in these foods. The carbohydrates most people receive today come from processed, and over cooked foods.

It is rare to sit down to a meal or grab a snack that does not contain these carbohydrates. At your last restaurant meal, did you enjoy some of the bread on the table while you waited for your order? Did you have over cooked rice or potatoes with your entree? Did you enjoy a "bite" of dessert? With practically every forkful, dead carbohydrates are entering your system. If you eat these you will store these carbohydrates as fat. They do not satisfy you hunger and eventually just add to it. So the first step in a successful diet is to eliminate all of those foods.

The body prefers to use carbohydrates as fuel, followed by fats and then protein. If the body does not have enough carbohydrates, it will switch to burning fat, and then to protein. For a few days after you restrict carbohydrates the body will burn protein (muscle) trying to trick you into eating more carbohydrates, before it will turn on the fat and start burning it. It is during this period that most people are tricked into getting off the diet. Because we know which fats are bad for you, we have created guidelines of what fats should be eaten and what fats you should avoid. There are good fats and bad fats. Good fats include certain nuts (brazil, pecans, walnuts, and almonds) after they are soaked for 6 to 12 hours, monounsaturated oils (olive, avocado oils) and Omega-3 fats (flax seed, or oil, hemp seed, or oil, grape seed oil).

These fats have been clinically demonstrated to lower a person's risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, and are encourage on the "START" High-Nutrition, Weight Management Program. With the "START" 30 Day High-Nutrition,Weight Management Program the body is adjusted to running on this new fuel source derived from body fat, most people experience increased energy, less hunger, fewer cravings, and they report feeling great.

The steps to a healthier new you The "START" High-Nutrition, Weight Management Program is a unique plan fitted to your individual needs. The focus of the program is on healthy high- nutrition, Ideal-fat and concentrated-carbohydrate foods in adequate quantity. We offer a formulated whole food herbal balanced diet that has great tasting meal replacements and snacks, which can be enjoyed as they facilitate the maximum burning of fat while keeping your body nutritionally fed. Most diets plans do not lead to permanent weight loss. These plans rarely facilitate transition back to a normal life without regaining the weight. That's not the case with the "START" High-Nutrition, Weight Management Program. It's specifically designed to help you lose weight ... and keep it off. Contact Geri for more information gfowler@spiritouch.com