Nutrition Know-How
First for Women
By: Ann Louise Gittleman
July 21, 2008

Can seltzer really cause weight gain?

I don’t like to drink plain water, so I usually bring flavored seltzer to work.  I figured that seltzer is just a bubbly version of regular water, but then I read online that all carbonated drinks are acidic, and that this excess acidity causes weight gain!  Is this true?

There’s probably no reason to swear off seltzer.  It is true that the carbonation process has an acidifying effect on beverages.  And elevated acidity in the body has been linked to disruptions in nutrient levels, which can lead to weight gain.  But seltzer is not nearly as acidic as bubbly beverages like cola, which typically contain additional pH-lowering ingredients such as sugar and preservatives.  That said, if you’re concerned about the possibility of putting on pounds, try flavoring plain seltzer with alkalinizing fruit such as pineapple, lemon, kiwifruit, or pear.  Simply chop the fruit and let a few spoonfuls soak at the bottom of the bottle as you drink.

Why does eating leave me hungrier?

I’ve been trying to lose the same 43 pounds for months now.  My main problem is that I always want seconds—and thirds—after finishing my meals.  It’s like I’m never satisfied!  To make matters worse, I’m so exhausted that I can barely move.  What wrong with me? 

Don’t be so hard on yourself.  These are signs that your adrenal glands are over-worked, a condition that affects up to 30 percent of women.  Normally the glands produce just enough of the hormone cortisol to regulate appetite, metabolism and wakefulness.  But when factors like stress or nutritional shortfalls strain the adrenals, cortisol levels can spike or plunge, producing symptoms such as an insatiable appetite, a sluggish metabolism and fatigue.  The good news is that you can heal the adrenal glands just by increasing your intake of zinc and vitamin B5, a nutrient pair proven to improve the glands’ resiliency.  Aim to consume three to five daily servings of zinc and b5-rich foods such as beef, fish, chicken and eggs.  Adrenal function should start to bounce back within 14 days, normalizing cortisol levels to curb appetite, speed metabolism and restore energy for a weight loss of up to five pounds per week.

Yikes!  Fresh fruit makes me gassy.

Whenever I dig into the fruit and veggies at summer parties, I end up passing gas.  Last week at my company picnic, I had to sneak behind a tree so no one would hear me!  How do I avoid gassiness without skipping the produce? 

When people suddenly increase their intake of fruit and vegetables, the small intestine can have difficulty breaking down the food’s soluble fiber.  This forces digestion-aiding intestinal bacteria to work overtime, a process that generates gas.  The easiest fix: Supplement with cellulose.  The enzyme breaks down soluble fiber in the digestive tract, reducing the demand on intestinal bacteria and thus eliminating gassiness.  One brand I like: Enzymedica Digest, which contains a beneficial dose of 200 CUs of cellulose.  Take up to three capsules 30 minutes before your next picnic and you should notice a difference.