Nutrition Know-How
First for Women
By: Ann Louise Gittleman
October 13, 2008

Can tap water cause weight gain?

When a friend visited me in my new home, she commented on the chlorine smell of the tap water. I hadn’t really noticed it, but she went on to warn me that chlorine can cause weight gain. I already have 20 pounds to lose—will my tap water make me even heavier?

It might. While the chlorine in tap water is meant to be a sanitizer, it also kills beneficial bacteria in the gut. With too little of these probiotics in the system, the bad bugs, particularly candida yeast, grow out of control. These critters trigger cravings for sweets and quick-digesting carbohydrates like white bread, which results in weight gain.
Besides eating more plain unsweetened yogurt, which is rich in probiotics, I advise using a Doulton Ceramic Water Filter ($200 and up, from Uni Key Health; First readers can get 15 percent discount by calling (800) 888-4353 and mentioning this article.) These models are a bit pricier than other water filters, but they’re more effective at reducing contaminants.

Are there better and worse body-fat types?

My son, who is a personal trainer, is constantly nagging me to exercise more. Like the other day, he told me how a little weight training encourages pre-fat cells to become calorie-burning cells rather than useless blubber. Sounds dandy, but I still cant stand working out. Is there a dietary way to get this benefit?

Its true that immature fat cells have one of two fates: They can become white blubbery fat that collects on the belly and thighs or they can become metabolically active brown fat that burns calories for energy. You can push your cells to become brown fat by consuming the healthy fatty acid gammalinolenic acid (GLA). This is a building block for chemicals called protaglandins, which drive the fat-cell switch. GLA is found in liquid and pill forms of borage, evening primrose and black currant seed oils. The proven dose is 500 mg to 2,000 mg daily.

Help! My new job is making me fat.

After years of working as a go-go-go ER nurse, I’ve been promoted to an administration position. The pay is great but all the sitting has caused me to gain six pounds—and I’m only a month into the job! Do I have to overhaul my eating habits?

You don’t need to go on a strict diet. Recent studies point to a phenomenon called “the office15,” where people seem to gain about 15 pounds in the first few months of starting a desk job. The lack of physical activity causes a chronic rise in blood sugar and the stress-hormone cortisol, both of which can lead to belly-fat storage. The good news: Scientists have found that even a tiny bit of activity at least once an hour keeps these fat-packing mechanisms in check. Try setting an alarm on your computer to remind you to move once or twice every hour. You can walk to the restroom or do a “deskercise” like rapidly tapping your feet for 30 seconds. For even faster slimming , sip at least three cups of oolong tea a day. It balances blood sugar and cortisol levels, plus enhances healthy fat oxidation so more consumed fat is broken down rather than stored.