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FTC Levies $25 Million Fine Against Diet Pill Firms
The Federal Trade Commission today announced fines and penalties of $25 million against the makers of four popular diet pills as part of an ongoing review of products that claim to boost weight loss with special formulas and secret ingredients that have not been adequately studied. The fines were imposed as part of a settlement with the makers of Xenadrine EFX, One-A-Day Weight Smart, Cortislim and Trimspa - popular pills with combined sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Much of the money will be returned to consumers, although FTC chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said details of the refund program are still being worked out. The companies involved ranged from what FTC officials described as "fly-by-night" operations that are already bankrupt to multinational drug giant Bayer Corp.
Trans fat war gains local allies
A few local restaurants cater to their health-conscious clientele by serving up food free of trans fat. But a war being waged against this particularly unhealthy fat may soon give customers more trans fat-free options. More and more people know that trans fat is unhealthy and seek restaurants that avoid it, said Jennifer Stucky, manager at The Natural Cafe in San Luis Obispo. "The base of our clientele comes here because they know we make things from scratch and try to avoid additives, preservatives and trans fats," Stucky said. Trans fat has gained a reputation as the ultimate evil in the nutrition world. The mostly man-made fat is directly linked to raising levels of unhealthy cholesterol and contributing to coronary heart disease the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Oceanside author touts benefits of the Stone Age diet
As Starbucks, Taco Bell and KFC move to cut artery-clogging trans fats from their menus, health experts such as Dr. Phil Goscienski are cautioning people not to perceive these changes as a health panacea. With or without trans fat, Goscienski warns, those bakery-case confections, warm biscuits and crunchy corn tortillas are part of a homogeneous modern diet responsible for an alarming onset of chronic disease. Goscienski's solution? Take a page from history. "Our Stone Age ancestors didn't get coronary artery disease, osteoporosis or type 2 diabetes," he said, "and it's not because they didn't live long enough." The Oceanside author will discuss the benefits of adopting diet and activity levels of prehistoric man during his presentation, "Health Secrets of the Stone Age," at 11 a.m.
Personal Fitness: Belly Busters & Back Pain
All your personal fitness, exercise and diet questions answered by an experienced fitness instructor. This week, advice on losing the Christmas tummy and exercise advice for bad backs. Mel Poulson is a tutor at Lifetime Training, and has over ten years experience in personal training and GP referral instructing. Below she answers your fitness questions to help you get and stay in shape. If you have a fitness question you would like answered by Mel, all you have to do is submit your question using the Comment on this Article box below. And remember - sign-up to our monthly health and fitness newsletter to receive your expert answer direct in your in-box. Jane Page from London writes: I want to tone-up my belly, which has grown over the Christmas period. What exercises/activities should I try to do to get back in shape? Mel's Answer: This is such a common problem following the Christmas period.
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