WE INVESTIGATE THE LATEST DIET AND DETOX HELPERS

I learned last week, during my visit to hormone and anti-ageing expert Prof. Farid, that I have got high blood pressure. I was shocked! I know that this is a condition that affects millions of people and its a warning sign that the body is malfunctioning.

I put my symptoms down to my neglect of my usual exercise regime - biking everywhere when possible and jogging - and a lot of stress.

I also need to drop some kilos so today I got back on my bike. I also thought I would give myself some help with the latest natural plant supplements and diet meal replacements. These two are both new onto the market:

FucoXanThin

This is a new breaththrough in weightloss thanks to the discovery of a natural plant caroteinoid - fucoxanthin(few-co-zan-thin) which has been found in brown seaweed. Like all of these supplements this is not a miracle product but used in combination with a healthy and sensible diet can help speed-up weightloss.

Fucoxanthin works by helping the white fat cells burn stored fat by thermogenesis - this happens with exercise and also by the cells themselves generating energy. Fucoxanthin helps the body boost its resting energy expenditure. The addition of pomegranate seed oil, which contains punicic acid, to stunt fat cell growth, makes the formula even more potent.

This product has been tested. In a clinical trial 110 overweight, non-diabetic women were given either a placebo or the new pill in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. Those taking the pill lost an average of 14.5 pounds of weight in 16 weeks compared to the placebo group who lost only 3 pounds in the same period.

One capsule is taken three times a day before food. It is a non-stimulant and can be taken later in the day. Costs £19.95 for a 90 capsule pot. Buy online at The Vitality Shop UK.

4.3.2.1. SHAPE UP ULTIMATE FROM ARKOPHARMA

Getting into the mood for a diet or healthy eating regime is not always easy - as most of us struggling with weight and metabolic issues can testify to. It's always inspiring though to see quick results at first without the use of drugs.

So news comes to me of a new product from the French company Arkopharma - they already have a great detox made of herbs, that tastes like tea called 4.3.2.1. Detox. Now they have launched 4.3.2.1 Shape Up Ultimate which has 10 plants in four distinct phases that work together to help give you keep on track. The multi-layered tablet is absorbed at the optimum rate to help your diet goals.

By the way Arkopharma has got some great products for menopausal and post-menopausal women including phytonutrients that stop hot flushes and face and body creams.

The great thing their new diet pill is that it is a natural, herbal product, which contains distinct plant groups which work independently to help burn fat, reduce water retention and detox the body. In a clinical trial, over eighty four per cent of women said that they had noticed their silhouette had become noticeably slimmer after just 28 days. All you need to do is take two tablets a day for 15 days and the herbs will kickstart the internal cleanse so that your body will be in the best shape to burn fat and see quick results so that you will be inspired to carry on with your good eating habits.

So what are these herbs?

* Fat burning plants; fennel is believed to remove fat from the
intestinal tract, whilst celery helps to ignite the endocrine system, with these hormones helping to break up accumulated fat
* Appetite-reducing plants; mucilage herbs, such as kola, have a
thick, slippery consistency that draw water and swell in the stomach, giving the feeling of being full, so helping to suppress the appetite
* Detoxifying plants; artichoke and dandelion help kick-start the
weight loss process and are frequently recommended to help with liver toxicity and gallbladder complaints
* Thermogenic herbs (natural stimulants); green tea speed up body
functions and the process for burning calories
* Natural diuretic plants; kola helps create water weight loss and
eliminate the broken-down waste and toxins pulled out from the body

In more detail these are:

-4 Plants to combat excess fat: Mate, Kola, Green tea, Green coffee
3 plants to combat excess sugar: Bean pod, Cinnamon, Fenugreek
2 plants to combat water retention: Dandelion, Grape extract
1 plant to combat the toxins that congest the liver: Artichoke
4.3.2.1 Ultimate is available from independent health food stores and pharmacies, at selected Nutricentre stores and http://www.nutricentre.com/(rrp £12.50).

I will be trying both these new supplements out and will let you have my feedback in a couple of weeks.

Sometimes its difficult to keep to the right calorie allowance and diet meal replacements can be the answer - far better to drink something with all the required nutrients than snack on crisps etc.

NOT ALL DIET SHAKES ARE THE SAME! - read about the latest and best in our Tried & Tested

Tomorrow we look at a new hand-held laser than can rejuvenate both face and body and tell you about a new anti-ageing device on sale exclusively in Harrods.

ANTI-AGEING AND DIET - WE SEEK ADVICE FROM A WORLD EXPERT

Firstly, I would like to apologise for those of you who have been following my diary and waiting on the latest news - I promise regular reports from now on - from the front line of anti-ageing around the world. The reason for the absence of our blog was the exciting challenge of relaunching our magazine ELIXIR INTERNATIONAL. We pleased to let you know that it will be going on sale as a superglossy quarterly in W.H. Smith, Tesco and luxury hotels and spas in the UK, and there will also be international distribution including on cruise ships, spas and other luxury outlets.

I have decided to kick-start my own anti-ageing regime with a visit to Professor Nadir Farid MBBS, FCRP (Lon), FACP in London's Wimpole Street. Prof. Farid, pictured left, is a world-leading endocrinologist - that is a seriously qualified expert in hormones.

As anyone in anti-ageing knows hormones are the body's chemical messengers and which unfortunately decline with age or get unbalanced and cause all sorts of health problems from depression, to overweight, infertility and loss of libido.

Prof Farid is a particular expert in fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome(PCS) and weight issues caused by insulin resistance - that is when the body keeps producing more insulin to get rid of sugar in the blood, with the end result that many of us end up putting on dangerous weight around the middle and may even be on the way to getting type 2 diabetes, a heart attack or stroke.

I visited Prof Farid at his clinic, The London Endocrine Clinic where we discussed the current obesity epidemic. He says that 50% of the population suffers from insulin resistance which is says was a valuable asset in the days when we were hunter gathers and we had to live through food shortages and famine.

But in today's world when there is too much food, particularly too much of the wrong food and we are all eating too much sugar and carbohydrate its is causing a big problem.

Dr Farid obviously knows what he is talking about - the desk in his consultation room has the photos of happy mothers who were able to conceive after his advice and treatment. There are also the letters from men and women who have been able to transform their bodies by loosing weight after his treatment.

How does he do this? I find out for myself by undergoing a consultation. Prof Farid is very thorough. First of all he undertakes a detailed lifestyle questionnaire which includes: diet, sleeping patterns, work & lifestyle balance, allergies, whether you have suffered from weight & food issues such as anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating disorders, alcohol and any other personal and health issues.

Next a weigh-in at the scales, blood pressure measure and a physical examination. In my case Prof Farid remarks that although I am only slightly overweight, but if he were a betting man that he would bet that I am too insulin resistant। He is also concerned about my high blood pressure। This is shocking news to me as I have never suffered from high blood pressure. I can only put this down to stress and not cycling and jogging as frequently as I have done. I know I must deal with this and get back to a disciplined regime.

Next I am to take a whole lot of blood tests - everything from my hormone levels including insulin, to oestrogen, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid to the nasties such as bad cholesterol (LDL) and those other fats tryglicerides.

During the course of our conversation I learn that Prof. Farid is himself insulin resistant. He keeps it in check with a Low Glycemic Diet which is the diet he recommends to patients - that is eating foods that release their energy slowly into the blood stream. These are mostly high-protein foods rather than carbohydrates such as bread, pasta and potatoes. He also says he has given up alcohol completely because of the carbs. This is not good as I know that a glass of red wine is highly recommended for its anti-ageing properties - not only the magic ingredient resveratrol which is found in red grapes but also because it helps keep down LDL levels and is helpful against heart attack and stroke.

I will let you know the results of my blood test when I get them. In the meantime I am going to see the dietician at the clinic and I will also share these recommendations with you.

In my next blog I will also tell you about some of the latest non-invasive anti-ageing treatments for sagging skin - on the face, arms and tummy and anywhere else for that matter. These new treatments are really exciting because whilst I believe "no pain no gain" these are not painful and surprise surprise they do work!I will let you know what happened when I tried them out.