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There are some foods that are unfairly given a bad rap by many people. Here we explain which products you are sure to have made a mistake about.

1. Potatoes

The potato. We eat them as an accompaniment to all dishes, but they are not really considered healthy. They are often labeled as fattening foods, but they are even suitable for losing weight. The potatoes have an incredibly high satiety index and are a valuable source of nutrients. The potato contains hardly any fat, but plenty of starch, fiber and, for these proportions, a lot of protein. The vegetables also contain a lot of potassium, B vitamins, phytochemicals, iron, magnesium and phosphorus.

Tip: Of course, this only applies to cooked, unprocessed potatoes. A portion of boiled potatoes with quark keeps you full for an incredibly long time and is often eaten by athletes to provide energy.

2. Eggs

There is a lot of power in eggs. They contain a lot of protein, which athletes in particular take advantage of. They also contain various vitamins, such as vitamins B, A, D and K. The key point with eggs is the natural protein that our body can fully utilize. In combination with the amino acids, the interaction is optimal, and they also fill you up for a long time.

Eggs were notorious for a long time because of their high cholesterol level, but this is only a concern for people who already have high levels in this area anyway. For healthy people this is not relevant.

3. Coffee

A morning without coffee is unthinkable for many people. It helps us to start the day fit or to get us out of the midday slump. Three to four cups of coffee are considered normal daily consumption. The drink is said to promote our performance and reduce the risk of diabetes. In addition, coffee stimulates intestinal activity, thus promoting the intestinal flora and reducing the risk of colon cancer. Even the liver function is said to be significantly improved by the caffeine drink.

4. Chocolate

It is already known to have a high magnesium content. So it is good for nerves and muscles. It helps with stress and tastes great too. Cocoa even contains iron and zinc. But the digestion also benefits from the sweets, because in moderation they have an anti-inflammatory effect and boost the metabolism. The higher the cocoa content, the healthier the chocolate. Instead of a chocolate biscuit, simply snack on a bit of dark chocolate.

5. Peanut Butter

More than just fat – the peanut butter. It sounds incredibly unhealthy at first. The newfangled, delicious, sweet spread from the USA. Unfortunately, the unhealthy stereotype also applies to some varieties, but as soon as you reach for a product that consists only of peanuts and a little salt, you are supplying your body with vitamin E, fiber and proteins. Vitamin E, for example, helps to preserve cognitive abilities, especially in older people.

6. Popcorn

Of course, this doesn’t mean the sweetened, caramel-covered XXL popcorn bucket from the cinema, but popcorn is actually not as unhealthy as many people think. However, there are also salty or natural variants. Because popcorn contains medium- and long-chain carbohydrates, which provide energy over a long period of time. The popped corn contains fiber and the volume of the grains ensures a long saturation phase, which is why it is sometimes even used to lose weight – this certainly sounds utopian to some, but many athletes use popcorn as a source of energy.

7. Corn

Even in its pure form, corn is a great food. It is often avoided due to its starch content, but it is actually packed with proteins, fiber and B vitamins. For example, corn is ideal for very thin or weak people, because the starch it contains in large quantities helps to build up weight and body mass.

8. Burritos

The Mexican dish has long since arrived in Germany and is eaten here at least as much as in its home country. However, they are not exactly considered “healthy”. But it depends on the filling, because if you adjust it, the burrito is anything but unhealthy. For example, choose brown rice, chicken, beans and avocado and this meal will give you everything you need for the day. This dish is full of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. However, you have to do without sour cream and cheese for the healthy version.

9. Bananas

Although the banana is a fruit, it is often considered unhealthy because of its high carbohydrate and sugar content. But due to its vitamin C, B6 and potassium content, it is actually very healthy. By the way, if it is a small fruit, it does not contain more calories than an apple.

10. Butter

She doesn’t have to let herself be taken away from bread. Butter contains saturated fatty acids, but also polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. As many people think, saturated fat has not been shown to be bad for heart or cholesterol.

Thanks to vitamins A, D, E, omega-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid, the butter is anything but unhealthy. The butter is just right for people with stomach problems because it is easy to digest. Due to the milk fat it contains, the food also has a positive effect on the risk of heart attack.

Researchers have found in a new study that an especially early breakfast reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Study on diabetes prevention: The investigations delivered the desired result

The Endocrine Society – an international medical organization concerned with endocrinology and metabolism in general – has published a press release on a study. The study was able to establish a connection between type 2 diabetes prevention and an early first meal of the day.

A study on the subject was conducted by senior physician Marriam Ali at Northwestern University in Chicago

Insulin resistance occurs when the body is no longer able to properly use the insulin produced by the pancreas. In addition, the glucose from food can then no longer penetrate the cells as well. People with insulin resistance are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people whose bodies are optimally processing insulin.

Metabolic diseases are becoming an increasing problem in society

“With the rise in metabolic diseases such as diabetes, we want to expand our understanding of what diets can address this growing problem.”

To do this, the researchers evaluated the data from 10,575 adults who had taken part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The participants divided them into three groups: people who ate for only 10 hours a day, those who ate for 10 to 13 hours, and those who ate more than 13 hours a day. They then divided them into six smaller groups based on the time the first meal of the day was eaten (before or after 8:30 am).

The researchers wanted to investigate whether insulin resistance and blood sugar levels in the body were lower when the subjects had breakfast before 8:30 a.m. In addition, they analyzed whether it also had a positive effect on insulin resistance and blood sugar levels if the subjects had practiced intermittent fasting.

The eating intervals turned out to be irrelevant: the timing of breakfast is crucial

The study found that how much of the day meals were eaten made no difference to blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance was slightly higher with shorter eating breaks than with longer ones. However, it was lower overall for all subjects if breakfast was eaten before 8:30 a.m. – regardless of whether they had eaten all of their daily meals within 10 hours, 10 to 13 hours or more than 13 hours. Eating breakfast before 8:30 a.m. has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“So these findings make it clear that timing is much more closely linked to metabolic parameters than the length of the eating interval,” says Ali, going on to explain that this reinforces the intake from an early breakfast.

During the lunch break, many people grab fast food – after all, there is often not much time to eat. However, there are 5 dishes that you should better avoid.

Fast food during the lunch break: because it has to be fast

Although such a lunch “to go” is anything but relaxed, it saves time and is usually delicious. The choice of the right lunch should not be underestimated. Most people leave much more time for breakfast and rethink their eating habits more often. But at midday work is pressing and people only eat because of hunger. Lunch is the prerequisite for an energetic and successful second half of the day.

In the long run, the unhealthy lunch breaks can become a habit and have some nasty side effects. Fast and stress eaters are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. These include obesity, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. In the short term, symptoms such as bloating or heartburn can be expected.

In order to prevent the mentioned possible side effects of permanently unhealthy lunches, you should avoid the following dishes in the future:

#1Pizza

A well-known lunchtime classic. A whole pizza is usually eaten up in just 30 minutes, because the break just doesn’t allow for more time. However, our favorite Italian food should remain the exception, because it contains significantly more sodium than the average adult needs per day. Elevated sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

#2 Sandwich

Even the popular sandwich or roll is not necessarily good for our body. A lavishly filled roll with greasy sauces or cold cuts usually covers half of an adult’s nitrite and nitrate requirement. It is better to choose a vegetarian alternative or a simple sandwich – without sauces.

#3 Burgers

The burger is also a popular lunchtime dish. Most of the time, fries and a soft drink are ordered as well. In combination, the calorie value of the meal naturally jumps up quite a bit. However, with this high-fat, calorie- and sodium-rich food, overweight, diabetes and high blood pressure must be expected if consumed more frequently.

#4 Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken is loaded with fat and sodium. In general, fried meals are often viewed very critically. In very large quantities, they often lead to cardiovascular problems and can even have fatal consequences.

#5 Hot Dogs

The well-known sausage with a roll, roasted onions and sauce almost completely fills the daily requirement of saturated fatty acids for an adult. In addition, there is a sodium intake that should not be underestimated, because a high sodium content can lead to high blood pressure. This also increases the risk of suffering a stroke or developing heart failure. In addition, excessive intake of fatty acids leads to higher cholesterol levels. This increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke even more.

Better: Tips for a healthy lunch

To avoid all side effects and dishes, but still enjoy a healthy and relaxed lunch break, here are a few tips:
60-30-10 principle: 60 percent of the break time is meal time, 30 percent exercise time and 10 percent relaxation time.
Eat in peace and take your time.
Choose lots of fruits and vegetables for your dish.
Avoid toppings on white bread, prefer whole grain rolls.
Consume animal products in moderation.
If possible, avoid fast food altogether.
Do you drink much

Many foods that most of us have at home are actually toxic – especially when raw. Here are seven toxic foods we still eat regularly.

bitter almonds

Almonds are a popular baking ingredient that packs a punch: Even five to ten raw bitter almonds can lead to fatal poisoning in children. This is because the amygdalin contained in the almonds is converted into toxic hydrocyanic acid in our body. Bitter almonds are usually only available in pharmacies, but it can happen that one of them is accidentally mixed with sweet almonds* in the supermarket. The problem: the almonds are visually indistinguishable.

But the all-clear is sound, because the poisonous bitter almonds don’t get their name by accident. And their bitter taste usually prevents you from eating more than one of them.

potatoes

Potatoes are actually a poisonous food. The reason for this is the solanine contained in the tubers. Solanine serves to kill rotting pathogens and thus protect the plant. The good thing is that most of the solanine is destroyed when the potatoes are cooked, making them safe for us. However, potatoes with green spots or sprouts should no longer be eaten, as this is where a particularly large amount of solanine is formed
Symptoms of poisoning with solanine range from headaches, vomiting, diarrhea or sore throats to severe poisoning that can be fatal. Older potatoes should therefore always be peeled.

cashew nuts

Cashew nuts are a popular and particularly healthy snack. But they are also poisonous in their original – uncooked – form, because they contain urushiol, a poison that can trigger strong reactions just by touching them. Fortunately, the poison is destroyed by heating, so the mostly roasted cashew nuts* from the supermarket are harmless.

By the way: The cashew nuts are often counted among the nuts. From a botanical point of view, however, they are not nuts at all, but the kernels of the cashew apple.

rhubarb

Rhubarb can also be poisonous. Because rhubarb contains the toxic oxalic acid, most of it in the leaves. If these are removed, the danger is manageable. In general, the more acidic the rhubarb, the more poisonous it is.

Green beans

Green beans actually sound very harmless and healthy. However, these are raw (just like almonds) only very limited edible. They also contain a toxin that is destroyed by heat: lectin phaseolin. In children, eating more than six green beans, for example from the garden, can lead to severe poisoning and even death. So be sure to enjoy the protein bombs cooked!

kidney beans

Kidney beans are also poisonous when raw. They contain the toxin phytohaemagglutinin, which is only destroyed by cooking. Caution: When cooking kidney beans, make sure that the water is really boiling and not just heated, otherwise there is a risk of poisoning and gastrointestinal problems.

manioc

When raw, manioc contains cyanide – i.e. hydrocyanic acid! And it’s highly toxic. That’s why you should never eat cassava raw. The cassava root comes from South America, but is now eaten all over the world. They can be peeled and chopped up, boiled in salted water and mashed – the result is a slightly sweet mashed potato. Manioc (also called “yuca”) also scores with many nutrients and vitamins, such as vitamin K. At the same time, the tuber is rich in starch – and calories.
Externally, cassava resembles a sweet potato, but has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Phosphates are all-rounders in the food industry and are contained in numerous foods. However, a high-phosphate diet carries health risks. You can read here which foods you should therefore remove from your diet.

Natural phosphates: essential substances for the body

Phosphates occur naturally in almost all foods and, according to the Apothekenumschau, are neither harmful nor toxic. Quite the opposite: They are energy carriers, an important part of cell membranes and are mostly located in the bones. In its natural form, the substance is strongly bound to animal or vegetable proteins.

Natural phosphate is found, for example, in wholemeal bread, egg yolk, meat and nuts. Without the mineral, our muscles would perish. The body absorbs only 50 percent of phosphates from plant foods and 70 percent from animal proteins.

It becomes problematic with artificial phosphates. These are mostly freely soluble and are usually completely absorbed. With processed convenience foods, the body is significantly damaged.

These foods can be replaced with lower phosphate products

Basically, experts advise healthy people, as well as people with kidney disease, to buy fresh food instead of ready meals. Flavor enhancers, cheese, sausage products and baking powder should therefore be avoided as much as possible.

Many phosphate-rich foods can easily be replaced with lower-phosphate products:
Use Brie or cream cheese instead of Emmental slices
Dilute cream with water instead of milk
White bread instead of whole grain bread
Lemonade and wine instead of beer and coke
Pretzel sticks instead of peanuts
Cornflakes instead of muesli
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment criticizes the fact that there are no limit values ​​for phosphates in food supplements. Manufacturers add minerals in the form of phosphorus salts such as calcium and potassium phosphate to the preparations because the body cannot absorb pure calcium and potassium at all.

Fructose: friend or foe? The natural sweetener has long been considered particularly healthy. But where is fructose really in and what makes it so harmful?

What is fructose and what is it?

Some drinks, for example, contain up to 40 grams of fructose per liter. Even a low-sugar yogurt can contain 15 grams of fructose. These are foods that contain a lot of fructose:
Fruit: apples, pears, mangoes, grapes, all dried fruits, cherries, canned fruits, fruit compotes
Beverages: fruit juices, lemonades, instant ice tea, other soft drinks
Confectionery/sweeteners: honey, pear syrup, applesauce, agave syrup, jam, jelly, ice cream, table sugar
Other: muesli, muesli/energy bars, fruit yoghurt

How much fructose is healthy?

Fructose itself has a positive image. But our digestion is not made for processing too much fructose. About every third person cannot tolerate more than 25 grams of fructose per day or suffers from fructose intolerance with stomach and intestinal problems. If you don’t tolerate fructose well, you shouldn’t do without fruit completely. There are many health-promoting ingredients in fruits

Five times a day vegetables and fruit are healthy, a portion of them in the form of juice. A study from 2020 showed that increased fruit consumption in particular promotes the diversity of the intestinal flora. So fruits do not harm the intestines despite the fructose content. Further intake of added fructose should be limited as much as possible. An intake of more than 35 grams per meal is considered questionable.

When shopping, generally pay attention to whether fructose, fructose or fructose-glucose syrup is on the list of ingredients. Fruit juices should only be drunk in moderation, a maximum of one glass per day

Symptoms of fructose overconsumption

Symptoms of fructose intolerance or excessive consumption of fructose include diarrhoea, insomnia, flatulence, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, headache, tiredness or even dizziness and mood swings.

What many health-conscious people often do not know: Excessive consumption of fructose can damage the intestinal flora, which causes stomach pain and diarrhea. Especially with foods that are sweetened with industrially produced fructose, the intestinal flora changes in a negative way and loses its healthy balance. In addition, high amounts of fructose can increase uric acid levels, which in turn can lead to gout if crystallization occurs in the joints

As early as 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) pointed out other possible metabolic disorders, which can promote lipid metabolism disorders, insulin resistance (diabetes type II) and obesity if too much fructose is consumed. Excessive intake of fructose can also lead to fatty liver

Does fructose make foods healthier?

Fructose is the natural sweetener in food. Of course, the food manufacturers benefit from this, because fructose or fructose syrup is also often used in food production instead of granulated sugar.

Fructose is much cheaper to produce and has a ten to twenty percent higher sweetening power than conventional sugar. Fructose also masks the unpleasant taste of sweeteners and enhances the fruity aroma in foods. Descriptions on the packaging such as “less sweet”, “less sugar” or “fruity sweetness” often indicate a high fructose content.

So that your health does not have to suffer, you should take a few measures:
Reduce your household sugar
Eliminate finished products with fructose from your diet
Drink fruit juice sparingly
Honey only in small amounts
Dried fruits only in small quantities
Get inspired by sugar-free recipes

In fact, everyone knows that arsenic is poisonous. But did you know that the toxin is also found in rice? In this article you will find out what dangers the substance poses to children.

How does arsenic get into rice?

Arsenic is a metalloid that occurs naturally in the ground – more or less often depending on geological conditions. Types of grain, including rice plants, absorb arsenic compounds through their roots. These get into the fruit via the metabolism.

Rice is grown in flooded fields because it thrives best in wet, humid conditions. More arsenic ends up in the rice plants via the water than in other cereals that are cultivated dry.

How much arsenic ends up on the consumer’s plate depends not only on the regional soil conditions, but also on the processing of the rice grains. Because the arsenic settles in particular on the edge of the grains.

How much arsenic does rice contain?

Consumers cannot see how much arsenic the purchased rice contains. According to the BfR, the amount of rice that an adult can eat without causing health problems has not yet been researched.

According to the Federal Institute, the average amounts of arsenic in white rice are between 0.1 and 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. Brown, so-called natural rice, contains more inorganic arsenic because the outer layers are largely removed from white rice. Higher amounts than in white rice were also measured in rice cakes and rice flakes.

Is that why children are not allowed to eat rice?

The BfR assessment, according to which it is not very likely that the consumption of rice leads to health risks, applies to all age groups: adults, the elderly as well as children and infants.

Nevertheless, the BfR recommends parents not to feed their infants and small children exclusively with rice-based drinks or complementary foods such as rice porridge. According to the experts, products such as rice cakes should also vary with snacks without rice.

In addition, the BfR points out that rice-based baby food does not meet the needs of infants anyway due to the unsuitable nutrient composition.

Does washing rice help?

It is difficult to wash out the arsenic compounds from finished products such as rice porridge or rice snacks.

For rice itself, the BfR recommends washing it in plenty of water and boiling it immediately before consumption. In the case of rice with small amounts of arsenic, some of this can migrate into the water.
The cooking water should be poured off immediately after cooking.

Arsenic-free rice coming soon?

In a study published in spring, a Chinese research team, including scientists from the University of Heidelberg, succeeded in finding a travel plant that defies dangerous arsenic.

The researchers exposed over 4,000 rice varieties to arsenic-containing water and observed their growth. Only one of the examined plants with the name “astol1” proved to be tolerant to the toxic metalloid.

The plant develops the amino acid cysteine, which is an important element for the plant’s own development of phytochelatins. These substances have a detoxifying effect and are formed by plants in response to pollutants. The neutralized arsenic is stored in the roots of the plant before it reaches the rice grains and can become dangerous to humans. Scientists consider this plant particularly suitable for agricultural use.

Those on a diet prefer to avoid pasta, bread and potatoes. Carbohydrates are not as bad as they are made out to be. We explain what happens to the body when we completely avoid carbohydrates.

1. Your performance decreases

In addition to fats, carbohydrates are among the most important sources of energy. If you do without carbohydrates, this will primarily be noticeable in your reduced performance. You tire more quickly, are less able to concentrate and generally feel weak and powerless.

2. You damage your digestion

Your digestion is going crazy and you are struggling with constipation? Avoiding carbohydrates may be to blame. Good carbohydrates help to strengthen your intestinal health and promote beneficial intestinal bacteria. The resistant starch in rice, wholemeal pasta or potatoes is particularly important for a good intestinal flora.

3. You lose muscle mass

Without carbohydrates on the menu, muscle mass is a long time coming or disappears again. If the body cannot fall back on carbohydrates, it uses the protein reserves. But these are exactly what you need to build muscle. The hard-earned training results? Completely free!

4. Your mood suffers

It’s not just your performance that suffers when you eat too few carbohydrates. You’re in a much worse mood too. It’s not for nothing that we get “hangry” when we haven’t eaten. Because carbohydrates not only satisfy hunger. It has been proven that they even make you happy. Food high in fat and carbohydrates activates the reward center. And that makes you happy.

Potatoes develop sprouts after a few days of storage. These increase the amount of solanine in the tuber. Many are therefore wondering whether sprouted potatoes should be eaten at all – because solanine is poisonous.

Potatoes have natural toxin in skin and sprouts

Basically, potatoes are one of the staple foods. Rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals. Their fat content is also low. The “German Society for Nutrition e.V.” therefore recommends “eating plenty of potatoes”.

However, potatoes are also rich in solanine – a toxic glycoalkaloid. It is a natural toxin that builds up just under the skin and especially in the sprouts. Solanine is also found under the skin of the potato, which is why you should peel potatoes in the future. The Bavarian consumer advice center therefore warns that the solanine content in “wrongly stored” potatoes in particular can rise to levels that are harmful to health.

If potatoes are stored at more than twelve degrees Celsius, the potato tubers often sprout prematurely. Like the green spots that appear when exposed to light, the shoots also contain poisonous solanine and other bitter substances.

Too much toxic solanine in sprouting potatoes

The more buds the potato has already formed, the more poison there is in the tuber. If potatoes are shriveled and soft due to incorrect storage, we should no longer eat them. The consequences are otherwise noticeable in irritated mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. These unpleasant symptoms can occur even after consuming as little as one milligram of solanine per body weight.

“Cutting away” the buds and liberally peeling the potatoes is often not enough, experts warn. Large areas of green or heavily sprouted potatoes should no longer be eaten. Eating unpeeled potatoes also increases the risk of consuming too much solanine.

Important: The cooking water from potatoes should not be used for anything else either. Because some of the solanine goes into the water.

Solanine is heat-resistant – it is better to cut off sprouts generously

Also treacherous: solanine is heat-resistant and remains largely intact even when cooking, roasting or deep-frying. Consumer advocates therefore advise buying potatoes in opaque packaging, such as paper bags, if possible. They should then be stored in a cool, dark place, for example in a cellar or pantry. If this is not possible, it is better to buy only small quantities and use them up quickly.

The rule of thumb is: If the germs are no more than one centimeter long, the solanine concentration is still low. If you cut off the sprouts generously, nothing stands in the way of consumption. If the sprouts are already very long – the tuber is densely covered with sprouts – it is better for the potato to go in the garbage. Potatoes with very green spots also contain a lot of solanine and should better be sorted out. It is often not enough to cut generously.

By the way: Solanine is also contained in other nightshade plants such as tomatoes. The bitter-tasting glycoalkaloid protects plants from predators.

The tactic is common among people trying to lose weight: starve during the day and eat at night. Not a good idea, says nutritionist Holger Klemm. He reveals how to do it better and how to ensure that the “candy tsunami” doesn’t even roll in the evening.

Starvation diet has the opposite effect

At the latest with this tip, most people who want to lose weight rebel. They torment themselves with a meager fasting diet during the day and then hear from me that their metabolism would actually be really happy if it got a little more food. Instead, the starvation diet that many are struggling with conveys a very different message. With this behavior they put their bodies on the alert and signal: There is a shortage of food!

The metabolism is drastically slowed down and fat burning slows down. A rude awakening in the evening when the body finally gets energy supplies: practically every calorie consumed ends up in the fat depot.

How Many Meals Should You Eat Daily? There are many different recommendations: three, five or eight? Several smaller meals are better because you’re less hungry throughout the day. The blood sugar level remains constant – and the choice of food is simply more varied. My tip: Eat a low-carbohydrate diet with high-quality protein and healthy fats. Five meals a day are ideal – provided you exercise regularly.

Five meals

Five meals every three hours show the body that it is getting energy on a regular basis. So there is no pressing reason for him to store fat. This regularity also brings structure back to our eating habits. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with two snacks in between. Eat every three hours, even if you don’t feel directly hungry. After some time, your metabolism will automatically become more active and adjust to your new rate.

Avoid cravings

Regular small meals not only boost your metabolism, but also avoid the infamous food cravings. Hypoglycaemia and thus an uncontrolled “candy tsunami” in the evening is unlikely if you eat regularly. The blood sugar level remains relatively constant and the fattening hormone insulin is put in its place. Due to the more frequent meals during the day, it is necessary that you make the main meals smaller than usual so that your total energy intake does not exceed the required level.

The conclusion

Conclusion: Starving during the day to be able to eat what you want for dinner is not a good idea and can lead to health problems and obesity. The body senses some kind of threat and switches over because it doesn’t get enough energy during the day. Especially during the day, when we have to be efficient, we need high-quality nutrients and vital substances from food. My tip: Eat regularly and in moderation – not in bulk – and you will gradually become slimmer. Guaranteed!