for your
health
Bpuyıecr’sk
Teresa Thompson
Pharmacy Buyer
Protein power
in a powder
THERE’S NOTHING HEALTHY about
carrying too much weight. More than
130 million Americans are overweight
or obese, putting them at increased
risk for developing hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke—
just a few of the serious consequences.
I’m excited about a new diet medication called alli™ that is scheduled
for a nationwide introduction on June
13 and will be available at all U.S.
Costco warehouse locations. Originally
available by prescription with a different name and dosage, it has the distinction of being the only FDA-approved
over-the-counter weight-loss drug.
alli is more than a pill; it’s a comprehensive program that works in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise to increase weight loss by as much
as 50 percent more than dieting alone.
Unlike other weight-loss products,
alli is not an appetite suppressant and
does not affect the brain or the central
nervous system. Taken at mealtime, alli
works in the digestive system to block
about 25 percent of fat from being digested, making fewer calories available.
This calorie deficit leads to weight loss.
Consuming a meal with too much
fat while taking alli can result in having an urgent need to use the bathroom. These effects can be managed
by sticking to the recommended diet
with about 15 grams of fat per meal.
As with any weight-loss program,
be sure to check with your doctor
before starting this plan. For more
information, go to www.myalli.com,
where you will find an individualized
online action plan. Also, most Costco
locations and costco.com will be carrying The alli Diet Plan, by Caroline
Apovian, M.D. C
FOR YEARS, PROTEIN powder was assumed
to be something solely for weightlifters—a
product to be used only if you wanted to bulk
up for Muscle Beach.
While it’s true that protein is an important
component of a muscle builder’s regimen, it is
by no means confined to elite athletic groups.
Everyone can benefit from getting enough
protein, and protein powder is a simple, effective way to supplement your daily supply.
“Protein not only helps build muscle, it
can help prevent muscle loss as we get older,”
says Greg Shavey, a Costco buyer. “If someone is on a restricted diet, a vegan or vegetarian, or is lactose intolerant, he or she is
probably not getting enough protein.”
All protein powders are not equal, however. It’s important, says Greg, that you find a
product with the right blend.
The more popular protein supplements
are blends of several types of proteins, including whey, egg, soy and casein. The benefits of a
blend are the rates of absorption and the different amino acids that each protein provides.
Costco offers EAS Premium Protein,
which uses a proprietary blend of three pro-
FRANCE FREEMAN
teins: casein, whey and soy.
“This represents one of the best values
on the market,” says Greg. “EAS is a well-established company with a great reputation
for very high quality standards. Premium
Protein is a complete-protein source that
delivers essential amino acids to energize and
repair muscles. And it’s ‘instantized,’ so it
mixes easily with your favorite beverage.”
Always consult a doctor to make sure a
specific protein supplement is right for you.
EAS Premium Protein is available in
6-pound containers in chocolate and vanilla.
—T. Foster Jones
Product may not be
available at all locations.