More celebrations at Smart for Life!

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nobodys-perfecrt3The better it gets, the better it gets!  That’s our motto after receiving our 4th consecutive Orkin Audit Recognition Perfect Score.  Typically, awarded to no greater than ten companies, nationwide, on an annual basis; this perfect score was determined by a 3rd party audit for our immaculate food processing facility, here in South Florida.  You’ll see our commendation in the June issue of Food Processing magazine as one of Orkin’s few Gold Medal™ Protection partners.  All of our Smart for Life products are created here and then shipped directly to our Weight Management Centers, Retail Partners or you; our dedicated clientele.

Health and happiness to all,

Dr. Sass

Smart for Life® Announces Smart BMI App

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Introducing the first Smart for Life ® News video! Today’s video goes over the new Smart for Life ® BMI Smart App, a weight loss support app designed for Smart for Life ® centers, affiliates and coaches. Dr. Sass answers fundamental questions regarding the new application, including what the app measures, why the Smart for Life ® app is the best to use, and where members can sign up. To learn more about the BMI Smart App, click here. and view more Smart for Life ® videos at the Smart for Life YouTube Channel.

Warning! Fatalities, illness; check your labels!

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I’ve received a very disturbing update on the dangers of DMAA, in the Monthly Prescribing Reference (MPR) read widely by physicians; like myself.

The Food and Drug Administration has reported that there have been 60 reports of illnesses and deaths associated with the weight loss supplement DMAA.

DMAA (dimethylamylamine) is also used in supplements used for muscle building and performance enhancements.

Reported cases include heart problems or psychiatric disorders. DMAA can also increase blood pressure and lead to a range of cardiovascular problems, shortness of breath and chest tightening. It also may be more dangerous when used in combination with caffeine.

The FDA has warned companies that using DMAA in dietary supplements is illegal and is now trying to ensure that all DMAA-containing supplements are no longer distributed to consumers.

I urge you all to check your weight-loss supplements for DMAA and assure you that Smart for Life does not use this, or any other drugs, in our products. Please check your labels carefully as DMAA is known by several other possible names, listed below:

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• 1,3-DMAA
• 1,3-Dimethylamylamine
• 1,3-Dimethylpentylamine
• 2-Amino-4-methylhexane
• 2-Hexanamine
• 4-Methyl-2-hexanamine
• 4-Methyl-2-hexylamine
• 4-methyl- (9CI)
• Dimethylamylamine
• Geranamine
• Methylhexanamine
• Methylhexanenamine

As with so many things, we must all be our own best advocate. Pay attention, and stay tuned in to the helpful resources that will keep you up to date on the latest research and warnings, such as this.

As always, to your good health,

Dr. Sass

Smart for Life named Manufacturer of the Year!

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sfl-awardLast Thursday evening, April 18th, at the SFMA (South Florida Manufacturing Association) awards banquet, Smart for Life was presented the top honor of Manufacturer of the Year. Chosen from a sizable and diverse group of companies, several key members of our manufacturing team were recognized for their dedication to the operations, production and incomparable standards of excellence maintained at our pristine, bakery facility here in South Florida. Additionally, this same facility has been recognized, by Orkin, with a Perfect Cleanliness Score for four consecutive years.

Those attending on behalf of Smart for Life were me, Dr. Sasson Moulavi, Owner and Medical Director; Richard Kayne, Chief Operating Officer; Anthony Ciotti, Operation/Facilities Manager; Elliot Chute, Food Safety/Compliance Manager; and Digna Cheney, Production Manager.

All of us at Smart for Life are aware of the tireless effort and talent that go into earning such a prestigious award. It is with great appreciation that we thank those who are most directly responsible and with great pride and pleasure that we share in the light of this award.  On behalf of the amazing team that makes up all factions of Smart for Life…Congratulations to all!

With this dedicated team, Smart for Life will continue to produce and create amazing new products to enhance your healthy lifestyle and always give you something for which to look forward.

Health and happiness,

Dr. Sass

Here are some things I bet you didn’t know about your Omega 3s

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Recently, in a Shape.com piece by Mike Roussell, PhD, I read some interesting data on Omega 3s.  This is really good news if you don’t happen to be a fish lover, or if you just find it difficult to work two servings a week into your diet menu plan.   According to world renowned omega-3 expert Dr. Bill Harris, our bodies absorb the healthy EPA and DHA fats (long-chain omega-3 fats) in the fish oil supplements just as readily as they absorb the same healthy fats in the actual fish, like salmon and tuna.

To the contrary, the story about flax seed in your diet is quite different.  The omega-3 fat in flax seed  known as ALA (short-chain omega-3 fats), does not convert easily into the EPA and DHA that we seek in fish.  As our bodies benefit greatly from long and short-chain omega 3s, having a source for both is certainly recommended.  Consider this a word to the wise for vegetarians who aren’t eating fish or taking fish oil.   Unknown to many, the healthy oil in the fish oil is not made by the fish.  It’s actually made by the algae that the fish eat.  Luckily, you can go directly to the source and find an algae-based DHA supplement.  By the way, the eggs you see with omega 3s on the label come from chickens that are fed flax seed.  Many of our Smart for Life products are also an excellent source for both of these omegas, found in our Enriched Organic Golden Flax Meal which contains both flax and fish oils.

As far as the Omega 3 research these days, some studies are telling us that although a high level of omega-3 fatty acids in your bloodstream is not conclusively going to lengthen your life span, it may offer protection from heart disease and reduce the likelihood of such complications, in some cases, by as much as 50%.  One very important factor to take into this equation is that a great number of folks who have these higher levels of fatty acids are also, often, eating more healthfully, in general.  They tend to eat more vegetables and less red meat.  This steers us back to lifestyle and the importance of looking at the whole picture as you plan your future health profile.  At Smart for Life we’re here to help in any way we can; from the creation and manufacturing of our healthy products to the leading edge information and support we offer on our website and in our Centers.

To Your Health,

Dr. Sass

Weigh in; pay out – airline charges by the pound

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I read an article this week written by Matt Brownell at Daily Finance, reporting on Samoa Air, a small airline in the South Pacific that is now weighing passengers and their baggage to determine the cost of their ticket.  Per kilogram, you may pay $1 or up to $4.16, depending on the length of your flight.  This is most interesting as Samoa has a high rate of obesity.

The airline’s website is taking this tack: “We at Samoa Air are keeping airfares fair, by charging our passengers only for what they weigh.  Your weight plus your baggage items, is what you pay for.  Simple.”  In an interview, the airline’s CEO took a similar stance:  “there are no extra fees in term of excess baggage or anything – it is just a kilo is a kilo is a kilo.”

Although this school of thought holds a basic truth, the underlying controversies are many.  With the aspects of discrimination that begin to surface after contemplating this for a while, it seems doubtful that such a practice would take hold in the U.S.  Remember the trouble Southwest got into when they told an obese passenger she had to purchase two seats?  As it turns out, she flew part of her trip, as planned, but was told when re-boarding after a layover that she would have to purchase a second seat.  Her argument was with the inconsistency, not being told at the time of purchase and the embarrassing lack of privacy during the incident. If an individual can’t fit into one seat without infringing on co-passengers, then it makes sense to pay for an additional seat, but in a dignified manner.  Otherwise; it’s a flawed policy.

What if you happen to be really tall?  Or pregnant?  Or you have a debilitating medical condition, over which you have absolutely no control that causes you to be overweight?  Such thoughts must not have occurred to the airline when they began touting the claim “you decide how much (or little) your ticket will cost”.

If the airline is thinking their idea will get travelers to lose weight, they may want to reconsider.  Individuals who battle problems with obesity need diet education, inspiration and support from their loved ones and their communities. For a business to focus their financial structure on an individual’s weight seems to take us back a step in cultural progress.  This way of thinking is morally and socially wrong.  Any airline in the U.S. that would adopt this policy should be boycotted by all of us, in unison: “A seat is a seat is a seat!”  This is one idea that should never have gotten off the ground.

Dr. Sass

Support at work can inspire successful weight loss results

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In an article by Marilyn Kennedy Melia in Philly.com, I read that the Tuft’s Energy Metabolism Laboratory at Tufts University, recently conducted a six month study on weight loss.  Specifically, they sent health professionals to conduct weekly or bi-weekly lunch hour sessions on hunger management and reduced calorie diets at two Boston area firms.

The researchers tracked 133 employees, with a third of them in a “control group”, from two other firms that didn’t receive the informational sessions at lunch hour.

On average, the weight loss was 18 pounds, which is about three times better than other workplace diet efforts, according to Susan Roberts, co-author of the study.  “This was different because we asked for volunteers for the study, other diet programs were given to all workers and we also had advice on behaviors,” says Roberts.  “At the end of the program, people were crying, saying it changed their life.”

Additionally, many workers who hadn’t volunteered also lost weight, inspired by their participating co-workers.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, that recently published the same study, it “demonstrates the first effective corporate weight loss program which combines nutritional counseling with behavioral change management.” says Norman Gorin, CEO of Wellesley, Mass, Instinct Health Science, which is planning to expand the program.

I urge all of you to start a weight loss group for greater success!

Dr. Sass