Reset your gut to “slim”
Backed by a Columbia University – trained M.D. and followed by A-listers including Vanessa Williams and Jane Fonda, Harley Pasternak’s 15-day plan can help you slim fast and feel revitalized
Over the past decade, nearly every doctor and nutrition expert we’ve interviewed has stressed that the key to slim and energized is to “eat more protein.” And for good reason: The macronutrient has been shown in numerous studies to speed fat burn, increase satiety and build the lean muscle mass the body needs to keep metabolism fired up as we age. So experts were shocked and confused when a six-year study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition revealed that adults over 40 who ate a diet the highest in protein were 90 percent more likely to gain weight than those who ate less of the macronutrient. How is that possible?
The problem: As we age, the liver and pancreas become less efficient at producing the digestive enzymes needed to break down protein. “The older we get, the fewer enzymes the body produces—but enzymes are required to separate out amino acids from protein,” explains Fred Pescatore, M.D., a Columbia University– trained doctor and author of The A-List Diet. Unable to extract essential amino acids from protein, muscles don’t get the raw materials they need to build and maintain lean tissue. “That’s bad news for slimming because muscle is metabolically active tissue,” says Dr. Pescatore. “The less lean muscle you have, the less fat your body burns.” Complicating matters: Amino acid shortfalls can be perceived as a sign of starvation, which causes the body to shift into fat-storage mode and further slows metabolism.
“The plan I’ve devised is so simple yet so effective that you will immediately lose weight.” —Harley Pasternak
Eating more protein in an effort to speed slimming backfires. The reason: When we don’t have enough enzymes to properly break down protein, partially digested protein molecules build up in the GI tract. “The food sits there longer than it should and can actually start putrefying,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., author of The Phytozyme Cure. “And all of that undigested matter actually feeds bad bacteria that promote fat storage and cause uncomfortable bloat.”
Trainer-to-the-stars Harley Pasternak saw his over-40 clients struggling, so he devised a plan to optimize protein digestion. His solution centers on a 15-day smoothie reset designed to flood the body with the two essentials women born before 1977 need to slim: (1) enzymes from fruit and vegetables and (2) easy-to-digest amino acids from whey protein. “Fresh, raw food is packed with enzymes,” explains Dr. Pescatore.
“For instance, papain, which is found in papayas, and bromelain, which comes from pineapples, break down everything from steak to fish to eggs.” This means the pancreas and liver don’t have to produce many—if any—digestive enzymes in order for the amino acids from the smoothies to get to work rebuilding muscle mass and kick-starting metabolism. What’s more: Reducing the workload of the liver and pancreas allows these organs to redirect energy to other critical slimming functions like detoxification and blood-sugar regulation. Says Cook, “The break the pancreas and liver catch from smoothies allows them to focus on these metabolic tasks, so fat burning increases.”
The payoff is big: Dieters who up their enzyme intake lose 2.5 times more body fat than those who don’t, according to Spanish studies. The research also shows that boosting enzyme intake improves overall lean muscle mass threefold. And when Pasternak put his plan to the test, the results were astounding. His clients dropped as much as 21 pounds in 15 days—and they kept trimming up to 8 pounds every week after the plan ended! “Once you replenish your enzymes, your cells will have more energy—and your metabolism will run more efficiently,” says Cook. Plus, your body will be able to digest protein optimally again. Even better: Without undigested protein to feast on, bad bacteria die off within 72 hours, reducing troublesome bloat.
The benefits go beyond fast and easy weight loss. In one survey of more than 500 people who switched to a diet loaded with enzyme-rich foods and smoothies, 91 percent reported feeling a greater sense of well-being and 82 percent said they experienced improvements in memory and creativity. What’s more, the respondents say the perks set in within days (even hours!) of filling up on fresh smoothies. Plus, women FIRST spoke to report that the food formula helped them achieve sky-high energy, deeper sleep and sunnier moods. “We see incredible results from women of all ages in a short period of time,” promises Pasternak. Read on to discover the program that will get you on the fast track to uncovering your dream body—and enjoying the best health of your life!