ARE SOME FOOD
BETTER FOR WEIGH
LOSS THAN OTHERS?

e s! Certain foods have a high Thermic
Effect. Thermogenics refers to heat that is
produced when your body bums calories from
the food you have eaten. Thermogenic foods
bum about 10% more calories than their non-
Thermogenic counterparts. Choosing foods
with a high Thermic Effect can help you lose
more weight.
Dieters at Diet Center West Bloomfield
know that I love the analogy of the "Calorie
Bank". We make deposits and withdrawals
from our Calorie Bank every day. When we
make more "calorie deposits" in the bank than
"withdrawals", we lose weight. The Thermic
Effect of Food is like "interest" in your
Calorie Bank.
So what foods have a high Thermic
Effect? Great question! My favorite Thermic
foods include: Lean Proteins, Spinach,
Celery, Grapefruit, Green Peppers, Apples,
Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Hot Peppers,
Lemons, Berries and Tomatoes. Certain
seasonings also have a high thermic effect.
These include, cinnamon, cayenne, mustard,
ginger, garlic, black pepper and even green
tea, just to name a few.
Of course there are more Thermic foods
and spices than the ones I listed. When these
foods are incorporated into a healthy diet,
you can rev up your metabolism and aid your
weight loss.
Dieters also ask me if it's better to eat a
variety of foods or the same foods every day
when you are trying to lose weight. Though
the experts are still debating this topic, I
believe limiting choices to the healthiest,
most nutritious options, coupled with variety,
is a great way to enjoy food and lose weight
while feeling your best. So if you are trying to
shed a few pounds, don't be afraid to spread
your wings from a salad with chicken on it
and try something creative! Diet Center West
Bloomfield sends out emails with recipes
and diet tips. To be added to our list, email
dietcenterwb@gmail.com .

Marla Kaminsky is the owner of Diet
Center West Bloomfield. Before opening
her own Diet Center, she was a dieter on
the program, losing 40 lbs on the Advanced
Fat Burning Thermogenics Diet. For more
information about how Diet Center can
help you lose weight AND keep it off,

CALL 248-932-DIET (3438)

Diet Center has helped over 15 million
dieters lose weight over the past 41 years.

6736 Orchard Lake Road
South of 15 Mile in West Bloomfield Plaza

DIET
CENTER

The Weight Loss Pro essionals.®

1939550

50

August 14 • 2014

health & wellness

New Opportunities For
Mental Health Treatment

T

his is an exciting time for
health care in America,
especially in the area of
behavioral health. Because of two
laws, the Affordable Care Act (ACA),
also known as "Obamacare: and the
Mental Health Parity Act (MHP),
people with emotional and behavioral
problems have more opportunity than
ever before to get treatment.
Coverage for mental health services
must be available in all ACA-compliant
health plans, as they are considered to
be essential health benefits. In addi-
tion, deductibles, co-pays, annual lim-
its or lifetime limits for mental health
conditions must be the same as those
for medical conditions. This is a big
change because for years most plans
had much smaller annual and/or life-
time limits for mental health services
than they did for medical services.
trating, muscle tension and having dif-
ficulty falling/staying asleep or feeling
This good news may prompt you to
first say "So what, I'm not meshuga-
fatigued even after a full night's sleep.
nah, so who cares?" The fact is that
Other anxiety disorders include
the vast majority of people
obsessive-compulsive disor-
who seek mental health
der, phobias and panic dis-
treatment are just like you
order. As you can see, many
and me —"regular" people.
of the symptoms of anxiety
Most are perfectly able to
disorders are similar to those
tell the difference between
of mood disorders. For that
what is real and what is not
reason, if you think you may
real (that is, they are not
have these symptoms —
psychotic) and most appear
especially if they last more
to be perfectly normal to
than a couple of weeks — it
an outside observer.
is important to get a good
Bet h
However, according to
diagnosis so that treatment
Gold ma n, M D
the National Institute of
can be effective. Sometimes
MP H
Mental Health (NIMH),
even very skilled behavioral
an estimated 26.2 percent
professionals have difficulty
of Americans ages 18 and
determining the best treat-
older — about one in four adults —
ment course.
suffer from a diagnosable mental dis-
One does not need to have a "diag-
order in a given year.
nosable mental disorder" to benefit
The two most common types of
from mental health treatment. Some
mental illnesses are mood and anxi-
people seek help when they feel
ety disorders, which often go hand in
"stuck" in their lives, especially if they
hand. Depression is usually character-
begin to notice that they seem to be
ized by sadness, decrease in energy,
making the same mistakes or are hav-
changes in sleep and appetite, feel-
ing the same types of difficulties over
ings of hopelessness and helplessness,
and over. Mental health practitioners
irritability, guilt, difficulty making
also can help when couples or families
decisions, problems with memory
are not getting along or when individ-
and concentration and, sometimes,
uals realize they are having difficulty
thoughts of wishing to be dead or even making or keeping friends.
of taking one's own life.
If you decide that you may benefit
from an appointment with a mental
The opposite of depression, often
health professional (MHP), whom
called "mania: can include anxiety,
inability to sleep, racing thoughts,
should you see?
spending too much money and making
There are two main types of MHPs —
dangerous or risky choices. Anxiety
those who can write prescriptions and
symptoms can include constant worry,
those who cannot. Physicians (M.D.s,
along with feeling restless, on edge,
D.O.$), some nurse practitioners and
being easily fatigued, difficulty concen- physician assistants (P.A.$) are allowed

to write prescriptions. Psychologists
(Ph.D. and master's level), social work-
ers, licensed professional counselors,
and marriage and family therapists are
not able to prescribe. However, psychia-
trists are specially trained physicians, all
of whom are able to write prescriptions
and many of whom provide talk therapy
as well.
Some therapists may refer you to
a physician if they feel medication is
indicated, but there are some who are
not in favor of medications and they
may not. Many people see a psychia-
trist for medication and another thera-
pist for talk therapy.
If you see a non-prescriber you may
want to ask if he or she thinks medica-
tions may be helpful and, vice versa if
you are getting medications from your
doctor or psychiatrist, you may want
to ask him or her if talk therapy would
be helpful to you. You may want to
spend some time on the phone talking
with the MHP you are considering to
see if you feel comfortable with him/
her and if you think he/she can meet
your needs. It is not uncommon for
people to see more than one potential
"candidate" before finding one with
whom they feel comfortable.
No matter what you decide, it's
important to know that getting help
for psychological troubles is a journey
that many have been on before you.
Whether you suspect the journey will
be long or short, it's a journey worth
taking. ❑

Beth Goldman, M.D. M.P.H. (master of

public health), is medical director of

behavioral health at Blue Cross Blue

Shield of Michigan.