Q: I have PCOS, am insulin resistant and showing symptoms of the menopause. I would also like to lose the fat around my middle.  Is it OK to combine the ‘fat around the middle’ supplements with ‘MenoPlus’ and ‘Black Cohosh Plus’?  I took the ‘fat around the middle’ supplements during last year and found them extremely effective so would very much like to use them again.  Also is it safe to take them for longer than the 3 months you recommend as my weight loss seemed to stall once I had stopped them?

– Anonymous, Oxford 

A: I am glad to hear that you found the ‘fat around the middle’ supplements useful last year and it is OK to take them for longer than three months.  As mentioned in the ‘Fat around the Middle’ book, you are aiming to use the Nutri Plus and Amino Plus along with the dietary and exercise recommendations, to get your waist to hip ratio lower than 0.8.  This may take longer than three months for some women as they may have more to lose.  But you are aiming at some point to not need the supplements and to maintain a good shape by eating well and exercising once you have reached your goal.

 

As regards the menopause, it is fine to take the MenoPlus and Black Cohosh Plus alongside the ‘fat around the middle supplements’.  You only need to take the herbs like black cohosh if you are getting symptoms and once they are gone you can stop the herbs.  The multivitamin and mineral (MenoPlus) is one you can stay on even when you have stopped the ‘fat around the middle’ supplements as this multi contains good amount of other nutrients like calcium etc which are important before, during and after the menopause for bone health. 

Cinnamon is a type of herb which is used as a culinary spice.  It is from the laurel family and is native to Sri Lanka and South India.  Its distinctive flavour comes from an aromatic essential oil which makes up just 0.5-1% of the spice. 

Cinnamon has been known for centuries and is even mentioned in the Bible.   The bark is used as a spice and is found in both sweet and savoury cooking as well as in drinks such as tea, cocoa and liqueurs.  In the Middle East it is often used in savoury dishes but in the States it is often combined with sugar and used on pancakes or in apple dishes. 

 

It has been suggested that cinnamon is helpful for a number of health problems including flatulence, heartburn, nausea, toothache and bad breath.  It is thought to have antibacterial properties and so might help with E coli and helicobacter pylori.  More recently it has had some publicity with regards to lowering cholesterol and the management of blood sugar and insulin resistance. 

One study in Diabetes Care in 2003 showed that cinnamon used on a daily basis could help to reduce glucose, total cholesterol and LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.  It seems to help lower glucose levels in Type 2 diabetes as it improves the transport of glucose into the cells.  Cinnamon is also thermogenic which means that it helps to burn off fat. 

A lovely alternative to traditional muesli and porridge, originally created by Dr Bircher-Benner in the 1890s.

Serves 2

 

75mg organic porridge oats

25mg organic dried apricots or organic raisins

Juice from half a fresh lemon

1 organic apple

1tbsp ground almonds

2tbsp organic natural bio yogurt

1tbsp toasted flaked almonds

1tsp ground cinnamon

75mg blackberries or berries of your choice

 

Method

1.       Place the oats and dried apricots in a bowl and pour over approximately 100ml organic apple juice, water or oat milk and the lemon juice. Leave in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

2.       The following morning, grate the apple and stir into the oat mix along with the ground and flaked almonds, yogurt and cinnamon.

3.       Transfer the muesli into bowls and top with the blackberries and a little extra sprinkled cinnamon if desired.