More help with metabolism

Several weeks ago, I wrote a column on my personal experiment with natural supplements that enhance metabolism. Actually, it seemed close to being my obituary because I thought I was going to have a heart attack, a common problem with these types of supplements. I ended the column by suggesting caution with any metabolism boosting supplements because, even if they are all natural, they can be dangerous.

That is not to say, however, that some people could not use some help with metabolism. Many people burn no more than 1300 or fewer calories per day, making it hard to maintain an appropriate weight. People who have dieted frequently on very low calorie diets are particularly prone to a very low metabolism.

The most important thing in this discussion is to not lower metabolism further by low calorie dieting or excessive exercise. I will not suggest a diet lower than 1300 calories because below that would be gross malnutrition. But I have known people to lose weight on 1300 calorie programs, even when their metabolic rate is below that. Amazing, no? I guess the body knows.

The most difficult weight challenges are people who are taking prescription medications because many of these medications disturb cellular metabolism. For example, cholesterol-lowering medications "snip" the enzyme chain that synthesizes cholesterol but in so doing, it "snips" the same chain that synthesizes coenzyme Q10, essential to the production of cellular energy. If enough of those chains are disturbed, it would lower metabolism.

A couple of suggestions for enhancing cellular energy (thereby boosting metabolism) without stimulation would be high doses (300 mg or more) of coenzyme Q10 and l-carnitine (2000 mg or more), a fatty acid shuttle that increas- es cellular energy. No side effects other than enhanced energy and improved heart function. Most of us could use that. It is fairly expensive, unfortunately, but can often bump people off the plateau they reach after dieting for a while and get weight loss happening again.

- Carol Simontacchi is the owner of the Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel. She can be reached at 472-4499 or on the Web at www.islandnutritioncenter. meta-ehealth.com.