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New Performance Nutrition

Celebrity Nutritionist Matt Mahowald

Matt Mahowald is the CEO and President of New Performance, a California-based company specializing in helping clients achieve optimal metabolic nutrition through nutritional counseling, blood sugar management and targeted weight loss. He confers with doctors, exercise trainers and physical therapists to design programs that will work within the boundaries of the client’s capabilities. Mahowald has been featured on NBC 4 and is the author of a future release nutritional diet book. He frequently works with celebrity clients and professional athletes that are often on the road or living unusually busy lifestyles as well as Fortune 500 companies to implement corporate wellness programs.

Mahowald took some time to give simple and straightforward nutritional guides for women of color and advice on common diet fads and diseases.

CHiC: What is the most common dietary mistake people make?

Mahowald: Most people dieting feel the need to cut calories. The common result is that they do not eat enough food to generate enough heat throughout their day to metabolize fat well. Their Basel Metabolic Rate (BMR) slows down and the body goes into a “fat hoarding” mode. It is very important to keep your metabolism revved up throughout the day. Eating two snacks daily between meals will achieve the desired BMR.

CHiC: What do you recommend for achieving healthy skin through diet?

Mahowald: Nutrients are very important for healthy skin.

Essential Nutrients	Food Source	Skin Result
Anti-oxidant	Berries Green veggies	Releases toxins.
Fiber	Whole grains Leafy green vegetables	Eliminates infectious waste from circulating in body and exiting through skin forming irritations and rashes. Cleanses small intestine and colon.
H2O	Water	Hydrates skin alleviating dryness.
Vitamin E	Soy Sunflower seeds Whole grains	Elasticity of cells and skin.
Fish Oils – EPA/DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Fish and supplements	Elasticity of cells and skin.
Vitamin A	Carrots Sweet potatoes Plant by-products in form of beta-carotene, your body then converts it to Vitamin A	Also called retinol, helps keep skin moist.
Selenium	Walnuts Fish, chicken and meat Rice — brown and white Oatmeal Cottage cheese	Reduces inflammation in organs and skin that can sometimes be caused by cystic acne.
Boron	A trace element found in green vegetables, fruits and nuts Approx. 6mg per day – large doses of boron can be harmful Most people do not need to supplement boron as it's found in foods	Helps connective tissue.
Yeast-free diet	Avoid bread, pasta, pancakes, muffins, waffles, wine and beer	Prevents small rash-like bumps (often referred to as chicken skin).

CHiC: How does someone get rid of varicose veins?

Mahowald: Varicose veins occur in 60% of the female population. People who stand or walk a lot are more susceptible. Severe cases could mean a major circulatory system issue and should be checked by a physician. Cosmetic removal of "spider" veins is a common option. Solutions to reduce appearance include increasing circulation or intake of 81mg Aspirin, L-arginine or folic acid, depending on the person. These are not prescription; they are all available through food sources or supplements available at health food stores or larger drug stores.

CHiC: What advice do you have for those who are lactose intolerant?

Mahowald: Simply eliminate all dairy from your diet. Adults don't even need dairy. We shouldn't eat dairy past infancy. No other animals in the animal kingdom eat dairy past infancy, why should we?

CHiC: What are your views on fad diets, weight loss pills and gastric bypass surgery?

Mahowald: Fad diets ultimately are diets; diets are temporary and they don't work. It is important to learn how to eat for life. Pills can help sometimes, but will leave you with medical issues later i.e., thyroid, adrenal failure, kidney issues and so on. Gastric bypass is so new, in my opinion, and doesn't teach the chemistry of foods. It also can leave a person with vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to the change in stomach size and absorption rates.

CHiC: What are dietary/nutrition suggestions to combat dietary diseases specific to women of color?

Mahowald: Women of color have a genetic predisposition for anemia, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.

Anemia

Iron deficiencies can be compensated for with supplements and proper nutrition by consuming leafy green vegetables, lean red meat occasionally and supplements.

Diabetes

Proactively manage carbohydrate intake – at breakfast and lunch only – coupled with a small amount of exercise (as little as walking). Individual diet programs would vary depending on the severity of the diabetes.

Obesity

To effectively overcome obesity, reduction of simple carbs (sugar and starches such as sweets, alcohol, breads, pasta) and use of low glycemic complex (single ingredient starches such as yams, rice, oatmeal) are needed. Dietary fat accompanied with carbs will help slow the absorption rate of sugar into the blood stream.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also a problem for the ethnic community. Water, water, water for the elimination of sodium and exercise will bring most individuals' pressure down. Stress reduction is also key. Natural asparagus is a diuretic and reduce swelling and bloating.

Again, each person's case would determine the methods to be used, but the above are general rules of thumb.

CHiC: What are some tips that improved nourishment for your celebrity clients?

Mahowald: Mary J. Blige needed my Whey Protein Powder in shakes due to the amount of muscle she needed to repair when training hard. She couldn't eat enough animal protein to sustain herself. Christina Aguilera before she went on tour reduced her sweets intake by substituting fruit and nuts as a snack; she also relinquished all cravings for junk foods. Mandy Moore needed to eat more food period. She was under eating and her body was storing fat at alarming rates. We fed her 5 smaller meals and got her off the 2 meals a day trap. Two large meals a day is a surefire way to get fat! I always tell my clients it's different for celebrities because they have the personnel and disposable income beyond the average person. Take you personal nutritional regimen and budget in stride.

A lot of fast food restaurants are offering healthier options on their menus such as salads and grilled chicken sandwiches. Avoid the fried foods, cheeses and mayonnaise. A satisfying and healthy snack is 12 almonds and a piece of fruit. According to Mahowald, "overall health comes through exercise, nutrition, proper supplements and life management skills."

By Ellen Rosner Feig

Check out the New Performance website in the Health & Wellness-Personal Growth category of CHiC Links.

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