David Heber, M.D., P.h.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.N.
Chairman of the Herbalife Medical and Scientific Advisory Boards

With holiday season at hand, many people will soon be looking for help losing a few extra pounds. Below, Dr. David Heber answers questions about losing weight.

Q: How does protein help someone lose fat tissue instead of lean tissue?
A: By eating enough protein to maintain your lean tissue while losing fat, you keep your metabolism revved up. Every pound of lean tissue burns 14 calories per day compared to only about three calories burned for each pound of fat per day. So keeping the lean and losing the fat helps you burn more calories at rest. This is also called the resting metabolic rate or metabolism for short.

Q: How does metabolism influence weight-loss?
A: Whenever you eat more calories than you burn through exercise and through your metabolism at rest, you will store the extra as fat. So having a higher metabolism can help you maintain your weight by balancing calories in and calories out. Exercises that strengthen your muscles improve your ability to burn calories at rest.

Q: What are the benefits of plant-based protein, or soy?
A: Soy protein naturally has a different composition than animal proteins that makes it healthier for your blood vessels, bones and kidneys than animal protein. Soy protein also has isoflavones, which together with soy protein as found in Formula 1, has an FDA-approved heart-health claim. That is why you see a heart on the label.

Q: What are the components that make Formula 1 a healthy, satisfying meal?
A: Formula 1 provides high quality soy protein, healthy carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients to provide the cells of your body what they need for optimum health. You will be able to tell the difference from your usual breakfast after the very first shake.

Q: Is the soy protein in Formula 1 beneficial to both men and women?
A: Yes, the soy protein in Formula 1 is definitely beneficial for both men and women. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the benefits of soy protein for heart health when included as part of a healthy, low-fat diet, which is why Formula 1 has a healthy heart symbol on every label (except Tropical Fruit flavor, which contains less soy).

Q: How can one product, Formula 1, be ideal for both weight loss and weight maintenance?
A: Research shows that drinking two shakes a day and eating one healthy meal will lead to weight loss, while having one shake a day will keep the weight off for years. Formula 1 is the ideal meal for everyone, whether they want to lose weight, keep off the weight they have lost or just maintain their naturally healthy weight.

Q: If I’m lactose intolerant, can I use soy milk to make a shake?
A: Yes, simply add soy milk to Formula 1 and you should have no problem. By the way, most humans are lactose intolerant to some degree. You lose nothing when you substitute soy milk for dairy milk from a health standpoint.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.