DEAR DR. BLONZ: Dietary supplements to help with hair growth seem to focus on amino acids and protein. My concern is that I have also heard that they cause you to gain weight. I don’t need to gain weight, but would like the extra protein for my hair. -- M.T., Hayward, California

DEAR M.T.: While amino acids and protein have caloric value, they do not have any special abilities to cause weight gain. They contain approximately four calories per gram, which is similar to carbohydrates, but less than fat (nine calories per gram). The body uses amino acids as building blocks to make protein, but it can use them for energy when other sources are in short supply. If the body has all the amino acids it needs to make its protein, and there is also sufficient dietary energy, the body converts its excess amino acids into fat for storage. The same can be said for anything that contains calories.

Hair is made up of protein, and many hair products do contain protein; this includes products taken internally and those used externally. Nutrient deficiencies can affect bodily systems and the things they make, and this would include our hair. In that sense, it is accurate to say that amino acids and other nutrients are “good” for the hair -- at least, good to the point that requirements are met. But there is no evidence to believe that taking in extra amino acids, more than the body needs, can result in a healthier head of hair. Perhaps the most significant influences on your hair are the products and treatments used externally, but that is a discussion you might have with the individual you trust for your hair care.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: While not a nutrition question, this does deal with health, so I am hopeful you can respond. My question is about electronic ab exercisers. They claim to be able to give you six-pack abs with no calorie restrictions and no other exercise. I would like your opinion of these devices, and whether or not you think they work. -- T.F., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

DEAR T.F.: In the words of the Federal Trade Commission, it is pure “pump fiction” to think that the electronic muscle stimulators sold to the public can deliver “rock-hard” or “six-pack” abs. These machines are considered to be medical devices, which means they require FDA approval to be legally marketed. But don’t assume that if you see something for sale, it has been approved.

The concept is that delivering electrical stimulation through the skin causes muscles to contract; I have no problem with that. But then the claims go further, saying that such contractions can resculpt the affected muscles into that chiseled, six-pack appearance, all without any need to adjust diet or exercise. There is some history here: Approved medical devices have been used to stimulate nerves to help prevent muscle wasting after surgery, or during periods of extreme inactivity. But this is not the same as building and sculpting new muscles. There is no evidence that these devices can do that, and no FDA approval to claim such an effect.

Read this (albeit dated) article at the Federal Trade Commission for more information: b.link/abexercisers. Hopefully, this will help you make a more informed decision.

Send questions to: “On Nutrition,” Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: I began to experience stomach issues when I cut back on sugars. I wasn’t sure whether it was a new medical condition, a food allergy or even stress (I did miss my sweets, but not THAT much). I went in for tests, but during the interview with the gastroenterologist, we discussed whether I was eating sugarless candies. This was something I had begun doing -- having sugarless candies and gums instead of my real sweets. The tests came back normal, but, as advised, I eliminated the sugarless stuff, and my problems have disappeared. I thought this would be of interest. -- T.S., Anderson, South Carolina

DEAR T.S.: The sweeteners most commonly used in sugarless gums and mints are xylitol, mannitol and sorbitol. These substances are members of the sugar alcohol family. (Note: The “alcohol” in the name won’t get one intoxicated; it refers to a functional group in the substance’s structure.) Even though sugar alcohols are classified as sugars, they’re referred to as “sugarless” sweeteners because they don’t promote tooth decay. This is because the bacteria in and around our teeth cannot digest sugar alcohols and use them to produce the enamel-destroying acid that harms our teeth.

One of the negatives with these sweeteners is that they attract water when they’re in the digestive tract, and this can lead to digestive upsets -- such as diarrhea and cramping -- in some people. They are not efficiently absorbed, so sugar alcohols often end up in the large intestine. There, they become an attractive food for our microbiome: the bacteria in the intestinal flora. The effect can be an increased production of intestinal gas.

The symptoms are mild when small amounts are consumed, or when they are eaten with or after a meal. If, however, large quantities are eaten, such as several mints or sticks of sugarless gum -- particularly on an empty stomach -- the result can be the type of upset you experienced. My compliments to your doctor.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: You had a recent column about the benefits of almonds. You did not mention whether the same benefits can be derived from eating raw or roasted almonds. Can you please clarify this for me? I prefer roasted, but will switch to raw if they are better for me. -- L., via email

DEAR L.: Enjoy the ones you prefer. In the scheme of things, the nutritional difference between roasted and raw almonds is insignificant. Side note: I also go for roasted (lightly salted) almonds.

Send questions to: “On Nutrition,” Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

DEAR DR. BLONZ: As part of my plan to drop weight, I gave up sweetened sodas and began drinking a costly weight-loss drink. I dropped almost 10 pounds in a couple of weeks. I went off that drink, and even though I never went back to soda, the weight came back. I’m trying to figure this out, including whether I was doing anything dangerous to my body. The product said it contained no stimulants, which I should avoid. How could I have handled it so that the weight stayed off? -- M.G., Tulsa, Oklahoma

DEAR M.G.: You would think that the purpose of a weight-reduction diet was simply to drop weight, but this is not entirely accurate. More specifically, the goal is to reduce excess body fat. Diet products might help you reduce weight while failing to make a significant dent in your stores of surplus fat. How can that be?

Fat is the most calorie-dense material we consume; it has 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 per gram for protein and carbohydrates. (Also be aware that there are 7 calories per gram of alcohol.) Our energy storage tissue, or adipose, is made up almost entirely of fat. While estimates vary, the standard is that the body needs to spend about 3,500 more calories than it takes in to lose a pound of body fat. If you were to cut your food intake by 500 calories per day, you would lose about a pound of body fat in a week.

Interestingly, less of a calorie deficit is needed to lose a pound of body protein. This is because the protein tissue in our muscles and organs is about 80% water by weight. If a diet causes the breakdown of body protein, the numbers on the scale can drop rapidly, but the major component will be the loss of water, not fat.

Some weight-loss products are diuretics, which cause the body to lose water, not fat. Others contain laxatives, which can also make the numbers on the scale go down, but in that case, it is a decrease in the amount of waste in queue for elimination, not a drop of excess body fat.

Your experience suggests that your product contained diuretics, laxatives or both; that would explain why so much weight was lost, only to return so quickly.

Stimulants, which rev up your metabolism, are another way to lose weight, but they are risky business. Stimulants can be dangerous for anyone with existing health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension or anxiety disorders. I am hoping your product’s label is accurate in its claim that it is free of such substances.

Weight-loss success takes time, determination and a good plan. Quick fixes tend to fail the test of time. I commend you for stopping your intake of excess caloric soda, but relying solely on a weight-loss drink (or diet pills) does not bode well for long-term chances. Better to find a plan that includes a healthful, balanced diet, a good selection from all the food groups and a solid activity component. By shifting to more healthful foods and increasing activity, you make gradual adjustments. The results may be less dramatic, but there is a greater chance for long-term success. Another benefit: No more costly products to buy.

Send questions to: “On Nutrition,” Ed Blonz, c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106. Send email inquiries to questions@blonz.com. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.