Wednesday, February 28, 2007
How Does Green Tea Help Weight Loss?
One product that seems to have much promise in helping people to lose weight is green tea. In some studies, green tea has been shown to help regulate insulin and lower cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, it is believed that green tea speeds up the metabolism, so that we burn fat faster, and can even turn off the receptors that make us want to eat.
In addition, green tea, unlike many other weight loss aids is very healthy overall. Green tea is a potent source of anti-oxidants, which help us stay healthy and disease free by fighting free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are a by-product of our digestive processes. Left unchecked, they damage our cells and DNA, eventually leading to disease.
However, green tea and other foods with anti-oxidants keep free radicals at bay, preventing aging and disease. For example, diets rich in green tea and other anti-oxidants have been linked to a reduction in the risk of heart disease and cancer. So, green tea is a weight loss supplement that you can feel good about, because it can improve your overall health while it helps you shed the pounds.
Most of us are aware of the problems that many other weight loss supplements can cause. Ephedra, for example, has proven to be an effective way to speed up the metabolism, but can have very dangerous side effects. In fact, it has even been linked to heart attacks and death in some users.
But, just how does green tea work? There are several components in green tea that seem to work together to provide the health and weight loss benefits that green tea’s so famous for. Researchers have pinpointed three components in green tea that seem to have an effect on weight loss.
Caffeine
Green tea has lower caffeine content than coffee or black tea, but it does contain caffeine. Interestingly enough, however, green tea’s caffeine does not seem to have the negative side effects found in other products containing caffeine. Green tea doesn’t cause jitters or speed up the heart rate the way that other caffeinated beverages can. However, the caffeine in green tea does appear to speed up the metabolism.
Many of us take our caffeine intake for granted, but caffeine has been shown to aid in weight loss. Many studies have shown that people on a low calorie diet who consume caffeine daily lose more weight overall than those who are on a low calorie diet alone.
Catechins
Catechins are the anti-oxidants in green tea. Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites, specifically flavonoids called flavan-3-ols. They are found in many plants, including the cocoa plant and the coffee plant, but the best source of catechins is the Camellia sinensis (tea) plant.
The reason that green tea is considered a better source of catechins than black tea is because of the difference in processing. Black tea is fermented, which changes the catechins. Green tea, however, is unfermented, leaving the catechins in their natural state.
Because tea catechins are some of the most powerful anti-oxidants around, they are some of the most effective at preventing disease. This is why diets rich in tea are thought to prevent many diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
In terms of weight loss, catechins are believed to suppress lipid (fat) absorption from the diet. This is important because it helps reduce cholesterol, but it is also thought to prevent the accumulation of body fat.
Theanine
Theanine is the main amino acid in green tea. Theanine may be important to weight loss because of its ability to induce relaxation and the release of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical produced by the brain that helps in providing a feeling of well being in the body.
Theanine also seems to minimize the effects of caffeine, which is why the caffeine in green tea doesn’t seem to cause jitters and an increased heart rate the way that caffeine in other beverages can. So, while theanine may not actively cause weight loss, it can be effective in creating a feeling of calm in those who ingest it. This power may help those who overeat as a result of stress to curb this tendency.
It is certain that more studies are needed on how green tea helps with weight loss. One interesting study on the subject, by the Shizuoka University in Japan, evaluated all three of these green tea components individually, as well as in combination, to try and determine just what components are most important.
This study concluded that the most important component of green tea for weight loss is caffeine. Caffeine is responsible for speeding up the metabolism and creating thermogenesis, which burns fat. However, the study also showed that catechins do seem to have an anti-obesity effect on their own, helping the body to eliminate dietary fat rather than absorbing it.
In short, green tea seems to be the near perfect combination for helping lose weight and improve health at the same time. Diet and exercise are still critical to taking off excess weight and keeping it off for good, but it does appear that green tea can be an effective tool in fighting the battle of the bulge.
Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Green Tea Weight Loss Supplemen
It has been discovered that some properties found in green tea makes it a great organic alternative to weight loss supplements.
The use of green tea extract in weigh loss supplements was spurred by the recently concluded study by American and Swiss scientists. The study found that green tea has a lot of antioxidants that can cause an increase in energy expenditure of the body.
Green tea weight loss supplement contain both caffeine and the chemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). When these 2 substances in green tea react to each other, metabolism rates increase along with the body’s 24-hour energy expenditure. Green tea’s EGCG also triggers the release of the hormone noradrenaline, an appetite-suppressant.
Green tea weight loss supplement can boost the body’s metabolic rates, thereby increasing the rate by which fat and calories are burned. It can also stimulate the body into burning fats faster, leading to more fats being turned into energy. According to a study, people who take in green tea weight loss supplement lose about two-and-a-half pounds a month.
Green tea weight loss supplements come in standardized tablets or capsule forms. For best results, select a green tea weight loss supplement that contains 90 milligrams of EGCG and 50 milligrams of caffeine. It is usually taken 3 times a day before meals.
Although green tea weight loss supplement has no harmful side-effects, you should consult your doctor before taking it.
A lot of people eat foods that are generally deficient in the vitamins and minerals. Visit Nutritional Supplements Center to learn why it is vital that you take nutritional health supplements. You will also discover best nutritional supplements.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Losing Weight with Green Tea
While some various supplements and nutrients have few scientifically proven benefits, green tea is different. Study after study seems to indicate that green tea offers excellent health benefits. Some marketers of health products are now linking green tea to weight loss, promoting and selling their green tea supplements as a "miracle" cure for unwanted pounds.
Yes, green tea is showing promise in helping one lose weight, but is it a miracle worker? No. It may, because of its caffeine content, have a slight effect on speeding up your metabolism.
Caffeine, however, is not really beneficial, and can even be detrimental to, health. So many nutritional supplements manufactures are now selling green tea in caffeine-free capsules, or decaffeinated versions of green tea.
Green tea as an aid for weight loss, in fact, is, when it comes to the proven benefits of his nutrient, is just the tip of the iceberg.
Studies have shown that green tea has an antioxidant 100 times more powerful than Vitamin C, and over twenty times more powerful than Vitamin E. Green tea may even be, according to some recent studies, one of the best nutrients in the fight against various types of cancer.
Our conclusion: Using green tea for weight loss may appeal to you, but don’t think you will get remarkable overnight results. Consider, however, that there are so-called weight loss supplements on the health market which can actually harm you. Green tea, no matter why you are taking it, is very beneficial to your health.
The product we personally use called Total Balance, which contains green tea - http://www.health-product-we-use.com/ is the best supplement we have come across. We have been using this supplement for over 3 years with excellent health results.
We highly reccomend you take a further look in to our supplement of choice if you are interested in improving your overall health.
John Gibb runs a series of health websites, We offer a free health book for subscribers to our websites newsletter. We cover everything you need to know on nutrition and how to improve your general overall health. Check out our nutrition e-book, for more information on our nutrition book.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Green Tea Extract For Weight Loss
Green tea has been drinken for centuries and still remains one of the most popular teas in China and contains powerful antioxidants which may help fight against heart disease, cancers and other diseases. More recent studies have shown that green tea is also beneficial to weight loss.
One of the most recent studies which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed people who drank a bottle of green tea extract everyday for 3 months lost more body fat than the participants who drank regular tea.
It is thought the chemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea increases the metabolism while also releasing the hormone noradrenaline which is an appetite suppressant.
The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also shows that the consumption of catechins in green tea lead to both reduced body fat and LDL cholesterol levels.
Now that you know the many benefits of green tea, just how do you need to drink to lose weight?
Based on the recent research you would need to drink at least four cups of green tea daily to get any results. There are now also green tea supplements on the market which provide higher concentrated doses of green tea in a capsule form. The quality of the supplements will vary so it’s best to do your research.
But you don’t really need to take supplements to receive all the benefits of green tea. Try replacing your daily cups of coffee or regular tea with green tea. It’s also a good drink in between meals which may help satisfy your hunger pangs while providing your body with a good dose of antioxidants.
There are so many benefits to drinking green tea that weight loss is really just the icing on the cake. This is one great way to stay healthy while shedding a few excess pounds.
Recommended Resources:
Weight Loss Resources - Some of the cool resources which can help you in your weight loss process
Exercise Fitness Diet - All information regarding Exercise, Fitness and Diet for FREE.