Green Tea and Metabolic Syndrome

April 9th, 2010 by admin 3 comments »

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that often occur simultaneously and lead to an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes. The contributing factors (symptoms) include high blood pressure, high insulin levels, abnormal cholesterol levels and excess abdominal fat. Because obesity and related diseases are at pandemic levels, the International Diabetes Federation has adopted the following definition for metabolic syndrome.

The International Diabetes Federation worldwide definition of metabolic syndrome(2006):

Abdominal obesity (defined by American Heart Association as elevated waist circumference:

Men — Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm) with ethnicity specific values

Women — Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm) waist circumference# with ethnicity specific values)

AND any two of the following:

· Raised triglycerides : >150 mg/dL (1.7mmol/L), or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality.

· Reduced HDL cholesterol: < 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) in males

< 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) in females, or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality

· Raised blood pressure : systolic BP > 130 or diastolic BP >85 mm Hg, or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension.

· Raised fasting plasma glucose :( FPG)>100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes. If FPG >5.6 mmol/L or 100 mg/dL, OGTT Glucose tolerance test is strongly recommended but is not necessary to define presence of the Syndrome.

# If BMI is >30 kg/m², abdominal obesity can be assumed and waist circumference does not need to be measured

A diagnosis of metabolic syndrome is not made based on a patient having only one of the symptoms. But having any one of these factors increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Having more than one symptom further increases the risk.

Obesity

Obesity of people of all ages has reached pandemic levels worldwide during the past few decades. It is characterized by having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30.0. Clinical studies show that EGCG has numerous effects in the body that lead to weight loss.

Green tea and green tea extract prevent fat from being made in cell lines, animal models, and humans. EGCG, the predominant antioxidant in green tea is generally proven to help prevent obesity. The most significant actions of EGCG in preventing obesity are the potential to inhibit proteins and enzymes that make fat and to promote proteins and enzymes that minimize fat production.

Minimized carbohydrate absorption can help prevent weight gain. A combination of green, black and mulberry tea extracts were given to healthy subjects as a blend. A high carbohydrate and high fat meal eaten while drinking the tea significantly prevented carbohydrate absorption.1

It has been shown that EGCG reduces fat and lowers lipids in plasma in animals. The mechanisms in play are thought to be the slowing fat production, the breakdown of fats and creating heat within cells; which uses fat as fuel.

Some studies have revealed that drinking green tea prior to physical activity aids in fat burning and increasing metabolic rates. Current studies are investigating how EGCG enhances fat burning on a molecular level. For example, researchers at the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine are learning how EGCG can assist insulin in creating favorable metabolic and vascular processes.

Diabetes

Green tea is widely accepted as a beverage that contains several antioxidants and other molecules that enhance insulin production. One laboratory study isolated EGCG, ECG, tannins, caffeine and theaflavins to measure the individual ability of each to increase insulin-enhancing activities. They found that EGCG and ECG significantly increased insulin production but the other molecules did not.2

They also looked at the effect of popular tea mix-ins and found lemon did not affect insulin activity, but soy milk, 2% cow milk and non-dairy creamers significantly reduced insulin activity. The most dramatic reduction in insulin activity was observed when adding 5 grams of cow milk per cup of tea (33% reduction) and adding 50 grams per cup of tea (90% reduction).

Other clinical trials show that green tea, more specifically EGCG in the tea, can assist or even act as a substitute for insulin, bringing about positive effects on metabolism and the vascular system.

One study showed that EGCG may play a role in Type II Diabetes prevention and treatment.3

Next, scientists set out to see if similar effects occur in humans when they are given supplemental EGCG.4 They gave a group of obese men EGCG supplements for 8 weeks and found no enhancement of insulin activity. Could it be that the EGCG must be delivered to the body in green tea? They found a modest reduction in blood pressure and study subjects reported a positive effect on their mood. More studies need to be conducted to learn more about the effects of EGCG in humans.

The Role of Green Tea in Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome

Fortunately, metabolic syndrome and its contributing factors can be prevented or reversed simply by making some lifestyle changes. Along with daily exercise and eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, adding a few cups of green tea can help regulate insulin levels and metabolism, reduce bad cholesterol and assist in weight loss.

1Green tea supplementation ameliorates insulin resistance and increases glucose transporter IV content in a fructose-fed rat model. Wu LY, Juan CC, Hwang LS, Hsu YP, Ho PH, Ho LT.

Eur J Nutr. 2004. 43(2):116-24. Epub 2004 Jan 6.

2Tea Enhances Insulin Activity. Richard A. Anderson and Marilyn M. Polansky. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002. 50(24), pp 7182–7186.

3Proposed mechanisms of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate for anti-obesity. Moon HS, Lee HG, Choi YJ, Kim TG, Cho CS. Chem Biol Interact. 2007. 167(2):85-98. Epub 2007 Feb 20.

4Brown AL, Lane J, Coverly J, Stocks J, Jackson S, Stephen A, Bluck L, Coward A, Hendrick H. Br J Nutr. 2009..10(6):886-94. Epub 2008 Aug 19.

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Green Tea and Cancer Prevention Review

April 5th, 2010 by admin 1 comment »

Green tea made from tea plant leaves (Camellia sinensis) has been found to contain flavonoids, which are antioxidants in the polyphenol group that can inhibit cancer cell growth. The most effective flavonoid in cancer prevention is thought to be epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG).

A review of research concerning the preventative effects of green tea on cancer in humans was conducted by European scientists1. They looked at studies that were available through December 2008 and selected fifty-one studies with 1.6 million participants to include in the review.

All of the studies chosen looked for a link between drinking green tea and cancer cell growth in humans. The majority of the studies focused on cancer of the digestive tract (27) and a few looked at breast, prostate, lung, ovarian, urinary and oral cancers.

Review Results

The reviewers concluded that the results of studies concerning digestive tract cancer were very contradictory. Results from studies on the other types of cancer were variable and generally failed to show a strong link between green tea consumption and a reduced risk of cancer development. Evidence was shown that green tea could reduce the risk of lung cancer (mostly in men) and urinary bladder cancer. But there was also information that green tea consumption could increase the risk of bladder cancer.

More Recent Review

Another review of academic literature conducted in July 2009 reported more than 1100 publications existed concerning the effect of polyphenols, the group of antioxidants that includes flavonoids, on cancer2. During the same time period the scientists also searched the PubMed database using the keywords “polyphenols – cancer – review” and received more than 320 relevant reviews.

This review identified that a prevalence of cancer research focused on the “targeted therapy approach”. They went on to search the PubMed database with the keywords “polyphenols – cancer – kinases” and found more than 130 results and half of them were published after 2003.

One aspect of the targeted therapy approach is targeting specific protein kinases to fight cancer.3 They inhibit tumor growth and prevent inflammation which is thought to cause some types of cancer. These results prove promising that scientists are moving forward in the quest to better understand the beneficial qualities of green tea when used medicinally.

It seems there was not enough strong evidence up until the end of 2008 to conclude that drinking green tea will prevent any type of cancer. However, since that time there have been numerous studies looking at the benefits of green tea with regard to cancer prevention and control.2 Although studies and reviews have produced mixed results, as scientists gain new information about the beneficial effects of green tea, research continues to be conducted. Scientific research is a process of elimination and advances in learning about are leading to continued study.2,3

1Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for the prevention of cancer. Boehm K, Borrelli F, Ernst E, Habacher G, Hung SK, Milazzo S, Horneber M. 2009. Cochrane Database System Rev. Jul 8;(3)

2Natural Polyphenols that Display Anticancer Properties through Inhibition of Kinase Activity.

Lamoral-Theys D, Pottier L, Dufrasne F, Nève J, Dubois J, Kornienko A, Kiss R, Ingrassia L. 2010. Curr Med Chem. 2010 Feb 16. [Epub ahead of print]

3Chemoprevention with phytochemicals targeting inducible nitric oxide synthase. Murakami A. 2009. Forum Nutr. 61:193-203. Epub 2009 Apr 7.

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Components of Cardiovascular Disease and Green Tea

March 25th, 2010 by admin 4 comments »

An estimated 785,000 Americans had their first heart attack in 2009 and 470,000 of them are likely to have a recurrent heart attack. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, and secondhand smoke are all risk factors for heart disease.

We are fortunate because enjoying between 1 and 4 cups of green tea each day is heart-healthy and has no harmful side effects for most people. Researchers estimate 3 cups of green tea each day leads to an 11% decrease in the rate of heart attack. Another study found drinking 4 cups of tea per day significantly reduced the risk of death following a heart attack.

Kenneth J. Mukamal, of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and his colleagues conducted a study on the effects of tea consumption on heart attacks.2 The “Onset Study” was conducted in 45 community hospitals and tertiary care medical centers in the United States. From August 1989 to September 1994, there were 1935 patients (601 women and 1334 men) interviewed approximately 4 days after having a heart attack. It is important to note that the tea drinking level was self-reported by patients and based on their tea drinking during the past year.

Researchers found that when heart attack survivors were heavy-tea drinkers they had a 44% reduced risk of dying during the 3.5 years after their heart attacks. The reduction was based on comparison of the death rates of non-tea drinkers in the study. Moderate tea drinkers realized a 28% reduction in the risk of dying as compared to those who do not drink tea. Dr. Mukamal found the highest response to tea-drinking came from patients already living with heart disease.

Cholesterol

Green tea will help lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure and control obesity and diabetes. These are all risk factors for developing heart disease. Green tea, in combination with a low fat and low cholesterol diet may reduce LDL levels by 10%. Drinking green tea will also raise high density lipoproteins (HDLs), the “good” cholesterol, in the blood and lower total cholesterol.3

Quercetin is an antioxidant in the flavonol class of molecules present in green tea. Its properties contribute to its ability to oxidize LDLs. This is significant because oxidized LDLs are critical molecules in the process that makes plaque.4 Plaque is the build-up of calcium, fats and atheromas in the arteries. This condition is commonly called “hardening of the arteries” which narrows or completely blocks the flow of blood through hardened arteries. Drinking 4 cups of tea per day improves cell quality in the lining of the heart and blood vessels and strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Inflammation

Catechins, a class of flavonols found in green tea, have been studied for their beneficial effects in the prevention of autoimmune disorders and cancer, among other maladies. Recently, catechins were found to prevent inflammation as well. Inflammation in the cardiovascular system has been identified as a contributor to heart disease. Catechins help prevent or limit cardiovascular disease by stopping processes which make molecules that act as green lights for the inflammatory process to begin.

Some scientists have concluded “catechins are potent agents for the treatment and prevention of inflammation-related cardiovascular diseases because they are critically involved in the suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.”5

1Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2009 Update. A Report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Carnethon M, et al. Circulation. 2009.119:e21-e181.

2Tea Consumption and Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction. Kenneth J. Mukamal, MD, MPH, MA; Malcolm Maclure, ScD; James E. Muller, MD; Jane B. Sherwood, RN; Murray A. Mittleman, MD, Dr PH. Circulation. 2002.105:2476.

3 Heat-epimerized tea catechins rich in gallocatechin gallate and catechin gallate are more effective to inhibit cholesterol absorption than tea catechins rich in epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate. Ikeda I, Kobayashi M, Hamada T, Tsuda K, Goto H, Imaizumi K, Nozawa A, Sugimoto A, Kakuda T. 2003. J Agric Food Chem 51(25):7303–7.

4Bioavailability and health effects of dietary flavonols in man. PC Hollman and Katan, MB. Arch Toxicol Suppl. 1998. 20:237-48.

5Tea polyphenols regulate key mediators on inflammatory cardiovascular diseases.
Suzuki J, Isobe M, Morishita R, Nagai R. Mediators Inflamm. 2009:494928. Epub 2009 Jul 19.

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Is Green Tea Safe To Drink During Pregnancy?

February 28th, 2010 by admin 2 comments »

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages around today. Green tea is very beneficial to someone’s health, but is it safe when one is pregnant? Opinions differ on the subject. There are a few studies that have raised red flags, but more research needs to be completed.

pregnant woman with green tea

One major issue with green tea and pregnancy is the amount of caffeine in green tea. Caffeine is not recommended during pregnancy since one of the main concerns is caffeine intake during the gestational month that can increase the risk of miscarriage and other problems for both the mother-to-be and the baby, according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Green tea usually has at least 15 milligrams of caffeine. Women who can’t give up their green tea during pregnancy are urged to talk to their doctor. Since 15 milligrams is a small amount (compared to coffee, which has 100 milligrams a cup), doctors may allow the mother-to-be to have green tea. Doctors have even allowed some women to drink at least three cups of green tea a day. If caffeine is a big concern, there is always decaffeinated green tea. One should remember that non-herbal teas have caffeine and antioxidants. However, herbal teas do not have caffeine or antioxidants since fermentation does not occur.

Women with child need folate in their diets. Folate, or folic acid, is important to women even before they decide to have a baby because it helps prevent the possibility of neural tube birth defects with the baby such as spina bifida. Spina bifida happens when the neural tube, which is around the central nervous system, does not close completely. This condition usually happens when one is deficient in folic acid. One study has linked neural tube defects in babies to women drinking lots of green tea at the time of conception. There still is much research needed in this field to determine if women who are considering getting pregnant should be drinking green tea. Some even maintain that even drinking one cup a day still gives mothers the chance to reap the benefits of green tea but won’t affect the folate a mother needs.

Teas are often the source of nutrients such iron, calcium and magnesium. Since the minerals iron and calcium are needed in higher amounts during pregnancy, it may seem that drinking green tea could be OK. However a study has stated that absorption of these minerals may be affected by oxidation status and/or compounds in the green tea.

A benefit of drinking green tea while pregnant is that it regulates the body’s blood sugar levels. Pregnant women are at high-risk for gestational diabetes, which in turn can cause the baby to have high blood sugar. Babies with high blood sugar can have macrosomia or excessive birth weight and are at risk for breathing problems, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Other benefits include the following:

  • Green tea lowers cholesterol, which is helpful since the mother-to-be is eating for two!
  • Green tea helps the immune system, which helps the mother ward off colds, cancer and infections.
  • Green tea helps one have healthy gums. Pregnant women usually suffer from periodontal gum disease.

If you are pregnant or planning on having a baby, take note that the few studies conducted on the safety of green tea and pregnant women are also too few for experts to make a conclusive stand. Doctors and dietitians still maintain that drinking green tea in moderation is a safe bet. Still not sure whether you should drink green tea while pregnant? The best way to ease your concerns is talking with your doctor. Your doctor knows your medical history better than anyone else and will help keep you and your child healthy during the course of your pregnancy. You’re only pregnant for nine months — green tea will be around after you have your child!

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Selecting the Best Green Tea For Your Health

February 26th, 2010 by admin No comments »

If you have finally given up on soda and decided to make green tea your drink of choice, good for you! Green tea is one of the most popular beverages today. Green tea has many health benefits such as lowering the risk of particular types of diseases, from simple infections to chronic degenerative conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis. With this in mind, you should learn how to select the best green tea.

Green tea contains the health-promoting ingredient flavonoid, which is in the form of catechins and their derivatives. However, the more processed a green tea is, the fewer catechins it will contain. For example, consider the catechins in the following (based on a 30-cup per day consumption):

  • Instant and bottled green tea: 12 milligrams of catechins
  • Flavored green tea: 43 milligrams of catechins
  • Decaffeinated tea: 56 milligrams of catechins
  • Regular green tea: 127 milligrams of catechins

This means that when you do purchase tea, buy organic green tea to gain more catechins. Also make sure that you store your tea properly.  Store it in a dry place that is preferably dark. Don’t put it in the fridge! It will end up having a food odor as well as gain moisture. Are you not sure if your green tea is fresh? Check the freshness. To do this, remove tea from a tea bag and steep the bag (without the tea in it) for about three minutes in a pot of boiling water. Does the water taste like tea? Then the green tea’s flavor is now on the bag, which means that your tea is not fresh. If the boiled water tastes like hot water, then your tea is fresh!

You should remember that green tea doesn’t have the longest shelf life compared to other kinds of tea you may find at a supermarket shelf. The typical shelf life for green tea from the date of packaging is 6 months. Once you open your package, the shelf life drops down to 2 or 3 months. Because tea may have spent a while in transit to get to your home, you should consider where the tea has come from, when it was packaged in the factory and how long it has been sitting on the shelf at the store. Also remember that it is best to buy green tea that is in oxygen-free packaging.

Picking the best green tea doesn’t end after your purchase your box at the store. Another essential item you will need is a proper teapot. Some people may try to make their green tea by using an automatic tea brewer or even putting a teabag in a hot cup of water, but this is not the best way to enjoy your tea. Find a teapot that is specifically created for brewing green tea. These particular teapots allow the tea some room to expand.

With the right teapot, you can now brew your tea correctly. Green tea isn’t like your regular style of tea that you may or may not be used to. You have to stand-by to make sure it is brewed properly. Brew your tea at 165-170 degrees F (73-76 C) for two minutes. If you brew for longer, your green tea will not taste so great. Also drink your green tea as soon as it is ready. If it sits too long, you will lose some of the best parts of the tea!

So sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of green tea today and start raking in the benefits.

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Who Doesn’t Like Benefits?

February 24th, 2010 by admin No comments »

With the current craze of being healthy that has infected the United States, new products and health plans have been popping up all around the country.  With so many unreliable products being released, people are looking for a product that they can trust.  Those individuals do not have to look any further.  In fact, there is a product that has been trusted to preserve the health of nations for centuries.  That product is green tea.

Green tea has been found to have several health benefits.  Some, such as weight loss and preventing cancer are well known, while others might be surprising.  For example, green tea is used in candy to prevent gum disease and in ointments to treat genital warts.  People also use green tea bags to reduce puffiness under the eyes and on the skin to soothe sunburn.  Drinking green tea has been accredited with helping individuals with losing weight and preventing cancer, as previously stated, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and protecting the liver against toxic substances.

Returning to the subject of weight loss, green tea is a great product to use in conjunction with eating right and exercising.  In fact, a study on mice showed that those mice who exercised did not burn as much fat as those mice who drank green tea and did not exercise, and those mice that drank green tea and exercised burned more fat than the other mice.  The key to this are the polyphenols found in green tea.  The polyphenols can be considered to be glucose regulators considering the way in which they prevent the glucose from moving into fat cells.  They also activate the enzymes that dissolve triglyceride, or excess food.  All of this ultimately leads to fat burn.  Also, caffeine paired with a certain polyphenol called epigapigallocatechin gallate, which is also referred to as EGCG, work together to create thermogenesis, which is basically the process of fat being used for energy.   This causes an increase in energy, greater stamina to exercise, as well as a reduction in excess water weight.

Another product that green tea contains is theanine, which is considered a natural relaxant.  Theanine is known to promote a feeling of well-being.  This can be very beneficial to individuals in fast-past, high-demand occupations, or for individuals who may just need a pick-me up.  Feeling at peace also reduces stress which can help decrease negative health factors.

Another major benefit of green tea is that it is a lifelong product with lasting results.  Incorporated in a daily routine, green tea has been proven to reduce body fat and maintain healthy bodily functioning.  Since it is a natural, healthy, medicinal product, green tea does not have negative effects, when consumed properly, or in other words, when it is not over-consumed or taken in conjunction with the wrong medication/additional supplements.  To assure the proper use of green tea, it is recommended that you consult with your physician before incorporating green tea into your daily routine.  Pregnant women are especially cautioned to consult their physician before using green tea, as the green tea can get into their breast milk and could lead to some effects to their child(ren).  It is also recommended that green tea users investigate the green tea products that they plan to use and check to make sure that the product contains standard green tea extract, and that the manufacturer holds the proper credentials and strict compliance with the GMP regulations.

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Green Tea Extract, Extract, Read All About It!

February 22nd, 2010 by admin No comments »

Green tea extract is a revolutionary product.  Green tea in itself holds some extraordinary characteristics, but in its extracted form, green tea can be combined with other products or packaged and used in many different ways.  Some common ways are well known,  such as being a key ingredient in many weight loss supplements, but some of its other uses might be surprising.  For example, green tea extract is used in candy to prevent gum disease and in ointments to treat genital warts.  People also use green tea bags to reduce puffiness under the eyes and on the skin to soothe sunburn.  Just as with drinking green tea, consuming green tea extract in the form of capsuls can be beneficial.  In fact, it has been accredited with helping individuals with losing weight and preventing cancer, as previously stated, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and protecting the liver against toxic substances.

This is made possible by the process that green tea extract goes through.  Oolong and black tea also come from the same plant, the camellia sinensis plant, but they endure different processes before reaching their final state.  Oolong tea is partially fermented and black tea is completely fermented, while green tea is not fermented.  The more the tea is fermented, the more polyphenols it losses and the more caffeinated it becomes, making it less healthy.  Green tea is made by steaming or sun-drying the leaves, which keeps in most of the nutrients.  As the name green tea extract indicates, the green tea is extracted from the leaves and ground up into powder form.  Since green tea extract is not fermented, it has the highest count of polyphenols and the least amount of caffeine, making it the healthiest.

The polyphenols and caffeine that is in the green tea extract work with your body to naturally burn fat and to prevent storing of fat in your body.  The polyphenols prevent the glucose from moving into fat cells, like glucose regulators, and they activate the enzymes that dissolve triglyceride, or excess food.  This ultimately leads to fat burn.  Also, caffeine paired with a specific polyphenol, epigapigallocatechin gallate, which is also referred to as EGCG, work together to create thermogenesis, which is basically the process of fat being used for energy.   This causes an increase in energy, greater stamina to exercise, as well as a reduction in excess water weight.

Considering these factors some people might mistakenly view green tea extract as a miracle product, especially when it comes to using green tea as a dietary supplement.  This, however, is not the case.  Different supplements contain different amounts of green tea, and even the 100 percent green tea capsules do not claim taking the product as the end all, be all.  Many green tea dietary plans seem to follow the same mandate, which includes reducing your caffeine and sugar intake, eating right, and exercising, along with taking the green tea supplement.  Some green tea diet plans even encourage its users to use the supplements in conjunction with other weight loss products.  This may be attributed to the fact that green tea is a supporter of healthy bodily functioning rather than weight loss, so its contribution in helping to burn fat is more attributed to the fact that excess body weight is not healthy.

All in all, outside of a few misconceptions, green tea extract can be quite beneficial when used properly and when incorporated in an individual’s daily routine.  As previously mentioned, green tea capsules contain different concentrations of green tea.  Therefore, it is recommended that you investigate the green tea products that you plan to use and check to make sure that the product contains standard green tea extract, and that the manufacturer holds the proper credentials and strict compliance with the GMP regulations.  It is also recommended for you to consult your physician to see if a green tea diet is feasible and would be productive in your dietary endeavors.

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Unmasking the Green Tea Diet

February 20th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Green tea has become a new phenomenon in the health industry.  One of the highest sought benefits of green tea is its ability to help people lose weight.  Considering the high number of weight loss plans that crash and burn, it is reasonable for individuals to be skeptical.  However, several research studies have been able to consistently validate the effectiveness of a green tea diet.

Green tea is effective because it is a natural product, which limits side effects, and it contains essential components that work with your body to naturally burn fat and to prevent storing of fat in your body.  This is accomplished by the polyphenols and caffeine that are in green tea.  The polyphenols act as a glucose regulator, and prevent the glucose from moving into fat cells, and they activate the enzymes that dissolve triglyceride, or excess food, ultimately leads to fat burn.  Also, a specific polyphenol, epigapigallocatechin gallate, also referred to as EGCG, along with the caffeine in green tea work together to create thermogenesis, or the process of fat being used for energy as well as shedding excess water weight.   This causes an increase in energy as well as longer stamina to exercise.

Along with weight loss benefits, green tea has also been credited with several health benefits as well.  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, green tea  helps with preventing cancer, reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar, reducing inflammation due to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and protecting the liver against toxic substances.  Considering all of these benefits, it is easy to see why there has been such interest circulating around the green tea diet.  But what exactly is the green tea diet?

There are several different green tea diets available.  On one site alone dedicated to green tea, you can find several different green tea diets, including the Chinese Diet Green Tea, the Mega-T Green Tea Diet, the AriZona Diet Green Tea, the Schiff Green Tea Diet, and the Nature’s Bounty Super Green Tea Diet, just to name a few.   Though they all boast to be the best and revolutionary products, they all seem to follow the same mandate.  Along with taking the product, you are encouraged to reduce your caffeine and sugar intake, eat right, and exercise.  Different supplements contain different amounts of green tea, and even the 100 percent green tea capsules do not claim taking the product as the end all, be all.

In such a light, it would appear that the green tea diet is not really a traditional fat-burning diet at all, but rather can aid as a supplemental aid in fat-burn dieting.  In fact, some of the green tea diet plans encourage its users to use them in conjunction with other weight loss products.  As previously stated, it has been proven that green tea aids in weight loss, but by itself it will take years to lose a small amount of weight.  This may be attributed to the fact that green tea is a supporter of healthy bodily functioning rather than weight loss, so its contribution in helping to burn fat is more attributed to the fact that excess body weight is not healthy.  Therefore, when coupled with other dietary supplements, green tea helps to supercharge the fat-burning qualities of the diet being enforced.

Individuals interested in embarking on a green tea diet are encouraged to pick the best one for them.  For some, drinking three to six cups of green tea a day is plausible, while others would prefer using the extract in pill form.  It was previously mentioned that green tea capsules contain different concentrations of green tea.  There are even some dietary supplements that already contain green tea in them.  As with any product, it is best to consult your physician to see if a green tea diet is feasible and would be productive in your dietary endeavors.  It is also recommended that you investigate the green tea products that you plan to use and check to make sure that the product uses standard green tea extract, and that the manufacturer holds the proper credentials and strict compliance with the GMP regulations.

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Green Tea and Weight Loss

February 18th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Every time you turn around there are always new weight loss fads being presented in the consumer market.  However, one weight loss concept has been proven to be more than just hype.  Through time, testing, and research, green tea has held its own in the quest for weight loss.  But how does it happen?  What does it really do?  Why is it effective?

The greatest distinguishing factor between green tea and other weight loss supplement is that green tea helps you lose the right weight and to keep it off.  Some weight loss supplements are not lying when they claim that you will lose weight, but the problem is that you may not be losing the right weight; many weight loss supplements will cause you to lose water weight and muscle mass.  This is unbeneficial from all sides.  Water weight is gained back immediately after you rehydrate, so whether you have truly lost weight can be questioned.  Also, losing muscle mass would not be desirable, considering that the amount of muscle in your body controls your natural metabolism, so less muscle slows down your metabolism which leads to less calories burned.  What’s more, after your diet your metabolism may stay low for a while and lead to what is referred to as the “yo-yo effect”, a nickname given to the process of when an individual loses weight but soon gains those pounds back and more.

Studies have constantly shown that those who drink green tea burn significantly more fat than those that just exercise.  In fact, a study on mice showed that those mice who exercised did not burn as much fat as those mice who drank green tea and did not exercise, and those mice that drank green tea and exercised burned more fat than the other mice.  This occurs due to the polyphenols found in green tea.  One particular polyphenol, epigapigallocatechin gallate, also known as EGCG, combined with the caffeine in green tea help to stimulate metabolism, which leads to thermogenesis, or the process of fat being used for energy.   This leads to increased energy and longer stamina to exercise.

As previously stated, green tea is a lifelong product with lasting results.  Incorporated in a daily routine, green tea has been proven to reduce body fat.  Since it is a natural, healthy, medicinal product, green tea does not have negative effects, when consumed properly (not over-consumed or taken in conjunction with the wrong medication/additional supplements).  In fact, along with losing and maintain weight, green tea also helps to prevent health issues such as cancer, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and much more.

Green tea also holds several other positive qualities.  For one, green tea can help you to reduce your caffeine intake.  Considering that caffeine gives you energy, it would be a lie to claim that it is not beneficial.  However, it would not be an exaggeration to state that too much caffeine is not healthy.  Many avid coffee drinkers consume great amounts of caffeine, sugars, and creamer that add unwanted pounds.  Green tea contains natural amounts of caffeine, so that you can gain your caffeine fix without the overload and the extra sugar from the extra ingredients added to coffee.

Green tea possesses theanine which helps to keep you calm and increase your awareness.  This can be very beneficial to individuals in fast-past, high-demand occupations, or for individuals who may just need a pick-me up.  Feeling at peace also reduces stress which can help decrease negative health factors.

So, all in all, green tea can be considered a fail proof weight loss tool.  However, there are a few drawbacks to be discussed.  Green tea is not an overnight miracle worker; green tea does help you to lose weight, but it is a process that happens over time.  It would probably be helpful to consider green tea to be more of a weight management tool than a weight loss supplement.  Also, those that are on specific medications and vitamins could experience negative effects from the combination of their medications/vitamins and the green tea.  Also, some may believe that consumption of more tea would lead to more weight loss.  However, this is not very plausible, and too much green tea could lead to negative effects.  As with any other supplement, it would be best to consult your physician before implanting green tea into your regular diet.

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Green Tea Health Benefits

February 13th, 2010 by admin No comments »

Antioxidants

EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate, is what makes green tea so healthy. EGCG is just one of many, many different antioxidants. For example, you’ve probably heard of lycopene before; if nowhere else, advertised on a bottle of Heinz ketchup. Watermelon also has high concentrations of lycopene. So, green tea has antioxidants. What sorts of things can EGCG do?

Cancer

One of the major things that recent studies have revealed is that EGCG reduces carcinogenesis. In other words, it prevents cancer. This is because the antioxidants neutralize free-radicals, which cause cancer. Many different types of cancer can be helped. For example, cancers of the esophagus, lungs, prostate, stomach, and others. For more on the specifics of how antioxidants prevent cancer, take a look at the article below on antioxidants.

Oral Health

Green tea is also said to help oral health; this is because of it’s high fluoride content. Fluoride is a major ingredient in many oral health products, such as toothpaste. It can help with the remineralization of teeth by attracting calcium and other essential minerals to places where enamel has broken down. This all to say green tea helps preventing tooth decay. Some people are concerned that if one consumes too much tea, it will result in toxic levels of fluoride. This is unlikely, because the amount of fluoride contained in green tea is small enough where one would have to drink gross amounts to sustain any serious health problems. On a minor note, green tea is said to reduce bad breath. Personally I find if I drink a cup before I go to bed, I don’t have morning breath.

Immnune System

It is also said green tea can build impaired immune systems up. A compound called Theanine is present in green tea. This compound can boost the ability of ‘gamma delta T cells’ to fight infections. A ‘gamma delta T cell’ is a type of white blood cell, which is the bodies main first line of defense. By strengthening the white blood cells, Theanine is basically better equipping the infantry of the body to fight against hostile forces.

Metabolism

Another thing green tea is said to do is speed up metabolism. Some say it is good to drink green tea after a meal to help break down food more effectively. Metabolism divided into two parts; catabolism and anabolism. Catabolism is the process that creates energy, and anabolism uses energy to complete tasks such as building cells. When your body breaks down food, certain damaging chemicals are produced; things such as hydrogen peroxide. To fight this, your body has a complicated set of enzymes to detoxify these chemicals. As you may have guessed, antioxidants can help to boost this process greatly. When the antioxidants mop up these chemicals, more of the enzymes can concentrate on breaking down food for energy, thus speeding catabolism (and thus metabolism).

Relaxation

It is also said that green tea can relax and calm the nerves. This may sound a bit absurd, but it really isn’t when you look closer. Green tea contains a compound called ‘Theanine’. Like Alcohol, this compound can cross the blood-brain barrier, but unlike alcohol, it does not have an adverse affect. It can relieve both mental and physical stress, and even in repeated extremely high doses has little or no adverse affects–physical or psychological.

Other Types of Tea

So, is green tea special? Is it much better than say, black tea? Or white tea? Well, originally, green tea was considered to be much better, which is understandable. Anything ‘green’ or ‘natural’ now-a-days immediately gains for itself a healthy connotation. Black tea is oxidized completely, while green tea is for the most part not. In the tea-making community, the oxidation process is called ‘fermentation’, although technically no fermentation is taking place. This has also contributed somewhat to the negative connotation of black tea. But recent studies suggest that black and other varieties of tea are just as good as green. So, whether you drink black, white, oolong or whatever else suits your tastes, you are still reaping the benefits that green tea has recently gained the reputation of.

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