Scientific Research

Western scientists began research into the benefits of green tea only in the 1980′s. Before the time it was clear that Asians were already in the knowing about its benefits. The truth about scientific research is that it takes a long time to come to a reliable conclusion. Sometimes the whole process hits a wall and gets stalled. In addition, even after the whole process has been Okayed, there still need to be certain amount of follow up for perfection to be reached. All these and many more can eat into many years, and that is why western scientific measure sees research into green tea as still in the babyhood stage.

A study at The University of Geneva

It was until 1999 that green tea as a possible source of weight loss began to generate a lot of interest. The first instance was in an article published by the American society for Clinical Nutrition in 1999. Although the consumption of tea dates back to centuries, little was known about its health benefits to human. It was a team of scientists at the University of Geneva who later took the bold step to study the effects of plant ingredients on weight loss. They wanted to know if the caffeine and catechin polyvphenels contents, which are natural compounds of green tea, can result into the burning of fat and general metabolism of the body. It is important we take a look at how the research was conducted since the Geneva study marked the beginning of interests on the benefits of green tea on human health.

To begin with, scientific researches initiated ten men who were fit and classified either as mildly obese (having 8-30% of body fat) or lean into the study. They exempted smokers, athletes, and those with some weight loss history. The researchers only included men who were given to some western diet that contributes fat (35 -40%). They also had to take note of the physical make-up of each participant, including their weight, height and the fat content of their body.

Each of these men spent a day in a respiratory chamber on three distinct occasions. In addition, they were designated these three treatments randomly;

1) 2 capsules of extracts of green tea that contained 90 miligrams of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and 50 miligrams of caffeine. EGCG is known to be a strong antioxidant present in tea leaves and other elements naturally occurring in green tea;

2) two capsules that were filled with cellulose as a form of placebo (having no effect on the body); or

3) Two capsules containing 50 miligrams of caffeine (with no additional ingredients in it).

Each man had identical intake in terms of calories for every diet, which were also classified as weight-maintenance. Details of the energy content in their food are as follows; 40% fat, 13% protein and 47% of carbohydrate. There was no allowance for any other meal with caffeine content for one day before or during their respiratory chamber session. They were only allowed to listen to radio programs or watch TV anytime in the respiratory chamber. They each had three separate 24 hours periods of tests over the span of 5-6 weeks, within which they were not also allowed to exercise.

Result of Research

By the help of urinary and respiratory testing on the men, it was discovered that there was a 4% increase in their expenditure of energy in one day. In addition, although caffeine affects human metabolism, the case was not so with these men. It could be that the dosage given them was just not right enough to induce metabolism. The men who used the capsules took a total of 100 rug of caffeine for each meal, which is less than that in an average cup of brewed coffee. In essence, though caffeine was contained in the capsules of the green tea it had no hand on the increased metabolic effect. What the scientists concluded on was that the marriage of the contents of green tea and the caffeine brought about the fat burning and metabolism. However, what is yet to be discovered is whether decaffeinated green tea would possess that much effect toward causing fat oxidation and metabolism.

The great find of this scientific research was that the men who were administered capsules containing extracts of green tea and caffeine never had issues of increased heart rate. This means that the process is a far safer measure for weight loss than alternative drugs. This is much important when it comes to people who are having cardiovascular challenges or high blood pressure.
In a nutshell, the men who took the capsules burned up to 80 or more calories in less than 2 hours without even exercising or changing their day-to-day diet.

Other Studies into the Subject

A separate study that was revealed online in the January 2005 edition of the American Journal of Physiology: Integrative, regulatory and comparative Physiology disclosed that mice that was made to consume over a period of ten weeks extract of green tea displayed heightened exercise endurance of 8-24% more than another mice that was not given the extract, although allowed to exercise. They also discovered that the mice that took the green tea extract burned fat perfectly well. In addition, they also found out that caffeine did not play any role in increasing the amount of endurance during exercise or the burning of fat. They discovered that after reducing the amount of caffeine in the extract during the experiment.

The scientists who did the research found out that catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is an antioxidant found in green tea, resulted in improvement in endurance, although insignificantly. This result shows that the other catechins in green tea were also necessary during the experiment with those ten men.

Just a single dose was not enough to affect increase metabolism. This only shows that it would take a long-term usage of green tea to get good result as regards weight loss. It is worth noting that the research was carried out at the Biological Science Laboratories of Kao Corporation in Tochigi, Japan. They are makers of green tea beverages and other health care products. This does not translate to the results been twisted in a way. However, they are made bare in the interest of making the public understand better.

Another group of researchers also found out that green tea extracts never increased heart rates during the process of weight loss. Their finding was published in January, 2002, edition of the Phytomedicine Journal. In their research they had 70 volunteers on two green tea extract capsules on daily basis.The dosage contained 270 miligrams of EGCG- which is 30% more than what is acceptable. However, it never resulted into any side effects.

Results fetched after three months: Their body weight was reduced by an average of 4.6%, while the circumference of their waist decreased by 4.48%. There was another study by the Japanese on the effects of body fat reduction by Catechins. The test involved men of like size ( in terms of waist circumference, body mass index, and an indicator of fat) who were given different quantities of catechins. These men were divided into two teams with one being given 690 miligrams of catechins, while the other team was given 22 miligrams of catechins. During the 12 weeks of testing, all the men were allowed similar diets on the overall by taking identical breakfasts and dinners. They were also asked to put a check on their on their intake of fat and calorie at other times so as to foster similar dieting. The result of the test was that men who were given more catechin quantity showed more reduction in waist circumference, body mass index and body weight. The ratio between both groups was a bit close to the ratio 2:1, with those who were given more losing more weight on the overall.

A Chinese test was also carried out on 75 persons who were suffering from obesity due to lack of exercise and overeating. The 75 persons were people within the age bracket of 22 and 69, and they were asked to take oolong tea for 6 weeks, twice each day. Also, they were asked not to engage on any form of exercise or dieting. They were just to continue with their normal meals while they keep taking oolong tea twice each day.

After the stipulated 6 weeks, result showed that they lost an average of 4mm of subcutaneous fat near their navels. The measurement was done using echograph sensors. The result went ahead to show that there was reduction in cholesterol level, serum and serum triglyceride within those six weeks. About 67% of the participants were said to have lost weight within the time of the research. It is worth noting that they had no guidelines for their diet, and there was nothing told about what they were eating within those weeks.

In a study carried out in Taiwan about the habit of tea drinking, 1,103 persons were analyzed for differences in fat and their ratios of waist-to-hip. The result showed that those who had been taking tea for over ten years had on average about 19.6% reduction in body fat and 2.1% smaller waist-to-hip rations than those who weren’t regular drinkers of tea. The conclusion was that tea could pass for a weight-loss beverage.

Remember I said that scientific study into tea as a source of weight-loss is still in its babyhood stage. More research is being conducted with results showing up on daily basis.

The efficiency of green tea in the reduction of body fat has also been shown by many other studies. However, a lot more research has been conducted into the benefits of tea on the cardiovascular, and its power to fight against diseases.

It is easier to forget taking too much food when they are not within eye range. However, it becomes difficult keeping with your resolve when you just walk past an open bag containing French fries. So you would want to let your folks know they should keep those bags far away so you do not get tempted to do contrary.

Fish is great, especially if not fried. When fish is fried there is a great alteration of the protective benefit that comes with it; that is the ratio of bad to good fats. The frying action has the tendency to promote blood clot formation in the long run. Doctors have advised that it is also important that pregnant women and nursing mothers steer clear canned tuna due to the presence of mercury. And we who aren’t in that category are advised to limit our intake of tuna salad to a maximum of 2 per week.

Sugar is same no matter whether from fruit juice or just the white kind. Talking about fruit juice, there is additional sugar with some of them. So it is far better that you eat an orange than taking an orange juice. This is because you would also be getting the well needed fiber, more quality vitamins and minerals. If you really want to have the feel of drinking juice, you can do so by hand-squeezing the juice out of the orange. You can also get the carton of juice that come with a lot of pulp. However, do dilute it with clean water with no added calorie. This is certainly lighter and will quench your thirst more.

Watch your portion sizes

The new Food Pyramid emphasizes portion control, and recent media attention has focused on the supersizing of restaurant portions. Remember, the calories listed on packages are per serving, and your idea of a serving may be very different from that of the manufacturer.

For example:

An ounce of bread is almost the size of an index card.

An ounce of cheese is same as the size of two dice.

An ounce of meat is almost same as the size of a deck of cards.

A serving of pasta is almost same size with a hockey puck

You can also use your hand to know portions. For instance, if you are a middle-sized woman, your hand has the following equalities:

The size of your thumb is almost equal to an ounce of tablespoon

Also, the tip of your thumb is same size with a teaspoon. And your palm region is almost the same size with a single 3-oz serving of poultry, fish or meat.

More Suggestions on Weight Loss

To get a more certain result start by measuring the weights of various food with relationship to the size of your hand. You can do so privately just in case you are caught gazing at the steam (check out chapter 3). Although your kids may see you as though going nuts it is better for you. Moreover, a serving of nut is just a handful.

If you think those portions are seriously small, I too think so. Another important angle is that of sizes of plates. Taking out my mom’s China (around 1950′s) I observed that plates for dinner were small. They really made me think they were salad plates, though. Also, the same was the case with the dinner plates of my mother-in-law, of which hers were about eight inches in diameter. However, I was Okayed by the announcement of a nutritionist over the radio that dinner plates have started becoming bigger within the last few decades. They left 8 inches for 10, and now the average you can find is around 11 inches if not more. Such a dinner plate size would hold a lot of food for you. You can do well to start putting your prescribed portion of food on smaller plates.

Give it some Spice

It has been discovered that foods like mustards, cayenne, jalapeno and other spicy peppers speed the rate of metabolism due to the fact that they contain capsaicin. As a matter of fact, if you think you can handle the heat effect try to spice up your meals.

Keep Advancing

It could be a good thing that you lost the remote control for your television. It could also be the same when you find yourself moving uncontrollably in a board meeting. This is true with respect to a research run on 20 different individuals by The Mayo Clinic. Ten of them were obese, while the other ten were lean. And all made it clear that they were couch potatoes, too. The clinic planted sensors in specially made underwear so that scientists would be able to measure the movements the ten men and ten women make for every half second within those 10 days. In a nutshell, they were trying to take measurement of their activities when not exercising, which is also called non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). This simply means that the scientists measured all their movements. The result showed that the lean ones naturally have inkling toward making movements always, even after they must have put on more weight, while those obese would rather sit quietly even after losing some weight. It was revealed that these differences in their movements (for example, walking, fidgeting and standing) all made for the addition of 350 calories each day.

So you now see why forgetting where you dropped your TV remote could be a blessing? So stand up and look for it to enable you make some movement and keep your weight within limits. Better still, why not stand up and change the channel manually. You can also play the piano than just sitting down or go shopping than watching another round of TV shows. You can also try as much as you can to put your home printer far from where you have your computed. SO when you print you must have to make some movement before getting the document. Just find a way of making movements if you are one with a high propensity to sit still always.

If 350 calories are known to be added daily for sitting down always, try adding that for a whole year. You can get more information about the Mayo Clinic research from their website, www.mayoclinic.org/spotlight/fidget-low-metablolism.html, or the January 29, 2005 issue of Science Magazine.

Get adequate sleeping time

Although a lot had already been said concerning having enough sleep, it is still important to draw your attention again around same topic as lack of sleep does pose a serious problem if you are at the menopause stage or you have little kids. Sometimes the reason of not having enough sleep borders around watching TV or stress. There are also many other reasons too. However, we fail to have enough sleep we tend to make-up energy by taking lots of food. So check on yourself right away. Is it wise that you let a TV series or blockbusters make you put on more weight? Researchers have also revealed that an ingredient called Lrheanine found in tea do help promote relaxation. So you can start drinking white tea just in case you face troubles having enough sleep. White tea does contain the least amount of caffeine so you are okay with it. It certainly would be of immense help than getting an over-the-counter sleeping pill to do the work.

Get enough sleep

There’s been a lot written lately about sleep and weight loss. Lack of sleep can be a serious problem that is not always easily solved, especially if you have small children or you’re going through menopause. Often, though, we’re sleep deprived because of television, stress, or any numbers of reasons that are more-or-less within our control, Studies have shown that when we don’t get enough sleep we try to find energy in food. So have a talk with yourself. Is that rerun of Law and Order really worth the calories you might be putting on the next day?
Some research has shown Lrheanine (which is abundant in tea) promotes relaxation. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, try drinking white tea (it has the least caffeine). It may help more than an over-the-counter sleeping pill and is safer.

Take Enough of Water

I am also trying to put this into daily practice- that is taking lots of water. In a book titled; “French Women Don’t get Fat”, by Mereille Guiliano, the author made it clear that French women take a lot of water than American women do. She made it clear that although our bodies loose water from the known ways, they also do so even during the breathing process, sleeping, and sweating. She advised that we constantly replace the amount of water lost by starting with a glass of water once we wake up in the morning.

I always get the better feeling each day I wake up having taken enough water the previous one. It is also important you take a lot of water if you like drinking mostly black tea. Black tea promotes the formation of urine, which in turn makes your body lose water more easily. It is advisable to go with green tea as it contains lesser amount of caffeine, which will result into having far less urine formation and overall loss of body water. The simple rule is that the more caffeine contents the more the possibility of loss of body water.

In her book, Guiliano shows that we most times make the mistake of misinterpreting thirst to be hunger. Quite alright that fruits and veggies do supply some water; however, there is nothing to get out of a Snickers bar. So, next time you get a feeling of hunger, start by taking some water.

Lastly, it is important you incorporate green tea into your healthy routine.

China was the first to introduce tea in the market due to which it is considered as the homeland of tea. There are wide ranges of teas that are available and the one gaining popularity is the green tea. The quality of the leaves gives the quality of the tea. Different grades are provided to the leaves of the plant which can be either ‘Pinhead’ or ‘Pea Leaf. The industries on tea are flourishing all over the country as there are over ten thousand varieties of tea present. There is no specification of how large the business is.

The tea plant which is also known as the ‘Camellia Sinensis’ is the plant that is commonly used in making the tea. The production of the green tea is done utilizing the non-oxidized leaves where heating, rolling and further drying is done. Commonly, steaming is done first and then heated and finally it is dried out. The main reason for the preservation done traditionally was to stop the leaves to ferment. The steamed leaves are full of the oily substances found naturally along with the antioxidants. The main advantage of the tea is that it helps in the prevention of different heart related diseases along with the cancer. Even to loose weight and get balanced, this diet is used.

The extracts with higher concentration are beneficial for the body. The selling of it can be done and also used in some other activities which supports in the development and maintenance of body. it is also regarded as the dieting agent which can actually help in loosing the weight of an individually if consumed on regular basis.

This product is available in ‘West Lake’, ‘Huang Shan’ etc. where the cultivation of the tea is done from hundreds of years. Different research and studies have shown recently that there are about 676 varieties in the market now.

The tea leaves are picked by the hands to give the highest quality one. It is better if it is handmade which will improve the quality of the product. For the preservation and protection of the original color, smell and texture, the leaves are picked by the hands.

Some of the merits that can be achieved after the usage of this tea are as follows:

It helps you look fairer and younger providing the body with full refreshments. It also supports in providing the body with the vitamins that are deficient. It makes you more energetic and active which helps you to be fine. The mental stress can be minimized by the utilization of this product.

Besides this, it is also helpful in killing the microorganisms in the body which were continuously hampering the development and the metabolic activities. After the removal of the disease causing organisms, you will keep you away from illness or sickness.

The captives can be stopped as there is presence of the fluoride in higher quantity. It also helps in the removal of the bad breadth from the mouth.

The storage of green tea can only be successful if done wisely and skillfully. This is because it is possible for tea to go bad in the event that it comes in contact with other odors. One of the rules of tea storage is that you should never expose them to light. Never store tea in a clear glass container; else it would lead to loss of its freshness and aroma. However, ceramics and glass have proven to be reliable containers for tea storage. Also, endeavor to store tea in containers that are just large enough for the amount of tea. If too large, it would lead to tea undergoing oxidation. This applies to foil bag storage option, too. Once you take the measure you want off of the foil bag, try squeezing out some air so the bag is just enough to hold the remaining portion of tea. It is important that every container for tea is sealed tightly to avoid moisture inclusion.

Never Store tea with Other Materials As it Tends to Pick Odors

It is not a good idea to store tea in thing like refrigerators. This is because storage in refrigerators could lead to it picking odors of other materials or even being exposed to moisture. However, if stored at the right temperature (30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit) with a good wrapping to act as a seal, your tea could even stay for more than 5 months without losing freshness. You can only froze tea if your packing technique is reliable; else, you shouldn’t try doing so.

Never expose your dry tea leaves to a boiling kettle. It is possible for humidity to get trapped by the tea leaves. And that isn’t good for you. In addition, make sure the kitchen utensils you use in taking your measure of tea is as dry as possible. This is certainly important as even a drop of water into your tea can change the taste drastically.

To promote safety, it is wise you purchase small amount of tea- say between 2-4 ounces- at a time. That could certainly give you between 15 to 30 cups of perfectly brewed tea. You can also make use of teabags, too. Teabags can be used over and over again with every usage coming tasty. Since tea leaves can be used on more than one occasion, it stands to reason that you can get a lot more brewed tea from a little dried leaf.

It is a known fact that smaller green tea leaves do weigh more than their larger counterpart. This in turn leads to having fewer leaves in your home. Just in case you can, you should make use of food scale to weigh the amount of tea you want to take than using a teaspoon. This also helps in eliminating issues like having a small amount of water from spoon getting into the tea. As you begin with the recommended quantity, you would later understand the amount suitable for your nourishment and enjoyment.

Recycling Qualities of Tea

Tea lends itself to more home application that you could imagine. They can be used to enhance your garden and home. So here are some hints on how to employ tea into making your home better.

Application of green tea in your kitchen

1. You can use green tea as a rub for your meat. To do so you must first grind tea leaves using pepper mill. After which you can combine the grinded portion with spices before rubbing over your meat.

2. You can submerge your chicken or meat in tea as it is a natural tenderizer.

3. Making use of wet tea leaves as perfume can help you get rid of unwanted odors. Even when you take garlic, rubbing wet tea leaves over your hand can deal with the odor from the garlic.

4. If your refrigerator has an unwanted smell you can place used teabags in an uncovered container so it gets rid of the odor.

5. In cooking meals like stew and many other dishes, you can spray fresh or used tea leaves for better taste.

Application in medicine and beauty

1. You can enliven your eyes if they look tired by placing on them cooled green teabags. Leave them there for few minutes and you would be surprised at the result.

2. Are you uncomfortable with your breath? Chew some amount of tea leaves to refresh your breath. You can also achieve that by adding a little amount of water to green tea for use as mouth wash.

3. If you intend having succulent skin, you can get that by adding a cup of tea into your bath water. However, make sure you rinse very well for optimum result.

4. Get your skin rejuvenated by using a mixture of grinded tea leaves with any facial cleanser to help shed off old skin layer. For a better facial look, massage the mixture gently over your face and rinse thoroughly.

5. Tea can find employment after you must have had a shave. Use it to clean shaved area for better experience.

6. Tea has anti-fungal attributes that can help in combating those funguses around your feet. To do so you can soak your feet in warm tea water. This will definitely promote healthier living as it would kill fungus found around those areas.

7. Your used teabags can help you in absorbing moisture and bad odors in your shoe. What you need do is to turn those used teabags into sachets and place them skillfully in your boots and shoes. It is a good practice, especially when you know your feet seem wet and your stockings are dirty.

8. Sunburns are not good for your skin. it is quite discomforting anytime it happens. However, you can ease the pain at the moment by applying a piece of cloth soaked in green tea over the area. This is proven to restore comfort immediately. You can also apply teabags that have been refrigerated to provide same result.

Recycle and Reuse

1. Used teabags can be used to heal cuts, bruises, and bump and razor cuts. What you need do is to get used teabags and keep storing them in an ice stray. When the tray is full you can add some water and allow it to freeze. Anytime you get bruises you only need to take out one section and apply. This will certainly bring the needed healing.

2. Infections of the eye can be taken care of using soaked tea or used teabag.

3. Have you lost a tooth accidentally or due to extraction and are finding it difficult to stop the bleeding? You can do so easily by making use of black tea. You need to soak in black tea into the bleeding area. TO do so you need to take a gentle bite on a wet teabag.

4. You can get some relief from toothache by pressing a portion of wet tea leaves around the affected area.

5. Carpet and rug cleaning for better home fragrance is of the essence. You can make use of dried tea leaves to achieve that. All you need do is to crush the leaves and make sure they get into the fibers of your carpet. After that you need to vacuum clean so as to get the best result.

6. Tea leaves can also be used to absorb odors anywhere you find uncomfortable to stay in due to the odor of the place.

PLANTS AND GARDENING

1. You can do well to gather residual green tea so as to use them to water your plants. It helps to provide rich nutrients for your home plants.

2. Your used tea leaves can also find useful employment on your outdoor plants.

3. Tea leaves and tea bags can help making for a rich composite pile for your plants.

NATURAL DYEING

1. The use of black tea for dyeing dates back to centuries. In those days, black tea was used in dyeing fabrics and making them into antiques, too. Today, they can also be used in that regard. You can use your green tea to dye your light fabrics. However, the quality of the finish will depend on how long you allowed the cloth to stay in the dye.

STAINS DUE TO TEA

1. To get rid of tea stains on your clothing. You first need to sponge the affected area with some cool water. Open up the area over a bowl and try as much as possible to get it secured around the bowl. Your next step would be to take both clothing and bowl into the bathtub or deep sink as the case may be for you. Then the next step to take requires that you allow a free fall of hot water around the stained portion. This particular section tends to be a kind of hazard to many concerned. And as such you can take off those stains by soaking it in a mixture of vinegar and water. The portion is one part vinegar and the other two parts should be water. After that you can take the clothing for proper laundering before taking to the dryer. However, you can also shake off those stains by washing in a mixture of water and vinegar solution, before laundering with the help of enzyme detergent. In addition, it has been proven that if you hang the stained clothing you have just purged outside for the sun to beat on them, the removal process is hastened.

2. Use paper towel first if you are trying to clean your carpeting after being stained. After that you need to make use of water and vinegar solution in the ration 1:2. Saturate the stained area with enough spray of the mixture before trying to blot it out again. If the stain is still there you might want to use a small amount of dishwashing liquid (which must not contain a bleaching agent or be used for washing dishes). Spray the dishwasher over the carpet and wash it again. Once the stain is gone it is advisable to rinse thoroughly the affected area(s). Hydrogen peroxide solution (3%) can be of help this area. A good move is to seek for help from the manufacturers.

3. A combination of water and baking soda can take out those tea stains left on your kitchen counter.

It is possible for you to become your own doctor ?

Yes. And it is recommended if you want to lose weight with green tea.

Of course being your own doctor goes beyond checking the level of sugar contained in your blood, or knowing what the cholesterol level looks like. One thing for sure is that if you fail to tell yourself the truth, both as a patient and a doctor, your chances won’t br bright. You need to understand that there is a big difference between the lies about your weight on your driver’s license and when it comes to being true to yourself.

Being busy in one’s carrier or with others has become the norm in the society to the extent that people no longer care about their health until it comes to life-threatening health challenges like stroke, heart disease or attack. While this is true for some, the other group of persons hate to take a visit to the doctor for any reason. The major reason is that they fear greatly the result of doing so. And for that reason, they tend not to be willing to go for prostate testing or any of such medical examination.

It is wise to check for your body mass index, cholesterol, blood pressure level and many other necessary things before going to see a doctor. Although getting to know these numbers is a great step, of what use are they if you do not understand what they represent with respect to your health? Just in case you didn’t get any help knowing what they stand for from your doctor, you can get the explanation yourself.

You can do so by consulting any of the many family medical books in the market (there are few which have been outlined at the resource section for you). These books do have informative columns for symptoms of different diseases. This will serve as a warning bell for you anytime there is need to take action; instead of sitting and thinking all is well with you. In addition, the ever informative bank called the internet could be a source of immense help for you to get quality information from.

More to know about green tea

Know more about green tea. You would also gain knowledge of how to recycle your teabags and tea leaves without stress. Also included for you is how you can totally eradicate tea stains just in case you didn’t do the recycling fast enough. You will also find a great resource for green tea weight loss plan. Just in case you want to read the results of my research, you can find them in the reference section. You will also find magazines, books and other helpful resources I found helpful and interesting, personally.

I once said in the introduction that I was a bit uneasy with the claims on green tea as a means of losing weight. However, I now know better since I have lost weight too as a result of green tea. I feel better now that I have lost weight on green tea.

Introduction

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During the last few years green tea has been through many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long health benefits. Some studies suggest that regular green tea drinkers might have lower risks of heart disease and contracting certain kinds of cancer. Green tea should be helpful in various health disorders also
Rheumatoid arthritis
High cholesterol levels
Cardiovascular disease
Infection
Impaired immune function.
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Curb your appetite!
Speed up your fat burning!
Lose weight and not be hungry!
Lose ten pounds in five days!
Forget calories ! Forget carbs!

The promises are alluring. When we see them on tv or in magazines or newspapers ads, it’s occasionally luring to think that just by taking a pill or a few capsules a day, can we really lose those extra pounds. The ads often imply I won’t have to give up my favorite foods and won’t even have to look at a treadmill, Even better, some commercials suggest that I can lose weight during sleep. I could deal with that. But then I see the fine print..

Often there is a fine print. It’s often quite small and easy to miss and it usually refers to more details that can be found in the ad, usually at the bottom in very small type. They’re typically coupled with the words “When used with our diet and exercise program” or a similar statement.

Occasionally the ads display an attractive woman who tells us that she lost 20 pounds whilst having all the chocolate she desired.

There is another fine print here as well along the bottom of the screen that says, “Results not typical,”

That is disgusting especially since sometimes the “before” and “after” photos apparently suggest that while losing the weight your teeth is going to be whiter and straighter, your hair will be thicker and shinier and somehow, despite the weight loss, your bust size will increase. It’s particularly interesting when the woman is at least two inches taller in the “after” picture.

So when a buddy of mine reported she had lost several pounds without having to modify her diet, but merely by drinking green tea, I was skeptical to say the least. But I observed she’d indeed dropped excess weight; she looked better and apparently had more energy.

Over the next few weeks we had some meals together and I could see her appetite hadn’t diminished, nor had her helpings; she ate like she wasn’t dieting. I could also see that she had lost even more weight.

So much more queries about green tea came into mind and her answers captivated me enough to do some serious investigation.

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Green tea is the super tea as it is least processed and offers the most antioxidant polyphenols, notably a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is accountable for most of the health benefits.

Green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, in addition to improving the proportion of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol. Green tea drinkers have lower risk for a wide range of diseases, from simple bacterial or viral infections to chronic disease including cardiovascular disease, stroke, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis.

Green tea helps a lot in reducing down the sugar level in a body so its very good for an individual who is experiencing diabetes. It will help them to managing their sugar level without any extra effort. The polyphenols contained in green tea extract cuts down on the amount of amylase produced by conversion of starch into sugar and hence the levels of sugar in the blood also decrease.
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The more I researched the more interested I got. Green tea had not been part of my vocabulary, much less my diet. My whole life has been spent with coffee drinkers. When I was a child coffee was an occasional treat in which to dunk a cinnamon roll. Like so many, I started drinking coffee on a regular basis in college. Tea was something I saw only in a Chinese restaurant or politely sipped when nothing else was offered at a friend’s house. I tried herbal teas once in a while after reading their health benefits, but always preferred coffee. I even went to a formal afternoon tea at a restaurant with friends, but have to admit I enjoyed the sandwiches, the scones and the ceremony more than the tea.

The last several years I have had a small box of Earl Grey tea on hand because I knew some friends preferred it, but I didn’t know there was such a thing as green tea, much less oolong, white or red tea. Through my research I have been introduced to a tea world I didn’t know existed. I have found it to be fascinating, surprising and amazingly promising-fascinating because of the history and traditions associated with tea, surprising because of the findings of the many studies I read, and promising because the ongoing research indicates we are getting closer to finding the answers for many of the health issues we face today, including obesity. Green tea may be an important component of those answers.

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One of the great positive aspects of drinking green tea is still there & this reason alone will surely get you to drink hot green tea. That benefit is weight loss. All those who want to be slim, smart & gorgeous will love the green tea since it is natural & doesn’t have any unwanted effect.

As green tea works well for burning the fat & raising metabolism effortlessly because of the presence of catechin polyphenols. It lowers down the cholesterol & enhances fat oxidation.

Furthermore weight is gained as excess sugars and fats are kept in the body as fat cells. Green tea catechin works well for preventing obesity by inhibiting the movement of glucose in fat cells.

EGCG- a robust antioxidant with positive qualities is crucial for any fat loss program but the balanced diet & physical exercise is also must. Presence of EGCG in green tea causes it to become more valuable for any health disorder.

As all other tea it helps in getting relief from depression & headache which is a usual problem of a common man in this busy world.

Green tea is definitely a beneficial variety of tea & I know a good poet can write a poem to praise it. I began using it & I am quite sure that you are also making decision to try it out. If yet not decided, decide it fast to get the advantage as earlier as possible & get rid of all your problems.
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For the maintenance of good health and the life free from tension or stress, Lipton Green tea is the best solution. There are many choices you can make when you have this tea. You can either have a black or green, icy or hot one and many more. If you don’t like the actual taste of the tea, there are other alternatives also which you can take. You can make a purchase of the tea flavored with ‘vanilla’, ‘caramel’, or ‘chai tea’ or even the ‘Pyramid teas’. There are wide ranges of flavors available in the market and you can choose that one which you like. Besides this, it has high content of the antioxidants which help in improving your health conditions.

Instead of drinking any other carbonated or the caffeinated drinks, it is better to select the green tea to drink which will be very much helpful in maintaining good health. The content of Lipton tea is about 150mg of the natural antioxidants which is totally organic. This is the main reason why most of the people use it. For fitness, this can help a lot. Due to the presence of the antioxidants, it is preferred by the people. The best consumer of it will drink much in a week and take full benefit of the product. It makes you active and helps you look younger. Its price is reasonable as it costs only about $2.50 for the purchase of 100 bags which will remain minimal about a couple of weeks. It is fully dependent on the drinker on how much it is consumed.

Due to its availability in many stores or even online and due to its reasonable price it is used by the people. But most of the people don’t like this drink for their life to be happy and increase the life expectancy. If you are addicted to the caffeinated drinks like coffee, you can give a try for this drink for a couple of weeks. It is much better than the coffee that helps in the reduction of the free radicals that are in the body due to the presence of the antioxidant. Many people consume sugars or any other sweetening substances while they drink something which is not good for health. If you cannot control the intake of sugars, you can add a teaspoon to it but not in larger quantity.

This tea can be considered as one of the significant parts of the healthy living style which is suggested by most of the researchers. The substances extracted are from the vegetations naturally due to which it is more beneficial than other. It is extracted from a plant called ‘Camellia sinesis’. Many people consider tea to help them make active and energetic. There will not be dehydration as there are no calories in the tea and there is neither the use of the sweetening products. There are no chemicals or any other colors that affects the health of an individual. You can experience a great difference when you get used to it.

What is Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is among the most common kinds of tea found in Chinese restaurants. They are left to oxidize up to half the normal oxidation time for black tea. As such, oolong tea possess milder flavor when compared with black tea. Also, it is important to note that the oxidation period for oolong tea is longer than that for green tea.

Are herbal teas similar to green tea?

Since herbal teas do not originate from the Camellia Sinensis, they do not fall into the category of those that are truly tea. Tisane is the name tagged beverages formulated from herbs. So, herbal teas are not really “tea”.

Is it true that tea oil emanate from the tea plant?

That is certainly untrue. Tea tree oil is employed in the treatment of injuries, bites from insects, feet of sports men and women, stings and many other related body challenges. Tea oil comes from Australia- precisely the Melaleuca Alternifolia tree. With that we are safe to conclude that tea tree oil is not in any way related to tea plants Is there any tea farm in the United States?

The answer is a yes. Presently, there is one on an Island seated 20 miles from the South of Carolina. Also, American Classic tea has been enjoyed since 1987. This is made possible by the help of Charleston Tea Gardens. Charleston is the only tea producer in the U.S. and they are located on the Island of Wadmalaw. It is said that tea is harvested on the 127 acre island from May till October. There is also provision for tours. You can take a look at their website for more information, www.charlestontea.com.

What does Red Tea mean?

Black tea is same as red tea. The only difference is that the Chinese call it red tea. However, recent years have seen to it that when someone calls red tea, he actually means Rooibos (normally pronounced Royboss), or better still, red tea; which is gradually being popular around the United States. It is grown in South Africa alone and has no caffeine content. However, it is rich in minerals and vitamins. Actually, this so-called red tea is not tea, perse. It is known to originate from a plant called Aspalathus Linearis. The leaves of this plant turn red when being processed (this is how it got its name).

Also, their leaves are shaped like a needle. Red tea has pulled up a high fan base in the U.S. primarily due to its sweet taste. Red tea is a healthy drink for nursing moms and pregnant ones alike. You can also use Rooibos in the treatment of skin irritation, too. Little wonder the Japanese call it long-life tea.

What then is White tea?

For white tea, the processing period is below that obtained with green tea. Its leaves are harvested even before the buds come open. Moisture content is taken away from the leaves before they are properly dried so as to leave no room for oxidation. The major difference in processing white tea is that it is a bit more costly as it comes with too many manual processing. It is speculated to bring more healthiness than green tea; although this has not been properly researched yet. Never brew white tea with boiling water; rather, let the water be at a lower temperature. White tea contains the least amount of caffeine among teas, and do have a sweet taste to compliment. You will read more about caffeine on chapter 5.

Which country makes the most tea?

India, and not China, produces the highest amount of tea all over the world. It is said that about one-third of tea consumed all over the world is produced in India, followed by China, Sri Lanka; with Kenya being the African country with the highest tea production in the continent.

Why do my favorite tea taste same even when I hear there are differences?

Things like weather condition can affect the overall taste of tea. So producers would always incorporate a blend into the tea so as to make it retain the normal flavor after being brewed by the end-user. There are standards set for blending teas so that the taste is retained. The setting of this standard is not an easy task, though.

What about concerns about pesticides inclusion into tea?

This is quite tough to answer as we know pesticides are employed to take care of the many enemies of tea. It is noticed that some producers user more of these chemicals than others. However, some countries are turning to natural methods and cutting down on these chemicals.

Can I get Organic tea?

You can get organic tea in the market. For some producers, growing tea organically entails stoppage of fertilizers, pesticides and other known chemicals. This simply means that to grow organically, things such as pest eating insects are used to deal with pests.

It is a wise move on the side of producers to restore the soil after a given period of time. This is something that tea growers would live to find hard doing. Environmental pollution affects the overall growth tea. Pollutants in the air can carry trapped particles that would be destructive to the welfare of the growing tea.

Concerns for the healthy growing of tea are of the essence. For that reason there are organizations floated to inspect, monitor and give approval to products produced organically. This organization makes sure that the selling of organic products are done with a seal of approval on their behalf.

How well are people working on tea estates catered for?

It is important to understand how well tea workers are being catered for. Generally, tea workers are properly paid. Sometimes, concerns about industry policy changes, amongst other things, can lead to you lack of quality treatment of workers at the time.

Fair Trade

This is a community of tea pickers, distributors and end-users. It is geared toward decent living conditions for all registered members. A percentage for every sale is due the worker. The certifying Fair trade body in the United States is called TransFair USA. Always search for the Fair Trade Logo anytime you want to buy tea packages.

With respect to the studies on green tea, the people used in the research were administered capsules of green tea extracts. A standard amount of catechins was given to them all or components of multiple substances that are properly measured so that each participahuman nt or animal got the same amount and type of tea extract at the end of the day.

Green tea vs. Green tea pills

A latest study to test the absorption of antioxidants among 30 persons was conducted in UCLA, and led by Dr. Susanne M.Henning. The test was to find out the more beneficial between taking a green tea supplement or taking just grren tea.

These volunteers were given green tea extract, black tea, green tea; of which a lot of blood tests were carried out within the interval of 8 hours. The results proved that the intake of green tea extract would make one absorb more flavonols, which in turn does lead to a significant (though small but still significant) increase in the level of antioxidants in the blood.

Just in case you aren’t one of those 30 volunteers, is it possible to obtain the antioxidants given by green tea in supplements apart from taking in tea?

The answer is that it could be possible and at same time probable. Extracts of green tea can be gotten from leading stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, and on the internet. Also, you can get them in liquid form, capsules, patches, powder and chewing gum.

The challenge is quality of the supplements

What to note is that what they contain varies and you might not really be sure of what you are getting. Some extracts of tea do have different amounts of caffeine, which largely depends on their brand, while others are decaffeinated. Also, you need to be careful about some questionable compounds put into many supplements out there that are tagged “green tea.”

In a nutshell, it is understandable that it seems easier taking a capsule that brewing a tea. However, it is not easy getting any of the supplements in the market with same value you would get from a cup of tea. It is known that some of these supplements do contain extracted flavonoids to a very high extent for each capsule you take. In addition, some other supplements only contain residual of tea obtained during processing period. These residuals are not in any way close to the amount you would get from one tea bag.

Green tea Supplements

Scientists are not yet really sure of the right combination of ingredients or the actual ingredient that make for the benefits derived from green tea. With that it is possible that a capsule containing few of the ingredients in green tea may miss out on the actual combination of phytochemical or nutrients that bring about the health benefits of green tea. Green tea was one of the ten foods that were seen to possess the ability to prevent diseases in an article on Time magazine, 2002. In the article, Joann Manson, who was then the Chief of Preventive medicine in Harvard Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was quoted as saying, “It may be the combination of phytochemical, antioxidants and fiber that blend together to provide the health benefits of green tea.” Those who manufacture supplements only engage in making up their combination formula for the different ingredients. This is why there is a wide variation for the amount of ingredients you find for different brands of supplement.

A giant discount retailer of a particular type of green tea extract that he sees to have the ingredients in standard form shows 300 milligrams of green tea with 150 milligrams of polyphenols. Another chain store for nutritional products offers a 315 milligrams bottle of green tea extracts, containing just 44 milligrams of polyphenols. Although they sell at a lesser price for each capsule, you will have to take up to 4 capsules to get same level of polyphenols.

In addition, a particular discount retailer made it clear concerning his product, thus; “that it is a Green Tea Diet supplement.” The irony of the whole thing is that even when the back of his product talks about the study done in Geneva, the facts concerning his supplement shows there are only 100 milligrams of green tea extract, without any mention about polyphenols.

Still there was a claim from another brand of having 90 milligrams of EGCG for each capsule, however, the two last brands do contain 250 milligrams of chromium- which is a trace element that you may not be in need of. It is in your best interest to keep an eagle eye on the labels to check on ingredients you want and in the amount you know are within safe limits for your body.

CAUTION: Whether it is tea or other things, it is a clear fact of life that having one thing in excess is never good. Getting high dosage of antioxidants into your body system is quite dangerous. It has been proven that heavy doses of betacarotene by male smokers only heighten the risk of lung cancer. And it was a shocking result after a study done in the University of Mississippi in 2005 showed that excessive intake of green tea extract would do more harm than good. The result of the research was published in the journal of natural products.

A molecular biologist and lead researcher by name, Yu-Dong Zhou, at the National Center for Natural Products Research in the study of green tea in the University of Mississippi, made it known that the intake of green tea is good and is backed by evidences of thousands of years. However, the idea of having up to 100 cups of tea just in one day should be carefully looked into. Their finding during the research was that instead of excessive intake of tea stopping the systems that promote the growth of certain tumors, it rather activated them. They also found that the presence of epigaliocatechin (EGC) in the tea possesses dissimilar effects based on the kind of tumor.

One Dan Nagle, who joined in the study and was an associate professor of Pharmacognosy in the University of Mississippi school of pharmacy, stated that “Almost all the results of the benefits of green tea comes from studies derived from those who consumed green tea, and not tea extract in powder form, pills or concentrates. In essence, a more detailed research needs to be carried out. However, just for the time being, it is wise to employ common sense and moderation, too.

Just in case you would want to take any green tea supplements, or any other kind of diet supplements, it is advisable you make your intentions clear to your doctor. You may as well do a comprehensive research so it doesn’t go bad with any prescribed or over-the-counter drugs you might be taking at the time.

Take for example; if you are on Coumadin, which happens to be a blood thinner, you should never in any way be involved with taking ginkgo biloba, vitamin E or aspirin, as all of them have the potential to make the blood more thin. If you do so you are going to suffer from excessive bleeding. It is worth knowing that green tea is a blood thinner due to the presence of Vitamin K in it.

REGULATIONS OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

A report from USA Today on the issue of green tea extract said that the supplements are within the sights of the government: “We know that the use of green tea extract as weight loss supplement is gaining more popularity. And the flyers and other literature works used in the promotion parades it as a booster for metabolism, “from Richard Cleland, who was an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission.” From the stage we are, the numbers of evidence made available thus far are not enough to show that green tea extract will command a fundamental effect on metabolism or bring about significant loss in weight.” The article also made it clear the FTC is not in any way investigating the adverts and claims for the product.

Therefore, it is no surprise since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, made it known that it is not mandatory that the Food and Drug Administration should approve of dietary supplements before being allowed for public consumption. Before this time dietary supplements were of same regulations as other foods, however, since the DSHEA was passed, government only examines “new” dietary ingredients. What is said to be a new dietary supplement is one that is in line with the meaning of a dietary supplement but not yet in the market for public consumption before October 15, 1994. However, the concern is that there is no definitive list for ingredient commercialized before October 15, 1994. This makes the tagging of a product to be new or not the preserve of distributors and manufacturers.

Secondly, there is no supervision as to whether the “supplement facts” or ingredients on these products are actually true. it is worth noting that the labeling on these products are done by their manufacturers and producers. And these labels are supposed to be in line with what is obtainable in the bottle. The Food and Drug Administration expects that the labels on these products to have a name that describes the content; such as Green Tea Extract, and it must also state “Dietary Supplement.”

Labels on these products are suppose to carry nutritional information, known as “Supplement Facts”, list of ingredients for the supplement, as well as the overall contents of the product. The label must also carry the contact information regarding the manufacturer or distributor.

For the sake of definition, a dietary supplement is any product containing a “dietary ingredient” that is taken through the mouth for the purpose of supplementing the diet. These also include minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organ tissues, herbs, amino acid, metabolites and glandular tissues.

The distributor or manufacturer of the product is to bear responsibility regarding how safe his supplement is, and should have clear-cut evidence regarding claims about his product and should make sure none of such claims are misguided. However, there is little or no supervision on these claims made by manufacturers or distributors. It is also a known fact that the FDA has no list of distributors and manufacturers.

A statement from the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America reads: ” “By law (DSHEA), the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its dietary supplement products are safe before they are marketed. Unlike drug products that must be proven safe and effective for their intended use before marketing, there are no provisions in the law for FDA to ‘approve’ dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they reach the consumer. Also unlike drug products, manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are not currently required by law to record, investigate or forward to FDA any reports they receive of injuries or illnesses that may be related to the use of their products. Under DSHEA, once the product is marketed, FDA has the responsibility for showing that a dietary supplement is ‘unsafe’ before it can take action to restrict the product’s use or removal from the marketplace.”

Afer ten years of the existence of the DSHEA, the Food and Drug Administration announced their willingness to make more changes to their procedures and policies. However, the DSHEA was yet in existence at the time. With all these it is not wise to think that all the supplements found in offline and online stores which are for sale are all declared safe and efficient by the government.

How to Choose a Supplement

Knowing how to choose a supplement is as important as what you intend getting out of taking a supplement. For that reason you need to start by taking food care at the labels. Some of these labels would give details of things like the amount of EGCG present in the supplement and the level of polyphenols you will get for each capsule. Some other brands of supplement may just only tell they contain extract of green tea. You can also check these labels for further information like age. Some supplements may be said to be for those within a certain age limit.

it is in your best interest to contact the manufacturers or distributors of the supplement if unsure about its contents in relationship to what you are looking for. The following questions are worth asking when you ring the manufacturer:

1) What is the evidence that your product can perform all the claims put on it?

2) Have you carried out a test on the safety and effectiveness of your product?

3) Does your company have a quality control team aimed at making sure the content of the product is the same as what is on the label?

4) Is there any assurance that possible contaminants like pesticides are within safe limits? This question is vital for green tea supplement.

5) Have you received any reports on the side effects of your product at any time?

It is in your best interest never to go by possibly “arranged” reviews from so-called satisfied consumers. And do not be carried away by charts and graphs.

Be on the watch out about who is running the website just in case you intend to buying these products via the internet. You got to know whether it is being run by a government parastatal or a university or a medical organization or just another company trying to market their product. Remember, a company would never say any negative word about their product to the public.

Better still, you can move ahead to ascertain the aim of the website. As a marketing strategy, most of these manufacturers hide under the cloak of giving out useful information to the public. However, most times the information is nothing but propaganda. Once you play into their hands, then would they try to sell their product to you. It is very important to let you know that you shouldn’t be carried away by the fact that the website is beautifully designed with a lot of additional facts to help convince you. It is the norm with the internet. There are no Policemen stationed in the World Wide Web. Secondly, some of these sites invest well into making sure they rank well for search terms related to green tea supplements. Do not be carried away by the results of your search as you should after genuine investigations. So do well to remain focused so you fish out the real from the unreal.

In addition, try to see how updated the site is. For example, there was this hospital’s site with a lot of information concerning green tea. However, the latest information on the site was done in 1995; although they are still doing some trials on the consequences of green tea.