Good thing drinking old fashioned green tea or even Mona Vie is not the same as popping weight loss pills.

An interesting article appeared today in Globeandmail.com which pointed out some interesting things that I’d like to share with you.

in January, 2007, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission received a $25-million settlement from the makers of four prominent weight-loss supplements – Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, TrimSpa and One-A-Day Weight Smart – for false advertising. Like many products, these supplements made claims of effectiveness without supporting research.

What’s more, some supplements have side effects that can be downright dangerous.

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And the part about Green tea.

Despite the flood of green tea supplements on store shelves, the evidence is sparse that it can melt the pounds away. In one study, green tea increased fat burning and metabolism in 10 healthy men who were lean or mildly overweight. But the study was not designed to assess weight loss.

Preliminary research did suggest that a specific green tea extract could help reduce weight in overweight people. However, recent studies concluded that taking a green tea extract does nothing to reduce body weight or maintain weight loss.

The article concluded:

The bottom line: The most effective way to lose weight is the old-fashioned way – by making sustainable changes to your eating and exercise habits. Even if a weight-loss supplement did help you take off a few pounds, you would have to continue taking them to keep the weight off. And that may not be practical – or safe.

Read the entire article below.

globeandmail.com: You won’t lose weight by popping pills.

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So this article appeared in the LA times health blog today and is about how green tea provides a boost to weight loss if you exercise.  It also suggest green tea may help decrease the risk of breast cancer.

If reducing that abdominal paunch is part of your goals for the year, consider adding green tea to your diet. Several studies have hinted that green tea provides a boost to exercise-induced weight loss. Another study, published in the February issue of the Journal of Nutrition, supports that link and shows that tummy fat may be the first to go.

The study evaluated 132 obese adults. All consumed a diet that was consistent in daily calories and participated in 180 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise. They also drank a daily beverage containing 39 milligrams of caffeine, but one group consumed green tea with 625 milligrams of catechins, an antioxidant that is the main component of green tea. After 12 weeks, the participants drinking the green tea had greater loss, 4.4 pounds compared with just over 2 pounds in the control group. The green-tea group also had larger declines in total abdominal fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat and triglycerides.

How green tea works its magic is not completely understood, but scientists believe it speeds the rate at which fat is broken down in the body. It may also help the body’s sensitivity to insulin, lowering the risk of diabetes. The study was conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University as well as research centers in Florida and Japan.

Another study on green tea, also featured in this issue of the Journal of Nutrition, shows that drinking plentiful amounts of the beverage over many years may have a subtle influence in decreasing the risk of breast cancer. The study examined almost 7,000 women, ages 20 to 74, in China. The women were evaluated for breast cancer incidence and consumption of green tea. Compared with nondrinkers, women who drank green tea had a slightly decreased risk of breast cancer. The benefit was strongest for women who drank the most green tea over longer periods of time.

– Shari Roan

Photo credit: Eric Boyd / Los Angeles Times Read more below

Green tea plus exercise speeds the loss of tummy fat | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times.

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Green tea has a long history of healthful benefits and its qualities are significantly more effective than black tea. Both teas come from the carnellia sinensis plant but green tea leaves are steamed rather than fermented like black and oolong teas. This prevents a powerful anti-oxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), from being oxidized and therefore diminished.

Antioxidant Properties

Most of us have heard of the positive effects red wine can have on a fatty diet and its healthful benefits on heart disease. High amounts of catechins polyphenols, particularly EGCG, are present in green tea. And EGCG has twice as much resveratrol as red wine, making it a powerful weapon towards lowering cholesterol, inhibiting blood clots and negating the effects of a fatty diet.

EGCG is also used to treat diabetes and is reported to have glucose-lowering effects. In addition glucose can cause a person to feel hunger and by controlling insulin levels, you control appetite. Try drinking a mug of green tea at the first hunger pain and you are well on your way to managing your appetite.

Thermogenesis

Thermogenesis literally means heat generation. Green tea increases thermogenesis in the body, becoming a potent appetite suppressant and increasing fat oxidation, helping the body to use fat as an energy source. This means the body is preferentially burning fat over protein.

Green tea also raises the body’s metabolism, increasing the rate at which calories are burned. In a recent study, the combination of green tea and caffeine burned more calories than those given a placebo.

Add to its thermogenesis benefits, green tea also has energy-boosting properties, which makes it a perfect breakfast tea or mid-afternoon pick me up.

Other Healthful Benefits

There are many other conditions in which green tea is reputed to be helpful:

• Killing cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells untouched
• Treating Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lowering LDL cholesterol
• Preventing thrombosis which causes heart attacks and strokes
• Addressing cardiovascular disease by inhibiting abnormal formation of blood clots
• Preventing infection
• Improving impaired immune function
• Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
• Treating multiple sclerosis
• Preventing tooth decay by killing the bacteria that causes dental plaque

When you compare the heath benefits of green tea with the harmful effects of regular and diet soda, coffee and other damaging drinks, it is easy to see why green tea has a long and successful history of benefiting the drinker.

Adding Green Tea to Your Diet

Green tea has become so popular that it can be found in mainstream grocery stores as well as gas stations and convenience stores. There are many flavors and varieties of green teas so you will be sure to find a combination of flavors you’ll enjoy.

Consider also adding green tea water to some cooked foods. Adding tea to a pot of boiling pasta will affect the flavor in a fresh new way. Toss that same pasta with pine nuts, pesto and a dash of olive oil and you have a healthful dish with many antioxidant properties. Challenge yourself to find new and exciting ways to add green tea to your diet.

Author: Diana Walker

Are cravings for sugar, salt, junk food, sodas, and coffee running your life? For over 20 years, Diana Walker, the Cravings Coach, has assisted people like you in using natural, safe options for creating vibrant health. Receive Diana’s free Cravings Coach TIPS at http://www.thecravingscoach.com/blog

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