The Miracle of Green Tea
Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
a)cancer
b)rheumatoid arthritis
c)high cholesterol levels
d)cariovascular disease
e)infection
f)impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
Green tea for Weight loss and Fat burning
Why Rapid Weight Loss Diets are Doomed to Fail
Crash diets don't result in permanent weight loss and may be detrimental to your health.
Many sites on the internet claim that their diet results in significant weight loss in just three, four or five days. This type of weight loss is always transient. It is usually 90% water which will be put straight back on as soon as your body rehydrates, which it must do if you are not going to suffer severe health problems.
Most quick weight loss diets are merely fashionable for a short while; though they do make a lot of money for the inventor in associated product sales.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
1. Diets that promise quick and easy weight loss are usually based on eating more of one food type and none of another. These do not give the benefits that you would get from a balanced diet. They may suggest you take supplements but many supplements are not absorbed by the body unless they are taken along with the foods that the diet has banned. After a few weeks, if you stick to it that long, you may begin to develop nutritional deficiencies.
2. Fad diets are often boring and over restrictive. After the novelty of the first day or two, you will find that you do not enjoy your meals anymore. You will then start to crave comfort food constantly and will give up on your diet pretty soon after. You may even feel guilty, blaming yourself for not losing weight.
3. Most fad diets do not follow the recommendations of the American Heart Association regarding the fat levels in the diet. Often the diet will recommend high fat foods and low carbs which if taken long term, could result in heart disease. The promoters may tell you that the diet is only intended to be followed for a short time. But you probably will not reach your goal weight in that time, and then what? You either continue with a plan that is not good for your health, or stop and probably gain back what you lost.
4. Many fad diets do not help you to incorporate enough servings of fruits and vegetables in your weight loss program, nor do they give you the variety of foods that your body needs.
5. Quick weight loss diets are a temporary solution and do not help you to make permanent changes to your eating habits. Permanent changes are the only way to remain at your target weight once you reach it. Fad diets encourage yo-yo diet-binge cycles of fast weight loss and equally fast weight gain. This is worse for your health and your self esteem than if you had stayed overweight.
Self-hypnosis, especially if combined with NLP, is a very effective way of changing your unhealthy eating habits and addictions permanently. You can also use it to reduce stress levels (and comfort eating!) and to increase your self-confidence dramatically.
Whatever the hype may say, these diets will not be helpful in the long run. The best way to sustain weight loss is to eat a varied and healthy diet, do not overeat, exercise regularly and avoid rapid weight loss diets.
Lose Weight From A Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan
How To Lose Weight From A Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan?
With the sudden boom of dieting in the country, different diet programs have been introduced in the country. Although many experts believe that proper exercise and not only diet can lose those pounds in a healthy way, many people still believe in the power of diet programs and diet plans. One of the most controversial kinds of diet plans is the low-carbohydrate diet program, which focuses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption in the body.
According to the theory, when carbohydrates are no longer being taken in, the body will be forced to use fats and water as alternative sources of energy; thereby helping to shed off those unwanted pounds.
Fats, unbeknownst to many, can actually be converted to energy. The body just doesn't use it as the first priority because it is more complex in structure and therefore, harder to break down and convert into energy. Among the popular low carbohydrate diets in the country is the Atkins diet.
Despite arguments from its critics, low carbohydrate diet has proven its effectiveness in terms of losing that extra weight. To date, it counts millions of followers not only in the country but also outside America.
Actually, cutting down on carbohydrates in the diet is a practice that people have been doing for years. When people cut down on their rice or bread or do not eat rice at all, they are reducing their carbohydrate intake. Of course, because it is not an official diet plan they are not really restricting themselves completely. When you are under a diet plan, you are not allowed to eat any kind of carbohydrates.
One of the advantages of low carbohydrate diet is the fact that it can actually increase the levels of good cholesterol in the body. This is really good news to people who have a heart problem. This is perhaps the reason why Atkins diet was used for cardio patients. This diet plan can also reduce the amount of triglycerides in the body. Triglycerides can be dangerous when combined with a high level of LDL or bad cholesterol. Both can increase the risk for heart attack and heart disease.
Low carb diet plans are also found to be good in balancing mood swings. They will not be prone to extreme lows such as depression or extreme high. People who are under the program are found to have fairly stable energy levels unlike those with high carbo levels.
LOW CARB DIET 101
Indeed, a lot has been said about various diets and how these work for some people. There' s the Atkins Diet, the South Beach, the After-Six Diet plan and so on goes on the list of diet crazes that swept the western world and even Asian regions. Among all these, one type of diet has become popular than the others it's called the Low Carb Diet.
Basically, low carb diet actually emphasizes cutting down on from a person's daily food intake. This diet allows the dieter to take in all foods except those that have carbohydrates. Although there are many testimonies that prove that low carb diet really works, you must be very knowledgeable first about its pros and cons before deciding to go with the hype.
People who have tried low carb diets say that its advantages include:
1. Faster and quicker weight loss compared to fasting.
2. The diet may result to higher protein intake and absorption.
3. It stabilizes blood sugar levels and is extremely beneficial to those who suffer from diabetics.
Experts say that the disadvantages of low carb diets may include:
- High cholesterol levels due to the lack of protein-rich and fatty foods that has saturated fats.
- Increased blood pressure due to elimination of whole grains products that help lower blood pressure.
- It can lead to osteoporosis because there will be no enough supply of calcium.
- In some cases, this diet can lead to diarrhea, constipation, and severe headaches.
- Low carb diets increase the possibility of lower mental acuity.
- Instead of losing weight, this diet can lead to weight gain.
If you are planning on taking low carb diet, here are some helpful tips to keep you in track:
1. Make sure to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration and constipation.
2. Consider taking in more fiber and vitamin supplements.
3. Cease from consuming products that has sugar.
4. Cut down on taking in products that contain caffeine.
5. Monitor your daily carbohydrate intake.
6. Don't mind calories, they are allowed in this diet.
7. Acquire a carbohydrate counter to keep you updated.
8. Do regular physical activities and exercise to reach ketosis easily.
9. Brace yourself for diarrhea that may last for a couple of days.
10. If possible, avoid eating foods that have saturated fats.
Top ten Diet Tips
Eat
The only result of starving yourself is feeling hungrier than ever and eventually eating amounts of food above your calorie requirement. Eating four to five small meals a day keeps your metabolism running at its optimal level and you will not experience excessive hunger. It should be step one in your 10 diet tip program.
Plan
Planning your meals is critical to healthy, balanced eating. Moreover, by knowing ahead of time what you will eat, you will not be at the beck and call of fast food restaurants or the vending machines with their primarily high calorie, unhealthy selections.
Shop
Food shopping takes a commitment of time and focus. In the long run, you will save time and confusion by having healthy foods on hand. Also, since your environment directly affects your behaviors, having healthy food in reach is necessary for healthy eating. Make a list and stick to it when you shop. And, never shop when you are hungry or you may find some unplanned chips in your cart to deal with later.
Balance
Balancing your meals is not as difficult as it may sound. Think in terms of fractions: protein taking up 1/3 of your plate, vegetables 1/3 and complex carbohydrate the other 1/3. Fats are often part of the protein such as salmon or chicken or used to cook with as in sautéed vegetables. Fruits can replace the vegetable or be eaten as a snack. Without this type of combination, you will experience cravings and may not feel satisfied after a meal. This can lead you to consume more calories than is favorable for shedding the pounds.
Drink
Without adequate fluid intake, the fat cells can shrink, but the fluids continue to reside in your body and hence show up on the scale. The general recommendation is between six and eight glasses of pure water each day. In addition, a glass of water alleviates hunger for a brief period of time.
Move
Being active does not mean getting to the gym every day for two hours. However, the more you move, the more you will lose. Standing instead of sitting burns twice as many calories. Simple activities like taking the stairs, parking further from your destination, helping with lawn work or washing your car will add to the calorie deficit you need to get to your weight goal and is a key diet tip to faster weight reduction. Aim for sixty minutes of activity each day.
Seek Support with your 10 Diet Tips
When it comes to changing your eating behaviors, it is important to include all the people who affect how you eat. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, but co-workers do not know this, it will take twice as much effort to decline the doughnut box when it passes by your reach. It will be much easier to not eat the doughnut if the box did not come through your office in the first place.
Teaming up with others on the same mission of weight loss offers motivation and positive reinforcement. There are bound to be set-backs when dieting, but a friend can be the key to getting you back on track. And, what an asset you can be to someone who has hit a stone wall. Whether he or she may be a walking buddy, a shopping buddy or a cooking buddy, the benefits are endless.
Get Creative
Find new recipes online or in magazines, look for one new healthy food item each shopping trip, try a new exercise class or pick up a new healthy hobby. Any and all of these suggestions will reinforce your new healthy lifestyle.
Keep Track
Listing what you eat and your activities for the day is a powerful tool. First, by seeing in writing what you are eating makes it real. No more claiming it was “just a handful”. Handfuls add up. Also, it will be easier for you to ensure you are eating a balanced diet. Finally, physical activity can be improved upon or approved by you when it is kept in a log format.
Be Persistent and Consistent
If you eat an unplanned meal high on the calorie chart, do not dwell on it. Get on track immediately by planning your next meal or snack, getting some exercise and reminding yourself of your goals. These 10 diet tips, persistence and consistency will reward you in time.
Can hoodia help you to loss weight?
Hoodia Gordonii is a very interesting ancient plant that has been used for thousands of years but just beginning to catch on to the Western world Hoodia for weight loss. The huge media coverage has led to a flourishing industry in Hoodia Gordonii based products, whether they be Pure Hoodia or Hoodia as just one of the ingredients of an already existing weight loss product.
But before you rush off to buy a Hoodia supplement you should understand a bit about what studies have shown so far with respect to Hoodia Gordonii for weight loss. Knowing these facts will help you navigate through Hoodia product and buy the best product to avoid the fake ones.
Know The Facts About Hoodia:
a) There are a variety of Hoodia plants. Only the Hoodia Gordonii class contains an active element that helps suppress your appetite. As the demand for Hoodia Gordonii is far surpassing the supply, some Hoodia sellers are using unreliable but advertising their products as Pure Hoodia even though it might have been made from a different Hoodia plant than the Hoodia Gordonii.
b) Of course many companies claim their Hoodia extract can slim you down, the only thing that has been proven so far is the P57 molecule. *P57' is the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii that was isolated. It was licensed to a company named Phytopharm that conducted a study using it. It was found that morbidly obese people using P57' ate on average of 1k less calories per day. Obviously this is the reason why so many people think Hoodia for weight loss is the new rescuer for the obese and most people looking to slim down.
c) What is most important to keep in mind is that as long as the Hoodia products are extracted from real Hoodia Gordonii, it should also contain some of the active ingredient in it. Study shows that only the core of the plant has the active ingredient.
So can hoodia help you loss weight? And the answer is a big Yes! But only if you buy a real product and avoid the false ones. Real Hoodia product you can find in our sponsor section.
Weight loss pills - Hoodia Gordonii
Hoodia is a cactus that's causing a stir for its ability to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. 60 Minutes, ABC, and the BBC have all done stories on the hoodia gordonii weight loss pill. Hoodia is sold in capsule, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet.
There isn't much published research on hoodia. Researchers at Brown University in Rhode Island recently found that the steroidal glycosides in hoodia affects nerve cells in the hypothalamus that monitor blood glucose. Simply put, the brain is tricked into thinking there is enough energy (blood sugar) and doesn't need to eat, so it shuts down the hunger mechanism.
In animal studies, hoodia is believed to reduce caloric intake by 30 to 50 percent. There is one human study showing a reduced intake of about 1000 calories per day. However, I haven't been able to find either study to actually read for myself and am going on secondhand reports.
Hoodia Gordonii Helps you to loss weight
Hoodia supplements were just introduced to the U.S. market in early 2004.
Here are some key points about hoodia that you need to know:
Hoodia gordonii looks like a cactus, but it's actually a succulent from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. Bushmen from the area have been using hoodia for centuries to help ward off hunger during long trips in the desert.
Hoodia gordonii is entirely natural -- it is not a drug. Pharmaceutical companies find it so promising, however, that they are trying to isolate the appetite-suppressing molecule, P57, to create a patented diet drug in the future.
Only the gordonii variation of hoodia has appetite suppressant abilities.
Hoodia tricks the brain into thinking you've eaten, and makes you feel full.
Hoodia may work right away, or may take several weeks.
Does Hoodia have Aphrodisiac Capabilities?
Some folklore observations on the effects of Hoodia gordonii have been somewhat ignored by scientists. The San Bushmen in South Africa reported that Hoodia gordonii might have aphrodisiac and even other pleasurable effects. In recent scientific studies, it has been demonstrated that the human brain produces and/or metabolizes plant compounds. This is fascinating work, which supports many beliefs in regards to natural medicine. It seems clear that the evolution of humankind in association with the plant kingdom must have influenced our complicated body chemistry, over a period of many thousands of years.
"There are no side effects from the usage of Hoodia, other than lack of hunger
and weight loss".
