Losing Weight by Thinking Green

2008-03-23T20:02:00.002-05:00

By Andrew Mills | On February 18, 2006 |

Now more than ever, people are trying to lose weight by thinking green. Green tea is one of the hottest products on the market today. Its medicinal qualities have been known for years. But can green tea actually enable you to shed those unwanted pounds?

Research conducted for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that a green tea diet can speed up your metabolism and oxidize fat without increasing your heart beat. This means that you can achieve a fast metabolism with green tea without suffering heart trouble. In other words, green tea enables you to increase your expenditure of energy without causing adverse health effects.

If you find the taste of green tea difficult to swallow, you can obtain green tea extract in a pill. The 500-milligram capsules should be consumed two or three times each day in order for you to receive maximum benefit.

Of course, you might be wondering at this point how much green tea is enough. Some medical experts recommend as many as ten cups a day. Other health specialists say that two to three cups are sufficient. Yet other medical experts recommend splitting the difference, calling for four to five cups of green tea daily.

Green tea reduces your bad cholesterol count, while enhancing your good cholesterol count. As a result, those who drink green tea can substantially increase their consumption of high cholesterol food, yet maintain a relatively low bad cholesterol count.

Green tea can also decrease your blood sugar, protecting you against diabetes or at least reducing symptoms of diabetes.

A number of studies have been done in order to ascertain the benefits of green tea. For instance, researcher William Rumpler conducted a study in order to determine the effects of green tea consumption on men. The results indicated that the energy expenditure for tea-drinkers was three percent higher after they ingested the tea. However, Rumpler and his colleagues believe additional research needs to be conducted in order to determine the full effect of green tea upon the human body.

Of course, in addition to weight loss, there are other advantages to the GreenTea diet. It is believed to be effective in preventing Alzheimers disease, combating flu and colds, and boosting your immune system. As a result, a number of people drink the beverage strictly for its medicinal value.

On a segment of the Oprah Winfrey talk show, Dr. Nicholas Perricone said that if you replaced coffee with green tea, you could lose as many as ten pounds in six weeks. Perricone stated, Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, raise insulin. Insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you get your caffeine, you're all set, but you will drop your insulin levels and body fat will fall very rapidly. So 10 pounds in six weeks, I will guarantee it.

However, note that the physician is not prescribing green per se, but rather calling it preferable to coffee. However, it appears clear that green is a healthier beverage than coffee.

A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Study reports that green tea promotes fat oxidation, and that this process appears to be the result of more than just the caffeine that is a component of the tea. In other words, there appear to be qualities inherent in green tea that foster fat oxidation.

It is interesting to note that some people wonder which is preferable: loose-leaf green tea that you buy online or the green tea that you can purchase at the supermarket. Generally speaking, supermarket green tea is considered lower in quality than green tea purchased over the Internet. It has been said that green tea offered on the Web also enables you to get the most out of your money.

It appears that green tea is more than just a passing fad. It has emerged as a legitimate health aid - a product which can help you lose weight over the long run. While there is no such thing as a magic fix for weight loss, you should consider adding green tea to your diet, not only for its weight loss value, but for its medicinal properties as well.

Read more weight lose and diet articles at
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America's Iced Tea

2008-03-23T19:32:00.001-05:00

By Barbara Jackson | On December 4, 2006 |

Many people say there's nothing more American than apple pie. However there is another sweet treat that's one hundred percent red, white, and blue.

From coast to coast, Americans are wild about iced tea. What many don't realize is that although it's based on an Asian brew, iced tea is an American innovation. Iced tea's popularity can be traced to the heat wave of 1904 when tea merchant Richard Blechynden decided to serve tea over ice at an exposition in St. Louis.

Americans have since perfected different methods of making iced tea, along with several innovate recipes. Black teas from Ceylon, China and Java are most commonly used to make iced tea. Flavored teas such as lemon green tea, peach black tea, Formosa oolong, or Japanese sencha may also be used. While some prefer their chilly brew without sugar, iced tea can also be taken sweet. Superfine baking sugar or bartender's sugar should be used to sweeten the flavour.
Other options including preparing sugar syrup on the stove using a 1:1 water and sugar and simmering the mixture for a few minutes. The sugar syrup will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Iced tea may be made by cold or hot steeping. In cold steeping, dry tea leaves are placed in a clean jug filled with an appropriate amount of cold water. The infusion is refrigerated for at least six hours or overnight, and then strained into a second jug or container. Sugar or lemon may be added prior to serving.

To brew iced tea using the hot steeping method, three options are available: Method 1 Use twice the quantity of dry tealeaves that you would ordinarily use for hot tea. Infuse in hot water for five minutes, and then pour over a full glass of ice. For best results, let the tea cool before pouring it over ice to prevent clouding or creaming down. Method 2 Double the tealeaf amount, steep for 5 minutes in hot water, and then pour the infusion into a container with the same amount of cold water. This method dilutes the strong tea and prevents clouding. Method 3 Steep tea in boiling water for 5-8 minutes. Strain the brewed tea into a container containing cold water, and then add sugar or lemon to taste. If you brewed too strong a concentrate, it will be diluted when poured over ice. If you still find the tea too strong, you may add a little water until you have the perfect iced brew. Many people enjoy mixing their iced tea with an equal amount of lemonade or other fruit juices. Take care that the juice does not overpower the flavour of the tea.

Sweetened, flavoured, hot or cold brewed, iced tea is an age-old American tradition. Brew up a pot today and for a real taste of America, serve it with a big slice of apple pie.

About The Author: Barbara Jackson writes for several online magazines, including http://super-reviews.com and http://products-site.com

Green Tea Info

Losing Weight by Thinking Green

America's Iced Tea