Green Tea In Liquid Or Capsule May Aid In Weight Loss

Previous animal studies showed that green tea extract increased thermogenesis, which is the generation of body heat that occurs as a result of normal digestion, absorption, and metabolization of food. In previous human studies, the authors showed that consumption of green tea increased thermogenesis as well as energy expenditure and fat loss in healthy men, suggesting that green tea in liquid or capsule form may be an effective way to aid weight loss.

In the new study, conducted by Abdul Dulloo, from the Institute of Physiology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, researchers exposed a particular type of fatty tissue from rats to caffeine and to green tea extract containing small concentrations of caffeine.

Green Tea Containing Caffeine Can Raise Metabolism

Green tea containing caffeine significantly increased thermogenesis by 28% to 77%, depending on dose, whereas caffeine alone resulted in no significant increase. When the stimulant ephedrine was added to green tea with caffeine, the increase was even more significant compared with caffeine alone and ephedrine alone. Caffeine and ephedrine are used together in some herbal weight loss preparations, but there are many safety concerns regarding ephedrine because it raises heart rate and blood pressure.

Dulloo and colleagues also tested the plant compound EGCG found in green tea. They found that the stimulant ephedrine alone had no effect on thermogenesis, but that caffeine plus ephedrine resulted in an 84% increase. However, adding EGCG to the caffeine plus ephedrine mix increased thermogenesis even further.

“Our studies … raise the possibility that the therapeutic potential of the green tea extract, or indeed a combination of EGCG and caffeine, may be extended to the management of obesity,” Dulloo and co-authors write.

A researcher who reviewed the study for WebMD says that while the work is interesting and extends this group’s previous findings by showing that compounds in green tea other than caffeine are involved in thermogenesis, caution should be used in interpreting animal data and applying it to humans.

“They used [a particular type of fatty tissue] from rats and we don’t really know how significant that tissue is in humans or if it is different in obese vs. non-obese people,” says Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr, PhD. “It doesn’t rule out the significance of the findings, and it is a good model to use to look at the effects of caffeine and the combination of caffeine and the [plant] compounds that are present in green tea, but until better clinical trials are done in humans, it’s hard to say what the physiological significance of this actually may be.”

Zidenberg-Cherr, who is an associate professor of nutrition at the University of California, Davis, also points out that thermogenesis plays only a very small role in energy expenditure in adults. Most of the energy expended is used to maintain basic body functions such as breathing and the flow of blood throughout the body.

She says green tea may have many health benefits due to its plant compounds, but cautions that it is not the answer to weight-loss woes. “Green tea can’t be used, and it shouldn’t be used, as a ‘magic bullet’ for weight loss,” she tells WebMD. “You’ve got to combine it with other changes, including increasing physical activity and reducing a high-calorie diet.”

Are you surprised that sleep is on the list of possible reasons why fat loss diets are not working for you? Most people do not realize how vital a good night’s rest is to overall health and in fact weight loss. Studies are now being done to determine exactly why weight loss is affected by lack of sleep. Some studies show that lack of sleep affects your metabolism, this is the mechanism that determines how many calories you burn and at what rate. In addition to this, sleep affects the amount of cortisol released; this is the hormone that regulates appetite.

Few would argue with the fact that when you are not properly rested, you get cranky and even depressed. Depression can lead to overeating and that in turn leads to weight gain not weight loss! Researchers agree that the average human should get at least eight hours of sleep per night and this on a regular schedule. Try to go to bed around the same time each night to put your body on schedule. This will alleviate stress and balance your metabolism.

Stress

When you are extremely stressed, the body manufactures cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone that regulates appetite, over production causes overeating and weight gain around the midsection. If you are noticing, an increase in fat stores around your abdomen cortisol could be the culprit.

Find some relaxation techniques that work for you. Meditation is a good place to start, as is exercise and a long soak in the tub. Do whatever it takes for you to feel more at ease and reduce stress.

Medical Issues

You have probably heard someone say that his or her weight gain is a result of a thyroid problem. You may have even chuckled a bit because the term has become somewhat of a joke over the years. However, you should never discount the possibility; there are a number of symptoms and risks you should consider.

1) Radiation exposure

2) Family history of thyroid disorder

3) Family history of autoimmune disorder

4) Fatigue

5) Fast weight gain or an inability to lose weight

6) Memory loss

This is but a sample of 33 distinct symptoms and risk factors is you have any of the above you should have your thyroid evaluated. In fact, the first thing you should do when trying to lose weight is see your doctor.

Plateau

This is a place many people are familiar with; you have done everything right and lost some weight. Then all of a sudden no matter how hard you try you cannot lose another ounce. You have hit a plateau. This can occur for many reasons, you have dropped your caloric intake to low or you are exercising too much in response to both of these the body will slow your metabolism so that you do not burn as many calories.

If you have hit a plateau, you can take various steps to overcome it. Below are a few weight loss tips:

1) Keep your caloric intake just below maintenance this will prevent the metabolic slow down

2) Change your exercise routine, do not allow the body to get used to one set routine

3) Increase lean muscle mass, lean muscle burns more calories than fat.

Conclusion

Cover all your bases before you decide that you will never be able to lose weight. Cut yourself some slack and explore some of these possible conditions. You could be on your way to significant weight loss in no time.

The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

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The Idiot-Proof Diet

The idiot-proof diet is all about calorie shifting. That is, in this diet, you shift your food intake throughout the day instead of eating just 3 meals a day. The diet is popular because it’s actually very easy to follow and there are hardly any restrictions when it comes to the types of food you can eat.

The ‘calorie shifting’ model takes place because you eat every two and half hours. The theory is that because your body is consuming calories (energy) constantly throughout the day, it’s always in ‘burning calories’ mode instead of the ‘saving calories’ mode.

When you sign up for the diet, you get access to a diet handbook, an 11-day diet-plan and a diet calculator. You get to pick what foods you like to eat so don’t think that you’ll be tarving in this diet!

NutriSystem

The NutriSystem way of dieting is all about proper meal planning. People love this diet because it takes away the burden of trying to figure out what to eat during their dieting phase. You see, a lot of people actually get confused as to what they can eat when they want to lose weight. That’s not really surprising because there’s so much information out there and for every yay sayer, there is a nay sayer so it’s really tough to know what to eat.

However, with NurtiSystem, they do all the meal planning and portion controlling for you. You just need to sign up to any of their diet programs (e.g., Women’s Program, Men’s Program, Vegetarian Program, etc.) and order a multi-day (usually for 28 days) diet program.

After you choose your diet program, a menu is presented to you and you simply choose what you want to eat. The meals are then delivered to your doorstep at various intervals during your diet program.

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is popular because the name alone conjures bikini-clad bodies! Add to that the fact that it was founded by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston, then you have a sort of ‘doctor recommended, doctor approved’ seal on the diet as well.

At first glance, the South Beach Diet looks a lot like the Atkins Diet in the sense that it restricts carbohydrates during the initial phase of the program (there are 3 phases). The first phase (14 days) encourages ‘normal eating’ in the sense that you can pretty much eat whatever you want but you must NOT eat bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, or baked goods. Fruit is also not allowed. No sugar. No alcohol.

The second phase allows you to SLOWLY introduce these items back into your diet but at lesser levels that you consumed them before of course. The third phase is more about general maintenance.

Weight Watchers

Probably one of the longest running diet programs out there is Weight Watchers. It believes in the overall approach where food, exercise, behavior and support are addressed.

Weight Watchers is known for advocating a point system for foods. Using this system, one calculates the calorie intake of the foods he or she eats. The number of points you can have in a day varies depending on your weight. The beauty of the program is that there are no gut-wrenching food restrictions so you never feel deprived of anything. However, the point system teaches you how to balance your meals so that even if you indulge on one food item, you don’t go overboard and consume too much in a day.