Green Tea For Weight Loss And Lower Cholesterol

Green Tea For Weight Loss And Lower CholesterolCopyright (c) 2007 Marcus StoutGolden Moon Teahttp://www.GoldenMoonTea.comHigh cholesterol is one of the leading precursors to heartdisease. And, research has shown that our diet and lifestyle,combined with our genetics determines whether we have healthy orunhealthy cholesterol levels. To keep your cholesterol levels incheck and prevent heart disease, there are several measures youcan take.The first is diet. Cholesterol in food comes from animalproducts. Meat, eggs and dairy products are all culprits. Reducethe amount of red meat you consume, replacing it with fish orchicken. Use low fat dairy products and reduce the number of eggyolks you eat, or use egg substitutes. Increase the amount offresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and eat whole grainsrather than refined products like white flour.The second is exercise. Be certain to get at least 30 minutes ofexercise most days of the week. This will help you shed pounds ifyou need to, and will also help lower your serum cholesterol.Walking is a very good way to help get your daily dose ofexercise.In addition to making lifestyle and diet changes, many peopletake supplements to help control their weight and cholesterollevels. There are many supplements available, but one of the bestis something you likely have in your cupboard right now. It'stea - particularly green tea.Asian cultures have consumed green tea in large quantities forcenturies. And, throughout history they have had fewer problemswith obesity and lower incidences of heart disease and many formsof cancer. Scientists are beginning to find a link between thishigh green tea consumption and better health. Much research hasbeen performed on the ability of green tea to slow down the agingprocess and prevent illness.The magic potion in tea seems to be its anti-oxidants.Anti-oxidants, which are also found in fruits and vegetables,wine, cocoa and coffee, fight our bodies' free radicals. Freeradicals are created as a by product of our digestive process.Free radicals, left unchecked, damage our cells and DNA, leadingto aging and disease.But, anti-oxidants combat anti-oxidants before they can hurt ourbodies. This is why it's so important to have anti-oxidants aspart of your every day diet. All tea contains anti-oxidants, butgreen tea retains more of its anti-oxidants in their original,natural state because it goes through less processing than othertypes of tea.In particular, green tea's anti-oxidants have been shown to beeffective at reducing cholesterol levels and helping with weightloss. Tea prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol into plaque,the hard substance that clogs our arteries, making us moresusceptible to heart attacks and strokes.Studies have suggested that even if your LDL cholesterol level ishigh, drinking tea may prevent it from causing a problem. Tea isalso thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps theheart in its overall function.In addition, green tea seems to have the ability to help patientslose weight. For overweight patients, losing weight usually meansan automatic reduction in cholesterol levels. So, tea has a twofold effect for overweight patients with high cholesterol!In terms of weight loss, it appears that the combination of theanti-oxidants in green tea and the caffeine speeds up themetabolism and promotes the oxidation of fat. Both of theseattributes contribute to weight loss.In recent years, there have been several studies on green tea'sability to speed weight loss. One of the most interesting studieswas conducted by Osaka University in Japan.This study evaluated 98 men and 97 women, between the ages of 22and 65. All subjects were healthy, though some were moderatelyoverweight. The participants were divided into 3 groups. Thefirst group received a placebo drink, the second group a greentea drink with a low dose of tea catechins (anti-oxidants) andthe third group a green tea drink with a high dose of teacatechins.The study was conducted over a 12 week period, during which timeparticipants consumed their study beverage three times a day (atmeals). At the end of the twelve week period, participants whoreceived the green tea beverages had lost weight and reducedtheir body fat and BMI, unlike the group who consumed the placebodrink. The group with the higher dosage of tea catechins reportedmore success than the low dose group.This study concludes the way countless others have in recentyears: with the suggestion, at least, that drinking green tea canhelp you lose weight. And, losing weight can help you lower yourcholesterol. In addition, other studies have shown that green teamay help lower cholesterol levels even in subjects who did notlose weight.So, drinking green tea may provide double the results for thosepatients seeking to lose weight and lower cholesterol levels.Adding green tea to your diet, along with making dietary changesand getting the recommended amount of exercise each week may beall you need to get your cholesterol and your weight undercontrol. http://jhs.pharm.or.jp/51(2)/51_161.pdf -----------------------------------------------------Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/greentea) green tea (http://www.goldenmoontea.com/blacktea) and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com

What's The Right Number When It Comes To An

As we are bombarded daily by the latest and greatest diet fadand a constant barrage of weight loss-focused media we areoften left hazy and confused about the definition of healthyeating. Carbs; no carbs; the right carbs; low fat; good fat;bad fat; trans fat; high protein; no white sugar. The list goeson and on. It's no wonder that it's so difficult to navigatethese tricky waters of healthy eating. But if you pare down the extraneous information and look behindthe fads to find the facts, you'll see that a healthy diet has abeauty that lies in simplicity. Essentially, a healthy, effective diet that will ensure you alifetime of vitality encompasses the intake of the propercombination of nutrients. Protein in particular plays asignificant role in the production of healthy cells. Expertsagree that the total amount of protein that should be ingestedon a daily basis settles somewhere around 20%. However the specific amount of protein you ingest also dependson your particular body type, weight, gender, and level ofphysical activity. Someone who is physically active andinvested in building muscle mass must consume a greater amountof protein than the average person. There are several dietary sources from which to receive theappropriate amount of protein. Lean meats, dairy, nuts andseeds, and many leafy green vegetables provide an excellentsource of protein. For vegetarians, soy, dairy, and vegetable product consumptionshould be increased to ensure the appropriate amount ofprotein. If you are unsure as to the specific amount of protein that youshould consume, it may be best to visit with your doctor or alicensed nutritionist. A medical professional will be able toguide in the best direction for dietary health. Additionally, there are a great number of comprehensive bookswritten to help navigate the complexities of healthy eating.You'll be able to get a firm idea of the amount of protein youshould ingest by pouring over these books. Online resourcesalso exist to help you get started on your dietary journey. Youwill also have access to a vast community of others who arecommitted to healthy eating; the support can be enormouslygratifying. The amount of protein you should consume is like any otherdietary recommendation. It's a starting point - a guide - tohelp you determine what is best for your particular body. Usinginformation resources, along with the help of a medicalprofessional if needed, you'll be well on your way to betterhealth.About The Author: For easy to understand, in depth informationabout the right amount of protein visit our ezGuide 2http://nutrition.ezguide2.com