Healthy B.P.M.

Green tea has been used for centuries and still remains one of the most popular teas in China and contains powerful antioxidants which may help fight against heart disease, cancers and other diseases. More recently studies have shown that green tea is also beneficial to weight loss. This now makes it one of the most popular teas in the United States. Does this not sound like a dream come true? A natural, safe and inexpensive weight loss product? Hold your horses partner; don’t go on a green tea run just yet. How about we delve a bit deeper.

One of the most recent studies which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed people who drank a bottle of green tea extract everyday for three months lost more body fat than the participants who drank regular tea. It’s thought the chemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea raises the metabolism while also releasing the hormone noradrenaline which is an appetite suppressant. Things that make you go hmmmmm.

The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also indicated the consumption of catechins in green tea lead to both reduced body fat and LDL cholesterol levels. That sounds promising doesn’t it? Based on the recent research you would need to consume at least 4 cups of green tea daily to see any results. There are now also green tea supplements on the market which provide higher concentrated doses of green tea in a capsule form. The quality of the supplements will vary so it’s best to do your research.

But you don’t really need to take supplements to receive all the benefits of green tea. Try replacing your daily cups of coffee or regular tea with green tea. It’s also a good drink in between meals which may help satisfy your hunger pangs while providing your body with a good dose of antioxidants. However, green tea is an acquired taste; my husband told me the same thing about beer. If you load the tea with sugar and cream, you’ve pretty much nixed all the health benefits.

I say go for the cholesterol lowering benefit and if you shed a few excess pounds along the way, groovy.