Be Careful, Not All Green Tea Good for The Body

Like a lot of us know, the green tea is often used for weight loss. But a recent study from ConsumerLab.com revealed, not all green tea beneficial for weight loss. The test results of the 26 kinds of green tea beverages and supplements, found that some green tea beverages instant it was only a sugar water. Some supplements (which is claimed to accelerate weight loss or help fight cancer) have high levels of caffeine that are not listed on the label, and some tea bags, especially those from China, have been contaminated by lead. 

EGCG and Green Tea

"Tin can exist in a variety of botanical products, because they are taken from the ground," said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab.com, the New York Times. According to him, the trees green tea is known to absorb lead in levels higher than other plants that exist in the same environment.  Tin can also appear on the leaf surface. 

Fortunately, tin insoluble in water when the tea is brewed.  

"The majority of lead is only left in the leaves," said Cooperman. "If you brew tea in bag packing, tea bag filter is very effective most of the lead and did not join dissolve into the water . So it does not matter as long as you do not eat the tea leaves." 

So, not all green tea beneficial to prevent the entry of bad fat to your body. Secret of green tea is able to prevent the entry of bad fat is the content of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the tea. EGCG has expressed a strong antioxidant. 

Researchers measured the levels of EGCG in various types of green tea, either in the form of leaf tea, instant tea bottles, and green tea supplements. They found that the amount of antioxidants that benefit varies. Supplement green tea itself contains 22-300 mg of EGCG per serving (depending on the brand), while the green tea drinks in containers only contained at least 4 mg of EGCG per cup.According to the researchers, green tea mixed with honey promised to have 190 mg of EGCG per cup, but you are absorbed by only about 114 mg. The rest is often in the form of sugar half a can of soda.

Why people Use Green Tea in Weight Loss Programs?

Green Tea

Green tea is extracted from tyhe plant called Camellia sinensis which is native to Asia. This plant is rich in the substance called epigallochatechin gallate or EGCG. It acts as the main ingredient for destruction of free radicals in our body, the main cause for aging process and disease generation. EGCG in green tea also contains antioxidant which helps keep cholesterol levels under control.

Green Tea is very commonly used in China since several hundred years as a cure for many ailments. These days, green tea is used in a broad spectrum of treatments and cures from cancer prevention, weight loss, antioxidant applications to anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Regular intake of a single cup of green tea or a capsule of green tea extract a day is all it takes.

It has been proved by scientific studies that green tea can be used in weight loss programs. Ten healthy young men were used as the subjects for a weight loss program. Then difference in energy expenditures of green tea,caffeine,stand alone placebo was observed. It showed that green tea boosted energy expenditure by a almost four percent,quite an increase.

If you are on a weight loss program, green tea is a good alternative to drinking coffee and cream which area high in calories. Green tea weight loss programs provide a two-pronged benefit. While on one hand calory consumption is controlled, on the other hand your body gets a regular supply of many healthy substances like polyphenols and flavonoids. Caffeine has appetite suppressant properties. Green tea also contains a small amount of caffeine, which makes it all the more useful in a weight loss diet plan.

Statistical reports provide one more benefit of using green tea as a vital ingredient in low carb weight loss recipes. It helps reduce fat by inhibiting the effects of insulin.Insulin is known for converting glucose into energy for the body to be stored into fat. By delaying insulin, green tea weight loss programs enable sugar to be sent directly to the muscles for instant use, thus preventing fats from forming.

The process within our body of burning fat and releasing calories is also known as thermogenesis. Low carb weight loss diet plans which use green tea, promote the process of thermogenesis. It is caused by an interaction of caffeine content and catechin polyphenols present in green tea. It is what makes such weight loss programs very effective in stimulating metabolic rates.

The Lunch Box Diet

When it comes to losing weight there are some foods that can really help speed up the process. Some foods have properties that make them ideal for fat fighters. Inclusion of such foods in a healthy long-term dieting plan can really help us to shed those pounds a lot faster. Here is a list of the 10 best fat burning foods from Lunch Box Diet author Simon Lovell.

1. Green Leafy Vegetables

Leafy green veggies such as lettuce and cabbages are rich in fibre, folic acid, vitamin C, and various other nutrients. As well as being rich in all these nutrients, they are also very low in calories. Vegetables like this should be heavily included in any healthy diet plan

2. Whole Grain Cereal

Whole grain cereals are rich in both fibre and complex carbohydrates. Both of these are helpful for maintaining low insulin levels and boosting metabolism. Keeping insulin levels low is crucial for losing weight.

3. Eggs

Eggs are another food that give your metabolism a boost, and they are also a good source of protein. Eating eggs in the morning can get your metabolism in good shape for the rest of the day. Eggs are very good to eat if you exercise a lot. You may want to avoid the egg yolk however if you are worried about cholesterol levels.

4. Brocolli

Low in calories and high in fibre, broccoli and other green vegetables are excellent for burning fat. Broccoli contains indoles and sulforaphane which reduce oestrogen levels and increase out natural fat burning hormones. Known as ‘Green fibrous fat burner’, green veggies like broccoli should be consumed a lot if you are looking to lose weight.

5. Beans

Beans have no fat and are high in protein and fibre. They clean your system out and keep the digestive system working efficiently. The soluble fibre in beans traps bile and also lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) without affecting good cholesterol (HDL). Lima beans, white beans and navy beans are all great fat burning foods.

6. Lean Meats

Leans meats are a good source of amino acids and are very rich in protein. Being as the body has to work and use up a lot of energy to digest proteins, it burns a lot of calories in the process. The amino acids are good for boosting metabolism and building lean muscle tissue.

7. Oranges

Oranges contain vitamin C as well as fibre which are both beneficial to burning fat. The vitamin C in oranges promote production of Carnitine which helps to oxidise fatty acids. Oxidising fatty acids breaks down fats so your body can burn them.

8. Low Fat Yoghurt

By providing us with protein, calcium and positive bacteria, low fat yoghurt can give a great natural boost to our metabolism and improve the efficiency of our digestive systems. The high protein levels mean lots of calories are burned while digesting.

9. Green Tea

The health benefits of green tea and green tea supplement have been known for many years. Green tea is low in calories and rich in polyohenois and catechin which help the body to burn calories faster. Catechins help to stabilize glucose levels which is necessary for avoiding weight gain.

10. Brown Rice

Substituting white rice for brown rice can help speed up your weight loss quest. Brown rice in rich in fibre and supplies the body with complex carbohydrates needed for keeping the body full of energy.

If your diet plan includes many of the foods mentioned above, then you’re well on the way to shedding those pounds. Remember though, there is no one super-food that is going to magically make your body fat disappear.

A long term healthy eating plan with a variety of nutrients is necessary if you want to lose weight. Don’t expect results overnight, but if you commit to eating healthy foods like the ones listed above as the core of your diet plan, you’ll see results soon enough. Check out The Lunch Box Diet as a great healthy way of losing weight, it’s been voted ‘the best diet’ 5/5 by Elle Magazine. Click here to get started.

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