Monday 16 April 2007

Going green

Is going green the way to stimulate your weight loss?

A recent study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who drank a bottle of tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost more body fat than those who drank a bottle of regular oolong tea.

Researchers say the results indicate that catechins, found in green tea, may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and lower body fat.

While a study like this may sound like green tea is the answer to your prayers, a pinch of salt and a careful eye is needed - note the results were between green and oolong tea. Over the last few years, there has been a great deal of controversy about this ancient Chinese remedy.

In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for over four millenia - using it to treat everything from headaches to depression.

The Kissa Yojoki, or Book of Tea, written by Zen priest Eisai (1191) describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, particularly the heart. The book discusses tea's medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing tiredness, and improving urinary and brain function.

Eight hundred years later,Western medical research indicates that there are health benefits in the brew. It is reputed to be helpful with many ailments including: rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and impaired immune function. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1994) published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Research also indicates that drinking green tea lowers cholesterol levels as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

In recent years, green tea has become associated with weight loss for it's magical fat burning properties. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Nov. 1999) reported the findings of a Swiss Study at the University of Geneva. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Japanese researchers claim if you drink five cups of green tea a day, you'll burn 70 to 80 extra calories. Dr. Nicholas Perricone , an anti-aging specialist, appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show, assured viewers that by swapping their coffee for green tea, they could lose 10lbs in 6 weeks. However, one must take into account that swapping a coffee laden with cream and sugar for a zero-calorie cup of green tea on its own would cause weight loss.

There are seemingly no drawbacks for overconsumption of green tea aside from insomnia as it contains caffeine. However this is unlikely to occur as the average serving only contains 20mg of caffeine.

However, as a miracle weight-loss drug, I just don't think there's enough REAL research out there to back up these weight-loss claims. Teas in general have anti-oxidant properties as well as diuretic ones - so I think I'll stick with Monkey and drink my PG Tips.

No comments: