Green Tea

Green Tea and its Metabolic Influences

Green tea is a tea that has found its origination from the plant called Camellia sinensis. It is one type out of the four tea types namely white, green, black, and oolong.

• White tea is called white because it is the least processed type, whereas black tea leaves are thoroughly fermented and so they get the name. Green tea leaves are known for their polyphenol content which is preserved because they are steamed not fermented.

• Polyphenol gets the credit for all the beneficial effects that are caused because of green tea, especially the catechins is considered to be the most responsible one, catechins account for more then 30% weight of the tea.

• The difference in the process in which a tea is processed accounts for the difference in the catechin content of the tea. Catechins are present in higher quantity in green tea than in black or any other type.

• The following are several polyphenolic catechins that are present in the green tea:
(1) -epicatechin (EC)
(2) -epicatechin—3—gallate (ECG)
(3) - epigallocatechin (EGC)
(4) - epigallocatechin—3—gallate (EGCG)
(5) +catechin, and
(6) + gallocatechin (GC).

• EGCG is the catechin that is found in maximum amount in the tea, it accounts for almost about 65% of catechin content in the tea.

• A single cup of green tea usually contains technically 100—200 mg of EGCG in it.
Caffeine which is present in all the teas is not at all affected by the processing methods that are applied to the tea.

Obesity
Whenever a person is having a weight that is greater then the weight that a person should have according to the general health consideration then it is called obesity.

How obesity is determined?
A term called Body Mass index is used determining whether a person is obese or is having normal body weight. Body mass index uses weight and height of a person .This index is used to correlate with the amount of fat that is present in a person’s body.

Recent studies suggest that catechins play a fantabulous role in weight loss.

Green tea promoting weight loss

Green tea is called weight loss tea. Catechins are known for influencing metabolism in several ways:

• Catechin inhibits intestinal lipases.
• It decreases absorption of fat.
• It increases excretion of fat.
• It increases the amount of uncoupling proteins in the body.
• It also increases thermogenesis.
• Decreases lipogenic enzymes.
• Suppresses appetite.

About the author:
Author writes for weight loss tea, lose weight and slimming tea.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Medicinal Values of Green Tea

Sphere: Related Content

Green tea is believed to be in use as a medicine for at least 4000 years in china. It is also believed that green tea lowers the cholesterol levels by increasing the good cholesterol and decreasing the bad cholesterol. Green tea is rich in antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) .It destroys cancer cells and also inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Even though the French people consume diet rich in fat, they are less prone to heart attack than the Americans. Similarly, even though 75 percent of the Japanese are smokers, they are less affected. This is because EGCG is more in green tea used by them. It acts as a protective agent against premature death from heart attack and cancer.Green tea also destroys bacteria thus preventing tooth decay. Researchers have also found that green tea even helps dieters. The leaves of green tea can also be used for cooking. The leftover leaves can be used as manure for garden plants to grow better. The ingredient present in green tea is polyphenol. It is the most effective antioxidant. It is present in higher amount in green tea than in black tea.The basic difference between green tea and other teas like oolong and black tea is that while the latter come from the leaves of camellia simens plant, green tea is processed in a different way. Green tea leaves are steamed which prevents the EGCG, a power antioxidant, from being oxidized. In contrast, black and oolong leaves are made from fermented leaves and so EGCG is converted into other compounds, which are effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.Clinical trials indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation. Green tea also raises thermo genesis (the rate at which calories are burnt) and hence increases energy expenditure. Green tea also increases endurance in exercise. Drinking green tea has a whole lot of benefits like fighting against cancer, stabilizing diabetes, helping in weight loss, slowing the ageing process and helping digestion. Green tea also enhances immunity in our body. About four cups of green tea each day provides 300 to 400 mg of polyphenols, which help in antioxidant activity. These antioxidants help in slowing diseases. A research Institute in Tokyo found that drinking green tea is the best method to prevent cancer at present. All types of cancer like stomach, lungs, breast, liver, colon and rectal can be prevented by green tea.Green tea prevents cholesterol from being absorbed by the digestive tract. This in effect means that even if the fat is taken, the body does not absorb it. Green tea also helps in preventing unhealthy clotting. Rinsing the mouth with green tea after meals helps in fighting bacteria and thus prevents cavities. One cup of tea with each meal acts as a metabolic stimulant. This helps in weight loss. The caffeine in the tea burns extra calories in the body and fat is digested by polyphenols. A recent study stated that EGCG found in green tea could help to boost ones immune system thereby helping to prevent HIV.And to top it all, green tea probably is the only substance in the world with so many medicinal values and without a single side effect!sVisit http://www.healthopts.com for useful weight management tips and choosing successful weight loss Plans. Also, check out http://www.healinglifetouch.info to know how aromatherapy helps lead a healthy life.

Amazing Green Tea Health Benefits.

Sphere: Related Content

Green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at
least 4,000 years. It's benefits to human health have been
widely known and talked about ever since it was first
discovered. Legend says that green tea was discovered in
2737BC when the emperor Shen Nung was boiling some water
for drinking and some leaves from a tree nearby blew into
it. The wonderful smell induced the emporer to try this new
drink and he found the taste heavenly and very refreshing.
Green tea was later brought from China to Japan by Buddhist
monks.

Green tea, like black tea is made from the leaves of the
plant Camellia sinensis. The difference between the three
main types of tea is the way that they are produced. Green
tea is unfermented tea meaning that the leaves used for
green tea are steamed soon after been plucked in order to
prevent the oxidation of the leaves. In this way the leaves
remain green and the active substances within the leaves
retain their qualities. Black teas on the other hand are
made from fermented leaves and as a result have less
nutritional and enzyme content as the green tea. Thus green
and black teas have different chemical properties.

Modern science has in recent times been able to
demonstrate that green tea is beneficial to one's health
and this is mainly due to the fact that tea contains high
levels of antioxidants called polyphenols or flavonoids.
The antioxidant activity of tea has been compared to that
of fruit and vegetables in a number of studies. One study
concluded that consuming three cups of tea a day produced a
similar amount of antioxidants as eating six apples.
Antioxidants help your body fight against free radicals
which cause damage to cells and tisuues in your body.

While all tea is healthy to drink, it is green tea that
contains the highest level of flavonoids. Recent medical
studies suggest green tea to be beneficial in many areas
including the following:
-Digestive and respiratory health.
-Lowers cholesterol levels
-Boosts your immune system
-Reduces high blood pressure
-Arthritis - anti-inflammatory effect.
-Oral hygiene - due to antibacterial properties.
-Skin conditions such as acne
-Lowers blood sugar

Another potential benefit is in the area of weight loss.
Research recently published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition suggests that an extract from green tea
may speed up fat oxidation. Ten healthy men in their 20's
were studied for 6 weeks and it was discovered that those
men who were given a green tea extract used more calories
in a day than those who did not. This appears to be due to
green tea having thermogenic properties thus causing the
body to burn fat faster than usual. One word of caution
though - if you need to lose weight - and all you do is
drink green tea without making any other lifestyle changes
then do not expect an instant miracle! However green tea
combined with a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise
provides will help you in your weight loss program. Lorraine Bevere is the webmaster of FOG Tea, Inc. which isa premier source of information about tea. For questions orcomments about this article, please visit:http://fogtea.com

Green Tea and Your Health

Sphere: Related Content

besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. 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.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Order your Green Tea today: http://mygrenx.com/RetailProductList.aspx?ID=amg

Article found on Ask.com - http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm

# # #

Green Tea HP is a proprietary blend of highly concentrated green tea antioxidants, acai, L-argenine, glutamine, CLA, L-carnatine and a full compilation of berries.

Try These Easy Metabolism Boosters

Sphere: Related Content

It has been found that certain chemical compounds in some foods and beverages are able to stimulate your metabolism causing you to burn more body fat than usual. Below are just a few easy things you can add to your diet to help burn off those extra calories that can slowly add up over the weeks.

1. Green Tea

Drinking green tea throughout the day can help you to burn an extra 70 to 100 extra calories a day through an effect known as thermogenesis which is the process of heat production in living organisms as well as providing numerous health benefits. Studies also suggest that the chemical EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) which is found in green tea is responsible for the tea's fat burning properties.

The fat burning property that green tea promotes is called thermogenesis which causes more body fat to get burnt to supply fuel for your cells. Green Tea increases the bodies energy expenditure and also increases fat oxidation which is needed to convert fat into energy.

A European study that ran over over 3 days, in which a total of 10 men were given caffeine, placebos, and EGCG (in the amount found in several cups of green tea). The result was that the men who were given the EGCG burned more total calories (80) each day while the other two groups came out equal.

Athought it does increase fat loss, green tea should not be considered a single solution to weight loss, but it does help in the reduction of fat tissue by thermogenesis which it has been proven to promote. Other than it's fat burning properties, green tea has also been shown to be beneficial for problems such as bad breath, blood sugar, cholesterol, dental cavities and it's powerful antioxidant properties help prevent cell damage.

2. Cayenne Pepper

The second wonderful metabolism booster is cayenne pepper which is made from dried ripe pepper caspsicum.

Several scientific studies have suggested that certain chemical compounds in cayenne pepper also have the ability to increase the body's heat production (thermogenesis), thereby increasing the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates and fats similar in effect to green tea. Additional research also indicates that cayenne pepper increases production of certain chemicals in the body that decrease or suppress appetite.

For people that are on diets it has been suggested that adding between 5 and 10 grams of cayenne pepper to a meal or roughly 27 grams to an entire day's diet will significantly reduce hunger after meals and reduce the amount of calories consumed during subsequent meals.

Cayenne pepper is also considered one of the healthiest herbs available. Use it as much as you can if you can stand the heat. Taking this super fat burning drink several times a day is a great way to help get your 8 plus glasses of water each day and to help shed those extra unwanted pounds.

3. Fat Burning Super Drink

A good way to take cayenne pepper is to put a small amount into a glass of green tea. This drink is considered one of the best natural fat burners and it has also been known to significantly reduce appetite in some dieters.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Try These Easy Metabolism Boosters

About the Author

Fat Loss 4 Idiots is the #1 weight loss diet available online that enables you to lose up to 9 pounds every 11 days. To Learn more about the Fat Loss 4 Idiots program visit: Fat Loss 4 Idiots

The World of Chinese Green Tea

Sphere: Related Content

When someone says green tea, we usually will think of the Asian culture and how this type of tea relates to it. However, when we look deeper into the cup of these teas, it can be noticed that different types of teas and the processes that are used to produce the drink are used. If you are trying out the different teas for size, you might want to consider Chinese green tea to see what this extract can do for you.

Chinese green tea is well known mostly because it is the oldest type of tea that has been used. While other cultures in this area have produced the tea for one or two thousand years, the Chinese have produced it for over 4,000 years. In the world of tea, this gives them a strong running start with their ability to produce different flavors and stronger teas for those who are interested in the health benefits.

Like other types of green teas from other cultures, it is not the green tea leaf that causes the flavor or difference. Instead it is the processes that are used in order to present a tea that has stronger health benefits, different flavor and the ability to affect one differently. The Chinese green tea market has this understanding, with the production of over fifty different processes and flavors that are used for the market.

If you want to know where to start when investigating the various Chinese green teas that are available, it is best to begin with your taste buds. Many of the teas that are offered from this culture will be divided first by process, then by the result that the process makes. For example, some of the teas will produce a sweeter taste, or the opposite, a bitter taste. Other times, the teas that are offered will be mixed with other beneficial fruits or herbs, such as oranges, in order to give an extra tang.

The next types of teas that are offered from this culture will vary because of the plant that is being used. You may find that you like the flavor of one plant over another; something you will notice with time. The plants that are produced are mostly different because of the places they grow. Some will have the ability to have longer buds, while others will darker plant. Other tea leaves will be picked in different seasons, giving a slightly different texture and taste to the leaves.

No matter what your preference becomes, the Chinese green tea can make sure to take care of your taste bud needs. Through mixtures and different types of growth, this type of green tea is sure to settle well with you. You can begin to explore the different offerings that can be made by simple taste tests that will offer you the best of this world.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - The World of Chinese Green Tea

About the Author

Julie Health writes about the many health benefits of green tea at http://www.benefitsofgreentea.info. If you're interested, you can also learn more green tea products.

The Notorious Green Tea Leaf

Sphere: Related Content

Nowadays, people are becoming more health observant as the majority of the population ages. The baby boomer generation is searching for almost anything that will keep them feeling well. As the popularity of good health products become greater, they are advertised everywhere and mainly on television where younger people are buying in to living a healthy life.

More adults are now trying to eat healthy and stay healthy, people are always looking for things that are homeopathic in nature and what other people have been using for centuries. A popular result of all of this searching is the green tea leaf.

Green tea leaves are not recognized by the FDA as medicinal, but it does act as one for certain things such as indigestion and diarrhea. The tea is also good for use as a mouth wash and plaque control. The green tea leaf is also showing great signs in staving off and stopping certain cancers, particularly stomach cancer.

There aren't many medications that can do all of this and if there were, it would be one the most well known drugs ever and I wouldn't be talking about the tea. The tea's leaf is also noted for working against other cancers such as; rectum, intestinal, colon, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer.

In China, a conclusive study was commissioned to observe the green tea leaf and the results of the study showed that women who drink the tea every day had a 33% drop in cancers over women who didn't drink it everyday. This study also concluded a 43% drop in women getting rectal cancer.

The study even showed a 47% drop in pancreatic cancer in women who drink the tea daily. In Japan, a study of over four hundred women showed that the chances of cancer reappearing was very low in women who started drinking five cups of the notorious tea everyday.

The green tea leaf has certain components that make it a very popular choice. Caffeine also had something to do with the tea's popularity. Caffeine is the stimulant we all know that gets us going in the morning and keeps us going all through the day.

When taken in moderation the tea also settles the stomach, making people alert without that feeling of unsettling nerves you might get when drinking coffee.

Green tea and black tea are taken from the same tea plant. The biggest difference between the two leaves are the way they are processed. Most green leaf teas are in China and Japan, while the black teas are processed in India and Sri Lanka and Kenya. The Asian countries have included green tea in their diets for thousands of years and the world is just beginning to see the great benefits.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - The Notorious Green Tea Leaf

About the Author

Vincent Isom cares for the health and well being of all people and loves to inform them of various health and wellness related issues that can lead to a healthy lifestyle. See how your health could greatly benefit by visiting healthylifestyle-4life.com.

Much Acclaimed Miracle of Green Tea Needs To Cool Off

Sphere: Related Content

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. 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 at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 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. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer

rheumatoid arthritis

high cholesterol levels

cariovascular disease

infection

impaired immune function

What makes GT so special?

The secret of GT lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking GT and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets GT apart is the way it is processed. G.T. leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that G.T. can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and G.T. extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

G.T. can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing g.t. - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking g.t. is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, g.t. contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Much Acclaimed Miracle of Green Tea Needs To Cool Off

About the Author

Professional research on organisational issues and matters that importat. While I promote Hoodia Gordonii Plus www.offshelf.net, I continue to monitor business and marketing metrics in terms of human factor involvement.

How Green Tea Helps To Make Your Skin Healthier

Sphere: Related Content

We have heard of the health benefits of green tea. Now new studies show that it can have a profound effect on the skin. It has been shown that it can help repair sun damage, prevent premature aging, and enhance skin tone. It may also help to ward off some types of skin cancer. This sounds like a miracle in a bottle, to good to be true. But often old remedies and potions value are based on the fact that they work, even if the user didn't understand why.

New research from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shows that green tea blocks the formation of plaque in the arteries. Green tea has long been a part of herbal healing in cardiovascular patients with outstanding results. It doesn't help dissolve existing plaque but helps to prevent the formation of new plaque. Green tea doesn't have to be drunk to be effective; there are pills on the market containing green tea.

Let's take a look at what green tea is made from. Tea comes from the bud of a plant. There are three basic types; black, green, and oolong. The manufacturing process for each is very similar but the fermentation process is different. The black and oolong teas are oxidized, while the green tea leaves are steamed then dried. This helps prevent the breakdown of polyphenols, which are the compounds in tea that contain those very important antioxidants that help fight cancer.

The plolyphenols in green tea are commonly known as catechins, possessing highly potent antioxidant characteristics. The major preventative catechin in green tea is epigallocatechingallate (EGCG). It has been discovered at the Medical College of Georgia that EGCG can reactivate dying cells. EGCG can also accelerate the differentiation process in new skin cells. With this technology it can be possible to make formulas that will help heal skin condition like psoriasis, rosascea, and wounds.

When dealing with a wound if there isn't the right type of skin cells present to fill the wound another type moves in, this is scar tissue. If the EGCG is applied correctly is can cause the scar tissue cells to be rejuvenated into normal healthy cells, eliminating an ugly scar. This type of technology could help so many different people with scaring injuries, like burn victims.

While more studies are being conducted to determine the other health benefits of green tea, researcher think the impact could be profound. Using skin care products that contain green tea can help repair your skin by minimizing the damage from the sun. It will also promote new cell growth. Including green tea as part of your daily routine, by drinking and applying to the skin, you can be on your way to a healthier life inside and out.

Author Resource:- Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as skin care advice at http://www.cosmeticsplusmore.com

Article From New Ezine Articles

Green Tea Diet Plan

Sphere: Related Content

Eating and dieting these days do not usually involve your favorite beverages like green tea and coffee. But this is not always necessarily the case. With some bit of planning and a lot of discipline, your diet plan and weight regime can include your morning cups of coffee or green tea.

South Beach Diet Plan

An idea formulated by Dr. Agatston, the South Beach Diet plan is not low-carb, nor low-fat. According to its originator, the South Beach Diet plan “teaches you to rely on the right carbs and the right fats.”

This diet plan is comprised of three phases – Banishing your Cravings, Reintroducing Carbs, and A Diet for Life. Using artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea during all three phases is one way to go on losing weight without having to give up your brewed cup. Going decaf with your coffee might also be a good idea since the objective of this diet is maintaining even insulin levels. If you’re a green tea drinker, then there is less worries for you. Green tea contains only very few amounts of caffeine.

The Zone Diet Plan

The Zone Diet plan was developed by Barry Sears, a former biotechnology researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This diet plan is based on the maintenance and consistency of insulin levels. Because this diet plan also concerns itself with insulin control, the issues that arise are handled similarly as that with the South Beach Diet plan. Taking decaffeinated coffee and green tea is all right as long as these beverages don’t spike up your insulin. The eating program of the Zone Diet plan requires you to use artificial sweetener and low-fat milk in your coffee or green tea.

Atkins Diet Plan

Another low-carb diet plan variety, the Atkins Diet plan works best with caffeine-free coffee and green tea. For best results, artificial sweeteners in your green tea and coffee are advised to keep your carbs down.

Blood Type Diet Plan

The Blood Type Diet plan is a weight loss regimen where the foods you eat are based on your blood type. The eating program of the Blood Type Diet plan is more restricted compared to the South Beach Diet plan, the Zone Diet plan, and the Atkins Diet plan. For instance, for people with blood types A and AB, coffee is highly advised. But for those with blood types O, adding coffee to the Blood Type Diet plan should be avoided. Green teas on the other hand are acceptable for any blood types. However, adding natural sweeteners like sugar, honey, stevia, or maple syrup in green tea should be avoided in this diet plan.

Sugar Busters Diet Plan

The name of the diet plan says it all. Subscribers to this diet plan are highly cautioned against sugars. Coffee and green teas are perfectly fine but only use artificial sweeteners.

Paleolithic Diet Plan

Also called the Stone Age Diet plan, this diet plan is based on the consumption of simple, unprocessed foods that our Neanderthal ancestors would have eaten. This diet plan is perfect for green tea drinkers. Green tea is simple and 100% natural steamed dried leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. If you’re a coffee drinker, you might be in for a tougher choice since you might have to give up coffee all together with this diet plan. Sugars in green teas are still a big no-no, especially the refined kind.

Do you wanrt to try a 30-day trial of 3 fantastic ways to lose weight? Click here

By Catherine Fairchild

Is Herbal Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

Sphere: Related Content

Herbal teas are gaining popularity these days as consumers choose to branch out from the more traditional green and black varieties. Many herbal teas are caffeine free, providing an attractive alternative for those who wish to enjoy the health benefits of tea without worrying about the side effects of caffeine. There are wide varieties of herbal teas available these days; it seems like tea manufactures have found a way to incorporate every possible herb into some of their tea blends. Some herbal teas are even marketed as "pregnancy teas".

Most herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy, just be sure to carefully check the label and consult with your doctor before you try anything herbal. Certain ingredients, when taken in high doses, can be harmful to your unborn baby. It is also important to note that herbal teas aren't regulated by any specific agency. Some of the ingredients can create diarrhea or heart palpitations if over-consumed, so try not to experiment with any ingredients you aren't completely familiar with at this time.

A number of herbal tea blends might contain cohosh, pennyroyal, mugwort, ma huang, and even ephedra. If your tea contains any of these ingredients, it's probably best to avoid. None of these ingredients are good to consume during pregnancy.

If you decide to make your own herbal tea, just use common sense with the herbs you choose. Make sure every herb you use is washed thoroughly to be free of pesticides, and try to avoid picking "wild" herbs unless you are absolutely sure what they are.

Most people find that herbal teas are relaxing, calming, and soothing to the senses. They have natural healing properties, and also are caffeine free to promote a good night's sleep. If you are considering switching to herbal teas you will find that you benefit from the natural anti-oxidant properties of many of the herbs used in teas, and may be less prone to colds, infections, and may have more energy and generally feel better.

Again, I want to stress that caution should be used if you have never used herbal teas before, as they can cause slight reactions in some women. If you are unsure about a certain tea blend, it's probably better to pass at this point. No use in being "adventurous" if it can have some negative affect on your baby. You can always make your own "safe" herbal teas using decaffeinated green tea or hot water with various juices, spices and dried fruit.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Is Herbal Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

About the Author

Steven Broffman is a writer at Specialty Tea Health Benefits, a site dedicated to the health benefits of various teas. Read more about herbal tea & pregnancy at www.allteabenefits.com.

Legendary Green Tea

Sphere: Related Content

Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. 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 at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 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. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

cancer

rheumatoid arthritis

high cholesterol levels

cariovascular disease

infection

impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Other Benefits

New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. 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.

Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.

Harmful Effects?

To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com

For more information visit: Your Loss Pill

Green Tea- a Healthy Alternative to Soda

Sphere: Related Content

In the hot days of summer it is easy to reach for a soda to help you cool off. However sodas do not really quench your thirst and there are some other healthier more refreshing alternatives. One of the most refreshing ways to cool off on a hot summer day is drinking a tall glass of iced tea and what better than making it green tea?

People from the Orient have long known the benefits of drinking green tea. In fact so important is this drink in these countries that there is special tea drinking rituals associated with this beverage. Japan is especially famous for this.

Green tea: Is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tree. The best green tea is grown in Japan and is harvested in the spring months. Now Australia is trying to cultivate it so that green tea can be available in other months and supply the increasing need for this beverage. Recent research is revealing that this tea is particularly beneficial for your health. It is higher in antitoxins than the traditional black tea drunk in the West. Green tea has also been found to have vitamin C and fluoride.

Green tea has more of these properties than the traditional black teas because of the way it is processed It goes through little or no processing (fermenting or oxidizing) this brings out the antioxidants and vitamins but will reduce the stimulant quality (caffeine) of this tea.

The best way to make green tea hot or cold is to make it with loose leaves. These are easily available in many grocery stores and most health food stores. When making iced tea it is good to steep the tea for about 20-30 minutes. You can just pour the hot water on it and let it cool slowly. Fast cooling will not allow the full taste to come out; so slow cooling at room temperature is best.

You can also make some good tea pops. Just fill an ice cube tray with green tea (cooled) and put toothpicks in each square and enjoy when fully frozen. You can also make regular cubes of green tea to add to beverages.

If you want to spice up your tea you can add citrus peel as it steeps. Anise and chicory are also added for a change in taste. Citrus peels are especially refreshing with iced green tea. You can also add ginger as a real thirst quencher for those hot days.

However you chose to drink your green tea it is a nice refreshing change from soda and good for your health. It will not only quench your thirst but rejuvenate you too. As our world grows smaller we are becoming more aware of different types of foods and beverages. As more research is being done on this increasingly popular drink we will see even more benefits to our health. It is recommended to drink at least 3 cups or more per day to enjoy the health giving properties of green tea.

Author Resource:- Zach Thompson is a Natural Zeolite
Representative. His clients range from actresses to pro athletes. You can get a free consultation on Waiora by visiting his web site.

Article From New Ezine Articles

Schiff Green Tea Diet

Sphere: Related Content

Consider a daily workout instead of a weekly visit to the gym. Schiff green tea diet provides you with the best way to workout everyday without the hassle of going to the gym!

The Schiff green tea diet is an all-natural diet product that helps promote thermogenesis and fat metabolism. The diet contains no Ma Huang or Ephedra herb. It is ephedrine-free so you won't experience any jittery or nervous feelings.

The green tea diet has a high amount of active ingredients that have a lot of antioxidant and thermogenic benefits in store for you. The beneficial antioxidants are called catechin polyphenols. These substances interact with other compounds present in order to stimulate thermogenesis and encourage fat to burn.

The most powerful catechin polyphenol found in the green tea diet is called EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG has almost the same effect on your fats like ephedra but minus the dangerous side effects that commonly accompany ephedra-induced metabolism. With the Schiff green tea diet, you lose weight without giving up on your body's health!

The green tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, which is a native herb of China. This plant is extracted from is believed to have been in use for more than four thousand years.

The substances present in the diet have been widely recognized over the world as an effective dermal protection against Ultraviolet light radiation. The antioxidants can also help prevent cancers including stomach, ovarian, colon, oral, prostate, breast, and cervical cancers.

Being on the diet can also help in reducing harmful intestinal flora while increasing beneficial intestinal flora. It is the main reason why it has curative effects on cancers. This is also the reason why it can reduce oxidative stress in smokers and non-smokers and acts as a powerfully anti-inflammatory substance.

A single dose of the Schiff green tea diet has been to known to show a dramatic improvement in antioxidant levels in the body. It also helps preserve good cholesterol levels and lower down the bad cholesterol. In addition to that, the diet has anti-bacterial properties that help prevent teeth cavities.

And if the benefits listed above are not enough, further researches were made through the years. Having green tea in a diet supplement sometimes is not enough to promote weight loss. This is why this famous diet comes with standardized formulation to guarantee optimum results.

The Schiff green tea diet contains guaranteed levels of EGCG - 270 milligrams a day. The EGCG is used in combination with specific amounts of caffeine - 150 milligrams a day. These two substances make this diet product something to reckon with.

Included in each diet package is an easy-to-follow eating and workout plan. It has also made their tablets in easy-to-swallow sizes containing 225 milligrams green tea extract, 90 milligrams EGCG, and 50 milligrams caffeine.

Losing weight has never been this easy.

Source: Free Articles

Green Tea and Polyphenols

Sphere: Related Content

What are Polyphenols?

Polyphenols are compounds found in nature. More specifically they are found in plants and provide coloring for some. Their purpose appears to be a potent, natural antioxidant. There are many plants that we consume that contain polyphenols. Concentrations are high in Olive oil and Green Tea and have been the subject of many health articles and promoted to enhance your health.

How do Polyphenols work?

These antioxidants eliminate free radicals, unstable molecules that are the major cause of both aging and disease, in both plants and humans. Free radicals continually attack the body. Free radicals are a normal product of metabolism and result in a process called oxidation. Polyphenols and other antioxidants, including beta carotene (a vitamin A precursor), vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium, scavenge these free radicals and help to prevent formation of unstable oxygen molecules, known as oxidation. Oxidation can damage healthy cells in the body and have been linked to many diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Polyphenols not only work to prevent diseases but may also help to reduce abnormal cells and inflammation; get rid of cancer causing agents and restore cells back to normal health.

What foods contain Polyphenols?

There are many but there are only a few, which contain particularly high levels. They include red wine, olive oil, black and green tea. Green Tea is the #1 source of polyphenols. These extremely high levels of polyphenols deliver green tea's unique results in several ways. Just one example is a subgroup of polyphenols, exclusive to green tea, called catechins. EGCG, the most abundant and powerful of green tea's 5 main catechins, is dubbed the 'super antioxidant' because it is 200 times more powerful than the popular antioxidant vitamin E. Unfortunately, polyphenols have a quick life span (short half life) of about 3 hours, thus the scientific reason behind researchers' recommendation to drink green tea a minimum of 8 times a day.

Not only may green tea protect and heal the body from disease but also clinical trials, conducted by the University of Geneva, in Switzerland, indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation. In addition to caffeine, green tea's catechin polyphenols raise thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are burned) and hence increases energy expenditure. And, research at the University of Chicago has shown green tea extract injections in rats to cause appetite suppression. They consumed 60 percent less food and lost 21 percent of their body weight. However, as explained by the scientists, a person would have to drink green tea almost constantly to obtain these results. Green tea patches have been developed as a solution. They contain up to 300mg of polyphenols (30 times the potency of regular green tea) and provide a constant supply over 48 hours.

Research is still continuing with green tea and more health benefits continue to be discovered. For instance, EGCG's may one day play a role in treatment of mad cow disease (Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, DOI:10.1038/nsmb743). And the formation of unstable oxygen molecules in the body is unavoidable. Aging, smoke, and environmental pollutants are all sources of the damaging free radicals. Japan and China have benefited from drinking green tea vs. black tea, like the rest of us, for centuries. The west is just now catching on to the benefits of green tea. With green tea being no more harmful than a cup of coffee (and actually containing less caffeine) there's no reason why you shouldn't begin today to benefit from green tea too.

Chemical name:
Various

Also known as:
Green Tea Polyphenols, Green Tea Water Extract, Black Tea Polyphenols, Black Tea Water Extract, Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Polyphenon E (Mitsui-Norin, Ltd.), Topical Polyphenon E (Epitome Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)

Category:
Phytochemical

Source: Free Articles

Green Tea And The Latest In Skin Care And Promising Cancer Treatments

Sphere: Related Content

With all the latest research and developments into skin care it has recently been found that Green tea actually has more to offer than originally thought. It could possibly be the newest anti cancer wonder treatment. In research conducted in Thailand by Dr. Ptong of the Skin Education Foundation it was evidenced that Green tea when taken orally or applied externally had a marked effect on the skin in relation to cancer and carcinogens.

Ptong elucidated that it was the antioxidants, commonly referred to as green tea polyphenols (GTP), that caused this new functionality. The polyphenols of showed the ability to actually prohibit and retard the growth of various skin cancers. From basal cell carcinoms (the mildest and most common form of skin cancer) to malignant melanoma and its variants (the deadliest and fastest spreading form) all were shown to be effected by these GTP polyphenols.

In animal studies where the skin was treated with various carcinogens and chemicals or radiation with mutagenic properties it was found that skin treated prior with a rub or salve of the polyphenols had a much lower rate of mutations afterwards. This resulted in a much lower chance of growths and cancer developing. In one study it was shown that the the resultant damage that normally occurs from excessive UV radiation did not happen to skin pre treated with a GTP salve. It is important to note that they have now found identical results with human research. According to Dr. Ptong:

Every area we tested the polyphenols we made significant discoveries and every time it was very positive. The polyphenols extracted from green tea are extremely active against all types of cancer in this study.

It was also found that, along with external application, oral use of the polyphenols reduced the risk of developing skin cancer more than in half in over 1000 patients. In another test, patients with malignant melanoma were given green tea to drink and after one month it was found that the growth rate of the cancer slowed tremendously. It was found that hot, green tea contained the highest concentration of the beneficial polyphenols. From these studies one can easily surmise that green tea shows great promise in skin care and in treating and reducing the risk of cancer and other similar maladies. Just from these studies it is enough to conclude that it should be made a part of the daily regimen for optimum health.

Source: Free Articles

About the Author

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He provides various skin peels and anti aging treatments for doctors offices and medispas. For more great information please visit: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Green Tea Alert

Sphere: Related Content

Would you like to feel more alert? At work, I do. Would you like to see an increase in your metabolism? I do all the time. How would you like to lose a little weight? I know I do. Do you have arthritis that you would like to get rid of? Green Tea may be the answer to some of these ailments.

Green Tea dates back over 5000 years in China. It has been used in China, Japan, and other regions of the world through the course of time. It has been used in ceremonies and customs in different areas of the world. It has caught on in the U.S. for many different reasons too.

There has been talk and information all over the internet and in books that indicate green tea has different health related properties that may be useful to many of us. Many of these properties have been known to come from the ingredient epigallocatechin gallate which is an antioxidant. Some say it is used to reduce arthritis, increase air flow to the lungs for asthma, increases alertness, and may reduce chances of getting specific types of cancer. Many have even indicated that it increases the metabolism. This is very interesting to me. I know I like to hear about the positive attributes of natural substances like Green Tea. They are cheaper than prescription drugs and in many cases seem to be safer.

There are many sources on Green Tea that can be found on the internet, medical journals, and remedy books. One thing many have in common is that Green Tea is a natural supplement that may provide health benefits.

Green Tea contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine per cup. This depends on how strong you brew your tea and how large your cup is. This is less caffeine than a cup of coffee, but none the less, it does contain caffeine. The caffeine, I would venture to say, is the reason we may see increases in alertness and possibly an increase in metabolism causing some weight loss. Caffeine will do that to people. There is nothing wrong with those effects as long as you don't have any other that may cause problems when you drink Green Tea.

Please keep in mind that there are drawbacks to Green Tea. Pregnant women shouldn't take green tea because of the caffeine and related problems with the fetus which is indicated in some medical journals. People who are sensitive to caffeine should also be careful.

Green Tea may prove to be an important herbal supplement over time as more studies are done and proven in the medical community. If you don't have any problems with it and you enjoy drinking tea, do so, you may gain other benefits.

Always check with a physician prior to starting a supplementation program.

Source: Free Articles

Autor: Big_Daddy

Subscribe To My Podcast

Green Tea

Green Tea and its Metabolic Influences

Medicinal Values of Green Tea

Amazing Green Tea Health Benefits.

Green Tea and Your Health

Try These Easy Metabolism Boosters

The World of Chinese Green Tea

The Notorious Green Tea Leaf

Much Acclaimed Miracle of Green Tea Needs To Cool Off

How Green Tea Helps To Make Your Skin Healthier

Green Tea Diet Plan

Is Herbal Tea Safe During Pregnancy?

Legendary Green Tea

Green Tea- a Healthy Alternative to Soda

Schiff Green Tea Diet

Green Tea and Polyphenols

Green Tea And The Latest In Skin Care And Promising Cancer Treatments

About the Author

Green Tea Alert

clickbank search box

Search Box

Bookmark This

Blog Archive

MY BLOGS & SITES

Subscribe via email

Subscribe Now: Google

FeedBurner FeedCount