Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Green Tea Reported Beneficial For Weight-Control

In The News For Increasing Metabolic Rate To Assist Caloric Burn Pix
For thousands of years, Green Tea has been an integral part of the Asian diet. Many people believe that drinking several cups a day leads to a longer and healthier life. In fact, after studying over 3000 women in Tokyo, scientists discovered that those drinking Green Tea lived longer than those that did not. More recently, researchers have concluded that Green Tea has substantial benefits for effective weight control...

In a study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that Green Tea extract stimulated a significant increase in metabolism (energy expenditure) and also had a significant effect on fat oxidation. While some of the beneficial effects were originally thought to be due to the caffeine content of Green Tea, the researchers discovered that the tea actually has properties that are more useful to increasing metabolic activity than the caffeine.

The same amount of caffeine (as was in the Green Tea) administered alone, failed to change energy expenditure in other studies. This led researchers to believe that there is valuable interaction with the active ingredients of Green Tea (including Catechins) that generates increased metabolism and fat oxidation.

The researchers indicated that their findings show that Green Tea has substantial benefits for effective weight control.

A 4% overall increase in 24-hour energy expenditure (metabolic activity) was attributed to the Green Tea extract, however, the research found that the extra expenditure took place during the daytime. This led them to conclude that, since thermogenesis (the body's own rate of burning calories) contributes 8-10% of daily energy expenditure, this 4% overall increase in total energy expenditure due to the Green Tea is equivalent to an overall 35-43% increase in daytime thermogenesis. None of the research subjects reported any side effects, and no significant differences in heart rates were noticed. In this respect, Green Tea extract is different from the prescription drugs for obesity, and herbal products like ephedra, which can raise heart rates and blood pressure, and are not recommended for many individuals.

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