“Weight loss and diet” is the new buzzword of our modern health conscious society. The mushrooming health centers and diet clinics and queuing up of people for various surgeries, manifest the growing desire among people to shed their extra pounds.
But this burgeoning health and appearance consciousness is sullied or rather overshadowed by the huge obese population of today. On one hand we are taking diet regimens and medication from professionals to get the curves right while on the other hand are indulging in unhealthy eatables and eating habits leading to disproportionate weight gain. In the face of these extreme conditions, there is a natural miracle by the name of Chinese green tea, to balance the act. Our many thanks to the Chinese emperor Shen Nung, who discovered this multipurpose miraculous herb of Chinese green tea, some 4000 years ago. Since then the popularity and usefulness of this herb has crossed boundaries for people to apply its benefits around the world and avoid a lot of mental and physical anxiety. The emperor was boiling water when the green tea leaves accidentally fell in the drink and the aroma of it lead him to taste it, which then became a well-liked beverage. Over the years, the popularity reached far and wide and research showed immense salubrious effect of this herbal tea.
The basic difference between Chinese green tea and other tea leaves lies in the way it is produced. Oolong and black tea leaves are traditionally oxidized and then dried but the Chinese green tea leaves are first steamed and then dried. This method of producing Chinese green tea actually preserves most of the beneficial antioxidants present in it. These antioxidants have number of health benefits especially towards the common ailments of present times. Antioxidants in Chinese green tea reduce cholesterol levels in a person, improving the functioning of blood vessels and thereby reducing blood lipids. Similarly, the antioxidants in the green tea inhibit the production of insulin, the hormone that stores calories into fats. With the ability of Chinese green tea diet supplements to suppress insulin, fats are readily made available, converting them into pure energy for the muscles.
But the greatest boon of Chinese green tea is in its effectiveness to achieve weight loss. More than half of American population have weight problems or are obese. This links them to other complications like heart diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, gall bladder disease and others. Reduction in weight helps in assuaging some of these conditions. But the basic and best advantage of super green tea diet is that it helps in burning calories by promoting sugar and fat metabolism.
Research shows that catechin polyphenols found in Chinese green tea react with other antioxidants to promote thermogenesis, which is responsible for burning body fat and increasing metabolism. Thermogenesis is the process by which the body produces heat by speeding up metabolism, burning calories and breaking down fat. The green tea extracts when combined with chromium increases fat and sugar metabolism substantially, thereby leading to faster fat burning and faster weight loss.
According to a research by the University of Geneva, Chinese green tea promotes weight loss with the interaction between caffeine and a compound called epigallocetachin gallate (EGCG) present in it. When the two substances in the Chinese green tea react, thermogenesis of the body increases by four percent. Another study evidenced that Chinese green tea allows the body to burn an additional 70 calories a day, which is a reason to enjoy for the weight loss enthusiasts. There are some more benevolent compounds called Flavonoids in green tea extract, which may alter the way the body uses norepinephrine, a hormone that monitors the way calories are burned in the body. When flavonoids interact with other green tea extract ingredients, more calories are burned resulting in weight loss. A more corroborative study was conducted by scientists on rats to investigate the weight loss benefit of green tea. When the rats were placed on a high fat diet but provided with green tea extract, it was discovered that even though rats were on a high fat diet, the green tea extract counterbalanced fat gain without affecting the amount of energy they took in.
Doctors P. Chantre and D. Lairon of the Laboratories Arkopharma in Carros, France did a collaborative study on the finding of green tea extract AR25 (Exolise) and its impact on treatment of obesity. In their study, they combined 80% ethanolic concentrate in green tea extract with standardized 25% catechins. They tested the green tea extract and found that it could directly inhibit gastric and pancreatic lipases. These enzymes are the primary cause of fat storage and by delaying their actions; green tea extract exhibited a weight loss benefit enabling to solve obesity problems. Also according to dietician Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., since green tea extract can also help thyroid patients, it is a healthier choice for them to opt for it because they may be too sensitive to stimulants. Green tea is a wholesome supplement that can ameliorate a lot of our life style diseases. However, scientist and traditional herbalist believe that better weight loss results are achieved when green tea is used in conjunction with other weight loss herbs and a proper diet.
Further, Chinese green tea is almost a panacea to control a number of diseases but it is not a miracle one wonder capsule. Normally, weight loss capsules contain a stimulant ephedra which is known to cause cardiovascular ailments. Other capsules like herbal laxatives, herbal fen-phen also results in irregular heartbeats, cramming, diarrhea and strokes. But capsules with green tea extracts are a safer choice that stimulate metabolism without causing heart to race. However, under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products such as green tea are considered dietary supplements. And there are no guarantees on its effectiveness. Hence companies making claims for 100% success rate are false proclamations that should not be patronized.
Eventually the success or failure of any product is largely dependent on personal will and determination. Green tea is a supplement with additional therapeutic qualities, to combat diseases and accomplish weight loss. But the actual outcome of any struggle is dependent on the inner strength of the mind, body and soul. Being anorexic is not the answer to weight loss neither is the sole dependence on green tea. A holistic approach to life and health is what is needed to feel and live fit. Nature has given us bountiful resources for our well being but the greater resources are within us, which need to be recognized and let out to see and enjoy life in all its essence.
