Weight Loss For Men Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Green Tea’

Weight loss and maintenance is no laughing matter. Today, 60% of American adults need to lose weight, and many of them feel defeated by their struggles. In addition, for many people, keeping weight off after weight loss is even more difficult than losing it in the first place.

These difficulties are the reason that sales of diet aids are so consistently high. People who are trying to lose weight are constantly looking for any help they can find to increase their weight loss and maintenance success.

If you need to lose weight, it’s critical that you make changes to your diet and your physical activity level. The following suggestions can help you to begin shedding pounds without resorting to extreme dieting measures:

? Substitute fish and chicken for beef and pork most days of the week.

? Eliminate white flour from your diet. Eat whole grains, such as 100% whole wheat bread instead.

? Eliminate refined sugar from your diet. Use artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey instead.

? Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables will provide more anti-oxidants and fiber, along with fewer calories than processed vegetables, particularly those in sauce.

? Increase your fiber intake – Extra fiber will help you feel full longer, helping you to reduce the number of calories you’re eating without feeling deprived.

? Watch the fat- Reduce the saturated fat in your diet. Avoid any food with hydrogenated fats or trans fats. Get your fats from olive oil, canola oil, fish and nuts.

? Get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days of the week. Walking is a great way to get in your exercise, and it’s convenient because you can do it anywhere. You should also get in strength training 3 times a week for 30 minutes each session. Strength training will help you build muscle, which will help you burn more calories even when resting.

Making these changes should allow you to lose weight gradually without feeling hungry. Only when you make changes that you can sustain for the long term will you be able to take off the weight and keep it off.

However, while it’s critical to understand that diet and exercise will always be the keys to maintaining a healthy weight, it’s always nice to find little tricks that make losing weight and keeping it off just a bit easier.

One substance that does seem to hold promise in weight loss is green tea. Many studies have shown that the consumption of green tea along with a healthy diet can help you lose more weight than dieting alone.

It is believed that green tea’s potent anti-oxidants combined with the caffeine in the tea help speed up the metabolism and burn fat. In addition, some studies have even shown that green tea can inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, meaning that less of the fat you eat ends up as body fat.

However, one interesting study suggests that green tea’s effectiveness may be negated if you consume too much other caffeine in your diet. A study conducted by Maastricht University in The Netherlands attempted to show how green tea would affect participants attempting to maintain a recent weight loss. It showed less promising results regarding the consumption of green tea, particularly when the participants were high consumers of caffeine overall.

In this study, 104 overweight and moderately obese men and women were put on a low calorie diet for 4 weeks. During the four week period, the participants lost an average of 7.5% of their body weight. During the 13 week maintenance period, the participants were fed either green tea or a placebo. The participants did not show statistically different results between the group receiving green tea and the group receiving the placebo.

However, the study did show that participants who had overall high caffeine consumption regained more of the weight they lost than those who had a lower overall caffeine consumption.* When you consider these results compared with other studies where additional caffeine consumption was restricted, and a correlation between the use of green tea and weight loss was observed, it suggests that excess caffeine use may negate green tea’s possible positive effects.

If you look at the entire body of research on green tea’s ability to enhance weight loss, it seems very promising, in spite of the results of this particular study. And, the good news is, that even if green tea doesn’t help you lose weight, it’s very healthy for you and has no side effects.

So, you have nothing to lose by trying green tea as a weight loss supplement. Green tea’s anti-oxidants may hold significant power in helping you avoid diseases like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. In addition, regular consumption of green tea may reduce the signs of aging and help you live a longer and healthier life. And, in addition, you may find your weight loss efforts easier and more effective than ever.

Marcus Stout
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/can-green-tea-and-caffeine-help-you-maintain-weight-loss-107965.html

Technorati Tags: Aerobic Exercise, American Adults, Anti Oxidants, Artificial Sweeteners, Days Of The Week, Diet Aids, Extreme Dieting, Fiber Intake, Fresh Fruits And Vegetables, Fruits And Vegetables, Fruits Vegetables, Green Tea, Hydrogenated Fats, Laughing Matter, Natural Sweeteners, Oil Fish, Refined Sugar, Trans Fats, Whole Grains, Whole Wheat Bread

In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime. With so
much of knowledge around you, following a trend blindly doesn’t
confirm the fact that you are intelligent. But the catch here
is, GO BY RIGHT KNOWLEDGE. No doubt, internet is flooded with
the wrong knowledge and myths that leads you nowhere, but it
isn’t hard enough to figure out the pearl in the ocean. Every
now and then, we see some supplements or pills making tall
claims which they down the line do not seem to validate. We will
soon establish as we go on reading this article that there is
absolutely no substitute for eating healthy and sweating out.

In US, where weight loss has been a part of national
consciousness for three decades, several studies have been done
to evaluate the effectiveness of various weight loss aids. The
major reason why most of these aids escape regulation is because
they are branded as “food supplements” to escape the Drugs and
Cosmetics Act that regulates the sale of medicine. Here are some
findings:-

1) Diet or Slimming Patches: Considered one of the most popular
way to lose weight, it claims to speed up your metabolism by
wearing a slimming patch on your skin. It then breaks down the
fatty tissues. Studies says these patches are neither effective
NOR SAFE. The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) eventually
seized millions of these products from manufacture last year
because they had terrible side effects.

2) Green Tea Extracts: You have pills under this category which
contain polyphenols. Polyphenols are extracted from green tea
and are thought to be strong antioxidants. These pills failed to
prove their effectiveness too. It is advisable to consult your
doctor if you are taking aspirin or blood thinning medications
and you plan to take some green tea extracts because they may
interfere with blood clotting.

3) Diet Pills with Ephedra: These pills have been banned in US
but they are still available on internet. These pills are
central nervous system stimulant that suppresses appetite.
Generally, manufactures mix ephedra and caffeine which further
increases the risk of high blood pressure.

4) Diet Pills with PPA: PPA stands for phenylpropanolamine.
These pills suppress appetite. They come along with diet plan.
Manufactures of drugs and supplements containing PPA voluntarily
withdrew their products from market after it was found that
these products were associated with strokes.

5) Fat Blockers: Another popular form of weight loss aids which
bit the dust is fat blockers. It also made tall claims that it
will absorb fats from the food you eat and flush it out. A
university of California study found that chitosan (the
fat-binding component of fat blockers) has absolutely no ability
to absorb fats from the food.

—> To learn more about other fake weight loss programs and
pills and how to differentiate between genuine weight loss
programs and fake weight loss programs, visit
http://www.weightloss-health.com/Fake%20Weight%20Loss.ht

Ashley Green
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/weight-loss-programs-and-pills-is-your-weight-loss-program-safe-and-effective-3402.html

Technorati Tags: Aspirin, Blood Thinning Medications, Diet Pills, Fatty Tissues, Food And Drug, Food And Drug Administration, Food And Drug Administration Fda, Food Supplements, Green Tea, Green Tea Extracts, National Consciousness, No Doubt, Pil, Right Knowledge, Slimming Patch, Slimming Patches, Speed Up Your Metabolism, These Patches, Three Decades, Us Food And Drug Administration

Being overweight is a growing problem throughout the industrialized world. Although there are still countries with populations that are severely malnourished and under-fed, most of the developed countries are dealing with the opposite problem. There are over a billion overweight adults worldwide. Obesity rates around the world are reaching epidemic levels. Being overweight or obese may lead to many chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even some forms of cancer.

With these bleak statistics it is no wonder that people everywhere are seeking help with weight loss and weight control. The important point to remember is that there is no product, pharmaceutical or otherwise, that will make fat melt off the body without some effort on the part of the person using it. Exercise and sensible eating is the best long-term course of action for permanent weight loss. The use of herbal products may help boost metabolism and support weight loss efforts without many of the damaging side effects of drug treatments or surgical procedures.

Increasing metabolism, converting fat to energy, and increasing overall energy expenditure is the mechanism employed by thermogenic and stimulant herbs to aid in weight loss. Cayenne is a hot pepper with capsaicin that stimulates the body’s digestive process and boosts metabolic rates. It raises the core body temperature and helps improve circulation as well. Citrus Aurantium is another herb that may improve thermogenesis (the conversion of fat to energy.) Kola nut may also help mobilize fats for energy and acts as a stimulant as well. Cardamom is another thermogenic herb that may aid digestion too. Ginseng has long been touted for its stimulating effects and this may lead to an increase in metabolic rate. Green tea is another supplement that falls in this category. It serves as a stimulant, boosting the metabolic rate and overall energy expenditure. The caffeine in green tea acts as a stimulant, but the supporting minerals help to counter some of caffeine’s negative effects. And finally, kelp, or seaweed, helps to regulate thyroid function which increases metabolism.

Appetite control is another area important for weight loss. “Hoodia”, Hoodia gordonii, is an African herb that has been used by bushmen there for hundreds of years. It is gaining popularity worldwide as science catches up with the bush-medicine. It acts as an appetite suppressant by acting on the brain centers that control hunger. Nettles also work to suppress hunger by feeding the cells at a deeper level and reducing cravings. Garcinia cambogia contains hydroxycitrate which not only reduces hunger but has thermogenic effects as well. Flax seed also serves to reduce appetite by expanding upon consumption and the essential fats found in their oils have been found to have many beneficial properties. Fiber supplements are also helpful in controlling appetite as they add bulk to foods.

Blood sugar control is another significant area in weight loss. Cinnamon is an important supplement in the control of blood sugar. Gymnema sylvestre also supports the body through blood sugar control, which helps lower cravings for sugar and reduces insulin insensitivity.

The supplements mentioned above are generally safe in reasonable doses. Supplements to be avoided include ephedra (and supplements containing ephedra), herbal diuretics and laxatives. These herbal treatments are dangerous and the side effects include dehydration, malnutrition, dangerous arrythmias and even death. It is important to start with one or two herbs and evaluate their effectiveness before adding others. This also helps determine the culprit for any side effects. When using any herbal supplement for weight loss it is wise to consult your physician before beginning.

If you are looking for great information on herbal supplements for weight loss and how to use medicinal herbs to lose weight please visit these links.

Thor Sturluson
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/the-use-of-medicinal-herbs-and-herbal-supplements-for-weight-loss-92411.html

Technorati Tags: Boost Metabolism, Capsaicin, Chronic Diseases, Citrus Aurantium, Core Body Temperature, Digestive Process, Energy Expenditure, Epidemic Levels, Green Tea, Herbal Supplements, Hot Pepper, Increasing Metabolism, Kola Nut, Medicinal Herbs, Metabolic Rates, Obesity Rates, Overweight Adults, Thermogenic, Type 2 Diabetes, Weight Loss Efforts

Herbal weight loss is all the rage for many avid dieters. Whether you want to lose a lot, a little or even if you just want to maintain a healthy weight, herbal weight loss products are on the top of the list of effective strategies. However, there are some things to consider before using this kind of supplement.

The first thing to consider is looking into how herbal weight loss really works. The herbs are helpful because the rev up your metabolism. Since this is the case, you might feel some side effects. The side effects include increased heart rate, nervousness and sleeplessness. herbal weight loss is definitely not for everyone, especially anyone who needs to avoid stimulants.

The herbal weight loss products are considered ‘thermogenic’ in nature. If you consider how you feel when you work out you will be able to understand the unusual term. The body’s temperature rises and you actually feel warmer when you work out. The herbal weight loss products work to rev and heat your body to promote weight reduction.

Safe products are on the market but you definitely want to talk to your doctor before going on any weight reduction program including natural ones. Herbal weight loss products come in different forms, some safe, some not so safe.

Cayenne is a really safe herbal weight loss product that is usually added to give your food a little spice. The product helps you digest your food, making the process run faster and more effectively. It also raises your metabolism safely.

Green tea is one of the hottest products on the market today. Not only does this herbal weight loss product help you burn fat. It also helps you get your daily dose of antioxidants. It also satiates your appetite and gives you something to ingest that is really satisfying. Drinking green tea is a great way to lose weight.

Seaweed is an unusual supplement that has proved to do wonders for the thyroid. This natural herbal weight loss aid does a great job but since it does affect the thyroid you really need to talk to your doctor before taking the product, especially if you think that your thyroid is the problem causing the extra pounds.

Herbal weight loss products that should be avoided at all costs are ephedrine, herbal laxatives and herbal phen-phen. These products offer temporary results but they also may cause serious health problems.

Ann Marier
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/herbal-weight-loss-is-the-new-buzz-for-serious-dieters-111081.html

Technorati Tags: All The Rage, Antioxidants, Appetite, Cayenne, Daily Dose, Dieters, Green Tea, Heart Rate, herbal weight loss, Hottest Products, Little Spice, Metabolism, Nervousness, Safe Products, Seaweed, Stimulants, Thyroid, Weight Loss Product, Weight Loss Products, Weight Reduction Program