Obesity Discussion Forums

[Kel]

I started to drink more tea than coffee because it should be much healthier. But now I am wondering which tea is the best one. Which one should I drink most of the time? It is said that herbal tea was healthier than the normal black brew, but is this really ture? Or am I maybe even wrong and tea is not healthier than coffee?

[Obesity Discussion]

Green tea is one of the healthiest, bar none. It depends on which tea you have, but yes on the whole tea has to be better for you, mostly due to the lack of caffeine compared to coffee. Green tea is good for not just staying healthy or getting better when sick, but it's also been shown to aid in weight loss.

[Kel]

Thanks a lot for you statement. I didn't know that green tea should increase the weight loss. What is the reason for this? Anyways it is great. So I think I will be drinking lots of green tea in the future. May I add some swettening to it or does the tea lose its effect in this case?

[Obesity Discussion]

Sweetener sure.....avoid the sugar.

Green tea may be useful as a glucose regulator -- meaning it slows the rise in blood sugar following a meal.
It does this by slowing the action of a particular digestive enzyme called amylase. This enzyme is pivotal in the breakdown of starches (carbs), that can cause sugar levels to soar following a meal. This is pretty exciting stuff -- along with a chromium and possibly a vanadyl supplement, green tea might be the missing link in proper glucose management.


Green tea has also helped aid weight loss by increasing the metabolic, causing those who use it to experience greater calorie burn.
A recent study further validates green tea's effectiveness. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr; 81:122-129), indicated the ingestion of a tea rich in catechins (catechins are a major component of green tea extract) leads to both a lowering of bodyfat AND of cholesterol.

Additionally, green tea may inhibit fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid synthase is an enzymatic system that is involved in the process of turning carbohydrates into fat. Early animal studies suggest the inhibition of fatty acid synthase can lead to dramatic weight loss. Studies also suggest that green tea is useful for inhibiting fatty acid synthase (see Life Sci. 2004 Mar 26;74(19):2389-99, Int J Cancer. 2003 Oct 10;106(6):856-62).
In short, green tea's weight loss benefits are a result of several mechanisms. As discussed, these include an increased metabolism, a positive effect on blood sugar and insulin regulation, and possibly the inhibiting of certain enzymes which are required for the processing of carbohydrates. It also has been shown to lower LDL levels (that's the "bad" cholesterol) as well as triglyceride levels.


(See Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Feb;50(2):176-87, Am J Clin Nutr; 81:122-129, Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2000 Feb;24(2):252-8, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1999 Dec;70(6):1040-5 -- for proof of green tea's weight loss effectiveness).

[Crystalballer]

I also made the switch, I switched to Green Tea they say it contains a lot of antioxidants but i like it because it has caffeine. Whats cool about tea is that unlike coffee the different varieties taste completely different and its fun to try out new things. Right now my favorite is Celestial Seasons "Candy Cane Lane" its peppermint green tea

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Crystalballer

I also made the switch, I switched to Green Tea they say it contains a lot of antioxidants but i like it because it has caffeine. Whats cool about tea is that unlike coffee the different varieties taste completely different and its fun to try out new things. Right now my favorite is Celestial Seasons "Candy Cane Lane" its peppermint green tea

I drink a spearmint blend of green tea, however with a lot of those blends, green tea is not the main ingredient anymore.....so although it may be advertised as spearmint or peppermint green tea, there's maybe no more than a 1/4 of a cup of green tea in the blend.

[butterflyluv]

Drinking tea is much better than drinking coffee all the way thru. I also read that drinking natural green tea, at least 3 cups a day will help you loose up to 10lbs naturally in the course of 3 months. Not bad considering its a slow and natural weight loss.

[NewSkinnyMe]

It's REALLY hard for me to even contemplate giving up coffee... Gotta have my 2 cups first thing in the morning... But a good cup of tea certainly makes drinking so much water a little less monotonous...

Lori

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by NewSkinnyMe

It's REALLY hard for me to even contemplate giving up coffee... Gotta have my 2 cups first thing in the morning... But a good cup of tea certainly makes drinking so much water a little less monotonous...

Lori

I'm a coffee nut too....remember though that coffee dehydrates...a lot of people believe in the theory that if you drink a cup of coffee, you would need to drink a cup of water just to re-balance your hydration levels.

[NewSkinnyMe]

I never heard that -- thanks! It's a great way to remind myself to get my water in every day!

Lori

[alohanema]

Green Tea boosts metabolism and may aid in weight loss. It also contains anti-cancer properties and help prevent heart disease.
Don’t forget the first rule of a good and healthy diet is to drink water, lots of water! Water flushes out the system and eliminates harmful toxins. It enables the body to run more efficiently, speeds up metabolism, and makes it easier to lose weight and burn fat. Your body is made up of 70% water and needs a lot of water each day to perform its necessary functions.