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A cup of green tea, combined with a
low-calorie diet and exercise, can help in achieving faster weight loss Though there is no instant solution to weight loss, green tea is one such aid that can help achieve a faster weight-loss process. Everyone on a weight-loss diet should drink at least 1-2 cups of green tea daily. Though all of us realise that green tea is apt for a healthy life and general wellbeing, not many are aware of the advantages of this beneficial beverage. Green tea originated from China and a few other Asian regions. It has been derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It is called green tea as the plucked leaves have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Oxidation of any product leads to formation of free radicals or oxygen radicals that are damaging to the body. The major health benefit of green tea is that it is high in anti-oxidants. These compounds help scavenge these free radicals and thereby prevent damage to our organs. Green tea contains Catechin polyphenols. One such important polyphenol is Epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG which is responsible for most of the health benefits of the green tea.
Benefits of green tea
Helps achieve weight loss. Lowers bad cholesterol and prevents
atherosclerosis. Helps heal wounds by controlling bleeding. Regulates body temperature. Prevents cardiovascular diseases. Has been found to be effective in preventing cancer, arthritis, infections etc Prevents tooth decay. Improves insulin sensitivity. A French paradox states that though the French people consume a diet rich in saturated fats and refined sugar, they are least affected by cardiovascular diseases. The reason is their everyday consumption of red wine which contains a polyphenol called resveratrol that can prevent cardiac disorders, according to some scientific studies. The EGCG in green tea has been known to have twice as powerful activity as resveratrol. Hence it is considered one of the best beverages to be consumed for all kind of purposes: like maintaining or losing weight, lowering blood glucose levels, prevent heart diseases and cholesterol management etc.
Role in weight loss But there is no short cut to weight loss; it is a journey of dedication and hard work. Two cups of green tea and an hour-long physical activity will stimulate your muscle cells and liver cells to use more of stored fat as a fuel during your workouts, therefore leading to a faster weight loss. A high fat and sugar diet leads to formation of triglycerides which are the storage molecules of fat. Consumption of green tea helps produce an enzyme that helps breakdown these excess triglyceride molecules. Green tea also improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance which means better uptake of glucose by our tissues and hence maintenance of blood glucose levels. To date, the only negative factor of green tea is the presence of caffeine. But even the caffeine present in green tea is one-third as compared to black tea and is less than in coffee. The caffeine's negative effect can be reduced by drinking light tea. There is no magical formula to weight loss and better health. The only healthy way is to lose weight slowly by changing your life style and behaviour. Losing weight not only improves your health and energy levels but also makes your body more efficient. The lighter you are, the better is your muscle-to-fat ratio that provides better cardio-vascular efficiency. One of the most important aspects of your weight-loss planning is to assess your diet and to have a diet plan that works for you. One way to positively increase your metabolic rate is to use the thermogenic effect of eating in your favour by eating smaller meals more often. Starving all day and saving all your calories for one big meal is the worst possible thing to do if you want to speed up energy expenditure. Ensure that you have four to five small meals, spaced throughout the day. Healthy eating and regular exercises are the cornerstones of weight management. Combine this with yoga, pranayam and meditation to reduce your stress levels. Weight loss is a journey of hard work and dedication as mentioned above. But most importantly it's a path to be enjoyed. Do not abuse your body with heavy physical work outs and starvation diets but instead eat all you love in smaller portions and exercise regularly for at least an hour a day with of course two cups of green tea everyday to avail its magical
benefits.
— The writer is one of the leading holistic health gurus and has a health portal www.mickeymehtahbf.com
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India is the second largest world capital of most of the cardiovascular diseases as well as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and many others. In today's busy life, everyone tries to find short-cut remedies to health and wellness. 
The EGCG in green tea helps stimulate the central nervous system thereby causing a release of fat in the blood stream which further undergoes oxidation. In layman's terms it is used as a fuel for energy. This process is known as thermogenesis. It helps elevate your basal metabolic rate by as much as 4 per cent, which is approximately 100 extra calories burnt. However, it must be remembered that though it does boost your metabolism, it does in a limited amount. Therefore green tea alone should not be used as a weight-loss aid but combined with a proper low-calorie diet and physical activity. A cup of green tea alone without any other activity would make you achieve 0.3-0.4 per cent weight loss over a period of three months.
