Raw Food Weight Loss | Accretive Health

Quite often foods are burned with some amount of fats that don't seem to be simply digestible. though no fats are supplemental whereas change of state the food, the essential nutrients and live parts within the food like vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins are destroyed whereas change of state and leave waste material that may convert into fleshiness and different health problems. in keeping with the Farmers Magazine, the surest thanks to add weight is to eat burned grains, vegetables like burned potatoes--- white potato are most likely the mainstay of most of the restaurants. the most effective thanks to stop these harmful accretions within the body and cut back the burden is to eat raw and live food that is well digestible and becomes a supply of energy.

Raw Foods Accelerate the burden Loss

Raw foods particularly juices like cantaloupe juice, blueberry juice or strawberry juice mixed with apple, pear or yam don't seem to be solely delicious however packed with energy. a mix of carrot, apple, beet, celery, tomato, and lemon tastes sort of a living V8, giving associate degree energy-boost to the day that's much better than occasional. Foods and vegetables are cleansers, energizers, builders and boosters of system. they provide all the enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are essential to spice up the vitality. they're made in fibers and have nice laxative worth to eliminate the toxins that accumulate within the body. a daily use of juicy and fibrous raw foods is causative to fast weight loss. Wild animals are seldom fat as a result of they continually eat raw, inexperienced and live foods.

Raw vegetables and fruits promote the burden loss as a result of they're low in fat and calories and made in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They facilitate the elimination of venomous wastes quickly. what is more they cut back the yearning for sweet food things like chocolates and cakes that promote weight gain. Raw foods keep your energy levels steady so you neither become too hungry or too tired early on. Raw foods drain away the surplus body acids. They satisfy the body's demand for nutrients with less foods. so the shoppers of raw, live and organic foods shed the burden terribly simply and really shortly.

Raw Foods as Energizers

Raw foods ar nice energizers as they're an amazing supply of bio-available vitamins and minerals as they're the partners of enzymes and co-enzymes. we'd like not crave for burned foods to satisfy our hunger or build up our energy.

Enzymes act as catalysts in a whole bunch and thousands of chemical reactions that happen within the body and play a vital role in digesting, dissolving and changing the foods into body tissues. They manufacture energy at the cellular level and are important for many of the metabolic functions that happen each second in our body throughout the day. If we tend to take raw foods in abundance we tend to receive the desired energy, eliminate the toxins that successively cut back the burden. fleshiness finally is another name for accumulated toxins within the body.

Tangy fruits help stay slim

Munching on tangy fruits can help you stay slim, reveals a new study. The study conducted on mice showed that the juice of the blood orange stopped them from piling on weight when fed a high-fat diet.

However, those fed with sweeter oranges gained significant amounts of fat.

The research team from University of Milan believe the fat-busting powers of the fruit, grown in Italy and the US, may be partly due to its high levels of anthocyanin.

This red pigment that gives the orange its deep colour is a type of antioxidant, a natural chemical that helps ward off disease, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The juice damages the ability of cells called adipocytes to accumulate fat. Adipocytes are found mostly around the waistline and absorb fat from food to store as energy.

The study appears in International Journal of Obesity.

Forget "fad" diets and eat less, say UK experts

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Now that you're discovering all the extra flab from the Christmas and New Year food and booze binge, you're casting around for the latest diet to lose it all in time for summer.

But take care before you choose.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) said this week that there are many varied "fad" diets offering miracle weight loss, but warns consumers that losing the pounds while on one of them is simply due to eating fewer calories.

"It may not sound the most exciting way to lose weight but healthy eating, activity and long-term behavior change not only works but helps you maintain weight lost too," said Rachel Cooke, registered dietitian at St Martins' Hospital in Bath and BDA spokeswoman.

The BDA has produced a list of the "worst fad diets to avoid this New Year" including such regimes as the maple syrup, blood group, warrior, peanut butter and banana or the cabbage/fat-burning soup diets.

It said some regimes, such as the cabbage soup diet were based on "pseudo science" and that adhering to them over the long term could result in nutritional deficiencies.

"Firstly, no food can burn fat; only physical activity can do that," the BDA said of the cabbage soup diet in which the adherent exists largely on home-made cabbage soup.

The BDA also blasted the myth of the detox diet, saying that the human body is a complex organism that is more than capable of detoxing itself.

"The liver works to rid the body of everyday toxins so a 'special diet' is not necessary," the BDA said.

It said detox diets -- often popular with celebrities -- recommended cutting out entire food groups and living on fruit/vegetables and water and that they can also lead to nutritional deficiencies as whole food groups are omitted.

"After 'the Christmas feast,' simply reducing food intake as well as eating more fruit and vegetables will lead to a reduction of calories and weight loss," the BDA said.

ATKINS AND THE ZONE

The professional body for British dietitians also took aim at two famous diet plans.

It said the Atkins diet, sold around the world, contravened "evidence-based healthy eating messages" and that the Zone diet went against Britain's Food Standard Agency recommendations.

The BDA said the rigid version of the Atkins diet meant no bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or cereals and only a minimal allowance of fruit and vegetables.

"This diet goes against evidenced-based healthy eating messages, can lead to high intakes of saturated fat and virtually none of the 5-a-day fruit and vegetables that help reduce heart disease, stroke and some of the UK's most prevalent cancers," it added.

Atkins (www.atkins.com) said in a statement that it strongly refuted the BDA's comments and objected to its inclusion on the list of the "worst fad diets to avoid this New Year."

"It is clear from the report that the author is not familiar with the new 'Atkins Nutritional Approach'," Vice President of education and research for Atkins Health and Medical Information Services Colette Heimowitz said in an emailed statement.

"This diet is not a fad but offers a long term healthy eating plan with reduced levels of refined carbohydrates and sugars, and encourages the consumption of lean protein, high fiber, fruit and vegetables."

The Zone Diet (www.ZoneDiet.com) also objected to its inclusion on the BDA list as an eating plan that was "probably more complicated than making small changes to intake that will result in long-term healthy weight loss."

"The Zone Diet has in fact the same guidelines as the newest dietary guidelines for treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, and pre-diabetes from the Joslin Diabetes Research Center affiliated with Harvard Medical School," Zone Diet Marketing Manager Kari Haering said in an emailed statement.

Capsaicin's weight loss mechanism

Researchers in Korea have published new evidence that suggests the mechanisms behind why capsaicin may aid weight loss.Capsaicin is found in the white pulp of chili peppers and is the compound that gives them their ‘heat’, causing a burning sensation in any tissue it comes into contact with. However studies have investigated the compounds potential health benefits, including helping weight loss, having anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant activity, and inhibiting a number of cancer cells.

Previous laboratory studies have hinted that capsaicin may help to fight obesity by reducing the amount of calories absorbed in the gut, reducing fat tissue, speeding up metabolism, and lowering lipid levels in the blood. However the mechanisms behind how it might have such a dramatic effect on weight loss have until now remained a mystery.

Research led by Professor Jong Won Yun at the Daegu University in South Korea, suggests that capsaicin may cause weight loss and stop fat build up by stimulating the expression of certain fat degrading proteins, and down-regulating other proteins that work to synthesize fat.

The study involved feeding rats a high fat diet, with one group also being given a treatment of capsaicin. The capsaicin-stimulated rats lost 8 percent body weight compared to the non capsaicin fed rats fed on the same diet. Importantly the new research also showed that capsaicin fed rats showed changes in expression of over 20 key lipid processing proteins.

Prof. Yun claims that the changes in body fat observed “provide valuable new molecular insights into the mechanism of the anti-obesity effects of capsaicin".

The Korean research team also found that glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were significantly down-regulated by capsaicin, resulting in a reduction in glycolytic activity and less overall fat synthesis.

The capsaicin also seemed to have a dramatic effect on levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), a gene that is commonly over expressed in many fat cells. “In this study, the TNF-a gene was significantly up-regulated in high fatty diet rats, and their levels were markedly decreased again with capsaicin treatment.”

The research also found an up regulation of the enzyme NQO1, leading to the conclusion that capsaicin may stimulate the enzyme and that it may have a potential use as a therapeutic target for obesity. Prof. Yun told NutraIngredients.com that the next steps in finding a way to use capsaicin as a safe anti-obesity therapy would be to perform functional study to fully identify the proteins stimulated by capsaicin, in gene knockout mice.

Obesity is a global public health problem, and is an important risk factor in many diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Tackling obesity is a priority for many countries, and the use of functional foods as an aid to increase weight loss is a growing market, estimated to be worth over $43 billion in the U.S by 2013. The potential for the use of capsaicin as a component of functional weight loss foods is growing as the mechanisms behind its effects are better understood.

Best Slimming Foods

from Best Slimming Foods 

There are certain foods that promote satiety (the feeling of fullness that comes after a meal) more than others. While they're not miracle foods, they can help you eat less over the course of the day. "When you're looking for foods that are going to keep you fuller for longer, look for ones high in fiber, healthy fats and protein, or with a high water content," says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Penn State University and author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan. "The additional benefit is that a lot of these foods are also really good for you and packed with important nutrients, vitamins and minerals."

Apples

An apple a day may keep the fat pants away, too. This portable fruit is the perfect snack, with a high water content and both kinds of weight-busting fiber: soluble, which helps prevent blood sugar spikes that lead to cravings, and insoluble, which helps fill you up. "A medium apple is about 85 percent water with 5 grams of soluble fiber, making it a snacking powerhouse," says Elisa Zied, M.S., same calorie level. To sweeten the pot, apples also contain quercetin, a flavonoid shown to help fight certain cancers, reduce cholesterol damage and promote healthy lungs.

TIP: Organic apples are worth the extra cost because commercial apples retain more pesticide residue than fruits you peel, such as oranges or bananas. And with half the fiber and most of the iron, magnesium and vitamin C, you definitely want to eat that peel to get the full slimming benefits.

Eggs

They're a great source of protein, which may be key to keeping you full. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that when people ate two eggs for breakfast, they took in more than 400 fewer calories over the next 24 hours than when they ate bagels. "The study proved our hypothesis that eating eggs induces higher satiety and keeps the subject fuller for longer," says lead researcher Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, Ph.D., from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although this was only a one-day study, eating eggs regularly may have long-term weight management benefits, says Dr. Dhurandhar.

TIP: For a healthier egg, farmers are improving the hen feed by adding canola oil, alfalfa, rice bran and even sea kelp. Try Eggland's Best eggs, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, along with more vitamin E and less saturated fat than regular eggs.

One study found that eating a breakfast of two eggs can leave you feeling full longer than a bagel.

Cauliflower

"When you are trying to lose weight, non-starchy vegetables such as cauliflower are one of the few foods that can be eaten in unlimited quantities," says Dr. Rolls. It's good for you, too. Cauliflower contains the cancer-fighting phytonutrient sulforaphane, as well as a good amount of folate and vitamin C, which may be helpful for weight loss. In fact, a review from Purdue University pointed to vitamin C status as a key factor in how much fat is burned during physical activity. All that and it's pretty tasty, too. (If you're not a cauliflower fan, try spinach or broccoli.)

TIP: Love the creamy consistency of mashed potatoes? Steam a head of cauliflower and mash it with garlic salt, a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese and a touch of butter.

Lowfat Yogurt

If the yogurt ads are to be believed, you should be fitting into that itty-bitty bikini before you know it. While yogurt and other dairy products are not weight-loss magic bullets, there is some truth in advertising. A recent study at the University of Tennessee found that dieters eating three servings of yogurt daily lost twice as much weight as their non–dairy– eating counterparts on a 12-week weight-loss program. Why? "Calcium combined with other bioactive compounds found in dairy products slows down the process of making fat and increases fat burning, especially around the belly," says lead researcher Michael B. Zemel, M.D., a professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. No word yet on how effective ice cream is at burning fat, but we're not holding our breath.

TIP: Sneak more dairy into your diet by adding plain yogurt to dips, sauces and salad dressings. You get the health benefits without the added sugar of flavored yogurts.

Oatmeal

Mom didn't know how right she was: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day — just eating it can make you slimmer. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley analyzed a national six-year survey and found that people who ate breakfast had a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who skipped breakfast, and that those who ate cooked cereal had a lower BMI than any other breakfast-eating group. Also, oatmeal was ranked as the most satiating breakfast food on the Satiety Index, developed by Australian researchers a decade ago, and it's the third most satiating food overall. "Oatmeal helps you stay fuller longer, since it's packed with fiber and is a good source of protein," says Dr. Katz.

TIP: If you don't have time for cooked oatmeal every morning, make muesli by mixing old- fashioned oats with plain yogurt, dried fruit and fruit juice and leaving it in the fridge overnight.

Peanuts

Almonds and walnuts have been getting all the glory these days, but don't discredit peanuts, the most commonly eaten nut in America. Researchers at Purdue University found that peanut eaters end up eating less over the course of the whole day and are more likely to maintain weight, even if given as many peanuts as they want. So what is it about peanuts? Is it the protein? The fat? Turns out it's a little bit of everything. "We've tried to isolate different components of the nut to determine what makes it so filling,' says Richard Mattes, Ph.D., a nut researcher at Purdue. "But there is something special about the whole package."

TIP: Calories do count, so look for single-serving sizes at convenience stores and drugstores.

Soup

We all know soup is good food, but who knew it was slimming, too? A recent study published in the journal Obesity Research found that adding two 10-ounce servings of broth-based soup to a weight loss diet each day can almost double the amount of weight lost in a six-month period. Why? Adding water into a food makes it more filling than drinking water separately. "The water in soup adds volume to a meal and helps you feel fuller, without extra calories,' says Dr. Rolls, lead researcher on the study. "As a result, you take in fewer calories over the course of the day."

TIP: Add your own veggies or fiber-rich beans to broth-based canned soup to keep you full longer.

Fish

You might be surprised to learn that fish tops oatmeal and vegetables in the satiety department. The Australian Satiety Index ranks steamed white fish such as halibut or cod as the number-one most filling food out of 38 common foods. Also, a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that people ate 11 percent less at dinner after having fish for lunch versus those who ate a beef lunch. "This study demonstrated that a protein-rich lunch meal with fish protein reduced calorie intake compared with the same-calorie lunch meal of beef protein," says lead researcher Saeedah Borzoei, Ph.D. Why is it so filling? "We are still learning about the filling properties of fish, but we do know that fish has a strong flavor, which can lead to greater satiety and less of a need to eat," notes Dr. Katz.

TIP: To add some flavor to grilled fish, try a quick marinade of soy sauce, lime and ginger.

Bulgur

High-fiber grains are a great way to round out a meal, and fine-cut bulgur is easy to cook. Bulgur, which is a quick-cooking form of whole wheat, takes about 10 minutes or less to prepare once water is boiled and is a great substitute for white rice and pasta, which are low in fiber and heavily processed. "Fiber helps prolong the insulin response so you don't have the blood sugar spikes you have with low-fiber carbohydrates like white pasta or rice," says Dr. Katz. With all the good fiber comes some other benefits: iron and vitamins E and B6.

TIP: Find bulgur in health-food stores and organic markets. For a quick side dish, combine fine bulgur with chicken broth, diced canned tomatoes and some cooked onions.

Salad

When most people think of dieting, they think of salad. But if that means some sad greens topped with unripe tomatoes, it's no wonder diets don't work. "Salads are a great opportunity to add a lot of filling foods into your diet at one time: fresh vegetables, lean protein, beans and healthy fats," says Dr. Rolls. And research backs it up. A study from Penn State University found that women who ate a salad before a pasta lunch ate fewer calories for the whole meal than those just digging into the pasta.

TIP: Start your salad with mesclun, arugula or spinach. Not only are these greens tastier than iceberg, they also contain more iron, calcium, vitamin C and folate.

Acupuncture for Weight Loss

Research Shows Acupuncture Benefits Weight Loss
Recently a growing body of research has supported the use of Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture in weight loss. In 2003, the Journal of Medical Acupuncture found that participants receiving acupuncture lost three times more weight than those in a control group. In another study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia in 1998, 95 percent of the participants receiving electric-stimulation on acupuncture points reported appetite suppression. The results showed that the acupuncture group was more likely to experience a reduced appetite and to lose weight than the control group.

How Does Acupuncture Influence Weight Loss?
Acupuncture stimulates the body to release endorphins, the body’s own “feel good” pain-relieving chemicals. One way that acupuncture weight loss treatments control the appetite is by releasing endorphins which in turn help the body combat cravings for carbohydrates, reduces the appetite, and also combats withdrawal symptoms if weight loss is related to drug abuse. When consulting with an overweight patient, most acupuncturists will ask a variety of questions and perform an examination in order to understand the main causes of the excess weight. These causes can be behavioral, or physiological in nature, and can often be a combination of the two. After identifying the root of the patient’s problem the acupuncturist will insert needles into different areas of the body. The point of this treatment is to help improve the body’s functions in a way that will promote weight loss. Practitioners often use multi-targeted approaches when treating weight loss. For example, they may attempt to encourage weight loss by increasing the output of the pituitary gland, attempt to control cravings of certain foods, or try to decrease the natural appetite.

People utilizing acupuncture to assist in weight loss should expect to participate in repeated treatments on a regular basis in order to maintain the effects. Most acupuncturists will tell a patient that acupuncture alone is not likely to result in permanent weight loss. Practitioners often assist patients in forming nutritional and herbal plans to ensure long-term weight loss.

What Acupuncture Points Are Used For Weight Loss?

When acupuncture is used to treat weight loss, practitioners often target points in the ear. During treatment, the acupuncturist places five needles in each ear. Four of these needles directly correspond to specific organs in the body - the kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and liver. The fifth needle is used for relaxation. Once the session begins, the body is stimulated to produce endorphins. In addition to the ears, other points in the body are also used to target weight loss.

The needles are inserted into certain points of the body including:

• Mouth - this point relates to an impulsive eater that is also a chain smoker.
• Stomach - this point relates to a person that is obese (continuing to eat when the stomach is full).
• Lungs - this point relates to people who are addicted to food.
• Endocrine - this point relates to those who gain weight due to water retention.
• Senmen - this point relates to the psychological reasons for anxiety, frustration and loneliness.
• Spleen - this point relates to hormonal and sugar imbalances.
• Kidney - this point relates to the nervous system and water retention.
• Thyroid - this point relates to a slow metabolism.

Citrus Fruit Flavonoid Controls Weight, Causes Fat Loss

Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain beverages (including tea, coffee, fruit juices and wine) that have aroused scientific interest in recent years because they seem to benefit the human body in a host of ways -- from fighting viruses to preventing inflammation and infections. Research has found certain flavonoids have anti-tumor and anti-stroke properties, too. Now weight control can be added to the list of remarkable ways flavonoids can help promote good health naturally. A new study just published in the journal Diabetes concludes a citrus fruit flavonoid can cause the liver to burn fat and control weight.

A team of scientists headed by Murray Huff of the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario, investigated a citrus fruit flavonoid called naringenin. They fed one group of mice a typical Western style high-fat diet in order to induce the symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome, a frequent precursor to diabetes, is defined by a cluster of physical signs such as abdominal fat, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels and insulin resistance. Then another matched group of mice ate the same diet with the addition of naringenin.

The results? Naringenin brought down the high triglyceride and cholesterol levels to normal and prevented the development of insulin resistance. In fact, the flavonoid totally normalized glucose metabolism. "These studies show naringenin, through its insulin-like properties, corrects many of the metabolic disturbances linked to insulin resistance and represents a promising therapeutic approach for metabolic syndrome," Huff said in a statement to the media.

But the natural, grapefruit-derived compound was found to do even more. It brought the fat mice down to a healthy, slim weight by genetically reprogramming their livers to burn up excess fat. The result was a lack of stored fat. The mice were cured of obesity.

Vitamin D may boost heart health during weight loss

Supplements of vitamin D may improve cardiovascular health during weight loss, without impacting on how many pounds are shed, suggests a new study.
Writing in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, German researchers report that a daily dose of vitamin of 83 micrograms per day had lower levels on triglycerides and markers of inflammation like tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

"The results indicate that a vitamin D supplement of 83 micrograms/d does not adversely affect weight loss and is able to significantly improve several cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects with inadequate vitamin D status participating in a weight-reduction program," wrote the authors, led by Armin Zittermann from the Clinic for Thorax and Cardiovascular Surgery in Bad Oeynhausen.

With obesity rates still high – not only in developed countries but also, increasingly, in newly wealthy emerging markets, there is considerable attention to ways to trim down waistlines. The results of the new randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial indicate that vitamin D supplements may be useful as a means of boosting heart health during weight loss.

The details on D

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive.

While our bodies do manufacture vitamin D on exposure to sunshine, the levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that our body makes no vitamin D at all, meaning that dietary supplements and fortified foods are seen by many as the best way to boost intakes of vitamin D.

In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type-1 diabetes.

On the downside, the researchers noted that participants receiving the vitamijn D supplements did experience an average 5.4 per cent increase in their levels of LDL-cholesterol.

Capsaicin plus green tea combo aids weight loss

A combination of capsaicin and green tea could promote the feeling of fullness and sustain satiety, indicating it could be successful for weight management, says a new study.

Researchers from Denmark and the Netherlands report sweet pepper may also reduce energy intake during positive energy balance, according to findings of their 27-person study published in Clinical Nutrition.


“We conclude that thermogenic food ingredients have energy intake reducing effects when used in combinations, and in positive energy balance,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga from Maastricht University.


“These results suggest that bioactive ingredients (capsaicin, green tea, CH-19) may be helpful in reducing energy intake to prevent body weight gain and may support body weight loss by relatively sustaining satiety and suppressing hunger,” they added.


The research taps into the burgeoning weight loss and management market, estimated to already be worth $7bn (€5.2bn) globally. It also has implications for diabetes.


With 50 per cent of Europeans and 62 per cent of Americans classed as overweight, the food industry is waking up to the potential of products for weight loss and management.


The slimming ingredients market can be divided into five groups based on the mechanisms of action - boosting fat burning/ thermogenesis, inhibiting protein breakdown, suppressing appetite/ boosting satiety (feeling of fullness), blocking fat absorption, and regulating mood (linked to food consumption).

Study details


Westerterp-Plantenga and her co-workers recruited 27 people with an average age of 27 and an average BMI of 22.2 kg/m2, and randomised them to three weeks of negative (less calories consumed than used) and three weeks of positive energy balance (more calories consumed than used). During these periods ten separate test days were used to test the effects of capsaicin, green tea, CH-19 sweet pepper, capsaicin plus green tea, or placebo on appetite, energy intake, body weight and heart rate.


Only the CH-19 and the capsaicin plus green tea combinations produced a reduction in energy intake during the positive energy balance period. Moreover, the combined supplement produced suppressed hunger and increased satiety, and this was greater during negative than positive energy balance, wrote the researchers. This indicated that energy balance did not affect energy intake but did affect appetite.


Active components


Commenting on the mechanism, the researchers note that both catechins and caffeine in green tea may be behind the effects, with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) previously noted to reduced food intake and body weight in rats.


On the use of capsaicin the researchers note that long-term intervention is “hardly possible and results in bad compliance”, and that CH-19 sweet pepper, which is non-pungent, could be “an attractive alternative to capsaicin”.


“Since CH-19 sweet pepper was an efficient suppressor of energy intake it would be of interest to investigate if a combination of CH-19 sweet pepper and green tea leads to a similar synergistic effect on energy intake,” wrote Westerterp-Plantenga
and her co-workers.


“Capsaicin only increases liking of the food when used at lower concentrations, and one can only comply with a relatively small dosage of capsaicin over the longer term.


“Therefore we suggest that a lower dosage of capsaicin should be combined with other bioactive ingredients (e.g. CH-19 sweet pepper) in order to reach optimal effects,” they concluded.

Source: Clinical Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.010
“Effects of capsaicin, green tea and CH-19 sweet pepper on appetite and energy intake in humans in negative and positive energy balance”
Authors: H.C. Reinbach, A. Smeets, T. Martinussen, P. Møller, M.S. Westerterp-Plantenga
Abstract available here

Green Tea and Weight Loss

In a study reported on in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that green tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure (a measure of metabolism), plus also had a significant effect on fat oxidation. While some of the effects were originally theorized to be due to the caffeine content of green tea, the researchers discovered that the tea actually has properties that go beyond those that would be explained by the caffeine.

Drinking 2-4 cups of green tea per day can help you shed some of that hard-to-lose weight. The International Journal of Obesity states that green tea contains polyphenols which cause your body to produce unnecessary heat, thus "wasting" calories. When preparing green tea, be sure not to use boiling water, as this will cause the tea to be bitter. Also, the longer the tea steeps, the more bitter it will taste.




Green tea fields

Green tea can also help:

• Revive aging skin cells.
• Boost your brain power.
• Battle creaky knees.
• Keep your heart healthy.

A Brew for Your Brain

Green tea is not only good for your body, but it also may be good for your brain.
In a study, older people who drank at least 2 cups of antioxidant-rich green tea per day were about 50 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment compared to the people who drank 3 or fewer cups per week. Exercising regularly and keeping your brain busy with puzzles, books, and problem solving are other good ways to stay sharp.

Correct water temperature and steeping time are important when making a flavorful cup of tea. Black and herbal teas should be prepared with boiling water and steeped for 4 to 6 minutes. However, these conditions are too harsh for delicate green tea and may affect the flavor and potency. When preparing green tea, heat water to approximately 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a thermometer, just bring the water to a boil and then remove it from the heat source for about a minute. Pour the water over your green tea bag or leaves and steep for 2 to 3 minutes, the optimal infusion time for this kind of tea.