HIV/AIDS

I’m an older guy and lately, I have been finding it really easy to put on a pound or two without much effort.  What I need is something that will help maintain my weight without doing much at all to my diet or exercise.  Diet and exercise are important, but I thought that some kind of diet supplement would be the way to go. Something that will help increase my metabolism and help me keep the weight off.

I thought a diet supplement might be the best thing to get, but many of the online suppliers engage in automatic shipping and billing.  Something that I strenuously object to.  I don’t want to be put in the position of having to “try” to cancel a supplement subscription.  So what’s next?  I thought that there must be something that would help increase the metabolism a little and help maintain my weight.

My wife has been telling me for years about the health benefits she gets from green tea. I am not real fond of green tea, but  I also heard that Green Tea has some weight loss enhancing qualities.  The best thing I could do is research the information and check it out for myself.

It turns out that the chinese recognized the health benefits of tea about 4700 years ago and many studies have been done in the past quarter century to verify benefit claims.  Some clincal studies find green tea benefits while others don’t.  The FDA has taken the position that there is not enough evidence to support the health benefit claims.  I guess it comes down to what you want to believe.  Many studies around the world have concluded that green tea can be helpful for all kinds of medical conditions including, atherosclerosis, LDL cholesterol, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, liver disease, weight loss, neurodegenerative diseases, and even halitosis.

I even found a study published in a New Scientist Magazine article in March 2004, that suggested that green tea protects against a range of cancers, including lung, prostate and breast cancer. The study was done by a team at Kyushu University and their research showed that growth of human lung cancer cells with a cell receptor called 67 LR is slowed significantly after drinking just two or three cups of green tea.

Clinical trials conducted by the University of Geneva and the University of Birmingham in 2008 indicate that green tea raises metabolic rates, speeds up fat oxidation and improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.  In this case, it could be useful as a weight loss supplement.

During my search, I found this huge list of potential benefits for green tea(wikipedia):1.  Anti-cancer properties2.  Increases metabolic rate3.  Possible anti-diabetes effect4.  Boosts mental alertness5.  Boosts immune system6.  Lowers chances of cognitive impairment7.  Lowers stress hormone levels8.  Effects on HIV9.  Effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)10.  Effects on bad breath11 Iron overload disorders12.  Effects associated with caffeine13.  Effects on obstructive sleep apnea-related brain deficits14.  Effects on bacterial and fungal infections15.  Anti-venom effects16.  Stroke17.  Cardiovascular health18.  Anogenital warts19.  Antidepressant propertiesCompared to soft drinks, green tea is nectar of the gods.  It appears that this one drink  does all this:

1. It protect against cancer and other diseases2. Promotes healthy skin and prevents wrinkles 3. Appears to reduce the signs of aging 4. Enhances mental focus (A Japanese University study found that drinking more than 2 cups of green tea per day slashed the odds of cognitive impairment in elderly patients by 64%.)  5. Boosts the immune system (a 2003 study by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that theanine found in tea may help the body’s immune system when fighting infection).

After finding that many studies have concluded that there are significant benefits to be had from green tea, I started looking at it as a way to help me maintain my weight, I had no idea that I would find something that offered so many other benefits.  If the claims and studies that support benefits of green tea are true, it would worth trying.  Look at the huge list of potential benefits, If the weight loss enhancing qualities of green tea aren’t enough to convince you ditch the coffee and soft drinks then maybe another benefit is.

My other question is where to find a good quality green tea.  I would like to use the varieties that I find in my local grocery store.  It is cheaper and more convenient, but there appears to be some varieties or combination of teas that are better.  I did find a unique and popular blend in Tava Tea. I’m satisfied that green tea will help me maintain my weight and that is what I was after in the first place.  With that said, I think I will get a glass of tea.