Now more than ever, people are trying to lose weight by thinking green.  Green tea is one of the hottest products on the market today.  Its medicinal qualities have been known for years.  But can green tea actually enable you to shed those unwanted pounds? 

             Research conducted for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that a green tea diet can speed up your metabolism and oxidize fat without increasing your heart beat.  This means that you can achieve a fast metabolism with green tea without suffering heart trouble.  In other words, green tea enables you to increase your expenditure of energy without causing adverse health effects. 

              If you find the taste of green tea difficult to swallow, you can obtain green tea extract in a pill.  The 500-milligram capsules should be consumed two or three times each day in order for you to receive maximum benefit.

               Of course, you might be wondering at this point how much green tea is enough.  Some medical experts recommend as many as ten cups a day.  Other health specialists say that two to three cups are sufficient.  Yet other medical experts recommend splitting the difference, calling for four to five cups of green tea daily.

          Green tea reduces your “bad” cholesterol count, while enhancing your “good” cholesterol count.  As a result, those who drink green tea can substantially increase their consumption of high cholesterol food, yet maintain a relatively low bad cholesterol count.   Green tea can also decrease your blood sugar, protecting you against diabetes or at least reducing symptoms of diabetes.

            A number of studies have been done in order to ascertain the benefits of green tea.  For instance, researcher William Rumpler conducted a study in order to determine the effects of green tea consumption on men.  The results indicated that the energy expenditure for tea-drinkers was three percent higher after they ingested the tea.  However, Rumpler and his colleagues believe additional research needs to be conducted in order to determine the full effect of green tea upon the human body.

            Of course, in addition to weight loss, there are other advantages to the GreenTea diet.  It is believed to be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s disease,  combating flu and colds,  and boosting your immune system.   As a result, a number of people drink the beverage strictly for its medicinal value.

             On a segment of the “Oprah Winfrey” talk show, Dr. Nicholas Perricone said that if you replaced coffee with green tea, you could lose as many as ten pounds in six weeks.  Perricone stated, “Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, raise insulin.  Insulin puts a lock on body fat.  When you switch over to green tea, you get your caffeine, you’re all set, but you will drop your insulin levels and body fat will fall very rapidly.  So 10 pounds in six weeks, I will guarantee it.”

         However, note that the physician is not prescribing green tea per se, but rather calling it preferable to coffee.  However, it appears clear that green tea is a healthier beverage than coffee.  A study published by the American Journal of Clinical Study reports that green tea promotes fat oxidation, and that this process appears to be the result of more than just the caffeine that is a component of the tea.  In other words, there appear to be qualities inherent in green tea that foster fat oxidation.  

         It is interesting to note that some people wonder which is preferable:  loose-leaf green tea that you buy online or the green tea that you can purchase at the supermarket.  Generally speaking, supermarket green tea is considered lower in quality than green tea purchased over the Internet.   It has been said that green tea offered on the Web also enables you to get the most out of your money.   

         It appears that green tea is more than just a passing fad.  It has emerged as a legitimate health aid—a product which can help you lose weight over the long run.  While there is no such thing as a magic fix for weight loss, you should consider adding green tea to your diet, not only for its weight loss value, but for its medicinal properties as well.

Over the years, the Atkins plan has become synonymous with weight loss.  Fans of the program say that it has proven to be instrumental in helping them to shed unwanted pounds.  They talk of improved overall health and greater energy as a result of the Atkins program.  However, critics maintain that Atkins could lead to heart damage, making it an unhealthy diet. 

         Supporters of Atkins say just about anyone can slim down using their program.   However, there are certain people that are most likely to benefit from the Atkins plan.  These include yo-yo dieters, who find themselves losing weight, only to gain it back again; dieters who feel constantly hungry;  and those who eat for emotional reasons.  Binge eaters and constant snackers can also benefit from the Atkins program.   In addition, those who suffer from a food addiction are prime candidates for Atkins.

        Atkins relies heavily on proteins and fats, along with carbohydrates that are rich in nutrients.  The idea is to strictly reduce the amount of non-nutritious carbohydrates you consume.  The theory behind this is that, when carbs are restricted, you end up burning fat rather than glucose.   In addition, it has been shown that, all things being equal, you will lose more fat with Atkins than with other types of weight loss plans.

          The Atkins plan is divided into four stages.  During the initial stage, your body moves from burning carbohydrates to burning fats.  You should also be able to kick the sugar habit during this stage.  During the second stage, your weight loss will accelerate, but you will also be able to eat larger portions of vegetables.  In the third stage, known as pre-maintenance, you will continue to add more foods to the mix.   The final stage involves lifetime maintenance.   During this phase, you can continue to fight food addictions, maintain your goal weight, and decrease the chance that you will suffer from diabetes.

       However, it can be difficult to stick with the Atkins plan.  This is because the temptation to eat carbohydrates and sweets is so great.  Friends and relatives can become diet saboteurs, preventing you from achieving the results you’re looking for.  In this case, the best defense is a good offense.  This means telling your significant others in advance that you’re determined to complete the Atkins program.  Inform them that you don’t want to even be offered French fries and potato chips. 

         The Journal of the American Medical Association has suggested that the Atkins plan can be dangerous for children.  This is not surprising, considering that young people are still growing and need all the nutrients they can get, whether the vitamins and minerals are from carbohydrates or other sources.  Supporters of Atkins say that, while children may not benefit from a restriction of vegetables and fruits, they could consume fewer potatoes and breads and still remain healthy.

        Some medical experts say that the Atkins approach is not appropriate for people who already suffer from kidney or liver trouble.  Also, because Atkins reduces the amount of fruits and vegetables an individual consumes, the diet can leave people at greater risk for such problems as cancer and heart disease.  As a result, you should probably check with your family physician before resorting to the Atkins plan, or any other low-carb, high-protein diet.

           It is likely that the Atkins plan will remain controversial for the foreseeable future.  While it has been proven effective in helping people lose weight, it may also place individuals at a higher risk for serious diseases.  A great deal of additional research needs to be conducted in order to determine if Atkins is a miracle cure or a medical nightmare.  Once more studies are conducted, the long-term effects of Atkins on the human body may be easier to determine.    If you are generally in good health and have a normal energy level, you might give Atkins a try.  If, however, you suffer from any serious diseases, or are experiencing symptoms such as high blood pressure, you might consider an alternative diet plan.  In the end, you, in consultation with your doctor, will have to determine the diet program that’s appropriate in your particular case.