A beverage with great weight-loss benefits is green tea. Although technically a negative water, certain natural chemicals called catechins in green tea increase fat-burning and stimulate thermogenesis, the calorie burning process that occurs as a result of digesting and metabolizing food.
Green tea is also one of the foods that may block angiogenesis. Angiogenesis refers to a process of blood vessel growth. For example, angiogenesis that builds up a blood supply to tumors can unfortunately make the tumors grow. Scientists have discovered that angiogenesis does the same thing with fat tissue: It creates a blood supply to fat tissue too, so it can grow. Fat tissue and cancer feed on oxygen delivered by these new blood vessels.
There’s excellent science published in the best journals that something in green tea inhibits angiogenesis. The jury is still out on all this, but until we know more, I suggest drinking three cups of green tea a day.
Does Drinking Coffee Aid Weight Loss?
Coffee also has great weight-loss benefits as well. The caffeine kicks your metabolism into high gear. Caffeine also jump-starts the breakdown of fat in the body, which can speed your weight loss. Overall, only one to two cups a day is ideal to stimulate a healthy weight loss.
The fact that coffee and tea are good for you isn’t new. The first written records of coffee, from about 1,000 years ago, mention it as a medicine. Over the years, herbalists have thought it could treat head and muscle aches, asthma and fatigue. Early references to tea in China involve boiling raw, wild tea leaves in water to soothe respiratory infections.
Be aware that how much consume depends on your health and your caffeine tolerance. Most doctors say three to four 8 oz. cups of caffeinated coffee or tea is the maximum that an individual should have daily.
Also remember that caffeine stimulates the central nervous and cardiovascular systems and is a diuretic. Too much coffee or tea can result in elevated blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness or rapid uncomfortable breathing. Also, tannins found in coffee and tea may decrease your ability to absorb iron. I would suggest drinking coffee at least one hour before meals so you can digest the tannins before iron is released in your system.
The Good News
You already know that the caffeine in morning cup of coffee keeps you alert and active. Now the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, a long-term examination of the habits of more than 100,000 nurses, has shown that there is a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes among participants who regularly drink coffee (caffeinated or decaf). Coffee is terrifically high in antioxidants, along with minerals, such as potassium and magnesium and B vitamins. All of these nutrients might be the reason coffee guards against type 2 diabetes.
The good coffee news just keeps on coming: Research linked regular coffee consumption (three to four cups per day) to decrease in the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have found that even an extra espresso may even help stave off mental decline as you age, according to a 2002 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
So grab a cup of coffee, sink in to an oversized chair, and reap the benefits!
I’m curious, does it make a difference if the green tea is consumed hot or iced? In CO, the hot worked well, especially in the winter. Now, in HI, the hot won’t work at any time. 🙂
Akiko, it doesn’t matter if it’s hot or iced 🙂
I can’t stomach green tea. It makes me throw up.
In stead I take green tea supplements twice a day and I have no problem with those. I assume the effect is the same as drinking green tea?
Great article. I’m facing many of these issues as well..
I started the diet 10 days ago and was unsure of how diet worked. I alternated cycle 1 and cycle 2 (odd and even days) and am now on day 11. Do I have to start the diet completely over with Cycle 1? The good thing is that I still lost 10 pounds, the bad news is I thought I had to start Cycle 1 all over again so I had 2 glasses of wine and a chocolate candy bar last night. Can someone please advise? I am so confused as to what to do right now.
I checked the book out of our local library.The way I understand the diet 17 days of cycle 1 should be completed before moving on and then it depends on how much weight you need to loose.
Don’t constantly weigh yourself. Chance your eating habits. Just drink coffee and green tea. Eliminate the carbs and sugar and eat fish,meat, greens and beans of a large variety. Make that a way of life, not a diet.
can I mix strong coffee granuales with green tea to help speed up the weight loss