The Cancer Benefits Of Green Tea

What are the health benefits of green tea?

Green tea has been used for centuries, especially in Asian culture, as a health remedy and prevention of many adverse health conditions.  Research continues to find new health benefits of green tea, and some research has solidified the “proof” of green tea’s ancient supposed remedies.  Here are some new and old health benefits of green tea.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

According to a 2004 Harvard Health Publication, green tea consumption has an association with reducing risk of various cancers.  Green tea and cancer prevention probably has the highest amount of research for any health benefit with green tea.  However, research results with green tea and cancer prevention/treatment have mixed results.

Green tea contains catechins, which is the compound known for cancer fighting benefits.  They are anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), according to a 2005 article from The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

Angiogenesis is a normal process in the body, but it is also needed for cancer growth.  Catechins can fight off cancer by stopping new blood vessels from being formed that are needed for the cancer cells.

Antioxidants in green tea can protect body cells from DNA damage.  If DNA gets damaged, it may be susceptible to proliferation as seen in cancer.

How much green tea is needed for potential cancer prevention?  

Because of the variances from types of green tea, preparation and bioavailability of compounds (like catechins), it is not known exactly if and how much green tea can affect cancer prevention or treatment.

Also, some research studies use test tubes or animal models, which make the application of their outcome with green tea and cancer impossible to translate to humans.

Until more research is clarified, there appears to be no harm for drinking green tea in terms of cancer prevention and only possible benefits.

Grapefruit, and Boiled Egg Weight Loss Diet

Weight-loss diets like the grapefruit and boiled egg diet can help you lose weight fast, but you may struggle to keep it off. Although some research shows that grapefruit may be beneficial when you're trying to lose those unwanted pounds, eating only grapefruit and boiled eggs may be difficult as a long-term solution to your weight issues. Like any fad diet, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consult your doctor before starting any weight-loss plan.

Grapefruit and Boiled Egg Diet Details

As you might guess by its name, the grapefruit and boiled egg diet primarily consists of grapefruit and boiled eggs. You're also allowed an occasional piece of dry toast on the diet plan, plus all the black coffee you can drink. In some versions of the diet, you may also be allowed to eat other sources of protein, such as chicken or fish, a salad or a red or green vegetable and a cup of milk.

How You Lose

In essence, the grapefruit and boiled egg diet is a very low-calorie diet, which provides no more than 800 calories a day. Limiting your intake to so few calories will help most people lose weight. However, when you lose weight quickly, you're most likely losing water and muscle and not fat.

However, when following a weight-loss diet, it is generally recommended that you not eat less than 1,000 calories according to most research. Also, when you limit your calorie intake as well as your food options, you might miss out on vital nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.

Grapefruit and Weight Loss

While you're most likely losing weight on the grapefruit and boiled egg diet because of its low-caloric content, there is some truth behind the claims that grapefruit may be helpful in your weight-loss efforts according to my research of a 2006 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, which investigated the effects of grapefruit, grapefruit juice and a grapefruit supplement on weight loss in a group of obese individuals. The researchers found that the participants who consumed a half-grapefruit every day over the 12-week study period lost the most weight, a little more than 3 pounds. Based on this evidence, the researchers suggest that grapefruit may make a beneficial addition to a weight-loss program.

Boiled Eggs, Weight Loss and Health

Boiled eggs may also assist in the weight loss process through its effects on hunger and metabolism. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with 6 grams in one large boiled egg. According to a 2008 review article published in The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, protein foods are more satiating than fat or carbohydrate-containing foods. Additionally, protein foods may give your metabolism a boost and also preserve your muscle mass.

Boiled eggs are a source of cholesterol. Cholesterol in food does not have as much of an impact on your body's cholesterol levels as previously believed. However, if you have a history of high cholesterol, you should check with your doctor before upping your daily egg intake.

Grapefruit, Boiled Eggs and a Healthy Diet

You don't have to limit yourself to an 800-calorie grapefruit and boiled egg diet to get all the goodness these whole foods have to offer in your battle for weight loss. Instead of limiting yourself to so few foods, include grapefruit and boiled eggs as part of a healthy low-calorie weight-loss diet. Grapefruit makes a sweet ending to any meal or as a snack in between. Boiled eggs not only make a good protein choice at breakfast, but they can be eaten at lunch, dinner or even as a snack.

Written by,

Dwight Obey, Independent AdvoCare Distributor

If you’re overweight and have diabetes,....you have to exercise!

If you’re overweight, you’ve probably thought about shedding some pounds. If you have diabetes or are at risk for getting it, you should stop thinking and start doing -- now. Why? Because excess weight puts a strain on your body in all sorts of ways.

“If I suddenly take a bunch of gravel and throw it in the back of your car, you can still probably make 70 mph on the interstate. But you’re going to make the engine work a little harder. If I put 1,000 pounds in your car, that effect increases. I can probably put enough weight in so, eventually, your car no longer can perform like it should.

It sounds harsh, but the truth is, that extra weight in your trunk? It can lead to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes,.

Your engine already is whining. Ditch the gravel. You might be surprised at how dropping just a few pounds can make a dramatic difference.

“What I know in diabetes prevention, and in pre-diabetes, is that a very modest amount of weight loss has this huge reduction in risk,”. “You lose 7% of your body weight, you cut your risk of developing diabetes by 60%. And, in fact, if you’re over 65, it’s over 70%, according to the studies I have read."

But how do you not just lose weight, but keep it off? Through a combination of exercise and watching what you eat.

The Exercise Factor

If you’re overweight and have diabetes, or are at risk of getting it, you have to exercise. There’s no way around it.

“In your body, what exercise does, is it allows you to bind or uptake insulin more efficiently.

Your pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that “unlocks” the cells so they can use sugar from the food we eat as energy. “You have what they call receptor sites, and the more you exercise, the more active your receptor sites are. And the less you exercise, the less active and responsive they are.

If you’re serious about losing weight, working out has to be part of the big plan. But check with your doctor before adding it to your routine.

Weight Loss For Women

I

f you're a woman trying to lose weight and get fit, there's something you should know: It often takes longer for women to lose weight than men. And, if you've had a baby, you may have to factor in even more time. That said, women can do some things to speed up their weight loss.

Weight Loss for Women

For a woman to lose weight, she has to do the same thing a man does -- burn more calories than she eats. That sounds simple, but it takes some work to change your lifestyle and commit to those changes day after day. Before you get started, take some time to learn about the basics of weight loss and what it really takes to see results.

Exercise for Weight Loss

Exercise is one of the most important tools you have for weight loss and setting up a balanced program with cardio and strength training is your first step to reaching your goals. Below you'll find everything you need to set up a balanced program and create effective workouts.

Cardio Exercise

I usually don't have to convince my female clients to do cardio exercise to reach their weight loss goals. They know that cardio can burn fat and calories, but they don't always know how to maximize their workout time.

Common Mistakes:

• Doing too much cardio: Women tend to like cardio more than strength training and sometimes do so much, they risk injury, overtraining, losing muscle and hitting weight loss plateaus.
• Working at a low intensity: Some women have too many workouts in their 'fat-burning zone', or working at a low intensity.  However, working at a higher intensity for 1-3 workouts a week can help you burn more calories, which is what you need to lose weight.
• Neglecting other parts of their programs: Many women skip strength training because they're afraid they'll bulk up and they don't think it actually helps them lose weight.  However, strength training is key for changing your body composition, which puts you on the road to weight loss.

Help I'm Walking And Still Not Losing Weight

How Many Calories Do I Burn Walking?

Each mile you walk burns between 55 and 140 calories, depending mostly on your weight, with speed and technique being secondary factors.

How Can I Burn More Calories Per Mile?

There are a few techniques you can use to burn more calories for each mile you walk. Some of these are easier than others, and they each have their benefits and drawbacks.

• Use fitness walking poles to increase your calorie burn per mile, as you use the muscles in your arms as well as your legs.
• The more you weigh, the more calories you burn per mile. As you lose weight, you are burning fewer calories per mile. Some walkers add weight belts or weighted backpacks to increase their calorie burn. Be careful in doing this. Don't throw off your posture or put more stress on your joints. For those who are losing weight and whose body is used to carrying around more pounds, a weight belt would be a more natural way to carry more weight.
• Once you begin to lose weight, you will find yourself speeding up. An extra 20 pounds can really drag you down. You may burn fewer calories per mile, but you'll be able to cover more miles in the same period of time. That can work out to more calories burned per walking workout.
• The body needs some time to mobilize the processes that dip into your fat stores for calories rather than just burning the simple sugars readily available in your cells. If you walk fast, always begin with a 10-minute warm-up at a moderate pace to get your body into fat-burning mode. 
  If you don't add exercise while dieting, your body doesn't just burn fat, it also burns muscle. Dieters can end up in worse physical condition after the diet than before. Sitting still for much of the day is also being recognized as its own health risk.

  Good News for Physically Active Dieters

  If you build muscle while dieting, you are increasing your metabolism. Those muscles burn a few more calories even while at rest, even while sleeping.
  If you have just taken up walking or have begun to racewalk, you are building muscle. If you have always been a walker, you should now add some strength exercises to build muscles while dieting. Upper body exercises are recommended, as walking will not build your upper body. Walking is a weight-bearing activity and will help prevent osteoporosis as you age.

  You Still Need to Watch What You Eat

  If you have increased your walking and the scales are still going up after a month, you need to look at what you are eating. You need to take in fewer calories. There are many strategies and diets to do this, but do it sensibly and with an eye to maintaining good nutrition.
  Explore what the right number of calories is for your level of physical activity and your weight loss goal. Use a weight loss calculator to find the right number. Then use a recipe and nutrition calculator to analyze your favorite food to ensure you are eating what is best for health as well as weight loss.

What Food And Beverage Should I Avoid When Trying To Lose Weight?

There is no secret here. Foods higher in calories should be avoided as well as meals that are completely carb based. If you were to break your plate down into quarters: one quarter should be a protein (chicken, beef, fish, etc.), one quarter should be a whole grain or complex carbohydrate (brown rice, wheat bread, sweet potato), and the final two quarters should be veggie based (you can go crazy here with types of veggies, just be sure not to douse them in sauces). Many of us tend to drink their calories: coffees, sodas, juices, and alcohol; Minimizing them can change your body significantly.

How Long Does It Take To See My Diet Results

It normally takes between four and six weeks for someone to really start seeing changes in their body, but this can vary from person to person, and many other factors such as your starting weight, and diet.

During the first several weeks, you will definitely feel stronger. Your central nervous system is the first part of your body that will start to adapt. Eventually the rest of your body will catch up. To reach an end goal, it varies.

When it comes to weight loss, with healthy eating and a proper exercise program, the goal is to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. For body fat loss, it’s about 2% per month.

Be sure to consult your doctor before starting a new diet or workout program. The above article is for information only, and is not to be considered medical advice.