Does it Work? - Green Tea

Happy Thursday everyone. :)

Yesterday on Oprah, Dr. Perricone (dermatologist turned miracle worker) mentioned that if you switched from coffee to green tea, you will lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks. He guaranteed it and everything! ;)

Have you guys ever heard anything about coffee and fat retention? I'm so tempted to try the switch - I even have green tea in the cupboard. Does it taste awful? I think I'll make some today to check it out.

I think I'm in "quick fix" mode - ever go through that? I have 5 lbs hanging on from vacation and they are being very stubborn. When that happens, I tend to go back to my old ways of thinking and wonder about what "quick fixes" I can get my hands on. I know I just need to be patient and continue with what I'm doing, but I'm bummed that I'm facing Thanksgiving with an extra 5 lbs. This 5 lbs feels like 50!

Okay....there you go! My whine for the day! :cry: I'm all done.

I would love any input on green tea!! Thanks so much!

The only thing I can tell your about coffee - it is tends to take water from your body. It is like you drink coffee which is liquid but you need even more "normal" water. hence I guess it can lead to water retention so you have some more weight on... I personally never drink coffee (mind you, I still have those last 5 pounds on). I drink fruit teas or roibos tea - roibos tea is even healthier than green tea, it aslo has anti oxidant properties.

I sometimes also get into this quick fix mode, and I totally understand you trying to cut on something which "magically" will solve your last 5 pounds problem. While you probably will not solve your problem, switching to green tea is definitely a healthy decision...

This probably should be moved to Buyer Beware...

I don't watch Oprah since it's on during my work hours, but I did check her website. Just as I thought, this Dr. Perricone is promoting his latest book. I've never heard of him, and just because he has "Dr." in his name doesn't mean he knows it all!

I DID find this interesting article on Quackwatch.org (http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/perricone.html) (BTW - the numbers in brackets are links to references in the original article).

A Skeptical View of the Perricone Prescription
Harriet Hall, M.D.
Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Nicholas Perricone, M.D., has written three similar books: The Wrinkle Cure [1], The Perricone Prescription [2]; and The Acne Prescription [3]. All contain many claims that are questionable, controversial, fanciful, unsupported by published evidence, or just plain wrong. Although he mentions standard skin-care treatments, sometimes favorably, his books provide little guidance about when they might be appropriate or sufficient. Although he provides long lists of references, practically none of them directly support what he promises. Despite this, his books have made best seller lists and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has featured him during fundraising campaigns.

Perricone claims that following his advice can quickly improve appearance, improve general health, increase mental sharpness, and make people more energetic. In The Perricone Prescription, for example, he promises to "stop skin from wrinkling, sagging and dulling" and says that, "being wrinkle free for life is achievable" if you follow his 28-day program. He offers "increased vitality, sharpened cognitive and problem-solving skills, and improved memory" and claims that "looking and feeling old is now an option." He also describes his program as "proven . . . to reverse the many signs of premature aging and stop its progress." [2:1-5]

Background History
Dr. Perricone makes much of his connection with Yale University. He is a former assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine—an unpaid position in which he supervised students from time to time. However, his affiliation ended in 2002 when his contract was not renewed. In an interview reported in the Washington Post, Perricone said that the school authorities had been very critical of his books, public appearances, and anti-inflammation theories [4]. The report also noted that he subsequently became an adjunct (visiting) professor at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine and pledged $5 million to establish the Perricone Division of Dermatology there.

Perricone's books are sprinkled with statements that his ideas are based on his own research. However, the extent and quality of this research is unclear. A PubMed search for his name brought up only six citations, of which only two appear to be original research, both on topical glycolic acid [5,6]. His books describe situations in which he tested various ideas in a few patients, usually over a short period of time, but he provides few details and apparently published none of those findings in medical journals.

Most of Perricone's recommended strategies are nutrition-related. In The Wrinkle Cure, he describes how his interest in this subject developed:

My own fascination with nutrition was sparked during my undergraduate days, before I entered medical school. I had always suffered from sallow, acne-plagued skin, allergies, and fatigue, so I started reading everything I could find on the subject -- which, at the time, meant pretty much everything written by Linus Pauling, Ph.D. . . . and Adelle Davis. I began experimenting with vitamins on my own, and the results were gratifying. My skin and allergies improved, and I had much more energy. . .
When I entered medical school, however, my interest in nutrition made me an eccentric. My classmates thought I was nuts because I popped vitamins after meals and bundled up to go running in the dark, cold mornings of Michigan winters. [1:3,6]..

The references to Pauling and Davis may help explain why Perricone spouts so many strange ideas. Although Pauling was a great chemist, his late-in-life beliefs in vitamin megadoses have been thoroughly discredited [7]. Adelle Davis achieved great popularity during the 1970s, but close examination of her writings indicates that she consistently misinterpreted research reports or simply made things up [8]. The irrational nutrition-related beliefs Perricone absorbed before going to medical school were apparently untouched by his science-based education.

Perricone's "Prescription"

The Perricone Prescription provides detailed instructions that include exactly what foods to eat, when and in what order to eat them (proteins first), what exercises to do, what supplements to take with each meal, and what to apply to your skin at what times of day. He even includes a section of recommended recipes. His program includes:

Diet: Three meals and two snacks daily, high quality protein (above all, wild salmon), "good" fats, and carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. No sugar.

A long list of prohibited foods including carrots, bananas, duck, potatoes, flour, raisins, corn, soda (even diet soda) and many others.

Nutrient supplements: 25 different ones, some taken more than once a day: alpha lipoic acid, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folate, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin C ester, vitamin E, calcium, chromium, magnesium, selenium, l-carnitine, acetyl l-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, l-glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids, grape seed extract, gamma linoleic acid, and turmeric.

Skin treatments: sunscreens, cleansers, moisturizers, eye-care products and enriched night cream; various creams with ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin C ester, alpha lipoic acid, DMAE, PPC, tocotrienol, and olive oil.

Exercise: For strength, endurance, and flexibility; 40 minutes a day, 6 days a week.

Miscellaneous advice: 8-10 glasses of spring water a day; no tobacco, coffee, or alcohol (but tea is allowed); melatonin for sleep if needed.

Perricone markets his own line of high-priced nutritional supplements and skin care products worldwide. Typical prices from his Web site include:

$120 for 4 oz alpha lipoic acid and other ingredients for spider veins
$570 for 2 oz neuropeptide facial conformer
$195 for a 30-day supply of supplements for weight loss
$438-458 monthly for the entire skin and nutrient program based on skin type [9].

In November 2003, The Wall Street Journal reported that Perricone's company (N.V. Perricone) grossed $11.9 million in 2001, $42.4 million in 2002, and was expected to top $52 million in 2003 [10]. The article also noted that Perricone's PBS fundraising specials had generated over $4 million for PBS in both 2001 and 2002.

Questionable, Unverifiable, and Erroneous Statements

Perricone says that he gradually came to believe inflammation is the underlying cause of aging and of many diseases and that his own research shows that treating inflammation would reverse the aging process. In fact, he characterizes inflammation as "the key to the whole process of disease of every type." [2:20] Inflammation is indeed associated with many diseases, but it is not always clear whether the inflammation is a cause or a result. Nor is it clear that nutrients that help fight inflammation (such as vitamins C and E) do anything to reverse most of those diseases. Inflammation is characterized by the presence of white blood cells in a skin biopsy specimen. However, their presence can be due to hundreds of different causes, including systemic diseases, infections, foreign substances, insect bites, autoimmune processes, viruses, genetic abnormalities, and malignancies. Inflammation can be nonspecific and even be due to scratching. And the presence of white cells doesn't necessarily mean there are any associated clinical or molecular abnormalities [11]. Inflammation doesn't always increase with age; the inflammatory response to skin injuries actually decreases as you get older [12].

Dietary deficiencies can cause inflammation in the skin (pellagra is a classic example), but there's no evidence that supplementing an already adequate diet would prevent inflammation. Nor is there evidence that inflammation causes wrinkles. (The leading controllable factors are sun damage and cigarette smoking.) If Perricone truly wanted to test his theories, it would not be difficult. They could be tested on an animal model with biopsies before and after various treatments. Also, one could look for epidemiologic data on patients taking prednisone or nonsterioidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) to see whether they have fewer wrinkles [13].

In acne, hair follicles become plugged with comedos composed of dead skin cells and sebum (a mixture of fats and waxes). If bacteria invade, the surrounding skin can become inflamed, and pimples or pustules may form. Most people with acne have a mild (noninflammatory) form and get occasional whiteheads or blackheads. There is little evidence that acne is related to diet. If self-experimentation suggests that a specific food aggravates acne, avoiding the food may be reasonable, but Perricone’s sweeping claims have no scientific support.

Page 33 of The Perricone Prescription illustrates an extraordinary degree of illogical thinking about nutrition. After describing a breakfast consisting of orange juice, cold cereal with banana, skim milk, a low-fat bran muffin, margarine and coffee, the book states:

As [Megan] drinks the juice, she is causing a burst of inflammation in her body as the juice floods her bloodstream with sugar. This causes a sharp spike in her insulin levels, resulting in a rapid acceleration of the aging process, increasing the risk of heart disease, every form of cancer, memory loss, and mental deterioration. To add to the problems, the sugar flood is causing the collagen to cross-link, laying the foundation for the birth of wrinkles, sagging, and loss of tone.

Page 45 contains an equally ridiculous passage which concludes that eating bagels, cookies, or caffeinated, sugary sodas—which Perricone inappropriately regards as addicting—places people at risk for "exhausting our pancreas, burning out our adrenals, and placing us at risk for insulin resistance and diabetes."

Here are more of Perricone's claims followed by our comments in brackets:

Substances like olive oil "penetrate, strengthen, and refresh your skin cells." [What do "strengthening" and "refreshing "your skin cells mean?]
You look puffy the morning after eating Chinese food because of an inflammatory response to what you ate. [Any puffiness would probably be because the salt and MSG caused the body to temporarily retain water.]
When you are mildly dehydrated your metabolism drops and you gain weight. [Actually, dehydration usually decreases appetite and results in weight loss.]
His program works by a synergy between diet, supplements, skin care, and exercise. [Synergy means the combination works better than the sum of the individual components. There are no published data comparing the combination with each factor alone or with other combinations.]
Slow, steady release of insulin into our bloodstream keeps us younger. [He doesn't indicate how he thinks this could be measured. It can't.]
Sugar makes the insulin receptors on the cells burn out. [Untrue]
The contemporary American diet rarely contains enough protein. [Untrue. Americans tend to consume more protein than they need.]
DMAE is your magic bullet for great skin tone. [A PubMed search shows only one small study that showed an effect of topical DMAE on skin [14]]
There are probably unidentified components of salmon that promote health and slow aging. [This possible, but he has no basis for saying it is probable.]
Salmon improves manic-depressive patients who don't respond to medication. [He mentions a study but doesn't give a citation for it, and it is not listed in PubMed.]
Socrates prescribed olive oil for various diseases. [So what?]
Olive trees live for centuries and re-grow after being cut to the ground. [Implied benefits from olive oil for human longevity by magical analogy.]
Adults should limit milk intake because they may have lactose intolerance or allergies. [It would make far more sense to base an individual decision on whether the individual actually is intolerant.]
Alcohol is bad, so hard liquor is bad, but wine is OK. [A glass of wine and a shot of whiskey contain approximately the same amount of alcohol.]
Avoid tap water; drink spring water. [Bottled water is not tested as thoroughly as public water supplies and many brands fail to meet tap water standards. Several surveys have found more contaminants, bacteria, etc. in some bottled waters than in tap water. Tap water is generally safer.]
Spring water flushes toxins from the body. [What toxins? What difference does it make whether it's spring water or other fluids?]
Everyone needs 8-10 glasses of water a day. [A comparison of two diets, one with and one without plain water, showed no difference in hydration whether water was supplied by plain water or other beverages [15]].
The same substances work on the central nervous system and the skin. [A personal observation, not otherwise supported. He theorizes that the nervous stem and skin are alike because they originated in the same one of three cell layers of the early embryo.]
Vitamin C deficiency causes wrinkles. [Sun exposure and tobacco use are the only recognized factors known to cause wrinkles.]
Growth hormone is the true "youth hormone." [Only in the sense that it helps youths grow into adults!]
Coffee causes weight gain, while tea cause weight loss. [Neither is correct.]
Lack of essential fatty acids can cause miscarriage. [A PubMed search for fatty acids and miscarriage showed only one study in the blue fox; it showed just the opposite—that supplementing the diet with essential fatty acids in the form of evening primrose oil increased the rate of miscarriage.]
Alpha-lipoic acid is an anti-aging drug. [There are no known anti-aging drugs.]

Lack of Science
Dr. Perricone would be more credible if he could show us a study demonstrating that people who followed his prescription lived longer, had "younger" skin demonstrated by objective measures, or felt better compared to those on a placebo program—or that they were better in any measurable way. Instead, he provides only testimonials, exaggerated claims, partial truths, and incorrect statements. He cherry-picks possibly supportive studies from the literature and ignores contradictory studies. He cites lots of lab studies (in vitro or in animals), but few that demonstrate any clinical effects in humans. The diet he recommends is low in calories, and weight loss alone may improve the way his patients look and feel. His advice about tobacco and sunscreens is appropriate, but there is little science behind the rest of his program. He seems to have gathered every nutrient and skin cream he had any reason to hypothesize might work and advised using all of them. A more rational approach would have been to first see which ones really worked, and later to see if any combinations of the effective agents worked better than a single agent. No scientist worth his salt does experiments without controls; Perricone treats everyone, so that there is no basis for comparison.

The Perricone Prescription includes full-color before-and-after photographs of women who tried its 28-day program. These photos are far from convincing, with differences in position, lighting, facial expression, makeup, and weight loss that could affect the appearance. The reader is asked to make purely subjective judgments and to notice undefined qualities such as "vibrancy," "radiance," and "improved contours." Dr. Hall's own informal poll indicated that most people prefer some of the "befores" to the "afters."

A Washington Post reporter's experience illustrates how inexact this type of study can be. Page 12 of The Perricone Prescription states that, "Without exception, every patient who has tried the Three-Day Nutritional Face-lift has had good results, and has returned convinced that my Wrinkle-Free Program works. And you will, too." Noting that this statement is preposterous, the reporter decided to test the program on herself. On the fourth day, she had lost three pounds, and it seemed to her that her pores were smaller, her eyelids less heavy and her chin line "less blurry." However, 18 out of 26 of her friends who looked at before-and-after photographs said she looked younger before she started the program [4].

Perricone and his patients may agree that they look better after treatment, but the photographs are the only attempt he makes to present objective evidence. It seems rather silly to depend on subjective impressions and photographs when several objective methods of measuring improvement are available. Reputable published skin studies have used skin surface measurements by semi-automated computer morphometry, laser profilometry, and skin biopsies whose specimens are examined with immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy [16]. Moreover, the creams and lotions he recommends could easily have been evaluated by applying them to one side of the face and using the other side as a control.

Perricone provides little information from sources that disagree with him. Mercury in fish is a possible concern with a high salmon diet, but he doesn't even mention it. He lists all the positive effects of nutrients but omits to mention the toxic effects of high doses, even though some of his supplements may push people into the toxic range. He does not mention that only three nutritional factors have ever been found to correlate with longer life in mammals: calorie restriction, and restriction of methionine and tryptophan—in rodents [17].

Overview
Dr. Perricone has mixed a pinch of science with a gallon of imagination to create an elaborate, time-consuming, expensive, prescription for a healthy life and younger skin. There is no reason to think his program is more effective than standard measures. Although some of his advice is is standard, most of his recommendations are based on speculation and fanciful interpretation of selected medical literature. He makes lots of money by convincing patients and consumers, but he hasn't succeeded in convincing critical thinkers, doctors, scientists, or anyone who wants to see hard evidence. Perricone's "prescription" isn't science; it's creative salesmanship.

Something to keep in mind - just because it's on Oprah, doesn't mean she is advocating or recommending it. Bottom line is - it's all about ratings. Oprah doesn't pick the guests, her producers do - and they look for the guests that have the highest potential for viewer interest. I have no doubt that after the show airs, Perricone's books will become huge sellers; however, just because a million or two million people buy his book, doesn't mean the information is valid, IMO. Think about it - Oprah's producers have to find fresh, new topics and guests five shows a week for however many weeks is in a season - 25? 30? I'm not sure but dang, that's a lot of shows to fill. I do wish that Oprah's staff had done a bit more research behind this guy's claims, or perhaps brought in a dissenting viewpoint. Besides selling his book, I'm sure this Perricone guy will be selling a lot of his expensive products through his website as well. Just another Profiteer to add to the annals of diet history in America...

Oh and BTW, I do drink green tea regularly - I'd say that if you DO lose ten lbs by switching from coffee to green tea, it's most likely water weight!

Thanks Sashenka and Mrs. Jim for your replies. :)

Mrs. Jim, I really appreciate the article you found and posted. It brought me down to earth. And you're right...his book is #1 on Amazon. It was released on Oct. 27th so his appearance on Oprah was conveniently timed.

Karyn - all I can tell you about coffee is that I drank buckets of it while I was losing 122 pounds (still do), so in my case at least, I don't think anyone can say it made me retain fat! ;)

Once again, thanks to Karen the Librarian for another excellent article!

I've been drinking 4 cups of coffee per day for a while, and had no problems losing weight. Unless you're drinking it by the gallon with double cream and sugar I can't see how switching to green tea would cause 10lbs weight loss.

I've just never had a taste for coffee. Weird...I know... :dizzy:

The only reason I started to drink coffee was to be able to pull all-nighters in college. :dizzy: I couldn't stand the taste at first, but it grows on you. So I guess it's really an acquired taste - unlike chocolate, which I was born loving!

Buried in the 'library' section here at 3FC there is an article that suggests that green tea is one of the things that can boost ones metabolic rate just abit, but the authors made no specific wl claims. Same with using cayenne pepper mentioned there or elsewhere. But 10 pounds in 6 weeks? 10 pounds of what? And once the weight is gone, if you stop drinking the tea, will the 10 pounds return? Inquiring minds want to know....

Sounds like just another cheap gimmick to get even more people to buy his book.

Jan

I found this article about green tea on the Prevention site...

Green Tea's Healthy Dividends

This healthy brew protects your ticker and keeps away cancer

by Sara Altshul

Why don't we just put this stuff in the water supply? Green tea's superhero powers--fighting heart disease and cancer--were just reconfirmed in the laboratories of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The bottom line: In test-tube studies, the active antioxidant in this mild-tasting tea--epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)--knocked out tumor cells and halted early artery clogging. The details:

Cancer Fighter
When human cancer cells (from B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia) were exposed to EGCG, 80 percent died. Further studies in cancer patients are expected to begin in early 2005.

Artery Protector
In an animal study, EGCG prevented the development of new plaque in artery walls, possibly by protecting against free-radical damage.

To get a taste of the benefits: Drink 2 to 4 cups of green tea a day, hot or iced. Decaf is fine; it contains as much EGCG as caffeinated varieties.

Here is also a site with more info on green tea...http://www.celestialseasonings.com/research/abouttea/benefitsgt.php

I agree the Doctor on Oprah was just pushing his book... But I've read in several places of the benefits of green tea...

Well...I can guarantee that you WON'T lose 10lbs by drinking green tea alone :rolleyes: I switched to green tea months ago and never lost 1lb from just switching to that so unless you like it like I do..save your money ;)

Two other aspects of green tea:
My dentist suggested I drink it between brushing because it contains some type of bacteria that helps keep gums healty and teeth mildly clean (enough so between the routine brushing, anyway :) )

Also, (sadly on the negative side) it contains caffine also, unless marked otherwise. A cup of green tea contains almost as much caffine as coffee (more than decaf!). So, when shopping, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for caffine free tea.

Personally, I love green tea. Any health benefits are just as they sound- benefits.

I drink at least one cup of green tea a day. I *think* it helps remove excess fluid. I *might* believe it's antioxidant. I*know* it doesn't give you old coffee breath. And I kinda like it.
I'm with Moty on this one. I enjoy it, so if it's doing anything special, that's a bonus.

The claim that green tea can make you lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks without doing anything different, has been all the buzz on the internet. Could it be true? Here's what I think...

Green tea contains catechins, polyphenols. Catechins are flavonoids and have antioxidant properties. One of the catechins, EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), has been shown to have a slight thermogenic effect on fat cells. You may have noticed EGCG on labels of certain diet products, such as One-a-Day Weight Smart, Metabolife, and other diet pills. Of course some of those generally include a lot of other stimulents and things which may be dangerous in the long run, so they are not recommended.

If you are interested in the benefits of green tea, it's best to stick with green tea and not take products that include it in a mixture of other things.

Green tea has been shown to help prevent cancer, may be anti-inflammatory, and also prevent buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Dr. Dean Ornish says here (http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/1/3079_902.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348})
Both green tea and black tea have been shown to reduce the risk of several types of cancers, particularly digestive tract and urinary tract cancers, as well as the risk of heart disease. In one study, those who drank more than two cups a day were 32% less likely to have cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum. They were also 60% less likely to have cancers of the urinary tract than those who never or seldom drank tea. And more of the beverage was apparently better. Four or more cups of tea per day lowered the risk of such cancers by 63%. In contrast, coffee drinking was not found to be related to the risk of these cancers.


Should you rely on green tea for weight loss? Probably not. Combined with diet and exercise, it may possibly help, but the benefit may be minor. Still, green tea has many other benefits which make it worth drinking. Stick with the natural cup of tea, and not the green tea products. Most of the testing done has been on the beverage, and not the supplement products. As with many dietary supplements, you don't always know what you are getting, and you may lose out if you go that route.

This article in WebMD (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/22/1728_55919.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}) says:
Zidenberg-Cherr, who is an associate professor of nutrition at the University of California, Davis, also points out that thermogenesis plays only a very small role in energy expenditure in adults. Most of the energy expended is used to maintain basic body functions such as breathing and the flow of blood throughout the body.

She says green tea may have many health benefits due to its plant compounds, but cautions that it is not the answer to weight-loss woes. "Green tea can't be used, and it shouldn't be used, as a 'magic bullet' for weight loss," she tells WebMD. "You've got to combine it with other changes, including increasing physical activity and reducing a high-calorie diet."

For a detailed analysis of green tea catechins, visit the PDR site here (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/gre_0319.shtml)

Benefit of Green Tea (from Intelihealth) go here (http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH?d=dmtATD&c=362820&p=~br,IHW|~st,24479|~r,WSIHW000|~b,*|)


Who should not drink green tea? Avoid if you have:
* heart problems or high blood pressure,
* kidney disease,
* an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism),
* an anxiety or nervous disorder, or
* a bleeding or blood clotting disorder or if you take a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Green tea contains less caffeine than black tea.

From WebMD (http://my.webmd.com/content/article/20/1728_52605.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348})


* In a small study, green tea has been shown to boost metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation.
* Calorie losses were small in study subjects and wouldn't make a big difference in the life of an obese person.
* Drinking tea can still be healthy because it contains flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that can help protect against cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Thanks for the Perricone article. Very well critiqued. Not that I would have tried such a ridiculously strict regimen, but for those who would, good show at exposure of many myths from one "Quack." Regarding skin, I was obssessed with perfect skin from teen-age years. But alas, I had the same skin as most average American teens, with occasionaly breakouts. Stangely enough, my 2 daughters went through teen years differently: older one never knew what a pimple was, while younger one suffered with moderate acne (no matter she did, Rx and all, it was a persistent problem.)

Certainly, diet and exercise and lifestyle in general contribute to skin health. However, genetics is a large part of it, too, and we would do well to love the skin we are in and get on with feeling fabulous regardless of "flaws." Environment also has a role...live around moisture and your skin stays moist, minus pricey moisturizers. I am 50 and have never used moisturizers. Hormones no doubt play a part. Now that I am a young grandma for the 3rd time, I have the skin of a child...flawless, even toned, can be cleansed with anything from plain water to expensive products. That is it, clean an go. I eat the same things, only a little less of them. I wish I had never obssessed over my skin for so many years, and had just found a neat hobby to dwell on and cultivate, like gardening, improving my painting, or playing my piano better.

Thanks for a great article. To all the women in the world, (short of having a truly unhealthy dermis), we must live in the beautiful castle of our skins.

Raindancer

Just to add to this, I've been doing WW with my sister since May and I lose weight very slowly (half a pound a week if that) whereas she tends to lose anything from 0.5-5lbs a week and so has shifted a lot more than me in the same time frame.

I know everyone has different metabolisms etc, BUT... there have been weeks where she has been out for several meals, and generally eaten unhealthily yet still lost a decent amount per week and she does no exercise.

She recently told me that she's been taking green tea extract in capsule form for weeks. Maybe it's just a coincidence, and maybe she's just lucky and is able to lose weight more easily.

The way I see it though is that it's not harmful and it has been reported to have many other benefits besides weightloss, so I may well just give it a go!

i was always led to belive that the chinese drank green tea after meals cos it breaks up the fat in the food. i drink lots of green tea mainly cos i'm on a coffee detox lol and i've since managed to sleep for upto 11hours a day solid as opposed to my normal 6ish. and i feel alot calmer

That's weird, because it has plenty of caffeine!

My mom buys decaffeinated green tea, I love it!

Maybe it's just 'cause I'm struggling at the moment and looking for a miracle cure! lol I know there isn't one, but it would be nice wouldn't it?!

I don't see a problem with drinking green tea - it tastes good and perks me up a bit :) The issue *I* have with this is when profiteers - people hawking diet books and overpriced products - take something like green tea that's cheap and easily obtainable at any supermarket (heck, I get MY green tea for FREE at work - it's one of the tea offerings in our office kitchens!) and make it into capsules or other products to be sold at a premium price. (yeah, I'm sure there are different grades of green tea that are more pricey, just like coffee, but does that mean they're 'better for weight loss' if you pay more $$ for 'em? Me thinks not...)

Here's what Supplementwatch has to say about green tea...

Description Green tea is the second-most consumed beverage in the world (water is the first) and has been used medicinally for centuries in India and China. A number of beneficial health effects are attributed to regular consumption of green tea and dried/powdered extracts of green tea are available as dietary supplements.

Green tea is prepared by picking, lightly steaming and allowing the leaves to dry. Black tea, the most popular type of tea in the U.S., is made by allowing the leaves to ferment before drying. Due to differences in the fermentation process, a portion of the active compounds are destroyed in black tea, but remain active in green tea. The active constituents in green tea are a family of polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols which possess potent antioxidant activity. Tannins, large polyphenol molecules, form the bulk of the active compounds in green tea, with catechins comprising nearly 90%. Several catechins are present in significant quantities; epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG makes up about 10-50% of the total catechin content and appears to be the most powerful of the catechins – with antioxidant activity about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E. A cup of green tea may provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries. A number of commercial green tea extracts are standardized to total polyphenol content and/or EGCG content.

Claims Anti-atherogenic / Reduces cholesterol & triglycerides
Reduces blood clotting
Enhances immune function
Enhances weight loss
Anti-cancer

Theory Because the active compounds, the catechins, found in green tea are known to possess potent antioxidant activity, they may provide beneficial health effects by protecting the body from the damaging effects of oxidative damage from free radicals. A number of chronic disease states have been associated with free radical induced oxidative damage, including cancer, heart disease, suppressed immune function and accelerated aging.

Scientific Support Although numerous laboratory investigations have shown the powerful antioxidant activity of green tea and green tea extracts, prospective clinical studies in humans are few. From the laboratory findings, it is clear that green tea is an effective antioxidant, that is provides clear protection from experimentally induced DNA damage and that it can slow or halt the initiation and progression of cancerous tumor growth. There is also evidence from some studies that green tea provides significant immunoprotective qualities, particularly in the case of cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. White blood cell count appears to be maintained more effectively in cancer patients consuming green tea compared to non-supplemented patients.

Several epidemiological studies show an association between consumption of total flavonoids in the diet and the risk for cancer and heart disease. Men with the highest consumption of flavonoids (from fruits and vegetables) have approximately half the risk of heart disease and cancer compared with those with the lowest intake. The primary catechin in green tea, EGCG, appears to inhibit the growth of cancer cells as well as play a role in stimulating apoptosis (programmed cell death), both of which are crucial aspects for cancer prevention.

In terms of heart disease protection, the potent antioxidant properties of polyphenols would be expected to reduce free radical damage to cells and prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol – both of which would be expected to inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Aside from the clear benefits of green tea as an antioxidant, recent studies have suggested a role catechins in promoting weight loss. In one animal study, the anti-obesity effect of green tea was evaluated by feeding different levels of green tea (1-4% in their diets) to female mice for 4 months. The study found that the mice receiving the green tea in their diets had a significant suppression of food intake, body weight gain and fat tissue accumulation. In addition, levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were lower in mice receiving the green tea diet. Perhaps the most interesting finding from this study was that Leptin levels in serum showed a decrease with green tea treatments – indicating that green tea may have a direct effect on the regulation of body weight (downward).

In some studies, green tea is associated with a mild increase in thermogenesis (increased caloric expenditure) – which is generally attributed to its caffeine content. At least one study has shown that green tea extract stimulates thermogenesis to an extent that is much greater than can be attributed to its caffeine content per se – meaning that the thermogenic properties of green tea may be due to an interaction between its high content of catechin-polyphenols along with caffeine. A probable theory for the thermogenic effect of green tea is an increase in levels of norepinephrine – because catechin-polyphenols are known to inhibit catechol-O-methyl-transferase (the enzyme that degrades norepinephrine). One study examined this theory, and the effect of green tea extract on 24-hour energy expenditure, in 10 healthy men – who each consumed 3 treatments of green tea extract (50mg caffeine and 90mg epigallocatechin gallate), caffeine (50 mg), and placebo (at breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The results of the study showed that, relative to placebo, the green tea extract resulted in a significant (4%) increase in 24-hour energy expenditure (approximately 80 calories per day) and a significant increase in the body’s use of fat as an energy source (24-h Respiratory Quotient). In addition, the 24-hour urinary norepinephrine excretion was 40% higher during treatment with the green tea extract than with the placebo. It is interesting to note that treatment with caffeine in amounts equivalent to those found in the green tea extract (50mg) had no effect on energy expenditure of fat oxidation – suggesting that the thermogenic properties of green tea it due to compounds other than its caffeine content alone.

Safety Green tea consumption of as much as 20 cups per day has not been associated with any significant side effects. In high doses, teas that contain caffeine may lead to restlessness, insomnia, and tachycardia. Decaffeinated versions of green tea and green tea extracts are available – but due to differences in caffeine extraction methods, the amounts of phenolic/catechin compounds can vary between extracts. Be sure to choose an extract that is decaffeinated as well as standardized for total polyphenol content and/or catechin concentrations. In addition, individuals taking aspirin or other anticoagulant medications (including vitamin E and ginkgo biloba) on a daily basis should be aware of the possible inhibition of platelet aggregation (blood clotting) associated with green tea (in some cases, green tea may prolong bleeding times).

Value Especially beneficial to individuals at high risk for cancer (e.g. family history) or those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Also beneficial as a general protective measure and dietary "insurance" of adequate polyphenol intake. Recent data provides strong evidence that green tea may be effective in stimulating thermogenesis, increasing caloric expenditure, promoting fat oxidation and controlling body weight.

Dosage Typical dosage recommendations are for 125-500mg/day – preferably of an extract standardized to at least 60% polyphenols and/or EGCG as a marker compound (this should be equivalent to 4-10 cups of brewed green tea).

So...from what I see the weight loss claim is largely based on ONE 'rat study' and one human study with 10 male participants. (There very well might be more studies in the pipeline...would have to check PubMed).

just a quick note - if you have a thyroid problem then green tea may not be good for you because of the fluoride in it.

I recently learned that little tid bit, as I had started drinking green tea, for all the right reasons, but didn't feel very good. after some research I found that green tea has a high fluoride content which is not good for those of us with thyroid problems.

"In response to my article on green tea as a weight loss aid, some readers expressed concerns regarding the high fluoride content in tea, and the negative relationship between ingestion of too much fluoride and thyroid problems, as well as other health concerns.

This is definitely something to be considered before deciding to take green tea.

While green tea has some definite benefits in the cancer-prevention and metabolism-boosting arena, the fluoride content may, according to some practitioners, be a concern for the public in general, but specifically for thyroid patients."
(Mary J. Shomon at thyroid.about.com)

just thought I would mention it.

be well,
Cathy

I drink coffee AND green tea every day just cuz I like them both. I have coffee around 6 when I get up and make a pot of tea at 3:00 as a sort of a pick me up. I don't really think, unless you really sugar them up, that they interfere or help with weight loss.

One beverage that I love that does me in with weight loss, is wine. I just find that even one glass, makes me eat more, and makes me less inclined to get up and excercise the next day. So I'm down to 1 or 2 nights a week max on the vino.

so if green tea is high in flouride in it does that mean i would be bad for your teeth in the sense to much fluouride damages the ennamel and we have flouranated water system?

I don't know Slimmings. I know there is some speculation that the fluoride in our water supply may be the reason that we have so many people with thyroid problems today.

I know that sometimes green tea will advertise that one of its benefits is the fluoride content, bec people think fluoride is good for your teeth, and I would guess that it is, but it is not good for your thyroid.

maybe someone else will know more about too much fluoride being bad your enamel.

Cathy

should put out a hunt for a dentist lol

I read that if you drink 5 cups of green tea a day instead of regular tea you burn an extra 100 calories a day. Dont know whether its worth it to be honest.

well if you think about it 100 calories a day over 5 weeks (35days) you'd burn off an extra pound (3500caloires) of fat. nearly a stone a year that

I have read in Zest and Shape and al those other slimming mags that green tea is full of antioxidants and also speeds your metabolism. That said, coffee does the same thing if you drink it before or after a workout because of the caffine in it!!

Personally if I'm looking for a rev, I'll drink a sugar free Red Bull before a workout, but that's just me! ;)

red bull is a god send but the best stuff i've ever had was in my old thai boxing gym can't remember the name to save my life was in a normal width can like a coke can but only half as high was still orangey stuff inported from thailand and was 1 delious and 2 better than red bull. anitoxidents? interesting anything with a deep colour has antioxidents in it i.e where the colour runs right to the center of it.

Yuk red bull is dire. I used to like the cheap stuff they used to sell in wetherspoons when they didnt sell red bull. I think it was called burn or something like that. It was cherry flavour.

Be careful with drinking too much redbull I once fainted after having 4 cans of it.

when i work nights as a delivery driver i used to drink 6 in an 8 hour shift

Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone else had tried the Mega T Green Tea diet pills. I have read that green tea is suppose to have a lot of antioxidants and speed up the metabolism. Has anyone had any luck, any experiences with these pills?

Green tea does offer a lot of benefits, but the recommendation is to just drink green tea and avoid the pills, which are not proven to have the same benefits.

Also, choose loose leaf green tea, not the bags of tea dust at the supermarket. I buy tea from http://www.adagio.com/ They have a huge variety of green teas, and offer sample sizes in metal cans at low costs.

Thanks! :)

I take a green tea pill, but it isnt a weight loss thing, it is because green tea has very good anti oxidant qualities I like, and I cant stand the taste of green tea brewed. But then i have only tried the tea dust from the local grocery store. I think I might try some of the tea at the link Suzanne left us. :)

my first post so would like to say Hi to all, hsven't even had a chance yet ot get around to many sections due to busy with work, but wanted to read this post and contribute.

I AM a BIG green tea drinker, it's my main drink.
One because it's VERY beneficial for you, espcecially for men in regards to prostrate, and I too had problems enjoying just the normal teabag type till I took it on as a fad.

Now when I take something on as a fad it means I get anything and everything to do with it, sometimes the fad runs out sometimes it just keeps on going on as part of my life and sometimes it comes and goes into my life.

The green tea has stayed and become a passion. I've tried every type out there till I found my most favourite.

You would not believe the number of people I have gotten on to the tea I drink and the lady I buy it from says this green type has tripled in sales... lol
I have this tea in my bag, at 2 of my work stations at work and also at home and at certain friends places so it is everywhere I go....

anyway, I am checking out the website you provided but also showing you one where I get my tea from.

It is called SOURSOP or SOURSAP depends where it's posted, and is actually guanabana fruit from the south east of asia I believe.

I purchase mine in australia from http://www.teaforme.com.au


It's the tea that comes in the pinewood boxes, and also comes in all flavours. My next passion is strawberry and blueberry but soursop takes the cake with 6 boxes for each order...lol

Green tea has many great properties drunk in proportion, but for some people if too much is drank it can cause constipation so make sure you eat lots of fibre as well. It's a cleanser as well so helps cleanse toxins out of your body.

forgot to mention also that these teas have th leaves that you just spoon into the cup and let them absorb as they sink to the bottom and they stay in the cup as you drink. Of course you can strain after a whiole, but the enlarge as they absorb.

IMO - the better quality tea you get (no matter if it's green, white, orange pekoe, Earl Grey or whatever) the better it's going to taste (that was driven home to us here at work when the teas in our office kitchens were switched from Bigelow to some no-name brand that NO ONE had heard of...definitely a difference and NOT a good one - yes we've complained).

My personal favorite teas are by The Republic Of Tea. They have some really nice flavored green varieties as well as some great herbals!

Here I am falling for the green tea thing. I picked up a bottle to try to see if it would curb my appetite and stimulate me a little. After the phenfen mess you would think I know better.
But here I am taking a chance.
That said..any thoughts on green tea?

Green tea as a weight loss aid...pretty much useless.

Green tea has been discussed frequently in Buyer Beware - here's one thread for example (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49204).

If you're going to try green tea, don't waste your $$ with the 'extract' pills - just get the real thing (some really good quality tea to drink). Whatever healthful qualities it might have, you'll probably have a better shot getting them through drinking the actual tea itself, rather than spending a bundle on those silly pills.

It probably won't hurt you, but it may not help. They say if you want the benefits of green tea, just to drink green tea.

In my personal opinion, looking for stimulants to help in weight loss is really bad, because you need to do something you can stick to for the rest of your life. Losing weight is half the battle. Keeping it off takes just as much effort, and sometimes even more so. If you get used to stimulants now, is this something you plan to do for the rest of your life? Weight loss thorugh a balanced diet and exercise program is all that is necessary, and is how most people reach their goals and keep it off. Not through stimulants.

Exercise is a great stimulant :) Seriously, go for a brisk walk early in the morning, and you'll feel more energized! You will boost your metabolism for several hours after the walk ends, and you'll burn calories while you're add it.

As far as using Green Tea for weight loss, this may be a myth, or hype used by supplement makers to sell products. The antioxidant in green tea, EGCG, is what is supposed to help weight loss, but this is what Dr. Andrew Weil said about that:

Despite its many beneficial effects, I know of no good evidence to suggest that EGCG promotes weight loss. A study at the University of Chicago did show that rats injected with EGCG lost their appetites and ate up to 60 percent less than normal, but there was no effect on the rats’ appetites when they were given EGCG orally. The researchers who conducted the study speculated that long-term oral administration of EGCG might have the same effect on appetite as the injections but cautioned that humans would have to drink green tea constantly to get the results seen in the animal study. Furthermore, the EGCG injections caused hormonal changes in the rats that could have negative effects on health if they occurred in humans.

Oops! I didn't see your reply, MrsJim. Gee, I can't believe 20 minutes have passed between our replies. I think I need a stimulant :lol:

Here I am falling for the green tea thing. I picked up a bottle to try to see if it would curb my appetite and stimulate me a little. After the phenfen mess you would think I know better.
But here I am taking a chance.
That said..any thoughts on green tea?Turn the bottle around & tell me how many grams of sugar are in your tea. If there are any, it is not helping you, it is hindering you.

You can make your own green iced tea--put the bags in a coffeepot of a coffeemaker & just run water through it. Let it steep for as long as you want & then pour over a pitcher of ice cubes. Voila! Instant green iced tea. I would recommend the Mint or Lemon or Honey flavors, though. Plain green tea tastes like dirty hippie feet. :barf:

:lol: I also like flavored tea. http://www.adagio.com/ makes a Coco Mint Green that is really good. I drink it hot. I tried it iced once and hated it. I do drink the regular green teas as well, though I add splenda and sometimes cream. I bought a ton of samplers from Adagio. There are a lot of different types of green tea, not all taste like hippie feet :p I prefer the leaf teas over the bags of powder. I've also heard that the leaf teas have more antioxidants than the bagged.

Green tea has a bonus of helping to not absorb so many carbs. It is now a stimulant as far as I know it does not have any caffeine in it. It is a great alternative to regular tea and coffee.

Where did you hear that it helps you not absorb carbs? I cant imagine that is true. Yes it has caffeine in it that is the stimulant aspect of it.
I am trying the megat pills...

http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm

green tea has 15mg caffeine per 8 oz cup.
regular iced tea has 45 mg caffeine per 8 oz cup.

depending on how you brew it.

Green tea has a bonus of helping to not absorb so many carbs. It is now a stimulant as far as I know it does not have any caffeine in it. It is a great alternative to regular tea and coffee.

Got a link for that - a peer-reviewed study would be nice?

Personally, I either doubt that this is true or if it IS a little true, it's probably WAY overblown, just like your typical 'carb blocker' phony diet pills.

I've been searching Pubmed. The only thing I've found is that it's an antioxidant, maybe helps prevent cancer and helps those people who have been exposed to asenic. "tea and its polyphenols may have a promising role in counteracting the devastating effects of arsenic."

So green tea as a beverage is good for you. But I wouldn't expect it to do anything for my weight loss.

edited to add:
Oh, wait I found one article that did a study with "Bioactive food stimulants of sympathetic activity: effect on 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation"
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 May 4 . The article hasn't been posted to pubmed, but the abstract is:

Bioactive food stimulants of sympathetic activity: effect on 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation.

Belza A, Jessen AB.

1Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark

OBJECTIVE:: Bioactive food ingredients influence energy balance by exerting weak thermogenic effects. We studied whether the thermogenic effect of a combination of capsaicin, green tea extract (catechins and caffeine), tyrosine, and calcium was maintained after 7-day treatment and whether local effects in the gastric mucosa were involved in the efficacy. DESIGN:: The present study was designed as a 3-way crossover, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded intervention. SETTING:: Department of Human Nutrition, RVAU, Denmark. SUBJECTS:: A total of 19 overweight to obese men (BMI: 28.0+/-2.7 kg/m(2)) were recruited by advertising locally. INTERVENTION:: The subjects took the supplements for a period of 7 days. The supplements were administrated as a simple supplement with the bioactive ingredients, a similar enterocoated version, or placebo. In all, 24-h energy expenditure (EE), substrate oxidations, spontaneous physical activity (SPA), and heart rate were measured in respiration chambers on the seventh day of each test period. RESULTS:: After adjustment for changes in body weight and SPA, 24-h EE was increased by 160 kJ/day (95% CI: 15-305) by the simple preparation as compared to placebo, whereas the enterocoated preparation had no such effect (53 kJ/day, -92 to 198); simple vs enterocoated versions (P=0.09). The simple preparation produced a deficit in 24-h energy balance of 193 kJ/day (49-338, P=0.03). Fat and carbohydrate oxidation were equally increased by the supplements. CONCLUSION:: A supplement containing bioactive food ingredients increased daily EE by approximately 200 kJ or 2%, without raising the heart rate or any observed adverse effects. The lack of effect of the enterocoated preparation suggests that a local action of capsaicin in the gastric mucosa is a prerequisite for exerting the thermogenic effect. SPONSORSHIP:: Supported by Science, Toxicology & Technology, San Francisco, CA, USA.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 4 May 2005; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602121.


I'll keep an eye out on this one and read the article when it's posted. Looks interesting, not enough to take pills but maybe interesting enough to eat hot peppers with my tea and a square of cheese. Tyrosine? what has tyrosine natutally? Have to check that out.

Sarah

Gee what did that study say? I tried tyrosine in supplement form years ago..did nothing for me.
There is a hot pepper diet on the market now. I think its called the CHILI PEPPER DIET..dont know anyone that has tried it.
I am on day 3 of green tea and I have to admit, it reminds me of when I took a prescription weight loss pill years ago..(yea back when I was skinny and thought I was fat)
I feel a bit floaty etc. I am sensitive to caffeine. I just took one..tomorrow I will try 1/2 instead of one.
I will certainly let you all know if I see results.

Tyrosine? what has tyrosine natutally? Have to check that out.

Sarah

Here's a link to a list of the "999 Foods Highest in Tyrosine (http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-000087000000000000000.html)".

The study abstract doesn't really say much that wasn't already known IMO - according to the SupplementWatch (http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=159) page on green tea anyway (and no, nothing about blocking carbs either.). At any rate, a 2% increase in energy expenditure isn't really going to amount to much, especially if the person taking the supplements (or drinking copious amounts of green tea) is still eating like crap and not exercising regularly. IMO of course.

So very true. It's mostly common sense and I agree with you 2% decrease when you're eating crap won't help you much. And that was the average,

"The simple preparation produced a deficit in 24-h energy balance of 193 kJ/day (49-338, P=0.03) " 49 to 338 is a huge range and without seeing the article we have no idea what's going on or how the study was put together. Even in peer reviewed articles there can still be problems. I just thought it was interesting.

Hopefully no one will think that I'm promoting this. Please, I'm not. Eat healthy, don't take strange pills, exercise and drink lots of water. ;)

Sarah

IMO, rather than thermogenics, some of the supposed weight loss benefits of the green tea (supplements or drink) may be due to the caffeine ... there's not a lot of caffeine in green tea (vs coffee anyway), but if someone is adding the tea or pills to their regular diet, they're going to be upping the caf and it's going to likely have a diuretic effect and that could drop a few pounds on the scale.

Unless drinking decaf, of course! :)

I like plain green tea with lemon, no sweeteners of any kind. Tastes good to me, but as it's hot in Arizona, I'm aware I need to drink extra plain water for every cup of tea.

I drink REAL green tea, and other herbal teas. Not prebottled, not pills.

I don't drink it for weight loss purposes.

Green tea, and ANY tea-has nutritional benefits and antioxidants that are good for you in general. If you drink any kind of tea, and you want nutritional benefits from it-you gotta drink the real stuff. As in-the little bits of leaves that you steep in hot water yourself. :lol: There are herbal teas that have medicinal properties in them...such as the calming effects of chamomile tea...the easing of an upset tummy with teas that contain mint...in ancient times all medicines started out from herbs and plants-there definitely ARE medicinal properties in certain foods, herbs/plants.

But-weight loss isn't really one of them. If you have an upset tummy-brew some peppermint tea...if you have a cold eat lots of garlic...if you want to lose weight-watch your diet and exercise. ;)

Just wanted you all to know the green tea made me edgy and I did not lose a pound from taking it.
Ok..so you told me so!

I recently bought this from online. It is supposed to be all natural green tea with 5x the potency of regular green tea. I sent it back after day one. It made me extremely jittery. My friend also drank it and she felt the same. It was almost like a high, but a really bad one. I would be very careful of this product. It also made me anxious and panicky feeling. Just incase you see it or hear about it.

sabrina

I forgot to mention the name of the product i bought. Its GreenTea300. And they were rude and not helpful when I wanted to return it.

I, like aphil, drink the green tea (sometimes naked if its a good quality, but often the Republic of Tea flavored ones, which are really good too -- I'm currently ga-ga over their Fair Trade Ginger Lemongrass Green Tea... which doesn't even require sweetening up.) And yes, the weightloss claim is disputable - but tea in general has lots of other health benefits so its definitely worth getting into a habit of drinking!

For those that are caffeine sensitive, you can easily decaf your teabags by steeping it for 30 seconds in hot water (where it loses 99% of its caffeine), dump that, and steep it for real (3-5 minutes) -- of course, don't do this with high quality teas, since you'll lose flavor too decafing with this method.

I personally like green tea, it tastes good. I have been a coffe drinker for about 9 years, for some reason I picked it up while I was pregnant with my oldest son. I started drinking green tea 3 months ago, I have lost 17 pounds since then. I don't watch what I eat but I watch how much I eat, which isn't much I have always been this way. I have never really heard of green tea for dieting, I have heard it is supposed to give you energy (hence the caffine). To be honest it does give me more energy than my coffee that I drink and cannot live with out every morning. Who knows maybe it's all in the mind.

Green tea = good for you. Why do you think Japanese people are all so skinny and live so long? They drink tea like we drink water or pop, lol. Sure, they also have a lot of other healthy habits that contribute, but still. They consume a LOT of tea. While I was in Japan, I couldn't drink the stuff. Now back in the US I discovered that Diet Lipton Green Tea with citrus (which hardly tastes like tea) and I drink it because it tastes good and green tea is good for you. I don't know about weight loss benefits, but green tea has a lot of health benefits either way.

Green tea = good for you. Why do you think Japanese people are all so skinny and live so long? They drink tea like we drink water or pop, lol. Sure, they also have a lot of other healthy habits that contribute, but still. They consume a LOT of tea. While I was in Japan, I couldn't drink the stuff. Now back in the US I discovered that Diet Lipton Green Tea with citrus (which hardly tastes like tea) and I drink it because it tastes good and green tea is good for you. I don't know about weight loss benefits, but green tea has a lot of health benefits either way.

Ummm I doubt if the Japanese are 'skinny' because of green tea - green tea might be 'good for you' but it's because of the traditional lean diet of fish, rice and vegetables and exercise.

This Q&A which was in Shape Magazine in 2004 (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_11_23/ai_n6143165)most likely hits the nail on the head:

Q Obesity is rare in Japan, yet people there eat lots of rice. Americans are crazy about low-carb foods, yet a third of us are obese. If the Japanese can eat lots of carbs and not gain weight, why can't we?

A It's true that very few Japanese are obese. Just 1.8 percent of men and 2.6 percent of women have a body mass index above 30 (the cutoff for obesity), according to the International Association for the Study of Obesity, a London-based nonprofit organization. On the other hand, more than 19 percent of American men and nearly a quarter of American women are obese.

However, the difference has nothing to do with rice consumption, says Amy Reuter, R.D., the Obesity/Metabolic Clinic dietitian at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. "Japanese people eat significantly smaller portions than Americans do," says Reuter, who has worked with Japanese emigres to the United States. "One reason is that Japanese [serving] bowls hold 1/2-1 cup of rice at most. Their bowls and dishes are what we consider child's-sized."

The Japanese also consume far more vegetables than Americans do, filling up on fiber so they don't have room for huge portions of meat, Reuter says. "A typical Japanese meal consists of four or five different food items--usually meat, rice and two or three vegetables. Some Americans just eat a big bowl of pasta."

The Japanese also use mostly lowfat cooking methods. "They grill, boil or steam their foods," Reuter says. Plus, they exercise more than we do, biking or walking to work and the grocery store.

And "ALL so skinny"? Looks like that is no longer the case, based on this article:

Japanese grab girdles as obesity crisis looms (http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,1721395,00.html)

or this one:

Obesity alarms traditionally slim Japan (http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/15/japan.diet.ap/)

That's what I drink not the diet but regular. As far as the Japanese I never really thought it was the tea, more so spicey food. I may be wrong. I have noticed when I eat spicey food (which I LOVE) I don't eat as much and I fill up quicker but not the point were I'm full. But I am completely satisfied. I pretty much add tabasco sause to everything, except eggs (eeeewwwww!).

Only read page one and five of this thread (kinda busy), but I wanted to add my two cents to this.

I discovered Lipton Green Tea with Honey flavor around Christmas time. I LOVE it. Since then, I've been drinking a pot or two a day...I live in NORTHERN New York and it's COLD here...so I'm trying to warm up, too. Anyhow...for whatever reason...I FEEL GREAT!! Flavinoids? Antioxidants? I don't know what it is, or if it is even the green tea, but I feel less achy, less depressed (I get winter depression every year) and have a general feeling of wellness about me. I haven't lost one friggen pound since Christmas, but some of my friends have been asking me if I'm loosing weight...could it be taking some puffiness away from my face maybe? I dunno...but I'm a big Green Tea believer.

My husband has even gotten on the wagon...I make a pot and put it in the fridge and he puts some splenda and ice in it and takes it to work with him in a container. HE's starting to feel good, too.

Drink your green tea...it's yummy AND good for you!!