Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Monday said his office was investigating claims by Coca-Cola and Nestle that their new drink can burn calories, saying it may amount to "voodoo nutrition."
Blumenthal's investigation focuses on Enviga, a green-tea drink that contains caffeine, calcium and a green tea extract known as epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. Coke says EGCG speeds up metabolism and increases energy use, especially when combined with caffeine.
An Enviga Web site claims that the drink's blend of green tea and caffeine burns more calories than it contains and can help drinkers maintain an ideal weight. According to a Nestle study, young people who drank three of the 12-ounce (336-gram) drinks a day burned an average of 106 calories.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Drinking Green Tea May Help Acne Sufferers
The many health benefits of green tea have been well documented in recent times by researchers all over the world. Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments and to improve general well-being. But does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern treatment for acne?
There are only two herbal treatments that are known to be effective in treating acne, and green tea is one of them.
In a recent study by Jennifer Gan-Wong, M.D. a green tea cream was trailed against a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution on people suffering with moderate to severe acne. The results from this research study showed that green tea was just as good in treating acne as benzoyl peroxide.
But benzoyl peroxide dries out skin causing itching or allergic reactions. Unlike green tea that has the added advantages of natural anti-bacterial properties and antioxidants, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is 200 times more powerful than vitamin E at fighting free radicals.
Green tea also helps to reduce inflammation, hormonal activity and aids in detoxification - which is all good news for acne sufferers.
Green tea extract is an extremely versatile herbal supplement - it can be administered topically, often being used in creams, taken as a in the form of a pill or incorporated into your diet and drunk as a tea.
This last method is very popular (Green Tea with Honeysuckle is often known as Pimple Tea in many Chinatowns) when drunk after a meal it aids digestion and helps to detoxify your system, getting rid of the toxins that can cause acne. Tip: dont drink it with sugar, this will neutralize the worthwhile effects of the tea.
It seems that drinking green tea for acne is a win-win situation. It has many beneficial properties which promote good all-round health with little or no known side effects and for the price, it's definitely a herbal treatment thats worth trying.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Research Highlights Benefits Of Green Tea
"When the days are very hot I drink green tea, because when I drink another tea it doesn't quench my thirst, but green tea does," says one Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, resident who asked to be identified only by his first name, Alisher. "I like to drink green tea when it's hot, and I've heard it's good for your health."
Millions of people already drink it for pleasure, or thirst.
But as Alisher points out, there's growing evidence green tea is good for you, too.
Reducing Cancer Risk
"I can tell you that if you are a [laboratory] rat, you should be drinking lots of tea, it will reduce your risk of cancer," says Jeffrey Blumberg, a nutritional scientist at Tufts University.
"There have been a number of laboratory studies that have shown that green tea may have an effect on inflammatory conditions like arthritis, on cognitive problems like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases," Blumberg continues. "Some studies have suggested that people who consume more tea have a lower risk of bone fracture, that is it may reduce osteoporosis, and there have been a number of studies particularly from the U.K. that suggest that adolescents and teenagers who drink tea have a lower instance of dental cavities. But the strongest reports to date are those that suggest that tea may reduce our risk of heart disease."
The Asia Phenomenon
In particular, researchers say, green tea might explain why some Asian countries have high smoking rates, but relatively few deaths from heart disease or lung cancer, both of them smoking-related diseases.
Japan, for instance, has about half the death rate from heart disease as the United States, even though the Japanese smoke far more cigarettes.
Bauer Sumpio calls this the Asian paradox. Sumpio, who published a review article on the topic last month, says the explanation might lie in all the green tea people in Asian countries drink.
"They sit at their desk or wherever they work, with a big tall glass or jar and in the beginning of the day they put a handful of green tea leaves there and add hot water in it, and when they finish drinking that they'll add more hot water to it and they do that throughout the day," Sumpio says.
How It Works
Sumpio, a vascular surgeon at Yale University, says green tea contains chemicals called polyphenols -- and one in particular called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
EGCG is an antioxidant that neutralizes harmful particles known as "free radicals" that can damage cells in the body.
"It's thought that this is what confers beneficial effects in terms of both the cardiovascular system as well as in some cancer cells, there's a lot of evidence that some of these cancer cells, at least in the laboratory, can be inhibited from growing when you add these polyphenols to them," Sumpio says.
The evidence that green tea is good for you is not yet rock solid.
Blumberg of Tufts says all tea, whether green, white, oolong, or black, comes from the same bush, so the health benefits should actually be the same.
Growing Popularity
Whatever the case may be, its reputed health benefits have led to green tea growing in popularity in some western countries like the United States.
Kevin Moore sells green tea all around the world from his company in Fukushima, Japan.
"I've been involved in Japan for 20 years; my wife is Japanese," Moore says. "When I was going to college at Arizona State University, I was looking for a side business to do. As I was familiar with Japan and green tea -- it was very hard to find a good green tea in 1998, actually it's still hard to find a good green tea in the United States -- I started doing it as a side business, and I guess my timing was right as it's boomed ever since then."
Green tea, though, is not everyone's cup of tea.
But there's good news for those who don't like the taste.
Other foods - chocolate, red wine, apples, and vegetables like turnips and cabbage - contain some similar chemical compounds.
~Ainura Asankojoeva of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and staff at the Bishkek bureau contributed to this report
Millions of people already drink it for pleasure, or thirst.
But as Alisher points out, there's growing evidence green tea is good for you, too.
Reducing Cancer Risk
"I can tell you that if you are a [laboratory] rat, you should be drinking lots of tea, it will reduce your risk of cancer," says Jeffrey Blumberg, a nutritional scientist at Tufts University.
"There have been a number of laboratory studies that have shown that green tea may have an effect on inflammatory conditions like arthritis, on cognitive problems like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases," Blumberg continues. "Some studies have suggested that people who consume more tea have a lower risk of bone fracture, that is it may reduce osteoporosis, and there have been a number of studies particularly from the U.K. that suggest that adolescents and teenagers who drink tea have a lower instance of dental cavities. But the strongest reports to date are those that suggest that tea may reduce our risk of heart disease."
The Asia Phenomenon
In particular, researchers say, green tea might explain why some Asian countries have high smoking rates, but relatively few deaths from heart disease or lung cancer, both of them smoking-related diseases.
Japan, for instance, has about half the death rate from heart disease as the United States, even though the Japanese smoke far more cigarettes.
Bauer Sumpio calls this the Asian paradox. Sumpio, who published a review article on the topic last month, says the explanation might lie in all the green tea people in Asian countries drink.
"They sit at their desk or wherever they work, with a big tall glass or jar and in the beginning of the day they put a handful of green tea leaves there and add hot water in it, and when they finish drinking that they'll add more hot water to it and they do that throughout the day," Sumpio says.
How It Works
Sumpio, a vascular surgeon at Yale University, says green tea contains chemicals called polyphenols -- and one in particular called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
EGCG is an antioxidant that neutralizes harmful particles known as "free radicals" that can damage cells in the body.
"It's thought that this is what confers beneficial effects in terms of both the cardiovascular system as well as in some cancer cells, there's a lot of evidence that some of these cancer cells, at least in the laboratory, can be inhibited from growing when you add these polyphenols to them," Sumpio says.
The evidence that green tea is good for you is not yet rock solid.
Blumberg of Tufts says all tea, whether green, white, oolong, or black, comes from the same bush, so the health benefits should actually be the same.
Growing Popularity
Whatever the case may be, its reputed health benefits have led to green tea growing in popularity in some western countries like the United States.
Kevin Moore sells green tea all around the world from his company in Fukushima, Japan.
"I've been involved in Japan for 20 years; my wife is Japanese," Moore says. "When I was going to college at Arizona State University, I was looking for a side business to do. As I was familiar with Japan and green tea -- it was very hard to find a good green tea in 1998, actually it's still hard to find a good green tea in the United States -- I started doing it as a side business, and I guess my timing was right as it's boomed ever since then."
Green tea, though, is not everyone's cup of tea.
But there's good news for those who don't like the taste.
Other foods - chocolate, red wine, apples, and vegetables like turnips and cabbage - contain some similar chemical compounds.
~Ainura Asankojoeva of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and staff at the Bishkek bureau contributed to this report
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Green Tea Concentrate
It is now a well known fact that green tea is one of the healthiest beverages. The one thing that a lot of people do not understand is how much green tea is necessary. I have always wondered about this myself. I have been drinking green tea for a long time, but have I really had enough? When I first heard about concentrated green tea, I thought it was a stupid idea. Why would you take green tea and turn it into green tea concentrate, I wondered? But then I read some of the research, and grew to realize how important green tea concentrate is for your health. Although drinking green tea alone is good for you, it really just does not have quite enough of the good stuff. If you want to get your full dose of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, you really cannot do without green tea concentrate.
Green tea concentrate is good for almost everything, and that is a fact. Not only will it strengthen your immune system, it will give you more energy and vitality, and even protect you from a wide range of health problems as you grow older. Green tea concentrate is good for all kinds of things. The antioxidants in green tea concentrated will protect you against cancer, heart disease, and many other things as well, at least according to some experts. I am inclined to believe them. Since I have been drinking green tea concentrate, I have felt better than at any point in my life.
Of course, green tea concentrate is no substitute for the other pleasures of tea. As an avid tea drinker, I can tell you that the health benefits are only half of the picture. Just because you begin to take green tea concentrate, does not mean that you should give up drinking green tea. On the contrary, the only thing that is more wonderful than the effects of green tea on the health of the body as a whole is its taste. You really just have to try it to believe it.
Here are some examples of green tea concentrate products.
Green tea concentrate is good for almost everything, and that is a fact. Not only will it strengthen your immune system, it will give you more energy and vitality, and even protect you from a wide range of health problems as you grow older. Green tea concentrate is good for all kinds of things. The antioxidants in green tea concentrated will protect you against cancer, heart disease, and many other things as well, at least according to some experts. I am inclined to believe them. Since I have been drinking green tea concentrate, I have felt better than at any point in my life.
Of course, green tea concentrate is no substitute for the other pleasures of tea. As an avid tea drinker, I can tell you that the health benefits are only half of the picture. Just because you begin to take green tea concentrate, does not mean that you should give up drinking green tea. On the contrary, the only thing that is more wonderful than the effects of green tea on the health of the body as a whole is its taste. You really just have to try it to believe it.
Here are some examples of green tea concentrate products.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Boost Your Brainpower With Green Tea
~ By Jon Herring
Green tea is one of the oldest - and healthiest - beverages in the world. A recent study of more than 1,000 people in Japan showed that the more green tea the subjects drank the lower their odds were of having cognitive impairment.
In addition to boosting your brainpower, green tea is brimming with nutrients that have been shown to fight viruses, slow aging, and protect against cancer and heart disease. Its most powerful antioxidant, EGCG, has been shown to be significantly more potent than vitamin C, vitamin E, and resveratrol (the healthy compound found in red wine).
While most people drink it hot, green tea is also a refreshing summer treat. Try it over ice with a wedge of lemon.
~ Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
Green tea is one of the oldest - and healthiest - beverages in the world. A recent study of more than 1,000 people in Japan showed that the more green tea the subjects drank the lower their odds were of having cognitive impairment.
In addition to boosting your brainpower, green tea is brimming with nutrients that have been shown to fight viruses, slow aging, and protect against cancer and heart disease. Its most powerful antioxidant, EGCG, has been shown to be significantly more potent than vitamin C, vitamin E, and resveratrol (the healthy compound found in red wine).
While most people drink it hot, green tea is also a refreshing summer treat. Try it over ice with a wedge of lemon.
~ Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
Green Tea: A Better Pick-Me-Up
~By Al Sears, MD
In the last message, I told you about some of the remarkable properties of green tea. And I mentioned that in Japan, where green tea is enjoyed every day, people have the longest lifespans of any country. Well, I convinced myself. So I switched from my usual morning coffee to a cup of strongly brewed green tea.
I've noticed a surprising benefit. The tea wakes me out of my morning stupor like coffee - but unlike coffee, instead of making me feel a little nervous and shaky, the green tea makes me feel calm.
So I did some research. How can a caffeinated drink make you feel calm?
Here's the secret: It's an amino acid called l-theanine. Found in tea leaves, l-theanine reverses the stimulating effects of caffeine on certain aspects of your nervous system.
L-theanine doesn't make theta waves, the kind that put you to sleep. Instead, this nutrient works in your brain by making alpha waves. This creates a feeling of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to meditation. Other benefits include improved memory and learning ability. (And here's good news if you don't like green tea: You can get the benefit of l-theanine in a supplement.)
In one study, researchers saw alpha waves appear within 40 minutes of people taking 50 mg of l-theanine. Another study found that a dose of 200 mg of l-theanine produced more alpha waves than the 50 mg dose. This time, the effect occurred in only 30 minutes and lasted for eight to 10 hours.
Start at 50 mg and work up to 200 mg if needed. Don't take more than 600 mg in a six-hour period.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears, a practicing physician and the author of The Doctor's Heart Cure and 12 Secrets to Virility, is a leading authority on longevity, physical fitness, and heart health.]
~ Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
In the last message, I told you about some of the remarkable properties of green tea. And I mentioned that in Japan, where green tea is enjoyed every day, people have the longest lifespans of any country. Well, I convinced myself. So I switched from my usual morning coffee to a cup of strongly brewed green tea.
I've noticed a surprising benefit. The tea wakes me out of my morning stupor like coffee - but unlike coffee, instead of making me feel a little nervous and shaky, the green tea makes me feel calm.
So I did some research. How can a caffeinated drink make you feel calm?
Here's the secret: It's an amino acid called l-theanine. Found in tea leaves, l-theanine reverses the stimulating effects of caffeine on certain aspects of your nervous system.
L-theanine doesn't make theta waves, the kind that put you to sleep. Instead, this nutrient works in your brain by making alpha waves. This creates a feeling of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to meditation. Other benefits include improved memory and learning ability. (And here's good news if you don't like green tea: You can get the benefit of l-theanine in a supplement.)
In one study, researchers saw alpha waves appear within 40 minutes of people taking 50 mg of l-theanine. Another study found that a dose of 200 mg of l-theanine produced more alpha waves than the 50 mg dose. This time, the effect occurred in only 30 minutes and lasted for eight to 10 hours.
Start at 50 mg and work up to 200 mg if needed. Don't take more than 600 mg in a six-hour period.
[Ed. Note: Dr. Sears, a practicing physician and the author of The Doctor's Heart Cure and 12 Secrets to Virility, is a leading authority on longevity, physical fitness, and heart health.]
~ Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
Could Green Tea Help You Live Longer?
~ By Al Sears, MD
You may have heard that Japan has the highest percentage of centenarians (people aged 100 or above) of any country in the world. Japan's Health Ministry just released the latest figures, and there are more than 28,000 centenarians living there today. More than double the number here in the U.S. There are probably many reasons (including a diet high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids), but I find it intriguing that 80 percent of them drink green tea every day.
You've read about the healthful properties of green tea many times. For one thing, it's high in polyphenols. These antioxidants help protect your cells from the "fire" of daily metabolism.
A new study of more than 40,000 Japanese men and women indicated that those who drink a lot of green tea do live longer. The research also revealed that green tea may protect against heart disease. And the more you drink, the better. Those who drank five or more cups a day had rates of heart disease 16 percent lower than those who drank only one cup a day - and their rates of death were 26 percent lower.
I usually prefer tea made from the whole herb - but if you don't like to drink it, green tea extract is available at most health food stores. I recommend 500 mg to 700 mg daily. (Check the label before you buy to make sure it has the antioxidant EGCG, which is 25 to 100 times more powerful than vitamins E and C.) But remember ... green tea has a moderate amount of caffeine.
- Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
You may have heard that Japan has the highest percentage of centenarians (people aged 100 or above) of any country in the world. Japan's Health Ministry just released the latest figures, and there are more than 28,000 centenarians living there today. More than double the number here in the U.S. There are probably many reasons (including a diet high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids), but I find it intriguing that 80 percent of them drink green tea every day.
You've read about the healthful properties of green tea many times. For one thing, it's high in polyphenols. These antioxidants help protect your cells from the "fire" of daily metabolism.
A new study of more than 40,000 Japanese men and women indicated that those who drink a lot of green tea do live longer. The research also revealed that green tea may protect against heart disease. And the more you drink, the better. Those who drank five or more cups a day had rates of heart disease 16 percent lower than those who drank only one cup a day - and their rates of death were 26 percent lower.
I usually prefer tea made from the whole herb - but if you don't like to drink it, green tea extract is available at most health food stores. I recommend 500 mg to 700 mg daily. (Check the label before you buy to make sure it has the antioxidant EGCG, which is 25 to 100 times more powerful than vitamins E and C.) But remember ... green tea has a moderate amount of caffeine.
- Copyright ETR, LLC 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Green Tea - A Natural Remedy For Acne?
Natural remedies have become very popular in recent years. People have stopped looking at the expensive medications and creams to cure various conditions, and have started looking at remedies found closer to home. This is, in part, because they are less expensive, but they are also on hand and easily obtained.
Acne is a common condition in teens and adults alike, and is no exception to the theory that a home remedy can sometimes be better. If it's worked for many years, why wouldn't it work now? One such remedy believed to aid in the healing of acne is green tea.
Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments including acne and to improve general well-being. But does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern medication? The answer seems to be 'Yes'. There are only two herbal treatments that are known to be effective in treating acne and green tea is one of them.
While many teas are fermented, green tea instead, is steamed soon after being picked so as to prevent the oxidation of its leaves. This helps to retain the active substances the leaves contain. Camellia Sinensis, or as we know it, green tea extract, contains a high content of Polyphenol, along with other important antioxidants.
Green tea can serve many purposes, and it is recommended for a number of reasons. It acts as an anti-bacterial substance, decreasing hormonal activity. Since acne is often caused by hormones, which produce excess oil and clog pores, thereby causing blemishes, green tea could be a good remedy for this problem.
The antioxidents contained in green tea have been shown as very beneficial to acne prevention because they help the body fight against free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage. Green tea also has very few potential side effects, especially when compared to other acne products and medications.
Because of its advantages, green tea is also used in various creams and other topical products used to treat acne. When compared with other commonly used acne treatments, it ranked high, because of its natural anti-bacterial properties.
Other products containing green tea extract are also sold and developed, and are available as herbal remedies. It can be purchased as a cream. Green Tea and honeysuckle is often called "Pimple Tea" in China. It also helps your body rid itself of toxins, which helps prevent acne.
It is also easily available. It can be purchased in most stores that carry various herbal and other natural remedies, and can also be bought through many on-line sources. It comes in the form of tea that you drink, or can be purchased in the form of the cream mentioned above.
Drinking green tea will help cleanse your body from the inside out, while applying the topical cream, which goes directly onto the skin, will help cure and prevent acne at the source. No matter how you choose to use it, it can serve many purposes, and may be a welcome alternative to harsh products or unwanted medications.
Acne is a common condition in teens and adults alike, and is no exception to the theory that a home remedy can sometimes be better. If it's worked for many years, why wouldn't it work now? One such remedy believed to aid in the healing of acne is green tea.
Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments including acne and to improve general well-being. But does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern medication? The answer seems to be 'Yes'. There are only two herbal treatments that are known to be effective in treating acne and green tea is one of them.
While many teas are fermented, green tea instead, is steamed soon after being picked so as to prevent the oxidation of its leaves. This helps to retain the active substances the leaves contain. Camellia Sinensis, or as we know it, green tea extract, contains a high content of Polyphenol, along with other important antioxidants.
Green tea can serve many purposes, and it is recommended for a number of reasons. It acts as an anti-bacterial substance, decreasing hormonal activity. Since acne is often caused by hormones, which produce excess oil and clog pores, thereby causing blemishes, green tea could be a good remedy for this problem.
The antioxidents contained in green tea have been shown as very beneficial to acne prevention because they help the body fight against free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage. Green tea also has very few potential side effects, especially when compared to other acne products and medications.
Because of its advantages, green tea is also used in various creams and other topical products used to treat acne. When compared with other commonly used acne treatments, it ranked high, because of its natural anti-bacterial properties.
Other products containing green tea extract are also sold and developed, and are available as herbal remedies. It can be purchased as a cream. Green Tea and honeysuckle is often called "Pimple Tea" in China. It also helps your body rid itself of toxins, which helps prevent acne.
It is also easily available. It can be purchased in most stores that carry various herbal and other natural remedies, and can also be bought through many on-line sources. It comes in the form of tea that you drink, or can be purchased in the form of the cream mentioned above.
Drinking green tea will help cleanse your body from the inside out, while applying the topical cream, which goes directly onto the skin, will help cure and prevent acne at the source. No matter how you choose to use it, it can serve many purposes, and may be a welcome alternative to harsh products or unwanted medications.
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