Today’s guest post is courtesy of Ani, founder of the California Tea House, an online tea store where you can find some of the world’s best loose leaf tea blends and Organic Herbal Teas. Ani discovered her love of tea as a child when her mother would spruce up plain teas with cinnamon sticks, cloves, lemon and honey. She has now made it her mission to provide the best quality loose leaf tea on her website, www.californiateahouse.com.
The miraculous gift of having a baby endows you with other unwanted gifts. Yup, that mummy tummy. Baby belly. Kangaroo pouch. Pot belly. Solar plexus. Spare tire. Bread basket. Front porch. However you refer to your seemingly gift with no receipt, rest assured, there is a cure.
It’s no secret that drinking tea is good for you. Green tea in particular has a bountiful supply of health benefits, especially for women. A recent study found that drinking green tea combined with a moderate exercise plan helps you combat that jelly belly.
With their findings published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers tested two groups of overweight adults in a span of 12 weeks. The study focused on elements called ‘catechins’ that are unique to green tea. One group drank high levels of catechins with caffeine and the other had caffeine with no catechins while both groups engaged in a 180 minute exercise routine per week.
What the heck are catechins? Catechins are powerful, water soluble polyphenols and antioxidants that are easily oxidized. They are 25-100 times more potent that vitamins C and E. Catechins are much more abundant in green tea than any other due to the least amount of fermentation that green tea undergoes.
Here’s how it works: Food is synthesized into a substance called “triglyceride” in the liver and small intestine, which travels into the bloodstream to other tissues in the body. Triglyceride is used by our bodies as a source of energy. The problem comes about when there are excess amounts of triglyceride, because then it is turned into fat and causes obesity.
That’s where green tea works its magic. Green tea contains high levels of polyphenols which activate the enzyme that is responsible for dissolving excess triglyceride. In the long run, this means that green tea successfully aids in burning fat.
Add the fact that green tea contains significant amounts of natural caffeine — an ambitious fat burner and endurance enhancer — and you can see why it can be such a powerful tool in the battle against belly fat.
What’s also exciting about green tea is that it contains very little or no calories, so you can sip at work all day long. As the study itself utilized a generous amount of daily consumption, a solid 4 to 5 cups of green tea per day will get the job done.
If you are new to green tea and don’t know where to start, you should try one of our most popular and delicious Jasmine Pearls at California Tea House.
We also have a wide variety of teas for all personalities including green teas blended with preserved fruits and herbs like Chunky Cherry or Moroccan Mint. For the sophisticated, seasoned palate, be sure to check out the Monkey Paw or Daughter Ring.
Maybe then you can focus your attention on your intended gifts…
sources:
1) Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults. Http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/139/2/264
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I read an article recently about antioxidants and free radicals – I would love for the writer of this article to comment on that, as green tea is an antioxidant. Here’s the article: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=100197
.-= Janice – The Fitness Cheerleader´s last blog ..Three of the Best Health & Fitness Posts of I’ve Read This Week =-.
@Janice – The Fitness Cheerleader:
That is an interesting perspective as to antioxidants in the form of supplements. However, that article is actually consistent with my post as to its position regarding dietary substances in its natural state. It is evident from the last quote of the article that it supports the study published in the Journal of Nutrition as it states: “But we have no such confusion about the powerful health-promoting effects of wholesome, mostly plant-based diets and regular physical activity.” Loose leaf tea is as “wholesome” and “plant-based” of a diet as it gets.
As the MedicineNet.com’s article acknowledges that the study is “small and short term,” it is also very clear that its findings is exclusive to antioxidants as supplements.
.-= ani´s last blog ..California Tea House – The Best of All Online Tea Stores – Buy Loose Leaf Tea and Organic Darjeeling Tea =-.
We have a tea house in Houston that has some of the green teas. Since these are so high in caffeine, is there another that you would suggest while you are pregnant that perhaps has a lower caffeine content? I love tea but am trying to cut back since I got pregnant..
-Sylvia
Absolutely. Caffeine and pregnancy dont go hand in hand. However, you should check out Rooibos herbal blends that have little or no caffeine and are super delicious! I recommend the Lemon Meringue Pie, Tiramisu, or Ginger Chai if you dont have a sweet tooth.
.-= ani bailey´s last blog ..California Tea House – The Best of All Online Tea Stores – Buy Loose Leaf Tea and Organic Darjeeling Tea =-.
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