People are always looking for natural and healthy ways to boost their metabolism and lose weight without changes in exercise or diet. Weight loss pills work for a while, but research always find harmful side effects after prolonged use. Green tea, Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), and gluten-free products are natural ingredients that create minimal side effects unless used in very large amounts. These natural ingredients may help weight-loss efforts, but will be more effective when combined with exercise.
Green tea has been used for centuries, most notably in China where it was first used, to cure a variety of ailments. Today, it is commonly used as an energy booster, antioxidant, and weight loss drink. It has been proven to provide positive benefits for the heart and immune system. Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia Sinenis, which contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol that appears to be responsible for its weight loss inducing properties.
According to a study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, as little as 90 mg of EGCG produces positive weight loss results. Thus, a person should take 2 to 3 cups of green tea, which contains 240 to 320 mg of polyphenols, a day to effectively lose weight. However, green tea contains caffeine, which increases insulin, causing blood sugar to drop; and thus, results in lethargy, dizziness and shakiness. Green tea has also been associated with lowering iron levels and even causing anemia.
CLA, which is mostly found in beef and dairy products, is also a healthy weight loss option. It is a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid, a form of omega-3 fatty acids. It is commonly used for its cancer treatment and prevention, and, cholesterol and weight control properties. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, CLA is an antioxidant that helps eliminate cancer-causing free radicals in the body.
According to a study by the Journal of Nutrition, a dosage of 3,400 mg of CLA a day can effectively cause weight loss. Its most significant effect on weight management is targeted on body composition. It reduces total body fat, while increasing lean body mass. A modest recommended daily dosage of 3.2g produces 90 g fat loss per week as shown in a meta-analysis.
Lastly, gluten is a protein found in foods processed from wheat and other grain produce, including beer, flour, breads, and pastas. The National Institute of Health in the U.S. said that between .5 and 1% of Americans are sensitive to gluten because of Celiac disease. That was 2004, but today, about 10% of Americans are gluten-sensitive. As a result, gluten-free foods have increased in sales by 16% last year alone according to a report by Nielsen Company.
The effects of green tea, CLA and gluten-free foods in weight loss are healthy. However, scientists state that the use of these foods itself is not the answer to the prevailing problem of obesity. These useful tools can only help for a healthy lifestyle and exercise program to achieve and maintain an ideal and healthy body weight. On a last note, always consult a doctor before taking any weight loss foods or supplements.
