Is Oolong tea really a fat-burning miracle? There are so many wild and unsupported claims about foods and herbs that are supposed to help you lose weight. So it’s rather refreshing to find that wu-long tea, which is being touted as the new weight loss miracle, actually has some scientific studies that back up the claims.
Green tea is widely known to help with digestive problems but first of all, you need to find out what’s causing your digestive issues. If you suffer from nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, or diarrhea after drinking milk or eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. This is a common reaction. According to some reports, between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant.
Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase whose job it is to break lactose down into two simple sugars called glucose and galactose. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream for nourishment. If your body does not produce enough lactase, the unaltered lactose makes its way into the large intestine and begins to ferment, producing acids and gases.
ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?
Some think that they are allergic to milk when they have these symptoms. Usually this is not the case. Food allergies are rare. According to some experts, only 1 to 2 percent of the general population is affected by a true food allergy.
What is the difference?
Though the symptoms are similar, there are differences. With an allergy, the immune system produces a “histamine” to fight against foods you have ingested to which you are allergic. Some symptoms may be swelling of the lips or tongue, hives (rash), or asthma. Lactose intolerance will not cause these symptoms because the immune system is not involved. Lactose intolerance is the body’s inability to assimilate a food properly, causing a reaction.
How can help you tell the difference?
If it is a real food allergy, the reaction will occur within minutes of ingesting the food that you are sensitive to. If the symptoms do not occur for an hour or more, it is most likely lactose intolerance.
FOODS TO AVOID
These foods may also contain lactose and could cause symptoms:
* Bread and bread products
* Cakes and cookies
* Candies
* Instant potatoes
* Margarine
* Some prescription drugs
* Some over-the-counter medicines
* Pre-mixed foods for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
* Processed breakfast cereals
* Salad dressings
* Lunch meats
* Soups
TREATMENT?
At this time, there is no treatment that can cure the problem, but you can prevent some of the symptoms by ingesting a food enzyme dietary supplement just before taking your first bite of food. These contain lactase to assist the intestines in converting lactose. Products come in pill or liquid form. You can also take probiotics (opposite of antibiotics)on a regular basis. These help produce “good bacteria” in the body, promote good digestion and reduce the reaction your body may have to foods containing lactose.
Through trial and error, you may be able to determine which foods or what amount of foods cause you the most discomfort. By being observant of your body’s reaction, you will find that you know how much you can or cannot digest.
You may have to cut out dairy products altogether. You should, however, find other sources of calcium that has been supplied through the dairy products. Certain green vegetables and some kinds of fish and nuts are high in calcium.
Lactose intolerance is not life threatening, just uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. Managing lactose intolerance can be challenging, but possible. Be observant of what you eat and take preventative measures once you determine what foods cause you the most problems. Then you should find that you are symptom free and can enjoy most of the foods you love, always in moderation of course. If your symptoms persist, there may be something more serious that requires a visit to your physician. Learn to read your body and know when you need to make adjustments in your diet and nutrition.
In order to prevent digestive problems, make it a habit to drink green tea regularly, it has a host of health benefits including prevention of cancer, lowering of cholesterol, and many more.
Is wu-long tea really a fat-burning miracle? There are so many wild and unsupported claims about foods and herbs that are supposed to help you lose weight. So it’s rather refreshing to find that wu-long tea, which is being touted as the new weight loss miracle, actually has some scientific studies that back up the claims.
Green tea has long been revered for its remarkable healing qualities. In recent times, modern science has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the antioxidant power of green tea can fight cancer and disease, boost the immune system, promote healthier skin, and enhance focus and mental function.
But these studies have found out some other things about green tea. Things that you’ll be very interested in if you’re sick of that extra weight and want to lose a few pounds. Let’s take a look at them in order of importance.5. Green Tea Increases Endurance & Helps You Exercise Longer
Everyone knows that dieting isn’t nearly as effective if you’re not pairing it up with some sort of exercise. This, of course, is because exercise burns calories and builds muscle, which in turn boosts your metabolism and leads to even faster weight loss.
Antioxidants in green tea stimulate the use of fatty acids by liver and muscle cells. This reduces the rate that carbs are used and increases endurance while allowing for longer exercise times. A study on lab rats found that green tea increased the time they could swim by as much as 24%.4. Switching to Green Tea Leads to Calorie Reduction
Want to do something really smart? Stop drinking coffee and soft drinks and switch to green tea exclusively. If you’re worried about losing the caffeine burst that you get from your morning cup of Java, don’t be. Green tea has just enough caffeine to do the trick, and absolutely no calories!
Many people add sugar and creamer to coffee which sends the calories through the roof. And let’s not even talk about the nutritional disaster called soft drinks! Switch to green tea and you’ll be getting a healthy dose of powerful antioxidants while simultaneously dropping the calories and sugar.3. Green Tea Helps Calm Cravings
A recent study found that lab rats injected with green tea consumed 60% less calories than other rats. I’m sure you can imagine how this can help you during a diet. Frequent consumption of green tea also fills up the stomach reduces appetite even further.2. Green Tea Increases Metabolism
An antioxidant in green tea called EGCG, along with the caffeine, stimulates the central nervous system and causes fat to be released into the blood stream for the body to use as fuel. This process is called “thermogenesis” and it greatly boosts the metabolism.
Caffeine alone can stimulate the metabolism this way, but researches have found that the combined ingredients in green tea do a much better job than caffeine by itself.1. Green Tea Burns Fat
Green tea’s ability to stimulate the metabolism also causes the body to burn calories at a faster rate. Once the body runs out of carbs, it will turn to fat as a source for fuel. This is exactly what you want if you’re trying to burn off those pesky pounds!
So there you have it. These 5 things are helpful enough individually, but put them together and you have one heck of a head start on losing weight. Pair green tea with a good diet and exercise and you’re well on your way to a slim, fit body!