10 Proven Benefits of Green Tea 

By Kris Gunnars | 1,740,227 views

Green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet.

It is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body.

This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits.

Here are 10 health benefits of green tea that have been confirmed in human research studies.

1. Green Tea Contains Various Bioactive Compounds That Can Improve Health

Green tea is more than just green liquid.

Many of the bioactive compounds in the tea leaves do make it into the final drink, which contains large amounts of important nutrients.

It is loaded with polyphenols like flavonoids and catechins, which function as powerful antioxidants (1).

These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals are known to play a role in aging and all sorts of diseases.

One of the more powerful compounds in green tea is the antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), which has been studied to treat various diseases and may be one of the main reasons green tea has such powerful medicinal properties.

Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that are important for health.

Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some of the lower quality brands can contain excessive levels of fluoride (2).

That being said, even if you choose a lower quality brand, the benefits still far outweigh any risk.

Bottom Line: Green tea is loaded with bioactive compounds that can have various beneficial effects on health.

2. Compounds in Green Tea Can Improve Brain Function and Make You Smarter

Green tea does more than just keep you awake, it can also make you smarter.

The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.

It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the “jittery” effects associated with too much caffeine.

What caffeine does in the brain is to block an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. This way, it actually increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine (3, 4).

Caffeine has been intensively studied before and consistently leads to improvements in various aspects of brain function, including improved mood, vigilance, reaction time and memory (5).

However… green tea contains more than just caffeine. It also has the amino acid L-theanine, which is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (6).

L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain (7, 8, 9).

Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects. Thecombination of the two is particularly potent at improving brain function (10).

Because of the L-theanine and the smaller dose of caffeine, green tea can give you a much milder and different kind of “buzz” than coffee.

Many people report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink green tea, compared to coffee.

Bottom Line: Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function.

3. Green Tea Increases Fat Burning and Improves Physical Performance

If you look at the ingredients list for any fat burning supplement, chances are that green tea will be on there.

This is because green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and boost the metabolic rate, in human controlled trials (11, 12).

In one study in 10 healthy men, green tea increased energy expenditure by 4% (13).

Another study showed that fat oxidation was increased by 17%, indicating that green tea may selectively increase the burning of fat (14).

However, I’d like to point out that some studies on green tea don’t show any increase in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual (15).

Caffeine itself has also been shown to improve physical performance by mobilizing fatty acids from the fat tissues and making them available for use as energy (16, 17).

In two separate review studies, caffeine has been shown to increase physical performance by 11-12%, on average (18, 19).

Bottom Line: Green tea has been shown to boost the metabolic rate and increase fat burning in the short term, although not all studies agree.

4. Antioxidants in Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Various Types of Cancer

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It is one of the world’s leading causes of death.

It is well known that oxidative damage contributes to the development of cancer and that antioxidants can have a protective effect (20).

Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants, so it makes perfect sense that it could reduce your risk of cancer, which it appears to do:

• Breast cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies found that whomen who drank the most green tea had a 22% lower risk of developing breast cancer, the most common cancer in women (21).
• Prostate cancer: One study found that men drinking green tea had a 48% lower risk of developing prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer in men (22).
• Colorectal cancer: A study of 69,710 Chinese women found that green tea drinkers had a 57% lower risk of colorectal cancer (23).

Multiple other observational studies show that green tea drinkers are significantly less likely to get various types of cancer (24, 25, 26).

It is important to keep in mind that it may be a bad idea to put milk in your tea, because it can reduce the antioxidant value (27).

Bottom Line: Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against cancer. Multiple studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of various types of cancer.

5. Green Tea May Protect Your Brain in Old Age, Lowering Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Not only can green tea improve brain function in the short term, it may also protect your brain in old age.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in humans and a leading cause of dementia.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and involves the death of dopamine producing neurons in the brain.

Multiple studies show that the catechin compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, potentally lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (28, 29, 30).

Bottom Line: The bioactive compounds in green tea can have various protective effects on neurons and may reduce the risk of both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the two most common neurodegenerative disorders.

6. Green Tea Can Kill Bacteria, Which Improves Dental Health and Lowers Your Risk of Infection

The catechins in green tea have other biological effects as well.

Some studies show that they can kill bacteria and inhibit viruses like the influenza virus, potentially lowering your risk of infections (31, 32, 33, 34).

Streptococcus mutans is the primary harmful bacteria in the mouth. It causes plaque formation and is a leading contributor to cavities and tooth decay.

Studies show that the catechins in green tea can inhibit the growth of streptococcus mutans. Green tea consumption is associated with improved dental health and a lower risk of caries (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40).

Another awesome benefit of green tea… multiple studies show that it can reduce bad breath (41, 42).

Bottom Line: The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria and some viruses. This can lower the risk of infections and lead to improvements in dental health, a lower risk of caries and reduced bad breath.

7. Green Tea May Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes is a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the past few decades and now afflicts about 300 million people worldwide.

This disease involves having elevated blood sugar levels in the context of insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin.

Studies show that green tea can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels (43, 44).

One study in Japanese individuals found that those who drank the most green tea had a 42% lower risk of developing type II diabetes (45).

According to a review of 7 studies with a total of 286,701 individuals, green tea drinkers had an 18% lower risk of becoming diabetic (46).

Bottom Line: Some controlled trials show that green tea can cause mild reductions in blood sugar levels. It may also lower the risk of developing type II diabetes in the long term.

8. Green Tea May Reduce Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the biggest causes of death in the world (47).

Studies show that green tea can improve some of the main risk factors for these diseases.

This includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (48).

Green tea also dramatically increases the antioxidant capability of the blood, which protects the LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation, which is one part of the pathway towards heart disease (49, 50, 51).

Given the beneficial effects on risk factors, it is not surprising to see that green tea drinkers have up to a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (52, 53, 54).

Bottom Line: Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol, as well as protect the LDL particles from oxidation. Observational studies show that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

9. Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Becoming Obese

Given that green tea can boost the metabolic rate in the short term, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight.

Several studies show that green tea leads to decreases in body fat, especially in the abdominal area (55, 56, 57).

One of these studies was a randomized controlled trial in 240 men and women that went on for 12 weeks. In this study, the green tea group had significant decreases in body fat percentage, body weight, waist circumference and abdominal fat (58).

However, some studies don’t show a statistically significant increases in weight loss with green tea, so this needs to be taken with a grain of salt (59).

Bottom Line: Some studies show that green tea leads to increased weight loss. It is particularly effective at reducing the dangerous abdominal fat.

10. Green Tea May Decrease Your Risk of Dying and Help You Live Longer

Of course, we all have to die eventually. That is inevitable.

However, given that green tea drinkers are at a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, it makes sense that it could help you live longer.

In a study of 40,530 Japanese adults, those who drank the most green tea (5 or more cups per day) were significantly less likely to die during an 11 year period (60):

• Death of all causes: 23% lower in women, 12% lower in men.
• Death from heart disease: 31% lower in women, 22% lower in men.
• Death from stroke: 42% lower in women, 35% lower in men.

Source : http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-green-tea/

Drink green tea for healthy heart :

Drink green tea for healthy heart (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Most of us begin our day with a cup of tea and an expert suggests replacing the commonly consumed black tea with green tea.

Anil Bansal, chief cardiologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon, shares the benefits of green tea for the heart

- The antioxidants in green tea help to burn fat. The fat accumulation leads to blockage of heart. If we drink green tea at least once a day we can reduce the risk of heart ailments.

- It is also recommended for those who have suffered from heart ailment as green tea can make the heart strong.

- This type of tea increases the good cholesterol and reduces the bad cholestrol in one's body.

In addition to these, do the following to keep the heart pumping strongly:

- Ask your doctor for a cholesterol blood test
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Exercise
- Quit smoking
- Cut down on carbohydrates
- Add fibre to your diet.

वजन कमी करण्यासाठी मोलाच्या आयुर्वेदिक टिप्स...

वजन कमी करण्यासाठी मोलाच्या आयुर्वेदिक टिप्स...

आयुर्वेदिक म्हटल्या बरोबर आपल्या मनात प्रथम येतं "परिणाम हळू होत असला तरी साईड-इफेक्ट नसतात". आयुर्वेदामधे अतिशय जलद परिणामकारी औषधे आहेत ह्यावर आपला आता नक्की विश्वास बसेल. वर्षानुवर्ष सतत अभ्यास केल्यावर असा अनुभव येतो की आयुर्वेदात नमूद केलेली औषधे व आरोग्य विषयक मूलभूत सिध्दांत हे त्रिकालाबाधित सत्य आहेत. पित्तशमन औषधे व मेदनाशक औषधांची जोडी मेद कमी करण्यासाठी कशी कार्य करते ह्या विषयी थोडक्यात माहीती बघूया. वजन कमी करण्यासाठी दोन महत्वाच्या क्रिया होणे आवश्यक आहे. प्रथम आहारावर नियंत्रण व दुसरे मेद विलयन करून तो शरीरा बाहेर काढणे. ह्याला मेदनाशक औषधांचा (थर्मोजेनिक म्हणजे ऊष्मा वाढविणारी औषधे) उपयोग करावा लागतो. चरबी किंवा मेद हा मेणासारखा असतो. ऊष्णतेमुळे सहज वितळतो अर्थातच थंडपणामुळे गोठून एका ठिकाणी पक्का बसतो. म्हणून मेद नाशक औषधे स्वाभाविकपणे पित्ताची वाढ करतात. त्यामुळे आपोआप भूकही वाढते. म्हणून अशा औषधांमुळे घशाशी आंबट/कडू येणे, छातीत जळजळ होणे अशी लक्षणे होऊ लागतात. शिवाय औषध घेणे बंद केल्यानंतर भूक वाढते व अन्न जास्त प्रमाणात खाल्ले जाते. पित्तशमन औषध जेवणाच्या आधी घेण्यामुळे पित्त स्राव कमी होतो, भूक सौम्य होते शिवाय ऊष्मा वाढविणारी म्हणजेच मेदनाशक औषधांच्या ऊष्ण गुणांपासून आतड्यांच्य नाजुक आवरणाचे संरक्षण होते. ही प्रक्रिया योग्य रीतीने होण्यासाठी पित्तशमन २ गोळ्या जेवणाच्या दोन ते तीन तास आधी घ्याव्यात व मेदनाशक च्या २ गोळ्या जेवणानंतर लगेच घ्याव्यात. आपला आहार-विहार हा शरीरातील सर्व घडामोडींसाठी कारणीभूत असतो. त्यामुळे आहार-विहार आहे तसाच चालू ठेवून वजन कमी करण्याचा प्रयत्न करणे चुकीचे ठरेल. गोड पदार्थ किंवा तळलेले/तुपकट पदार्थ टाळले पाहिजेत ही बाब अगदी लहान मुलांना पण माहिती असते. आयुर्वेदानुसाठ ? आरोग्य विषयक मूलभूत सिध्दांतांच्या आधारे काही लहान-सहान गोष्टी अमलात आणल्या तर परिणाम लवकर होतो व प्रकृती उत्तम राहते. ही माहिती वाचतांना आपल्याला काही गोष्टी कदाचित चुकीच्या किंवा प्रवाहाच्या विरुध्द वाटतील, पण ह्या गोष्टी अनेक पिढ्यांच्या अनुभवातून सिध्द झालेल्या आहेत.




१) गोड पदार्थ जेवणाच्या शेवटी खाण्याची एक प्रथा आहे. आयुर्वेदानुसार गोड पदार्थ जेवणाच्या सुरुवातीला खावेत, शेवटी खाणे योग्य नाही. अतिरिक्त चरबी वाढण्याचे हे एक महत्त्वाचे कारण आहे. हा मुद्दा नीट समजण्यासाठी एक प्रयोग स्वतः करून पहा. एक दिवस नेहमीचे जेवण झाल्यानंतर ठराविक प्रमाणात काही गोड पदार्थ खा. १-२ दिवसांनी तोच गोड पदार्थ तेवढ्याच प्रमाणात जेवणाच्या सुरुवातीला खा. आपल्याला नहमीपेक्षा निम्मे जेवण जाईल. म्हणजेच आपल्याला जवढी खरी भूक आहे तेवढेच अन्न घेतले जाते, अनावश्यक किंवा अवाजवी अन्न घेणे अशा प्रकारे सहज टाळता येऊ शकते. जेवणानंतर पान खाण्याची पध्दत योग्यच नव्हे तर शास्त्रीय आहे. ह्याचा अर्थ प्रत्येकाने पान खावे असा न घेता, जेवणाचा शेवट गोड पदार्थाने करू नये, एवढा अर्थ नक्कीच घेतला पाहिजे. शरीराला हलकेपणा आणण्याचा हा अगदी सहज सोपा उपाय आहे.

२) सर्व फळांमधे कमी-जास्त प्रमाणात साखर असते. त्या साखरेला उतारा म्हणून निसर्गाने सोबत कडू-तुरट चवीच्या बिया व साली दिल्या आहेत. बिया व सालींमधे अधिक प्रमाणात जीवनसत्व असतात. आपण फक्त चवीच्या सुखानुभवा पायी ही जीवनसत्व वाया घालवतो. वजन कमी करण्याचा निश्चय केलेल्यांनी सहज शक्य होतील तेवढ्या बिया व साली फेकून देऊ नयेत.

३) चरबी किंवा मेद हा मेणासारखा असतो. ऊष्णतेमुळे सहज वितळतो अर्थातच थंडपणामुळे गोठून एका ठिकाणी पक्का बसतो. आपल्याला वजन कमी करण्याची खरी इच्छा असेल तर थंड पाणी, कोल्ड ड्रिंक्स किंवा इतर थंड पदार्थ घेणे वर्ज्य करा. चरबीच्या नियंत्रणासाठी शरीर आपणहून ऊष्ण स्वभावी पाचक-स्राव तयार करीत असते. मेदाच्या नियंत्रणासाठी वर्णन केलेली बहुतेक सर्व औषधे पाचक-स्राव वाढवूनच चरबी कमी करतात. अन्न घेतल्यानंतर लगेच थंड पाणी, कोल्ड ड्रिंक्स, लस्सी, आईसक्रीम किंवा इतर थंड पदार्ࠊ?? घेण्यामुळे त्या पाचक-स्रावांचा परिणाम एकदम सौम्य होतो आणि चरबी साठून राहण्यसाठी कारण होते. अन्न पचवणारे पाचक-स्राव विस्तवा सारखे ऊष्ण असतात. त्यावर थंड पदार्थ किंवा थंड पाणी ओतल्यावर काय होईल ह्याचा आपणच विचार करा.

४) चहा-कॉफी सारखी साखरयुक्त पेय दिवसातून दोन पेक्षा जास्त वेळा घेऊ नयेत. त्याच्या घोटा घोटा बरोबर पोटात जाणारी सखर नकळतपणे चरबी वाढविण्यास कारण होते.

५) जेवणानंतर कधीही लगेच झोपू नये. शतपावली करणे चांगले. जेवणानंतर येणारी झोप ही खरी झोप नसून ती केवळ सुस्ती असते ज्याने शरीराचा बोजडपणा वाढीस लागतो. वामकुक्षीच्या नावाखाली डाराडूर झोप काढणे म्हणजे वजन वाढीला व एकंदरित रोगराईला आग्रहाचे आमंत्रण देण्यासारखेच आहे.

६) लवकर झोपून लवकर उठावे, हा नियम आरोग्यासाठी खरोखर लाख मोलाचा आहे. उशीरा झोपून उशीरा उठणारे शेकडा नव्वद टक्के लोक तब्बेतीने जाडजूड असतात असे आढळून येते.

७) दूध व दुधाचे पदार्थ नियमितपणे घेऊ नयेत. दुधातील पौष्टिक प्रथिनांची किंवा पिष्टमय पदार्थांची गरज भागल्यानंतर हे पदार्थ घेणे चालूच ठेवले तर त्यांचे रूपांतर चरबीत होते. दुधाचे दात पडले की नियमितपणे दूध पिणे आवश्यक नसते हे लक्षात ठेवावे.

८) निसर्गाच्या निर्मात्याने मनुष्य शरीराची रचना ही मांसाहार पचनासाठी केलेलीच नाही . ज्यांना मांसाहार केल्याशिवाय चैन पडत नाही त्यांनी आठवड्यातून एक किंवा जस्तीत जास्त दोन जेवणातच मर्यादित प्रमाणात मांसाहार घ्यावा.

९) बैठ्या कामामुळे मेद वाढतो. सतत कार्यक्षम राहा, सुस्ती आणि आळशीपणा टाळा. दारावरची बेल वाजली की ‘दुसरा कोणी उठण्याआधी आपण दार उघडण्यासाठी उठा’. अशा साध्या-सोप्या सवयी अंगी बाळगण्यामुळे शारीरिक हालचाली वाढून वजन वाढण्याची सवय कमी होते.

१०) दुपारी झोपण्याची सवय केवळ वजन वाढण्याच्ठ ?ा दृष्टिकोनातूनच नव्हे तर एकूण आरोग्या साठी पण अत्यंत हानिकारक आहे. अशी सवय लागली असेल तर ती ताबडतोब सोडावी, चांगल्या मुहूर्ताची वाट बघू नये. सवय मोडतांना काही दिवस त्रास वाटेल पण कालांतराने होणारे चांगले परिणाम अतिशय महत्वाचे आहेत हे विसरून चालणार नाही.

११) जेवण झाल्यानंतर “आता पोट भरले, आता आणखीन अन्न नको” हा संदेश मेंदूतून निर्माण होतो. पोट भरल्या नंतर १० ते १५ मिनिटां नंतर हा संदेश निर्माण करण्याची यंत्रणा मेंदूतून कार्यरत होते. म्हणून साधारण प्रमाणात अन्न घेऊन झाल्यावर १० ते १५ मिनिटे थांबून मग स्वतःलाच प्रश्न विचारावा, “अजून खरोखर भूक आहे का?” जर उत्तर “नाही” मिळाले तर लगेच पडत्या फळाची आज्ञा समजून ‘बस्स’ करा.


१२) जास्त जेवण घेण्याची सवय चरबी वाढण्याचे कारण आहे. क्रमाक्रमाने आहार चार घास कमी घेण्याची सवय केली तर थकवा न जाणवता वजन कमी राहून स्वास्थ्य उत्तम राहते.

१३) ‘भात खाण्यामुळे वजन वाढते’ असा एक गैरसमज सर्वत्र आढळतो. भात हे दक्षिण भारतीयांचे मुख्य अन्न आहे व गव्हाचे पदार्थ पंजाब किंवा उत्तर भारतीयांचे. अंगकाठीचा विचार केल्यास दक्षिण भारतीयांची एकूण प्रकृती बारीक असते तर उत्तर भारतीयांचे वजन काय किंवा एकंदर शरीर जास्त धडधाकट दिसते. तांदळाच्या शेतीसाठी आणि प्रत्यक्ष भात शिजवण्यासाठी भरपूर पणी लागते. त्यामुळे भात पोटात गेल्यावर पोट लवकर भरल्यासारखे वाटते खरे पण त्यामधून पोषक अंश फार कमी प्रमाणात घेतले जातात. तांदूळ कोरडे भाजून थोडे तांबुस झाल्यावर त्याचा भात करावा. वजन कमी करण्यासाठी हा पचायला हलका भात म्हणून फार उपयोगी होतो. व्यवस्थित जेवण झाल्यानंतर भात खाण्यामुळे मात्र मेद वाढतो कारण पाचक स्त्रावांना थंड करण्याची किमया ह्या ‘शेवटच्या भातामुळे’ होते. केवळ भात खाऊन वजन वाढत नाही हे लक्षात ठेवावे.

१४) दिवसातून किती वेळा आहार घ्यावा ह्या विषयी अनेक मतभेद आढळतात. कोणी सांगतात “थोड्या-थोड्या वेळाने थोडाथोडा आहार घ्यावा” तर कोणाच्या मते “ठराविक वेळी पोटभर जेवावे”. अशा वेळी काय बरोबर व काय नाही अशी शंका आपल्या मनात नक्कीच घर करून राहात असेल. अशा संभ्रमाच्या वेळी ‘आयुर्वेदाची शिकवण योग्य’ असेच मानावे. आयुर्वेदात “याम मध्ये न भोक्तव्यं, याम युग्मं न लंघयेत्” असा श्लोक आहे. ह्याचा अर्थः “चार तासांच्या आधी काही खाऊ नये व आठ तासांपेक्षा जास्त वेळ उपाशी राहू नये.

१५) मद्यपान करण्याची आवड असेल तर त्याविषयी थोडी शास्त्रीय माहीती: मद्यपान करण्याची भारतात पध्दत म्हणजे जेवणाच्या आधी घेऊन नंतरच जेवणाचा कार्यक्रम असतो. मद्यपानठ ? मुळे पाचक-स्राव वाढतात व परिणामी भूक वाढते म्हणून जरुरी पेक्षा जास्त आहार घेतला जातो. जेवणाच्या नंतर मद्यपान करण्यामुळे वाढलेले पाचक-स्राव हे अन्न लवकरात लवकर पचवण्यासाठी उपयोगी पडतात. शिवाय जेवणाच्या आधी केलेल्या मद्यपाना मुळे सर्व अन्नघटक मेदात रूपांतरित होतात असे शास्त्रीय प्रयोगांच्या आधारे सिध्द झाले आहे. म्हणून मद्यपान करण्याची आवड असेलेल्यांनी जेवणानंतरच मद्यपान करावे. ज्यांना चरबी वाढवण्याची इच्छा असेल त्यांनी जेवणाच्या आधी घेऊन चालेल.

१६) कडधान्यां बद्दल थोडक्यात: मोड आलेली कडधान्य स्वास्थ्यासाठी उत्तम असे आपण अनेक ठिकाणी वाचले असेल. काही अंशी हे खरे आहे. त्यातील महत्वाचा मुद्दा असा की ज्या वयात पचन शक्ती उत्तम असेल किंवा नियमित व्यायाम करण्याची सवय असेल तरच मोड आलेली कडधान्य खावीत. वयाच्या ४५-५० नंतर ही कडधान्य त्रासदायक ठरतात. ह्या वया नंतर ‘भर्जित’ म्हणजे भाजलेले धान्यच आहारात वापरावे. भाजलेल्या धान्याला कितीही भिजवले तरी मोड येत नाहीत. मेद किंवा चरबी विषयी जागरूक असलेल्यांनी कडधान्य टाळणे महत्वाचे आहे. ह्या उलट वजन वाढवण्यासाठी कडधान्यांचा वापर आहारात नियमितपणे करावा.

१७) व्यायाम कसा, कोणता व किती करावा: व्यायामाचे फायदे सांगण्याची गरजच नाही. ह्या विषया बद्दल काही महत्वाच्या गोष्टी म्हणजे, कोण किती व्यायाम करतो ह्या पक्षा त्यात किती नियमितपणा आहे हे सर्वात महत्वाचे. वजन कमी करण्यासाठी कशा प्रकारचे व्यायाम करावेत? शरीरात मेद कुठे साठतो? चरबीच्या पेशी कुठे जमा होतात? काही प्रकारचे व्यायाम मस्तपैकी भूक वाढवतात तर काही व्यायाम चरबी हटवतात. त्वचा आणि मांसधातू च्या मधे ह्या चरबीच्या पेशी दबा धरून असतात. त्यामुळे मांसपेशींना पीळ पडेल असे व्यायाम चरबी हटवण्यासाठी उत्तम. ओला कपडा लवकर सुकण्यासाठी जी प िळण्याची पध्दत आहे तशी ही व्यायामाची क्रिया करावी.

Source :http://pimparud.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html

White Rice and Diebetes

Does White Rice Increase Your Risk For Diabetes?

White rice might be pleasing to the palate, but it could also significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

A Harvard School of Public Health study has found evidence of the association between eating white rice and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The study seeks to determine whether this risk is dependent on the amount of rice consumed and if the association is stronger for the Asian population, who tend to eat more white rice than the Western world.

The authors analysed the results of four studies: Two in Asian (China and Japan) and two in Western countries (US and Australia). All participants were diabetes free at study baseline, reports the British Medical Journal.

White rice is the predominant type of rice eaten worldwide and has high Glycemic Index (GI) values. High GI diets are tied with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a Harvard statement.

GI indicates how fast and how high a particular food can raise our blood glucose (blood sugar) level. A food with a low GI will typically prompt a moderate rise in blood glucose while a food with a high GI may cause our blood glucose level to increase above the optimal level.

The average amount of rice eaten varies widely between Western and Asian countries, with the Chinese population eating an average of four portions a day and those in the Western world eating less than five portions a week.

The results also show that the more white rice eaten, the higher the risk of type 2 diabetes: the authors estimate that the risk of type 2 diabetes is increased by 10 percent with each increased serving of white rice (assuming 158 grams per serving).

White rice has a lower content of nutrients than brown rice, including fibre, magnesium and vitamins, some of which are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The authors report, therefore, that a high consumption of white rice may lead to increased risk because of the low intake of these nutrients.

Sourced from: http://www.saffolalife.com/gethealthy/dietandnutrition/does-white-rice-increase-your-risk-for-diabetes-article-njcnQuhghbacb.html

Heart Healthy foods

Kitchen Secrets-Indian Foods That Are Good For The Heart

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is considered as one of the major killer diseases in the world? While lack of physical activity and stress could be some of the reasons, only exercising may not be sufficient to maintain a healthy heart.

Eating the right kind of food is important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.

Here’s a list of foods, which are readily available in your kitchen and good for heart:

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A, fibre and lycopene and help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. They are also an excellent source of potassium that help in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body which is necessary for regulating blood pressure. Having sweet potatoes can actually help prevent an onset of heart attack.

Whole grains

Whole grains such as brown rice, oats, ragi, jowar, bajra and barley are a boon for your heart. They are an excellent source of fibre as well as other nutrients that help regulate your blood pressure. The plant sterols in the whole grains play an important role in lowering your cholesterol. As these grains are full of fibre, they provide a feeling of fullness with very few calories, help in weight management and a healthy heart.

Here’s a tip – Grind flaxseed in a food processor and add it to all your curries, cereals and soups. Flax seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower your cholesterol levels.

Chilli powder

We all use chilli powder in most of our curries. If you don’t, it’s time you did! Chilli powder is known to prevent blood from clotting, keeps blood thin, reduces cholesterol level in the blood and therefore reduces your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Nuts

Nutritionists say that people who make nuts a part of their daily diet can lower their ‘bad’ cholesterol level in the blood. So, eat almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds every day. Have nuts for a snack during your mid-day or coffee break. If you are up late and working, munch on them instead of a bag of potato chips.

The ‘good’ fats in the nuts lower your cholesterol levels, the vitamin E in it stops plaque from developing in your arteries, which may lead to chest pain or a heart attack.

Green veggies

Leafy vegetables such as spinach (palak), fenugreek (methi), radish leaves are low in calories and high in dietary fibre. They are also packed with potassium, calcium and folic acid. Studies have shown that these nutrients in the green leafy vegetables help in lowering the risk of heart diseases by nearly 11 per cent.

Rajma (kidney beans)

Rajma, also known as kidney beans is a rich source of folic acid, antioxidants and magnesium. These nutrients are excellent for lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. Rajma is very low in calories and a great addition to your diet if you are working towards maintaining a healthy heart. The soluble fibre in the kidney beans stops the bile acids from turning into cholesterol and thus preventing the possibilities of heart attack or stroke.

 

Sourced from: http://www.saffolalife.com/gethealthy/hearthealth/kitchen-secrets-indian-foods-that-are-good-for-the-heart-article-nivnyujgdddab.html

Protein needs

Protein: Are You Getting Enough?

It’s an important building block of a healthy diet. But of the three macronutrients in food -- protein, fat, and carbohydrates -- protein may be the one you know least about.

 

How Much Is Enough?

Protein requirements are complicated because the amount we need changes with age.

• Infants require about 10 grams a day.
• Teenage boys need up to 52 grams a day.
• Teenage girls need 46 grams a day.
• Adult men need about 56 grams a day.
• Adult women need about 46 grams a day.

One important exception is pregnant or lactating women. The recommended intake for them rises to 71 grams of protein a day.

Continue reading below...

Another way to look at protein requirements is as a percentage of calories. The Institute of Medicine recommends we get at least 10% and no more than 35% of calories from protein.

Most people get enough protein, but some might do well to add a few additional sources.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that 7.7% of adolescent females and about 8% of older adult women weren't getting the minimum recommended amount of protein.

As a proportion of total calories, the median intake of protein in children was 13.4%, below the ideal range. Men aged 51 to 70 consumed 16% of their calories in protein, also a little below the recommended amount.

The Risks of Too Little Protein

That shortfall could mean trouble. Protein is important to many physiological functions from building and maintaining muscle and bone to keeping cells in good working order.

Recent studies suggest that protein makes a meal more satisfying, which in turn could help people maintain a healthy weight. Indeed, a 2005 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that increasing protein from 15% to 30% of total calories -- and reducing fat from 35% to 20% of calories -- resulted in sustained weight loss.

Choosing the Healthiest Sources of Protein

A wide variety of foods -- from meat, fish, and dairy to beans, whole grains, nuts, eggs, and vegetables -- contain protein. A meat-eater can easily get all the protein he or she needs. But even vegetarians can meet their requirements if they choose with a little care.

How healthy a protein-rich food is typically depends on what else it contains. For example:

• Meat is one of the leading sources of protein in the American diet. Some meat is also loaded with saturated fat, which is unhealthy. The healthiest choice is lean meat low in saturated fat.
• Fish is an excellent source of protein and the oils contained in fish help protect against heart disease.
• Eggs are also abundant in protein, although they also contain dietary cholesterol -- up to 185 mg for a large egg.
• Plants such as beans and nuts are a particularly wise choice for protein since so many Americans fall short on fiber. Both beans and nuts are rich in fiber and plant-based phytochemicals that may help lower heart disease and cancer risk.

Choosing the Healthiest Sources of Protein continued...

Some studies suggest that plant-based proteins are healthier than those from animals. For instance, researchers studying diet and health in rural China found that low rates of heart disease were associated with consumption of plant-based rather than animal-based protein. In a study of older men in the U.S., protein from beef was more likely than soy-based protein to raise cholesterol levels.

Many of us would do well to tip the balance of our diets away from high-fat meat and toward lean meats and plant-based protein such as beans and nuts. But in the end, most nutritionists agree the healthiest approach is to choose from a variety of protein sources. If you're watching your weight, try including a source of protein with every meal. Doing so can help you feel full longer.

 

Note: Taken from http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/protein

Eat Right :)

From internet sources...