Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Becky Harris who writes for U-Pack.

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Do you want more muscle and less fat by the end of spring? Just going to the gym and doing some cardio isn’t going to cut it. However, there are seven powerful, calorie-burning programs available that you can use in your own living room. Be aware that most of these programs are rather intense, so you should be able to do at least an hour of cardio to perform these most of these exercises.

1) Insanity

Perhaps the hardest workout routine ever put on a DVD, Insanity promises to change your body in 60 days. There is a lot of jumping, running in place, plyometrics and pushups. Most programs are about an hour and you will be sweating buckets by the end of those 60 minutes. Many people have a hard time just getting through the warm-up, but if you can do that, then the rest should be just fine.

2) P90X

Similar to the Insanity workout routine, this one is very intense and involves a lot of jumping and plyometrics. However, this workout routine focuses a lot on weight training, too. The P90X program lasts for 90 days and each one is more grueling than the last. This is meant only for seasoned athletes, so make sure you can stand doing an hour of intense movements before getting this program. However, if you can survive it, your body will be completely different when the program is finished.

3) Zumba Fitness

Though this program is rigorous, the sessions aren’t nearly as intense as the other two programs. This workout routine is fun and focuses on exercise moves that emulate dancing. This cardio program can be fun and challenging, so even people new to working out can benefit from this program. This is also great if you love dancing or dance music.

4) 10 Minute Trainer

Headed by Tony Horton, the 10 Minute Trainer is a somewhat intense workout that focuses on working different sections of your body, creating an overall muscle confusion effect. This is similar to the P90X program, which Tony Horton also instructs, but it only lasts 10 minutes, so it is much easier for people to pick up and start out with. Whether you want to tone up by the end of spring or maintain your body, this program is great for training your body.

5) TurboFire

This cardio and interval training program lasts for 90 days and it is incredibly intense. Despite that, this DVD is made to embrace beginners and the advanced because there is a training period at the onset that will help acclimate your body to the workouts. If you really want to burn those calories away, then this is definitely one of the best programs around. Just try it out and you will have a completely new body by the summer.

6) Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells

It’s no secret that kettlebells are one of the best exercising aids in the world. They building functional strength like pushups and chinups and the kettlebells are able to increase lean muscle mass like dumbbells and barbells. This DVD will help you learn several great exercises with kettlebells and the routine will work your entire body, so you will feel the burn while building muscle and losing fat.

7) Complete Physique 57 Workout Kit

This workout set comes with its own exercise ball and it will help sculpt your body regardless of your present level of fitness. A very calm and soothing workout program, this routine will help every muscle in your body get toned and ripped. Not only that, but this routine is great for helping your agility, flexibility and stability. If you are new to working out, then this program may be exactly what you need.

Conclusion

Getting fit for the spring and summer months isn’t all that difficult, you just need to find a routine or program you like and stick with it. These programs can help you whether you are just starting a workout routine, or if you are looking to shred the last of fat you have. So, pick one up, start working out and you will see just how great these programs can be for you.

About the Author:
Becky Harris is the head copywriter for U-Pack moving companies.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Electric Bloom who offer a range of unique fitness holidays.

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In a world where there seems to be a new exercise DVD, bootcamp or personal trainer promising fantastic results around every corner, it can be difficult to figure out which options are going to have the best results for you and your own weight loss goals. It’s clear that the same things don’t work for everybody, but one thing is true; you are far more likely to stick to something that you actually enjoy, or at least, don’t completely despise, so it’s a good idea to make your exercise routine fun.

Make It Social

A fitness or dance class with friends can be a great way to fit some exercise into your week while making it fun too. By sharing your weight loss or fitness goals with a friend, you’ll provide motivation and support for one another, which is a huge help. Also, you’ll find it much more difficult to back out of going to a class if you know that your friend is expecting you to go with them.

Try Something New

Many classes often require people to pay for a number of sessions in advance, which can be off-putting to those who aren’t sure that they definitely want to commit to weekly Bikram yoga or circuit training. However, many gyms provide one-off taster sessions, allowing you to try a class for free or at a reduced price, so that you can decide whether it’s something you want to continue with. It’s also worth checking out sites such as Groupon and Living Social, which frequently offer deals on the classes and gyms in your local area. You may find that you absolutely love spinning class, but even if you don’t, it won’t be a huge waste of money if you’ve only paid a discounted rate anyway.

Zumba

One of the biggest crazes of recent years is Zumba, a latin-inspired dance class that has become one of the most successful fitness programs in the world. The popularity of this particular dance class stems from the combination of fun, easy to learn routines and upbeat Latin music. It also provides a work out that mixes cardio and resistance training, which is incredibly effective for weight loss and toning up. Since Zumba is so popular, you are very likely to find a class in your area and there is now a variety of different classes available, from the original Zumba Fitness dance class, to Aqua Zumba, which is a water-based workout.

A Workout With A Difference

If gyms and dance classes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of ways to work out at home, either by using a fitness DVD or your own home gym equipment. For a more modern home workout, many games consoles, such as Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect, have their own fitness games, which have become extremely popular. These consoles have an inbuilt motion sensor, which means that games like Wii Fit and Kinect Fitness can track a player’s movement to make sure that they are carrying out their exercises correctly. The games can also record data, showing a player’s individual progress in their weight loss, making the whole process fun and interesting.

Weight Loss Retreats

Losing weight on one’s own can be an uphill battle, especially without much support from those around you. Attending weight loss retreats or weight loss holidays could be the solution to kick-start your effort to make a lifestyle change. With the help of counselling and proper eating programmes, you are taught how to get rid of bad eating habits while detoxing and exercising at the same time. Some retreats use yoga and meditation to focus you on the task of changing your life.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Natalia Żurek who writes for Webctor.

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In order to build lean muscle you need to take in lean body foods. This article provides a list of lean body foods to help you achieve your goals.

If you’re interested in building lean muscle to get that hard body, this article will help you choose the right lean body foods to support your body building needs. It’s important to avoid junk food so don’t buy it. If you can’t see it laying around, you won’t be tempted. Everything you have in the house should be healthy choices and nothing else. Some of the choices listed below will certainly be obvious to you however, other choices just may surprise you. We’ll start with staples for your refrigerator, then move on to staples for the pantry, followed by what foods to avoid and then you’ll know all about the best foods for a lean body.

Fridge Supplies

• Obviously fresh veggies and fruits when available.
• Whole eggs, the yolk is where all the nutrition is.
• Coconut milk, contains healthy saturated fats needed to boost immune system.
• Nuts of all kinds, raw is best.
• Various cheeses and yogurt.
• Chia and hemp seeds, provide omega 3 fatty acids as well as vitamins and mineral and is delicious in salads, yogurt and smoothies. Make sure to buy whole seeds.
• Avocados, provide omega 3 fatty acids.
• Butter, preferably organic, contains healthy fatty acids.
• Salad dressing, make your own with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
• Rice bran, add to yogurt, smoothies or anything that needs some fiber added to it.
• Frozen veggies and berries are good to have when the cold months come along otherwise buy fresh.
• Frozen or fresh fish that is wild not farmed. Oily fishes are best due to their fatty acid content which promotes brain function.
• Frozen chicken and grass-fed beef which is high in omega 3s.
• Exotic meats are okay such as buffalo, ostrich and other forms of venison. At least they don’t contain hormones and mass produced.

What to Put in your Pantry

• Teas are wonderful such as white, green, oolong, rooibos and yerba. They provide antioxidants.
• Oat bran is another good choice to keep on the shelf for your muscle building times. This contains carbohydrates but this is needed to provide energy while building muscle. It also contains fiber important for lowering your cholesterol levels.
• Coconut oil and olive oil are a must.
• Brown rice.
• Tomato sauces are always handy preferably from the jar and those that are made with olive oil only.
• Stevia is a good natural sweetener. Stay away from artificial sweeteners.
• Raw honey. Not processed and real maple syrup.
• Black beans and kidney beans. High in fiber, protein and nutrients.
• If you must satisfy your chocolate cravings, go for very dark chocolate, 80 percent content. Supplies powerful antioxidants and satisfies your sweet tooth. Cocoa powder is another possibility and is easily added to yogurt. You can make hot chocolate with this and instead of adding sugar add Stevia.
• Peanut butter is always good to have around as it is high in protein and contains fatty acids. If you not overly fond of peanut butter, you might try more exotic nut butters such as cashew or macadamia butters or perhaps blend them together.

Foods to Avoid when trying to Build Lean Muscle

• Processed foods, these build fat as well a health problems. These include fast foods, white bread, white rice, and chips etc.
• Unhealthy fats, such as foods with trans fats and some saturated fat products. These foods include breakfast cereals, pastries, crackers and some snack bars.
• Sugar, which includes white table sugar or sucrose which is found in many products and high fructose corn syrup. Read labels carefully. High sugar consumption may generate type 2 diabetes and make you fat.
• Processed meats which include lunch meats, bacon, sausage and hot dogs. They contain high amounts of salt and saturated fats as well as nitrites suspected of causing cancer. Processed meats will also put on the weight which you are trying to avoid. Buy fresh meats and be your own chef.
• White flour products such as white white bread, pastries and cake. These have no nutritional value and will put pounds on you in a hurry. Some so called brown breads are not brown at all. They are made with white flour and then the manufacturer adds molasses to make it look brown. Read package ingredients carefully to avoid these pit falls.
• Any foods that contain chemicals. Many of these chemicals are toxic such as bleaching agents, flavorings, preservatives, dyes and emulsifiers. Prepared salad dressings are notorious for adding emulsifiers to keep the ingredients mixed and evenly distributed throughout the bottle. Make your own salad dressing with balsamic vinegar and a good quality cold pressed olive oil. These two ingredients are not only healthy for you but taste great. Stick with organically grown foods with no additives.
• Artificial sweeteners are deadly. Stay away from aspartame, sorbitol, mannitol, cyclamate, isomalt, saccharin, sucralose, alitame, lactitol, xylitol, and erythritol. Again, check food labels carefully for these components. Artificial sweeteners are not seen in the body the same way other sugars are. They tend to overwhelm the liver making the liver not function well.

Now that we have covered foods that help you build lean muscle and foods to avoid hopefully you will be able to keep the proper foods in the house and avoid unhealthy junk food from tempting you simply because it isn’t there. These lists should have supplied you with enough choices so that you don’t get bored eating the same foods all the time and remember you can mix and match veggies, fruits and protein sources to create a greater variety of meals. If you’re interested in learning more about healthy foods and foods that burn fat, see what the nutrition experts have to say at Webctor.com.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Zoe who writes for Nuffield Health Careers.

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Keeping hydrated is a huge priority for athletes of all levels, to ensure your performance and health are at the best they can possibly be. Whether you’re just starting out on a brand new fitness regime, or you’ve been training for a long time, the importance of keeping your body in tip-top, hydrated condition should never be overlooked.

Just How Important Is H2O?

Two thirds of our bodies are made up entirely of water and it is fundamental in regulating our digestive systems, protecting vital organs, lubricating our joints, keeping our body temperature on an even keel and tons more. Water, therefore, is vital for our survival so start glugging now!

Doctors and health specialists recommend for us to drink at least two litres of water daily and more if you’ve ever suffered from any kidney conditions such as kidney stones or infection. Drink even before signs of thirst appear – remember that thirst is the first sign of dehydration.

Fuelling For Exercise

Apart from oxygen, our bodies are always asking us for water during exercise. But how much should you drink, when and in what form? There is no hard-and-fast rule for everyone, as we all have different shapes and sizes, but when exercising, it’s best to stay hydrated before, during and after for the best performance.

A common question that most people ask is whether energy and sports drinks are better than good, old-fashioned h2o. The truth is that most health specialists recommend water to replenish all water lost during exercise, unless you’ll be exercising for longer than 60 minutes, or under extreme conditions, in which case you may need those electrolytes added into various sports drinks to keep you going for longer and to replace the salts you lose during exercise.

Sports drinks do contain calories, so reserve them only for when you need an extra boost. You could even try making your own by mixing 200-250ml of squash with around 800ml of water, and adding a quarter of a teaspoon of salt. Most importantly, listen to your own body, and decide for yourself if you need something more than just plain water.

The best way to hydrate to be at your best performance during exercise is to drink two or three cups in the two hours before your workout. Weigh yourself before your workout, too. During exercise, drink little and often. It’s recommended to drink a cup every 15 minutes and after your workout weigh yourself again. Drink 16-24 ounces for every pound you’ve lost for complete hydration.

Signs of Dehydration

Here are some dehydration signs to look out for if you’re concerned about your daily water intake:

Early Signs
• Fatigue
• Dark urine with strong odour
• Loss of appetite
• Light headedness

Severe Signs
• Numb or shrivelled skin
• Painful urination
• A difficulty to swallow
• A feeling of deliriousness
• Sunken eyes
• Clumsiness
• Muscle spasms
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat

Ongoing dehydration can cause kidney stones or complications, so it’s important to monitor any of these symptoms and rapidly boost your daily water intake.

About the Author:
Today’s guest blogger is Zoe, an avid health blogger and freelance writer from Cheshire in the UK. Currently, she is writing for Nuffield Health Careers. Feel free to tweet your thoughts on this article to @bloggingstyle or @FFT_UK.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Jamie Gibbs who writes for Confused.com.

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My biggest problem when it comes to healthy living and fitness is a complete lack of motivation. I start out with the best intentions, but then my regime quickly unravels and I end up eating takeaway pizza whilst sat in front of the TV, feeling more defeated for giving up. I’ve since found that there are a host of tools available for you to get motivated and improve your health using social media, so now you don’t have to go it alone.

An App For Everything

There are a range of apps that are available for both iOS and Android that integrate social media to help you improve your fitness, depending on what you want to get out of them. If you’re a team player or are slightly competitive then you could use an app like Endomondo, which uses GPS to find other fitness enthusiasts near you. You can then set up fitness clubs or share your best run times to compete with others.

If you prefer a more independent approach, you can get an app like MapmyFitness+, which tracks your route and allows you to post the results on Facebook and Twitter. This gives you that little bit of added pressure to perform well each time, as your friends will be able to keep track of your progress. If you miss a run, they’ll know about it.

Foodie Snapshots

If you want to eat healthier, calorie counting websites advise that you make a record of everything that you eat. The problem that I’ve found with this is that it’s very easy to ‘forget’ to add certain things, or to underestimate portion sizes. Besides, who wants to trawl through a little notebook filled with notes on how much chocolate you ate over the weekend? One solution to this is to take photographs of every meal you have (and if you’re able to do so, snacks too). This will give you a quick reference of what you’re eating each day.

To help motivate you to eat healthier, you can post these photos on Facebook or Twitter, or even create a Tumblr photo blog to keep a running record of your diet. In addition to the added pressure to eat right in front of your peers, you’ll find a lot of people in the same position as you, and will be able to offer you support by following you and sharing your posts. Since testing this out myself on a Tumblr blog, I’ve found that my portion sizes have decreased quite a bit, and I’m eating much more fruit and vegetables in the knowledge that I’m sharing my fitness journey with the world.

Level Up

This whole exercise and healthy living stuff can get a little tedious for some, so why not turn it into a game? The iOS app Slimkicker gives you points for eating certain healthy foods and for exercising, allowing you to gain experience points and level up. You can also win badges for certain activities (such as eating your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day) and you become part of a wider community of like-minded people who will help to support you.

Social media has made the world a much smaller place, but if you’re interested in getting fit, it can also open many doors to help you out.

About the Author:
This guest post was written free of charge by Jamie Gibbs of Confused.com, the whole life insurance comparison site.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Becky Harris who writes for U-Pack.

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Many people have scales but they tend to deny that they are gaining weight, even if the scale shows they are carrying an extra pound or two. The sad truth is that most overweight people deny that they are gaining weight until it is too late. The scale doesn’t lie and you need to accept your weight. Here are a few helpful tips and insights that will help you know if you are really overweight or not.

1. Gaining Muscle

Many people say they are gaining weight because they are gaining muscle. This can happen. When you vigorously workout, especially with weight training or any demanding physical activity, your body is prone to gaining muscle. Since the tissue is expanding, the scale will read it as extra weight.

But when is the last time you have lifted a dumbbell or done any physically demanding activity? If it was in the last few days then maybe the weight is muscle. If you haven’t lifted a single heavy thing in the last few months or years then you are gaining fat and not muscle mass.

2. Water Weight

The body has the tendency to hold water weight, especially for females. This is also true if you have not been drinking the proper amount of water up until now. The water tends to hold the extra water until it is sure that you will properly hydrate it. This can cause a few extra pounds, usually two to five, on the scale.

However, water weight fluctuates and it should quickly leave your body from proper hydration and exercise. Not only that but people only gain 10 to 20 pounds of water weight if they have certain diseases like heart or kidney disease. Don’t blame water weight if you are 10, 20, 30 or more pounds overweight.

3. Toe Touching

Many people are not as flexible as they should be and sometimes you will have to bend your knees to touch your toes. That is not the problem. When bending over, can you do so easily? Or, do you feel your stomach getting in the way? Your stomach should not impede your range of movement and this only occurs when people are overweight. If you have difficulty moving because your body is getting in the way then you are probably overweight.

4. Difficult Physical Activity

When you are overweight physical activity becomes much harder to do. You may not be able to run a mile, but that isn’t needed for this test. Just climb the stairs and see how you feel. Are you out of breath and lethargic after climbing? If so then you are probably overweight.

Carrying extra weight puts a lot of stress on your body. It is harder for blood to circulate through the body, your joints and muscles have to carry the stress of the extra weight and your lungs require more oxygen to make your body move. If normal physical activity is hard, then you are probably overweight.

5. Defensive About Food

When your friend or spouse says you are eating too much, what is your reaction? Feeling a little hurt or angry isn’t uncommon, especially if you are really enjoying the food. But if you lash out, start feeling very depressed or start feeling uncontrollably angry then you might have a problem.

Food addiction and being overweight tend to go hand-in-hand. The extra food raises serotonin levels which makes you feel good. However, you get addicted to the extra serotonin and it becomes difficult to live without it. If you are reacting very harshly about food then you are probably overweight and have a food addiction.

Conclusion

The scale doesn’t lie. Sometime you may just be gaining weight from water or muscle. However, don’t lie to yourself. If you haven’t lifted any weight in the last few months or years and you have a hard time moving around then you are most likely overweight.

However, there is hope. Once you finally admit that you are overweight and you stop lying about your condition, you can finally get the help you need. Talk to your loved ones, talk with your doctors and make a food and exercise regimen that can really benefit your life.

About the Author:
Becky Harris is an avid blogger for U-Pack moving companies.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Lucozade.

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When running a marathon, the training plan you choose will depend on whether you are an experienced runner and the distance you would normally run.  This article provides you with a number of marathon training plans to suit all levels of runner.

Beginners

If you are new to running, you should work your way up to the marathon distance by entering smaller races first. It is important to give yourself time to get into shape too.

You should first work on your ability to run by incorporating small runs within your workout routine. Start with either 10 minutes or one mile of running. Once you have built up a little more endurance, you can follow the plan for casual runners.

Casual Runners

If you have already entered a few smaller races, you will know what to expect. The key is building up your endurance.

You will need to run at least one long run a week during your training program, then gradually building up the mileage. Give yourself around four months to train and work your way from eight miles for your run and build to a 20 mile long run.

Seasoned Marathoners

Seasoned marathoners will, in most cases, run long distances on a more regular basis and will therefore be more accustomed to training for a marathon. If you are aiming to decrease the time it takes you to run the race, work on some speed training.

One day a week, you should work on your speed by giving yourself a goal and completing your run at that pace. This generally wouldn’t be for your long run, as this should just be used to practice your endurance. If you want to run at your goal pace during your long run, try to save it for the last couple of miles.

Fuelling Your Body For Training

A lot of people think that they should concentrate on consuming carbohydrates while training for a marathon. However, it is important to try to eat a variety of foods.

Incorporating plenty of high-fibre foods into your daily routine is a great help, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. When you do eat carbohydrates, concentrate on whole grains and combine this with carbohydrates with a little protein. This will help towards prolonged energy and your body will in turn run smoother.

Hydration is one of the most important elements in training for a marathon. Dehydration can lead to illness while you are running and can be fatal for marathoners in extreme cases. Take a good amount of water or sports drinks with you on training runs and try to stop at as many stations as possible that provides water or other beverages when you are running in the marathon.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Jennifer Gillan who works for A.Vogel.

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During winter, when we’re exposed to less sunlight, our serotonin levels are depleted. Serotonin is what is technically known as a neurotransmitter which in plain English means it helps messages pass down nerves to the muscles or organs they are meant for. Your internal communication network, when fired with plenty of serotonin, will be fully functional and your body will be a generally happier and more efficient place to hang out in. Lack of serotonin is associated with low mood, SAD syndrome and disturbed sleeping patterns. It can also, bizarre as it may sound, affect your weight.

Carbohydrate consumption can boost serotonin levels, so your body may crave more carbohydrates when serotonin levels are low. Your body is always trying to do the best it can for you. It knows that a stable nervous system is very important and if the way to achieve this desirable state of affairs is to prompt you to reach for stodgy snacks, then that is what it will do.

Getting worked up about this just makes the situation worse. When under stress we produce cortisol, a hormone that instructs us to eat and store carbohydrates. This is once more a survival technique on the part of the body. Stress was originally less likely to be caused by emotional angst and more likely to signify some life-threatening danger in which food might be hard to come by and energy desperately needed to power us out of harm’s way by taking to our heels or our fists. So stress hormones instruct us to access energy in its most swiftly available form – carbs.

Knowing that our predilection for pastries and pies, not to mention the more lavishly chocolate-smothered type of cake or biscuit, is triggered by a lack of ‘happy’ chemicals can help us to plan strategies of avoidance such as those listed below:

• Get out into the daylight whenever possible. A 10-minute trot around the block or the building in your lunch break is better than nothing. Ensure that weekends see you out and about, even if the weather is grey and uninviting.
• Try a lightbox if your symptoms are quite bad and daylight is particularly elusive.
• Exercise indoors if the outside world is frozen or drenched. Exercise lifts serotonin levels anyway, whether done in daylight or not.
• Fill up on complex carbohydrates such as dried fruit which contains heaps of useful nutrients as well as providing healthy energy and giving your bowel a fix of fibre. Snack on seeds (sunflower, pumpkin and sesame) for starches that also provide you with beneficial minerals.
• Think about herbs such as Helix for curbing carb cravings and maybe St John’s Wort for supporting your nervous system.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from Holland & Barrett.

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It’s that time of year again: when we want to get in shape for the Spring / Summer season and thoughts of the gym appear. Now not all of us like those thoughts and this is what causes the ill-fated crash diets that can do more harm than good to our bodies. As such we look for new and different ways to help us to shift those unwanted pounds and inches as well as removing all the toxins from our bodies that have built up over the Christmas period.

One of the most popular ways this is done is through the use of so called ‘super foods’ which contain high levels of antioxidants. One of the most popular of these is the acai berry, pronounced ‘ah-sigh-ee’. This remarkable little berry comes from the swamps of Central America and the Amazon Basin in Brazil.

This latest berry to join the super food craze maybe small but it is packed tightly with a whole load of antioxidants including the proven fat-busting resveratrol and anthocynanins, omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, amino acids, fiber and other nutrients. While for many these terms mean nothing those who are in the know in health food terms get quite excited when the acai berry is mentioned and will wax lyrical for as long as you let them about this powerful little berry. Let’s have a quick look at why they do so.

The delightful acai berry, as has already been mentioned, is stuffed with antioxidants which help our bodies to burn the fat calls while fighting the free radicals in our system which damage our cells. It is because of this property that acai berry are said to prevent or slow down the ageing process as well as preventing the free radicals from causing diseases. On top of all this, the acai berry can also boost your overall health, aiding in hair and nail beauty. Take a look at Holland and Barrett today for all the best deals in herbs and vitamins and minerals.

Hello everyone. Today’s article is a guest post from the blogger and fitness enthusiast Jefferey Morgan who owns  Get This Ripped.

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Have you ever wondered that losing weight could be so much easier? After hours of running on the treadmill and working out, there are still no favourable outcomes? Then it is time to inculcate a wonder drink in your diets. The drink popularly known as Green Tea is a storehouse of anti-oxidants. Green tea is prepared from the leaves of Camellia sinensis and goes through minimum oxidation. It is mainly cultivated in China but has become popular all over the world. Green tea catechins are unique and contain a concentrated form of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is responsible for providing so many benefits of green tea. Green Tea is associated with many health benefits which are scientifically proven. It helps in protecting the heart by lowering the risk of heart diseases and helps in warding away certain types of cancers. Green tea helps in raising metabolic rate, induces thermogenesis and helps in stimulating fat oxidation by increasing the metabolic rate whilst not affecting heart rate.

Green Tea Variables

• Green tea beverages: Green tea is mostly preferred in the form of tea, either hot or cold or along with milk, honey or lemon.

• Green tea supplements: Some people do not like the taste of green tea. They can choose from a variety of health supplements available in the stores. These supplements take a longer time to be digested but provide the same benefit as that of a green tea.

• Green tea patch: People also opt for a patch which sticks to their body to gain the benefits of green tea. The major drawback of this method is the adhesive allergy, the patch can cause.

Benefits Of Green Tea

1. Green tea acts as an anti-oxidant: It helps in cleaning the body by getting rid of the free radicals and impurities. It also helps in repairing and bringing balance in the body’s system functions. Drinking green tea regularly after a meal helps many people fasten up the process of losing weight as it aids in digestion and in managing blood sugar levels. The antioxidants also support to increase the body’s power levels, helping to maintain a better and a rigorous workout regime and detoxifying the body.

2. Green tea and insulin levels: A diet rich in sugar and carbohydrates lead to immense weight gain. Drinking green tea regularly can delay the process of carbohydrate release and blocks the glucose production to be absorbed by the body. Green tea helps in burning the fat present in the cells of the body. Green tea along with a good workout regime can produce a fit, healthy and a lean body. Green tea also helps in curbing the hunger pangs. It is an appetite suppressant, so that extra calories are not consumed unnecessarily by the body.

3. Green tea and high metabolic rate: Green tea drinkers have a high metabolic rate which burns calories and turns them into energy. Green Tea is a natural stimulant which helps in burning more calories. The quicker calories are burnt, the quicker fat content in the body is shed.

Green tea can cure the illness states including cardiovascular (heart) diseases, arthritis and diabetes. It also prevents tooth decay and is effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is also proven that many enzymes present in green tea help in keeping the brain cells healthy and thus delaying the diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Green tea also helps in preventing acne and slows down the ageing process naturally.

Studies Conducted

A 90-day trial, conducted at Fudan University, in Shanghai, China, was funded by the Lipton Institute of Tea. The study supports existing evidence that green tea has a significant beneficial effect on body composition in Asian populations. 182 moderately weighing Chinese people were selected and were given different quantities of green tea ranging from 30 mg to 900 mg over a trail of 90 days period. The results concluded that compared to the people who did not consume green tea, the people who consumed green tea lost waist circumference, weight, abdominal fat, and total lean mass.

A study published in the January, 2005 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded “Daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 weeks reduced body fat, which suggests that the ingestion of catechins might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity.

A study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that “Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation. The green tea extract may play a role in the control of body composition via sympathetic activation of thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both.”

Conclusion

Green tea has a great effect on the well being of a human by shedding weight consistently and keeping diseases at bay. Green tea along with a good fitness regime can speed up the weight loss process and helps in creating a healthier and a leaner body. Green tea in the form of a beverage, a pill or a patch must be incorporated in the diet to increase the metabolic progression. So, “Go Green And Lose Weight Naturally”.

About The Author:
This article is a contribution by Jefferey Morgan who is an enthusiastic writer and has commendable knowledge on health and wellness, he is a fitness expert and has been working out for almost a decade. You can learn more about how to get ripped fast and visit his site Get This Ripped to know more about him.