(01-10-11) Green tea shown to fight obesity

by Michelle Bosmier


(NaturalNews) Pennsylvania State University researchers have discovered yet
another impressive property of green tea - it can slow down weight gain and
counter obesity. This recent study analyzed the health development of a test
group of obese mice that were fed a high-fat diet mixed with green tea
extracts, and compared it to that of a control group of obese mice that were
fed the same diet, without the green tea compounds. The mice in the test group
gained weight at a much slower rate than the mice in the control group, and
they appeared to be in better health overall.

Assistant professor of food science in agricultural sciences, Joshua Lambert,
who was part of this research, explained that "in this experiment, we see the
rate of body weight gain slows down."

Green tea is believed to have originated in China, although many Asian
cultures traditionally prepare and consume this type of tea. It is produced
from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have only undergone minimal oxidation
during processing. Green tea has the highest content of antioxidants among
commonly consumed foods and beverages, and that is why it has consistently
attracted scientific attention over the last few decades.

Green tea can also provide the body with considerable amounts of carotenoids,
vitamin C, and trace elements (including chromium, manganese, selenium and
zinc). Both animal and human studies have revealed that green tea has the
potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and to help with the
prevention of tooth decay by improving bone quality and density, as well as to
fight against different forms of cancer.

The study recently conducted at Penn State had the test mice on a high-fat
diet enriched with Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (or EGCG), which is an important
compound found in green tea that is associated with a reduced risk of
cardiovascular disease. These mice gained weight at a 45% slower rate than the
control group of mice, who were on the same high-fat diet.

The mechanism of action is believed to be linked to how the body absorbs fats.
The analysis of fecal matter from the test mice revealed that they eliminated
30% more lipids than the mice in the control group, which implies that green
tea may reduce lipid absorption.

Assistant professor Lambert explained: "[T]here seems to be two prongs to
this. First, EGCG reduces the ability to absorb fat and, second, it enhances
the ability to use fat." Moreover, green tea had no impact whatsoever on
appetite, as both groups of mice consumed roughly equal amounts of food. To
match the EGCG quantities used in the study, a normal person would have to
drink around 10 cups of green tea per day; however, Lambert assures us that
only a few cups per day may also help obese individuals control body weight.

He also added that although his study was conducted on mice, "human data, and
there's not a lot at this point, shows that tea drinkers who only consume one
or more cups a day will see effects on body weight compared to nonconsumers."

Assistant professor Lambert's team included Kimberly Grove and Sudathip Sae-
tan, who are both graduate students in food science, as well Mary Kennett,
professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences. The study was featured in the
online version of the journal Obesity, and it is supported by the National
Institute for Health.

The science team pointed out that although green tea interferes with lipid
absorption in individuals of all body weights, its impact is more noticeable
when used with overweight individuals who want to shake off extra pounds.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal
testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that
promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

Sources for this article include:

http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...
http://www.greentealibrary.com/GT%2...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

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