In tea there are three main varieties – green, black, and oolong.  The main difference is really in how they are processed.  Green tea is made from the green leaves of the tea plant and are not fermented.  Green tea reportedly has the highest amount of of antioxidants (polyphenols). Antioxidants are the particles that fight the damaging compounds in the body that mutate and damage cells and DNA  (these bad guys are called free radicals).  Anitioxidants like polyphenols found in green tea help to neutralize free radicals and have been shown to reduce and help prevent damage that free radicals cause.

In traditional medicinal practice in Chinese and Indian cultures, green tea is used in many ways.  It is used as a stimulant, a diuretic (which helps the body get rid of excess fluid), an astringent (which controls bleeding and helps wounds to heal), and to increase heart health. Some other traditional uses include treating bloating from gas, regulation of body temperature, maintaining even blood sugar, helping the digestion, and improving mental functioning.

Green tea weight loss has been the subject of numerous studies in humans and animals and other health benefits of green tea have been studied as well. Some of these studies suggest that green tea may be helpful in treating these conditions: High cholesterol, many types of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, liver disease, obesity, inflammatory diseases like arthritis, genital warts, and cold and flu.

Studies show that drinking green tea reduces the risk of dying from any cause. This is quite a statement, isn’t it! The information above comes from the University of Maryland Medical Center and you can read more about green tea weight loss and incorporating green tea into your diet for optimal health on their website. I leave it up to you to determine if green tea weight loss is just hype or something relevant and powerful to introduce into your lifestyle. Even if not for the purposes of losing weight, drinking green tea is clearly good for your body. You should consider of course that there is caffeine in green tea.  Weight loss is sometimes helped by caffeine, and yet still you need to pay attention to your own body and take caffeine into account with any green tea weight loss methods you use.

mmm – it is so good!

Slim chicken fiesta wrap: Put one small corn tortilla on a plate and add 3 oz. of chicken.  Top it with 2 Tbsp. of shredded cheese (Cheddar, or Monterey Jack) and a good dollop of salsa.  Warm it up in the microwave and enjoy.

Pita Party:  Instead of a pity party binge on chips and dips, indulge in a big whole wheat pita bread with 2 Tbsp of hummus. Squeeze on some lemon or lime juice and  sprinkle with ground flax seed and paprika.

String Cheese: one yummy string cheese makes for a good snack.  You can dip it in a little warm marinara sauce for variety.

Guacamole and Bean wrap: fill one small corn tortilla with 1/4 cup of black beans and 1/4 cup of avocado with fresh salsa.

Get creative and leap out of the box.  I love nonfat greek yogurt.  Take a 1/4 cup and add some garlic powder or dill and mix it up.  Then grab some crunchy celery or carrots and dip away for some fun and tasty healthy snacks.

Dr. Furhmans makes an anti-cancer soup and serves it up along with his ideas in this video segment from foxny.com.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman says that this soup is powerful because it synergistically combines the major players in his G.O.M.B.S plan for eating to prevent cancer and lose weight. “What makes it an anti-cancer soup is that we are synergistically combining into one recipe all those foods with the most powerful anti cancer effect.”

What makes this diet fight cancer? I think most of us know that a good diet filled with healthy vegetables is a good overall plan for fighting disease, Dr. Fuhrman says that these particular vegetables go above and beyond in preventing cancer.

What is his GOMBS list?

G for greens – Green vegetables, specifically cruciferous dark leafy green vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, and kale, have isithiocyanates which Fuhrman claims kill cancer cells.

O for onions – Onions are extremely powerful in fighting cancer, says Fuhrman. In most major cancers, like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, show 50 – 70 percent reduction in the risk of cancer among people who eat the highest amount of onions.

M is for mushrooms – and all kinds are good at fighting cancer. Mushrooms have angiogenesis inhibitors which prevent red blood cells from encouraging the growth of tumors

B for Berries, which are high in antioxidants. (They left out beans in this video, which I think are another one of the great things about this diet plan, as they are so filling and you can do so many things with them)

S for seeds (actually seeds and nuts) Adding a few of these to a salad makes the body able to absorb 10 times more of the nutrients from the green vegetables.

The other doctor in this video says that there are of course many factors to getting cancer, so one can’t simply state that diet alone can prevent cancer, and yet even he says that eating right does lower the risk.

Patients of Dr. Fuhrman, such as the woman in this video, who have survived cancer, are strong believers in Dr. Fuhrman’s eating plan and are committed to using it to increase their chances for living a healthy cancer free life.

Kale With Mushrooms, Onions & Garlic

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2
Kale is my new favorite food. It is perfect for the GOMBS diet, and tastes delicious. It is one of the most nutritious green leafy vegetables in the world. It is high in the antioxidant vitamins, A, C and K and a great source of fiber.
We grew it in our backyard this year, and it grew very well in a shadier part of the garden. For this recipe, it was fun to walk out to the backyard to harvest dinner!

Ingredients:

brown rice
1 pound mushrooms, white or brown, sliced thin
1 bunch of kale (I picked my own, but one bundle from the grocery store is the right amount)
1 large onion
1.5 cups stock or broth
5 cloves of garlic
1 Tablespoon sage
1 Tablespoon thyme
splash of cooking wine
butter
olive oil
salt
a little parmesan (optional)
pepper
cornstarch
water (1/4 cup or so)

First cook up the brown rice, separately.
Then chop the garlic and onion finely.
In a large pan or skillet melt one tablespoon of butter with a dollop of olive oil, add in the onion and saute on medium heat the cooking onions start just start to turn golden.
Add the chopped sage and thyme and salt and fresh-ground pepper.
Add the sliced mushrooms and saute, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are soft.
Then add in a splash of cooking wine and softly scrape the pan to get the juices mixed in (i.e reduce the pan drippings).
Then add your broth or stock and reduce the heat slightly, add the kale, cover and cook until kale starts to become soft.
Dissolve the cornstarch in a little water, and then stir it into the kale mixture. Stir and heat until the remaining juices have thickened to a gravy like consistency.
Serve in a bowl poured over the brown rice. Top with grated fresh Parmesan cheese, if desired.

This is a great recipe that fits perfectly into a healthy meal plan for your active and fit lifestyle. Let me know if you have tried it and like it!

If you do not wish to buy hgh pills when you age to recover your lost youth, you better start eating healthy from today on. The problem mainly arises when you crave the mid-time snacks and hog up on junk food. So, what can you do when a craving for some yummy snack strikes at the odd hours between meals? Most would go out and buy a treat from the local supermarket. They are tasty and will quench your appetite, but what about the nutrition quotient of the snack? More often than not it will be a high-calorie, high-sugar snack that will tend to make you overeat. So instead of hogging on these unhealthy snack options, why not make something at home, which is as yummy but very nutritious for tackling the snack attacks?

Here are a host of homemade options for you:

1. 1. Hummus

You can prepare a puree can of any types of bean by using olive oil, garlic, lemon juice along with seasonings. It can be used as a high-fibre spread with pita chips high-fibre tortillas or baked crackers. It can also double up as an extremely tasty dip to accompany your pretzels and cut vegetables.

1. 2. Artichoke Dip

A jar of marinated artichoke hearts along with Neufchatel (only after softening it), ricotta, goat cheese, and cottage cheese is great. You can use it as a creamy dip for serving baked chips and cut vegetables or spread it on a wrap or a sandwich. You can use green olive in case you want to have a change of taste.

1. 3. Yogurt With Fruit

Adding an assortment of fresh sliced fruits to accompany your favourite low-fat yogurt will satisfy the sweet craving person in you. This is a very healthy solution as the fruit is fibre rich and the yogurt is rich in protein. It will keep your appetite satiated for a long time. You can mix and match with cottage cheese instead of the yogurt.

1. 4. Gourmet Popcorn

When you hear about popcorn you might think of plain and drab air popped edible things. But you can always jazz it up for your taste buds by adding a range of spices and oils to it. Add a little olive oil, herb-infused oil or truffle oil and add some dried herbs and spices. Add cocoa mix and butter flavoured cooking spray in case you are in the mood for something sweet. The best thing is, you don’t go overboard with your calorie intake with popcorns.

1. 5. Baked Chips

Are you in the mood for a crunchy snack? You can always choose to have a serving of baked chips. Get high-fibre tortillas and cut them into thin wedges. Spray it with a non-stick cooking spray. Add the seasonings and then bake it in the oven till it is well toasted and crisp. Pair it along with a low-fat creamy dip for the perfect snack attack solution.

People often go to great lengths to avoid high calorie food during our meals and then just forget it when they are eating snacks. These recipes will help you avoid such mistakes while ensuring they appeal to your taste buds. Happy snacking!

Jessica Gomes is a healthy living and anti-aging expert.She recommends holistic methods to treat any ailment. In her free time, she loves trying out different types of costume wigs 2012 to flaunt funky new looks.

You can learn more about the health benefits of GOMBBS in Joel Fuhrman’s new book “Super Immunity,” a guide to naturally strengthening the immune system against everything from the common cold to cancer.

Dr. Fuhrman is a New York Times best-selling author, nutritional researcher and board certified family physician specializing in nutritional medicine. Learn more by visiting his informative website at DrFuhrman.com and his blog at Diseaseproof.com, and following Dr. Fuhrman on Facebook and Twitter.

Here is a great recipe for a healthy meal from Jackie Stone. I tried this the other day and it was delicious. I have always been a big fan of mushrooms and I am so thrilled to learn that they are good for you too! Look into the GOMBS diet for more information about the health benefits of mushrooms.  The Mediteraanean diet focuses on lean meats, fresh vegetables and greens, healthy fats in moderation and complex carbohydrates in moderation.

Here she shows us how to make a fantastic mushroom side dish.  She uses Crimini and baby Portobello Mushrooms in this recipe because they are heartier and flavorful as well as having have nice firm textures.

First thing you want to do is to saute up one or two cloves of garlic in about a tablespoon of olive oil.  Once they are soft, add in two cups of cut up mushrooms.  Season with garlic salt and a bit of pepper.  Add one to two cups of chopped fresh Italian parsley and reduce that down till the parsley softens.

For the chicken dish, get the oil hot and put boneless skinless chicken breasts in the hot pan to give the chicken a nice golden finish to it.  Then after turning the heat down some, cover each piece of chicken with fresh squeezed lemon juice.  Then put fresh tarragon over each piece of chicken. Add mixture over some brown and wild rice and Opa! What a delicious and healthy Mediterranean diet feast!

Thanks Jackie!

Herbs for weight loss can be classified as:

1. Stimulants: these encourage the body to burn more calories.
2. Diuretics: these cause the body to excrete water through excess urine.
3. Cathartics: these cause evacuation of the bowels, reduce calorie consumption by impeding full digestion.
4. Appetite suppressants: these reduce hunger by expanding in the stomach, altering mood, or satisfying taste.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa aids in digestion and also acts as a diuretic.  One of the active components in alfalfa is saponin content. Scientific studies indicate that saponins assist in  making fats more soluble.  These studies also indicate that they may play a role in maintaining healthy blood vessels. The alfalfa leaves contain flavones, isoflavones and sterols..

Bladder Wrack Kelp

Kelp is a type of seaweed.  It can be found in pill form, or tinctures, or dried. It is quite tasty and can be used a salt substitute, or even eaten as a snack. It works by strengthening the thyroid , which can then increase the metabolism. Another way it helps with dieting is by giving your body easily absorbed nutrients which feed the body on a cellular level.  This itself reduces cravings. It is also useful as a bulk laxative.

Chickweed

Studies have shown that Chickweed has the ability to break down fat molecules. It is usually recommend  that you take in in combination with burdock root to balance the oils and fats in the body. The chickweed breaks down the fat and the burdock helps flush it out of the body. As a tea, it is an effective way to curb cravings, assist with your digestion, and help lose weight.

Burdock

Burdock improves the metabolism  of fat and also acts as a diuretic. Active ingredients include inulin, polyphenolic acids, and non-hydroxy acids. Burdock is a great herbal blood purifier that detoxifies the blood and lymphatic systems. It is high in iron, and can help create blood cells during times when the hemoglobin is low. It is also considered to have a mild laxative effect.  Burdock also aids in the elimination of uric acid.

Burdock root can assist in weight loss by reducing cravings and hunger. To use burdock root for weight loss  – Bring water to a boil, pour in about  one ounce of dried burdock root, and gently simmer for ten to twenty minutes, then allow the tea to cool. Drink it between meals.

Cardamom

Cardomom is a thermogenic herb. One of Cardamom’s main uses is as a digestive aid.  It has soothing and antispasmodic qualities. Studies have shown it may help with various digestive conditions.

Cayenne

Cayenne improves the circulation and digestion system.  It has thermogenic effects. One study showed that cayenne increased the body’s core temperature, which in turn increased the metabolism and caused participants to lose more weight then the group not taking cayenne.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon also causes a thermogenic burn that boosts the metabolism. It also reduces cholesterol levels – in particular, it lowers bad cholesterol while leaving good cholesterol alone. It is cinnamon’s effect on blood sugar that makes it a potential help in the war against obesity, insulin resistance , sometimes known as “prediabetes,” and the “Metabolic Syndrome.” Cinnamon can be used in its powdered or stick form, adding it to drinks and foods, or as a supplement.

Dandelion Root

This herb aids in fat metabolism by affecting the liver. It acts to remove poisons from the body, and is a tonic and stimulant as well.

Nettles

Nettles is high in nutritional value.  It is rich in vitamins C and E and minerals such as calcium , magnesium , iron , silica, and potassium. It helps clears toxins and also has a effect on weight loss that isn’t as of now, clearly understood.  But it is believed that it helps with weight loss by feeding the cells on a deeper level which reduces cravings. Nettle tea is used to curb appetite and cravings and assist in weight loss.

Fennel

A diuretic that reduces hunger and improves energy.  Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed and nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves make a useful tea for weight loss. Use one teaspoon fennel seed and two teaspoons nettle leaves to three cups water. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Fennel is potentially toxic.

Prepare fennel seed tea: 4 tsp. of seeds in 2 pints of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, keep the container covered, and allow to stand for 15 minutes, then strain. 1 cup 3 or 4 times per day, cool or heated.

Gymnema Sylvestre

This herb helps decrease sugar cravings. It works on the pancreas by enabling it to maintain a steady and even blood sugar, which helps decrease cravings and hypoglycemia.

Flax Seed

Flax seed is a bulk laxative that helps curb hunger. It is loaded with vitamins and phytonutrients, and it is an excellent source of protein and fiber. Flaxseed is nature’s gift to health! Besides stabilizing the body sugar levels, flax expands five times in bulk when ingested. Flax taken half an hour before meals will help you eat less, so you will lose weight while simultaneously strengthening your immune system.

Garcinia Cantbogia

Aids fat metabolism and reduces hunger. This herb is currently used in the United States as a component of weight loss formulas. Various species of South Asian plants of the genus Garcinia (particularly Garcinia cantbogia) have high contents of hydroxycitrate (HCA), which is the active ingredient in this and many other currently marketed weight loss products. However, it has not yet been shown, in controlled studies published in the scientific literature, to be effective in weight loss in humans.

Preliminary research suggests that garcinia inhibits the accumulation of lipid droplets in fat cells and thereby reduces lipid levels and decreases lipid accumulation in the liver. The hydroxycitrate acid (HCA) found in garcinia is also theorized to improve exercise endurance by increasing lipid oxidation and decreasing carbohydrate utilization . A dosage of, an extract containing 50% hydroxycitric acid, 1000 mg three times daily has been used for weight loss.

Green Tea

Aids fat metabolism and increases energy. Clinical studies conducted by Dr. Abdul Dulloo, of the University of Geneva in Switzerlands brought the conclusion that green tea weight loss programs raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation.
As part of their study, the investigators measured the 24-hour energy expenditure of 10 healthy men receiving three doses of caffeine (50 mg), green tea extract (containing 50 mg caffeine and 90 mg epigallocatechin), or a ‘dummy’ placebo per day. The study authors report that, compared with placebo, subject taking green tea extract had a “significant increase” (+4%) in daily energy expenditure.

Green tea extract may also help dieters shed fat. This effect is due to increase in energy expenditure.

Guar Gum

Helps to reduce hunger and has a laxative effect. As a weight loss product, it  has been used to promote normal gastrointestinal health. It has been noted to decrease the appetite by providing a “feeling of fullness.”

Precautions: Guar gum and guar gum preparations have been implicated in esophageal obstruction. The water-retaining capacity of the gum permits it to swell to 10 to 20 fold and has led to gastrointestinal obstructions. Guar gum has also been known to cause significant fluctuations in blood glucose (sugar) levels, so diabetic patients should not use it.

Hawthorn

Reduces blood fat and improves circulation. Hawthorn berry helps with stagnant, undigested food accumulated in the stomach, they also stimulate the adrenal glands and improve thyroid function.

Kola Nut

A stimulant that decreases appetite and aids in the metabolism of fat. Kola nuts are stimulants like caffeine. Kola nut is used extensively by natives of western and central Africa, and also in Brazil.

Parsley

A diuretic and nutritional aid. Juicing recipes with carrot or parsley juice help curb the appetite & reduce hunger cravings. Besides, Carrot or parsley juices can also help maintain proper blood sugar levels, reducing the blood sugar swing that you can experience when on a weight loss program It is one of the highest sources of life-giving chlorophyll which acts like iron to oxidize the blood. Look for healthy, dark green leaves.

Phyllium

Helps to curb hunger and allows the elimination of wastes from the body. Herbalists say that the weight-loss effect of plantain and psyllium is related to the spongy fiber (mucilage) in the seeds and to specific chemicals (polyphenols) in the leaves.
In one Italian study, scientists gave women who were seriously obese (over 60 percent over their recommended weight) three grams of plantain in water 30 minutes before meals. The plantain group lost more weight than a similar group of women who simply cut back on their diet. Recommended Dose: Take a teaspoonful of psyllium mixed well with a glass of juice or water. Take it before each meal.

Senna

An all natural laxative. It stimulates the colon, leading to the increased metabolism of fat.

Red pepper ( Capsicum ), Hit Mustard, and other hot spices

Scientists have found that people who took hot spicy foods (adding a teaspoon of red-pepper sauce and a teaspoon of mustard to meal) raised their metabolic rates by as much as 25 percent. The hot spice also stimulates thirst, so you drink more liquids that also helps in gaining less weight.

Citrus Aurantium

Citrus Aurantium is a commonly used Chinese herb that helps to improve the function of the stomach and gastrointestinal system. Research has shown it to be as usefull as ephedra in increasing thermogenesis levels in the body but it does not have the side effects that ephedra often has. Increasing the thermogenic process in the body may increase weight loss. Citrus aurantium, or Zhi Shi, contains a combination of adrenergic amines. These are synephrine, N-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine, and tyramine. All of these substances have been shown to have powerful thermogenic properties. When this herb is used along with moderate exercise and a healthy diet , it may assist with weight loss.

Instead of just taking capsules made of dried herbal products, think about including these herbs in your lifestyle. Eat them everyday, and as fresh as possible.  Instead of swallowing a capsule, eat a handful of fresh parsley. Experiment with tasting each of your favorite culinary herbs made up as “diet” tea. Collect dandelion leaves, plantain, mints, lettuce, whatever, and whip it up in your blender as special diet “green drink.” There are almost no calories in most herbs. Eating and living with herbs can bring you a lifestyle which may be more conducive to weight loss and result in satisfying flavors to enhance your food.

Herbs are a friendly help to weight loss process. They may not be enough on their own, but when used in combination with dietary changes and increased exercise herbs can help out most weight loss success stories.

One thing to do is to make sure that your kitchen is ready for a good start. A good non stick pan is an essential piece of kitchen equipment.  With the right pan you will not need to add much oil to keep food from sticking. Use olive oil instead as it improves the taste and is also healthier. Use only a teaspoon of oil for sautéing.

Spicy foods are great for getting your metabolism going, so don’t be afraid of adding hot spices to your food.  It is generally shown that Cayenne improves the circulation and digestion.  It has a thermogenic effect which speeds up the  rate at which calories are burned off.  In one study it was shown that cayenne increased core body temperature, which in turn increased the metabolism and caused the participants to lose more weight then the group not taking cayenne.