Weight Management Tips Stockton CA

Everyone knows what it means to be overweight. From early age on, children can tell the difference between "fat" and "thin" people. They also get the clear message that fat people are apt to be less popular. Body weight is one of the most basic issues of human life. Self-esteem, acceptance among peers and perhaps lifelong success or failure are all tied to our physical appearance. Medically speaking, not all overweight people are obese. Obesity is defined as weight that exceeds 15 percent of normal weight for height and body type. "Morbid" obesity exceeds 20 percent of optimum weight. An obese or overweight person is at high risk for a number of serious health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, varicose veins, dementia, psychological stress, depression, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Green tea is an antioxidant and is used in promoting cardiovascular health and reducing serum cholesterol levels in laboratory animals and humans. Studies suggest that green tea contains dietary factors that help decrease the development of some infectious diseases and dental caries. Green tea has diuretic, stimulant, astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, thermogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea has also been reported to enhance immunity.

Capsaicin is the active component of chili peppers which are plants belonging to the genus Capsicum. It is an irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact. It is commonly used in food products to give them added spice or "heat." Capsaicin is used medicinally as a topical treatment for aches and pains in muscles and joints for arthritis, backache, strains and sprains. Also, there have been studies where capsaicin killed prostate cancer and lung cancer cells.

Researchers investigated the effectiveness of green tea, capsaicin and CH-19 sweet pepper combined in suppressing appetite and losing weight. The study involved 27 subjects who were randomized into two different diets. One being the subjects ate more calories than they spent (positive energy balance). The other being the subjects ate less than their normal calorie intake (negative energy balance). The subjects were given a combination of green tea, capsaicin and sweet pepper or a placebo for three weeks with each meal. Although there was a slight decrease in calorie intake from all treatments even during negative energy balance, the effects were more noticeable during positive energy balance. The participants taking green tea and capsaicin reported the least hunger and most satiety on both diets. Researchers concluded that the combined supplement produced suppressed hunger and increased satiety suggesting this supplement may be helpful in preventing weight gain and may also be effective in reducing weight.¹

¹ Reinbach HC, Smeets A, Martinussen T, et al. Effects of capsaicin, green tea and CH-19 sweet pepper on appetite and energy intake in humans in negative and positive energy balance. Clin Nutr. Apr2009.