Long before the ‘hybrid car” there was the human body – a hybrid ‘machine’ perfectly designed to use either carbohydrates or fat for energy. Like a hybrid car, we can run on one fuel source or the other at any one time. If we are eating a largely carbohydrate based diet, we will be in ‘carbohydrate … Read more
Green tea is the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and contains several biologically active compounds called catechins of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) makes up ~ 30% of the solids in green tea [Kim et al]. Studies have found that green tea catechins, especially EGCG, play a significant role in both weight loss and lower … Read more
Introduction Many people look to Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) as the ”measuring stick” as to whether they are eating a healthy diet, but did you know that over the years, CFG has changed dramatically? Canada’s first food guide, the Official Food Rules, was introduced to the public in July 1942. This guide acknowledged wartime food … Read more
In 1972 the prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30) in those over 19 years old in Canada was only 10% but by 2011, it was 26%. In 1972 <8% of men were obese whereas obesity rates have TRIPLED in men since then and also increased for women. In this blog I tackle how changes in the recommendations of Canada's Food Guide has paralleled these huge increases in obesity statistics.
People often assume that the answer to the question why do we gain weight is obvious and it is because people eat more calories than they burn; the old ”calorie in, calorie out” paradigm. That is, calories not used in some form of exercise are converted to fat and stored. If we assume that the cause of weight gain is that simple, then the solution must be equally simple; eat less and exercise more, right? But is it?
Based on a meta-analysis of studies, it has been found that people can lose ~ 3 pounds in a 12 week period (making no other dietary or exercise changes) by consuming 1 – 4 tsp of green tea (matcha) powder per day. The effect of green tea catechins contained in matcha powder on body fat composition is great even when weight loss is small (i.e. ~5 lbs in 12 weeks), Total amount of abdominal fat decreases 25x more with green tea catechin consumption & the fat just below the skin of the abdomen decreases 8x more than when green tea catechins are not consumed !
