Grapefruit & Green Tea To Lose Weight

Losing weight not only increases confidence, but also reduces the risks for specific diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Besides increasing exercise, changing parts of your diet can have a positive effect on your waistline. Research has revealed that eating certain foods, such as grapefruit, and drinking certain beverages, such as green tea, can help enhance fat loss.

Fat Loss Mechanisms

Green tea burns fat in two major ways. First, green tea is rich in catechins, which are antioxidants that boost fat loss by increasing energy expenditure. Second, catechins inhibit the breakdown of norepinephrine, a fat burning hormone. Elevated levels of norepinephrine are linked with greater fat burning.

Grapefruit contains the compound nootkatone, which stimulates the release of proteins that ramp up calorie burning. In addition, research published in the May 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism," states that nootkatone reduces body fat, especially from the abdominal area. Furthermore, research shows that eating grapefruit keeps insulin levels steady, which improves fat loss.

Grapefruit Reduces Body Fat

Researchers investigated the effects of grapefruit juice and fresh grapefruit on body weight in obese patients. During the 12-week study, scientists discovered that subjects ingesting half of a fresh grapefruit or 8 ounces of grapefruit juice three times a day before each meal lost significantly more body fat than those taking a placebo, according to a study published in the March 2006 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food."

Green Tea Boosts Fat Loss

Scientists studied the effects of catechins, the main component of green tea, on increasing energy expenditure. They found that subjects consuming green tea significantly increased their energy expenditure and fat oxidation compared to a placebo group. Researchers also noted that the green tea group had higher levels of the fat-burning hormone norepinephrine, according to the study reported in the December 1999 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

Dosage

As stated in the study above, consume half of a fresh grapefruit or eight ounces of grapefruit juice three times a day before meals to boost fat loss. For green tea, each cup contains approximately 100 milligrams of catechins. According to the Green Tea Library website, consume between 3 to 10 cups of green tea a day for its fat-loss benefits.

Side Effects

According to the Mayo Clinic website, grapefruit can interaction with medications such as Amiodarone, Buspirone and Carbsmazepine. Therefore, consult your physician about the effects of grapefruit on your medications.

The high caffeine content of green tea can cause unwanted side effects such as insomnia, stomach ulcers and increased blood pressure. Cut back on green tea or switch to decaffeinated green tea if you are experiencing these symptoms.