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Green Tea Diet on Oprah

Since 2004, green tea has generated substantial buzz for its healthful qualities. That year, Dr. Nicholas Perricone appeared on an episode of Oprah, touting green tea as a healthy, effective weight loss tool. By drinking green tea regularly, Dr. Perricone maintained, an individual could expect to lose as much as 10 lbs. in six weeks.

  1. The Diet

    • Shortly after this episode aired, Oprah herself became a convert of the green tea diet. Green tea had helped her stabilize her weight, she claimed, and had given her increased energy and renewed vigor.

      What was the secret? Simple. Substituting green tea for coffee.

      According to Dr. Perricone, coffee contains organic acids that raise the blood sugar and insulin levels in the body. A raised insulin level will in turn act as a fat burning inhibitor. Green tea, however, contains not only caffeine, which aids in burning fat, but helps maintain insulin levels. Stable insulin levels help create a platform for more rapid weight loss. Moreover, green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants serve to protect DNA from damage that can result in cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

      The diet calls for replacing your coffee drinking habit with green tea. Not everyone is a coffee drinker obviously. Replace your other caffeinated beverages. Ultimately you should be consuming 3 to 5 cups of green tea per day.

      Remember, the green tea diet is only part of an overall dieting plan prepared by Dr. Perricone. It is not a dietary end unto itself. Participants should continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly.

    Preparation

    • To prepare green tea, boil water, then carefully pour the water into your favorite mug. To achieve maximum flavor from the tea, let the bagged or loose tea steep for no less than five minutes. Dr. Perricone warns against using milk or cream in the tea, as both tend to inhibit the absorption of valuable antioxidants.

    The Book

    • Dr. Perricone's book on the subject is entitled "The Perricone Prescription." The book is available at all major book retailers. In 2009, amazon.com sells the paperback edition of the book for $12.47.

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