Drop 5 Pounds in 8 Weeks by Sipping This

Lose 5 pounds without even breaking a sweat? Research suggests that it may be possible -- if you drink green tea.
In a small study of obese people who had metabolic syndrome, the participants lost over 5 pounds in just 8 weeks when they began drinking green tea daily. And they didn't even have to change their diets or exercise habits.

Easy on the Body
All it took was 4 cups of tea daily -- 2 in the morning and 2 later in the day -- to produce the modest weight loss benefit. And the tea drinkers not only dropped a few pounds, but also their bodies showed less evidence of oxidative stress. That's good news for people with weight issues, whose bodies tend to experience elevated levels of oxidative stress -- a fancy way of describing when the body is struggling to deal with more body-damaging free radicals than it can effectively manage. 

It's the Catechins
So what's the key to green tea's weight loss magic? It may be the catechins in the brew that elevate fat-fighting in the body -- particularly a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is the most abundant in green tea. Makes green tea seem like a real body bargain when you consider that you can pick up a box of teabags at the grocery store and enjoy this brew for just pennies a serving. Here are a few more cheap and easy ways to do your body right:

• Eat more beans. Bean eaters tend to weigh almost 7 pounds less than people who skip legumes.
• Drink more water. Adding just 4 more cups of water to your day could boost weight loss.
• Choose the funny flick. A happy movie will cause you to snack less than if you watched the latest thriller instead.
• Skip the commercials. Commercials make people want to eat junk food -- because most commercials are about junk food.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER

Broiled Fish Fillets with Coriander-Cumin Mayonnaise

Mediterranean spices add punch to a store-bought mayonnaise and make a quick and succulent slather for broiling fish. Serve with some couscous and mushrooms to round out the meal.

 

Prep Time:

0 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

• 4 6-ounce fish fillets, such as black basas, sea trout, or cod
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, divided
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Accompaniment: lemon wedges

 

Directions

Preheat broiler with rack positioned 8-inches from heat.

Sprinkle skinned side of fillets with 1/4 teaspoon salt, then arrange fish on an oiled foil lined shallow baking pan, skinned side down.

Stir together mayonnaise, coriander, cumin, pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt and spread on fish fillets.

Broil fish until just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness of fillets.

 

about this recipe

Mediterranean spices add punch to a store bought mayonnaise and make a quick and succulent slather for broiling fish.