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Rowing machines are unsung heroes in the fitness arena. They provide excellent cardiovascular and muscle building exercise. If you have an indoor rowing machine, you also have the ability to exercise anytime and during any type of weather.

Do you have a few pounds you need to lose? Rowing machines burn 500 - 800 calories per hour if you row vigorously. The rowing action is a low impact movement which means that it does not jar elbows or knees because you use a smooth, sliding action to complete the motion. Because rowing increases your heart rate, it is considered a cardiovascular exercise. It strengthens your heart muscle and helps to increase your lung capacity and performance.

There is the possibility that you are a healthy weight, but maybe you have some areas of muscle that need toning. If you do still have that last pound or two, just remember that muscle burns more calories than fat. A rowing machine works the all the major muscle groups. You can count on a workout in the muscles of your back, shoulders, back of the upper arms, buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. Your legs are used to move the seat back and forth along the range of motion of the stroke.

The stroke begins with the legs bent (shins vertical) and finishes with the legs extended and then repeats. The arms are strengthened beginning with full extension when grasping the oars (referred to as “the catch̶ to the point when the arms are pulled into the abdomen. Your core muscles (back, abdomen, and chest) are used to stabilize and complete the central portion of the stroke. The back muscles are primarily used as you are pulling back in the stroke and the abdomen muscles are used coming forward. All the movements of the body during the stroke should be completed as smoothly as possible.

Rowing can also be fundamental in reducing the amount of stress you hold on to after work. The repetitive nature of the rowing stroke allows time for the mind to find something else to fixate on. This of course gives you the opportunity to clear your mind of your worries while you concentrate on making each stroke count.

Rowing is, above all, enjoyable. Using a rowing machine can help you perfect your stroke so you can be counted on during the next rowing competition or next excursion onto the lake, canal, or pond. Maybe you will decide to take your next date to a secluded spot on the lake for a romantic picnic. Once you have mastered the stroke, you can just enjoy the exercise. You can spend your workout listening to music on your mp3 player or watching a show on your TV.

Fitness can be fun and effective at the same time. By spending a few minutes a day exercising, you can lose weight, build muscle tone, decrease stress, and have an enjoyable outlet for your energy. A unique solution to your exercise needs is an indoor rowing machine.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on rowing machines and the Concept2 rowing machine at http://www.rowingmachineratings.com

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Functional fitness is a method of training that not only improves strength, endurance, and body composition, but also functional capacity. Ok, Ill admit it; my definition is about as vague as the phrase itself. Bear with me and Ill try to explain more clearly. To me, fitness represents the optimal state of a human being. It is characterized by strength, endurance, flexibility, power, stamina, and optimal body composition among other factors. Functional is a term that refers to real-world applicability.

Based on these definitions, it should be blatantly obvious that the average approach to training is woefully lacking on both counts. Most training programs focus on only a few attributes of fitness to the detriment of all others and have very little functional value. An example would be the trainee who runs on a treadmill for an hour 3 times a week and does high rep resistance work on a machine once a week. Both cardiovascular and muscular endurance are being improved, but strength and power have been left to the wayside. This type of training also guarantees loss of muscle mass which results in lowered basal metabolic rate (metabolism) and as a result body composition is negatively effected. The program has next to no functional worth because it does not carry over into the trainees day to day activities. This is in large part due to the resistance work being done on machines rather than with free weights. The machines lock the human body into unnatural movement patterns and attempt to segment the body into individual pieces. Movements like cable crossovers and tricep push downs are never replicated in real life. To top things off, this type of training is incredibly monotonous and boring! A program geared toward functional fitness might have the trainee training a total of 3 times per week. Each session would feature a different combination of one or more of the following: bodyweight movements, compound free weight exercises, and intense yet brief bouts of cardio. The variation in the program keeps things fun, exciting, and challenging. Sets and reps would be varied so there would be increases in both muscular strength and endurance. Properly executed explosive movements like the Olympic lifts (clean and jerk/snatch) would give way to unprecedented power. Cardio would be approached from an interval perspective, which would improve both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, and consequently cardiovascular endurance.

The high intensity short duration workouts, including a warm-up and cool-down, would only take around 30-45 minutes; yet they would burn large amounts of calories and elevate metabolic rate for hours after the workout had finished. On top of all this, the program would be extremely functional due the exercises and movements; squats, push-ups, deadlifts, pull-ups, presses, and clean and jerk to name a few. You have to squat to get on and off your couch, or toilet for that matter. A push-up is nothing more than a means of getting off the floor. Whenever you pick up anything from the ground you are performing a deadlift. If youve ever climbed a tree or had to surmount some object youve done a pull-up. Each time you reach above your head to put something away or get something down you are performing a press. The clean and jerk is a combination of a deadlift and press; it represents picking something up off the floor and placing it in/on a shelf above your head. Wouldnt you like your training program to not only improve your appearance but also your efficiency and effectiveness in your day to day life? I know I would. This type of training also has a profound impact on general physical preparedness or GPP. GPP represents your ability to readily adapt to any given situation. This is unbelievably empowering as it allows you to explore the capacities of the human body. If you decide to take up kayaking, mountain biking, or tennis, you will be physically prepared and able to do so. Increased GPP removes the limitations most people place on themselves by following a sedentary lifestyle or allowing themselves to fall prey to health and fitness dogma.

Lets recap what weve learned:

Training programs based on functional fitness are superior to standard training programs for many reasons including, but not limited to:
*Their ability to improve all parameters of fitness without sacrifice.

*Their beneficial effect on body composition (less body fat, more muscle).
*Their ability to carry over into the real world and improve functional capacity.

*Their ability to increase GPP and provide physical freedom.

*Their short duration and regular variation.

*The fact that they are fun!

In other words, by adopting a program based on functional fitness, you will be decreasing your investment (time), but increasing your return (improved fitness and function). You will also be opening the door to a world of possibilities that may have never existed for you. The question is do you want to be functionally fit? In the next article I will introduce an amazing fitness program based on functional fitness that can be accessed free of charge! Stay tuned.

Jonathon Edward is a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutritional Advisor, and Motivational Coach based out of Orlando, FL. He specializes in creating unique and effective training and nutrition programs that consistently help his clients reach their goals. Jonathon is also the founder of Primal-Movement, a personal training company providing Functional Fitness to the masses.
More info can be found at: http://www.primal-movement.com

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I’m not a gym person. I actually hate the gym”. If I had a quarter for every person I’ve heard say that…

Yet, it is true. Not everyone is cut out for the gym environment.

Some people really thrive in the gym, while others prefer to be outdoors. Some like to play team sports, while others prefer to participate in an activity they can do on their own, like roller blading or biking. Others still, prefer to do it at home with exercise dvds, or in their own home made gym.

The most important thing is finding out which scenario will be most enjoyable, motivating and productive for you. That will insure that you remain consistent with your workouts, which is imperative if you’re going to be successful at this whole fitness thing.

It sounds like a simple task to figure out, but you’d be surprised at how many people are at a loss when it comes to deciding how to get and keep fit. To make a good, effective decision, you first should ask yourself these questions:

1) What physical activities do I really enjoy?
2) What’s my fitness level at this point in time?
3) Do I like free flowing, creative, dance centered activities, or do I prefer something more structured and sports oriented?
4) Am I competitive?
5) Do I enjoy being part of a group?
6) Do I need outside motivation, or am I good at pushing myself?
7) Am I comfortable enough with my body shape and size to exercise around those fitter than myself?
Do I prefer to be outdoors or in?
9) What works with my time schedule?
10) What can I commit to long term?
11) What is available in my area of work or home, that is also within my budget?

Take the answers to these questions, and create a list of activities that fit them the best. Remember, start with figuring out what type of activities and environment you enjoy, check the availability of the resources around you, and work it from there

If working out at home is more your cup of tea, get the supplies you need, such as dumbbells, mats, dvds and motivational music and get it smokin’. Need a push? Get a friend to join you on your fitness quest. Having someone else to push you and keep you accountable always helps.
Like being part of the team? Check out what’s available in the way of group sports in your area, and see which have schedules that you can work with. And don’t get stuck just thinking the way everyone else does; get creative and think up some activities on your own, if you’re the creative type. There’s always more than one way to do it.

The best way to achieve anything in fitness, and in life, for that matter, is to get a handle on who you are and what drives you. Figure it out, and the rest is sure to fall right into place. You will find the path to a fitter and healthier lifestyle….YOUR way.

Good health and fitness to you!

You can get more weight loss and fitness tips by Yvonne Bridges at http://thefitnessdiva.blogspot.com Yvonne is a top fitness instructor and ex Golden Gloves champion boxer living in New York City. She also authors the website: http://CelebrityDietsandFitness.net

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Current research indicates that approximately 50% of Americans are overweight, of which 34% of adults over 20 years old are considered obese.

But almost everyone can lose weight if they maintain a negative calorie balance i.e. take in less calories than what they burn.

Before undertaking an exercise health and fitness program you should consult with your doctor to determine your current health and the amount of calories you should lose in order to get at your ideal weight.

Together with your doctor, you can determine if your metabolism is slower than most, which means that you would need less calories than most to meet your daily needs.

When using an exercise, health and fitness plan to gain a negative calorie balance requires both exercise and a health diet. But besides having the ability to lose weight, there are other benefits for following such a plan.

Increasing your heart rate and respiratory rate through exercise increases your blood flow through the
circulatory system, the exercise health and fitness program improves the efficiency of the heart, and
decreases blood sugar, a nice benefit for those who suffer with diabetes. In fact, people who regularly use insulin to control their blood sugar can decrease the amount of insulin, by adding an exercise health and fitness routine into their daily lives.

Your goal in an exercise, health and fitness program is to do a moderate amount of exercise for your fitness level while maintaining that intensity level for 45 minutes. At this intensity level you should be producing sweat for at least half the work out and be slightly out of breath when you finish.

If you are moderately to severely overweight you should use only low impact aerobic activities to decrease any potential damage to your joints. Swimming, running in the pool, rowing and walking are great exercises that will continue to increase your heart rate while not damaging your joints.

Such exercise, health and fitness programs will improve the quality of your life as you reap the benefits of
exercising your body muscles and continue to lose weight. Using such a program will be a great way of
making changes to your lifestyle and should increase your success rate.

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There are many different options for women and women’s fitness training that are available. A lot depends on what your fitness goals are. This will also encompass how long you are giving yourself or have to get into shape.

How much weight you are looking to lose and if you are looking just to tone up or lose weight too. But with all the options that are available for women’s fitness training, it should be fairly easy to find one that will suit your personal needs.

One option that women tend to really like for women’s fitness training are aerobics classes. Your local gym or sometimes a YMCA center usually offers these. These are great for losing weight, because the fat burns off a lot easier with aerobics. However if you are looking to tone up you will need to add some weight training to the mix as well.

Your best bet is to find a class that you can enjoy and that will work for you. A lot of the classes will offer lower impact and higher impact varieties, so choose which one would be easier for you. All in all there are a pretty wide variety of classes to choose from and you are bound to find one that will work for you and your fitness goals and needs.

Something else that is a good option for women’s fitness training is a gym. In fact there are even all women’s gyms that are out there, if you prefer. This can help you with your confidence, not having to worry about men being around and such.

This is also great because a lot of the exercises and equipment are geared specifically towards women and their needs. You may also want to choose a gym that will allow you take advantage of a personal trainer. This can help you get a better workout that is just for your needs.

Yet another option for women’s fitness training is purchasing home gym equipment. This can be a little expensive but worth it in the long run. This is mostly for those who don’t have the time to get out to a gym on a regular basis. Home gyms are also a good option for those who don’t feel comfortable working out in front of other people. There are many good ones out there and even some that may be geared specifically towards women and their personal workout needs.

When it comes to women’s fitness training there are definitely a few options out there to choose from. Once again it is really up to you which one will work best for your fitness goals and needs. You will also need to take into consideration your budget and time you have to spend on a workout routine. How fast you have to get into shape will also effect your decision as well. But whichever option you choose you are well on your way to a healthier and happier life.

Check out http://www.homegymsreview.com for more articles on golds gym home fitness and home gym equipment for sale.

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These days more and more people want to have a great looking body all for different reasons. Some a lot what a great looking body to attract the opposite sex, some want to have a great looking body for health reasons while others simply enjoys working out.

There can be several methods that people do today to get a great looking body. However, you have to consider that not all of these methods are considered to be healthy. You must be aware that their are people that are to lazy to exercise and will try out different weight loss methods and these may have negative results in their bodies. Some tries liposuction surgery. However, you have to consider that liposuction is only a temporary method. You still need to maintain your body by exercising in order to prevent it from accumulating fat again. You have to realize the fact that muscles burn fat. The more you exercise and develop your muscles, the more you will burn fat.

The people who try different diet methods sometimes come to the point where they don’t eat anything at all and this method can have negative results in your body as it can deprive your body the nutrients it needs. when people are not eating like this they are just loosing the muscle in their body so as soon as they start exercising again the they will be back to the same way they started The best way to lose weight is by eating right and combining it with the proper exercises.

So what can you do if you don’t have time to exercise or go to the gym? You will often neglect your body’s health for work. So, the next best thing you can do is by purchasing home fitness equipment. there are different kinds of home fitness equipments available in the market today. There are also different kinds of manufacturers of home fitness equipments available. Because of this, you have a wide variety of fitness equipments to choose from. However, you also have to realize that because of the different home fitness equipments popping out of the market today, people tends to get confused on what to buy and often ends up purchasing fitness equipments that they don’t even need.

So what equipment do you want? In order to buy the right fitness equipment for you, you need to know about the different fitness equipment available in the market today. First of all, you should not base your decisions on brands alone. The first thing you need to do is know about the different fitness equipment available.

When looking into these things the first thing you’ll find is that cardiovascular exercises are one of the most important exercises. This is why you should purchase your first fitness equipments that simulate cardiovascular exercises, such as treadmills, cross-trainers, and elliptical trainers. If the time comes that you need to develop your muscles, strength training fitness equipments, such as weight training fitness equipments are responsible for developing specific muscles in your body.

Of course, it is natural that you have to have fitness equipment that will last a long time. So, purchase a cardiovascular and weight training fitness equipments with a brand that most people uses and have positive user reviews.

These are some of the things you need to consider when purchasing fitness equipments. By knowing about the different fitness equipments, you will never go wrong with any fitness equipments you buy.

I have been interested in keeping fit all my life and want to pass on to other the joys of working out.

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Fitness equipment leasing may be the answer to the growing demand for fitness facilities. Health-consciousness is slowly starting to stir among the masses. With it comes an awareness of the importance of exchanging an overweight, inactive body for a strong, lithe physique.

Although there are many ways to achieve this goal, a gym membership will always be one of the most popular choices.

The benefits these outfits gain by leasing fitness equipment, are numerous. To survive, a new gym has to keep overheads as low as possible. Leasing, rather than purchasing, enables you to do this.

Fitness equipment leasing allows you to have access to new technology or specialized equipment as soon as it becomes available, without committing your business to a substantial financial outlay. Constantly upgrading your facilities, is an important factor in staying ahead of the competition.

The additional financial benefit of never being stuck with obsolete equipment, can be considerable.

By not tying up a large chunk of your capital in equipment, you will be in a better position to manage day to day expenses, while your venture finds its feet. If you need to expand, you can do this by leasing fitness equipment, without stretching yourself to the limit, and compromising the stability of your business.

Borrowed finance goes hand in hand with high interest rates. When leasing fitness equipment, the long term benefit in saving on this aspect alone, becomes substantial.

As fitness equipment leasing will be shown as an operating expense, tax benefits will also flow from organizing your business in this way. It is even possible to structure payments to accommodate the flow of business in your establishment, further strengthening cash flow during the slow months.

Whether you are looking for multi stack gyms, ellipticals, benches, treadmills, cycles, steppers, or more specialized equipment, you will find it available on a leased basis.

Your business will function with more flexibility, and be able to deal with higher demand periods efficiently. Customers with special needs can also be taken care of without hardship to the business.

A trusting relationship with an experienced fitness equipment leasing company offers reliability, the ability to arrange speedy financing, and a low payment schedule to suit your needs - all important factors in keeping you competitive.

Some of the large manufacturers such as Cybex, offer their own fitness equipment leasing options. Here you have the added advantage of working with knowledgeable people on both the financial and equipment sides. They know the industry well, and structure leasing agreements accordingly. Cybex Capital sport a 96% approval ratio.

Cybex offers various fitness equipment leasing programs. The contract includes options such as deferred first payment programs, annual payment programs for schools and universities, or seasonal payments. There are also programs available for new clubs, and existing club expansion.

A Fair Market Value Lease is also available for utilization by schools, YMCA’s and other organizations. This option offers tax benefits, lower monthly payments, no end of lease obligation, and new equipment every three years. If you make use of this fitness equipment leasing option, you won’t have to be concerned about how you are going to fund a security deposit, as this isn’t required.

Many companies and organizations are realising that by establishing an in-house gym, they are making a positive investment in the future productivity of their employees.

The results will be seen in fewer sick days taken, a surge in employee-stamina, and a less stressed-out workforce. Most importantly, the bottom-line of the company (and its employees!) will give a clear indication of the benefits. By leasing fitness equipment, they have the opportunity to start such a program without a crippling capital outlay.

Documentation involved when leasing fitness equipment for the first time, includes filling out a credit application form, copies of tax returns for principals, personal financial statements, equipment listing, and business plan copies.

Existing businesses will have to include company tax returns, and interim company financial statements. Response time after providing this, should be between 2 and 5 days.

Whether you have a small outfit, ordering a few thousand dollars worth of equipment, or are well-muscled and in need of leasing fitness equipment in the seven-figure range, you will be able to find a leasing option suitable for you.

Find the right fit for you, and watch your profits grow.

Rika Susan of http://www.Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

For more information visit Best-Gym-Equipment.com

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How do you know when you’ve had “enough” water? When your urine is clear enough to read through. The purpose of urine is to get rid of waste, like nitrogen, proteins, etc. When the urine is clear, that means you’ve had enough fluid for that day to wash it all out of your system. When it’s not clear, it means that urine is a bit too “concentrated” and you’ll need more water to “dilute” it. Remember, water does more than just flush waste out of your system. It allows chemicals reactions in your body, gives nutrients to all your cells and gives your body energy. Dehydration is one major reason people feel sluggish all the time. The more water you drink, the more salt your body needs to help absorb the water, or else you’re running to the bathroom all the time. But don’t add in regular table salt - that will just bloat you. What you want is sea salt - something like Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Sea Salt is best.

The amount of water you drink is also dependant on your body weight, amount of food you eat, types of food, if you exercised that day, etc. A very general rule of thumb is to have half your body weight in ounces. So, if you’re a 150 lbs person, 75 oz. of daily purified water is good. And remember coffee, juice, tea and soda’s do not count. They actually require you to drink even more water, due to the acid content and caffeine.

Which of the following is most important to determine if you’re aging well? Your blood pressure (having hypertension). While many people worry about their weight and cholesterol levels (both contributing to accelerated aging), your blood pressure is actually the most important measure of your health - directly and indirectly. Now, allow me to give you a simple analogy so you can better understand this. When there is a hole in your wall, you would use plaster to fix it and cover it up, correct? Similar thing in the body… When one of your arteries has a hole, your body quickly uses cholesterol to repair it, “fill in the hole” and cover it up. Follow me so far? But the question is, what caused the hole in the arteries to begin with? The answer is, high blood pressure (also known as Hypertension)!

Basically, when you’re unhealthy, your arteries start to decay (unhealthy foods and high insulin levels are big reasons) and become thin in certain spots. Eventually, high blood pressure adds excess stress to the heart and just “blows a hole” in the decaying arteries. So, try to keep your blood pressure at optimal levels, around 120 over 80. Now, did you know that elevated blood pressure can take as much as 10 years off your life! So, reduce your stress, eat healthy, lower your caffeine and table salt intake, and make sure you get exercise - 60 minutes a week is all that’s needed to make a big difference (that’s not much to ask, is it?)

For nearly two decades, Dr. Sam Robbins has been passionate about the human body and mind. He believes that a person’s mental outlook plays a very important role in their overall health and well-being. His areas of expertise include nutrition, exercise physiology, natural hormone re-balancing of the body and what he refers to as “real world” medical knowledge. He has dramatically changed client’s health and mental well-being, allowing them to look and feel years younger. Find out how at http://www.hflsolutions.com

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Green tea is getting a ton of attention these days as medical research is finally catching up to naturopathic/alternative medicine. Due to the frequent lack of convincing research in alternative medicine, many potentially health-promoting or disease-fighting nutritional supplements are dismissed as viable options for treatment or prevention in mainstream clinical practice. This unfortunate, as many currently available therapies (i.e.drugs) are synthetic small-molecule compounds which are often associated with a number of adverse or potentially lethal effects. In an effort to treat or cure a disease we are affecting a number of other important biochemical processes to our detriment. It would seem that naturally derived products have the greatest potential in the prevention of disease, to use food as a drug as nature has most likely intended. Times are changing however, as modern science is proving more and more that treatments previously passed off as snake oil are actually powerful health promoting and disease-preventing agents.

Consumed for thousands of years as part of traditional Chinese medicine, green tea was to consider a health-promoting beverage. Traditional Chinese medicine has recommended green tea for headaches, aches and pains, depression, as an energy-promoting agent, detoxification, and in general to promote a long, healthful life. Once again, current medical research is beginning to catch up with ancient medical practice, as green tea is proving to be beneficial to health and fitness in a number of unexpected ways. It seems that the ancient Chinese medicine assertion that green tea promotes health is not far off from what researchers are beginning to uncover. Recent human research studies have suggested green tea may have the following beneficial effects:

• Reduction in the risk for cardiovascular disease
• Reduction in the risk for certain types of cancer
• Promotion of oral health
• Bodyweight control and improvements in body composition
• Antibacterial and antiviral activity
• Protection from harmful UV rays
• Associated with increases in bone mineral density
• protection form neruodegenerative diseases

The chemical composition of green tea is extremely complex, the potentially health-promoting compounds including the amino acids teanine, 5-Nethylglutamine, glutamic acid, tryptophan, glycine, serine, aspartic acid, tyrosine, valine, leucine, threonine, arginine, lysine, polyphenols, carbohydrates such as fructose, glucose, and fructose, lipids including EFAs, various plant sterols (hormone-like compounds present in plants), caffeine and theophylline, pigments such as chlorophyll and carotenoids, and trace-minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, manganese , iron, copper, zinc, selenium, among others. It is likely that with the health-promoting and disease-preventing effects of green tea, as with many other natural products, the sum is greater than the whole. All the constituents of green tea likely act in a synergistic manner, at the right time and at the right place (biochemically speaking), just as nature intended. Read on to find out what we know about green tea and how it can benefit your health.

Antioxidant activity

The polyphenols present in green have generated lots of interest by researchers, as polyphenols, a large class of compounds found in plants, are antioxidants which have been associated with decreased risk of a number of diseases. The particular array of polyphenols in green tea has been shown to have extremely potent antioxidant activity, most likely associated with the reduction in cancer risk and cardiovascular disease. One of the particular polyphenol compounds in green tea, a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant in addition to having potent anticarcinogenic and anti-lipogenic activity. Also present in green tea are carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and minerals such as Cr, Mn, Se or Zn. Important anti-oxidants in their own right, it is likely that the presence of these non-phenolic antioxidants can actually support the anti-oxidant activity of the polyphenols in green tea, acting in a synergistic manner. Extensive research has on the antioxidant effects of green tea has shown that when combined with a balanced diet, the consumption of green tea on a daily basis can protect against oxidative damage so intimately associated with aging and disease.

Energy-promoting/fat burning effects

Green has been associated for some time with fat loss and improvements in body composition, most like attributed to the caffeine and theophylline content. Contrary to the any anti-caffeine propaganda you may have encountered, caffeine has been shown time and time again to promote lipolysis (i.e fat burning). Theophylline acts synergistically with caffeine to promote its effects, and additionally opens up the airway (theophylline was often prescribed as an asthma treatment years ago). While the caffeine and theophylline are certainly involved in the fat-burning ability of green tea, there are other mechanisms by which green tea encourages fat loss and decreased body fat storage. In vitro studies using both mouse and human preadipocytes (basically precursor fat cells) have shown that the EGCG in green tea not only inhibits adipogenesis (differentiation to a mature fat cell), but also causes the fat cells to die! While in-vitro studies rarely correlate nicely with in vivo effects, many studies have shown that in humans, green tea promotes body fat loss and thermogenesis by mechanisms independent of those attributed to its caffeine and theophylline content; most likely involving the catechin EGCG. It is likely that the combination of caffeine, theophylline, and EGCG act in a synergistic manner to induce weight loss and fat-burning. While there is no definitive amount of green tea needed to induce its weight loss and fat burning effects, EGCG has been shown to accumulate over time and we already know the half-lives of caffeine and theophylline. A good recommendation for the amount of green tea needed to elicit weight loss and all of the other reported benefits would be 2-3 6-ounce servings/day.

Anti-carcinogenic effects

While there are certain genetic mutations that can pre-dispose or even guarantee that a person with get a certain type of cancer in their life-time, cancer is mostly associated with lifestyle and aging. If a person lives an unhealthy lifestyle associated with lack of exercise and a poor diet, there is a much higher incidence of cancer. It seems that there is strong link between oxidative damage and cellular aging, with greater oxidative damage occurring in the context of an unhealthy lifestyle. A new approach in cancer prevention research is to find dietary components that are capable of slowing cellular aging and carcinogenesis without affecting the normal growth of healthy cells. Countless in-vitro, animal studies, and epidemiological studies in humans have shown that green tea has a strong anticarcinogenic effect, both in the prevention of cancer in the first place and the inhibition or cancer cell growth and proliferation. This evidence has been so convincing that the National Cancer Institute has initiated a plan to utilize agents found in tea to develop chemo-preventative agents in human clinical trials. It seems that the cancer-inhibiting activity of green tea may extend far beyond it anti-oxidant activity, as green tea has also been impacted in the activation of detoxifying enzymes, an anti-inflammatory effect, and it seems that one or a number of components may directly inhibit cancer cell growth possibly even initiate apoptosis (programmed cell death, an abnormal cell will usually commit suicide to avoid becoming cancerous- cancer has the acquired ability to avoid this process, allowing it to proliferate)

Cardiovascular disease risk

Ancient Chinese medicine has used green tea extensively for its blood-pressure reducing effects and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. While the mechanism behind these effects is not currently understood, they are most likely associated with the polyphenol-induced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of green tea. Animal studies have shown that green tea polyphenols, particularly EGCG, are associated with a decrease in LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol levels. Any agent that acts to raise the HDL to LDL ratio is cardio-protective, preventing the formation of atherosclerotic lesions (buildup of plaque in the arteries which eventually causes blockage resulting in stroke or heart attack). Uncontrolled oxidation is also associated with atherosclerosis; it seems that the polyphenols found in green tea promote cardiovascular health through a number of mechanisms. We have yet to show many of these mechanisms at work in humans, but epidemiological studies have shown time and time again that green tea show similar cardio-protective effects in humans to those seen in animals.

Summing it up…

Green tea has been shown to have a wide variety of significant health-promoting effects in humans, animals, and in vitro cell culture. The polyphenols present in green tea, particularly the catechin EGCG, have been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties in addition to preventing cardiovascular disease and promoting weight loss. It is no mystery that health and fitness are two intimately related concepts; with greater fitness comes greater health and vice-versa. Anything we can do, whether it is through exercise, weight loss, diet, or supplement intake, to influence either of these will be sure to promote a long, healthy life. Pharmaceuticals, although necessary, are not without their problems. If diseases could be prevented before dangerous pharmaceuticals are needed to treat them, the collective health of our society would increase exponentially. We may never be able to cure certain diseases with our current approaches; until we refine our techniques so that viable cures can be discovered with approaches such as gene therapy, the cure lies in prevention, not treatment of disease. With natural, health-promoting agents in addition to a healthy diet and exercise program we can conceivably prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease before they occur. You cannot have fitness without health, and green tea has been shown to increase fitness and health at the same time. With all of the proven benefits, there lacks any good reason not to include green tea as a supplement in your diet and nutrition program; 2-3 6-ounce servings per day should be sufficient to reap all of its benefits for health and fitness.

Personal fitness trainer Bill Willis, BSc has been active in the fitness and bodybuilding industry for several years. Bill is part of Pinnacle Fitness, which offers Columbus Ohio Fitness Training - both group and one-on-one fitness training services at World Gym. In addition to being and avid national level bodybuilder Bill is currently pursuing his Phd. in pharmacology and biomedical science at the Ohio State University. Bill is commited to revolutionizing the way we train, diet and supplement in our fitness programs from teh molecule-up!

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If you are worried about heart disease then one of the things that you can do to improve your health is to try to do bit more activity. Even just walking instead of taking the car to the store can be very good. You do not have to wear some bright colored clothes that do not fit and rush off to the gym just to get a bit fit. Even a bit of gentle activity can be good for you. But if you are thinking of undertaking a new fitness program then it is a good idea to talk to your doctor before you begin. The heart and stroke foundation recommends that most people do around half an hour of activity every day. It is quite easy to make getting fit, fun and this is a great idea as you are more likely keep going if it is fun, rather than just something to get you fit. Even something quite gentle like gardening can be very good for you.

Walking is a wonderful way to get fit, even more so if you do not just walk in the city. If you get into the hills for some hiking, then it is a really great hobby. But as with all types of physical activity it is a good idea to see you doctor first especially if you have had problems with heart disease. One easy way to start yourself walking more is to get off the subway or bus a few stops for home. That way you will get used to walking more and you can gradually make it further if you want too.

Cycling is also a very good type of activity that is good fun as well. It is a great thing to do on weekends and it means that you can go a bit further afraid than if you are just walking. You can even get some exercise at work. If you work in a building where you have to take the elevator then try walking. It is a very simple way to get some activity without really trying. If you are worried about heart disease and want to take some exercise to get fit then there are a lot of great ways to do it. But make sure that you see your doctor before you begin any new program, especially if you have had heart disease or think that you may be prone to it.

For more easy to implement ways of preventing heart disease please visit Prevent-Heart-Disease where you will find a variety of helpful information on heart disease related topics to include signs and symptoms of heart disease.

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