Right now the health and wellness industry is a huge moneymaker, squeezing people’s pockets to the tune of over $4 trillion per annum. But this madness comes at a cost. Using clever marketing ploys to convince their customers of a product’s alleged health benefits, companies have created vast wealth.
In the past, we’ve heard calls by so-called influencers and celebrities for tea’s that apparently make you skinny. However, they mostly turned out to be nothing more than regular off the shelf teas. And while there are some that offer health benefits, just as drinking juices and smoothies offer limited ones, it’s not as straight forward as you think it might be. So let’s get into it.
1. Coffee, green and black teas
Green tea and black tea:
It’s true green tea offers a plethora of health benefits including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and brain stimulanting properties. It also speeds up metabolism, helping you to burn more fat. As well as these fine pros, it contains catechins, which can promote better oral health.
With that said, and a possible million other health benefits, these will only work if a healthy diet is maintained in the process. Eating fried chicken and chocolate 3 times a day will not be countered by a few cups green tea. And exercise is also a requirement as recommended by many health institutions.
Black tea also contains the same or similar effects. And both drinks are diuretics causing you to flush water-soluble vitamins from the body.
Coffee:
Coffee is my favourite beverage, (either that or it’s the caffeine talking) containing polyphenols and anti-oxidants to fight inflammation as well as vitamins including manganese, riboflavin, magnesium and many more.
But this tasty liquid gold comes at a price.
Coffee blocks iron absorption, and can also contribute towards reduction in the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
All caffeine-based drinks interact with food in a similar way blocking iron and vitamin absorption in the body.
What’s the solution?
It is recommended to consume caffeine-based drinks and foods 1 hour before or after meals. But because coffee is a highly acidic beverage, it may be better to drink it 1 hour after a meal. Drinking on an empty gut can damage the lining of the stomach. Not only that but drinking coffee on an empty stomach can dramatically increase the numbers of stress hormone ‘cortisol’ in the body.
2. Juicing and smoothies:
Juicing seemed like a tempting idea to me, so much so that I tried it and actually gained weight in the process. I exercise a lot, so there was no reason for why this could have happened.
But it turns out, juicing is a terrible idea. Not only can you damage your liver but it can lead to metabolic syndrome and, as I discovered, weight gain.
Juicing requires using a blender to shred fruit and vegetables into a convenient juice drink, allowing one to consume them in liquid form. But when this is done, the fibre content is stripped from the food.
Fibre is necessary to aid digestion and feed gut bacteria, reduce cholesterol and blood glucose. Blending to shred fruit and vegetables of its fibre will prevent the body from gaining these benefits. This is detailed by sugar expert Robert Lustig in the below video.
Stanisland Magazine 