Green coffee beans can make you thin

Scientists today reported striking new evidence that green, or unroasted, coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time. 

In the study Joe Vinson's team described how a group of overweight or obese people who consumed a few milligrams of ground green coffee beans each day lost about 10 per cent of their weight. 

"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day - while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly - appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton. 

The study involved 16 overweight or obese people aged 22-26 years who took capsules of the extract or capsules containing a placebo, an inactive powder, for a total of 22 weeks. The subjects alternated between a low dose and a higher dose of the extract. The low dose consisted of 700mg of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050mg. It was a so-called "crossover" study in which people cycled through the two doses and the placebo, each for six weeks. Such studies have advantages because each person serves as his or her own "control," improving the chances of getting an accurate result. 

All of the participants were monitored for their overall diet (calories, food eaten, etc.) and exercise over the study period. "Their calories, carbohydrates, fats and protein intake did not change during the study, nor did their exercise regimen change," Vinson said. 

Participants lost an average of 7 kilos during the 22 weeks of the study. It included an average of a 10.5 per cent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 per cent decrease in body fat. Vinson noted that weight loss might have been significantly faster, except that participants received the placebo and the lower dose of green coffee extract for part of the study period. 

For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks

Apple peels help you lose weight

Ursolic acid - a waxy substance found in apple peel - increases muscle and brown fat in mice that are on a high-fat diet.

These mice burn more calories and have reduced obesity levels, pre-diabetes and fatty liver disease than the mice that do not receive the supplement. Researhers believe that this might be helpful in reducing obesity.

Until quite recently, researchers believed that only infants had brown fat, which then disappeared during childhood. However, improved imaging techniques have shown that adults do retain a very small amount of the substance mostly in the neck and between the shoulder blades. Some studies have linked increased levels of brown fat with lower levels of obesity and healthier levels of blood sugar and blood lipid, leading to the suggestion that brown fat may be helpful in preventing obesity and diabetes.

Obesity and its associated problems such as diabetes and fatty liver disease are increasingly common global health concerns. A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that a natural substance found in apple peel can partially protect mice from obesity and some of its harmful effects.

The findings suggest that the substance known as ursolic acid reduces obesity and its associated health problems by increasing the amount of muscle and brown fat, two tissues recognised for their calorie-burning properties.

"From previous work, we knew that ursolic acid increases muscle mass and strength in healthy mice, which is important because it might suggest a potential therapy for muscle wasting," Adams says. "In this study, we tested ursolic acid in mice on a high-fat diet - a mouse model of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Once again, ursolic acid increased skeletal muscle. Interestingly, it also reduced obesity, pre-diabetes and fatty liver disease.

"Since muscle is very good at burning calories, the increased muscle in ursolic acid-treated mice may be sufficient to explain how ursolic acid reduces obesity. However, we were surprised to find that ursolic acid also increased brown fat, a fantastic calorie burner. This increase in brown fat may also help protect against obesity." 

Foods that help you get better scores

What you eat goes a long way in maximizing your exam performance say experts

For all those teens who've been told by sceptics, "Nothing will help you at the nth hour", here's some good news. What you put into your mouth in fact, can. Experts trained in nutrition and memory enhancement vouch for the connection between diet and brain performance. Mirror gets those in the know to tell you how to go from 'sailing through' to 'maxing' by making gentle changes in what you eat.

Eat eggs, cottage cheese for choline
Eggs, beans, seeds and nuts are protein-rich foods that your body uses to manufacture amino acids. Amino acids are precursors to neurotransmitters (specialized brain cells) that help you maintain mental acuity and motivation.

Eat at regular intervals to keep nutrient and energy levels stable. Fruits and vegetables help rehydrate and replenish the body, thus ensuring that you don't feel sleepy after a meal.

Never go for an exam on an empty stomach. Quench your thirst with water, coconut water, fresh fruit juices, milk and anti-oxidant-rich green tea. Avoid caffeine and sugar. Before and during exams, make breakfast your most important meal of the day. Energy-giving oats, cottage cheese, brown rice poha, eggs etc. make perfect breakfast eats because they contain a nutrient called choline, which helps cognitive performance and improves memory.

For lunch have foods with a low glycemic index — steamed green moong sprouts, namkeen oats with vegetables, chicken soup, curd, multigrain chapatis (soya flour, chana flour, oats, barley and normal atta) or brown rice pulao.

For a healthy evening snack, have a bowl of fruit chaat, murmura chaat, roasted chana, roasted moong, almonds and walnuts with two dried figs. Avoid starchy vegetables (potatoes, yam) because they'll make you lethargic and cause bloating. Your best options are bottle gourd, carrots or methi with chapati. Vegetable/ fruit raita gives you calcium, water and protein.

Sip lime juice to keep neurons running
When studying, the brain craves high fat and high sugar foods, which is why when stressed, students tend to eat processed snacks. They must make an effort to structure what they eat. Complex carbs like ragi, brown rice, whole wheat should become part of lunch and dinner. Glucose is the main fuel of the brain. But providing it slowly into the bloodstream through complex carbs is key. You can also try sipping on a tall glass of lime juice with 1 tbsp (no more) of glucose and a pinch of salt every three hours. This hydrates the brain and keeps your neurons running. Eat a fruit every four hours (pomegranate, sweet lime, guava, watermelon and banana). I'd also recommend two cups of mild green tea with honey (11 am and 4 pm) because it increases alpha wave thinking and calms stressed nerves. Milk (or curd) for its calcium content is a must-include. The best inbetween study snack is five almonds, five pistas and five raisins, had every two hours.

Have an abusive boyfriend? This app will help

WASHINGTON: Here's a tool that could help avoid dating violence or abusive relationships. Scientists have developed a smartphone app that warns young women of a dangerous partner by helping them examine their relationships and potential behavioural red flags. 

In an effort to arm young women with safety information, researchers developed the 'One Love My Plan' app, an interactive tool that helps collegeage women in abusive relationships clarify their priorities and customize personal safety plans. "Women between the ages of 18 and 24 are at the highest risk for dating violence. However, these women are less likely than older adults to seek formal safety resources and instead look to peers or technology for help and advice," the app's developers said. 

"At some point, almost everyone knows someone in an unhealthy relationship," said Tina Bloom, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri's Sinclair School of Nursing. "The purpose of the My Plan app is to quickly and confidentially provide women and concerned friends with information and available resources. Our goal is not to replace existing services, but to better connect students with them," said Bloom. 

To ensure that young women would find the app helpful, Bloom and her colleagues conducted focus groups with college-age women who identified themselves as survivors of abusive relationships. 

"The My plan app gives students tools to examine their relationships, set priorities and access resources when they are ready," said Bloom. She added that the app has features such as information on healthy relationship dynamics, relationship violence myths and behavioural red flags.