Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Oprah Winfrey have unknowingly let loose another fad diet waiting to happen. The internet has seen a high-velocity rise in green tea and weight loss products, similar in intensity to the acai berry diet phenomenon. Fad diets should be considered with circumspection, particularly when costly products touting quick results are being tendered. Fad diets can be harmful to the consumer not only because of their high cost and inspirational promises, but also by being harsh on the body. Rapid weight loss programs and crash diets are in most cases unsustainable (the weight loss will eventually come back) and can put the body into one of many nutritional imbalances that can do the dieter far more damage than good.
The Oprah green tea diet is not a weight loss miracle as the green tea weight loss industry would have you believe. Still, this in no way lessens the fact that green tea can be a helpful addition to your weight loss diet program. Dr. Perricone’s advice to exchange coffee with green tea is a wonderful piece of wellness wisdom. His assertion, however, that a green tea diet alone can effect dazzling weight loss is, unfortunately, a disservice to the millions of dieters who are waiting for a magic bullet.
Bottom line: Yes, go get some green tea or green tea extract. Look for low cost bagged tea products or bottled green tea extract ($8 per bottle). Drink or drop your green tea every day. It has relatively low levels of caffeine, so it is safe to drink (diluted) throughout the day. If you are looking to lose weight, don’t fall for the idea that the green tea will do it for you. Real, lasting and safe weight loss only results from dietary changes and regular exercises.
