Green Tea Improves Exercise Fitness

We all know we have be physically active every day to stay healthy.

Muscle metabolism requires that we move all the muscles in our body every 24 hours.

If we don't, the muscles start to die.

But that's just one of many reasons to add daily exercise to our lives.

Daily physical activity helps our health in an amazing variety of ways, such as

• Improved heart function

• Lower high blood pressure

• Strengthen muscles and bones

• Weight loss and weight management

• Fight depression

• Stress management

• More energy

• Stay active and attractive longer

But like many good things, it’s easier said than done.

Finding the time for short bursts of activity or for longer endurance and recreational sports can be hard to organize. And it’s even harder to keep motivation high when fatigue makes exercise unpleasant.

So if we could get some fitness help, it could make getting healthy a breeze.

Green tea research shows improved exercise fitness.

Two new studies from Japan (Murase 2005, 2006) have shown that green tea improves exercise fitness.

Rats were given green tea extract every day for 10 weeks prior to testing. Compared to controls, those receiving green tea extract showed

30% longer running time,

8-24% longer swimming time,

improved respiratory exchange,

improved muscle beta-oxidation activity,

increased muscle glycogen,

reduced plasma lactate, and

increased free fatty acid concentrations showing utilization of fatty acid as a source of energy in skeletal muscle.

The green tea extract group showed significantly increased metabolic capacity for demanding physical activity.

EGCG, the primary catechin in green tea, was also effective alone.

While these particular animal studies are preliminary, the results are consistent with other research on the metabolic improvements in people who drink 5 or more cups of green tea daily.

A variety of activities is best

Whether your health fitness exercises include a weight loss exercise program, anti-aging movements, endurance sports, or everybody’s favorite--abdominal exercises for belly fat, you need a variety of exercises easily available for motivation, interest, and to make sure you move all 650 muscles in your body every day.

You should always check with your health care provider before beginning a new health program.