Sometimes the simplest things are the key to complicated problems. For instance, there is green tea, a great thirst-quencher -- and a way to lose weight.
Scientists at the University of Geneva have made green tea the latest diet aid to be scrutinized. Their verdict: It can help you lose weight by stepping up the body's metabolism.
The Swiss experts say the tea contains substances known as catechin polyphenols, which raise the metabolic rate. In other words, at a higher rate of metabolism, the body burns calories more quickly, helping you lose weight.
In a random trial involving 10 healthy men, those who unknowingly took green tea capsules showed a 4 percent increase in their metabolic rate, and a corresponding higher rate of energy burn-off. It is not the first scientific breakthrough for the stuff --earlier trials have indicated that green tea contains other ingredients that can help combat some forms of cancer.
