Latest news with #BethanCrouse
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Is it true that … drinking green tea burns fat?
'When you talk about 'burning fat', you're talking about the oxidation of body fat; the breakdown of lipids into fatty acids to use them as fuel,' says Bethan Crouse, a performance nutritionist from Loughborough University. It's the process that needs to occur for someone to lose weight or go through 'body recomposition'; losing fat and gaining muscle. Regular exercise can increase rates of fat oxidation, Crouse says. (When we work out at low-moderate intensity, fat provides the majority of the fuel for working muscles. As intensity increases, this will shift more towards carbohydrates.) However, she says, 'There's not necessarily a food that burns fat.' For a food to oxidise fat, consuming it would have to 'replicate the effects of exercise'. Where does she think the idea that green tea burns fat comes from then? 'Caffeine – which is found in green tea – in relatively high doses has, in some circumstances, been shown to increase fat oxidation,' Crouse says. It activates the fight-or-flight response, increasing the release of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline that mobilise energy stores. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion However, she says, 'It's a very small amount, and the research isn't great – it's definitely not something that you'd recommend relying on if somebody is trying to change their body composition.' That's especially true since, even if we're exercising extensively and oxidising lots of fat, if we're in an energy surplus and consuming more calories than we're expending, our body mass will not decrease. 'You can absolutely burn fatty acids instead of carbohydrates, but still not lose body mass,' Crouse says. Her tips for anyone trying to lose fat? Avoid falling for hype around superfoods or supplements. 'There are a lot of big, bold claims out there,' she says. Instead, increase exercise and gently decrease the number of calories you consume.
The Guardian
24-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Is it true that … eating yoghurt can heal your gut?
'Healing the gut' is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. Some people use it to refer to improving gut microbiome health – balancing the microorganisms in the digestive system that, when off kilter, can leave us with digestion and immune problems. Others link it to 'leaky gut syndrome', a condition associated with intestinal permeability and said to cause nausea and fatigue. Whichever definition you're using, Bethan Crouse, a performance nutritionist from Loughborough University, says it is unlikely that yoghurt alone can give you a total gut makeover. 'But some types of yoghurt products could help with gut health,' she says. Yoghurt is a fermented food – it's made by heating milk, adding bacteria, and then incubating it – and as a result it contains probiotics. When consumed live, these bacteria can support gut health by outcompeting harmful microbes. However, not all yoghurts are created equal – many shop-bought products undergo pasteurisation to increase their shelf life, which involves heating the product to kill bacteria. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion 'A really good source of probiotics is kefir,' says Crouse. It contains up to 61 different microbial strains. Greek and natural yoghurt also contain probiotics if unpasteurised – look for labels that mention 'live and active cultures' or list strains like lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Yoghurt is not the only gut-friendly food, though. 'Other probiotic-rich options include kombucha, kimchi and some sourdough breads,' says Crouse. Plus, eating a varied, fibre-rich diet is essential for supporting the microbiome. 'Generally speaking, people should include two portions of probiotic-rich foods each week,' Crouse says. And if you feel your gut needs 'healing', she recommends talking to your GP, who can arrange an appointment with an accredited nutritionist or a dietician.
