Scared is normal.

There are really great anesthesia drugs and anti-nausea drugs these days.

For me, I figured I had a better chance of dying if I continued getting heavier than if I went with the surgery.

As for the waking up during surgery part, I didn't really think about it, but if that had happened to me, I guess I'd still have gotten through the surgery and lost weight afterwards. Though I'd have had a thing or two to say to my anesthesiologist.

 

Green tea has long been praised for its health benefits. Drinking green tea has been shown to encourage weight loss by promoting fat oxidation and an increased expenditure of energy. While drinking green tea has several benefits, be aware of the potential side effects associated with excessive consumption of green tea.

Caffeine

Green tea contains on average of 30 to 60 mg of caffeine per 6 to 8 oz. cup. This is less than the average 100 mg caffeine contained in a cup of coffee. Green tea is generally consumed in greater amounts when used for weight loss. Drinking more than five cups of tea per day can raise your caffeine intake to unsafe levels, increasing your risk for insomnia, restlessness, tremors, and upset stomach.

Tannins are compounds contained in green tea that bind with non-heme iron in the body. Nonheme iron is the type of iron that is contained in plants and iron-fortified foods. It is not as easily absorbed in the body as heme iron, however most iron in the diet is typically nonheme iron. Tea expert Lindsey "Vee" Goodwin of Vee Tea notes that the tannins in green tea can form insoluble bonds with iron in the body, rendering the iron indigestible. According to Goodwin, "The typical decrease in iron absorption from a meal with a cup of tea in clinical studies is approximately 30-60 percent." This interferes with iron absorption, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can cause feelings of weakness, shortness of breath, irritability, headaches and irregular heartbeat.

EGCG

Epigallocatechin gallate, known as EGCG, is a compound found in green tea. A American Association of Cancer Research study on the anti-folate activity of tea showed that EGCG can interfere with folate use in cells. Folate is needed to make DNA and prevent negative changes to DNA from cancers. Folate also helps to make red blood cells, protect against heart disease and prevent anemia. It is important to be aware of green tea intake to prevent folate deficiency. According to the website World's Healthiest Foods, one cup of green tea supplies 20 to 35 mg of EGCG. Contact your doctor to determine a safe intake amount for you and your specific dietary needs.

Dehydration

Green tea is a natural diuretic, which means that it causes your body to lose water. Drinking excessive amounts of green tea (more than five cups per day) can cause excessive urination leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Dehydration can also cause headaches, lethargy, altered heart rate and shock.

Medication Interaction

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, green tea can interfere with the absorption and effects of certain medications. This can lessen or intensify the effects of medications, which could put your health at risk. Some medications that might be affected include MAOI inhibitors, lithium, adenosine and blood thinners. Discuss your green tea intake with your doctor to ensure you are not interfering with the medications you are taking.

More Intake of Chocolate May Yield Lower Body Mass Index CME/CE

Chocolate appears to have a beneficial role in blood pressure and insulin sensitivity, according to Grassi and colleagues in the March 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and in cholesterol levels, according to Allen and colleagues in the April 2008 issue of the Journal of Nutrition. However, the benefit of chocolate intake might be offset by the caloric intake.

This cross-sectional study by Golomb and colleagues assesses whether the frequency of chocolate intake is associated with body mass index (BMI).

Study Synopsis and Perspective

A recent study showed that frequent chocolate consumption was associated with lower BMI, even when adjusting for calorie intake, saturated fat (satfat) intake, and mood.

Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues described their findings in a research letter published in the March 26 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The authors used data from 1018 patients already being screened for inclusion in a clinical study evaluating noncardiac effects of statin medications. Of the 1018 participants, 1017 answered the question, "How many times a week do you consume chocolate?" BMI was calculated for 972 participants (95.6%); and 975 (95.8%) answered the validated Fred Hutchinson Food Frequency Questionnaire.

The investigators performed analyses with and without adjustment for calorie intake, satfat intake, and mood. Fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with chocolate consumption (β, 0.004; P = .55), but satfat intake was significantly related to both chocolate consumption (β, 0.035; P < .001) and higher BMI.

The amount of chocolate consumed was examined, in addition to the frequency of chocolate consumption. Activity (number of times in a 7-day period the participant engaged in vigorous activity for at least 20 minutes) and mood (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale [CES-D]) were also examined.

The relationship between chocolate consumption frequency and BMI was calculated in unadjusted models, in models adjusted for age and sex, and in models adjusted for activity, satfats, and mood.

Study participants consumed chocolate a mean 2.0 (SD, 2.5) times per week and exercised 3.6 (SD, 3.0) times per week. Frequency of chocolate consumption was associated with greater intake of calories and satfats and higher CES-D scores (P < .001 for each of these 3 associations); these all related positively to BMI. Chocolate consumption frequency was not associated with greater activity (P = .41), but it was associated with lower BMI (unadjusted P = .01). This association remained with and without adjustment for age and sex, as well as for calories, satfats, and depression.

Although chocolate consumption frequency was associated with lower BMI, the amount of chocolate consumed was not (eg, per medium chocolate serving or 1 oz [28 g], β, 0.00057 and P = .97, in an age- and sex-adjusted model).

"The connection of higher chocolate consumption frequency to lower BMI is opposite to associations presumed based on calories alone, but concordant with a growing body of literature suggesting that the character — as well as the quantity — of calories has an impact on [metabolic syndrome (MetS)] factors," write the authors.

They further explain that as chocolate products are frequently high in sugar and fat, they are often assumed to contribute to an increased BMI. The authors note that this may still be true in some cases.

"[O]ur findings — that more frequent chocolate intake is linked to lower BMI — are intriguing," write the authors. "They accord with other findings suggesting that diet composition, as well as calorie number, may influence BMI. They comport with reported benefits of chocolate to other elements of MetS," the authors write, noting that a randomized trial studying the metabolic benefits of chocolate in humans may be warranted.

This study was funded by a grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and was supported by the University of California, San Diego, General Clinical Research Center. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Arch Intern Med. 2012;172:519-521.

Study Highlights

• 1018 patients 20 to 85 years old from a single US city were screened for a study on noncardiac effects of statins.
• Patients did not have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or extremes of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
• 1017 participants answered the question, "How many times a week do you consume chocolate?".
• 975 (95.8%) completed the Fred Hutchinson Food Frequency Questionnaire that assessed calories, fruit and vegetable intake, satfat intake, and amount of chocolate intake.
• 972 participants (95.6%) had weight and height data at the screening visit to determine BMI.
• The mean age was 57 years, 68% were men, and the mean BMI was 28 kg/m².
• Mean frequency of chocolate intake was 2.0 times per week.
• Mean frequency of physical exercise was 3.6 times per week.
• Physical activity was reported as the number of times of vigorous activity for at least 20 minutes per 7 days.
• Mood was assessed with use of the CES-D scale.
• Analysis models were adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, calorie intake, satfat intake, CES-D, and fruit and vegetable intake.
• Fruit and vegetable intake was not related to the frequency of chocolate intake.
• Frequency of chocolate intake was associated with greater calorie intake, greater satfat intake, and higher CES-D scores.
• Greater frequency of chocolate intake was associated with a lower BMI in unadjusted and adjusted models.
• Amount of chocolate intake was not associated with BMI.
• Study limitations included cross-sectional design.

Clinical Implications

• Greater frequency of chocolate intake is associated with lower BMI, but the amount of chocolate intake is not associated with BMI.
• Age, sex, physical activity, caloric intake, satfat intake, fruit and vegetable intake, and mood do not affect the link between frequency of chocolate intake and BMI.