Ask Betsy

Hello Betsy,
Can you tell me which is the best slimming green tea you would recommend to lose weight.

How much can I expect to lose?  How many cups should I have a day?
Thanks
Lee

Dear Lee,
There is no magic formula to losing weight or I can promise you that I would have found it by now! 
Green Tea, however, is an ancient Asian wellbeing secret that has now become fashionable every where in the world. 
It is said to have lots of super healthy properties such as anti-cancer and anti-ageing effects, but it is also believed to speed up your metabolism by an average of 10 per cent so this is where the “weight loss” theory probably fits in.
Drinking on average three to five cups a day is said to be most beneficial. Perhaps because it has such a healthy reputation, it is often assumed that Green Tea is caffeine free, but it is not.
This means that drinking it late in the day can affect your sleep patterns so take this into account.
The taste of this particular tea can be an acquired taste for many, as it is best drunk without milk or sugar.
 If you find it too bitter to drink then try one of the latest blends of green tea with lemon/mint/jasmine etc that you will find in supermarkets all over the kingdom.
Purists would tell you that is best to drink tea made from the loose leaves rather than pre packaged tea bags.
Some say Japanese is best and others argue for the merits of Chinese tea. Why not try both and decide for yourself which one appeals most to you.
It is impossible for me (or anyone else) to predict how much weight you could lose by drinking green tea, as weight loss depends on several factors, the most important combination being to decrease food intake and increase physical activity.
I can state quite confidently that if you do this and drink green tea then you will be more successful than if you chose just to drink the tea. 

Dear Betsy,
I want to let you know about the good service we had at Bahrain International Airport. It was no one in particular but just everyone we came into contact with and all the services were so efficient.
Our luggage was waiting for us when we got downstairs. This has never happened to us before. At immigration the officers were polite, smiling and welcoming as were the sales staff in the arrivals shop.
This was our first impression of your country on our first visit to the Middle East to visit our daughter and son-in-law. I am 79 and my wife 78 and we are blessed to have been able to travel to many parts of the world but nowhere made us feel so welcome and comfortable as Bahrain.
First impressions are very important and so easy to get wrong. Thank you Bahrain.
George and Shelagh.

Dear George and Shelagh,
What a lovely letter to receive these days when the world seems to be afflicted with chronic complaints syndrome. (Just read the Letters page in our sister paper the Gulf Daily News ) 
I heartily agree with you about the airport and especially the luggage (Charles De Gaulle airport please note!).
I travel frequently through the airport and have never had any problems either. Bahrain is known for its friendly hospitality and I like to think we are “The Small Kingdom with the Big Heart”!
If I had to write a Tourism Slogan for Bahrain, then that is what I would write.
Great to have you with us and congratulations to everyone at the busy, busy, busy Bahrain International Airport. You have done us proud guys, keep up the good work.
Have you had some outstanding customer service in the kingdom? Share it with us, email me:    betsymathieson@hotmail.com