The thought of dining out can quickly turn someone on a weight loss program into a split personality: Part of you says “Yay!”—the other part “Yikes!”

If you’re trying to lose weight, you’re probably wondering what the “best” diet is for you to eat. How do you know which foods will help you effectively shed excess pounds in a healthy way?

Chances are you’ve heard green tea extolled for a variety of health benefits—cancer prevention, cholesterol-lowering effects, and recently, fighting eye diseases like glaucoma. This lends increased credibility to the ancient Chinese proverb:  ”Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.”