There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t hear something about the wonderful benefits of green tea for heart disease and lowering cholesterol. But over the last few years there has been increasing interest in its ability to help with fat loss. You probably enjoy having a cup yourself or have family and friends who do. In the Western World it has taken off like a jet but has had traditional uses in Chinese and Indian culture for medicinal purposes and daily life for thousands of years.
Some say that green tea is the healthiest drink because it is packed with powerful compounds that can benefit the body. The International Institute of Sustainable Development says it is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water: 3 billion cups every day. We will look at the effects green tea has on fat and weight loss in this article.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea is the common name for Camellia sinensis. Green tea is made by steaming, pan frying, and drying the leaves and buds of the plant. Black, oolong, and all other teas come from the same plant, but what determines the type of tea is the oxidation of the leaves, and green tea leaves are unoxidized which is why it contains beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols!
Green tea also contains caffeine and the highest level of catechins (natural phenols and antioxidants) when it comes to teas. There are 4 catechins in green tea, and one of the main catechins that is being studied for fat loss is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).
What is the benefit of catechins for fat loss?
Research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says catechins may help the body metabolize fat effectively, improve metabolic disorders, improve insulin sensitivity and increase Brown Adipose Tissue (body fat) which helps to reduce the White Adipose Tissue and burns calories.
It seems that the catechins and caffeine work well in combination. Additional research from the NIH says a green-tea mixture improves weight maintenance through thermogenesis, fat oxidation, and sparing fat free mass. Peer reviewed research stated that catechins and caffeine play a part in metabolism that can lead to weight loss.
How can you get the best weight loss benefits from green tea?
Medical News Today suggests 2 to 3 cups a day to help with weight loss which is generally safe, but some people with heart problems or high blood pressure should be careful consuming a lot of caffeine. There is more and more research available to help take health to another level. I will definitely get my green tea in today.
