Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?

The Science That Separates Truth From Fact

By PEERtrainer Founder

Green tea is derived from a plant called Camellia Sinensis. Green tea extract is taken from the leaves of this plant and used in holistic medicines, including traditional Chinese remedies, which use green tea for many different health concerns. Its medicinal properties have been exploited for centuries and the naturally occurring antioxidants make tea an additive for many for weight loss and diet supplements.

There are many recognized health benefits associated green tea, from its use as a weight loss supplement to aiding in the development of a strong immune system. Green tea works by increasing the body's metabolism, helping the body to burn more calories faster. If you need help losing weight, green tea weight loss plans are a great alternative to more synthetic diets.

Green Tea & Weight Loss

There are many over-the-counter green tea extracts and supplements that can assist with effective weight loss. These types of products advertise how to lose weight with green tea by displaying benefits, such as the increased metabolism and appetite suppression. You can find these products in pill form, liquid form or powder form. One of the most popular green tea supplements is green tea powder, a concentrated supplement that provides the body with a heavy dose of green tea benefits. Some green tea powder supplements are equal to 10 times the amount of nutritional value that you would find in one cup of brewed tea.

Studies have shown that by incorporating a green tea diet in your lifestyle, you can burn an average of 78 more calories every day, which equates to 28,000 calories annually; since one pound of weight is equal to a caloric deficiency of 3,500 calories, by simply implementing a green tea diet into your routine, you can lose up to eight pounds annually.

Regardless of whether you choose to use a green tea powder or another form of green tee, health professionals also advocate incorporating a regular exercise routine in your schedule in order to maintain any weight loss efforts. A balanced diet is also important in order to experience the maximum health benefits of green tea.

In regards to green tea and weight loss, some might be concerned with the caffeine content in the tea. Although there is caffeine, the level that exists in coffee is much higher than in green tea. One benefit of incorporating green tea pills and supplements into your diet is that you do not experience the same type of residual stimulant side effects that are common in other types of diet supplements.

When considering using green tea weight loss methods, it is important to acknowledge that there are weight loss programs that provide you with specific instruction regarding how many green tea supplements to take each day and at what time; these health guidelines are put in place to help ensure the success of the diet plan. If you need weight loss help or are interested in exploring how to lose weight with green tea, these types of weight loss programs are a great option.

Many professionals suggest drinking one cup of green tea before each meal; the warmth from the tea relaxes your stomach muscles and prepares for a better digestion. Generally speaking, if you choose to drink regular green tea for your green tea weight loss journey, the standard amount to drink each day is between three and four cups. Some weight loss programs will simply state the requirement to consume between 300 and 400 mg of green tea, whether you have chosen a supplement or the actual tea for help losing weight.

How Does Green Tea Work?

Green tea is made by steaming fresh leaves, as opposed to fermented teas, like Oolong tea or black tea. One advantage to this method is that it maintains the naturally occurring chemical compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols, specifically flavonoids, are the key to green tea health benefits, because of their antioxidants. The most active polyphenol compound found in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate, commonly referred to as EGCG; green tea is thought to be the only naturally occurring nutritional source that contains such concentrated levels of EGCG. Some studies have shown the health benefits of green tea to be promising, although other sources claim the effects of green tea on weight loss have been inconclusive.

Other Benefits of Green Tea

In addition to assisting with losing weight, there are many other green tea benefits. One of the more common reasons that people use green tea is because of its effectiveness on strengthening the immune system. Green tea extract can be used for the treatment of many different health issues, including the following:

  • Atherosclerosis. This is a heart condition that green tea may help prevent. This is due to the antioxidant properties that naturally exist in green tea and green tea supplements. Green tea is beneficial because it helps to lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD. There are two main types of IBD: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. When taken regularly, green tea may help with the inflammation associated with these conditions.
  • Diabetes. Diabetes is a medical condition that, in a great number of cases, can be affected by a person's weight. Therefore, by implementing green tea into your diet, you benefit from weight loss help as well as a decreased risk of developing diabetes. In addition to the prevention of this condition, this tea has also been shown to slow the progression of type 1 diabetes in animal studies.
  • Other benefits. Other benefits of consuming green tea in your diet include the prevention of tooth decay and inflammatory diseases. One example is with arthritis; green tea has been shown to slow the breakdown of cartilage and reduce the inflammation associated arthritis.

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