There is no doubt that people all over the globe consider green tea as one of the best beverages. Green tea is loaded with a lot of nutrients and antioxidants, which have so much to offer to human health. Along with many other health benefits of green tea, people are also using green tea for weight loss for a long time.
A lot of people claim that green tea is a good natural source of reducing weight while staying healthy. Well, if you are also not sure about green tea and weight loss methodology or how people are using green tea for weight loss, then this article can be very informative.
Green Tea for Weight Loss
A very common and major ingredient in green is caffeine. Although the percentage of caffeine is lower in green tea as compared to coffee or other caffeinated drinks, yet it has a reasonable amount to help in burning fats.
Now, caffeine helps in burning fats, but the main ingredient in green tea that helps weight loss is the antioxidants. Catechins are a common antioxidant found in green tea. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a type of catechins which is known for boosting the metabolism process.
Green Tea and Fat Cells
For burning fat, the human body first converts it into fat cells, which then move in the bloodstream. Results obtained from researches conducted on animals say that green tea contains some active compounds which have proved to be helpful in boosting fat-burning hormones. A common example of these hormones is norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
Now, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) impedes an enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of norepinephrine. This quality of EGCG increases the amount of norepinephrine, which increases fat breakdown. As a matter of fact, EGCG and caffeine work in synergy to stimulate the fat breakdown process.
Green Tea Helps Fat-Burn During Exercise
Using green tea for weight loss becomes a more effective technique while doing a physical workout. A lot of commercial fat-burning or weight loss supplements enlist green tea in their ingredient list. A study revealed that using green tea extract before a physical workout increases the fat-burn process by 17 percent. This is a clear indication that the fat burning process increases if you consume green tea before going for a workout.
There are several other studies concluded that the fat burning process gets a trigger because of EGCG, and this is very helpful in fat loss for longer terms.
Japanese Green Tea for Weight Loss
Japan is well known for different types of green tea, which is “super-friendly” for the human body. A lot of green tea brands in japan claim their products to be completely organic and healthy. For example, Matcha green tea is well renowned for its purity and health benefits.
Matcha’s producers claim that the green tea leaves are hand-picked, which ensures that the selection of healthy green tea leaves. If you consume this Japanese green tea brand, it means you are consuming the healthiest form of green tea.
Green Tea Boosts Metabolic Rate
We know that our body keeps burning calories, and this process continues even if we are sleeping, sitting, or even doing nothing. Our body cells need the energy to function properly. Studies concluded that EGCG supplements and green tea extracts are very helpful in burning calories even when your body is at rest.
Some studies revealed that consuming green tea extracts boosts the calorie-burning process by 3 to 4 percent, while several other studies stated this percentage as up to 8 percent. The majority of these studies were based on short durations; there is evidence of persistent metabolism-boosting effect for longer periods as well.
However, it is important to know that there are few studies showing that did not find any conclusive evidence of green tea extracts being helpful boosting mechanism process. One possible reason for these findings is the effects of these extracts are different from different individuals.
Green Tea for Burning Abdominal Fat
Yes, a lot of studies showed positive results regarding green tea for weight loss “theory.” However, one must keep in mind that fats are of different types. For example, visceral fat (belly fat) can cause inflammation, diabetes, heart problems, and other medical problems. Belly fat does not burn easily, and the question arises, does green tea helps in burning belly fats?
Well, the answer is yes, green tea is helpful in burning visceral fat and thus reduces the risk of various deadly diseases such as type 2 diabetes, inflammation, etc.
Bottom Line
When we talk about “actual pounds lost with intake of green tea,” the numbers may not be very high. However, it is conclusive that green tea does help in weight loss with the help of different mechanisms. If green tea consumption is combined with other weight-loss strategies, it will bear fruits. Besides, there are other health benefits of green tea. In a nutshell, if you want to use green tea for weight loss, make sure you follow this routine persistently.
