“Drinking tea for a long time makes one thin," says ancient Chinese medicinal classic Bencao Shiyi.
Fast forward 1,300 years, that is exactly what scientists have found today. The use of tea as a health tonic for various ailments dates back thousands of years to when the brew was first discovered in China.
Today, tea health information reveals therapeutic properties for almost every type of health condition from arthritis, heart disease, cancer and liver disease to asthma, tooth decay, stress, and weight control.
Green tea is so multi-talented. It fights obesity in an impressive number of ways. The two key components are caffeine and EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). Together, they promote weight loss by: Increasing metabolism, burning fat, preventing fat storage, blocking dietary fat absorption, and regulating glucose usage. In particular, green tea is a powerful fat burner.
Green tea also contains theanine, which calms the mind and promotes a relaxed awareness. The beauty of green tea is that while reducing weight, it also cuts the risk of obesity related diseases.
This is what it does:
• Reduce the blood level cholesterols and triglycerides, the chemical form in which most fat exists in our body.
• Reduce the LDL (the bad cholesterol) but leave the HDL (the good cholesterol) alone.
• Protect the cholesterols from damage by free radicals, thereby reducing the heart disease risk.
It doesn't stop here. Green tea burns fat. It is very effective in burning a particular harmful type of fat called visceral fat, which is linked to type 2 diabetes.
What is the fastest way to lose weight? Combining green tea with exercise is the most effective way to lose weight. Drinking green tea increases endurance level. Combining green tea with an exercise program increases weight loss more than the sum of its parts. Two studies conducted by Kao Corporation found that drinking green tea improves endurance performance by up to 24%. Combining green tea and exercise reduces weight gain by 90%!
How much do you actually have to drink to get these amazing metabolism boosting effects? Experts vary but the general consensus seems to be that 3 to 5 cups of green tea per day is optimal. Drinking this amount of brew can help burn an extra 70 calories per day, which amounts to 7 pounds per year.
Green tea is not a magic bullet. While some people will tell you that green tea is the magic bullet for weight loss success, the key is balance. You're not going to eat over 3500 calories a day, drink a cup of green tea and make it all go away - it just isn't going to happen. A healthy diet and increased exercise will go a long way in helping you lose weight and keep it off.
Bottom Line:
Green tea helps you with weight loss by boosting your metabolic rate, regulating your blood sugar, and suppressing your appetite. While drinking green tea for weight loss is not a magic bullet, it can definitely give you a boost in your efforts to lose weights and in your overall health.
________________
To view our various types of Green Tea that may assist you with your weight loss goals and which are available for you to purchase, please click Green Tea and Weight Loss
>Back to Articles
