There are countless green tea benefits for weight loss and optimal health. Here’s why it’s one of the most popular drinks for dieters to lose weight fast.
Green tea is one of the most popular weight loss beverages consumed worldwide.
It is well known throughout the world to have many health benefits, including reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
It has also been shown to aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and fat oxidation.
And if that’s not convincing enough, green tea also contains an optimal amount it natural caffeine, leading to increased energy levels for those who drink it regularly.
In this article, we’ll explore green tea’s specific role in weight loss, its side effects, and how much you should be drinking every day if you want to see the best results.
The Benefits Of Green Tea For Weight Loss And More
Green tea benefits the body in a number of ways, but one primary benefit is its antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants reduce damage to your cells caused by free radicals, which are molecules with unpaired electrons on them.
Free radicals cause oxidative stress which then can damage cell membranes.
It’s thought that this damage contributes to cancer as well as other diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease.
In fact, various studies have shown potential benefits for green tea benefits for each of these diseases as well as common colds and respiratory infections.
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is one of the most popular plants known for its benefits to overall health.
While there are numerous overall benefits to green tea, it also comes with specific benefits that pertain to weight loss.
The positive effects of green tea can be experienced by consuming several cups of hot tea a day or from supplements and powders that can be added to smoothies or other beverages.
Pills and powders containing green tea extract will commonly have additional herbs such as Garcinia Cambogia to maximize fat-loss benefits while minimizing side effects.
How Can You Use Green Tea to Lose Weight?
There are many studies that have shown benefits from drinking green tea as the result of its caffeine, EGCG content, and other properties.
These benefits include improved metabolism, appetite suppression, and increased calorie burn when you’re just sitting or sleeping.
Why Drink Green Tea?
Green tea has been proven throughout the years to help with weight loss.
When drinking green tea, you’re consuming a whole host of health benefits as well as the weight loss benefits of its naturally occurring caffeine.
Caffeine has been shown to increase your ability to burn fat while also increasing energy levels and focus when consumed responsibly.
Positive effects also come from its antioxidant properties which benefit your health and overall well-being.
How Does Green Tea Help With Weight Loss?
Green tea can help with weight loss in a number of ways.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition reveals that green tea extract (GTE) can significantly increase thermogenesis.
A thermogenic effect is your body’s ability to burn fat by increasing metabolic rate and energy expenditure.
This suggests that green tea benefits weight loss by speeding up your metabolism as well as reducing appetite.
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
There are definitely a number of excellent benefits of green tea for losing weight and improving general health.
Green Tea benefits are numerous, so be sure to check out what all green tea has to offer before you start adding green teas into your diet.
You may just find that green tea can help in more ways than you can imagine.
1. Boost Metabolism
There’s a reason why the isolated extract from green tea has been used in so many weight loss supplements on the market. Green tea extract has been used to help provide an active boost in metabolism and an increase in energy levels so you can lose more weight.
This is because, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people lose weight by activating their metabolism in order to burn up calories faster than usual. In a recent 12 week study involving green tea extract, subjects lost up to over 7 pounds more than those in the control group. [1] That’s pretty significant for an all-natural herbal extract.
2. Fat Oxidation
It is believed that large amounts of compounds called catechin polyphenols, which are found in green tea, help to fully oxidize fats in the body, which may lead to greater weight loss. In one study, green tea extract was shown to increase thermogenesis (fat burning) by up to 4%.
This is significant because it shows that green tea has the potential to help you burn fat as fuel faster. This can speed up the weight loss process and can even prevent future weight gain.
3. Increased Energy
Green tea contains caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system and can help to increase mental acuity, improve mood, and provide more energy. In one study, green tea extract showed a boost in calorie burn of 4.9% when compared to those taking a placebo.
4. Increased Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis is the process of burning calories for fuel through an increase in body temperature. Studies have shown that the bioactive polyphenol EGCG in green tea could increase thermogenesis, fat oxidation, and energy expenditure over a 24-hour period by about 4%. [2]
This means you may notice an increase in the number of calories that you are able to burn during a 24-hour period. So people who want to lose weight may be able to increase thermogenesis in the body and burn more fat simply by drinking green tea.
5. Glucose Regulation
Green tea contains compounds called polyphenols that may also help to regulate and normalize glucose levels in the body. In fact, a polyphenol called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) may help to lower blood sugar by mimicking the actions of insulin and hindering the liver’s glucose production. [3]
This could help those with diabetes naturally lower blood sugar. [4] Also, when consuming an energy source such as carbohydrates, this regulation is essential in order to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels after eating a meal.
6. Appetite Suppression
Drinking green tea, according to a study that was conducted by the University of Chicago, may help to decrease a person’s appetite. In this particular experiment, the subject rats were injected with green tea extract where they ended up consuming 60 percent fewer calories than their normal intake.
There have also been studies and experiments with human subjects who drank green tea and showed a decrease in appetite which resulted in a lower caloric intake. And the end result is an increase in the amount of weight that you can lose over a period of time.
7. Improved Cardiovascular Health
Green tea has also been known to help improve cardiovascular health as well as lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which may all be contributing factors in weight loss.
In a study of green tea’s effects on vascular health published in the journal Vascular Pharmacology, it was discovered that EGCG is able to modulate certain factors associated with the risk of diseases.
EGCG was shown to have a beneficial effect on vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular disease in experimental and clinical studies, likely due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties. [5], [6]
8. Improved Brain Health
A study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry showed that green tea may actually help with brain health in relation to maintaining alertness focus and overall brain function. [7]
This is extremely important for those who exercise or perform other tasks that require effort and concentration.
It was the conclusion of the researchers at the University of Bristol that green tea is an effective neuroprotective antioxidant beverage.
Present studies show green tea consumption results in improved alertness, as indicated by sustained attention and reduced reaction time of a battery of cognitive performance tests used.
In particular, the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxidative stress markers were also increased in response to EGCG. [8]
9. Improved Bone Health
According to a study published by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences that involved over 3,000 participants, green tea consumption was associated with a reduction in bone mineral density.
This study was conducted between the years 1998 and 2006 and what they found was that green tea consumption for more than 5 years by older women increases BMD at most of the bone sites in the body.
These findings suggest that long-term consumption of green tea by older women is associated with increased BMD at most bone sites. [9]
10. Controls Cholesterol Levels
Green tea also helps to regulate cholesterol levels and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
EGCG is known for its ability to lower bad LDL cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels, which are both important factors in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
FAQs About Drinking Green Tea For Weight Loss
Here are some common questions and answers about green tea for weight loss.
If you have any additional questions, ask them below this article in the comments section.
What Is The Best Time To Drink Green Tea For Weight Loss?
The best times to drink green tea for weight loss are in the morning and afternoon. Green tea has a way of stimulating thermogenesis, which increases your metabolism during those times. When you have a high metabolism, your body burns up calories much faster than when you have a lower metabolic rate.
How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Month With Green Tea?
The results of green tea consumption will vary from person to person. It’s not fair to say that you can lose weight at a specific amount per month, simply because everyone is different. Factors such as body chemistry, age, gender, height, and weight all come into play. That being said, through user feedback you can expect to lose at least 3 lbs in a month, but how much more depends on your body and how active your lifestyle is.
Can Green Tea Burn Belly Fat?
There is a lot of talk out there about green tea burning belly fat. Drinking green tea helps to burn fat but not in the way that you might think. Green tea actually has thermogenic properties, which help speed up your metabolism and increase your body’s ability to use energy more efficiently. The end result is better fat-burning overall.
What Happens If I Drink Green Tea Every Day?
You will definitely notice a change in your weight loss if you drink green tea every day. In addition to the effects that EGCG has on thermogenesis and fat burning, green tea has also been shown to help with metabolism-boosting. When it comes to fat burning and metabolism, these are two very important things to keep track of when trying to lose weight.
How Much Does Green Tea Cost?
The price of green tea can vary greatly depending on the brand, type, and quality that you choose to purchase. You will find some generic green teas in your local grocery store as well as organic green teas at health food stores. In general, a box of classic green or Matcha tea should cost anywhere from $3 to $5.
Which Green Tea Is Best For Flat Tummy?
Matcha green tea is one of the best green teas for a flat tummy as it helps to shed weight and target belly fat. If you drink Matcha green tea or add Matcha powder to your smoothies every day, you will experience extra energy which may result in a flatter tummy. Matcha tea also gives your metabolism a good boost, which can help you burn more calories during workouts.
Is Green Tea Better Hot Or Cold For Weight Loss?
The benefits of green tea for weight loss are the same whether you drink it hot or cold. It’s really up to your own personal preference and what you feel like drinking at the time. Adding a bit of honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, etc. can also help give that extra kick to green tea in terms of taste.
How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should I Drink A Day?
You should drink at least 2 cups of green tea each day to see any weight loss results. You’ll be getting the extra benefit of more antioxidants, which have been linked to overall great health. The caffeine in green tea is said to boost metabolism and help with weight loss too.
What Are The Negative Effects Of Drinking Green Tea?
Fortunately, green tea doesn’t have any major negative side effects associated with it. You may experience a few jittery feelings or slight nausea if you drink too much caffeine in general. This is especially the case if you’re not a regular caffeine user.
The only other negative effect of drinking green tea is that it can sometimes cause headaches. This is pretty rare and if you find yourself experiencing headaches after drinking the tea, you might want to cut back on how much of it you consume per day.
Final Thoughts On Green Tea Benefits
There’s no doubt that green tea is a great choice to include in your weight loss regimen.
It helps to give you energy and also has thermogenic properties, which can boost your metabolism and help with fat burning.
Since green tea contains caffeine, people who don’t consume caffeinated beverages on a regular basis may experience some minor side effects, such as headaches or feeling a little jittery.
This is very rare but you should watch out for any of these symptoms if you begin to drink green tea or increase how much of it you consume.
But other than that, this is one of the best things you can add to your fat loss program to speed up the process.
Have you experienced any of the countless benefits of green tea? Leave a comment below and let us know how it worked out for you.
