Did you know that tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water?
And did you know that over 80 billion cups of green tea are consumed in the US every year?
The massive green tea consumption is mainly because of the taste and stimulation.
But beyond taste, did you know that green tea can also help with weight loss?
As it turns out, green does more than stimulate you every morning. Incorporating this green leaf extract in your daily regime has immense benefits to your weight loss campaign.
If you`re looking to understand more about the green tea, then keep on reading as we explore the connection that exists between green tea and weight loss.
How Does Green Tea Help in Weight Loss?
Boosts Metabolism
A major highlight of green tea is it`s richness in antioxidants, specifically catechins.
Catechin contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is renowned for boosting metabolism.
Here`s how EGCG helps in weight loss:
For the body to lose weight, it first has to break the fat cells and move them into the bloodstream
The active compound in green tea can help in this process by boosting the effects of some fat-burning hormones such as noradrenaline.
The EGCG, for instance, helps by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down the hormone noradrenaline. With the noradrenaline-breaking enzyme inhibited, it means that the concentration of noradrenaline in the system increases, consequently promoting greater fat breakdown.
Ultimately, your fat cells break down more fat, which is then released into your bloodstream.
Increases Fat Burning
If you`re observant enough, you`ll notice that a majority of the fat-burning supplements have green tea listed as one of their active ingredients.
Why?
Because for a long time, green tea has been repeatedly linked to improved fat burning, consequently weight loss, especially during workouts.
In a nutshell, we can confirm that green tea extract is crucial for the fat burning process, and the results are more renounced during exercises or workouts.
Boost Metabolic Rate
Green tea is devoid of any calories, meaning it`s a great option for boosting your metabolism and improving your boy`s efficiency for burning energy.
Again, there`re studies that indicate that green tea is rich with flavonoids. The role of the flavonoids is to boost the oxidation levels and increase the performance of insulin in the body.
According to Healthline.com, indicate that taking green tea supplement can boost your metabolic rate even while you`re sleeping.
However, there`re mixed reports about this, and not all studies indicate that green tea boosts metabolism. It all depends on an individual.
Diuretic Properties
Green tea has diuretic properties, meaning it`s the ideal product to fight against certain weight loss causes such as fluid retention and tissue inflammation.
In a study published by University of Maryland Medical Center, drinking tea has the effect of reducing body fat by up to 19%.
Stimulating Effect of Caffeine
Though the caffeine levels of green tea cannot match that of coffee, still, it has a generous amount that can contribute to weight loss.
Caffeine is a stimulant, which increases and improves the appetite for working out, subsequently burning fats.
Reduces Stress
It`s well known that stress is a major contributor to weight gain.
Then what would be a better alternative to fight weight gain other than relieving your stress?
Green tea contains an active compound known as theanine, a type of amino acid that helps in stress reduction. It does so by proving a calm and relaxing effect on the brain without the need for sedation, consequently helping in weight loss.
What is the Ideal Time to Drink Green Tea?
Green tea should be consumed after breakfast or lunch when the metabolic rate is highest. Green tea will promote the metabolic rate, hence contributing to faster food digestion. Below are some pointers to consider when consuming green tea;
- Don`t take green tea on an empty stomach as the caffeine can result in dehydration and could stimulate the release of gastric acids, which can upset your stomach. Ideally, you should first have a healthy breakfast before taking the green tea supplement.
- Don`t take green tea before going to bed. Again, the caffeine might upset your sleep. If you`ve to take the green tea, have it at least two hours before you hit the sheets.
- For optimal results, it`s important that you take your tea at least half an hour before exercising. It has been found out that green tea improves your performance and helps you last longer.
- Don`t take green tea immediately after or during meals. It has been discovered that the caffeine and tannins on the green tea can inhibit nutrient absorption. Ideally, you should take your tea 45 min to an hour before or after your meals.
How Much Green Tea Should I Take for Weight Loss?
There`s no specific amount of green tea that you should be taking for weight loss.
The trick here is to have as much of the green tea as you can. Ideally, you should take green tea throughout the day.
Remember that the effects of green tea are slow and gradual, meaning you have to take it slow by having little sips throughout the day to reap all the benefits.
If you gulp it down, it won`t have any real benefits as it will simply go out of the body as urine.
For optimal benefits, brew a strong cup of green tea, and wait for it to cool. Fill a bottle with clean drinking water, then add the green tea to it.
You can now sip this water throughout the day.
This way, you reap the benefits of green tea and meet you recommended water intake with a single bottle(s).
Conclusion
While the amount of weight that you lose through drinking green tea is relatively modest compared to exercising or dieting, it`s still a good way to detox your body.
And not just about weight loss, the flavored green tea is also full of other health benefits including body detox, skin rejuvenation and is full of nutrients.
