Weight Loss with Green Tea

Is green tea good for weight loss?

The benefits of green tea have been extensively researched through the past decade. Some studies shows that green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat. Scientists believe that while caffeine acts as a stimulant, something else in tea may be promoting a preference for the use of fat as an energy source. Since both of these are predictive of weight loss, it is tempting to draw the conclusion that drinking green tea will lead to weight loss. But researchers caution us that comparatively few studies have been done and that other variables in the study may have also contributed to the participants’ weight loss.

All tea comes from the same plant–black, green, and oolong teas all have the same parents. The difference in the teas lies in how the teas are prepared after picking. Black and oolong tea are fermented, but Green tea is not. Therefore the active constituents remain unaltered in green tea. The most important ingredient in green tea is the phytonutrient eppigallocatchin or EGCG for short. This substance is a polyphenolic compound that acts as an antioxidant.

Green tea is made from unfermented leaves, which means that they are not exposed to air. The longer the leaf is exposed to the air, the darker it becomes. Over the centuries, as tea plants grew in the sun they protected themselves from photosynthetic stressors by forming chemicals known as polyphenols. We are probably more familiar with one group of polyphenols called flavonoids, a compound similar to those found in many fruits and vegetables that we particularly value due to their antioxidant properties.

It is also important to stress here that even if green tea consumption does lead to weight loss, certain people should not drink it. People with heart problems, kidney disorders, stomach ulcers, and anxiety disorders should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it as well. Green tea can also interfere with many prescribed medications, so it may be necessary to first talk to your doctor before drinking it just to be safe. Generally speaking, there is probably nothing dangerous about drinking green tea or Wu-Yi oolong tea as a beverage, but when people are using any food or drink as a weight loss aid, they tend to go overboard…and this can create problems.

Drink green tea often in moderation and take green tea supplements that contain EGCG on a daily basis as an excellent insurance policy for your good health.