Belly Fat and Green Tea

Most people are familiar with the health benefits of green tea. Green tea is has been proven to help lower total cholesterol, fight and prevent cancer, treat liver disease, and even help slow tooth decay. Fewer people, however, know that green tea can help burn belly fat. Green tea is not just an antioxidant, it is also a powerful fat burner.

Significance of Excess Abdominal Fat

Not only can abdominal fat be bad for your physique, it can also be dangerous. Visceral fat is abdominal fat that lies between the abdominal muscles and your vital organs. The weight and potential blockages from excess amounts of visceral fat can prevent these organs from functioning properly. Excess visceral fat can also release additional inflammatory molecules affecting the entire body. Living with an overabundance of body fat is linked to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

How Green Tea Can Help

Green tea can help burn excess abdominal body fat. It has been found in increase metabolism. By increasing your metabolic rate, you will burn more calories whether you are exercising or not. An increased metabolism can lead to a reduction in belly fat.
In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, the catechins in green tea were found to burn belly fat in obese adults. The controlled study used caffeinated and decaffeinated green tea and identical exercise programs. The adults who consumed both types of tea lost equal amounts of abdominal fat mass.
Green tea can also help burn belly fat as a glucose regulator by inhibiting the digestive enzyme amylase. Amylase is the digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates (particularly simple sugars) that cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Last but not least, the caffeine in green tea can help burn body fat. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that natural caffeine in beverage form can increase metabolism and burn fat. Caffeine is an added bonus in green tea on the assault on belly fat.

Forms of Green Tea

Green tea is widely available and inexpensive. According to Alan MacFarlane, author of The Empire of Tea, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Green tea bags in water are the traditional way to consume the beverage. Try it with ice or with a sweetener. Many dietary supplement companies carry green tea extract that deliver all the same health benefits if you do not like the taste of the tea.

Subsitute Green Tea for Coffee for Fat Loss

Consider replacing beverages you already consume with green tea to burn body fat. Instead of coffee, try green tea in the morning. Instead of diet soda, try green tea at lunch. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a board-certified clinical and research dermatologist who specialize in anti-aging diets and weight loss, believes a person can lose as much as 10 pounds in six weeks by replacing coffee with green tea. The composition of green tea, not limited to caffeine, makes it a superior choice to coffee for abdominal fat loss.

Not a Magic Pill

While green tea has numerous benefits, it should not be treated as a "magic pill' or "magic beverage." It can help burn belly fat but should not be considered a stand-alone fat-loss supplement or health optimizer in lue of a healthy diet and exercise. Many factors, including diet, physical activity, genetics and lifestyle, should be examined as well. Please consult your doctor or a certified dietitian before beginning or changing your diet.