The partially fermented leaves of the camellia sinensis plant feature in the daily habits of millions across the globe. When brewed in hot water, they make green tea, one of the world's most popular beverages. Green tea has recently captured the attention of many on the basis of its effects on health and weight loss.
Green Tea Content
Green tea contains a variety of nutrients that play a role in human health. Constituents include the polyphenols, a group of plant antioxidants, which occur along with pheophytins, chlorophylls and carotenoids.
Thermogenesis
Burning fat results from a complex interaction of enzymes and hormones acting upon various sites across the body. Thermogenesis stands out as a major factor in the rate of overall fat burning. Thermogenesis describes the burning of fat to increase the core temperature of the body, and remains under the control of the central nervous system, which responds to the actions of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. Any compound that increases the action of these hormones can increase thermogenesis and therefore fat burning.
Catechins
Of the polyphenols in green tea, the catechins are important in the fat burning effect attributed to the brew. David Tolson, a contributor to "Iron Magazine," notes that polyphenols make up around 10 percent of the weight of green tea's solids, and half of these are in the form of epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC), a particularly potent catechin. ECGC inhibits the breakdown of norepinephrine in the central nervous system, increasing thermogenesis and fat burning through this mechanism.
Evidence
Green tea performs well under scientific scrutiny, suggesting that it may have a role to play in weight management. In a 2002 study, Drs. Chantre and Lairon led a team that investigated the weight loss effects from a green tea extract. They found that the test subject who used the extract recorded weight loss of almost 5 percent, and an equally impressive reduction in waist circumference of 5 percent.
Expert Insight
Dr. Joseph Mercola, physician and the author of several books on holistic healthcare, recommends the daily consumption of green tea to improve antioxidant status in the body, reduce coronary risk and help burn fat. He suggests that three cups provides an adequate dose of the catechins for these effects.
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