When it comes to dieting, few individuals are successful. From a dietary balance that does not suit your evolution to exercise that does not suit your aims, a number of factors can make the process difficult. Green tea, on the other hand, stands out as an ingredient that can make the process easier. The herbal drink has captured attention for its reported ability to increase fat burning.
Camelia Sinensis
Few recognize the camelia sinensis plant in its herbal form. However, the leaves of this plant provide green tea when brewed in hot water. David Tolson, a nutritional researcher and a contributor to Bulk Nutrition, explains how green tea contains a number of nutritional compounds, including carotenoids and chlorophyll, which imparts the characteristic color into the drink, although most attention centers around the action of the catechins, a sub-group of polyphenols.
Epigallocatechin-gallate
Of the polyphenols in the drink, epigallocatechin-gallate makes up around half of them. This compound, often abbreviated to EGCG, catches the eye as the most potent of the catechins. As well as delivering an impressive anti-oxidant action at all cells of the body, EGCG also inhibits an enzyme called COMT in the central nervous system. This enzyme would normally break down noradrenaline, but the actions of EGCG mean that this does not occur.
Thermogenesis
Higher levels of noradrenaline result in an increased rate of thermogenesis, the process that sees the body convert the chemical energy stored in fat into thermal energy to maintain body heat. Tolson notes how this increase in thermogenesis increases both the metabolic rate and the body's utilization of fat as a fuel.
Scientific Studies
Scientists support the fat-burning claims of green tea. Dr. Abdul Dulloo led a team of researchers that investigated the effects of a green tea extract on the metabolism of volunteers. Their results, published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 1999, show that those using the extract demonstrate an increase in total energy expenditure of 3.5 percent and a jump in the proportion of energy that came from fat, which rose from 31 to 41 percent.
Daily Dose
While studies firmly support the role of green tea in the weight loss process, many individuals may still wonder how best to integrate the drink into their daily routines. Dr. Joseph Mercola, an American physician and the author of several books on natural health care, recommends using green tea for weight loss and cardiovascular protection and suggests three cups per day as sufficient for these purposes.
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