Natural Green Tea & Weight Loss

Natural green tea is a strong antioxidant and can help protect your cells, tissue and organs from oxidation damage. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, consistent consumption of green tea may help prevent diseases caused by free radicals. Additionally, research from a clinical population-based study concluded that green tea may help protect against certain cancers. Green tea has also been used as a natural way to boost and sustain energy as well as for improved weight loss. Although, the effect of green tea differs per individual and can not be guaranteed.

History

Green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, states Medline Plus. According to UMMC, civilizations have been drinking green tea for approximately 5,000 years in accordance to archeological research. Botanical studies prove that civilizations in India and China were among the first to cultivate tea. Today tea is the number one consumed beverage in the world followed by water. MedlinePlus explains that natural green tea is often consumed in liquid form and can be extracted into supplemental form. Green tea has been recommended to naturally enhance physical energy which can improve weight loss.

Effects

Natural green tea contains caffeine which can help increase your metabolic rate. If your metabolism is elevated, you will burn more calories rather than storing them as fat. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are 50 mg of caffeine in a single cup of green tea, as well as approximately 81 to 99 mg of polyphenol. The UMMC explains that the higher the fermentation of the tea leaves, the more potent the caffeine in green tea will be. The caffeine in green tea may provide you with more sustained energy throughout the day and in the gym. Green tea also acts as an antioxidant in your body which will help prevent oxidation damage from free radicals.

Weight Loss

While the caffeine in green tea aids in speeding up your metabolism, the UMMC states that studies have shown the main attributes to green tea's weight loss effects are the catechins and polyphenols. UMMC reports that a clinical study based on overweight people revealed green tea and caffeine increased their weight loss. Green tea has also been shown to help balance insulin and blood sugar in humans. If your insulin is too high or unregulated, your body may store fat, rather than burning it as energy.

Expert Insight

The catechins in green tea were shown to decrease abdominal fat in overweight individuals in a study reported by the "Journal of Nutrition." Some of the individuals were given decaffeinated green tea and some were given caffeinated green tea and all were on the same workout regimen. The caffeinated and decaffeinated groups both lost the same amount of abdominal fat. MedlinePlus states that green tea, "seems to help moderately overweight people lose weight. But green tea doesn't help people keep the weight off."

Warning

You should consult your doctor before using green tea for weight loss. Tell your doctor about any other supplements or medications you are taking because green tea can interfere with the adsorption of other medications. When your liver is breaking down the caffeine in green tea it makes it more difficult for your body to absorb other supplements. MedlinePlus states that green tea may upset your stomach upset or cause constipation. In extreme cases, green tea has been reported to cause problems in the liver.