According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC, green tea acts as an strong antioxidant in your body. The six active catechins in green tea can help to protect your body against free radical damage such as ultraviolet rays, cigarette smoke in the air and other air pollutants. Catechins may aid in weight loss improvement, as well. Additionally, the University of Maryland states that clinical research has linked green tea to prevention of diseases caused by free radicals and cancer protection. If you are sensitive or react poorly to caffeinated beverages, you will still receive these specific benefits from decaffeinated green tea. Caffeine free green tea may be helpful in reducing belly fat and general weight loss.
History
The Mayo Clinic says green tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub. The use of green tea dates back approximately 5,000 years in China. India and Sri Lanka are also major users and the main producers of green tea. Tea has been traditionally served in ceremonies throughout history. Reportedly, Turkish traders introduced tea to Western cultures during the 6th century. Green tea can be made and served without added caffeine as a cold or hot beverage, or extracted to use as medicine.
Weight Loss
The UMMC states that green tea has been found to regulate insulin and blood sugar levels in your body. If your insulin levels are controlled, your body will not store as much fat; instead, it will burn fat as energy. After a clinical study concluded that green tea and caffeine improved weight loss among obese adults, researchers reported that the polyphenols and catechins in green tea are the primary weight loss agents.
Function
The Mayo Clinic states that there are approximately 80 mg to 100 mg of polyphenol in 1 cup of green tea. The UMMC explains that the polyphenols in green tea aid in weight loss and are powerful antioxidants when they enter your body. UMMC states that, "in fact, the antioxidant effects of polyphenols appear to be greater than vitamin C." Polyphenols in green tea are classified as catechins. There are six active catechin compounds in green tea; catechin, epicatechin, gallaogatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. EGCG helps with weight loss and is the most active polyphenol component in green tea.
Expert Insight
"The Journal of Nutrition" reported on a controlled study on overweight people given a beverage with 625 mg of catechins with 39 mg caffeine or a control beverage with 39 mg of caffeine and no catechins for 12 weeks for abdominal fat reduction. The two groups had identical workout programs. The study concluded that green tea catechin consumption enhances exercise-induced changes in abdominal fat. Caffeine in green tea is not its weight loss contributor. The six active catechins in green tea were found to improve the weight loss in overweight individuals.
Warning
If you are sensitive to caffeine and prefer decaffeinated green tea, talk to your doctor before consuming the beverage or taking green tea extract because there are still trace amounts of natural caffeine in caffeine free green tea. If you choose to take a supplemental form of green tea, talk to your doctor about any current medications and supplements you are taking. MedlinePlus states that green tea may interfere with many medicines. Additionally, the effects green tea has on weight loss vary from person to person and can not be guaranteed.
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