A Good Green Tea for Weight Loss

A Good Green Tea for Weight Loss
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Green tea is said to be quite beneficial in helping people lose weight because of its rich antioxidant content, which helps to burn fat faster and more efficiently. In addition to breaking down fats, it also helps in lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol. Overall, it is beneficial to have two or three cups of green tea every day, preferably before your exercise routine.

Constituents

Green tea contains antioxidants, polyphenols, free radicals and enzymes that have a direct impact on fat and bad cholesterol. According to O Cha, the main antioxidant in green tea, epigallocatechin 3-gallate, or EGCG, is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and about 25 times better than vitamin E for overall health.

Benefits

Apart from weight loss, green tea has been reported to be beneficial in the following conditions: It helps to maintain normal blood pressure. It lowers bad cholesterol. It heals damaged tissues. It detoxifies and it improves metabolism.

Types

O Cha divides green tea into several varieties based on their quality, but all have the same health benefits. You can choose from sencha, gyokuro, matcha and houjicha, which has zero caffeine, and there are various brand names. Remember that the tea is taken without milk or sugar for maximum benefits. You may add a few drops of lemon juice and honey to aid the weight loss process.

Weight Loss

The Diet Channel reports that EGCG in green tea may influence the metabolic process, helping to burn fat faster, resulting in weight loss. However, weight loss may not be possible only with the consumption of green tea. For best results, take a cup of green tea before beginning your workout, since this may help in better fat metabolism. It is also important to watch your diet and exercise regularly. After you have reached your target weight, green tea can help in maintaining this weight, and it is also considered a natural solution for getting a flat stomach. Green tea helps in burning more calories by increasing thermogenesis.

Side Effects

There are no known side effects of green tea, but the caffeine may make you jittery if you consume too much green tea. If you become jittery, you should reduce the amount of green tea you consume to see if green tea is the cause of your symptoms.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Oct 28, 2010

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