Green Tea Weight Loss Diet

Green Tea Weight Loss Diet
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A green tea diet involves the regular consumption of the drink to lose weight. Green tea is available in oral supplements or as a hot or cold beverage. If you want to successfully lose weight, you need to also follow a reduced-calorie diet and make time for regular exercise, along with consuming green tea.

Features

Green tea contains EGCG, an antioxidant that increases the amount of calories that the cells in the body burn, according to the Los Angeles Times. It also contains caffeine, an ingredient used in many dietary supplements to increase energy levels as a way to achieve weight loss.

Expert Insight

According to a 2008 study by the Department of Physiology at Khon Kaen University in Thailand, the ingestion of green tea helped subjects lose weight at a faster rate than the control group. The green tea led to weight loss by increasing the amount of energy expended and the rate of fat oxidation.

Benefits

Modest weight loss has been achieved by adding green tea to a diet. According to a 2010 study done by Arpita Basu, an assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University, participants lost an average of 4 to 5 pounds more over the course of eight weeks than the control group. The participants drank four cups of green tea daily or consumed two capsules of green tea extract.

Prevention/Solution

To prepare a cup of green tea, you can use tea bags or one teaspoon of loose leaves. Add 6 ounces of hot water to the leaves and steep for at least 2 to 3 minutes. You may add flavorings to improve the taste of the tea. Drink two to four glasses of tea daily for weight-loss benefits.

Considerations

Instead of drinking green tea, supplements are available that contain extracts of green tea. Some varieties include Green Tea Slim, Mega-T Green Tea Supplement and Metabolife Green Tea. You normally take one to two tablets at mealtimes.

References

Article reviewed by Jay Lawrence Last updated on: Nov 2, 2010

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