How Does Green Tea Help Aid Weight Loss?

Lots of folks are trading in their cups of orange pekoe for a pot of green tea, thinking that green tea drinking is a healthy habit. Researchers continue to study green tea to determine if there is a connection to weight loss. There are many theories suggesting that catechins--potent antioxidants found naturally in green tea--may stimulate the body's ability to burn calories and decrease body fat. In fact, some scientists think drinking more green tea may actually help you achieve your weight-loss goals.

A Healthy Habit

Because tea contains high levels of flavonoids -- antioxidants derived from the plant -- it possesses many healthful properties. Harvard Women's Health Watch writes, "Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties" Medical studies show a positive correlation between drinking green tea and reducing the risk of certain diseases, such as breast, lung and colon cancer.

Green Tea

"People who drink green tea or take green tea extract have a faster metabolic rate and fat oxidation," says Melissa Josselson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine. A study published in 1999 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" agrees. The researchers found a correlation between green tea and weight loss. Caffeine in green tea contributes to its weight-loss effectiveness. "However, studies have determined that it is more than caffeine causing these effects," Josselson said. "Researchers believe that the catechin polyphenols, mainly epigallocatechin gallate, is the main mechanism for the health benefits. ECGC is a powerful antioxidant found in green tea that might prevent cancer and other conditions as well as impact weight loss," she says.

Other Health Benefits

Researchers continue to investigate other health benefits for regular green and black tea drinkers, including a reduced risk for heart disease. "The antioxidants in green, black, and oolong teas can help block the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and improve artery function," according to Harvard Women's Health Watch. A Chinese study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" concluded that drinking a moderate strength green or oolong tea for more than a year resulted in significantly reducing the risk of developing high blood pressure.

For Best Results

Researchers recommend drinking about three cups a day to absorb the antioxidants and other health-enhancing compounds found in green tea cultures. Harvard Women's Health Watch says to steep your tea for three to five minutes to allow the catechins to be brought out fully. "The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed," according to article. The researchers mention that tea might impede your body's absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. They recommend "adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals to counteract this problem."

More Research Needed

Although drinking green tea has positive effects like increased mental alertness, the National Institutes of Health has not endorsed it as an effective weight-loss agent. Its website, MedlinePlus, says there is not enough verifiable evidence to confirm the safety and effectiveness of tea as a weight-loss agent. "There are several small human studies addressing the use of green tea extract (GTE) capsules for weight loss or weight maintenance in overweight or average weight individuals," the site reports. "Better research is needed before a strong recommendation can be made in this area."

"Green tea may lead to a small increase in energy expenditure and thus a minor weight loss," Dr. Josselson says. "Overall, larger-scale studies and more human studies are needed on the effects of tea and weight loss."