How Green Tea Affects Weight Loss

In a day when people are turning to natural means to lose weight, green tea is generally an effective, healthy option. Apart from being instrumental in achieving weight loss, green tea helps in a range of health issues, including normalizing blood pressure to lowering the risk of cancer. According to the Journal of Nutrition, green tea has effective antioxidant properties that aid in achieving weight loss. Green tea is available in tea leaf and extract form.

History

The University of Maryland Medical Center says that green tea is made from the Camellia sinesis plant. Green tea is cultivated from unfermented leaves and may have the highest levels of polyphenol antioxidants. Some traditional Chinese medicine contained green tea for stimulant purposes, along with use as a diuretic, astringent and heart support.

Elevated Metabolism

Green tea may increase the rate at which calories are burned in the body. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, clinical studies suggest that green tea extract may speed up metabolism and help burn fat faster. Researchers speculate that the presence of polyphenols, especially catechins, in green tea is related to weight loss, rather than the caffeine content.

Curbs Appetite

Green tea helps curb the appetite, which may lead to reduced calorie consumption. The British Journal of Pharmacology published a study regarding the effect of green tea catechins on rats, which states, "the main physiological effect of catechins in rats is appetite suppression." Along with catechins, the caffeine content in green tea may reduce appetite as well. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that drinking too much green tea may lead to an excess of caffeine and the appetite may be lost completely. Green tea in moderation may suppress the appetite just enough to significantly reduce overeating.

Energy Boost

According to the Mayo Clinic, a cup of green tea contains approximately 50mg of caffeine, depending on the strength of the tea and the size of the cup. Caffeine boosts mental and physical energy, so it can help put people in the mood to exercise if they are feeling tired or sluggish. If you have more energy, you will naturally move around more throughout the day, which will help you burn more calories. Burning more calories than taken in is a caloric deficiency that leads to a higher rate of weight loss. The University of Maryland Medical Center says a study confirmed that green tea combined with caffeine improved weight loss and weight maintenance in some people.

Warning

Consult your doctor before taking green tea supplements. Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, states that green tea extract may interact with the absorption of other medications because the body has to break down the caffeine in green tea, making it more difficult to absorb other medication. Use caution when consuming green tea with other substances containing caffeine, such as coffee and energy drinks to avoid too much caffeine intake.