Physiological Significance of Green Tea on Weight Loss

Triglycerides

Green tea may aid in weight loss by increasing metabolism and blocking fat absorption. High amounts of polyphenols in green tea are believed to help burn fat by activating an enzyme that is responsible for dissolving excess triglycerides. Triglyceride is a substance in the liver and small intestine that is carried into the bloodstream to other tissues in the body. A surplus of triglycerides in the body is stored as fat, which is used as fuel for energy between meals. Hormones trigger the release of triglycerides when the body needs energy. But when individuals consume more calories than they burn, triglyceride levels rise as the body looks to store these fatty substances.

Leptin

A study published in the March 2000 issue of "Endocrinology" reports that green tea can curb eating. Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical School found that the hormone leptin, which has a role in regulating body weight and metabolism, helps control appetite. Rats injected with EGCg from green tea showed significant changes in blood levels of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone. EGCg is a type of catechin, or polyphenol found in green tea. Leptin stops you from eating too much, as well as accelerates the oxidation of fatty acids in the body's cells.

Catechin Polyphenols

Green tea contains antioxidants called catechin polyphenols, which can help increase the body's metabolism by stimulating the central nervous system to release fat into the bloodstream. Polyphenols are chemical substances in plants that act as natural antioxidants. Catechin polyphenols in green tea stimulate the use of fatty acids by the liver and muscle cells. This reduces the rate at which carbohydrates are used so that the body uses fat for energy. Green tea may also help to regulate glucose in the blood by slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This prevents high amounts of insulin from circulating in the body. Too much insulin promotes fat storage.

Fat Oxidation

Green tea burns fat, especially when combined with exercise. Drinking green tea can increase endurance giving a person the energy to exercise more. Exercise builds muscles and burns calories. Research suggests that the thermogenic properties of green tea speeds up fat oxidation. Higher concentrations of catechin polyphenols in the tea aid thermogeneis, the rate at which the body burns calories. A study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that green tea increases energy, and therefore, a person's metabolic rate. This allows an individual to burn more fat calories. Although some of these effects may be due to the caffeine contained in the tea, green tea does not contain enough caffeine to be solely responsible.