Green tea supplements now appear on the shelves of almost all health food stores. Promoted for a variety of reasons, including cancer protection and immune system support, the supplements demonstrate promise in increasing the rate of fat burning in the body, meaning they might help you lose weight faster.
Green Tea
Found growing across a number of countries, green tea comes from the Camelia sinensis plant and stands out as the world's favorite drink after water. Although the herbal drink enjoys a rich cultural history, playing a part in several tea ceremonies in Japan for example, its catechin content has captured attention in modern times for its potential benefits in weight loss.
Catechins
David Tolson, a nutritional researcher and a contributor to Bulk Nutrition, notes that around 10 percent of the weight of tea leaves comes from catechins. Supplement manufacturers generally standardize their products around these plant compounds, the potent epigallocatechin-gallate in particular.
Thermogenesis
Epigallocatechin-gallate, also known as EGCG, and the other catechins stimulate thermogenesis. This process sees the body's central nervous system sacrifice the body's fat stores to raise body temperature. Although thermogenesis occurs at all times, the catechins bind with receptors in the central nervous system to increase the rate; weight loss might occur as a result.
Evidence
French scientists looked into the weight loss effects of a green tea supplement in 2002. Their study, which was published in the journal "Phytomedicine," gave moderately obese volunteers the extract daily for three months. The volunteers recorded an average weight loss of 4.6 percent and reduced their waistlines by 4.5 percent.
Expert Insight
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician who has written a number of books on health care, explains that many of the studies that support the use of green tea extracts for weight loss use around 300 mg of catechins. He highlights this amount as an effective and sensible dosage for weight loss.
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