Although it has played a role in the culture of many countries for hundreds of years, green tea is gaining popularity in modern times for its potential benefits with cardiovascular health and fat burning. The dose you take might alter the impact it has, and you should always speak to a physician before starting any weight-loss regimen.
Identification
Made from the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea leaves undergo almost no processing after pickers collect them. This means that, unlike black or oolong teas, green tea retains its catechin content. These plant chemicals, a subgroup of polyphenols, are thought to provide a range of benefits in the body.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Catechin compounds might be able to reduce cardiovascular risk by improving blood flow and the ability of the arteries to relax. The University of Maryland Medical Center note that drinking green tea regularly might reduce your risk of heart attacks. More research is needed, however, to support these benefits.
Weight Loss
David Tolson, a nutritional researcher and contributor to Iron Magazine, notes how the catechin compounds in green tea increase the availability of noradrenaline in the central nervous system, which in turn increases the rate at which thermogenesis occurs. Thermogenesis sees the body burn fat to increase core temperature, which can support weight-loss efforts. Tolson says that effective fat burning is seen with 270 mg of the catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate -- EGCG. This is the equivalent of about three cups of green tea daily.
Dosages
Some of green tea's effects in the body might require higher dosages. A team of Japanese scientists looked into green tea's cancer-protective effects, and, while they found that the herbal beverage might offer strong protection, this only become pronounced at an intake of 10 cups per day or more. The results of the study were featured in the journal "Preventative Medicine."
Expert Insight
Jonny Bowden, a board-certified nutritionist and the author of several books on natural approaches to health care, highlights green tea as one of his top superfoods. He says the drink helps improve health as well as burn fat, noting that its theanine content -- a natural relaxant -- means that its caffeine will not make you as jittery as drinking coffee.
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