A hot cup of organic green tea can have certain health benefits. According to MedlinePlus, there's good evidence to indicate that green tea improves your mental alertness due to its caffeine content. However, whether it burns belly fat is another story entirely. Green tea has a reputation as an appetite suppressant and metabolism booster. There's little research that supports green tea as a weight loss agent.
Organic Green Tea
Green tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, as does all types of tea, including black and oolong. The term "organic" simply refers to the method used to grow the tea itself. For example, to meet the qualifications as an organic food product as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the tea must be grown without using conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and sewage sludge. According to MayoClinic.com, research thus far indicates that there's no difference between produce that's farmed organically and conventionally in terms of the health benefits and nutrients it provides. Organic green tea likely costs more than regular green tea, as it is more expensive to produce.
Claims
According to MedlinePlus, an extract of green tea called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, has been linked to weight loss in moderately overweight people. EGCG may reduce the reduplication of cancer cells, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer. But there's scant evidence to indicate that green tea is effective for weight loss. One study conducted by Tokyo's Kao Corp., a beauty care and food and beverage product manufacturer, suggests that green tea is effective against body fat. However, another study conducted by Maastricht University in The Netherlands indicates that while green tea may be effective during weight loss, it has no effect on weight maintenance.
Study
Maastricht University researchers published an article in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in March 2004 that studied the effects of green tea on 104 overweight and obese adults. The participants dieted for four weeks, after which they received green tea or a placebo for another 13 weeks. Researchers noticed that there wasn't a significant difference in the amount of weight the two study groups regained.
Burning Fat
If you want to target belly fat, it's best to avoid fat-burning foods and beverages and stick to what you know works: eating a reduced-calorie diet and getting regular physical activity. Harvard Medical School suggests starting with 30 minutes of moderate-intense exercise each day, but up to an hour, if you need it. Crunches and sit-ups strengthen your abdominal muscles, but they won't get rid of troublesome abdominal fat. Cut down on portion sizes. When planning meals, focus on adding more complex carbohydrates, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods. Avoid sugary beverages, simple carbohydrates and saturated and trans fats.
References
- MedlinePlus.com; Green Tea
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;" Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat ... T. Nagao et. al; (January 2005)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; What is organic production?
- "British Journal of Nutrition;" Effects of green tea on weight maintenance after body-weight loss. E.M. Kovacs et . al (March 2004)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Green Tea
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide; Abdominal fat and what to do about it
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