Eating fewer fatty, calorific foods and increasing your physical activity is the only proven way of losing weight. Even the most dedicated dieters sometimes struggle to say no to their favorite foods and put in extra hours at the gym. Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that health food stores are awash in supplements promising to help people remove those extra pounds. Green tea may help boost weight loss, although scientific proof that it works is limited. Consult your doctor or dietitian before using it as a weight loss aid.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Green tea, made by steaming the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, is a popular beverage in many parts of the world. It is also used as a complementary treatment for a broad range of disorders including cancer and cardiovascular disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that compounds found in green tea, known as polyphenols, may boost metabolism and help the body burn fat.
Effectiveness
Conclusive proof that green tea aids weight loss is lacking, but some research findings show promise. The results of a study published in the June 2009 issue of "Clinical Nutrition" found that green tea may help to suppress hunger and increase feelings of fullness, which in turn may support weight loss. An analysis of clinical research findings published in the September 2009 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity" found that green tea compounds may have a small positive effect on weight loss.
Side Effects
Green tea is likely safe for most adults, but drinking more than five cups daily may cause a host of side effects including insomnia, restlessness, nausea, headache, dizziness and heartburn. MedlinePlus adds that it may also reduce your ability to absorb iron from food.
Other Considerations
Green tea may not be a suitable weight loss aid for everyone because it cannot be taken alongside certain drugs, including lithium, stimulants, some anticancer treatments, estrogens, anticoagulants and asthma medicines. Its use is also contraindicated in several conditions including bleeding disorders, anemia, hypertension, glaucoma and diabetes. People with osteoporosis should also avoid this beverage, as it may increase the amount of calcium your body excretes. If you are uncertain whether green tea is suitable for you, consult your doctor.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Obesity
- MedlinePlus: Green Tea
- "Clinical Nutrition"; Effects of Capsaicin, Green Tea and CH-19 Sweet Pepper on Appetite and Energy Intake in Humans in Negative and Positive Energy Balance; H.C. Reinbach, et al.; June 2009
- "International Journal of Obesity"; The Effects of Green Tea on Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance: A Meta-Analysis; R. Hursel, et al.; September 2009
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