Japanese Teas To Lose Weight

Japanese oolong tea and green tea are widely reputed to possess weight loss properties, and numerous scientific studies have been conducted to bear that out. Some of this weight loss appears to be the result of the caffeine content in the teas. But other metabolism-boosting, fat-oxidizing components have been identified in these teas as well. Drinking Japanese tea alone is not sufficient to lose significant weight. It can, however, support and augment a more comprehensive weight loss program that includes exercise and a healthy diet.

Caffeine

Many teas, including Japanese green and oolong teas, contain caffeine, which is known to increase energy expenditure, or metabolism, in the short-term. But while caffeine increases metabolism only at the time of consumption, other ingredients like EGCG and other catechin polyphenols in certain teas, including Japanese green and oolong teas, increase long-term metabolism over a full 24-hour period.

Green Tea and Thermogenesis

A 1999 study in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that drinking 5 cups of green tea per day could cause a person to burn 70 to 80 additional calories via a process called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis is the process by which living organisms produce heat internally. While some scientists balked that this was all due to the caffeine in green tea, a 2007 study in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition" found that much of the thermogenesis caused by green tea comes from another of its ingredients, an antioxidant called EGCG.

Green Tea and Fat Oxidation

EGCG is one of a group of antioxidants called catechin polyphenols contained in green tea in large concentrations. When combined with other chemicals in the body, these antioxidants oxidize fat. The catechins in green tea also inhibit excess glucose from being stored in the body as fat cells. Additionally, green tea increases blood insulin levels by causing carbohydrates to release into the bloodstream at a slower rate, promoting more burning of fat.

Oolong Tea

A 2001 study in the "Journal of Nutrition" found oolong tea increased the metabolism and fat oxidation in male subjects and a 2003 Japanese study in the "Journal of Medical Investigation" found that drinking oolong tea increased the metabolism of female subjects, though neither of these studies were intended to analyze weight loss.

Varieties

Matcha green tea is a particularly revered variety of green tea for weight loss as it is said to possess exponentially more EGCG and other catechins than even regular green tea. Sencha is another potent green tea widely touted for its weight loss properties, also due to its large concentration of catechin polyphenols.