Green Tea in Weight Loss

Drinking green tea provides numerous health benefits, including the potential to enhance weight loss efforts. Green tea includes antioxidants, called catechin polyphenols, which scientists believe fight cancer-causing free radicals in the body, help discourage weight retention and might burn fat. Drink green tea to enhance the effects of a healthy diet and moderate exercise program.

Features

Green tea is made from unfermented leaves. Therefore, it retains more polyphenols than black or oolong teas. It can be steeped and enjoyed hot or iced. To obtain the most benefits, green tea should steep at least 5 minutes and be consumed soon after brewing.

Metabolism Enhancer

Although the caffeine in green tea does boost metabolism slightly, studies show that the tea contains additional properties that provide a significant thermogenic effect. In 1999, lead author Abdul G. Dulloo concluded that green tea's antioxidants help people expend extra energy and thus accelerate weight loss. The study, discussed in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," involved 10 participants who drank green tea with its caffeine offered or a placebo during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Researchers tested these men and found that those who had consumed green tea experienced a 4 percent increase in their metabolism for 24 hours afterward.
Another study published in a 2000 edition of "The International Journal of Obesity" pegged a specific antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) contained in green tea as central to its metabolism-boosting abilities. EGCG combines with caffeine to spur the central nervous system and raise the metabolism. The inclusion of three to four cups of tea per day leads to an additional 60 to 80 calories burned.

Fat Burner

Green tea has also been shown to affect body composition. Tomonori Nagao, lead author in a study published in the January 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," found that men who consumed a bottle of tea enhanced with green tea extract once a day for 3 months experienced greater fat loss and drops in LDL cholesterol than participants who consumed oolong tea. The "Journal of Nutrition" reported a more recent study from researchers at Provident Clinical Research in Indiana that states green tea is particularly effective at targeting belly fat.

Appetite Suppressent

Animal studies suggest compounds in green tea contribute to appetite suppression. At the University of Chicago's Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, after 7 days of EGCG injections, rats consumed about 60 percent less food and experienced a 21 percent weight loss. A person would have to drink gallons upon gallons of green tea to ingest the same amount of ECGC used in the study; however, the study highlights the potential of using green tea derivatives for weight loss.

Low-Calorie Alternative

Green tea is a low-calorie beverage that can help you cut back on sugary drinks that contribute to weight gain. It contains only four calories per serving, compared to 150 in the average soda. Drinking a cup of tea before or after meals might make you feel fuller, discouraging mindless snacking.