There's recently been a LOT in the weight loss news concerning
green tea.
Green tea's weight loss effects have been causing more and more
people to start sipping the ancient Japanese brew.
But just how does green tea help you lose weight? And does it
really work or is it all just hype? This article gives you the
real facts about drinking green tea to lose weight.
Advantages of Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss:
1) Green tea revs up your metabolism
A study reported on in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, found that green tea extract resulted in a
significant increase in energy expenditure (a metabolism
'boost').
The researchers also concluded that that over a 24-hour period,
green tea extract increases the metabolic rate by 4%. These
effects are probably due to the high concentrations of catechin
polyphenols found in green tea. These work to help intensify
levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis (the rate at which
your body burns calories).
2) Green tea inhibits fat absorption and helps glucose
regulation
Experts tell us that the catechins in green tea help to inhibit
the movement of glucose into fat cells. Green tea may also act
as al glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood
sugar after a meal. This prevents high insulin spikes (lots of
insulin promotes fat storage) and the subsequent fat storage.
3) Green tea may help reduce appetite
Scientists at the University of Chicago found that green tea
caused rats to lose up to 21 percent of their body weight. Rats
injected with a green tea extract lost their appetites and
consumed up to 60 percent less food after seven days of daily
injections. This may have something to do with the blood sugar
regulating effects of green tea.
4) Green tea can help you save calories on your morning brew.
We are a nation hooked on our java. Be it the regular
double-cream, double-sugar standard or that mocha, dappa,
frappucinno, the calories we ingest just to get our morning
caffeine is wreaking havoc on our waistlines.
If you want to save mega-calories in the morning but still get
your caffeine fix, try substituting green tea for coffee. Or
have a green tea in the afternoon instead of that 700 calorie
mocha-chillate dream. You'll definitely notice the difference
in your waistline after a few weeks.
So there are 4 ways that green tea can help you with weight
loss. But how much do you actually have to drink to get these
amazing metabolism boosting effects?
Experts vary but the general consensus seems to be that 3 - 5
cups of green tea per day is optimal. Doing this can help you
burn an extra 70 calories per day which amounts to 7 pounds per
year. Pretty good for not exercising or cutting calories, right?
However, 3 - 5 cups can be a lot for some people, so you might
also want to consider green tea extract, green tea pills or a
green tea patch.
Disadvantages of Drinking Green Tea For Weight Loss:
#1) Green tea is not a magic bullet
While some people will tell you that green tea is the
be-all-end-all for weight loss success, I think the keyword
here is balance. You're not going to eat 5000 calories a day,
drink a cup of green tea and make it all go away - it just
isn't going to happen. A healthy diet and increased exercise
will go a long way in helping you lose weight and keep it off.
#2) Be cautious of the caffeine if you have health problems
For some people that have heart troubles, high blood pressure
or stimulant sensitivities, the caffeine in green tea may not
be the best idea. If you're worried about the caffeine from
green tea, try taking green tea extract. Most green tea extract
is made from decaffeinated green tea so you can still get the
weight loss benefits without the caffeine.
If you think the caffeine may be a problem, make sure to
consult your doctor before starting green tea for weight loss.
Also make sure to consult your doctor before starting green tea
if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Bottom Line: Green tea helps you with weight loss by boosting
your metabolic rate, regulating your blood sugar, suppressing
your appetite and giving you something else besides that high
calorie, high sugar coffee beverage to drink in the morning.
While it's not the magic bullet, it can definitely give you a
boost in weight loss and in your overall health!
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Kathryn O'Neill
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