Every time you turn around there are always new weight loss fads being presented in the consumer market. However, one weight loss concept has been proven to be more than just hype. Through time, testing, and research, green tea has held its own in the quest for weight loss. But how does it happen? What does it really do? Why is it effective?
The greatest distinguishing factor between green tea and other weight loss supplement is that green tea helps you lose the right weight and to keep it off. Some weight loss supplements are not lying when they claim that you will lose weight, but the problem is that you may not be losing the right weight; many weight loss supplements will cause you to lose water weight and muscle mass. This is unbeneficial from all sides. Water weight is gained back immediately after you rehydrate, so whether you have truly lost weight can be questioned. Also, losing muscle mass would not be desirable, considering that the amount of muscle in your body controls your natural metabolism, so less muscle slows down your metabolism which leads to less calories burned. What’s more, after your diet your metabolism may stay low for a while and lead to what is referred to as the “yo-yo effect”, a nickname given to the process of when an individual loses weight but soon gains those pounds back and more.
Studies have constantly shown that those who drink green tea burn significantly more fat than those that just exercise. In fact, a study on mice showed that those mice who exercised did not burn as much fat as those mice who drank green tea and did not exercise, and those mice that drank green tea and exercised burned more fat than the other mice. This occurs due to the polyphenols found in green tea. One particular polyphenol, epigapigallocatechin gallate, also known as EGCG, combined with the caffeine in green tea help to stimulate metabolism, which leads to thermogenesis, or the process of fat being used for energy. This leads to increased energy and longer stamina to exercise.
As previously stated, green tea is a lifelong product with lasting results. Incorporated in a daily routine, green tea has been proven to reduce body fat. Since it is a natural, healthy, medicinal product, green tea does not have negative effects, when consumed properly (not over-consumed or taken in conjunction with the wrong medication/additional supplements). In fact, along with losing and maintain weight, green tea also helps to prevent health issues such as cancer, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and much more.
Green tea also holds several other positive qualities. For one, green tea can help you to reduce your caffeine intake. Considering that caffeine gives you energy, it would be a lie to claim that it is not beneficial. However, it would not be an exaggeration to state that too much caffeine is not healthy. Many avid coffee drinkers consume great amounts of caffeine, sugars, and creamer that add unwanted pounds. Green tea contains natural amounts of caffeine, so that you can gain your caffeine fix without the overload and the extra sugar from the extra ingredients added to coffee.
Green tea possesses theanine which helps to keep you calm and increase your awareness. This can be very beneficial to individuals in fast-past, high-demand occupations, or for individuals who may just need a pick-me up. Feeling at peace also reduces stress which can help decrease negative health factors.
So, all in all, green tea can be considered a fail proof weight loss tool. However, there are a few drawbacks to be discussed. Green tea is not an overnight miracle worker; green tea does help you to lose weight, but it is a process that happens over time. It would probably be helpful to consider green tea to be more of a weight management tool than a weight loss supplement. Also, those that are on specific medications and vitamins could experience negative effects from the combination of their medications/vitamins and the green tea. Also, some may believe that consumption of more tea would lead to more weight loss. However, this is not very plausible, and too much green tea could lead to negative effects. As with any other supplement, it would be best to consult your physician before implanting green tea into your regular diet.
