Green Tea to Lose Weight

Green tea has been popular among the people of many Asian countries, since time immemorial. These people were aware of the health benefits of green tea and used it in the treatment of medical conditions, like hypertension, heart diseases, digestive disorders, flatulence, etc. It was also used to heal wounds, as a diuretic, to regulate body temperature and to promote mental health. Today, most of these health benefits are backed by researches, which suggest that the regular use of green tea may lower the risk of many diseases. Unlike black tea, which is obtained by the fermentation of tea leaves, green tea is made from steaming fresh tea leaves. This method of production results in the high levels of polyphenols, which in turn is responsible for the health benefits of green tea. Studies show that while green tea contains 30 to 40 percent of polyphenols, whereas it is only around 3 to 10 percent in black tea.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea has been used throughout the centuries for its health benefits, which is the main factor behind its popularity. As the use of green tea spread in western countries, many studies were undertaken to explore more about this product. These studies have come up with a new claim that green tea can be beneficial in achieving weight loss. This claim is backed by many reasons, and so you can just drink green tea to lose weight.

• The most important among these reasons is that the polyphenols in green tea can influence the enzymes, which are responsible for the metabolic process and increasing the amount of calories burned by the body during the course of daily activities. As the rate of metabolism increases, more and more calories get burned. Even though food components, like caffeine, capsaicin, etc. can also hike the metabolic rate, the effect of ployphenols is much higher. But this does not mean than you will get the desired results within a fortnight. For that purpose, you have to use green tea regularly.
• Green tea is also believed to be a glucose regulator, which can regulate the natural glucose levels of the body. Green tea inhibits a sudden rise in the blood sugar levels after a meal. This hike in blood sugar level, increases the amount of insulin, which in turn promotes fat storage. Green tea contain catechins, which are responsible for this inhibiting action of green tea.
• Another feature of green tea, which is useful in weight loss is its ability to reduce appetite. This claim has been proved by some studies conducted on rats, which were injected with green tea for seven days. This led to a weight loss of up to 21% of their body weight and there was a corresponding appetite reduction of 60%, as compared to normal rats. It is said that the regular use of green tea makes you feel less hungry and this results in a reduction in the amount of food intake, which eventually leads to weight loss.
• Above all, you can definitely use green tea in place of the usual high-calorie coffee with cream and sugar. Even though green tea contains caffeine, it is not considered harmful, as the levels are very low, as compared to coffee and other caffeinated drinks. So you can reduce your calorie intake by switching over to green tea, instead of the regular coffee with cream and sugar.

Now you know the reasons behind green tea being one of the best ways to lose weight. Apart from losing weight, you also get the added advantage of the health benefits associated with green tea. This method has become popular as green tea dieting and green tea detox, after the renowned celebrity, Oprah Winfrey, used green tea for weight loss. So you can also try this method, but make sure you get the consent of your doctor before starting. Some people can be allergic to green tea, while some others may have some medical conditions, which may lead to complications with green tea use. Otherwise, you can use green tea to lose weight.