Green tea is a popular beverage in China and East Asian countries. Records in history have shown that green tea was predominantly used in medicine before it became part of leisure time snacks and beverages. Green tea is made from the leaves and buds of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) that is naturally found in China and East Asia. This plant is also used for making other types of tea such as black tea. yellow tea, and oolong tea. The leaves of this plant are processed in different ways to create different types of tea leaves. For green tea, the tea leaves do not need any type of fermentation or curing to achieve the desired oxidation levels in the leaves. Unlike the heavily cured tea leaves for black tea and oolong tea. But does this beverage have any health benefits what are the features of green tea in weight loss?
Today, green tea is popular among fitness experts and health enthusiasts. It is a fat-burning beverage due to the antioxidants found in the tea leaves. These antioxidants are proven to help burn more fat and calories during exercises. They increase metabolism, and keep the body more active throughout the day. Let us examine further why green tea is the best beverage choice when it comes to fat-burning :
Increases the rate of fat burning
One of the primary plant-based compounds present in green tea is an antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG helps remove fat out of the body cells because it inhibits an enzyme that breaks down and increases the amount of the hormone norepinephrine which increases the rate of fat-burning processes in each cell in the body. This lets the fat become easier to be broken down and to be converted into energy that is used in daily activities and exercises.
Because of the abundant amount of EGCG, green tea fat burners are best paired with a low-calorie diet and regular workouts for best results. The antioxidants in green tea will be a great boost in burning fat especially if it is taken a few minutes before an exercise or workout session. Also, a low-calorie diet must be observed because it is counterproductive if the body takes in food with a high amount of fat and calories. The fat-burning effects of green tea will just be negated since there is more fat intake compared to the amount of EGCG intake taken by the body.
Also, on the topic of fat intake, fitness expert Isaac Robertson of Total Shape believes that, ideally, “on an average 2000 calorie diet, that would be about 45 to 75 grams of fat per day”. This amount should also only include monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. These are both healthy types of fats that help stabilize blood sugar levels. They also provide a source for omega fatty acids needed for better brain activity.
Fewer calories compared to other drinks
Compared to other “fitness drinks”, green tea is a better choice because it has lower levels of calories, sugar, and other preservatives. Geen tea leaves are prepared and preserved naturally without needing the aid of artificial preservatives. In this way green tea retains most of the antioxidants initially present in the plant. Commercially-made sports drinks and fat-burning fitness drinks have different types of preservatives and a high amount of sugar. This is easily overlooked since most people fail to examine the nutritional content labels on the bottles. Green tea is more natural and contains almost no sugar so it is the healthier option. Also, it does not increase the risk of developing high blood sugar levels. Further benefits and effects of green tea on health and fitness can be seen in this article.
Elevates metabolic rates
Another key component in green tea is caffeine. We commonly find caffeine in beans of the coffee and cocoa as well as in the leaves of the tea plant. It is a well-known stimulant for the central nervous system. it increases the body’s metabolic levels. Caffeine keeps the body in a heightened active state. This causes the body to burn more calories, thus reducing body weight and fat content. Caffeine is a major element of green tea in weight Loss.
Some people also prefer drinking green tea compared to coffee because some coffee products have higher sugar and caffeine content. Higher sugar content is not good for people aiming to reduce weight. More sugar means more calorie intake and this adds up to increased body weight. Green tea is not only good for increasing metabolic rate but it is great for people looking for their daily caffeine intake without the added sugar.
Healthy Diets working with Green Tea in Weight Loss
We can include green tea with our meals to reduce the appetite and help control food intake. Taking green tea before or after meals can help make the stomach feel full. This will lessen the amount of food consumed during meals. Green tea also helps in aiding the digestion of food since it helps in increasing metabolic rates. Higher body metabolism also means that food is digested faster. It breaks down fat easier, leading to less weight gain and more effective conversion of food to energy.
Green tea is a great help in losing weight. However, drinking green tea is useless if it is not followed by a proper diet and a regular workout session. Losing weight in a healthy way is a product of effort, hard work, and discipline.
Source: Total Shape