Green Tea to Lose Weight

Green tea has been popular among the people of Asia, since time immemorial. These people were aware of the health benefits of green tea, and used it for treating medical conditions, like hypertension, heart diseases, digestive disorders, and flatulence.

It was also used to heal wounds; and as a diuretic to regulate body temperature; and to promote mental health. Today, most of these health benefits are backed by studies, which suggest that regular use of green tea may lower the risk of various ailments.

Unlike black tea, which is obtained by fermentation of tea leaves, green tea is made by steaming fresh tea leaves. Green tea has a high polyphenol content, that is said to be responsible for its health benefits. Studies show that green tea contains 30 to 40 percent of polyphenols; whereas in case of black tea, it is only around 3 to 10 percent.

Green tea has been used throughout the centuries for its health benefits. With its increasing popularity, various studies have been conducted about the benefits of this tea. Nowadays, it is said to be effective for weight loss, and is widely used for this purpose. Given below are some of the reasons for this action of green tea.

• The polyphenols in green tea can influence the enzymes, which are responsible for the metabolic process, and increasing the number 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 and capsaicin can also hike the metabolic rate, the effect of polyphenols is much higher. However, this does not mean that you will get the desired results within a fortnight. For that purpose, you have to use green tea regularly.

• It is said that green tea can act as a glucose regulator, which can regulate the natural glucose levels of the body. Green tea inhibits a sudden rise in blood sugar levels after a meal. Such a hike in the blood sugar level, increases the amount of insulin, which in turn promotes fat storage.

Green tea contains catechins, which are responsible for its action as a glucose regulator.

• Another feature of green tea, which is useful in weight loss is its ability to reduce appetite. This claim has been proved by 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%. It is said that regular use of green tea makes you feel less hungry; and this results in a reduced 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, when 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.

Apart from weight loss, you can also reap the health benefits associated with green tea. It is always advisable to get the consent of your health care provider, before starting the green tea weight loss diet.

Disclaimer: This story is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert advice.