Green Tea Weight Loss

Green tea has been researched and found to have a number of interesting fat burning properties. These properties make it of interest to anyone wishing to shed body fat. The weight loss properties of green tea are not new discoveries for modern science however, as they are recorded in ancient Chinese medicine dating back thousands of years. Modern science has corroborated these fat burning effects more recently.

Green Tea Contains Methylxanthines

The main reason that green tea can burn fat is because it is a rich source of methylxanthines. The most common of these is called caffeine, but theophylline and theobromine are also methylxanthines. Caffeine and other methylxanthines can raise the metabolic rate because they stimulate the same part of the nervous system that is heightened during exercise. As a result green tea can cause a release of adrenaline which is a potent fat burner.

Green Tea Polyphenols Burn Fat

Another reason green tea can burn fat is because it may inhibit the absorption of certain nutrients including some carbohydrates. This may be due to the presence of polyphenols that are contained within the green tea leaves. The contribution that the polyphenol component has on the fat burning effect of green tea may be significant, because decaffeinated green tea also has potent fat burning effects.

Green Tea Antioxidants

The polyphenols in green tea are also potent antioxidants. Antioxidants can inhibit free radical and prevent tissue damage. This is relevant to weight loss, because free radical damage is increasingly associated with insulin resistance, one of the the main drivers of weight gain. By inhibiting free radical damage, green tea polyphenols may prevent and reverse insulin resistance. This improves metabolic regulation and allows fat burning to proceed in muscle tissue.

Switch to Green Tea

Another way that drinking green tea may be beneficial to weight loss is because drinking green tea can lower the consumption of other beverages. This is particularly true if the other beverages contain sugar, such as soft drinks. By substituting green tea for soft drinks for example, a significant intake of sugar can be avoided. As sugar is the primary cause of weight gain, this is a highly effective strategy. This switch might be all that is needed in some individuals to cause weight loss over the long-term.

How To Get The Most From Green Tea

I am convinced that one of the reasons that many people do not see effective fat burning with green tea is that they simple do not drink enough. Green tea made from bags makes weak tea which lacks the high concentrations of methylxanthines and polyphenols necessary to cause weight loss. A much better solution is to use loose leaf tea and make very strong tea. About 5 or 6 cups like this per day may be necessary to have a significant effect.

RdB