Targets The Most Dangerous Body Fat
When most of us think about body fat, we focus on the fat that we can actually see and want to get rid of. However, some excess fat is found deep inside our bodies surrounding some of our internal organs.
This hidden fat is called visceral fat or belly fat. Its normal and healthy to carry some of this fat as it protects our organs, but it can be dangerous to have too much. Having high amounts of visceral fat puts you at a higher risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Some studies have shown that green tea may help to target visceral fat. This means you may not see fat loss from the areas you want from drinking green tea but it may help to reduce this dangerous hidden fat.
A study on Chinese adults with a high proportion of abdominal visceral fat was carried out to see if catechin-enriched green tea could help. The 12-week study found that the group drinking the green tea every day experienced greater visceral fat loss than the other group who were given a placebo.12
Summary
- Green tea may help target visceral fat the type that puts you at risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease
How To Prepare Green Tea For Weight Loss
To optimize green teas health benefits for weight loss, youll need to prepare it a little differently from other teas:
Robust Research On Tea And Weight Loss Is Lacking
That said, many studies look at the effects of tea in capsule or tablet form, which may provide study participants with a more concentrated dose of plant compounds like EGCG than a typical bag of tea would. Other studies dont use humans, and if they do, the population sizes are on the smaller side. These are major limitations, so more large studies in humans using brewed tea are needed before scientists understand and can better determine any potential weight loss benefits for people.
Regardless, health experts agree that plain, unsweetened brewed tea is generally healthy. Go ahead and prepare that cup and as you sip, check out this list of the top teas for weight loss, in order from strongest evidence to weakest.
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Lower Your Caffeine Intake
If youre a caffeine junkie, then the fact that cold green tea has a much lower caffeine content compared to hot tea may sound like a major drawback. However, if youre desperately trying to cut back on caffeine, then this will be a huge plus for you.
Sixteen ounces of cold brew green tea contains only fifteen milligrams of caffeine, while just a small six-ounce cup of hot tea contains an impressive twenty-six milligrams. These figures are only averages, since some green teas contain far more caffeine than others.
Caffeine is a stimulant that activates the central nervous system. It helps to improve mental focus and concentration and it can even combat fatigue.
The effects of caffeine can be felt in as little as fifteen minutes after youve consumed a glass of tea and can last for as long as five to six hours for people who are sensitive to caffeine, and about three to four hours in people who have a reasonable tolerance for it.
Sounds great, but is it healthy?
Is Caffeine Good For You?
Aside from caffeines stimulating effects, its also said to offer a variety of health benefits. Some studies suggest that drinking three to four cups of tea a day can help to reduce the risk of throat, liver, and mouth cancer by as much as fifty percent.
But caffeine isnt all good. In fact, some believe drinking too much caffeine can cause plenty of damage, both physically and mentally.
One of the Leading Causes Of Increased Anxiety
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So Can You Drink Green Tea Cold
Yes, you can drink green tea when its cold. Iced, even. The taste of freshly brewed green tea is a bit different than cold green tea, but the health benefits and overall effect are the same.
Some parts of the world only drink green tea hot, as it was originally meant to. But the Western countries have started loving the cold green tea, and theyre not wrong for doing so.
It all depends on your individual taste, and how much you like cold tea in general. But lets go through the hot and the cold, shall we ?
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What Is In Green Tea
Green tea is made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis and dates back to ancient China, where it was consumed for its medicinal properties.
Classic Chinese texts recognized it as a strong anti-inflammatory. Modern science is just now catching up to this theory, thanks to a growing amount of research being done on some of green teas key polyphenolic compounds known as catechins. These are natural antioxidants that help protect cells and fight off free radicals in the body.
Up to 42% of green tea contains catechins, mostly in the form of one called epigallocatechin gallate . Tea leaves contain other polyphenols, including quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin, all which offer strong antioxidant effects .
Green tea also contains caffeine and theobromine .
Studies on the health benefits of green tea have looked extensively at the potential role these polyphenols play in disease prevention and weight loss.
Summary: Along with a small amount of caffeine, green tea is rich in antioxidant compounds known as catechins, particularly one potent form called epigallocatechin gallate . EGCG has been studied extensively for its potential role in disease prevention and weight loss.
Which Green Tea Is Best For Weight Loss
The best green tea for weight loss is matcha green tea. Matcha lovers rejoice!
Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder made from finely crushed dry tea leaves. The entire leaf is utilized in the process, which means matcha contains the highest concentration of healthy compounds like EGCG.
This compound is most active and abundant in matcha green tea because of how condensed the source is.
Whats that? Did somebody say Matcha Chia Pudding?
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Why It Might Work
There are a number of theories on why green teaespecially the main catechin called epigallocatechin gallatemight help you out a bit if youre looking to lose weight.
Its possible that catechins in green tea may actually inhibit carbohydrate digestion and absorption, Kirkpatrick says, citing a report in the journal Scientific Reports that showed lower carb absorption after people downed a green tea extract.
I think some of the most promising ones are looking at green teas effects on the microbiome, she says. Research is increasingly finding that green tea alters the guts microbiome, and those changes could be what makes it helpful for dropping pounds.
There may even be some evidence that black tea can contribute to weight loss as well.
Green Tea May Help Boost Metabolism
Green tea can boost metabolism because it contains caffeine. This allows you to burn more calories and helps with weight loss. “The stimulant properties of the caffeine increase the oxidation rate within the cell’s metabolism which …. increases the calories we burn,” says Hunnes.
In a small 2008 study, researchers gave obese participants either green tea or a placebo over the course of 12 weeks. The participants did not change their activity level or diets. After 12 weeks, those who had green tea lost 7.3 pounds more than those who had the placebo, and burned 183.38 calories more with their resting energy expenditure.
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Green Tea Is A Healthy Alternative To Sugary Drinks
When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a good idea to cut back on sugary drinks. Hunnes says green tea can have zero calories from fat if you don’t add sugar to it, and you will get nutrients like antioxidants that you wouldn’t get from drinking soda.
Green tea can also give you more sustained energy, without a crash, opposed to sugary drinks. If you replace sugary drinks with green tea, then you will be cutting back on a significant amount of calories over time, which can help result in weight loss.
“One can of soda typically contains 150 calories. Simply brewed green tea without anything added has negligible calories, so every can of soda that you replace in a day with green tea or any other calorie-free beverage, you would save 150 calories every serving,” says Monfiletto.
How Much Green Tea
A number of studies have been conducted to test the theory that green tea can help with weight loss. It’s important to note that most of these studies used green tea extract, not the actual tea.
Drinking regular green tea may not help you lose any weight, according to a clinical study published in the September 2012 issue of âObesityâ, which compared the effects of drinking regular green tea and a catechin-rich green tea on weight loss in a group of men and women with Type 2 diabetes.
While the group drinking catechin-rich tea lost a half-pound over the 12-week study period, the group drank a lower-catechin green tea gained half a pound.
Of the studies that show green tea might offer some weight loss benefits, the amount of weight lost isn’t significant, according to a review study published in December 2012 in âCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.â
âRead more:â How Much Green Tea Should You Drink to Lose Weight?
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Although Black Tea Is The Most Popularit Accounts For About 84 Percent Of All Tea Consumedgreen Tea Is Reported To Be Growing At A Much Higher Volume Than Black Our Guess Is That’s Because Of Green Tea’s Potential Role In Weight Loss
If you like tea, and you like healthy beverage options, youve joined the ranks of the other 158 million Americans who are enjoying a cup on any given day. Its estimated that last year, over 80 billionthats right, billionservings of tea were consumed by the tea lovers of America. That translates into roughly 3.60 billion gallons.
Although black tea is the most popularit accounts for about 84 percent of all tea consumedgreen tea is reported to be growing at a much higher volume than black. Our guess is thats because of green teas potential role in weight loss. We decided to take a closer look at how you can drink green tea for weight loss.
Eat Whole Foods Mostly Plants Not Too Much Of Anything
The prolific author and food philosopher Michael Pollan has said that everything he’s ever learned about food and health can be summed up in seven words: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” That’s about as good as it gets when you try to clean up your act and do a healthy version of a “detox diet” for three days. Eating clean does not mean not eating. The research tells us that detox diets don’t work, but the urge to detox is a healthy one. How to split the difference? Tell yourself: If I could grow it from the ground, I can eat it. Then choose the most natural, minimally processed foods you can find and eat those. And keep portions in check.
The 12 healthiest foods to eat to detox your body while still eating healthy meals.
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Green Tea Contains Powerful Bioactive Substances
Bioactive substances are nutrients that your body can use to stay healthy. Although green tea may not replace certain foods or supplements.
It can provide an excellent source for some of these bioactive substances. For example, steeping tea leaves for too long may damage catechins, antioxidants known to fight cancer and heart disease.
Does It Contain Caffeine
Yes, it does contain caffeine but less compared to other beverages. For example, coffee contains more caffeine in 8 oz of coffee ranging from 90mg t0 170 mg approximately whereas green tea contains caffeine ranging from 20 to 30 mg in 8 oz of tea.
Comparing both drinks, green tea wins and is safe to drink daily but limiting its quantity on a daily basis is a good idea. Consuming the tea in more quantities can lead to high levels of caffeine in the body that can exceed the daily average limit leading to unwanted consequences or side effects.
It contains fewer caffeine levels compared to other teas or coffee and sipping in a few cups a day is more helpful than sipping unhealthy drinks that can help in reducing stress levels and giving the energy to do the rest of the tasks.
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Does The Brand Or Variety Of Green Tea Matter
Absolutely! There can be a difference in the quality of tea leaves and the number of additional, unnecessary ingredients that may mess up your green teas benefits for weight loss.
To reap the maximum benefits, look for brands that use all-natural ingredients and have no artificial preservatives.
Also, try and opt for these two varieties of green tea whenever possible:
- Matcha: Here, the green tea leaves are ground into a fine powder, which you can whisk into water for tea. Since you consume the actual leaves, you get more antioxidants than from other varietals.
- Hojicha: This is made from green tea leaves that are roasted until theyre dark brown. Because its picked at the end of the season and roasted at a higher heat than other teas, hojicha contains lower levels of caffeine.
Black Tea V/s Green Tea Which Works Best In Weight Loss
The first thing to know is that green tea and black tea are very similar. Black tea is made by fermenting tea leaves and allowing them to oxidize. Green tea, on the other hand, is a more natural form of tea. When the two types of tea are compared, their properties and effects on the human body are nearly identical.
Green tea has captured the market in the name of weight loss but this does not mean black tea is bad for you. Black tea contains antioxidants and a variety of other health benefits, so dont discount it entirely.
Just as green tea is not a magical beverage, you should include some form of black tea in your diet. Ideally, you should alternate between black and green tea. Although it is frequently overlooked, black tea is an essential component of a well-balanced nutritional regimen.
If you want to lose weight, switch to drinking black tea instead of green tea. Black tea not only helps to combat dullness and sleepiness, but it also helps to improve mental alertness.
After getting used to the strong flavor, youll find that its a great beverage to drink throughout the day to keep you focused and energized.
Simply bring a cup of water to a boil and drop in a handful of tea leaves.
After allowing it to steep for a few minutes, strain it through a strainer to create a revitalizing cup of tea.
Real fitness is a long-term game and the 3 pillars of a long-term game are a good diet an active lifestyle and, in my view, a good amount of sleep.
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Green Tea Has Emerged As One Of The Most Popular Health Drinks Lately It Is Not Just Healthy But Is Said To Help You Lose Weight Thanks To The Presence Of Numerous Antioxidants And Nutrients That Provide Plenty Of Health Benefits
Losing weight through exercising and eating a healthy diet may be effective. A balanced and low-calorie diet up your chances of getting a slimmer waist considerably. These foods either help boost metabolism or help ease the process of digestion both of which are key to healthy weight loss. But to make your weight loss journey more effective, it is important to include natural stimulators that can speed up weight loss. One of the most efficient weight loss stimulators is green tea.
Green tea has emerged as one of the most popular health drinks lately. It is not just healthy, but is said to help you lose weight thanks to the presence of numerous antioxidants and nutrients that provide plenty of health benefits. In fact, many studies have shown that green tea can increase fat burning, which can help you cut the extra flab. The high concentration of vitamins and minerals, in addition to the low calorie content, enhance your metabolism and improve your body’s ability to burn energy. Pair your cupful of green tea with exercises and a balanced diet to ensure healthy weight loss. We tell you reasons as to why you should drink more green tea to lose weight.