Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. It is loaded with antioxidants and various plant compounds that may benefit your health. Some people even claim that green tea can increase fat burning and help you lose weight. This article examines the evidence surrounding green tea and weight loss. If you look at the label of almost every commercial weight loss and fat-burning supplement, you will likely see green tea listed as an ingredient. This is because green tea extract has been repeatedly linked to increased fat burning, especially during exercise. In one study, men who took green tea extract before exercise burned 17% more fat than men who didn’t take the supplement. The study suggests that green tea can boost the fat-burning effects of exercise An eight-week study determined that tea catechins increased fat burning, both during exercise and rest Several other studies confirm these findings, indicating that EGCG boosts the burning of fat — which may lead to reduced body fat in the long term. While it has recently gained popularity in the West, green tea has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat numerous conditions from headaches to wound-healing. This article will look at the evidence behind this claim, as well as the most effective methods of consuming green tea to help with weight loss.
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Green tea
The granddaddy of weight-loss brews is green tea—it's filled with antioxidants called catechins, including a substance called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is believed to increase metabolism and help burn fat. "Researchers have found that green tea extract causes changes in the expression of fat metabolism genes, especially when it’s consumed consistently for longer periods of time," says Dr. Axe. One Chinese study found that when subjects drank tea that was super-rich in catechins twice a day, after 90 days they saw a decrease in belly fat, losing an average of 1.9 cm in waist circumference and 2.6 pounds of body weight, and another large review of studies concluded that green tea’s mix of EGCG and caffeine has a positive effect on weight loss and weight management.
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Oolong tea
Though green tea has long been thought of as the go-to variety for weight-loss, some researchers believe that oolong–a Chinese tea that falls somewhere between green and black—may be even more powerful. "Oolong tea promotes thermogenesis (so the body produces heat from energy, thereby burning more calories), and suppresses the production of new fat cells." says Dr. Axe. One small Japanese study found that for two hours after drinking oolong tea, women found their resting energy expenditure increase 10 percent, whereas the metabolism bump was only 4% after they drank green tea.
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Mint tea
Though some people swear sipping a cup of mint tea can stave off food cravings, there is little evidence behind the claim. One thing we know for sure, though? If you’re jonesing for a minty sip, a cup of unsweetened peppermint tea has far fewer calories than a sugary peppermint mocha.