LEARN MORE ABOUT GREEN TEA:

There's recently been a LOT in the weight loss news concerning green tea.

Green tea's weight loss effects have been causing more and more people to start sipping the ancient Japanese brew.

But just how does green tea help you lose weight? And does it really work or is it all just hype? This article gives you the real facts about drinking green tea to lose weight.

Advantages of Drinking Green Tea for Weight Loss:

1) Green tea revs up your metabolism

A study reported on in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that green tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure (a metabolism 'boost').

The researchers also concluded that that over a 24-hour period, green tea extract increases the metabolic rate by 4%. These effects are probably due to the high concentrations of catechin polyphenols found in green tea. These work to help intensify levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis (the rate at which your body burns calories).

2) Green tea inhibits fat absorption and helps glucose regulation

Experts tell us that the catechins in green tea help to inhibit the movement of glucose into fat cells. Green tea may also act as al glucose regulator. It helps to slow the rise in blood sugar after a meal. This prevents high insulin spikes (lots of insulin promotes fat storage) and the subsequent fat storage.

3) Green tea may help reduce appetite

Scientists at the University of Chicago found that green tea caused rats to lose up to 21 percent of their body weight. Rats injected with a green tea extract lost their appetites and consumed up to 60 percent less food after seven days of daily injections. This may have something to do with the blood sugar regulating effects of green tea.

4) Green tea can help you save calories on your morning brew.

We are a nation hooked on our java. Be it the regular double-cream, double-sugar standard or that mocha, dappa, frappucinno, the calories we ingest just to get our morning caffeine is wreaking havoc on our waistlines.

If you want to save mega-calories in the morning but still get your caffeine fix, try substituting green tea for coffee. Or have a green tea in the afternoon instead of that 700 calorie mocha-chillate dream. You'll definitely notice the difference in your waistline after a few weeks.

So there are 4 ways that green tea can help you with weight loss. But how much do you actually have to drink to get these amazing metabolism boosting effects?

Experts vary but the general consensus seems to be that 3 - 5 cups of green tea per day is optimal. Doing this can help you burn an extra 70 calories per day which amounts to 7 pounds per year. Pretty good for not exercising or cutting calories, right?

However, 3 - 5 cups can be a lot for some people, so you might also want to consider green tea extract, green tea pills or a green tea patch.

Disadvantages of Drinking Green Tea For Weight Loss:

#1) Green tea is not a magic bullet

While some people will tell you that green tea is the be-all-end-all for weight loss success, I think the keyword here is balance. You're not going to eat 5000 calories a day, drink a cup of green tea and make it all go away - it just isn't going to happen. A healthy diet and increased exercise will go a long way in helping you lose weight and keep it off.

#2) Be cautious of the caffeine if you have health problems

For some people that have heart troubles, high blood pressure or stimulant sensitivities, the caffeine in green tea may not be the best idea. If you're worried about the caffeine from green tea, try taking green tea extract. Most green tea extract is made from decaffeinated green tea so you can still get the weight loss benefits without the caffeine.

If you think the caffeine may be a problem, make sure to consult your doctor before starting green tea for weight loss. Also make sure to consult your doctor before starting green tea if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Bottom Line: Green tea helps you with weight loss by boosting your metabolic rate, regulating your blood sugar, suppressing your appetite and giving you something else besides that high calorie, high sugar coffee beverage to drink in the morning. While it's not the magic bullet, it can definitely give you a boost in weight loss and in your overall health!

Green tea has been in use in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, it has been used for centuries as a stimulant, astringent and to improve heart health. It is an effective remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, and certain immune deficiencies. Research by the scientific world first confirmed it's health benefits only about a decade ago.

One main advantage is that it comes cheaper than many medicines and it is herbal. It has been researched a lot. Research shows that the most powerful antioxidant compounds in it are the polyphenols. They are flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG), and proanthocyanidins). Catechins in it are over 200 times more powerful than vitamin E and helps in neutralizing the pro-oxidants and free radicals that attack lipids in the brain. Catechins are also more potent than vitamin C. It is rich in vitamin C. EGCG is said to be brain permeable, and it protects the brain.

Green tea and alzheimers

EGCG decreased production of beta-amyloid, a protein that forms the plaques that clog the brains of Alzheimer's victims. Drinking more than two cups of it a day could cut the risk of dementia by half, had a 50 per cent lower chance of having cognitive impairment, compared to those who drank less than three cups a week. A British study found that drinking it inhibited three important brain-harming chemicals: acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and beta-secretase. They are associated with breaking down chemical messengers and forming plaques and protein deposits in the noggin's gray matter which hinders clear thinking.

Green tea and arthrosclerosis

Artherscloerosis will initiate heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Green tea has been extensively tested and been found to be highly beneficial in the reduction of blood pressure and aiding the recovery of heart attack victims. It also inhibits the unnatural formation of blood clots which have been known to cause thrombosis and stroke. Drinking it represses angiotensin II which leads to high blood pressure.

Green tea and autoimmune disorder

It protects from autoimmune disorders like xerostamina. It helps in reducing auto antigen levels in healthy cells while not in tumor cells and thus protecting the healthy cells.

Green tea and cancer

It helps in fighting as well as preventing cancer. Cancer is lower in countries where they drink lots of green tea. EGCG inhibit cancer by blocking the formation of cancer-causing compounds and suppressing the activation of carcinogens. It also inhibits cancer cells from growing. It binds to a specific enzyme called dihydrofolate reductase, in the body. Egcg helps in killing cancerous cells and stops its progression without attacking normal cells. There have been many studies that have shown that catechins in it are effective at preventing cancer. It helps in fighting bladder cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer,

Green tea and cholesterol

Drinking it helps to keep cholesterol on a healthy level by its inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and promote its excretion from the body. It also helps against clot related strokes. At least 5 cups a day are recommended.

Green tea and diabetes

People who drink lots of green tea or coffee every day could lower their risk of diabetes by 33 percent. Green tea polyphenols and polysaccharides are good in the reduction of blood sugar. The researchers who conducted test on rat concluded that results clearly show intervention with it can significantly decrease visceral fat deposit and increase insulin sensitivity.

Green tea and liver disease

Those who drink it daily are less likely to get disorders in the liver. It also appears to protect the liver from the damaging effects of toxic substances such as alcohol. It may help treat inflammation of the liver. , protecting fatty livers from injury while reducing liver fat content by about 55 percent protect patients recovering from liver transplant. It can be a useful supplement in the treatment of liver disease and should be considered for liver conditions in which pro inflammatory and oxidant stress responses are dominant.

Green tea and skin care

It is anti-bacterial and helps in fighting acne and reduces inflammation. It protects the skin from the damage caused by ionizing radiation and aids in detoxification.

Green tea and weight loss

It helps in boosting metabolism and burn fat. It has thermogenic attributes which helps to raise the body temperature and burn calories up to 80 calorie daily. It also helps in fat oxidation. It helps in weight loss without raising heart beat. The thermogenic compound in green tea is caffeine. Other similar components in it that boost metabolism are theobromine and theophylline even though they are found in only small quantities . Recommended dose is 5 cups daily

Green tea and viral infection

EGCG strongly inhibited the replication of the HIV virus by blocking the binding of HIV envelope glycoprotein to human CD4 molecules on human T cells. Since this is, the first step in HIV infection it helps in preventing the first step in HIV infection. L-theanine in green tea triggers our body to produce 10 times their normal output of virus-battling interferon. Even gargling with it is effective when you have flu. They have strong antibacterial qualities.

Green tea side effects

Its extract has shown to be non-toxic but excessive amounts of caffeine from it may cause irritability, insomnia, heart palpitation, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache, loss of appetite, dizziness and nausea. . It has been in use for 5000 years and not much side effects noted other than caffeine content in it. If you are wary of caffeine you can take a decaffeinated green tea.