A common beverage all throughout Asia, green tea has recently gained popularity in the West. Green tea has long been known to have a number of health benefits, but who knew that it could also contribute to weight loss?
Recently a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that green tea extract can increase metabolism and fat oxidation of the body. In theory, scientists believe that the weight loss benefits of green tea extract is due to the caffeine content, but the results of the study show otherwise as they discovered that green tea extracts have weight loss benefits beyond that of caffeine.
In the study, researchers administered the same amount of caffeine as that in green tea extracts but discovered that it did not make any notable changes in the body’s overall energy expenditure. This led to the conclusion that green tea extracts contain ingredients that actively interact with each other, promoting increased metabolism and fat oxidation that can help with weight loss.
Further findings show that a particular compound found in green tea extracts might be the ingredient that causes weight loss. These green tea extract compounds, called flavonoids, may change the way the body uses norepinephrine, a hormone that monitors how calories are burned. When flavonoids interact with other green tea extract ingredients, additional calories are burned contributing to weight loss.
Another ingredient that actively contributes to the weight loss benefits of green tea extracts is the compound catechin polyphenols.
These compounds also interact with other green tea extract ingredients in order to help promote weight loss by fat burning and thermogenesis (a process of losing energy by daytime heat).
The best thing about the weight loss benefit of green tea extracts is that there are no adverse side-effects. Unlike other herbal products like ephedra and prescription drugs for obesity, green tea extract does not increase heart rates or raise blood pressure. In this respect, green tea extract is an effective and safer alternative to other weight loss products.
The study conducted by the University of Geneva on the weight loss benefits of green tea extract indicated that green tea extract can also help thyroid problems. According to dietitian Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., green tea extract is a healthier choice for people with thyroid who may be too sensitive to stimulants. Green tea extract can be used to promote weight loss by increasing metabolism without over stimulating the adrenal glands.
