Green Tea Benefits on Metabolism

Green tea has been largely accepted as a healthy drink. Not only is it low in calories, fat free and versatile, but it contains antioxidants and many other disease-fighting elements. Recent studies have shown it also helps to oxidize fat in the body and increase metabolism.

Origin

• Green tea originated in China, but is associated with many eastern countries. It has only recently become popular in Western cultures where black tea has historically been the most popular. Green tea, black tea and oolong tea all come from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, and all have similar health benefits.

History

• Tea drinkers existed 4,000 years ago, and probably even before that. Green tea has been used for medicinal purposes in many cultures, and with the health benefits it has, it is still used in hopes of preventing disease, promoting weight loss, and removing toxins from the body with the catechins it contains. Over the years, it has been linked to the prevention of cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol and more.

Caffeine in Green Tea

• In its dry leaf form, green tea actually has more caffeine than dry coffee, but once tea is steeped or brewed, it does not retain the caffeine levels. Since most of the caffeine is contained in the actual leaves, which are discarded once steeped. The actual prepared tea only has the nutrients that were drawn from the leaves and were able to withstand the hot water. Coffee also loses its caffeine potency once brewed, but it retains more than green tea. A typical eight-ounce cup of green tea contains 30 to 60 milligrams of caffeine while the same amount of coffee typically has 80 to 100 milligrams. Unlike caffeine in coffee, caffeine in green tea is released slowly into the body once consumed. This regulates glucose levels that can be thrown off when caffeine is introduced too quickly into the body.

Metabolic Benefits

• Green tea has been shown to increase the rate of fat oxidation by as much as 17%. The combination of caffeine and polyphenols, catechins, and antioxidants promotes a process called thermogenesis that increases the amount of calories your body will burn. Results were similar with different types of green tea, even green tea extract taken in tablet form.

Recommended Consumption

• Three to four cups a day of freshly brewed green tea are typically recommended for optimal effects on metabolism. Freshly brewed teas have more potent amounts of beneficial nutrients that encourage metabolic rates to speed up. Bottled teas, green tea extracts and decaffeinated versions still have metabolic benefits, but optimal results are achieved by drinking freshly brewed green tea.

Creating a Balance

• Consuming green tea alone will not result in dramatic weight loss, but it is one practice that can be incorporated into a health plan. Consistently exercising and relying on a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins will magnify the health benefits of green tea.

Warning

• Prior to starting a nutrition program, talk to your physician about your specific needs and goals and how best to achieve them. Green tea does contain caffeine, so if you choose to drink it late in the evening, you may have a hard time getting to sleep.