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!