Green Tea for Weight Loss??
May 3, 2017
By reading through our blogs, you have already learned that weight loss cannot simply be achieved by adding a pill or a beverage to your daily routine. However, there are many natural ingredients that can be incorporated into your diet to support a healthy eating and exercise program. A multitude of research has been conducted on the effect green tea has on weight loss. Below is a list of results found in several studies:
- 8 oz of green tea can contain 20-40 grams of caffeine. Caffeine is a mild stimulant that can boost fat burning and improve exercise performance.
- Green tea is loaded with antioxidants including ones linked to boosting metabolism.
- Studies that did report weight loss (a modest ~ 3 pound average) found it was lost from visceral fat; reducing the risk of harmful conditions like cancer and heart disease.
- There is no current evidence that green tea causes people to consume fewer calories.
The message here is that green tea is a very healthy addition to any diet. While the specific effect on weight loss is debatable, adding a few cups of green tea to your daily routine can add a healthy dose of caffeine and antioxidants that can benefit every body. Including green tea in your diet is as simple as having a cup of tea along with your breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Remember that success in adding any new healthy habit relies largely on enjoyment, so if you typically have not enjoyed plain green tea in the past, keep reading.
Have fun with your green tea by steeping it with one of your favorite herbal teas. My favorite is steeping one mint green tea bag with one herbal citrus tea bag in 16 oz of hot water and sipping on this throughout the morning. In the summertime I will prepare green tea by the pitcher and store in the fridge. Then in the morning I will pour into a thermos with ice, lemon, and fresh mint for a refreshing all day beverage. You can mix and match with different herbal tea bags like peach or blueberry too. The most important part is that you enjoy the beverage so your body can reap the benefits!
Yours in Health,
Megan Risley