Weight Loss with Green Tea

Of all the excellent benefits of drinking green tea, two of the most exciting for average consumers are its ability to promote fat loss and to increase physical endurance, both of which aid in weight loss. But tea drinkers should not expect to simply lose weight simply by drinking green tea. What green tea has been shown to help in is to increase the promotion of weight loss in those who are following a healthy diet and exercising regularly. There is no green tea "miracle diet," but studies have shown that it does increase weight loss in many of its drinkers.

Green Tea Promotes Fat Loss

Green tea's catechins, caffeine and theanine all work together to increase a tea drinker's overall fat loss. By inhibiting the enzyme that is responsible for turning fatty acids into fat cells, green tea certainly aids in fat loss, and in effect increases weight loss. The fat loss associated with drinking green tea not only promotes weight loss in those with a healthy diet, but it also lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Green Tea Increases Exercise Endurance

While drinking green tea alone will not make the pounds disappear, studies have shown that it will aid in one of the most important aspects of weight loss: exercise. Green tea stimulates muscle cells to burn fatty acids instead of carbohydrates, thus allowing for a longer exercise time. When an average person does an endurance exercise, like taking a long run, their muscle cells usually burn a high amount of carbohydrates, suppressing the burn of fatty acids and producing lactic acid that causes sore muscles and makes the exerciser want to stop.

Just Drinking Green Tea Burns Calories

Though it's not a high number, studies indicate that drinking four cups of green tea a day burns an extra 70-80 calories per day through the increased thermogenesis (heat production) that green tea promotes in drinkers.

Of course, one pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so drinking green tea alone would not cause a lot of weight loss. In one year, for example, drinking four cups of green tea per day would only cause a person to lose eight pounds. But, combined with a healthy diet and exercise, green tea certainly helps to increase weight loss in its drinkers.

Incorporating Green Tea in your Diet

Drinking green tea in conjunction with exercise and a diet will certainly help you to lose weight, but it is important to remember that in order to reap many of the benefits of green tea, you must drink an average of four to five cups per day. Incorporating green tea into your diet as a replacement for high calorie drinks like sodas, however, will certainly help you on your path to greater weight loss by saving you empty calories and keeping your body healthy.