According to research published as recently as 2015, sales of traditional tea have fallen in Britain. And sales of herbal and green teas have gone up. Green tea sales alone rose 50%.
Why green tea? Green tea is chock full of health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants called catechins. Catechins help strengthen the immune system and support cardiovascular health.
They also aid in fat loss, especially in the form of green tea supplements. Let’s find out how.
Green Tea Vs. Green Tea Extract
Green tea is growing in popularity as we stated above. There are even claims that it decreases the risk of certain types of cancer. It also reportedly reduces inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Some say it even aids in controlling blood sugar in people who live with diabetes. When people consumed as a beverage, green tea is safe.
If the thought of slamming down bitter green liquid four or five times a day makes your stomach turn, you have options. Green tea extract (GTE) is available as a supplement.
Dozens of studies show that green tea has health benefits. It can also be a fat-burning aid.
In fact, most of the studies involve GTE in supplement form. Supplements are more concentrated, so they have proven to be more effective than drinking green tea.
Green Tea Supplements’ Fat-Burning Attributes
It’ the combination of catechins and caffeine that make green tea extract an effective fat burner. Caffeine itself is a stimulant that increases your metabolism. Studies have shown that it can also improve exercise performance.
Now, add the antioxidant-rich catechins to the mix to give your metabolism an extra boost. Green tea has a range of antioxidants. The most effective is Epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC).
The body needs about 400-500 milligrams of ECGC per day to see any results. That is equal to 4-5 cups of strongly brewed tea each day.
Green Tea Supplements Help Break Down Fat Cells
The pairing of caffeine and ECGC increase certain hormone levels to trigger fat cells to break down fat. Fat releases into the bloodstream. The body can convert that into energy.
EGCG help inhibit an enzyme that breaks down the hormone norepinephrine. When something blocks this enzyme, norepinephrine levels rise to break down more fat cells.
Green Tea Increases Fat Burning, Especially During Exercise
Multiple studies show that green tea extract boosts the burning of fat most effectively during exercise. For example, one study showed that men who took GTE supplements and maintained an exercise regimen burned 17% more fat than men who didn’t.
Boosting Metabolism During Periods of Rest
Additional studies show that green tea extract can boost metabolism continuously, even during periods of rest. People who take GTE can burn 3-4% more calories each day. The overall, positive benefit is a long-term reduction in body fat.
If a person burns 2000 calories per day, and additional 3-4% equals an extra 60-80 calories burned per day.
Green Tea Extract Targets Harmful Abdominal Fat
When it comes to actual pounds lost, green tea extract is not a miracle in a jar. The number of pounds lost is moderate. Most of the studies show that people lose an average of three pounds during the period of study.
However, the studies also show that the fat lost is abdominal fat. People have subcutaneous fat under the skin. That is the visible fat we see. But we also have inner belly fat that builds around our organs.
Called visceral fat, this is the most dangerous type of fat to our health. Visceral fat is one cause for harmful conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Several studies show that most of the fat people lost while taking green tea extract is this dangerous visceral fat.
Green Tea Supplements Over Weight Loss Drugs
The studies have also revealed that green tea extract is easier on the system than prescription weight loss drugs. There were no side effects or significant changes in heart rate of those who participated in the studies.
This is especially important for thyroid patients. They should not take anything that will raise their hearts rates or blood pressure. People with thyroid disease are sensitive to stimulants like ephedra and other weight loss medications. Though, they were not adversely affected by the GTE.
How to Take Green Tea Supplements
If you are adding GTE supplements to your weight-loss plan, be sure to follow the dosage instructions. Green tea is a stimulant, so do not take more than what the manufacturer recommends. Also, drink plenty of water. Caffeine is a diuretic.
Understand that people respond differently to green tea supplements just as they would to any caffeinated drink or supplement. If you experience a racing heart, anxiety, or other symptoms when you take in caffeine, see your doctor before taking a green tea supplement.
Also see your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, anxiety, or high blood pressure. The tea can also interact with medications you are taking, including antibiotics, blood thinners, and blood pressure medication. Finally, it can also interfere with chemotherapy if you are a cancer patient.
Check the Labels on Green Tea Supplements
While you are shopping for green tea supplements, check the label for the number of milligrams of catechins a single pill contains. Green tea extract usually contains one or more catechins.
The strongest is ECGC as we mentioned before. Most GTE supplements have about 50 percent ECGC. There is no standard composition of GTE or a standard dosage.
Many GTE supplements also contain added appetite suppressants. Be sure to read those labels, especially if your goal is to avoid too many synthetic or unnatural ingredients.
Can Green Tea Supplements Help You?
Because green tea extract (in the form of a supplement) has little to no side effects, adding it to your fitness regimen is worth a try. Hopefully, this article presented enough information for you to select a supplement line that’s right for you.
If you have any questions about green tea supplements, please contact us.