There have been several studies showing the connection between weight loss and green tea. This can be an excellent option for someone who is looking to lose weight effectively and for adding other important health benefits.
The caffeine content isn’t as high as coffee but there is still enough to affect your metabolism. Caffeine is a stimulant that can improve the fat burning process. There are other fat burning elements in green tea that aren’t in other caffeine substances.
Green tea is filled with antioxidants that speed up metabolism. These means the body burns more calories while performing basic body functions such as digestion, cellular functions and even, processing nutrients.
One of the most effective of these antioxidants is Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG. The reason EGCG is so effective is because it produces norepinephrine which is a hormone that signals the fat cells to break down fat.
The increased production of norepinephrine causes more of your fat cells to get broken down. This will also result in boosting your energy levels which will have you moving more and burning even more calories.
Drinking green tea both after a workout will result in improved muscle gain as the polyphenols that green tea contains will stimulate the cells within your muscle causing improved recovery. If you drink it before a workout, these same polyphenols allow our body to use carbohydrates for longer. This can extend the length of your workouts and allow you to work out harder.
Green tea contains over 450 organic ingredients. Some of these include iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, and vitamins B1, B12, K and P to name a few.
Be sure that when you buy green tea you choose organic brands that don’t use artificial preservatives and only natural ingredients.
To make it taste good and to reap all the benefits, you have to brew it right. You can bring the water to boil but then turn off the heat and let the water set for ten minutes. Then pour it over the tea and let the tea brew for at least one minute. Of course, brewing longer will make it stronger. It all depends on your taste.
Make sure that you use a healthy, low-calorie sweetener for your tea if you need it to be sweeter. Sweeteners such as Stevia, monk fruit and erythritol are good substitutes that won’t spike your blood sugar levels and they won’t add extra calories. If you use honey, make sure that you use raw honey rather than processed.
If you prefer your tea to be more creamy, you can add half and half or heavy cream. If you have any Thai or Chinese restaurants close-by, they may even have green tea or match tea ice cream on the menu.
Any time you reach for a sugary drink filled with empty calories, replace that drink with green tea. At first, it may be a little bitter but as your taste buds adjust, you will soon be tasting the subtle sweetness that it naturally contains. You will start seeing some changes in the way you feel and the way you look. This will inspire you to make better choices at meal time as well.