There are
countless health benefits associated with drinking green tea.
For centuries, the Chinese people have been drinking and using
green tea as cure for several ailments. Today, cancer
prevention, weight loss, antioxidant applications,
anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties are only a few
of the proven benefits contained within a single cup of green
tea or a capsule of green tea extract.
Green Tea: An Introduction
Green tea comes from the plant native to Asia called Camellia
sinensis. This plant is rich in the green tea substance called
epigallochatechin gallate or EGCG. Green tea’s EGCG is the
substance responsible for destroying free radicals in the body
which are the number one causes of aging and diseases. The
antioxidant EGCG in green tea also helps in lowering down
cholesterol levels.
Green Tea for Weight Loss Programs
A university study conducted by American and Swiss scientists
show that green tea can be used in weight loss programs. Using
ten healthy young men as subjects for their weight loss
program, the scientists compared the difference in energy
expenditures of green tea and that of caffeine or standalone
placebo. The results show that green tea boosts energy
expenditure by a significant four percent increase. This led
many people to believe that green tea can have a significant
impact on increasing the efficacy of weight loss programs.
Green tea is a great alternative for people who are on weight
loss programs because it can help them lead a healthier
lifestyle. For instance, instead of drinking coffee and cream
which area high in calories, green tea weight loss programs can
not only save you from taking in too much calories but also let
you take in several healthful substances like polyphenols and
flavonoids. Green tea also contains a small amount of caffeine,
a key substance used in most weight loss programs because of
its appetite-suppressant properties.
Other studies show that green tea in weight loss programs can
help reduce fat by inhibiting the effects of insulin. Insulin
is responsible for converting glucose into energy for the body
to be stored into fat. By delaying insulin, green tea weight
loss programs enable sugar to be sent directly to the muscles
for instant use, thus preventing fats from forming.
Green tea in weight loss programs can also promote
thermogenesis, the process by which the body burns fat and
releases calories. This process is brought on by the
interaction of the caffeine content and catechin polyphenols
present in green tea. This is why weight loss programs based on
green tea is an effective way to stimulate metabolic rates.
No supplement or weight loss program is known to work
miracles. However, studies do indicate that green tea have many
benefits in store for those enrolled in weight loss
programs.