The last few years have seen the rise in popularity of a beverage that finds its place in the diet of majority of people who want to lose fat. Most people boast about having 2 to 3 cups of this beverage throughout the day. Yes, I’m talking about “Green Tea”.
Tea is made by soaking the leaves or buds of Camellia Sinensis (common tea plant) in hot water for one to three minutes. It is the fermentation of tea that determines its color. The color of tea is white when it is in its least fermented form and black when it is in its most fermented form. So it is the fermentation of the tea leaves that decide whether tea will be White, Green or Black.
Compounds in Tea that Play a Beneficial Role:
- Flavonoids – They are one of the main reasons for the beneficial effects of tea. Flavonoids are a group of chemicals with strong antioxidant properties. They help in reducing the free radical damage.
- Methylxanthines – Tea is also a rich source of methylxanthines. Caffeine is a methylxanthine present in tea. But the quantity of caffeine in tea is lesser than that in coffee.
Green Tea has 4 types of Catechins, they are
- 1. Epicatechin (EC)
- 2. Epicatechin-3-gallate
- 3. Epigallocatechin (EGC)
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) [one of the most important ones]
It is these catechins that activate fat metabolizing enzymes like acyl-CoA oxidase and medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase leading to an increase in oxidation of fat (burning of fat). It is because of the thermogenic effect of catechins and caffeine that green tea is now one of the most popular fat burning products.
The rise in the popularity of green tea, especially as a fat burning supplement has been exponential. Green tea has made a concrete place for itself in the menu of most of the restaurants all around the globe. But does it really live up to all the claim and hype that surrounds it, let’s dig deeper.
Green Tea a Potent Fat Burner: Hype or Fact
There is no denying the fact that green tea is a rich source of catechins which play a vital role as antioxidants. But there aren’t many research studies to substantiate the claim that many manufacturers make about green tea helping you reduce tons of weight. The most important thing to understand when it comes to fat loss is that without the basics in place (diet and exercise), any product or fat burner will be ineffective in helping you with your fat loss goals. I feel that the benefits of green tea have been over-exaggerated and it has become a style statement where people love to say “I’m having green tea to lose fat” while they are all over the place with their diet and exercise.
I do believe that green tea has its benefits. When you are on a proper exercise program and fat loss diet, only then can you experience the maximum benefits of green tea. So to answer your question, yes green tea has its own benefits, but how much of it you reap really depends on the way you use it. But do I think it lives up to all the hype and claims that surround it, definitely NO.
