- Weight Loss Mechanism
- Contraindications
- Weight Loss Methods
- Useful Tips
- Recommended Varieties
- Recipes
- Questions and Answers
Green tea is considered the number one eco product. Nutritionists recommend including it in one’s regular diet for weight loss, while doctors warn of its dire consequences if consumed too often. It is relaxing and refreshing at the same time. It contains a large amount of tannins (including caffeine tannin) and alkaloids, amino acids, and vitamins. Unlike black tea, it does not undergo fermentation during production, and this is its most valuable property, due to which it retains the maximum amount of nutrients.
To this day, scientists and consumers continue to debate whether it is possible to consume green tea for weight loss, if it will be effective, or if it’s better to find another way. Let’s take a closer look at this issue.
Weight Loss Mechanism
It should be noted right away that green tea does promote weight loss — that’s a fact. At the same time, it’s not a magic bullet or a potent dietary product that can be used for a mono-diet — it’s an excellent assistant that accelerates the fat burning process when used in conjunction with other weight loss methods.
If you combine this wonderful drink with any diet (low-carb, protein, etc.) or with intense exercise, you will achieve good results. And it’s all thanks to the chemical composition of this divine elixir of life, as it is called in China.
Here’s why green tea is good for weight loss:
- It accelerates metabolism;
- It has a diuretic effect, removing excess fluid from the body;
- Polyphenols increase heat transfer in the body, thereby burning accumulated fat;
- It lowers blood sugar levels, which suppresses appetite — a very useful property for weight loss: that’s why it’s recommended to drink this drink half an hour before meals in order to eat less during lunch or dinner, it also helps to suppress appetite while on a diet;
- It improves overall well-being: as you know, any diet can cause dizziness and nausea, which will not happen if you consume this drink;
- It improves mood, which helps you endure even the most severe hunger, many of which can lead to nervous breakdowns and depression.
Those who do not believe in the effectiveness of green tea for weight loss can check out the results of the following study: if you drink up to 6 cups of this drink a day for a week, the volume of fat burned will be increased by 45%. This means that you can correct your figure and finally get rid of those unsightly lumps on the stomach and other areas of the body. However, all this is possible only if your body can withstand the flow of this miraculous drink.
Interesting Fact. Green tea leaves contain more than 300 different chemical compounds, many of which are still unknown to science. They are difficult to study, as they are prone to constant change and depend on the age of the tea bush, the time of year the raw materials were harvested, the processing method, and the storage conditions.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that the benefits of green tea for weight loss are undeniable (with the right approach), it can also be harmful or even toxic. This happens in two cases.
Firstly, if the contraindications for active consumption are ignored. Secondly, if a drink that has been brewed for more than 6 hours is constantly consumed. Harmful phenolic compounds are formed in it, which can lead to poisoning.
Contraindications:
- Any heart problems, which, if already present, cannot withstand such a large amount of caffeine and tannin;
- Predisposition to kidney stones;
- Old age;
- Exacerbated stomach ulcers, gastric erosion, and gastritis;
- High fever;
- Severe arrhythmia;
- Insomnia;
- High blood pressure;
- Gout;
- Glaucoma.
Quite often, diets are accompanied by gastrointestinal upset. And here, too, green tea takes its toll. This can ultimately lead to a perforated ulcer and a hospital bed. If you consume a large amount of this drink, you can experience tachycardia and heart palpitations.
So, this elixir can be beneficial and harmful for weight loss, which you must objectively evaluate before going on such a starvation diet. It is very important to choose the right consumption plan to avoid exhaustion or a painful condition.
Unfortunately. Green tea puts a lot of strain on the heart, which is unacceptable if it is already weakened. Therefore, those who have any problems with the cardiovascular system should not experiment with this method of losing weight.
Weight Loss Methods
There are many ways to lose weight with green tea. And here it is important to choose the best option for your body so as not to harm it.
If you just need to make minor adjustments to your figure and lose a few pounds, a fasting day is enough. If you need more impressive results, you can’t do without a week-long diet. And for those who are obese, nutritionists recommend using dietary supplements with green tea extract.
- Fasting Day
If you urgently need to lose weight by tomorrow, arrange a fasting day on green tea. To do this, you need to sip a cup of this aromatic drink throughout the day. In total, you should consume about a liter of it per day. In between, be sure to drink plenty of plain water.
For breakfast, you can have a slice of whole grain bread, for lunch — a small cucumber without salt, for dinner — an apple. Since it is not recommended to drink green tea at night, you can replace it with low-fat kefir.
- Diet
There is a full-fledged diet based on green tea. By following it, you will need to supplement fasting with it. There are different regimens for consuming this drink for this purpose:
– drink a cup half an hour before each meal to quench your hunger and not overeat;
– drink after eating (15 minutes later) to facilitate the digestion process and break down fats;
– between meals.
Different diets offer different dosage recommendations: from 3 cups (minimum) to 1.5 liters (excessive) per day. It is best to start with a small amount to see how your body reacts to the drink. Gradually, as the days pass and in the absence of side effects, you can increase the portions.
- Dietary Extract
If the extract is purchased in capsules, it is considered a dietary supplement. Therefore, it is best consumed with one of the meals. The recommended dosage is 3 capsules per day. The course of losing weight lasts one month. Although the dosage and duration of consumption may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Look for these products from companies such as Evalar, Source Naturals, Country Life, MyProtein, and others.
Dietary Supplement with Green Tea Extract
In order for the beneficial weight loss properties of green tea to fully manifest themselves, it must be consumed very carefully so as not to harm the body. Any of the above methods can bring good results: a fasting day -2 kg, a diet (depending on food restrictions) -3-5 kg, capsules -7 kg.
Moreover, these results can always be improved or worsened — depending on your commitment to losing weight and your disciplined approach to the process. A few helpful tips will help you get the most out of this drink.