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Jul 20, 2006
Green Tea for Fat Burning
by SirGan
 Almost everyone has heard about The Green Tea because, over the past few years, it has become very popular with people wanting to lose weight. However, the fact is that many people doubt in fat burning properties of green tea! Several researches have proven that green tea is rich in a class of polyphenols known as catechins which give the plant its color. The strongest catechin in green tea is known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Most experts claim that EGCG increases the rate at which fat is burned, as well as reducing the absorption of calories from the diet. Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.History of green tea usageThe fact is that for thousands of years, green tea has been an integral part of the Asian diet. According to Asians- they believe that drinking several cups a day led to a longer and healthier life. After several studies scientists have concluded green tea might act protectively against heart disease, liver disorders, and works as an antibacterial agent to support the immune system. Interesting thing to know is that the Chinese are said to be the first ones to discover tea, and in China the most varieties of tea are found. During the famous Tang Dynasty, wild tea was gathered and then processed. Processing was about steaming the tea on a bamboo tray, grinding the tea into a fine pulp called tea mud and then placing this mud into moulds. The tea was then pressed and left to harden.
As a bottom line- tea has played a significant role in the culture of Asia for centuries as a staple beverage, a curative and a symbol of status.
What makes green tea so special?Most of the researches have confirmed that the secret of green tea lies in the catechin polyphenols, particularly-already mentioned-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). What is so special about this EGCG? Well this substance is a powerful anti-oxidant which means that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
Specific way of preparing the tea is extremely important because green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. What's so special about this EGCG! Well, it is a very potent antioxidant. It is proven that it is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
How much is enough?There were very large number of researches about how much Green tea should an individual drink! There are also that many different answers! For example, some of the Japanese reports claimed that men who drank ten cups of green tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men who drank less than three cups a day. However some Western researches concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease. Therefore- it is very difficult to answer how much is it enough! Given all the evidence, it is probably safe to plan on drinking four to five cups of green tea per daily. If you're a real devotee, by all means drink more.
Home preparation of Green TeaEveryone should know that producing the perfect cup of green tea is far from simple and could be really tricky process. If not handled properly, those same crucial ingredients such as polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavor. It's particularly important not to overbrew. Some general instructions are:
Health benefits of green teaProponents of green tea note that its medicinal benefits have been described for over 1000 years. Several experts are saying that drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. Some are saying that the green tea is helping in easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function. But- how much of this is really scientifically proven?
Green tea has been claimed to be useful for:
Very important thing to know is that, in the U.S. -Food and Drug Administration has rejected claims of health benefits for green tea. To be more precise FDA actually said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate or any other type of cancer risk.
Green Tea and weigh managementGreen Tea enthusiasts claim that drinking tea can actually help burn extra fat and calories. A recent scientific study really supports green tea’s ability to burn fat and increase metabolism. What’s more, other studies show that, when combined with other sensible lifestyle choices like maintaining a healthy body weight, both green and black teas can help reduce the risk of heart disease, the #1 health risk for women. Research shows that green tea contains "thermogenic" substances that help you metabolize more fat. These active substances are extra concentrated in this product to ensure effectiveness.
Several studies on obesity have concluded that people who have been regular tea drinkers for more than 10 years showed lower body fat percentages compared with those who don't drink tea regularly. That’s a proven fact! Drinking tea is a great life choice—it’s naturally calorie-free and can help quench your body’s thirst for the daily fluids it needs. Of course, just drinking tea isn't enough- everyone should support a healthy diet and exercise program with tea.
If someone drinks green tea he or she should know that it can:
Harmful Effects and contraindicationsEvery potential user should know that the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia. This is reasonably due to the fact that it contains caffeine.
Green Tea and pregnancy issueSeveral researches done in the past have came to the data that main active substance found in Green Tea blocks the enzyme necessary for folic acid to be utilized in the cells. This could be extremely important and dangerous, at the same time! Folic acid is needed for cells to divide, which is especially important during the critical periods of growth and development during the first trimester of pregnancy. So, without folic acid, cell division is slowed down. Not only that - inadequate intakes of folic acid have been linked to an increased risk of giving birth to an infant with neural tube defects. That's why- while green tea can be beneficial at other times, to be safe, pregnant women should avoid green tea throughout their pregnancy. This is very important to remember!
Over-dosageDoses of 300 milligrams of caffeine (about 5 cups of tea) can cause restlessness, tremors, and exaggerated reflexes. The first signs of outright poisoning are vomiting and abdominal spasms. It's impossible to drink enough tea to be fatal. However, regular daily intake of excessive doses (1,500 milligrams of caffeine, or 25 cups of tea) will result in irritability, sleeplessness, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and headache.
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