Green Tea and weigh management

Green Tea enthusiasts claim that drinking tea can actually help burn extra fat and calories. A recent scientific study really supports the 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. 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. Drinking tea is a great life choice—it’s 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:

• Lower cholesterol
• Increase Termogenesis -the body's rate of burning calories. Green tea contains high concentrations of catechin polyphenols. These compounds work with other chemicals to intensify levels of fat oxidation and termogenesis, where heat is created in the body by burning fuels such as fat.
• Enhance fat oxidation
• Burn fat naturally and increases metabolism
• Green tea also causes carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing sharp increases in blood-insulin levels. This promotes the burning of fat.
• Facilitate weight loss by affecting glucose. It is proven that weight is gained because of excess sugars and fats are stored in the body as fat cells. Green tea catechins can help prevent obesity by inhibiting the movement of glucose in fat cells.

Harmful Effects and contraindications

The only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia. This is reasonable due to the fact that it contains caffeine.

However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee.

There are some conditions which are contraindicated with drinking Green Tea. Avoid drinking green tea or at least talk to your doctor before taking green tea if you have:

• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Nervous disorder
• If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant
• Green Tea interferes with absorption of alkaline medications and that’s why if you are taking any medicines, check with your doctor before taking Green Tea.

Green Tea and pregnancy issue

Several researches have came to the conclusion that the main active substance found in Green Tea blocks the enzyme necessary for folic acid to be utilized in the cells. This could be extremely dangerous because folic acid is needed in the process of cell division, which is especially important during the critical periods of growth and development during the first trimester of pregnancy. Without folic acid, cell division is slowed down. Inadequate intake of folic acid has been linked to an increased risk of giving birth to an infant with neural tube defects. That's why pregnant women should avoid green tea throughout their pregnancy.

Over-dosage

Doses 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.