Best Green Tea for Weight Loss
It is believed that 93 million people in the US struggle with obesity. Over the last decade, obesity has been on a sharp increase. In fact, it is estimated that in the United States, nearly 40% of all adults over the age of 20 are considered obese. And beyond that, there are many others who don't fall in the obesity range but are looking to lose some extra pounds to feel better and have a healthier life.
Most often in today's busy, fast-paced society, excess weight is due to poor eating habits and consuming too many processed foods and sugary drinks because they are simply easy and convenient. But beyond how you feel or look in clothes, those carrying excess weight also pose a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes.
We are not here to give medical advice, but what we can offer is an alternative way to control your weight. Green tea has been studied for years on its impact on weight loss. The best part is that there are many different types of green tea to suit your own personal palate!
How does green tea aid in weight loss?
Green tea originates from the Camellia sinensis plant. Because the green tea leaves are minimally processed, they are naturally rich in antioxidants and catechins which help increase metabolism, boost caloric burn, make you feel full faster, and help shed extra pounds.
The antioxidants in green tea are called polyphenols and catechins. You may have heard of the catechin EGCG (easier to say than epigallocatechin gallate) which is the key player in increasing the oxidation of fat which helps shed excess body and belly fat.
A study published by Advances in Nutrition explains that EGCG does this by sending signals to the body to burn off the unneeded stored fat cells. The fat is then consumed for energy. This catechin also aids the liver in converting fat into energy. Studies have shown that those who drink tea along with exercise lost more weight than those who simply exercised.
Green tea also naturally contains caffeine and the amino acid, L-theanine. The combination of these two elements provides the same amount of energy as caffeine alone. But because L-theanine slows down the release of the caffeine it is a smoother boost of energy without the jitters or the dreaded crash that some experience with coffee.
Many studies agree that green tea offers weight loss benefits, however, some may experience the results faster than others.
What is the best green tea for weight loss?
All green tea, whether as a blended tea or not, contains the beneficial antioxidants and metabolism-boosting catechins. So when looking for the best green tea for weight loss, let your palate help you decide.
Aroma, taste, and texture vary across different types of green tea. But when selecting green tea, we recommend choosing a full leaf loose tea instead of teabags.
Loose-leaf tea provides superior quality to tea bags which are typically broken leaves, dust, and fannings. Green tea bags are not as fresh, and wIll not provide the flavor you experience with loose leaf tea. For the best tea benefits, use only high-quality tea leaves.
It is important to follow the directions when steeping loose leaf green tea. We suggest using one teaspoon of green tea per eight ounces. Never use boiling water as it can burn the leaves causing bitter flavors. Use hot water between 150 and 170 F. and let it steep for 1 to 2 minutes.
Explore these teas that make losing weight with green tea delicious:
Buttery
Dragonwell: A very distinctive smooth and flat shape resulting from highly skilled shaping in a hot wok which gives the tea a full, nutty, sweet, and buttery texture with a pleasantly dry finish.
Nutty
Genmaicha: An exotic Japanese green tea that combines toasted, popped brown rice with tender green tea leaves. The addition of popped rice reduces the astringency of the green tea and creates a sweet and nutty flavor. It is considered an easy-to-drink green tea.
Spicy
Chai Green: Flavorful and aromatic green tea infused with a warm chai spice blend of cardamom, clove, and ginger.
Floral
Jasmine Green Tea Pearls: Hand-rolled young green tea leaves rolled with one unopened night-blooming jasmine bud. When added to water, the jasmine green tea pearls beautifully unfurl, releasing the scent and flavor of jasmine.
Citrus
Jade Citron Mint: This smooth, sweet green mint tea is a blend of spearmint, lemongrass, and zest of citrus making it both vibrant and refreshing.
Smoky
Gunpowder Green Tea: Smoky flavor, rounded out with a rich, buttery, creme brulee sweetness with a soft green tea finish.
Fruity
Mango Green: Sweet and smooth flavor with the aroma of perfectly-ripened, fresh mangos softening the grassiness of green tea.
Earthy
Ginseng Green: Fresh and crisp, energizing green tea blended with ginger root producing a sweet, earthy aroma with notes of delicately spicy herbs. The pleasantly bittersweet taste with a soft finish. Ginger is also known to be an appetite suppressant so you feel full longer. Ginger can also help control blood sugar, reduce cortisol and prevent stress-induced eating.
Matcha: The Green Tea Powerhouse
Matcha is green tea in its purest form. Green tea leaves are ground into a fine green tea powder so you consume the entire leaf. Because of this matcha is a weight-loss powerhouse providing the highest concentration of antioxidants, flavonoids, as well as EGCG.
Matcha has a vegetal flavor with a touch of sweetness. It is also popular to use in desserts and lattes, but that would be defeating the purpose if you are on the track to losing some extra pounds.
When to drink green tea for weight loss
Both hot and cold green tea provide the same benefits. When consumed with a meal, green tea aids digestion and supports overall health. Because drinking green tea will make you feel full faster and eat less at each meal, It is recommended that you drink it before or with your meal.
Having green tea in your morning regimen can also help kick-start your metabolism.
Is green tea the only tea for weight loss?
Not a big fan of green tea? If you don't regularly reach for a cup of green tea because a previous experience left you feeling bitter, it may be in how it was brewed. Green tea is much more susceptible to becoming bitter if brewed too long or too hot, so make sure you know how to properly brew each type of tea.
If your time and temperature were correct, and you still aren't a fan, check out a few tips how to make green tea taste good.
If the attraction to green tea still fails you, don't give up. All true teas provide some assistance with weight loss because of their power to burn fat. Tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis plant all provide he benefits of caffeine, antioxidants and l-theanine.
While green tea may provide quicker results, other teas may be a better option for you if it means you'll consume them more consistently. Make sure you enjoy the journey!
Trying to avoid caffeine?
Even though all true teas contain some level of caffeine, there is a caffeine-free option for weight loss.
Rooibos, a tea native to South Africa, comes from the leaves of the red bush plant. It is naturally caffeine-free while still providing beneficial antioxidants. Rooibos also contains aspalathin. Studies have shown that aspalathin can make you feel full for longer periods, and ease hunger cravings.
Rooibos also helps block the release of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, responsible for stress-related binging. Rooibos has a rich, full-bodied flavor with a natural sweet and nutty taste making it a good option to high calorie desserts.
Evade boredom
It happens to the best of us. We get excited about a new regimen that will get us to our goals, but boredom sets in and enthusiasm wanes. Bottom line? Tea is the best beverage to evade boredom. Varying your tea selections will keep your new weight loss plan fresh and entice you to achieve your weight loss goals.
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