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Green Tea Extract and Weight
Loss
Green tea has always
been known to have several health benefits,
but who knew that it could contribute to weight
loss as well?
A recent study published in
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show
that green tea extract can increase metabolism
and fat oxidation of the body. In theory, scientists
believe that the weight loss benefits of green
tea extracts are due to their caffeine content
but the results of the study show otherwise
as they discovered that green tea extracts have
weight loss benefits beyond that of caffeine.
In their study, the researchers
administered alone the same amount of caffeine
as that in green tea extracts but found that
it did not make any significant changes in the
body’s overall energy expenditure. This
led them to conclude that green tea extracts
have ingredients in them that actively interact
with each other, promoting increased metabolism
and fat oxidation that lead to weight loss.
Further findings indicated
that a certain compound found in green tea extracts
might be the ingredient that causes weight loss.
These green tea extract compounds called Flavonoids
may alter the way the body uses norepinephrine,
a hormone that monitors how calories are burned.
When flavonoids interact with other green tea
extract ingredients, more calories are burned
thus contributing to weight loss.
Another ingredient that actively
contributes to the weight loss benefits of green
tea extracts is the compound catechin polyphenols.
These compounds also interact with other green
tea extract ingredients in order to promote
weight loss by fat burning and thermogenesis
(a process of losing energy by daytime heat).
The great thing about the
weight loss benefit of green tea extracts is
that it does not have any adverse side-effects.
Unlike other herbal products like ephedra and
prescription drugs for obesity, green tea extract
does not increase the speed of heart rates or
raise blood pressure. In this regard, green
tea extract is an effective and safer alternative
to other weight loss products which may cause
harm to the user.
The study conducted by the
University of Geneva on the weight loss benefit
of green tea extract implicated that green tea
extract can also help thyroid patients. According
to dietitian Lynn Moss, M.S., R.D., green tea
extract is a healthier choice for people with
thyroid who may be too sensitive to stimulants.
Green tea extract can promote weight loss by
increasing metabolism without over stimulating
the adrenal glands.
A common beverage all throughout
Asia, green tea has recently gained popularity
in the West. Further researches were conducted
to identify other health benefits of green tea
extracts aside from weight loss. It was found
that certain green tea extract compounds can
significantly reduce the risk of heart disease,
cancer, and even ulcers.
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