Whoever needs to lose weight after Christmas should include a few cups of green tea a day into their diet. The positive effect of green tea on fat burning and reduction of body weight has been proven by a series of scientific studies. Tests were made in vitro, in animals and in humans and the conclusion of a team of Swiss scientists is clear – a unique combination of catechins and caffeine in green tea has been proven to help lose weight. Bagged tea probably won’t do – try a quality Japanese Matcha Tea. If you cannot consume too much of caffeine, try roasted Houjicha Tea.
The positive influence of green tea on losing weight is not a rumour or a marketing trick. Scientific proof from the past ten years has been collected by Swen Wolfram, Ying Wang and Frank Thielecke from Basel, Switzerland, and they agree that: “The effect of green tea against obesity can be considered scientifically proven.” Research was done in vitro, in vivo and in six cases also in humans who either drank green tea regularly over many years or fitfully for several weeks.
How exactly does green tea fight the fats in our body? The magic substance contained in green tea is called epigalocatechingalate (EGCG). It reduces fat absorption as well as division and growth of fat cells and reduces the levels of cholesterol, glucose, insulin and leptin, the so-called fat cell hormone. On the other hand, it helps eliminate fatty acids during beta-oxidation. Moreover, it has a special effect if combined with caffeine. Together, they support heat production in the body – thermogenesis – which has a significant influence on slimming.
“According to science, the caffeine itself did not have such an effect on thermogenesis as it had in combination with catechin in green tea. That’s the reason why green tea can help lose weight better than other drinks. For example, black tea is fermented, thus contains significantly fewer active substances. To those who would like to test the green tea effect first-hand he recommends powdered Japanese green tea – Matcha. Those who cannot, for various reasons, afford “caffeine overdose” could try roasted Houjicha Tea.
Matcha is emerald-green fine powder – ground leaves of the best Japanese green tea. “Whip the powder with hot water into a thick green drink. Thanks to this preparation, you consume the tea leaves, not only the usual infusion, thus you get more active substances. In a statement it has also been recommended by the President of the Nutritionist Alliance of the CR, Ing. Ivan Mach, CSc.: “If you include Matcha Tea to your modified diet, weight reduction will be easier. You will speed up your metabolism and provide the body with other beneficial substances that stimulate slimming and help detox which also speeds up the metabolic processes.”
There are also situations for which green tea is too strong and some might not like its taste. Too much caffeine is not good for elderly people with sleeping disorders or nursing mothers. For such cases, there is the roasted Japanese Houjicha Tea. Roasting reduces the caffeine content in tea leaves and results in a different taste which is closer to black than green tea. By roasting, the tea stems and leaves also lose their typical astringency. Despite, Houjicha preserves all the effects typical for green tea, including its influence on obesity, which is the reason why many like it.
