Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?

There is no easy “fix-all” solution to dropping extra pounds. It takes hard work, determination and, above all else, perseverance. However, you might be wondering, “Does Green Tea help you lose weight?”

While it isn’t going to produce miracles, it might, at the very least, offer support alongside a healthy and active lifestyle. Allow us to talk you through the details in the following article.

We will first answer the question, once and for all, “is Green Tea good for weight loss?” (Spoiler alert: It’s good news). We will then move onto how, exactly, it works and whether there is a best Green Tea for weight loss.

After you’ve learned everything there is to know, you can browse our vast selection here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. What could be better?

Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Let’s start at the beginning: Does Green Tea help with weight loss? Simply put, yes. And in more than one way. It is one of the world’s healthiest beverages, an infusion that has been extensively studied for years, decades, arguably even millennia.

The consensus is that, so long as you eat well and exercise frequently, Green Tea could play a small yet significant role in reducing excess fat.

The most obvious reason, perhaps, is its calories - or lack of. The average 8-oz cup will have no more than two calories, which most people would agree is next to nothing.

After all, your daily intake is supposed to be 2,500kcal if you’re a man and 2,000kcal if you’re a woman. Your morning cuppa, in other words, barely scratches the surface. But it gets more complex than that.

How Does Green Tea Help With Weight Loss?

Now that we’ve answered the question, “Does Green Tea help with weight loss?”, it’s time to move onto the ever-important “how?”. This is where Green Tea’s metabolism-boosting properties come into the equation. The latest scientific research suggests that its high levels in an antioxidant called Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) enable you to burn more calories.

A clinical trial involving sixty obese volunteers provides proof. It found that those consuming Green Tea lost 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) and burned 183 more calories daily after three months than those not taking it. The fundamental takeaway is that, by boosting the metabolism of fat cells, the body is able to burn fat quicker and more efficiently during periods of exercise. And there’s still more.

Studies also indicate that active compounds within can promote the effects of some fat-burning hormones. These active compounds are, once again, EGCG and caffeine in Green Tea. What they do here, precisely, is inhibit an enzyme that breaks down the hormone, norepinephrine. By inhibiting the enzyme, the amount of norepinephrine increases, thus boosting fat breakdown.

Just remember that even though Green Tea can cause a modest increase in metabolic rate and fat burning, its impact is minimal concerning actual pounds lost. EGCG can only take you so far, so consider treating it as an accompaniment to a wider-reaching weight loss routine. That means following strategies such as eating more protein, cutting carbs and, of course, exercising often.

Best Green Tea for Weight Loss

Let’s move on to which Green Tea is best for weight loss. Unquestionably at the top of the list of Matcha, a type of powdered Green Tea said to have 137 times more antioxidants than “standard” varieties. According to preliminary evidence, Matcher drinkers experience a 17% increase in their fat-burning capabilities while cycling for at least thirty minutes.

Furthermore, it increases thermogenesis (the body’s rate of burning calories) from an average of 8-10% of daily expenditure to 35-43%. Yet it isn’t the only choice. You would also do well to have Moroccan Mint Tea in your life.

This is a Flavoured Green Tea that offers not only Green Tea Benefits but also Peppermint Tea benefits. Other options include Sencha, Gunpowder and Jasmine Green Tea.

When is the Best Time to Drink Green Tea for Weight Loss?

When to drink Green Tea for weight loss is the next question we need to address. Experts suggest having it first thing in the morning and later in the evening. Consuming it early on in your day will mean it gets to work when you do. Its caffeine content, for starters, will provide a modest energy boost. Meanwhile, its abundance in EGCG will help break down the fat in your meals.

Caffeine before bed might be somewhat more questionable, though the flip-side is that EGCG will continue to function even while you’re resting at night. It’s worth noting, too, that having it before or after working out is hugely valuable. This is the point where the benefits of Green Tea for weight loss come into their own, boosting metabolism as you exercise.

How Many Cups of Green Tea a Day Should I Drink?

The fact that Green Tea and weight loss is a match made in heaven has, hopefully, been made clear. All that’s left is to determine how much Green Tea a day you should brew for such a purpose. A study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Centre, USA, concluded that two to three cups is sufficient for supplementing weight loss. However, there are a couple of considerations.

First is to recognise that the exact amount required will vary from person to person, depending on their natural metabolism. Then there is the possibility of overconsumption, which could lead to Green Tea side effects such as jitteriness, sleeplessness, headaches and heart murmurs. Be sure to monitor your intake, particularly if you’re caffeine-sensitive or pregnant. It is always best to err on the side of caution.

Summary of Green Tea and Weight Loss Benefits

Does Green Tea help you lose weight? Absolutely. It is a low-calorie choice capable of boosting the metabolism of fat cells while supporting fat-burning hormones. The most efficient type would appear to be Matcha due to its wealth in health-promoting EGCG.

However, others such as Sencha and Moroccan Mint Tea are likewise worthwhile options. These you can have either morning or evening.

How many cups of Green Tea per day you should have may depend on your personal circumstances. Two or three might do the trick, but be wary of overconsumption. Whatever you decide, you can count on The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company to deliver - literally and figuratively. We pack our products fresh to order, thereby ensuring quality and consistency with every cuppa brewed.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.