Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Green tea has steadily been growing from a fitness fad to a respected part of a healthy lifestyle. Its high level of antioxidants has fans claiming it has anti-ageing properties.

But can drinking green tea help you lose weight and hit your fitness goals? We’re here to find out. 

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How does green tea help you lose weight?

Green tea is packed with powerful plant compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants with many health benefits. A combination of the catechins (a specific type of polyphenol) in green tea and its caffeine content have been linked to weight loss.1 While caffeine gives energy that can lead to burning more calories and more effective workouts, catechins have been shown to significantly increase fat loss.2 

Should you drink green tea before training?

Drinking green tea around an hour before a workout will give your body enough time to feel the beneficial effects. As well as breaking down fat for more energy, green tea will give you a dose of caffeine to give you a boost throughout your workout.2 Green tea is popular because it’s much lower in caffeine than many alternatives such as coffee or preworkout. So, for those wanting a more natural push with little risk of a slump when the caffeine wears off, this is a good choice. 

Another difference in the green tea caffeine effect compared to other caffeinated drinks like coffee is the lower risk of anxiousness. If you find that high caffeine drinks leave you feeling almost too alert and a little uncomfortable, green tea could be a good alternative. Green tea contains amino acids that affect the brain. They help the body to release dopamine and increase GABA neurotransmissions. 

So, not only will you have more fat broken down and primed to be burned and turned into lean muscle, you’ll also have more caffeine to do more fat burning exercises.

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