The health benefits of green tea, which contains a high concentration of polyphenols and catechins, are widely accepted by the scientific and health community. Some studies have found that green tea extract can be used as a fat burner because of its ability to increase metabolism.
Researchers studied the effects of green tea extract on energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans, and
according to Dr. Abdul G. Dulloo and his colleagues, "Fundamentally, there are only 2 ways to treat obesity: reduce energy intake or increase energy expenditure."
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The researchers were interested in the "role of functional foods" in metabolism and weight control and they conducted a small sample study on 10 healthy men. The study was designed to measure the effects of green tea extract on metabolism.
Over several weeks, Dr. Abdul administered either a green tea extract or a placebo to subjects in the study. Each subject was prescribed a specific "weight-maintenance diet consisting of 13 percent of energy as protein, 40 percent as fat, and 47 percent as carbohydrates."
In addition, subject's physical activity patterns and daily energy expenditures were monitored. Metabolic output variables and the effect of green tea extract on fat metabolism were measured.
According to the study, "oral administration of the green tea extract stimulated thermogenesis and fat oxidation and thus has the potential to influence body weight and body composition."
Green tea is widely reported to assist with cardiovascular health, immune support and cognitive functioning.
According to WebMD, however, Dr. Dulloo says green tea also has "thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se."
According to Life Extension Magazine, the way green tea extract functions as a fat burner is not yet an exact science. However, Dr. Swen Wolfram, from Switzerland is quoted as saying, “Subjects with long-term consumption of green tea are characterized by a lower percentage of total body fat, smaller waist circumference, and decreased waist-to-hip ratio."
Dr. Wolfram, who may have a duality of interest because he is employed by DSM Nutritional Products also said, “In intervention studies, it was shown that consumption of green tea can reduce body weight and abdominal fat as well as increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure."
World Life Expectancy claims that "there is substantial evidence it can help you lose weight. The great thing about this tea is that it has critical vitamins that help raise the metabolism rate of your body. This means that you will be able to burn fat much more efficiently which leads to increased energy helping you stay active."
The fat-burning benefits of green tea extract, which contain a condensed amount of the polyphenols and catechins credited for the tea's health benefits, are widely touted by the health community and by some scientific studies.
This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.
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