If you like the taste of tea and healthy drinks in general, then you belong to a large group of people who enjoy at least one cup of tea a day. For example, in the USA in 2021, according to sociologists, more than 80 billion mugs of tea were drunk! And this is neither more nor less than almost 17 billion liters of tea. Just think about this figure. But tea not only tones and invigorates the body, it is also a dietary drink that speeds up metabolism. And if you drink green tea, you can lose weight quite effectively.
By far the most popular type of tea is black tea. Its share is 84% of all tea consumed in the world. However, the popularity of green tea today is growing at a much faster rate than black tea. Additionally, green tea, unlike black tea, has the potential to help you lose weight if that is your goal.
We decided to take a closer look at exactly how you can drink green tea for weight loss.
Green tea during diet: effectiveness, contraindications, benefits and harms
Green tea is a traditional Japanese drink. The leaf for its preparation is dried and fermented. Therefore, plant raw materials retain a maximum of beneficial substances.
Why is the drink considered the most effective for those who intend to lose weight:
- The product is rich in catechins - antioxidants that protect organ cells from aging and have a beneficial effect on metabolism. Antioxidants have a positive effect on the condition of skin, hair and nails.
- If you drink tea correctly, you can cleanse the body of heavy metals, waste, toxins and other harmful substances accumulated by the body.
- Helps reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood, ensuring the prevention of atherosclerosis. Almost all people who are overweight have a high risk of developing this disease.
- The tonic drink suppresses hunger well, so it helps reduce the amount of food consumed without harming the body.
If we analyze the benefits and harms of green tea for women, rejuvenation of the entire body is an important advantage of the drink. Also, herbal drinks, when consumed regularly, contribute to reliable prevention of cancer.
Despite the obvious benefits, it is not allowed for all people. You should not drink green tea if you have gastritis with high acidity, gout, kidney disease or cardiovascular disease. It is undesirable to introduce a drink into the diet at elevated body temperature.
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What is green tea?
Green, black, white, oolong and other various types of tea are made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Differences between species appear after the processing process.
When making black tea, after picking, the leaves are mechanically crushed (torn or crushed), then undergo an oxidation process. Green tea undergoes oxidation to a lesser extent and contains more catechins - natural antioxidants - than black tea.
Green tea leaves are processed at high temperatures after being picked. They are usually steamed or fried. As a result, they acquire a mild aroma, and the caffeine concentration decreases.
What is the best drink to drink when losing weight?
If a person wants to lose weight and improve the overall health of the body, it is important to choose the right leaf for preparing the drink. It is better to drink natural loose leaf tea. The product has a clear composition that contains no unwanted impurities. It is better not to use bagged ground tea, as it is of lower quality compared to classic loose leaf tea.
When dieting, it is not recommended to drink tea with aromatic additives, sugar and other ingredients to improve the taste.
Are there any reasons to give up green tea?
If you have a high sensitivity to caffeine, green tea should be consumed in the same way as coffee or other drinks containing this substance. Although the level of caffeine in green tea is much lower than in black tea.
Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine (L-theanine), which reduces the unwanted side effects of caffeine, such as headaches or nervousness.
However, it makes it a little more difficult to absorb nutrients from other foods because it inhibits the production of certain enzymes associated with digestion. Polyphenols contained in tea reduce the activity of amylase, the main enzyme that promotes the absorption of carbohydrates, by 61%. The activity of pepsin, an enzyme that is involved in protein breakdown, decreases by 32%.
However, this is not as serious a problem as it might seem at first glance, since the overall bioavailability of green tea is quite low. Most people drink tea separately from food.
How to brew and drink correctly
To prepare the drink, use ceramic, earthenware, glassware. It is not recommended to prepare the drink in an aluminum or plastic container.
To brew a glass of drink, take a teaspoon of loose leaf. Place it in an infuser ball (strainer). Pour water into a glass, the temperature of which does not exceed 80 degrees, and lower the infuser ball. Wait 5 minutes and remove the tea leaves. To prepare tea, you can use a special teapot with a press.
Important! To lose weight, you need to consume green tea correctly. In order for the drink to work, you should review your diet and remove from it foods that contribute to gaining extra pounds. These are all kinds of confectionery products, smoked meats, fried foods, baked goods, fast food. Regular physical activity will also bring the person losing weight closer to the desired result.
General rules for losing weight:
- It is recommended to drink at least 3 cups of green tea per day. It is advisable to drink one serving of the drink before the main meal. This will help reduce the feeling of hunger and reduce the portion size.
- Do not add honey, jam, sugar or other sweeteners to tea.
- Regular physical activity will also bring the person losing weight closer to the desired result.
Lose weight with green tea for no more than two weeks. Afterwards a break of 7-10 days is recommended.
Can it be used instead of water?
For normal functioning, the adult body needs to drink at least 1.5 liters of clean drinking water per day. This does not take into account the juices, tea, soups and other liquids consumed.
Green tea contains biologically active substances, including caffeine, so the amount of its daily consumption is limited to three glasses. Therefore, this drink cannot be used in the diet instead of water.
How to choose quality Matcha tea
First, pay attention to the country of origin of green tea. Today, the highest quality Matcha variety is grown in Japan. This country has strict control standards regarding fertilizers - only natural fertilizers are added that do not have any harmful effect on the soil where tea is grown. Tea experts do not recommend buying Matcha from China. The industrial scale of tea production in China, unfortunately, affects the quality.
Secondly, remember that Matcha does not come cheap. This green variety is considered elite and cannot cost little. Its rich composition is due, among other things, to the complexity of its preparation and high labor costs. Tea is harvested only once a year, starting on the 88th day after the first day of spring.
Thirdly, look at the color of the tea. Sometimes unscrupulous tea sellers sell the ground variety of the cheaper Sencha and pass it off as Matcha. In this case, knowing the color of tea will help you. High-quality Matcha is bright green. And remember that this is powder!
Which is better - green tea or herbal mixtures: choosing the most effective recipe option
Green tea is not the only drink that helps you achieve an ideal figure and good health. The classic drink can be supplemented with products that help you lose weight. One of these components is ginger.
How to make ginger tea:
- Take a medium sized root. Place in a small saucepan, add 1.5 cups of water and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
- Brew the resulting decoction with 1 teaspoon of green tea. Add a few drops of lemon juice. It is advisable to drink chilled.
You can add cinnamon to the drink. Prepare tea according to the classic recipe, but before adding hot water, add a pinch of cinnamon to the dry ingredients. If you don’t like this seasoning, you can replace it with a sprig of mint. The aromatic plant perfectly satisfies hunger, preventing overeating.
Interesting! It can be replaced by some herbal mixtures that help cleanse the body of toxins and speed up metabolism. Such mixtures include mint, chamomile, hibiscus, lingonberry and other plants that help you lose weight.
Let's look at the most popular recipes for homemade drinks for weight loss:
- Cold hibiscus: pour a tablespoon of hibiscus flowers into a glass of cold water. The workpiece is placed on low heat for a few minutes. The broth is filtered and cooled. It is recommended to cool the drink before drinking. Hibiscus improves digestion.
- Chamomile: This tea is best consumed at night as a sedative, fat-breaker and cleanser. Take a glass of fresh boiling water and pour the liquid into a tablespoon of chamomile. The drink must be infused for 5 minutes. The tea should be strained before drinking.
- Birch-lingonberry: mix a teaspoon of each component. Place the herbs in a thermos and pour in 0.5 liters of boiling water. Let the drink brew for 20 minutes. Take half a glass before each meal. Birch-lingonberry tea should not be overused, since large amounts of it harm the functioning of the kidneys.
- With birch buds and calendula: take a tablespoon of calendula and a teaspoon of birch buds. Pour the ingredients with a liter of fresh boiling water. Combined tea should be steeped for 30-40 minutes. Afterwards you need to boil the preparation for 10 minutes. Strain the cooled drink and take half a glass between meals.
- With licorice, rosehip and bearberry: take a tablespoon of licorice, 0.5 teaspoon of bearberry, a teaspoon of rosehip. Place the ingredients in a thermos and pour a liter of boiling water. Let it brew for 2 hours. Drink a glass before each meal. This tea significantly speeds up metabolism and strengthens the immune system.
- With ginger and lingonberries: prepare a glass of boiling water and pour 2 teaspoons of dried lingonberries into it. Also add a teaspoon of finely grated ginger. Let sit for 20 minutes. Serve chilled. Lingonberries together with ginger help eliminate swelling.
Natural herbs used in making weight loss tea have a strong therapeutic effect. Therefore, they should not be used uncontrollably. Before taking herbal weight loss drinks regularly, consult your physician.
What beneficial properties does green tea have?
Green tea is a powerful antioxidant. In addition, it reduces muscle tissue damage that occurs during intense training.
One study found that drinking green tea extract for four weeks increased antioxidant levels and also blunted the creatine kinase response after endurance exercise, an indicator of muscle damage.
In addition, the high content of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) reduces muscle pain. This promotes rapid recovery, which is very beneficial for people following an accelerated training program.
Nutritionist opinions
Kashitskaya Svetlana, nutritionist
Green tea is not a replacement for drinking water. The drink contains caffeine, and if you drink 1.5-2 liters of this liquid per day, this will lead to disruption of the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous system. To avoid such consequences, consume the health elixir in moderation, limiting its amount to 3 cups per day.
Sivets Sergey, fitness blogger
Be careful when choosing the raw materials from which you will prepare the drink for weight loss. The ideal product does not contain dyes, sweeteners, flavors or other additives to improve taste. The more such components in tea, the less benefit it has for the body.
Velichko Oksana, nutritionist
Green tea is not the basis of dietary nutrition, but only an auxiliary aid. If you continue to overeat with high-calorie foods, ignore workouts, but constantly drink the drink, you will not be able to achieve weight loss results. In addition, excessive drinking will lead to gastrointestinal upset, headaches and deterioration in general well-being.
What forms of tea are there?
Traditionally, green tea leaves are poured with hot water and left to steep for a few minutes. But all the beneficial ingredients contained in this drink are also available in the form of separate supplements.
Green tea is mainly produced in bags, the packaging of which can be found in any grocery store. There are other options: large leaf, crushed, etc. And if you contact the sports nutrition department, most likely, you will be offered ready-made bottled tea.
Green tea extract supplements typically contain a standard amount of the main active ingredient, epigallocatechin gallate. This dose is higher than that contained in a standard cup of tea. However, both options are useful. In addition, it is recommended to drink green tea infusion.
Main conclusions
- Green tea is a tonic drink rich in substances valuable for the human body. It is actively used in weight loss, as it accelerates the process of burning fat and removes toxins from the body. The product also helps satisfy hunger. By consuming it, you can easily reduce the size of your portions.
- Before introducing the drink into your diet, study the contraindications for its use.
- For a drink to help you lose weight, it should be prepared correctly and taken in moderation.
- Green tea can be replaced with other drinks made from herbs that promote weight loss and cleanse the body. Such plants include chamomile, lingonberry, hibiscus, and birch buds. Each component has a healing effect, so it should be used in moderation.
Do you use a traditional Japanese drink in your fight for an ideal figure? Share your personal experience in the comments to the article.
Tea recipes for weight loss
In order for the results to be noticeable during the diet, it is important to understand how to drink tea for weight loss. It is also important to understand which additives enhance its qualities and help burn fat . The recipes below are suitable for black and green varieties.
With milk
Thanks to the addition of milk, the body will receive protein in addition to useful microelements . To prepare the drink, tea leaves are brewed directly in milk and allowed to brew. The solution is filtered and consumed half an hour before meals.
With ginger
An aromatic and tasty drink will dull the feeling of hunger and replace snacking .
Required:
- tea leaves – 20 g;
- prunes - 8 fruits;
- grated ginger – 10 g;
- boiling water – 500 ml.
Step by step process:
- Combine ginger with tea leaves. Add prunes. Pour boiling water over it.
- Close the lid. Leave for half an hour.
With honey
During a diet, not everyone can drink a drink without sugar and do not know whether it is possible to use tea with honey when losing weight. The prepared product contains 28 kcal in 100 g. Therefore, it does not have a negative effect on the figure . The combination of beneficial properties of mixed foods helps speed up the process of fat breakdown, which promotes weight loss.
Required:
- loose leaf tea – 10 g;
- purified water – 200 ml;
- honey – 10 g.
How to make homemade honey drink:
- Boil water and pour in tea leaves. Insist.
- When the mixture has cooled to a temperature of 40°C, strain and add honey.
- Use in the morning on an empty stomach and throughout the day. The maximum allowed amount per day is 7 servings.
The prepared drink will help you lose weight at a slow pace , which will keep the skin toned and the body will not experience stress. In addition to the listed products, you can add any herbal mixture to the composition, which will enhance the beneficial properties.
Cinnamon
Tea leaves in tandem with cinnamon will help increase metabolism , which will have a beneficial effect on your figure.
Required:
- boiling water – 220 ml;
- tea leaves – 20 g;
- cinnamon – 20 g.
Cooking process:
- Mix the tea leaves with cinnamon.
- Pour boiling water over it. Cover the container with a lid or saucer. Leave for half an hour.
- Use by diluting with hot water 1:1.
With lemon
Green ginger tea with lemon will help keep your body in good shape and lose extra pounds .
Required:
- tea leaves – 60 g;
- honey – 20 g.
- grated ginger – 15 g;
- lemon juice – 20 ml;
- boiling water – 1.5 l;
How to cook:
- Cool the boiling water to 90°C.
- Combine tea leaves with ginger. To fill with water.
- Leave for 7 minutes with the lid closed. Add lemon juice and honey. Mix.
take it half an hour before meals cold or warm.
Is it possible with sugar?
With added sugar, the drink will not bring the desired result and will only harm your figure . Therefore, experts do not recommend preparing tea with this sweetener.
How much tea should you drink
In order for a drink to help you lose weight during a diet, you need to develop the habit of drinking it on an empty stomach . Just one cup of tea drunk at this time can burn about 200 kcal. While eating, you should not drink a drink from black varieties. But green tea will help you consume less food while eating, which will help you lose weight.
To achieve the effect, you need to take it at least 3 times a day , and ideally replace snacks with the drink.
During a diet, you need to know whether you can drink tea at night while losing weight . The drink contains theophylline, which causes a diuretic effect. Therefore, even 1 cup drunk in the evening before bed can lead to morning swelling.
Where to buy good tea?
You will find natural green tea in the Russian Tea Company online store. The best varieties of green, black, white and yellow teas are presented on the online showcase, and for those who are looking for absolutely safe preparations for evening tea drinking - delicious and aromatic herbal blends. Our blends are compositions hand-crafted by talented tea testers who professionally select tea and herbal components that are balanced in taste. Discover the multifaceted world of tea together with RCHK and learn not to deny yourself the pleasure of an evening cup of tea, and, at the same time, sleep soundly and peacefully.
