Hey there tea lovers!
Did you know that tea is the second most popular drink on the planet, right after water? And guess what? Its roots go way back to ancient China, about 4,000 years ago. One of the oldest and most loved types of tea is green tea, and you can find it pretty much anywhere these days. Why? Because it’s packed with an insane amount of health perks.
But today, let’s zoom in on how green tea can jazz up your exercise game and help you shed some pounds. So, what’s the secret behind this magical leaf? Two main substances play the hero: caffeine and catechins.
The Power Duo: Caffeine and Catechins
Green tea has about 75 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Now, that’s not as much as coffee, but it still gives you a decent kick, especially if you double up in the morning. But here’s the kicker—green tea also has catechins, which coffee can’t claim.
About a third of a green tea leaf is made up of four different catechins. The star of the show is epigallocatechin gallate, or just EGCG for short. Now, EGCG is the real MVP here. It does some pretty cool things, like stopping an enzyme called COMT from messing with your muscle contractions and energy release. That means EGCG helps you burn fat and power up your workouts.
Tag Team: Caffeine and EGCG
When caffeine and EGCG team up, they become a dynamic duo fighting against fat. Caffeine boosts catecholamine production, and EGCG keeps those catecholamines working longer. But, there’s a catch—if you’re a coffee junkie, you might not get the full benefits of EGCG. Your body gets used to caffeine, and that means less fat-burning magic from green tea.
And hey, here’s another tidbit—EGCG might mess with how your body absorbs carbs. Some studies say it can reduce the effects of a glucose transporter protein, meaning fewer carbs get absorbed. But you’d have to drink quite a lot of green tea to see these benefits—around 8 cups a day!
Stash Tea, Green Tea, Premium Green, 20 Tea Bags, 1.4 oz (40 g)Wrapping It Up
So, if you’re sensitive to caffeine and ready to gulp down some green tea, it could very well be your new best friend in your fitness journey. Just make sure to drink it on an empty stomach for the best results. Whether you’re looking to boost your workouts or just feel a bit better, green tea might just be the superhero drink you need.
References
Harvard Health Publishing – Discusses the health benefits of green tea, including its effects on metabolism: Harvard Health – Green Tea Benefits
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) – A study reviewing green tea’s impact on weight loss: NCBI – Green Tea and Weight Loss
WebMD – Overview of green tea and its possible role in weight management: WebMD – Green Tea for Weight Loss
Journal of Nutrition – A research article on the effects of green tea catechins on fat loss: Journal of Nutrition – Green Tea Catechins
Healthline – An article summarizing studies on green tea and weight loss: Healthline – Does Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?
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