Green Tea Weight Loss: 4 Easy Steps DietCore August 9, 2015 Green tea is already widely recognised as weight loss-boosting aid. Find out exactly which tea to drink, how much and when to see fast and long-lasting results. Beneficial effects of green tea are related to its catechin (hyperlink to this study http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640470) content. Daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 weeks will significantly reduce body fat, combined with exercise and healthy diet. Both black and green tea are essentially derived from the same plant – the difference is only in the after-processing. To produce green tea, freshly harvested leaves are immediately steamed to prevent fermentation. This steaming process destroys the enzymes responsible for breaking down the colour pigments in the leaves and allows the tea to maintain its green colour. Green tea composition (hyperlink http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2855614/) is rich is polyphenols which have antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anticarcinogenic effects. So: the main question is – are all green teas equally potent in aiding weight loss? Green tea varies by supplier/brand, additives and freshness. – Which Tea? Avoid tea with “artificial flavours” – chose fresh (produced within 6 months from the date of purchase), chose pure leaf. Chose a small, artisan producer – big brands with mass market might not always have the best green tea. Avoid sweetened tea (it will only add empty calories). (affiliate links on each) – How Much? Two to three cups will already have an impact but five cups a day has been shown to decrease risk for stomach cancer. In fact, if you’re trying to lose weight and to boost your metabolism, the best results have been seen with drinking seven cups a day. We would suggest slowly increasing your daily green tea intake but watch for signs of possible side-effects: increased heart rate, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, tremors, anxiety and depression. Consult with your doctor before drinking green tea if you have a medical condition. – When to Drink Green Tea? Drink tea BEFORE exercise but AFTER a meal. As green tea has appetite-suppressant qualities you can drink a cup when feeling peckish between meals to keep hunger at bay. It’s not advisable to drink green tea after 6 pm due to caffeine content. – How to drink Green Tea? Drink tea hot – the weight loss benefits are maximised when tea is served brewed for 3-4 minutes in hot (but not boiling) water. If you need to rapidly lose 2-3 pounds in a day to fit in your favourite dress for a night out – try brewing 4 tea spoonfuls of green tea in 1,5 litres of low fat milk – brew for 20 minutes and drink during the day. Green tea is a mild diuretic and will help you lose up to 3 pounds. Brew green tea together with freshly sliced ginger. Ginger is a natural antibiotic (link http://www.greenmedinfo.com/node/83545) and combined with green tea helps shift pounds easier than a lot of patented and expensive drugs. Tip: Why not try white tea, which is dried naturally, often in sunlight, making it the least processed and richest source of antioxidants among teas (as much as three times as many polyphenols as green tea!). White tea can simultaneously boost lipolysis (the breakdown of fat) and block adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells) due to high levels of ingredients thought to be active on human fat cells.