You may have heard that drinking green tea can help you lose weight. Some studies have shown that it can play a part in reducing the amount of fat in your body. It has also been shown to increase your body’s metabolism, therefore helping your body burn calories and better reduce dangerous fat.

Apart from all of the other wonderful health benefits consumption of green tea can offer (see below), a new study has shown it can help your body fight off fat. The researchers say that the results indicate that the substance found in the green tea known as Catechins may trigger weight loss by stimulating the body to burn calories and decrease body fat, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Different Teas, Same Plant

Although green, black and oolong teas are all made from the same plant, the Camellia Sinensis, green tea leaves aren’t fermented before they are steamed and dried. Green tea is particularly rich in a form of polyphenols known as catechins. A study on catechins involving 35 Japanese men showed that the men who drank the green tea extract put into oolong tea lost more weight than the others who had regular tea. Before the study, they had comparable weights, waist sizes, and ate identical meals. Following the study, even only three months into it, the even saw a superior reduction in their waist sizes, total body fat, and a decrease in their bad (LDL) cholesterol.

General recommendations say that you should drink about four cups a day for the best health benefits, and to help you lose weight.

Green tea may even produce thermogenisis, increase energy expenditure, and fat oxidation, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

A study done in Switzerland concluded that drinking 2-3 cups of green tea a day made the members to burn an extra eighty calories daily, without an increase in their heart rate.

What is Catechin?

In accordance with the dictionary, catechin is a crystalline substance derived from catechu and also used in tanning and dyeing. Catechin is a bioflavonoid and a powerful antioxidant, according to answers.com

There is no denying that adding green tea to your diet can help you lose weight, increase your metabolism, burn calories, reduce total body fat, and that’s not to mention all of the other health benefits drinking green tea daily can produce. Drinking green tea can also replace other unhealthy beverages, such as sodas, juices, alcohol, etc.

Adding green tea to your weight loss program can be extremely beneficial, but don’t forget to eat a variety of healthy foods and exercise on a regular basis to maximize your results.

Green tea can also help with:

• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Hypertension
• Myocardial Ischemia
• Liver Cell Injury
• Carcinogenesis
• The damage of blood clot formation
• Cancers
• Atherosclerosis
• A decrease in the occurrence of heart disease and strokes
• Lower bad (LDL) cholesterol
• Better recovery from heart attacks
• Increase metabolism
• Help you lose weight by heightening your metabolism and fighting fat and burning calories
• Slow tumor growth
• Fight bad breath
• Protect against Parkinson's Disease
• Delay the onset of Diabetes
• Improve Skin
• And even prevent skin cancer by applying the tea extract in lotions to your skin

Green tea can not only help you lose weight, it can significantly improve your overall health! Obviously, green tea is a real and natural health advantage with an extremely large and growing list of health benefits. Drinking green tea regularly can not only help you lose weight, but can also possibly prevent future illnesses and diseases. You can begin by having it as your morning beverage of choice; drink it at night before bedtime, or both. The general recommendation for the amount of green tea you should drink is 2-3 cups daily. There is nothing reporting that you can drink too much green tea, but water is also an important beverage as well. The health benefits of the consumption of green tea are far too many to deny.