by Lady Z

Created on: August 12, 2008   Last Updated: February 07, 2012

It is of no fiction that tea has significantly proven to aid in weight loss among other health benefits that it has to offer. This is due to the presence of antioxidants such as catechins, flavanoids and polyphenols, which are known to combat free radicals in the body as well as burn the extra calories, apart from improving the body's immune system.

Studies and numerous amounts of research have been done to support this argument and they even explore the medicinal benefits according to the types of tea that are available in the market today. Among them, individuals who drank green tea on a regular basis lost a significant amount of body fat and weight compared to a control group who did not drink green tea. This is due to the fact that green tea contains a high level of catechins, where it reacts with other compounds in the body to speed up levels of fat oxidation and thermogenesis the process where the body generates heat or energy by increasing the metabolic rate above normal. Also, the release of carbohydrates will be at a much slower pace here, hence preventing a sharp increase in blood-insulin levels. When this happens, the fats stored inside the body is easier to burn, thus reduces the level of cholesterol in the body. This in turn will increase the endurance level in exercise as the individual's metabolism rate is improved.

The regular consumption of green tea is also known to facilitate weight loss by affecting the glucose level in the body. As we are aware, weight gain is due to the excess sugars and fats stored in the body as fat cells. Therefore the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) present in green tea acts as an antioxidant to inhibit the movement of glucose in the cells.

It is further argued that the regular consumption of green tea alone does not necessarily facilitate weight loss if individuals do not incorporate a balanced diet and exercise regime into their weight loss plan. Even if this is particularly so, studies have shown that drinking tea alone, not necessarily green tea would still aid in weight loss in one way or another. It is proved that a person's mental alertness is greatly improved after drinking tea as opposed to drinking other beverages as the amino acid L-theanine which is found in tea plants actively alters the attention networks of the brain. The brain's neurotransmitters are affected when theanine is absorbed by the small intestines and crosses the blood-brain barrier. This alpha brain-wave activity then surges. Therefore, the person will have a calmer and alert state of mind which would enable him to focus on motivating himself to lose weight.

In addition, Theanine also helps in combating infection in our body's immune system through boosting the fighting-capacity of the gamma delta T-cells. Studies have shown that the production of anti-bacterial protein was five times higher in tea-drinkers as opposed to that of the coffee-drinkers, an indication that tea-drinkers have stronger immune systems. We believe that a good immune system is the way to good health, hence allowing individuals to diet and exercise freely to lose weight without having to consult a doctor beforehand or taking any preventive measures.

Hence, regular tea drinking is proved beneficial to one's health and facilitates in weight loss when taken in the long run.

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