Almost everyone knows that Green Tea is good for you.
But how is it good for you?
There are a large amounts of studies out there that have dug deep into this herb, and have shown it to have the following benefits:
- Burns Fat
- Boosts Energy and Metabolism
- Improves Mental Cognition
- Aids Muscle Recovery
- And More
In this short article, we cover the main benefits of Green Tea and how it can help you.
This is what you need to know:
Green Tea as a Fat Burner
One of the main benefits of Green Tea is how efficiently it works as a thermogenic fat burner.
This comes down to the antioxidants that have been seen in the herb.
A component of these antioxidants are known as catechins – and this is what we need to focus on here.
Catechins are your key to fat loss with Green Tea. After being absorbed by your body, the catechins in Green Tea help to inhibit the enzyme that suppresses norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine is your body’s fat burning hormone. With the catechins in Green Tea inhibiting the enzyme that stops it being released into your system, your body produces more norepinephrine, which helps you to burn more fat and calories with no additional effort.
It really is a powerful addition to any diet if you’re looking to burn fat. A meta-analysis of numerous Green Tea studies shows that an average cup of the good stuff can help to burn up to 5.7g of fat in your body! [1]
This should be the go-to drink for anyone looking to cut down and lean out.
Green Tea as an Energy Booster
Although it’s far more effective as a fat burner – Green Tea does have some merit when it comes to boosting energy levels.
This is because it also contains caffeine.
Caffeine has to be one of the best natural stimulants on the market.
Having been seen in numerous studies to help promote energy, metabolism, focus and even power output [2] – it has a limitless amount of potential for improving your diet and/or workout.
It’s another great quality to this super herb.
Green Tea as Cognitive Enhancer
Another benefit of Green Tea is its ability to improve focus. [3]
The herb contains an amino acid known as L-Theanine, which is used in numerous nootropics (brain boosting) stacks to help with concentration.
L-Theanine works by increasing the amount of relaxation and calming hormones that your body produces. These are GABA and Serotonin.
With an increased amount of these hormones, you can feel more relaxed, less stressed and be able to concentrate and focus more.
This can help you be more productive both in and out of the gym, helping to improve your cognition and productivity.
Green Tea for Recovery
A lesser known fact about Green Tea is that it can also help after a workout.
However, you do need a lot of this herb for this to work. Studies show that supplementing 1800mg of Green Tea catechins after a workout can help to reduce muscle soreness [4] and aid recovery after a gym session.
This is just another one of many benefits this herb has, and another reason why you should be adding it to your diet.
Green Tea Benefits – The Summary
As you can see, there are numerous reasons you should be using Green Tea.
You can find it in numerous fat burners, pre workouts and nootropics. But if supplements aren’t your thing – tea bags of the nutrient are readily available at most grocery stores.
It’s good for both your body, and your mind – and everyone should be getting more of it.
References
[1] Hursel R, Viechtbauer W, Dulloo AG, Tremblay A, Tappy L, Rumpler W, Westerterp-Plantenga MS., The effects of catechin rich teas and caffeine on energy expenditure and fat oxidation: a meta-analysis., Obes Rev. 2011 Jul;12(7):e573-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00862.x. Epub 2011 Mar 2.
[2] Pontifex KJ1, Wallman KE, Dawson BT, Goodman C., Effects of caffeine on repeated sprint ability, reactive agility time, sleep and next day performance., J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2010 Dec;50(4):455-64.
[3] Park SK, Jung IC, Lee WK, Lee YS, Park HK, Go HJ, Kim K, Lim NK, Hong JT, Ly SY, Rho SS., A combination of green tea extract and l-theanine improves memory and attention in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled study., J Med Food. 2011 Apr;14(4):334-43. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2009.1374. Epub 2011 Feb 8.
[4] Kerksick CM, Kreider RB, Willoughby DS., Intramuscular adaptations to eccentric exercise and antioxidant supplementation., Amino Acids. 2010 Jun;39(1):219-32. doi: 10.1007/s00726-009-0432-7. Epub 2009 Dec 5.