Draining, fat-burning, appetite suppressant, perfect for losing weight, green tea is often described by many sources as a slimming ally that promotes weight loss. Its properties make it a must for anyone who wants to lose weight. At Kusmi, we invite you to be more cautious about all these claims! Due to its high antioxidant content, green tea can indeed be considered as an aid to elimination. It is also known for its draining and detoxifying properties. However, drinking a cup of green tea will not make you lose weight in one sip. We tell you more.
Green tea, a natural weight loss aid?
The benefits of green tea have been widely publicised for several years! And this in several respects. Its consumption is said to have numerous virtues for the body and health. It is not uncommon to read that green tea leaves have a fat burning effect and an action on weight loss. It is almost as if drinking several cups of this beverage is enough to lose weight. But when is it really? Does this popular drink really help you lose weight? Let's find out!
Do antioxidants play a role in weight loss?
Several studies conducted by different organisations, including Harvard Medical School, have found that drinking green tea has several benefits for your health, body and metabolism. One of its strong points? Its richness in antioxidants, particularly catechins.
Catechins are molecules from the flavonoid class (polyphenol family). They have antioxidant properties and are present in very large quantities in green tea. Each tea has its own catechin content. After plucking, the green tea leaves are exposed to heat to stop their oxidation. This process preserves the catechins they contain and gives green tea its richness in antioxidants. In contrast, with black tea, oxidation is not interrupted and causes the tea leaves to blacken, which in turn causes the catechins to change into other compounds.
This is why not all teas are equally rich in antioxidants. Here are the green teas that contain the most antioxidants:
- Matcha
- Sencha
- Gyokuro
- Bancha
- Genmaicha
Did you know that the level of catechins also varies according to the type of picking? Yes, to obtain a green tea rich in antioxidants, it is recommended to pick the bud and the first leaf only. In other words, the two elements richest in catechins!
The importance of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
The catechin family is vast and complex and the molecules that make it up have amazing antioxidant properties. Here are a few explanations to help you find your way around:
The main catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). It is the molecule most often mentioned when talking about tea.
Another catechin is epicatechin gallate (ECG), which comes second in terms of quantity.
But there is also epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin (EC).
Green tea, a tea with draining properties
Green tea cannot make you lose weight in one sip, but it is also known for its draining and diuretic action. It is in fact these same catechins and its high caffeine content (because yes, it also contains polyphenols) that help to eliminate more easily while maintaining a stable blood sugar level.
In a few words:
Green tea hydrates and promotes elimination. Did you know that all teas have diuretic properties? But green tea is by far the most powerful of them all because of its very high concentration of catechins.
Diuretic? Yes, but also draining! Green tea also helps to fight against water retention.
Caffeine and its fat-burning effect
Green tea also contains caffeine/theine, an essential slimming active ingredient known for its fat-burning effect. Derived from methylxanthines, caffeine is an alkaloid (nitrogen-based molecule) that promotes lipolysis, i.e. the process of destocking and burning fat (triglycerides) in the body, and stimulates the metabolism.
Caffeine also improves your physical performance because it increases the availability of fat in your body. This provides more fuel during exercise! Caffeine is therefore said to be ergogenic. This makes it easier to burn fat!
Did you know that caffeine and theine are in fact the same molecule? These different names are used mainly for marketing purposes.
Green tea, a 0-calorie drink
Finally, this is common sense, but why not remember it? Green tea is a 0-calorie drink because it is sugar-free, provided you don't add a few squares or opt for the famous green tea with mint! Drinking it throughout the day has no effect on the weight shown on the scales because it does not affect your diet. It's a great way to enjoy a tasty treat and keep your weight in shape easily! And as far as pleasure is concerned, matcha, sencha, bancha, gyokuro or genmaicha have a lot to offer.
How to enjoy your green tea to benefit from its slimming benefits?
In order to take advantage of the possible draining and slimming effects of green tea, we give you our advice on how to prepare your tea according to the rules of the art:
Water temperature - As well as affecting the taste of your tea, the temperature of the water can also help increase the amount of catechin released in your brew. The hotter the water (70-80°), the higher the catechin and caffeine content.
Brewing time - The amount of catechin and caffeine released increases with the length of time you brew (typically one to five minutes).
Kusmi Tea green tea: an organic tea made in Normandy
At Kusmi Tea, we offer a range of delicious green teas designed, created, blended, flavoured and packaged in our workshops in France. As part of our commitment to sustainable agriculture and a healthy lifestyle, all our products are certified organic and are subject to numerous quality controls during production and processing.
Used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, green tea is a drink with many benefits! Nevertheless, as you will have understood, at Kusmi we prefer to play the transparency card and to be cautious about the slimming properties of green tea. Draining and diuretic yes! Slimming, no. A healthy and varied diet as well as regular exercise remain the two best ways to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. But that doesn't take away the appeal of a cup of green tea.
Read also:
Can matcha tea help you lose weight?