Green tea is powerfully effective for weight loss! This post shares why it’s so helpful, how much you should drink, and some creative ways to enjoy delicious green tea.
Green tea has got it going on.
And, it’s celebrated for its role in helping people lose weight!
It’s a personal staple that I always have in my household, so I thought I’d share more about green tea for weight loss. Along with a healthy and balanced diet, you’re gonna want to drink green tea regularly after reading this post.
(If you’re digging the information, you might also like my post on the 10 Benefits of Green Tea).
Now you might be thinking, “Sounds great Lacey, but how does it work? Can it reduce belly fat? How much should I drink?”
Let’s just say you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got the answers right here in this blog!
So keep reading.
Can Drinking Green Tea Help You Lose Weight?
Heck yes! Research suggests that green tea can speed up metabolism (the process which changes food into energy). So that’s an instant win for weight loss.
Green tea additionally…
- Contains catechins (more specifically, epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG), which have been found to significantly decrease body weight and maintain body weight after weight loss.
- Has caffeine and is associated with weight loss through fat oxidation (or fat burning).
Sounds great, right? Try my Matcha Green Tea Frozen Yogurt Recipe for a healthy dessert if you please.
Does Green Tea Reduce Belly Fat?
Green tea has been shown to reduce belly fat (yay!) because green tea helps you lose visceral fat around your abdomen. This is excellent because this is the fat shown to be linked to increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and breast cancer.
*Specifically, two servings of extra high-catechin green tea reduces abdominal fat.
Remember that green tea for weight loss works best when paired with some abdominal exercise. Research has found that the best time to drink green tea – if using it for weight loss – is before intense abdominal exercise.
Which Green Tea Is Best For Weight Loss?
The best green tea for weight loss is matcha green tea. Matcha lovers rejoice!
Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder made from finely crushed dry tea leaves. The entire leaf is utilized in the process, which means matcha contains the highest concentration of healthy compounds like EGCG.
This compound is most active and abundant in matcha green tea because of how condensed the source is.
What’s that? Did somebody say Matcha Chia Pudding?
How Many Cups Of Green Tea Should I Drink In A Day To Lose Weight?
Research shows that having two servings of green tea per day improves body composition and helps reduce fat (2-3 cups a day should be enough for weight loss).
How much you drink a day mainly depends on how much caffeine you can tolerate. People who don’t drink coffee or tea – or any other sources of caffeine – often have a lower tolerance for green tea.
As y’all know, caffeine has some adverse side effects. So if you get shaky, anxious, or can’t sleep, you’re gonna want to cut down on how much you’re drinking.
What Happens After I Lose Weight With Green Tea?
Luckily, the effects don’t stop at weight loss! Green tea also helps with weight maintenance, which helps keep your weight steady at a certain level (if that’s what you want it to do).
You can also check out these 8 Healthy Habits for Weight Loss That Don’t Require Dieting for more tips on living a healthier lifestyle—without starving yourself.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
As with everything, green tea should be consumed in moderation, keeping in mind the adverse side effects of drinking too much.
When it comes to caffeine, adverse effects when taken in large amounts can include:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Dependency
- Headaches
Always remember only to take the caffeine that your body can handle.
More isn’t always merrier! Just the right amount of green tea can be tremendous for your body as long as you’re careful not to overdo it. As I always say, balance is key to living a healthy lifestyle.
What else can green tea help with?
I could ramble on and on about the many virtues of green tea. So if you’re still on the fence about this super drink, here are some additional benefits…
- Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties because the EGCG in green tea lowers inflammatory reactions. You can find other anti-inflammatory drinks in this blog post of ours.
- At least 1-3 cups a day lowers the risk of stroke.
- You can use it to help moderate diabetes.
- Some studies show green tea helps reduce your risk of certain forms of cancer.
Want to keep reading? Check out 10 Benefits of Green Tea!
More Recipes for Weight Loss
I hope you enjoyed this read! Below are some more recipes for weight loss that might strike your fancy.
- 7 Day Meal Prep for Weight Loss
- How to Meal Prep – Chicken
- 5 High Protein Fruit Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss (5 Ingredients or Less!)
- My Fave High Protein Snacks For Weight Loss
This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.
What brand green tea do you recommend ?
Lacey and I both really like Yogi Green Teas. And when it comes to matcha, GOLDE supplies a pretty top-notch brand. -Jen