Losing Weight With Green Tea-Is It Really Possible?

As more and more weight loss products reach the shelves at grocery stores and pharmacies green tea supplements are becoming more popular.  In the past several years research has discovered that the anti-oxidants available in green tea are incredibly healthy in a good way for the body to fight free radicals.  However, one of the secondary benefits that was discovered was the appetite suppression that individuals who took green tea also experienced.

Unfortunately, obesity is a significant problem in Western civilization where the standard Western diet has led to a decline in health and longevity.  Even though the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables is well published at eight servings per day most individuals do not come close to getting that many. Instead the diet is full of too many fat, too much protein and too much processed sugars and foods.  In fact, most people do not understand what a serving size actually looks like.  For instance, a serving size of meat is actually 3 ounces of lean meat.  If you measure 3 ounces of lean meat you'll find that it's approximately the size of a deck of playing cards - definitely a much smaller than most people eat.

At one time the three most commonly used supplements for weight loss were green tea, ephedra and protein.  Research and case studies have adequately shown that the use of ephedra is dangerous for health and the FDA has since come out with several warnings against using it.  Protein is often included in over-the-counter weight-loss supplements because it can help decrease the number of carbohydrates in which an individual will eat.  It also puts the body and ketoacidosis which increases metabolism but also places a higher load on the kidneys.

High protein diets are considered fad diets because they change the way in which a person eats on a daily basis in a way that cannot be maintained in the long run.  They also can cause damage to the kidneys and should only be undertaken under the supervision of a physician.

Using green tea as a weight loss supplement has also been found to have some negative effects.  Most supplements contain both caffeine and a chemical substance called EGCG.  When these two chemicals combine in the body it increases the metabolism of the individual and leads to a greater calorie burn, and thus weight-loss.

However, there have not been long-term clinical studies using green tea weight loss supplements that have been able to document the effectiveness nor the side effects.  Before taking the supplements it is important that you consult with your physician to ensure that the green tea, caffeine and other chemicals will not interfere with any other medication, over-the-counter medications or underlying medical conditions you may already be taking more be experiencing.

Because this weight-loss supplement is made with green tea it also is full of anti-oxidants that help individuals to increase their energy level.  There are case studies which report that individuals using green tea will burn fat faster.  In short-term studies people who use these supplements will lose approximately 2 1/2 pounds a month.

Because green tea is an anti-oxidant it also helps to fight free radicals in the body.  Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are a natural byproduct of digestion and metabolism in the body.  Researchers have shown that free radicals damage cells, DNA and can lead to diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Theanine is the main amino acid used in green tea supplements.  It is able to induce relaxation in the release of dopamine that helps to provide a feeling of well-being and decreases the desire to eat comfort foods.  It also minimizes the effect of caffeine which might be why green tea does not cause the jitters or increased heart rate the way in which other caffeinated supplements can.

Green tea weight loss supplements are an option to help people suppress their appetite while there are trying to lose weight.  Research has shown that people who used supplements may have a higher rate of success than those who don't.  But it has also found that people who received support will also have a higher rate of success in their weight-loss efforts than those who don't.  The decision to use a weight-loss supplement is yours to make as long as you use your due diligence in discovering the accuracy of the advertising campaign, the effectiveness of the supplement and the safety of the manufacturing company.