Zoom

The Green Tea Myth

Ah, Green Tea. The rich millennia-long history of this delightful tea has finally made its foray into Western palettes. Now, along with thousands of devoted followers, and a number of green tea producers and sellers, the beverage also has a lengthy list of possible health benefits, not the least of which is weight loss. Is it true? Is green tea really the weight-loss miracle that it claims to be?

The benefits of green tea

Green tea is a healthy drink, especially when compared with cream-and-sugar-laced coffee, sugary soft drinks, and many alcoholic beverages. Green tea does have a lot of health benefits. Here are some:

• Reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Helps prevent certain types of cancer.
• Improves bone and tooth strength.
• Improves mental speed and ability.
• Helps reduce blood pressure.

However, only a few of these benefits have been scientifically proven. Others are merely suggested by animal tests and small-scale studies.

False claims of green tea

Green tea cannot cure diseases. Some have claimed that drinking green tea will reverse the affects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, but these claims lack validity. Nor can green tea treat cancer or multiple sclerosis. Green tea lacks the proven ability to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol levels in the body. Most popular among these myths is that of green tea being a means of rapid weight loss. Even on popular shows such as Oprah, guests have claimed that drinking green tea regularly can help them lose ten pounds in just over a month.

The truth about green tea

One of the most significant ingredients in green tea is a catechin, known as epigallocatechin gallate, a powerful antioxidant with proven health benefits. The exact results of epigallocatechin gallate among the green tea-drinking population is yet to be determined, but it is agreed that they generally improve one’s health.

Green tea’s weight loss claims primarily stem from the fact that it contains caffeine. Caffeine can speed up the body’s metabolism. A higher metabolism means a higher rate of calorie-burning.  Even this benefit is compromised due to the fact that the human body can adjust to caffeine levels, meaning that the caffeine has a diminishing effect unless caffeine levels are appreciably raised over time. In addition, green tea does not contain the same levels of caffeine as other beverages do, and thus may not be as effective as a metabolism-booster as one might think.

The bottom line

Green tea is an excellent and healthy beverage, but cannot contribute to radical or rapid weight loss. Diet pills, on the contrary, are a more effective way to accomplish weight loss that happens quickly and completely.