Green tea is known to have many health benefits and has great antioxidant properties. But the good news is that, it is particularly more useful in helping to reduce your excess weight. Thus, a green tea diet can be used to your advantage, while enjoying the goodness of tea. It contains rich anti-oxidants like polyphenols and catechins, which have their own medical benefits.
Studies have shown that green tea hastens your metabolic process and helps in utilization of fat more effectively. It is also proved to be more advantageous than the other well-known anti-oxidants.
Health benefits
Some of the health benefits offered by consumption of green tea are:
- Improves health
Green tea is thought to be better than other beverages, as its consumption can leave you refreshed and ready to enjoy work. It can improve your immunity, strength and probably also help in slowing the aging process. It also helps you to enjoy a healthy, wrinkle-free skin.
- Prevent cancers
The antioxidants present in green tea are good at fighting against the body toxins that cause damage to tissue cells and cancers.
- Reducing cholesterol
Green tea aids in oxidation of fat thereby reducing the bad cholesterol levels in your blood. It is also believed that green tea helps to increase the good cholesterol levels.
- Reducing blood sugar
As green tea helps to burn more calories, the energy spent is more. This helps in managing the basal metabolic rate and helps to reduce the blood sugar levels.
Have a drink
Green tea can be taken as an alternative to morning tea or other times during the day. It is easily found in stores as tea bags or as loose leaf green tea. You can take around 3 to 5 cups in a day along with your regular diet, while watching your calorie intake. Ideally, you should take it in morning and in between meals so as to avoid any interactions with other food items. It is prepared by brewing it for about 2-3 minutes with hot water. A bit of fresh mint or cardamom seeds can be added for taste. Honey or lemon can also be added if required. However, milk is not added.
Sample meal plan
Morning:
- 1 cup green tea
Breakfast:
- 2 egg whites
- 1 whole wheat bread with avocado dip
- 1 pear
In between:
- 1 cup green tea
Lunch:
- 1 steamed fish
- ½ bowl brown rice
- 1 bowl sprouts with cabbage, lettuce, tomato salad
In between:
- 1 cup green tea
Snacks:
- 1 cup green tea
- 1 oat bran cookie
Dinner:
- 1 small lean chicken slice
- ½ bowl multi grain pasta with veggies
- 1 bowl mix apple and orange salad
Green tea diet tips
Some handy tips to help your green tea weight loss diet are:
- Drink plenty of water apart from your tea intake.
- There are different varieties of green tea and you need to carefully check the one you need.
- Some researchers advise to be careful regarding the other contents like caffeine or fluoride in green tea. It is wise to seek advice from an expert if you have any specific health concerns.
