Green Tea and Weight Loss...What's the Connection?

The relationship of green tea and weight loss has been the focus of numerous studies over the past decade. There has been some positive research in recent years concerning green tea's role in promoting weight loss.

As we discuss on our Green Tea Benefits section, green tea and weight loss is just one of the many therapeutic benefits of green tea.

It has also been shown to lower bad cholesterol, fight against cancer and disease as well as promote general health and well-being.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

The research conducted on green tea and weight loss points to green tea's thermogenic properties. Thermogenesis, the production of heat in the body, speeds up the body's metabolism and its ability to burn calories and break down fat.

Green tea extract is thought to aid in thermogenesis, and thus contributes to weight loss.

Green Tea and Weight Loss - Other Natural Herbs for Weight Loss

In addition to the positive research on green tea and weight loss, there are other natural herbs that have been shown to help with weight loss as well...

Bitter Orange - Also called citrus aurantia, this fruit has been shown to breakdown fat and increase metabolism, as well as improving lean muscle mass.

Garcinia - The fruit of an Asian tree, it is able to slow the production of fat, as well as reduce cravings and appetite.

Green Tea and Weight Loss - How Can You Get the Maximum Benefits?

In order to get the maximum green tea benefits, you have to make sure you are taking a supplement with standardized herbal extract of pure green tea. Many green tea products on the market do not use standardized extract, because it is much cheaper to produce. But beware, because these products do not contain enough active ingredient to offer you green tea and weight loss benefits.

Also, you must make sure that the green tea product is manufactured at a facility that follows strict GMP compliance. These are the strictest manufacturing standards in the world - the same standards that pharmaceutical drugs have to follow - so you know that they are the highest quality products you can buy.

It's important to note that under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbal products are considered dietary supplements, so manufacturers do not have to guarantee the content or effectiveness of their products.

As a result many of these products contain very little or none of the ingredients they claim to (therefore, no benefits) or too much ingredient (dangerous!). Still others contain harmful contaminants that could cause serious damage to your body!

That's why you have to find a high quality green tea supplement, one with standardized herbal extract, manufactured under GMP compliance by a well highly trained, highly credentialed product formulator.

Are you better off with green tea on its own or as part of a more comprehensive formula?

You can purchase an individual green tea supplement, or you can buy a more comprehensive product that includes green tea extract along with other herbs, vitamins and minerals. In our opinion, you are better off with the latter for many reasons.

Maximize the green tea benefits

Many herbalists and scientists feel that you can achieve better results with a blend of herbs, vitamins and minerals in one formula. Here's why:

A) Many herbs, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients work together synergistically - often a blend of nutrients can work better together than one nutrient on its own. The therapeutic effect is enhanced by the nutrients working together.

For example: Green tea can work together with other herbs such as ginger and olive leaf to help lower cholesterol. Vitamin E works in conjunction with Vitamin C in a similar fashion.

B) You can help several body systems at one time - For example, you can treat a condition with one herb, protect your body with another and make sure the condition does not return with yet another herb.

For example: Green tea can prevent blood vessel constriction, while CoQ 10 can protect your heart and still another herb can ensure that your high blood pressure won't return.

C) Herbs can offset the possible side effects of each other - an herb that helps alleviate a problem in one area can help treat a slight side effect that may be caused by another.

For example: Green tea could cause a mild side effect that is easily treated with ginger present in the product.

Another thing to consider is that many green tea products on the market don't even contain green tea leaf extract! It's hard to believe but it's true! This is the case with many different single and multi-herb products.

In a recent study, a test of 54 ginseng products found that 25% of them did not even contain ginseng! It's amazing what marketers will do when they don't have to account for the ingredients in their products!

So you can see how important it is to find a high quality product, and how a blend of herbs, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients may be more beneficial to your health than a single herb product, not to mention safer!

As with all health supplements, results vary from person to person so be sure to consult your physician or qualified herbal professional before taking any green tea for weight loss or herbal supplements. 

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