Green tea has long been associated with good health and if recent studies are accurate, it might also be good for weight loss as well. Consider for example a study involving 35 Japanese men who were divided into two groups. One group took a bottle green tea while the other took oolong tea.

At the end of the three-month study, the men who took the extract containing green tea lost an average of 5.3 lbs. and also significantly decreased their BMI and waist size. It was also found that the level of LDL cholesterol decreased in this group.

This is just one of a number of studies involving the benefits of green tea. Green tea is more known as a strong antioxidant but it is its polyphenol content that is getting it all the attention these days. Polypnenols seem to contribute to the decrease in leptins, a protein that is produced by fats. It also seems to activate a type of body fat that helps burn more calories, shedding fat located in the lower body, such as those found in the waist and hips.

Is a green tea diet supplement right for you?
There are certain groups of health experts who believe that green tea diet supplements require further study.

It still has to be studied under controlled conditions and its effects on people who follow a certain diet and lifestyle is yet unknown. Its effect on overweight people who take certain medications is also not known.

However, the health effects of green tea are indisputable. It is known to help reduce the risk of heart disease and has anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. For that alone, green tea is worth considering.

Tags: green tea, diet supplement

[image from yuri kim]