Why do dieters use it?*

Some dieters say that green tea promotes weight loss.

What do the advocates say?*

Green tea is a good choice for people on a weight-loss program because it can help them to lead a healthier lifestyle. For example, substituting green tea for coffee with cream and sugar not only saves calories but also supplies a lot of healthful substances, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, that can help improve one’s overall health.

Green tea contains a small amount of caffeine, so it serves as a mild appetite suppressant as well.

How much is usually taken by dieters?

Test tube studies suggest that green tea extracts high in catechins may inhibit fat digestion and a preliminary human study found a green tea extract increased calorie burning. A preliminary human study found that people taking a green tea extract containing 375 mg per day of total catechins (of which 270 mg per day was epigallocatechin gallate) for three months lost an average of 4.6% of their body weight without dieting. Double-blind trials are needed to confirm this effect.

Are there any side effects or interactions with green tea for weight control?

Green tea is generally free of side effects. The most common adverse effects reported from consuming large amounts (several cups per day) of green tea are insomnia, anxiety, and other symptoms caused by the caffeine content in the herb.

An extract of green tea taken by healthy women with a meal inhibited the absorption of non-heme iron (e.g., the form of iron in plant foods) by 26%. Frequent use of green tea could, in theory, promote the development of iron deficiency in susceptible individuals.

Are there any drug interactions?
Certain medicines may interact with green tea. Refer to a doctor or nutritionist before combining Green Tea and any medications.

Parts of green tea for weight control used and where is green tea for weight control grown

All teas (green, black, and oolong) are derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The difference is in how the plucked leaves are prepared. Green tea, unlike black and oolong tea, is not fermented, so the active constituents remain unaltered in the herb. The leaves of the tea plant are used both as a social and a medicinal beverage.

*Dieters and weight-management advocates may claim benefits for green tea based on their personal or professional experience. These are individual opinions and testimonials that may or may not be supported by controlled clinical studies or published scientific articles on green tea.