Green tea contains between 30 and 40% of water-extractable polyphenols, and previous studies have reported benefits reported for reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and certain cancers, improving cardiovascular and oral health, as well as aiding in weight management. Joanna Bajerska, from University of Life Sciences (Poland), and colleagues found that laboratory rats consuming green tea along with a high fat diet gained less body weight and accumulated less fat than animals not supplemented with tea. Consuming the equivalent of five to eight cups of green tea a day was associated with a 5.6% decrease in body weight gain, and a 17.8% decrease in fat accumulation over eight weeks. As well, the researchers noted a decrease in protein digestion following green tea consumption.
Green Tea Promotes Healthy Weight
Joanna Bajerska, Małgorzata Wozniewicz, Jan Jeszka, Slawomira Drzymala-Czyz, Jaroslaw Walkowiak. “Green tea aqueous extract reduces visceral fat and decreases protein availability in rats fed with a high-fat diet.” Nutrition Research, Volume 31, Issue 2, February 2011, Pages 157-164.
