Is green tea really a ‘miracle’ weight loss aid? We asked nutrition experts to find out

A STEAMY cup of green tea can do more than just relax you or give you a boost of caffeine on a cold day.

Studies have shown that grass-green juice is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and even slows biological aging.

The drink is also praised for its weight loss properties benefitsResearch shows that drinking green tea may help improve your metabolism or burn fat.

Green tea contains caffeine and a type of antioxidant called catechin; Research from 2010 suggests that both of these may help speed up your metabolism.

Another study published in 2012 found that men who took green tea extract before exercising burned 17 percent more fat than men who did not take the supplement; This suggests that green tea may increase the fat-burning effects of exercise.

However, studies on the health benefits of green were often not conducted for long periods of time. periods Over time, many people based their results on green tea extracts rather than the beverage itself.

So The Sun asked two nutritionists to weigh in on whether this much-loved drink can actually help with weight loss.

Duane Mellor, dietitian and Lead in Evidence-Based Medicine and Nutrition at Aston University, and Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Reading, discussed research into the drink and what other health benefits it may provide.

Does green tea really help with weight loss?

Dr Mellor told The Sun: “Although there are reports that green tea helps people lose weight, most of the studies are very limited and so there are no confirmed claims that green tea helps people lose weight.

But “interestingly, mouse studies seem to show that green tea may help these rodents lose weight,” he added.

His words were echoed by Prof Kuhnle, who raised the question of whether the research showing that drinking greens can lead to weight loss is as clear as it seems.

“Green tea is often promoted for weight loss, but from the data I’ve seen and know, it’s likely to be small and so it’s hard to say whether it’s truly significant.

“So I’m not sure it’s really helpful for weight loss,” he said.

Are there any other health benefits of drinking green tea?

According to Dr Mellor, green tea has been suggested to contain beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant properties called polyphenols.

Both epicatechins and an amino acid called l-theanine, which is not found in protein, are mentioned.

Dr Mellor said test tube studies on polyphenols “mistakenly linked their antioxidant functions in the test tube to health benefits”.

However, he noted that “in humans this effect is much less pronounced.”

The dietitian said some studies suggest l-theanine may help people relax and enter a state of calm alertness.

“However, the evidence is currently inconclusive and therefore no health claims can legally be made when marketing green tea.”

Prof Kuhnle said green tea may be linked to better memory and heart health.

“Green tea contains a group of compounds – flavanols – that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, so it has a possible health benefit,” he told The Sun.

Writing for The Conversation, she discussed a study she helped conduct that showed that people who consumed high amounts of flavanol-rich foods may have better memories than those who consumed low amounts.

Dr Kuhnle added that previous research had also found that people with low flavanol intake had a higher risk of heart disease.

What does green tea not help with?

According to Dr Mellor: “Green tea can be an interesting and refreshing alternative to regular tea or coffee.

“The caffeine rate is slightly lower than black tea, and the caffeine rate is much lower than coffee.

“It certainly won’t help any health issues, as the best way to manage weight is to look at what you eat and make sustainable changes.”

Prof Kuhnle said some people may experience stomach upset after sipping the drink, but “green tea is generally good”.

However, both he and Dr Mellor warned that green tea extract could be dangerous when consumed too much, as it could cause liver damage.

The European Food Safety Authority recommends consuming no more than 800 mg of green tea per day; According to Prof Kunle, this is “difficult with tea as a beverage, but easy with extract”.

How often should I drink green tea?

Prof Kunle said you need to consume about two to three cups of green tea a day to reap the benefits of flavonols.

Dr Mellor said: “Drinking 2-4 glasses a day is not a problem.”