Just about everyone is looking for some method to help them lose weight. Whether it is a first time or part of a long sequence of attempted methods, the idea of using green tea for weight loss comes up sooner or later. You see it in all the health food and fitness stores, both in capsule, extract, and even drinkable form. Sometimes, you even find green tea on its own where it is advertised for various weight loss benefits. Several studies have been performed to determine whether or not green tea helps people lose weight, and so far the results have been promising.

Increasing the energy expenditure of the body is one of the most effective, yet most basic ways that you can lose weight. It all comes down to the equation of calories consumed versus calories burned. Decreasing the number of calories consumed will help you to lose weight, as will increasing the number of calories burned. Drinking green tea on a regular basis will allow you to do both of those.

In terms of reducing the number of calories consumed, it is more a matter of replacement than anything to do with the body’s ability to metabolize your food. Most people consume carbonated beverages, soft drinks, fancy coffees, and other calorie and sugar-laden beverages on a regular basis. Unsweetened green tea, in contrast, contains almost no calories at all. By replacing your current beverage choices with both green tea and with water, you eliminate those calories that you would have otherwise been consuming, thereby aiding your weight loss efforts.

Green tea is also beneficial when it comes to increasing the number of calories burned by the body. Various studies have been performed regarding the use of green tea when it comes to metabolism, and while they are not going to provide overnight miraculous results, a significant benefit has been seen. The caffeine in green tea, when combined with the other various compounds, such as catechins and polyphenols, help to boost the metabolism through increasing what is known as thermogenesis. Thermogenesis can be thought of as the part of your metabolism that is actually burning calories all day. Studies have found a 4% increase in expenditure after drinking green weight loss tea on a regular basis, when studies using a similar amount of caffeine by itself found no difference at all.

Before you start drinking green tea constantly in order to help yourself lose weight, it is important to remember that while there are many health benefits, there are safety concerns with drinking tea as well. Green tea contains high levels of fluoride, which can potentially damage the thyroid if consumed regularly or in large amounts. If you have or suspect that you may have thyroid problems, be sure to talk to your doctor first.