Expert: Todd Bublitz, RCEP - 5/22/2006

Question
Dear Expert,
I wanna ask about green tea and its effect of burning fats
I heared that the people who drink green tea 3 times daily burn about 200 calorie is that really right?
Thx

Answer
SomeOne AnyWhere,

This idea comes from a study released in July 2005 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In this study, researchers looked at the effects of catechins (found in green tea and green tea extract) on body fat reduction and weight loss in a group of 35 Japanese men.

The men were divided into two groups. For three months, the first group drank a bottle of oolong tea fortified with green tea extract containing 690 milligrams of catechins, and the other group drank a bottle of oolong tea with 22 milligrams of catechins.

After three months, the study showed that the men who drank the green tea extract lost more weight (5.3 pounds vs. 2.9 pounds).

This calculates to burning an extra 206 calories a day for the men drinking 690 milligrams of catechins.

Remember, this was a very small and controlled study where the diets of the participants were controlled and monitored.  You cannot expect the same results and you would need to find out the catechin content of your green tea.  The catechin content varies by amount of green tea used and steeping time. But general recommendations, based on previous studies on the benefits of green tea, are at least 4 cups a day.  Also, don't add sugar to your tea or you will offset the calories burned with the added calories of the sugar (or honey, or milk, etc.).

Todd