Green tea has more going for it than its potential to protect against heart disease. Researchers at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, say it also seems to help in dieting by raising the metabolic rate and speeding up fat oxidation.
In addition to caffeine, the researchers say green tea contains catechin polyphenols that raise the rate at which calories are being burned and the overall energy expenditure. In a study of patients who drank green tea and ate a typical non-weight-loss diet averaging 40 percent fat, researchers say the calorie-burning rate increased by 4.5 percent and overall energy expenditure went up by 4.5 percent.
While caffeine does boost the metabolic rate, it also increases heart rate and has other side effects, so it may not be suitable for obese patients or those with heart disease. The researchers say green tea may be a healthier alternative to drinking coffee because its effects were noted even after drinking just one cup.
Researchers say patients who were given only caffeine in the study and not green tea showed no change in their metabolic rate. They say they are looking at whether there is some connection between the caffeine and other bioactive ingredients contained in green tea.
