Beyond water

We all know that water should always be your drink of choice. But what if you’re in the mood for something a little different but want to stay on the healthy side? You should never overlook the benefits of green tea, which is a magical necessity in any weight loss plan. First and foremost, green tea contains caffeine, which stimulates the release of fat from the fat cells and enhances fat burning. Caffeine also boosts the consumption of oxygen and fat-burning. Green tea has been shown to increase fat burning by up to 35 percent. Green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by the caffeine content alone. Whenever your body releases stored fat for energy production,it triggers a corresponding surge in the hormone norepinephrine. But norepinephrine’s fat-burning effect wanes quickly. It appears that epigallocatechin, a chemical in green tea, helps keep norepinephrine available in the bloodstream for an extended period, so fat burning lasts longer. Green tea boosts energy expenditure, as well as fat oxidation and can boost thermogenesis by 35 to 43 percent. So in layman terms, drink green tea before AND after working out. In addition, make a point of sipping green tea throughout the day, and especially in the afternoon when the tea’s cold temperature and active ingredients combine to boost fat burning when it would otherwise take a downturn.