Second to water, tea is the most popular drink all over the world. This healthy beverage has medicinal properties that can combat various diseases but can also be used for weight loss. Tea has numerous variants to choose from according to your preference but if your focus is on losing weight, the most effective are green tea and oolong tea.    

 

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Green Tea

An ordinary green tea has 1 Calorie for every 100 mL and phytochemicals like caffeine and polyphenols. These polyphenols contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), flavanols, epicatechin gallate and epicatechins that has antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogen and anti-radiation results in vitro. Also, the theanine in green tea has a calming effect that makes you relax.

  

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Both the caffeine and flavanoids in green tea helps in eliminating body fat which makes green tea a good healthy alternative in shedding extra pounds. In relation to this, the catechins found on green tea can prevent the build up of fats while increasing the body temperature in order for you to burn extra calories. According to some studies, green tea consumption makes your body work in burning some calories even when the body is at rest.      

 

Drinking 2-3 cups of green tea daily is enough to make you lose weight while on a regular diet. Aside from weight loss, green tea has antioxidants and anti-cancer properties. Antioxidants acts as our body’s defence from harmful free radicals that damages our body cells. The antioxidant in green tea contributes to one’s youthful look and beautiful skin while decreasing your chances of acquiring cancer.

Green tea is safe when consumed in moderation but people who have heart ailments, high blood pressure an anxiety should seek the doctor’s advice before ingesting green tea due to its caffeine content. Also, green tea might also have some chemical reactions to certain medications such as antibiotics, blood thinners, chemotherapy and blood pressure prescriptions.   

Oolong Tea

 

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Same with green tea, the oolong tea was also made from Camellia sinensis plant in China and Taiwan but India and Thailand are also trying to produce oolong tea. It also has antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and caffeine. The antioxidant in oolong speeds up your metabolism by almost 10% for more than 2 hours after consumption, making you burn fats fast. Oolong tea also trims down the abdominal fat and reducing LDL cholesterol securely without any harmful side effects.   

Consuming two cups of oolong tea daily is ideal for weight loss. It is best if you drink it in the morning and afternoon. Try not to add anything from it like cream or sugar to improve its taste as it will lessen its effect in losing weight. Although this drink has some benefits, it also has some side effects. The fluoride in oolong tea when consumed in high levels can result in skeletal fluorosis.

Also, the presence of caffeine in oolong tea can lead to anxiety, dehydration, restlessness, insomnia, diarrhea, tremors, depression, PMS, palpitation, frequent urination, etc. Likewise, overconsumption can also result in hypokalemia, beriberi, stomach irritation, kidney stones, osteoporosis, etc. It is advised to seek the help of a medical professional before taking oolong tea especially if you are pregnant, lactating mother or taking some medications.   

Whether you take green tea or oolong tea, it is best to do it with exercise and a diet for a more effective weigh loss management. Both of them have benefits and some side effects when consumed in large amounts. Maximize the full potential of any of these teas by consuming it purely and in moderation.