Customer Inquiry: Hello, is drinking green tea while working out effective for weight loss? I’ve been eating quite a bit of heavy, oily food lately and my weight has been shooting up. I’m hoping to burn some fat by exercising after work. I’ve heard that drinking green tea before a workout helps with weight loss—could you explain how it helps specifically? Is drinking green tea really more effective for weight loss when exercising?
Chang-Hsing Tea: Yes, drinking green tea when working out makes weight loss more effective. According to research, drinking green tea before exercise can help burn an extra 17% of fat calories. This study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, involved 12 participants who took either catechins or a placebo before doing 30 minutes of exercise, such as cycling. The results showed that the catechin group had a 17% greater increase in fat energy expenditure compared to the placebo group. Another study in the Journal of Nutrition had similar findings, following 128 obese individuals over a 12-week trial. It found that those who drank 500 ml of green tea daily combined with moderate-intensity exercise three times a week reduced their abdominal fat by 7.4% more than the control group.
This happens because exercise stimulates the secretion of adrenaline, which converts fat into energy. However, another enzyme in the human body called COMT breaks down norepinephrine, which ends up interfering with fat metabolism. The catechins in green tea can inhibit the action of COMT, so drinking green tea while exercising helps with weight loss. Next time before you work out, remember to drink a cup of green tea to make your weight loss efforts more efficient.
▲Just a quick reminder: the right way to lose weight is through moderate exercise, a balanced diet, and an appropriate amount of green tea. Drinking too much green tea can still have adverse effects on your health, though!