The Witty Stride

   – Aparna Chatterjee

Green tea is more than just a green liquid. It has less caffeine than coffee and black tea. Many consider organic green tea the healthiest beverage on the planet. That’s why there has been such a craze among health-conscious people and fitness freaks. But is it as different and effective as its regular drinkers claim, or is it just mere hype? Let’s find out.

• How different is it from regular tea?

Both teas have almost zero calories! Regular tea is simply fermented green tea, whereas green tea is roasted in pans to prevent fermentation. Both contain polyphenols, antioxidants that help protect your heart. Both contain caffeine, which boosts metabolic rates and brain function.

• Antioxidants: Do They Help with Fat Loss?

As advertised, green tea has three times as many antioxidants as an apple and more flavonoids than black tea. More specifically, it is a potent source of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). And yes! It has a calming effect and helps relieve stress. It promotes fat loss and helps break down stubborn fat cells. It is best recommended for those following an intermittent fasting diet. Some health bloggers advocate green tea over coffee because of its lower caffeine content.

• How does it promote fat?

Green tea is beneficial and contains a high amount of antioxidants. However, most people are misinformed about its intake. Three to four cups of green tea are recommended per day. However, burn fat with 10-13 cups of green tea daily! A cup of green tea contains approximately 30mg of EGCG. However, we require 300 to 400mg of EGCG to achieve noticeable weight loss, which is not recommended.

• An overlooked property of green tea:

Caffeine is a diuretic and can lead to frequent urination. So, it can dehydrate you by drinking too much tea, or coffee, for that matter. However, the caffeine content of green tea is far lower than that of coffee. Everyone’s body is different, so testing any caffeine product before settling on one is best.

• Why is black tea good?

Black tea contains theaflavins, produced during fermentation and responsible for its antioxidant activity. Theaflavins reduce plaque formation in blood vessels by reducing inflammation and increasing nitric oxide availability, which helps blood vessels dilate. They are also known to significantly lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Theaflavins may have the same antioxidant capacity as those found in green tea.

• Did you fall prey to an ‘exotic’ advertisement?

Black tea costs approximately Rs. 225 per 500g, while green tea costs roughly Rs. 410 per 500g. Green tea is often advertised as a magical drink that can help reduce belly fat, but this is not entirely accurate. So yes, we have fallen prey to this exotic, green advertisement.

Tea drinkers have a variety of choices beyond the usual Indian chai to satisfy their thirst. Isn’t that good? Let’s sip from a freshly brewed green teacup to acknowledge that fact. Shall we?