Tea comes in different colors, shapes and sizes and originates from the same plant named Camelia sinensis. The fermentation and oxidation process of this plant is what gives the various colors and tastes to teas. For example, black tea is very fermented while white tea is not at all. Green tea is definitely one of the most popular types of teas as it has shown to have many health benefits. Let’s take a closer look as we walk the intriguing path of tea.
We start at the beginning. It’s believed that tea was first discovered in the year 2737 B.C. by the emperor Shen Nong who wanted to improve the quality of life of humans. To ensure their health and his own, he would boil hot water to quench his thirst. One day, legend says, as he was napping under a tea tree, three leaves fell into his boiling water. He tasted this infusion and loved it so much that the idea of a cup of tea was born! Since then, more research has been done on the compounds that constitute tea and the health benefits associated with consuming it.
As previously mentioned, green tea has become the subject of much research and discussion, and for good reason! It has been shown to be one of the plants that is most rich in antioxidants and polyphenols because it is not fully fermented. The main component in green tea is called EGCG. This type of antioxidant, together with caffeine found in green tea, has been shown to play a role in weight management. However, to have this supportive effect on weight management, green tea has to be consumed in amounts large enough to provide effectiveness.
In practice, drinking that much tea in one day can be challenging. This is why favoring a supplement that contains a beneficial amount of green tea extract with EGCG and caffeine is ideal. Combined with a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, a weight management regimen is accessible. An example of such a supplement is Chili BurnTM that contains green tea extract with EGCG, along with chili pepper extract and chrome, to help metabolize fats and helps with weight loss.
Therefore, the journey to weight management actually begins with not only a healthy lifestyle, but a good dose of green tea extract!
By Jennifer Soueida, B.Sc.
