– 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 so much craze has been going on for green tea among health-conscious persons and fitness freaks. But is it so different and effective as claimed by its regular drinkers, or it’s just mere hype? Let’s find out.

• How different is it from regular tea?

Both teas have almost 0 calories! Regular tea is just fermented green tea. Green tea is roasted on pans to stop any fermentation. Both have polyphenols, aka antioxidants, which protect your heart. Both contain caffeine, which boosts metabolic rates, brain functions, etc.

• Antioxidants: Does it help with fat loss?

As advertised, green tea has three times more antioxidants than an apple, which is true. Green tea has more flavonoids than black tea. More specifically, it is a potent source of epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG. And yes! It has a calming effect; it is known to release stress. It promotes fat loss. It helps to break down stubborn fat cells. It is best recommended if you are following an intermittent fasting diet. Some health bloggers advocate green tea over coffee for caffeine.

• How does it promote fat?

So, green tea is good and contains loads of antioxidants. But, most of us are misinformed about its intake. Daily, 3-4 cups (max) of green tea is recommended. But, to burn fat, take 10-13 cups of green tea IN A DAY! A cup of green tea has about 30mg of EGCG, but to have some visible effect of weight loss, we require 300-400 mg of EGCG, 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 in green tea is far less than in coffee. Everyone’s body is different, so test any caffeine product before settling for one.

• Why is black tea good?

Black tea contains theaflavins. It is produced during fermentation and is responsible for black tea’s antioxidants. Theaflavins reduce plaque formation in the blood vessels by reducing inflammation and increasing the availability of nitric oxide, which helps the blood vessels dilate. Also, it is known to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels significantly. In a nutshell, theaflavins may have the same antioxidant capacity as green tea.

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

Black tea is approximately Rs. 225 per 500g, while green tea costs roughly Rs. 410 per 500g. Green tea is a magical drink that will shrink your belly pouch. This is not entirely true. So yes, we have fallen prey to this exotic, green advertisement.

Tea drinkers have different choices than 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?