It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy weight is essential for preventing a number of health conditions such as diabetes. While diet and exercise play a major role in keeping weight in check, certain beverages can also help.

The right beverage can hold a significant effect on your weight loss goals and help prevent diabetes. In this article, we’ll discuss the healthy drink for weight loss and diabetes prevention: green tea.

What is Green Tea?

Green tea is a popular beverage made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the same plant used to make black tea and oolong tea.

The leaves are harvested and then steamed or pan-fried to prevent oxidation, which preserves the green color of the leaves and their natural nutrients that make the health benefits of green tea famous worldwide.

Green Tea and Weight Loss

If you’re trying to shed extra pounds, green tea is an excellent addition to your dietary routine. Green tea contains two essential components that make it an excellent weight loss aid: caffeine and catechins.

Caffeine is widely believed to aid weight loss by enhancing your metabolism, which speeds up your body’s natural ability to burn calories.

Catechins also play a critical role as they assist in blocking the breakdown of fat cells that are responsible for releasing fat into your bloodstream. As a result, your body burns the stored fat as an energy source instead of carbohydrates, leading to weight loss.

Green Tea and Diabetes Prevention

Another benefit of drinking green tea is its ability to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Green tea comprises polyphenols, which are plant compounds that help reduce the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream.

Evidence shows that drinking green tea regularly may help to lower hemoglobin A1C levels, insulin levels, and fasting blood sugar levels – all risk factors for diabetes.

Other Health Benefits of Green Tea

In addition to aiding weight loss and diabetes prevention, green tea has a wealth of other health benefits, including:.

Reducing the risk of heart disease
Improving brain function and mental alertness
Reducing bad cholesterol levels in the body
Boosting the immune system, thanks to its high antioxidant levels

How to Prepare Green Tea for Maximum Benefits

Green tea is incredibly easy to prepare and requires only the tea leaves and hot water. However, to enjoy the drink’s maximum benefits, you must follow these preparation tips:.

Choose high quality loose leaf green tea, which has a significantly higher amount of health benefits than tea bags
Use water that is below boiling point. Too-hot water will damage the tea leaves, leading to reduced health benefits.
Allow the steeping time for at least 2 minutes, but not more than 4 minutes, to get the best blend of taste and health benefits.
Do not add sweeteners like sugar or honey as they will counteract some of the weight loss benefits. However, if you prefer sweet tea, add a little bit of stevia instead.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding green tea to a healthy diet and regular exercise can significantly impact your weight loss goals and prevent diabetes. However, remember that you cannot rely solely on green tea to lose weight or combat diabetes.

To maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle, combine green tea with a healthy diet and regular physical exercise.