How many calories in green tea? If you like counting calories, you will like the answer to this calories in green tea question.

Ancient Chinese drank green tea 5000 years ago and this healthy drink was brought to Japan in the 800s. Since then, the medicinal benefits of green tea have been conclusive based from population and clinical- based researches. Recently, many studies have been conducted in relation to the weight loss benefits of green tea.

Green tea is from a plant species, Camellia sinensis; the leaves and leaf buds are harvested  and used to produce Chinese tea.  Green tea is slightly oxidized so that the polyphenol contents of about 30-40% will be preserved. Improved health is ensured if the body consumes polyphenol which can be found in fruits and vegetables too, but more in tea drinks.

The high polyphenol antioxidants and EGCG (epilogallocatechin-gallate) in green tea called catechin helps in speeding up calories burned by the body through thermogenesis. Researchers have shown that EGCG has the ability to accelerate the process of thermogenesis. What is thermogenesis? It is the rate in which the body produces heat and stimulates metabolism. The antioxidants and caffeine contents of tea speed up metabolism. When extra calories are burned, it will result to weight loss.

In Japan, two recent studies on the effects of EGCG and weight loss systems were conducted. Thirty eight (38) men were given the same diet but half of them were made to drink a bottle of green tea with 690mg catechin antioxidants daily. After a period of 12 weeks, a decrease in body fat mass, waist circumference, body weight, BMI and subcutaneous fats were noticed among the tea drinking group.

Another study with 10 healthy Japanese men was also done. This time, the men were randomly assigned to receive a dose of green tea extract plus caffeine, just caffeine, or a placebo. On days that the men were given tea extract plus caffeine, they spent more energy in their activities and burned more calories daily. Less energy and calories burned were recorded on the days that they were given just caffeine or placebo.

Both studies have shown that tea contains ingredients besides caffeine  that stimulate thermogenesis, burn fat and increase weight loss. However, unlike caffeine in coffee, drinking tea is safer because it does not cause any side effects like insomnia, anxiety, stomach problems or frequent urination. It is a natural weight loss process.

So how many calories in green tea? The truth is drinking plain green tea means zero calorie. Milk, sugar or honey can add calories in tea. But because green tea has a thermogenesis effect to the body metabolism, the average tea consumed for optimum result can be 3 to 5 cups a day. Done regularly, this can amount to extra 70 calories burned daily or 7 pounds a year. So if you think you haven’t been burning those calories as you should, then think again and start drinking green tea!