Fitness Goals and Green Tea
As we enter into a new year we look at ways to improve our bodies and our minds to recreate the best version of ourselves. A new year is a new start; and if your goal is to get in shape you may be surprised to find out how much Sugimoto green tea can benefit your fitness endeavors.
Natural Energy Boost- Unlike a cup of coffee, the moderate amount of caffeine contained in a cup of green tea won’t leave you jittery with an inevitable crash shortly after consumption. The balanced caffeine levels in tea effectively increase the amount of fat used to power your workout and increase the time it takes your body to reach fatigue so you can exercise for longer. One study in the American Journal of Physiology found tea to increase endurance by 8 to 24 percent.
Hydration- One of the simplest ways consuming green tea can help you with your fitness goals is that it can help you stay hydrated. Our muscles are composed of about 75% water. It is no wonder why hydration is vital for positive fitness results. The water in the tea is readily absorbed into your body—contrary to what many may believe about caffeine being a diuretic, the caffeine in green tea is not strong enough to act in this manner, unlike energy drinks and pre-workout supplements.
Performance Booster- Because green tea has the ability to increase your blood flow, which then results in improved oxygenation to your bodily organs, it is linked to improved physical performance. Green tea in effect increases muscle contractions that lead better performance and can help you with your overall results.
Metabolism Benefits- On the list of fat burning superfoods green tea reigns supreme thanks to its anti-angiogenic effect. In conjunction with an exercise regiment, green tea helps your body metabolize fat. “Green tea can boost the metabolic rate at which your body works to decrease body fat, especially in the abdominal area,” says Miriam Amselem, holistic nutritionist, fitness trainer, and yoga instructor. Research suggests that just three glasses of green tea per day can raise your resting metabolic rate by 3%. The catechins found in green tea can help you shed more fat during exercise. Peer reviewed research published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2019 and Dr. Robert Charmas, found individuals who drank green tea over 12 weeks, recorded more fat loss from around the abs and lost 2.4lbs more than those who didn’t consume tea.
Recovery- Green tea contains polyphenols which are natural compounds that help in reducing inflammation. Inflammation and soreness is the biggest crutch most of us have incorporating a new fitness routine. Green tea is a perfect source to improve muscle and cell recovery. When our muscles are able to better recover and more importantly, stay hydrated we can reap the rewards of our efforts sooner and in greater measure.
Not all tea is created equal. For the maximum benefits incorporate high quality and authentic Sugimoto teas into your fitness regiment. While fad pre-workouts and supplements come and go, green tea has been used as a health supplement for centuries!
Additional Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “Tea: Enjoy a Cup for Health and Pleasure”
National Academy of Sciences, May 12, 2009
Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011 Aug;21(4):598-605
Nutr Res. 2011 Nov;31(11):813-21. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2011.09.020
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 70 (6): 1040–5.