Health
Green tea for fueling weight loss? Experts reveal the skinny truth
Millions of Americans are using prescription drugs like Ozempic in an effort to lose weight.
These medications, however, could pose some health concerns, and they’re often costly — also, in some parts of the U.S., patients are experiencing shortages.
Recently, social media posts have been buzzing about green tea as a way to shed pounds without the medication or high costs.
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So should you try green tea as a way to trim your waistline?
Fox News Digital reached out to experts about the beverage’s weight-loss potential.
Here are five key questions they answered.
On social media, there’s been plenty of buzz that green tea could be a way to shed pounds without medication or high costs. (iStock)
1. What’s the science behind the green tea weight-loss claims?
Scientific findings from studies examining green tea extract in energy drinks and weight-loss supplements are mixed at best, according to Cleveland Clinic.
“There’s some speculation that catechins (natural polyphenolic phytochemicals found in food and medicinal plants) in green tea can break down body fat and may rev up your metabolism, contributing to weight loss,” the same source noted.
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In addition, research has found that “green tea can help manage your appetite and blood sugar levels,” which may lead to better weight management if used on a regular basis, Cleveland Clinic indicated.
Green tea contains caffeine, which can aid in weight loss.
Kelli Metzger, a registered dietitian at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., said that green tea contains caffeine, which can also aid in weight loss.
“Green tea contains caffeine and epigallocatechingallate (EGCG), which can help boost metabolism and break down fat cells,” Metzger told Fox News Digital.
EGCG is the most abundant catechin in green tea, per Healthline.
2. Can green tea help with other medical issues?
In studies, EGCG has been found to help lower blood pressure, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and inflammatory markers for heart disease, said Metzger.
“It may also enhance insulin sensitivity, helping to reduce the risk of diabetes,” she added.
Although this information is promising, Metzger emphasized that it’s vital to discuss this with a health care provider.
“It is best to consult a physician before adding large amounts of green tea or EGCG supplements to your daily intake,” said one expert. (iStock)
“The EGCG may interfere with absorption of some cholesterol-lowering or antipsychotic medications, so it is best to consult a physician before adding large amounts of green tea or EGCG supplements to your daily intake,” she advised.
One cup of green tea contains about 50 to 100 milligrams of EGCG, Metzger noted, while most experts suggest consuming no more than 338 milligrams per day.”
Consuming 800 milligrams or more of EGCG per day could lead to liver damage, she warned.
3. Should green tea’s caffeine levels be a red flag?
Since green tea contains caffeine, those who drink it or take supplements with green tea extract should be aware of the effects of the drug, experts say.
A cup of green tea contains roughly 29 milligrams of caffeine, compared to 95 milligrams in a cup of coffee.
If you’re sipping green tea all day in the hope of shedding pounds, keep a tally of your caffeine totals.
“Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day is considered safe for most people,” Metzger said.
“Overall, adding green tea to your diet, especially if it replaces juices or sodas, is a good choice,” she told Fox News Digital.
Those who are sipping multiple cups of green tea throughout the day in hopes of shedding pounds, however, should keep a tally of caffeine totals, the expert advised.
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It’s also important to be aware of your sensitivity to caffeine.
For some people, the drug may cause anxiety, jitters, restlessness, headaches, increased heart rate and/or difficulty sleeping, Metzger cautioned.
4. Is drinking green tea better than taking supplements?
The better choice is to drink green tea rather than take the extract in supplements, according to some experts.
“Any time you want a nutrient to have the optimal effect, it’s best to eat or drink it when possible,” LaTasha Perkins, M.D., a family physician at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.
To change your body long-term, you should incorporate consistent habits that become part of a healthier lifestyle, experts say. (iStock)
“This is because your body knows what to do with foods and drinks, and can break them down and absorb the nutrients more easily and effectively.”
if you decide to use the extract in supplement form, aim for no more than 338 mg EGCG per day, Metzger recommended.
5. How can green tea fit into an overall weight-loss plan?
Incorporating green tea could possibly help you lose weight, but it’s best as part of a bigger game plan, experts say.
“It can be effective in combination with other lifestyle adjustments for weight loss, such as making healthy choices in your diet while also drinking green tea,” said Perkins.
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Green tea can also help to stimulate digestion, she noted.
“The stimulation of digestion is how green tea aids the body in metabolizing, because it helps the body’s GI (gastrointestinal) system.”
For some people, caffeine may cause anxiety, jitters, restlessness, headaches, increased heart rate and/or difficulty sleeping, a doctor noted. (iStock)
To change your body long-term, it’s best to incorporate consistent habits that become part of a healthier lifestyle, experts say.
“There’s no quick fix when it comes to weight loss and maintaining a healthy way of living — these habits must be maintained over time,” Perkins said.
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The best thing you can do is make a conscious decision to eat better, she noted.
“Think of food as medicine,” the doctor advised.
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Good hydration and exercise are also essential when working toward a weight-loss goal.
Added Perkins, “Balance is key, but nutrition is a good first step to focus on.”
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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