We asked a nutritionist if you should drink coffee or green tea to lose weight
Coffee versus tea for weight loss is a hotly debated debate in the health and fitness community. While both drinks offer significant health benefits and contain high levels of caffeine to suppress appetite and boost metabolism, is one morning drink better than another for weight loss?
To determine whether coffee or green tea is better for healthy weight loss, we spoke with nutritionist Mary-Ellen Sabat. She said that although both drinks have their nutritional benefits, green tea is generally considered better for weight loss because it acts as an appetite suppressant, boosts your metabolism and burns fat faster than black coffee. Keep reading to find out more!
Green tea is better than coffee for weight loss
The world is generally made up of two types of people: people who drink tea and people who drink coffee. Both beverages have significant health benefits, but should you have a cup of coffee or tea to lose weight? Sabat says green tea is more beneficial than black coffee for many reasons.
First, she points out that green tea is a metabolism booster. “Green tea contains caffeine and catechins, which are known to increase metabolism and improve fat oxidation. This may lead to higher calorie burn throughout the day, thereby promoting weight loss” , says Sabat, who founded BodyDesigns by Mary. In addition, green tea is an appetite suppressant.
“Some studies suggest that green tea may help reduce appetite and food cravings, which may indirectly support weight loss efforts by reducing overall calorie intake,” she continues, “green tea contains compounds which can inhibit the absorption of fat from the diet. This means that some dietary fat passes through the body undigested, potentially reducing caloric intake.”
But that doesn’t mean coffee doesn’t provide any weight loss benefits. “The caffeine in coffee can act as an appetite suppressant, reducing hunger pangs and lowering calorie intake,” says Sabat. She also points out that green tea contains more antioxidants than coffee, which prevents free radical damage and boosts metabolism for weight loss.
While green tea contains caffeine, coffee generally contains higher levels. The caffeine in coffee acts as “a stimulant that can increase energy levels and increase calorie expenditure.” This could help improve physical performance and increase calorie burning during workouts. Unfortunately, too much caffeine can lead to poor quality sleep and more long-term sugar cravings.
Whether coffee or green tea is better for weight loss really depends on a person’s preferences and tolerances. It is important to consider how you take your drink. Adding high-fat creamers and sugary syrups to your regular black coffee or green tea can lead to gut inflammation and weight gain.
The essential
So, nutritionist Sabat says green tea is generally better than coffee for weight loss. Although both beverages offer multiple weight loss benefits, green tea boosts metabolism, suppresses appetite, and may burn fat faster than coffee. Sabat is also keen to emphasize that losing weight is a multi-faceted process that goes beyond choosing one specific drink over another. You should also focus on maintaining “a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep.” But, she says, drinking green tea and adopting a healthy lifestyle can help with weight loss.
