Appetite refers to the desire for consuming food. However, one may not always associate it with hunger.
Even visually appealing food can stimulate your appetite. A bowl of vanilla ice-cream topped with chocolate syrup may seem more inviting than a bowl of cornflakes.
This is because we humans are prone to consume more fatty foods that make the taste buds happy.
Primarily, you feel hungry when the nutrient store of the body is exhausted. When your digestive system has food in it, the body gets nourishment.
But there are times when there is no food in the digestive system; normally when you wake up.
This means that the body does have some kind of store to keep it running even when your stomach is empty. The human body stores carbs and fat in it as short-term and long-term reservoirs respectively.
Now, some individuals have a voracious appetite when compared to others.
Furthermore, this nature is a cause of worry as overeating can lead to weight gain. And, carrying too much weight isn’t healthy at all.
It is here that the need for appetite suppression or regulation arises.
People tend to lose weight not just to look good and be healthy but also to avoid developing any kind of serious medical condition.
Does green tea suppress appetite?
If you want to control your appetite and reduce all the mindless eating you do, there is a very safe and natural way of doing so – Green tea! Yes, green tea is actually a natural appetite suppressant.
It is due to the presence of a fat-burning compound and powerful antioxidants called EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate). It is a polyphenol that belongs to a class called catechins.
Basically, an appetite suppressant tackles weight gain issues by helping balance out the levels of ghrelin and leptin. They are the two hunger hormones present in the body.
And, it is EGCG that tames both the hunger hormones.
Also, EGCG has the ability to boost metabolism and burn fat as it makes the nervous system signal the fat cells to break fats down.
As a result, there is a decrease in your appetite.
Additionally, EGCG inhibits the breakdown of the hormones called norepinephrine and dopamine that reduce your appetite.
Apart from EGCG, the tiny amount of naturally occurring caffeine in green tea also works as an effective appetite suppressant.
Furthermore, when you consume green tea, a hormone called CCK (Cholecystokinin) gets secreted and it signals the brain that sufficient food has been received. Hence, making you feel satiated.
This ensures that your appetite remains in check and you don’t gorge on food unnecessarily.
Overall, it is recommended that you consume green tea every day to suppress your appetite instead of popping into pills.
Does green tea help lose weight?
If weight loss is on your mind, with a natural appetite suppressant like green tea, you will eat lesser than usual and lose weight without the fear of any harmful side-effects.
Also, as mentioned earlier, the polyphenols in green tea helps in losing weight.
However, in a day you should not drink more than 3 cups of green tea. Excess of it can backfire and lead to undesirable side-effects.
P.S. – Do not confuse yourself by assuming that green tea helps burn calories. No, alone it does not! You definitely need to do some exercise or physical activity along.
Other ways of suppressing appetite are proper hydration. By drinking the right amount of water, you can reduce hunger pangs.
So, make sure that you drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. You can also follow a fiber-rich diet that includes whole grains, veggies, and fruits.
Does drinking green tea regularly increase your appetite?
When there was a discussion of the question online, people said (Source: Quora):
- No this has not been demonstrated. It has, however, been demonstrated that green tea decreases fat mass.
- No, it does not increase! But it provides a lot of bioflavonoids for you and this makes you healthier reducing the risk for heart attacks and strokes. If you sweeten your green tea with stevia powder (a tiny bit only needed) instead of sugar, you’re going to be even healthier.
- I don’t think so. Contrary, green tea contains the wonderful EGCG polyphenol, these specific antioxidants help to increase metabolism. It also naturally contains a very small amount of caffeine, which is a natural appetite suppressant. This is what makes green tea lose weight in one aspect, as you have a decreased appetite with a higher metabolism.
Green Tea Appetite Suppressant – My final thoughts
With the help of an appetite suppressant, you can bring down your appetite levels and thereby reduce your calorie consumption. Also, you can reduce unwanted snacking between meals and keep your hunger pangs in check.
This can easily be done when you start drinking green tea.
Along with keeping hunger pangs at bay, it helps in boosting your metabolism and increasing energy levels. When you have more energy, the chances of getting food cravings are less.
Stick to natural ways of appetite suppression like consuming green tea, drinking adequate amounts of water, and eating fiber-rich foods.
However, if you want to eat appetite suppressing pills, please do so by seeking the advice of a doctor.
