High abdominal fat levels increase the risk of heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure and premature death, even in people with normal weight for height. Abdominal fat turns over quickly, which increases blood triglycerides (blood fat) and impairs blood sugar regulation.

In a study of adults involved in an endurance exercise program, Kevin Maki, from Provident Clinical Research in Bloomington, Indiana, found that supplementing green tea beverage containing high levels of catechins (625 milligrams) and caffeine (39 milligrams) promoted abdominal fat loss better than a drink containing caffeine alone. The high-catechin drink also caused greater decreases in total fat and blood triglycerides. This was one of many studies showing that green tea catechins promote abdominal fat loss.

Also, as recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, green tea is a popular weight-loss supplement that also improves blood sugar regulation. Scientists from the University of Porto in Portugal found that green tea prevented fat cell development and promoted fat cell death in rats. Green tea was their only beverage during the six-month experiment. Researchers speculated that chemicals in green tea such as caffeine and catechins – particularly epigallocatecin-3-gallate – speed metabolism and fight fat. Green tea is an effective fat fighter that decreases fat cell size and number.

(Journal of Nutrition, 139: 264-270, 2009; 138: 2156-2163, 2008)