Most importantly, by drinking green tea to lose weight you know you're getting the benefit of all the constituents of green tea, not just the ones science has identified. Green tea has been used traditionally for weight loss, and science has been able to identify most of the constituents that create these weight loss benefits. But they have not been able to identify all of them. And many of the constituents in green tea aren't present in green tea supplements, even the standardized ones.

Standardized green tea supplements are standardized for the catechins, which are a type of polyphenol. Polyphenols are found in all teas, including black, but only catechins are found in green tea. They are what give it such revered properties. Green tea actually contains six types of catechins. They are Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), EGC, EC, GC, and C. EGCG is the most well known of these antioxidants, and the most powerful, with ECG also considered potent.

EGCG, twice as powerful as red wine's antioxidant resveratrol, is effective in weight loss and reducing cholesterol. Yet EGCG is not the only active constituent in green tea. And it is in fact more powerful when it is taken with the other active compounds in green tea. When you drink tea to lose weight, rather than relying on a supplement that can only guarantee one type of active constituent, you are in fact getting an amplified effect from EGCG.

So, what are these other compounds that you benefit from when you drink tea to lose weight?

Theophylline is one. It stimulates the metabolism and has a mild diuretic effect. Theanine, which helps with stress, and improves mood and concentration, is another. Green tea also contains gallic acid, which is another powerful antioxidant. All up, green tea contains over 200 biologically active constituents. It contains, amongst other things, carotenoids, tocopherols, vitamin C, and minerals like zinc, manganese, chromium, and selenium. Some people may be aware that chromium reduces insulin resistance, and is essential for insulin to work properly.

Insulin is important in blood sugar control, which in turn has an impact on overall metabolism, cravings, and general quality of life. Green tea also contains many other plant compounds, which are all present when you drink green tea to lose weight.