We Asked A Nutritionist If You Should Drink Coffee Or Green Tea For Weight Loss
Coffee vs. tea for weight loss is a highly argued debate in the health and fitness community. While both drinks provide significant health benefits and contain high levels of caffeine for appetite-suppressing and metabolism-boosting, is one morning beverage better than another for weight loss?
To determine if coffee or green tea is better for healthy weight loss, we spoke with Mary-Ellen Sabat, a nutritionist. She said that while both beverages 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. Read on to learn 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 reach for a cup of coffee or tea to lose weight? Sabat says that green tea is more beneficial than black coffee for many reasons.
Firstly, she points out that green tea is a metabolism booster. "Green tea contains caffeine and catechins, which are known to increase metabolism and enhance fat oxidation. This can lead to a higher calorie burn throughout the day, aiding weight loss," Sabat, who founded BodyDesigns by Mary, says. Plus, green tea is an appetite suppressant.
"Some studies suggest that green tea can help reduce appetite and food cravings, which can indirectly support weight loss efforts by reducing overall calorie intake," she continues, "Green tea contains compounds that can inhibit the absorption of fat from the diet. This means that some dietary fat passes through the body undigested, potentially reducing calorie intake."
But, that doesn't mean that coffee does not provide any benefits for weight loss. "Caffeine in coffee can act as an appetite suppressant, reducing feelings of hunger and decreasing calorie intake," Sabat says. She also points out that green tea contains more antioxidants than coffee which prevent free radical damage and boosts the metabolism for weight loss.
While green tea does contain caffeine, coffee generally contains higher levels. The caffeine in coffee acts as "a stimulant that can boost energy levels and increase calorie expenditure." This could help improve physical performance and boost calorie burning during workouts. Unfortunately, too much caffeine can lead to poor sleep and more sugar cravings in the long run.
Whether coffee or green tea is better for weight loss really depends on a person's preferences and tolerances. It's important to consider how you take your beverage. Adding high-fat creamers and sugary syrups to your plain black coffee or green tea can lead to gut inflammation and weight gain.
The Bottom Line
So, nutritionist Sabat says that green tea is generally better than coffee for weight loss. While both drinks provide multiple advantages for weight loss, green tea is metabolism-boosting, an appetite suppressant, and can burn fat faster than coffee. Sabat also wants to point out that weight loss is a multifaceted process that goes beyond choosing a specific beverage over another. You must also focus on maintaining "a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and sufficient sleep." But, she says, drinking green tea and participating in a healthy lifestyle can help with weight loss efforts.
