Recently, green tea has been enjoying explosive popularity among Millennials & Gen Z worldwide. The so-called 'Healthy Pleasure' trend, which pursues both health and enjoyment, is spreading, and green tea is establishing itself as a premium food culture beyond being just a beverage. Amid this trend, research results have been published highlighting green tea's effectiveness in blood sugar control, weight management, and even the prevention of diabetes and obesity.

'Healthy Pleasure' Trend Spreads
Explosive Popularity of Green Tea Among Millennials & Gen Z
Excellent Effects on Blood Sugar Control and Obesity Prevention

A research team from Cruzeiro do Sul University in S?o Paulo, Brazil, recently reported in the international journal 'Cell Biochemistry and Function' that "consuming green tea suppresses weight gain, improves blood sugar regulation, and simultaneously prevents muscle loss."

The researchers induced obesity in about 40 laboratory mice by feeding them high-calorie foods for four weeks. The foods provided included cookies with chocolate and cream, caramel ice cream, and condensed milk, mirroring the types of foods people commonly enjoy.

Following this, a 12-week green tea experiment was conducted. The mice continued to receive high-calorie diets, and some were given 500 mg of green tea extract per kilogram of body weight via tube feeding. For humans, this equates to about 3 grams per day, or roughly three cups of green tea.

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The experiment showed that mice consuming green tea demonstrated a marked improvement in blood sugar regulation. The expression of genes related to insulin receptors and glucose transporters became more active, allowing blood sugar to be efficiently absorbed into cells, and lactate dehydrogenase activity was restored, enhancing carbohydrate metabolism. This indicates that green tea can alleviate insulin resistance and potentially reduce the risk of diabetes progression.

There were also positive changes in muscle health. Typically, obesity leads to a decrease in muscle fiber diameter and reduced muscle function, but the green tea group maintained muscle fiber size and showed a protective effect against muscle loss. Additionally, there was increased expression of genes that convert fat into energy, reducing simple fat accumulation and promoting efficient metabolism. In contrast, genes that cause inflammation were suppressed, confirming green tea's effects on fat metabolism and inflammation reduction.

The researchers explained, "Green tea did not affect the weight of lean mice, but induced fat reduction only in obese mice," and added, "It appears to act only in environments with excess nutrients. This supports the hypothesis that green tea acts directly on fat cells."

They further stated, "While we cannot definitively say the same effects will appear in humans, green tea not only aids in weight management but also improves muscle metabolism and blood sugar regulation, helping to prevent metabolic diseases. It can be used as a safe and effective dietary supplement."

However, since green tea contains caffeine, excessive intake may cause insomnia, palpitations, and digestive issues. In particular, the tannins in green tea can interfere with iron absorption, increasing the risk of anemia, and long-term high-dose consumption may lead to liver dysfunction. Experts advise, "Excessive and indiscriminate consumption can actually be harmful," and caution that "people with anemia or adolescents should be especially careful."