Why Drinking Green Tea Before a Workout is an Amazing Idea
There are many benefits of drinking green tea before a workout, and it is one of my favorite ways to prepare my body and mind for a workout.
Personally, I was never a green tea drinker until I played a basketball season in Kazakhstan, where I met my wife and began to learn more about the health benefits of different types of tea.
Although I still enjoy drinking coffee or some pre-workout supplements before exercising, I also drink green tea pre-workout. Also, I drink green tea after working out very often, depending on the time of day I finish my workout.
The benefits of drinking green tea pre-workout include increasing your metabolism, enabling you to work out longer, and promoting fat oxidation.
Here is more information about why drinking green tea before a workout is an amazing idea!
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea Before Workouts
I don’t drink green tea before a workout every day because I also enjoy certain pre workout supplements and drinking coffee before workouts as well, but I have made drinking green tea pre workout a part of my life, and I have loved the results!
Check out these specific reasons why you should choose to drink green tea before a workout:
1.) Green Tea Promotes Weight Loss
Drinking green tea before a workout is a great idea for people looking to lose weight or reduce their body fat because it can increase your metabolism, which helps you burn fat and lose weight quicker and more efficiently.
Many nutritional properties of green tea promote your metabolism (otherwise known as your basal metabolic rate), but two of the most important are caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallate (ECGC).
When you drink green tea before working out, EGCG and caffeine synergize to increase your metabolism and help you burn more fat!
EGCG is a catechin, a type of natural phenol and antioxidant. EGCG belongs to the group of flavanols, which is part of the chemical family- flavonoids.
The EGCG content of green tea makes it one of the best natural fat burners since research has shown it can boost your metabolism and promote fat oxidation on its own and when combined with caffeine.
I especially prefer to drink green tea before “fasted” workouts in the morning when fat oxidization is already easier. In my opinion, combining green tea with fasted cardio is one of the best ways to burn fat and lose weight quickly!
If your goal is to get an aesthetic body, drinking green tea before your workouts is a great way to do it!
2.) Green Tea Supports Better Workouts
Another reason you should drink green tea before a workout is that green tea consumption helps your body use body fat as fuel for your workouts, which promotes longer, more intense, and better workouts.
When you drink a cup of ECGC-containing green tea, EGCG signals the body to break down fat cells and use them as energy instead of glucose or glycogen, thus promoting endurance capacity.
The body stores glucose as glycogen for you to use as energy for physical activity, which is why it is so important for athletes to consume the best carbohydrate sources throughout the day.
However, the body can only store so much glycogen at one time.
Contrarily, the body can store much larger amounts of fat, but it is more difficult to use it as energy because it prefers to use glucose or glycogen first.
Not only does using body fat as an energy source help you train longer, but it will also help you lose body fat more quickly.
So, you should drink green tea before a workout to train longer and more intensely and to help you lose body fat more effectively!
Additionally, the moderate amount of caffeine in green tea helps improve your endurance and ability to complete better workouts. Green tea contains much less caffeine than coffee or pre-workout drinks, but it contains a sufficient amount to give you a boost for your workouts.
Green tea contains only about 25-40mg of caffeine per cup, yet it still promotes a strong, energizing feeling.
Compared to drinking pre workout supplements, green tea provides less intense but more sustained energy.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, the moderate caffeine content of green tea could be the best option to help push you through your workouts.
However, drinking green tea before workouts does not offer a rapid burst of energy immediately after drinking, so don’t expect a giant jolt of energy if you are feeling exhausted.
3.) Green Tea Can Help Prevent Many Health Problems
There are benefits to drinking green tea pre workout, but one of the main reasons is that green tea is a healthy drink, and drinking green tea is generally good for your health.
First, green tea is one of the best sources of antioxidants, which are critical to good health.
Antioxidants play a vital role in preventing many diseases from developing over a lifespan, and green tea contains some of the most powerful antioxidants.
The antioxidants in green tea can reduce damage from UV sunlight, prevent the onset of diabetes, prevent the development of some cancers, and promote healthy skin quality, amongst other attributes.
If you are interested in preserving your long-term health and wellness, drinking green tea before exercising is a great way to achieve your goal.
4.) Green Tea Reduces Stress Levels
Drinking green tea before working out will provide energy, but it can also help you feel less stressed and not wired or jittery like other high-caffeine drinks.
Green tea contains a high concentration of l-Theanine, which is an excellent nootropic for energy and a compound that helps reduce stress.
L-theanine promotes good mental health and can actually promote good sleep quality.
Drinking green tea pre workout consistently is an excellent way to reduce stress while increasing your energy to exercise.
Cons of Drinking Green Tea Before a Workout
Although there are many benefits of drinking green tea before a workout, there are some cons to drinking green tea before exercising.
One of the main reasons I occasionally drink a pre workout supplement or coffee before a workout instead of green tea is that green tea does not contain much caffeine, and sometimes I want to drink something that provides more powerful energy.
Green tea only contains about 25-40mg of caffeine per cup, while coffee and pre workout supplements can easily contain over 100mg of caffeine per serving. So if I want a powerful energy boost, I usually don’t drink green tea pre workout on those days.
Another con of drinking green tea pre workout is that it can sometimes cause stomach issues. However, I wouldn’t say it is more noticeable than coffee or pre workout supplements.
Green tea is good for your digestive system, but if you drink green tea close to your workout time, it could cause a stomach issue.
However, I wouldn’t let these cons of drinking green tea before a workout impact your desire to try it!
Benefits of Drinking Green Tea After a Workout
As I mentioned before, I often drink green tea after working out.
One of the main reasons I drink green tea after a workout is because green tea has less caffeine than coffee, and once I am done with my workout(s) of the day, I try to reduce my caffeine intake as much as possible.
Therefore, green tea after a workout is a perfect option because it contains small amounts of caffeine for energy for the rest of my day, but not too much caffeine that would impact my sleep at night or make me jittery throughout the day.
Additionally, drinking green tea has many health benefits, and drinking a couple more cups of green tea daily can be very beneficial for your health.
Best Green Tea (2022)
If you think you want to try drinking green tea before a workout, you want to make sure you purchase a high-quality green tea product that you will happily drink each day.
MatchaDNA
As I said before, the best pre workout green tea, in my opinion, is MatchaDNA.
MatchaDNA is a Certified Organic Matcha from the Hunan district of China. The matcha tea used for MatchaDNA has been grown on family farms in China since the 13th Century!
The family farm where MatchaDNA is grown is at a high altitude, so it is away from chemical usage used in lower-grown tea gardens.
MatchaDNA is Certified USDA Organic, and they ensure that their teas are 100% free from any pesticides, herbicides, or other harmful substances!
Furthermore, MatchaDNA is tested for maximum purity, and each batch of tea leaves is handpicked and may have some variances to show ranges.
I love MatchaDNA because they come in tea bags, which is more convenient for me when I’m rushing to make green tea pre workout.
Matcha itself has more antioxidants than other types of green tea, so drinking matcha tea pre workout is your best option!
Try MatchaDNA before a workout, and I am confident you will not be disappointed!
Last update on 2023-03-22 / I earn a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. / Thank you for your support!
Is Green Tea the Best Pre Workout Drink?
Although I love drinking green tea before a workout, other options exist for the “best pre-workout drink.”
Here are a few quick comparisons for you:
Green Tea vs. Black Tea Before a Workout
Drinking green tea before exercise is great, but other types of tea are also beneficial. Outside of green tea, my two favorite pre-workout teas are yerba mate and oolong tea.
Drinking black tea before a workout is also beneficial, and black tea has some unique properties.
Black tea also contains polyphenols which help with lipid metabolism, which is the main reason you might want to drink black tea before a workout.
Black tea also contains slightly more caffeine than green tea, so it may be a better option for people who want a more significant energy boost.
If you want to drink black tea before a workout, there are many great options. If you would like a cheap yet organic, high-quality black tea, I suggest Lipton Organic Black Tea Bags:
Last update on 2023-03-22 / I earn a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. / Thank you for your support!
Pre Workout Supplements vs. Green Tea Before Exercise
As I mentioned before, I do drink pre workout supplements.
I believe that pre-workout supplements can be better than green tea before a workout because pre-workout supplements contain ingredients that green tea does not.
For example, citrulline malate is a very beneficial ingredient in many pre workout supplements that you will not get from green tea. Citrulline malate helps increase blood flow, training capacity, and muscle recovery.
Since green tea before exercise is also beneficial, I will occasionally drink a pre workout supplement and green tea.
However, I only do that if I am taking a stimulant-free pre workout supplement or a pre workout with a low amount of caffeine.
Coffee vs. Green Tea Before Exercising
I certainly enjoy drinking green tea before exercising, but I would have to say I prefer drinking coffee before exercising even more. The main reason I say that is because coffee contains more caffeine and provides more energy when you are tired or fatigued.
Also, I love the taste of coffee and enjoy trying different types of coffee from around the world.
Coffee also promotes fat oxidation, provides antioxidants, and increases your metabolism, so it is similar to drinking green tea before a workout in some ways.
I prefer drinking green tea before exercising instead of coffee because I believe green tea is a better natural fat burner than coffee.
Although you can definitely drink coffee for weight loss, the catechins in green tea are extremely powerful, and I believe they help green tea promote weight loss more than coffee.
If you want to drink coffee before exercising, my favorite coffee is Puroast Low Acid Coffe.
Related Reading: Best Weight Loss Coffee Brands
Concluding Thoughts – Drinking Green Tea Before a Workout
Overall, green tea is a wonderful drink.
Drinking green tea before a workout can provide numerous benefits to help you improve your fitness and overall health. Green tea is a natural source of caffeine, boosting energy and increasing focus and concentration during your workout. It also contains antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and protect your cells from oxidative stress caused by exercise.
In addition to providing a boost of energy, drinking green tea before exercising can improve cardiovascular health and endurance, allowing you to work out for longer periods. It can also boost your metabolism and help burn fat, making it easier to lose weight and achieve fitness goals.
Also, because green tea is low in calories, it can help you maintain a healthy weight, making it a great beverage choice for those looking to lose weight or improve their body composition.
In addition to its physical benefits, green tea can also support your overall health and wellness. It can boost your immune system, helping you fight off infections and stay healthy during your workout routine. It can also improve digestion and help regulate blood sugar levels, supporting overall health and wellness.
Overall, drinking green tea before a workout can provide numerous benefits to help you improve your fitness and achieve your goals.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, boost your endurance, or simply stay healthy and fit, incorporating green tea into your workout routine can provide numerous benefits.
So why not try it and see the difference it can make?
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