A compound found in green tea could help keep the body from absorbing excess fat, slowing down weight gain even in those who are already obese, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity.
Researchers found that Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) – found in green tea – helped to slow weight gain in overweight mice when taken as a supplement to a high-fat diet.
While all of the mice were eating the same amount of the same food, the mice that were receiving EGCG gained 45 percent less weight than the control group. They also had higher levels of lipids in their waste, suggesting their bodies were not absorbing as much of the fat.
"There seems to be two prongs to this," study author Joshua Lambert explained to the Daily Mail, "First, EGCG reduces the ability to absorb fat and, second, it enhances the ability to use fat."
While a person would need to drink ten cups of green tea a day to match the levels of EGCG being fed to the mice, recent studies have shown that even a few cups a day can help control weight, noted Lambert.