Did you know that what you drink can significantly impact your belly? For instance, you probably know that sugary drinks like soda and lemonade can spike insulin and cause your body to store belly fat. However, did you know that drinks with excessive amounts of caffeine can increase belly fat as well? And did you know that other drinks can actually help burn belly fat?
Caffeine can provide your body with a slight metabolism boost. So you may think you should consume lots of it to burn more calories and more fat. This thinking is true to a point, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
A general rule is to keep your caffeine intake to no more than 300 milligrams per day. That’s equal to about 2 to 3 cups of coffee. Beyond this amount is where caffeine may have more of a negative impact than a positive one.
Very high levels of caffeine in the body can start to impact you in a few unhealthy ways. You can start to feel more agitated, have trouble concentrating, and even suffer from a disrupted sleep cycle. These symptoms can all raise stress hormone production and slow metabolism.
If you need to cut back on your caffeine intake to stay within the suggested limits, try swapping your typical morning cup of coffee or your afternoon soda for decaffeinated green tea. This tea is loaded with stress-fighting antioxidants, which can help prevent cell damage and oxidation.
Because green tea is one of the least processed teas, it also contains a high level of a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Promising studies have indicated that EGCG may help to reduce overall body fat, but especially belly fat. So drink up!