Admin There is a lot of hype surrounding the benefits of tea, especially when it comes to drinking it and losing weight. Aside from water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, and for good reason. Tea is a versatile beverage that can be consumed hot or cold. Tea also comes in a variety of flavors, and it can help quench your thirst, wake you up or help you relax. While there are many varieties sold in stores, real teas include green, oolong, black and white teas. Each type of real tea comes from the Camellia sinensis tree, but the tea leaves are processed differently, which results in different colors, flavors and health benefits. But can drinking tea really help you lose weight?
How Drinking Tea May Help With Weight Loss
If your drink is usually high in calories, switching to tea may result in weight loss. For example, swapping a sugary mocha coffee for a zero-calorie tea at a coffee shop can easily save you hundreds of calories.
Studies have shown that tea may also play a direct role in weight loss. Tea contains catechins, which can increase metabolism by stimulating the body to break down fat faster and burn more calories.
According to past research, catechins are plant compounds that have powerful antioxidant properties. Tea is particularly rich in four catechins: epigallocatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Of these four, EGCG is the most abundant and, according to a past review, is thought to contribute the most to many of the health benefits of tea.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there are many types of tea, and several of the traditional types – green, black, white and oolong – are harvested from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis tree. Their unique flavors and characteristics are due to differences in processing, geographic location and plant species. These differences also affect the nutritional content of each tea, which means that certain types may be better for weight loss than others.
Here are 5 of the best teas for increasing weight loss and reducing body fat.
1. Green tea
Green tea is one of the most well-known types of tea that is associated with many health benefits.
It is also one of the most effective teas for weight loss. There is plenty of evidence that green tea is associated with weight and body fat loss.
According to a review of 11 studies, green tea can help reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI) and abdominal fat in people with type 2 diabetes.
The review also noted that in studies lasting 8 weeks or longer, the beneficial effects of green tea were observed at doses of less than 800 milligrams (mg) per day.
It is believed that catechins – which are naturally occurring antioxidants in green tea – can help increase metabolism and fat burning, leading to weight loss.
This effect also applies to matcha, a highly concentrated green tea powder that contains the same beneficial components as regular green tea.
2.White Tea
White tea stands out among other types of tea because it is minimally processed and is harvested while the tea plant is still young.
The benefits of white tea have been well studied, from improving oral health to killing cancer cells in some test tube studies.
While more research is needed on weight loss, white tea has a catechin content comparable to that of green tea, which may help with fat burning and metabolism. One test tube study showed that white tea extract increased the breakdown of fat cells while preventing the formation of new cells.
White tea has a unique flavor that is very different from other types of tea. It has a subtle, delicate, slightly sweet flavor.
3.Black Tea
Black tea is popular, especially varieties such as Earl Grey and English Breakfast tea.
Like green tea, black tea has a fair amount of caffeine, but the flavonoids that are unique to black tea show promise in shedding those extra pounds.
Several studies have found that black tea helps reduce weight and promotes health. A European study also showed that black tea reduced the gut bacteria associated with obesity and increased the gut bacteria associated with lean body mass. In addition, the flavonoids in black tea have been shown to reduce
visceral fat and triglyceride levels, as well as inhibit inflammation-induced obesity.
The bottom line is that drinking more tea can mean that people are less likely to drink beverages that are high in salt and sugar, such as fruit juices and sodas. Drinking tea without adding extra fat or sugar will result in maximum fat burning and may also result in eating less food.
4.Oolong Tea
This tea is made from tea leaves that have wilted in the hot sun and then undergone an oxidation process. Like green tea, it is a rich source of catechins. In one study, more than two-thirds of overweight people who drank oolong tea daily for six weeks lost more than 2 pounds and trimmed belly fat.
5.Herbal tea
Herbal teas consist of steeping herbs, spices and fruits in hot water.
They differ from traditional teas because they are usually caffeine-free and are not made from Camellia sinensis leaves.
Popular varieties of herbal teas include rooibos tea, ginger tea, rosehip tea and hibiscus tea.
While the ingredients and formulations of herbal teas can vary widely, some studies have found that herbal teas may help with weight loss and fat loss.
One animal study found that high doses of hibiscus tea lowered body mass index and protected rats fed a high-sugar diet from obesity and oxidative stress.
Rooibos tea is another type of herbal tea that may be particularly effective at burning fat.
In fact, a 2014 test tube study showed that rooibos tea increased fat metabolism and helped stop the formation of fat cells.
However, further studies in humans are needed to understand the effects of herbal teas such as rooibos on weight loss.
The Bottom Line
While many people drink tea simply for its soothing qualities and delicious taste, each cup of tea may also contain many health benefits.
Replacing high-calorie beverages such as juice or soda with tea can help reduce total calorie intake and lead to weight loss.
Some animal and test tube studies have also shown that certain types of tea may help increase weight loss while blocking the formation of fat cells. However, studies in humans are needed to investigate this further.
In addition, many types of tea are particularly high in beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids and catechins, which may also contribute to weight loss.
Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, drinking a cup or two of tea a day can help you improve weight loss and prevent harmful belly fat.
