Nowadays, more and more people are finding ways on how to lose weight. This includes switching from soda to healthier drinks like green teas. But you might be wondering, what is the best tea for weight loss?
People around the world enjoy tea as a beverage. Not only that it is healthy, but drinking tea has also been associated with a number of health benefits. Also, some use warm tea to have a good night’s sleep while others drink tea to help fight belly fat.
Continue reading to learn more about what kind of tea suits your taste and needs.
1. Green Tea for Faster Metabolism
Green tea is one of the best tea for weight loss because of its health benefits. This kind of tea is often used as an ingredient in over-the-counter weight loss products.
Studies have shown that drinking green tea regularly can boost your metabolism and support weight loss. A Cochrane Systematic review that included 14 controlled trials examined the effects of green tea preparations and on weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip to waist ratio.
The 6 trials conducted outside Japan showed those drinking green tea lost more weight than those who didn’t: an average of 0.2 to 3.5 kg more than those in the control group.
Another study showed that after drinking four cups of green tea for two months, participants showed a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index and waist circumference.
More research has shown that green tea signals fat cells to release fat and then promotes the liver’s ability to convert that body fat into energy. Participants who drank green tea in addition to regular exercise lost an average of 2 pounds more than those who only exercised.
Try drinking green tea throughout the day, especially before or during each meal to boost your metabolism. Drinking green tea before a workout could also make your fat-burning more effective.
2. Beat Metabolic Syndrome with Golden Tea
Turmeric is one of nature’s greatest natural medicines. It also works as a powerful anti-inflammatory as turmeric harbours a huge array of health properties such as antioxidant, analgesic, anti-microbial and thermogenic.[4]
The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has been shown to speed weight loss. That is the reason why Turmeric is labelled as one of the best tea for weight loss.
A 2019 meta-analysis involving 1,646 patients with metabolic syndrome showed that taking curcumin resulted in a significant reduction in BMI, weight, WC, and leptin, as well as a major increase in adiponectin levels.
Curcumin is best absorbed by the body when taken with black pepper and healthy fat. Black pepper increases the bioavailability of the active compounds. Many turmeric supplements include a patented form of black pepper for this very reason.
Turmeric is most often available in capsule form, but it can also be taken as a tea. Simply combine coconut milk with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and a dash of black pepper. The healthy fats in the coconut milk also help you to absorb the turmeric, as it is not water-soluble.[6]
3. Improve Your Gut Health with Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea made with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (also known as SCOBY). Its long list of health benefits includes B vitamins, detoxifying glucuronic acid, and antioxidant-rich polyphenols. But most importantly, as one of the best tea for weight loss, kombucha contains probiotic bacteria and acetic acid. These compounds have been scientifically proven to aid weight loss.
Studies have shown that probiotics can not only reduce the number of calories you absorb from food, but they can also influence the hormones your body produces in relation to appetite, fat storage, and obesity. By improving the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut, you’ll be keeping your natural weight management functions in check.
Acetic acid is also a proven weight loss aid. It’s been found to help curb hunger cravings and also reduce overall weight by inhibiting your body’s ability to form fat cells. Acetic acid also helps to reduce bloating, so you’ll look and feel better after eating.
You can brew kombucha yourself with a SCOBY (lots of recipes online!) or you can buy it in a store. Just make sure it doesn’t contain added sugars.
If you don’t like the taste of probiotic foods or you find that you don’t have the time to ferment them at home, consider taking a probiotic supplement instead. My favourite is the Balance ONE Probiotic, which uses time-release tablets to get its 12 strains of bacteria safely past your stomach acid.
4. Reduce Cravings with Peppermint Tea
Cravings for sweet, fatty or salty foods are often the most difficult part about sticking to a healthy diet. Fortunately, peppermint tea, as the best tea for weight loss, is an effective way to combat those cravings.
It appears that the ability for peppermint tea to reduce your longing for junk foods is all to do with scent. A study published in the Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Medicine showed that people who inhaled mint essential oil every two hours lost an average of five pounds per month![8]
Aromatherapists have suggested that peppermint’s strong scent can trigger important olfactory reactions in your brain, which have an impact on your appetite.
Other than being a best tea for weight loss, peppermint tea also helps to reduce anxiety and stress. These effects in turn reduces the negative impact that higher cortisol levels have on your metabolism. The soothing properties of peppermint tea can be great for keeping your weight loss on track!
Drink loose-leaf peppermint tea before and after meals to help with digestion and to ward off those cravings.
5. Support Energy Levels with Oolong Tea
Flagging energy levels can make it even harder to exercise, even if you know it’ll help you lose weight. That’s where oolong tea can be a big help.
Also known as ‘black dragon tea’, this best tea for weight loss is packed with catechins similar to those found in green tea. These catechins work by promoting your body’s ability to break down fat, which can increase your energy levels and speed fat loss.
A study published in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine examined the weight loss effects of oolong tea in 102 obese individuals. Around 70% of the participants lost at least two pounds while 22% lost more than 6 pounds), which led researchers to conclude that oolong tea may be an effective way to reduce body fat content and weight. They even suggested that long-term consumption of oolong tea may help prevent obesity.[9]
It appears the catechins in oolong help your body to use fat cells for energy, while the mild caffeine content gives you an extra boost for working out.
You can get your oolong tea fix from tea bags or loose leaf. You can even try combining it with green tea to increase its fat-burning impact.
