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Tea is an aromatic beverage. It is enjoyed around the world for its taste and wide range of health and weight loss benefits. It is commonly made from the leaves of an evergreen shrub, native to East Asia, called Camellia sinensis. It has a unique flavor and aroma to it that is drastically different from coffee beans although the effects are similar. Some types of teas also contain caffeine and curcumin in minimal amounts which helps impact your health in a positive manner.
Tea is commonly prepared across the world by pouring hot or boiling water over tea leaves and waiting for the leaves to infuse their flavor into the water.
Several studies have linked drinking tea with decreasing body fat and increasing weight loss. Some studies have even found that tea can reduce a certain amount of belly fat. Given the different types of tea leaves available across the world, there are multiple health benefits and various advantages to consuming them. Some teas promote weight loss, some are responsible for decreasing body fat, some boost productivity, while some others induce relaxation and regulate one’s circadian rhythm.
Given below are 6 different varieties of teas for increasing weight loss and decreasing body fat with their consumption in the long run.
1. Green Tea
Green tea is famously known for its weight loss enhancing property. Also linked with multiple health benefits, green tea is one of the best teas you can get started with.
In a study conducted in 2008, 60 obese people were assigned a standardized diet along with regular intake of either green tea or a placebo for 12 weeks. It was found that the group of participants who drank green tea lost 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) more than the placebo group.
In another such study, a significant decrease in body weight, body fat and waist circumference was found for a group of people who for 12 weeks regularly consumed green tea extract.
This shows that green tea has quite considerable effects when it comes to burning fat and catalyzing weight loss over a period of time.
2. Pu-erh Tea
A fermented form of Chinese black tea is known as Pu-erh Tea. The longer it is stored, the more its earthy aroma intensifies. Pu-erh tea is commonly enjoyed after a meal.
Several researches link intake of Pu-erh tea to the increase in weight loss.
Some studies on animals show that Pu-erh tea may help in lowering blood sugar, keep diabetes under control, catalyzing weight loss, and promoting relaxation and calmness in an individual.
A study on rats showed that Pu-erh tea extracts suppressed weight gain. In one study done on 70 men, the group of people who were given Pu-erh tea capsules lost 2.2 pounds (1 kg) more than the placebo group.
However, these researches are limited to Pu-erh tea extract, therefore more research is needed to see if similar results are found on drinking it as a tea.
3. Black Tea
Black tea is high in flavones, a type of plant pigment with antioxidant properties. The dark color of black tea is due to it having undergone oxidation, a chemical reaction that happens when tea leaves are exposed to air.
According to several studies, black tea can help in weight control. One study showed that drinking 3 cups of black tea each day for three months can reduce waist circumference and increase weight loss.
Another study done on 4280 people, over a span of 14 years, found that the group of people with higher flavone intake showed more loss in weight compared to the one who had lower flavone intake.
Thus, we can safely conclude that black tea does contain antioxidants which can be employed for the betterment of one’s health and immunity in addition to inducing weight loss in the long run.
4. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a traditional tea of China. It is neither green nor black, due to its oxidation level. It has a fruity aroma and is unique in flavor. Many studies have shown that oolong tea can help in weight loss by increasing the metabolism of fat in the body.
A study showed 102 obese people lost weight in 6 weeks by drinking oolong tea every day. The researchers suggested that this was possible because of the increased metabolism of fat in the body as a result of drinking oolong tea.
Another study showed two groups of people, one drinking the tea and the other water. Results showed that those who drank the tea had increased energy expenditure by 2.9%, which is equivalent to burning 281 calories more, on average, per day.
These studies thus show that Oolong tea is beneficial for weight loss but only when consumed daily, consistently, and under the guidance of a professional expert.
One must also take into consideration their health disorders, if any, and medications, if any, in order to extract the best benefits of it.
5. White Tea
White tea is harvested while the tea plant is still young. It is also minimally processed. The tea has a unique, light and slightly sweet taste which adds to its uniqueness. Studies have shown that white tea and green tea can help enhance weight loss.
One test-tube study showed that white tea extract increased the metabolism of fat and prevented the formation of new ones. However, these studies have not been carried out in-depth and need further research and clarification before making any claims.
Additional studies are needed to confirm the effects of white tea.
6. Herbal Tea
Herbal teas involve the infusion of herbs, spices and fruits in hot water. Their health benefits also, in turn, have a variety of implications that positively affect one’s mind and body. Popular herbal tea includes rooibos tea, ginger tea, rosehip tea and hibiscus tea which can be consumed both for the betterment of the body and mind.
They are not made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis and, therefore, they are different from traditional teas. Several studies have found that herbal teas may help with weight loss. In a study done on animals, it was found that herbal tea reduced the body weight of obese rats.
Rooibos tea is a type of herbal tea that may be specifically effective in burning fat. One test-tube study showed that rooibos tea increased fat metabolism and decreased the formation of new cells.
Having said that, it can be deduced that herbal teas do help in weight loss in mammals or animals. But the same can’t be said for humans as well due to the lack of sufficient research done on the same topic. Further studies in humans are needed to be able to claim the same benefits in them as well.
Conclusion:
Regular intake of teas with a planned diet can help in losing body weight and belly fat. The only trick here is to consume the teas daily and consistently if you wish to see their health benefits over a period of time.
In addition to that, one must take care to not consume any of them in excess. About 3 cups a day of any one type of tea a day is fine, but anything more than that is not recommended for a healthy lifestyle.
These teas also enhance your productivity in addition to regulating your sleep and promoting calmness and relaxation. So, get started on them to experience these health benefits as soon as possible.
