Fancy a cup of tea? Well, if youโre embarking on a weight loss journey, or struggling with shrinking belly fat, then might we recommend that you answer yes? Drinking tea is a pastime that weโve adopted from the Chinese, and the various teas that we indulge in have been proven to come with plenty of benefits that may also include helping you shed some pounds.ย
Now before we delve into which teas can help you lose weight, it should be mentioned that drinking tea is not a quick, easy fix for weight loss. While tea can assist you in dropping a kilo or two, the act will need to be paired with regular exercise and a balanced and healthy diet.ย
Teas To Help With Belly Fat and Weight Loss
1. Turmeric tea
Turmeric is one of the most popular spices in the world, and many studies have attributed the spiceโs health benefits to its active compound curcumin, which possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.ย
Speaking of curcumin, a recent review found that supplementing with curcumin/turmeric significantly reduced body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage.ย
Tazo Turmeric Bliss Tea
2. Ginger tea
Now, you might turn to ginger tea when you have a cold and are looking for some throat relief, but its benefits go beyond that.ย
A study published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition journal found that amongst overweight and obese participants, ginger supplementation significantly decreased body weight and waist-to-hip ratio.ย
Bigelow Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea
3. Green Tea
A cup of green tea a day really keeps the doctor away and, according to research, it might even keep the pounds away as well.
Green tea is packed with antioxidants called catechins and these compounds have been credited as the reason behind green teaโs effect on weight loss.ย
The main catechin found in green tea is EGCG and according to a review published in Molecules, EGCG may exert anti-obesity effects, which include decreasing body mass index and waist circumference.
Twinings Green Tea With Jasmineย
4. White Tea
As white tea is the least processed of all teas, this means that it still contains a high amount of antioxidants, some of which may assist with weight loss.ย
In one animal study, a group of rats that had received high doses of white tea experienced a significant difference in body weight gain compared to the control group. The white tea group maintained their body weight, whereas the control group gained weight.
It should be noted that the research into white tea and its benefits on weight loss has only been performed on animals or in test tubes. As such, human studies are still needed to confirm white teaโs weight loss benefits.ย
Uncle Leeโs Organic White Tea
5. Hibiscus tea
Harvested from hibiscus leaves, this particular tea may offer some weight loss benefits.ย
According to an animal study published last year, obese rats who were given higher doses of teas prepared from Hibiscus rosaโsinensis flowers experienced reduced BMIs.ย
In terms of a human study, the research found that overweight and obese adults who took a hibiscus extract for 12 weeks experienced reduced body weight,ย body mass index, body fat, and hip-to-waist ratio, compared to the control group.ย
VAHDAM Organic Hibiscus Rose Tea
Takeaway
Drinking tea is a relaxing pastime that not only helps us unwind, but can also assist you on your weight loss journey. That said, there is no magic pill when it comes to slimming down. While you can enjoy some tea, in place of sugars and alcoholic beverages, this isnโt the only way to shed some pounds.
If youโre really serious about losing weight and burning belly fat, it would also be best to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, manage your stress levels, and improve your sleep habits.
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: Photo by NIKOLAY OSMACHKO
References
Aditya Rifqi, Mahmud & Setyaningtyas, Stefania & Rachmah, Qonita. (2020). White tea drink ( Camellia sinensis ) improves endurance and body weight maintenance of rats. Journal of Health Research. ahead-of-print. 10.1108/JHR-01-2020-0020.ย
Chang, H. C., Peng, C. H., Yeh, D. M., Kao, E. S., & Wang, C. J. (2014). Hibiscus sabdariffa extract inhibits obesity and fat accumulation, and improves liver steatosis in humans.ย Food & function,ย 5(4), 734โ739. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3fo60495k
Dehzad, M. J.,ย Ghalandari, H.,ย Nouri, M., &ย Askarpour, M.ย (2023).ย Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on obesity indices and adipokines in adults: A grade-assessed systematic review and doseโresponse meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.ย Phytotherapy Research,ย 1โย 26.ย https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7800
Iftikhar, N., Hussain, A. I., Chatha, S. A. S., Sultana, N., & Rathore, H. A. (2022). Effects of polyphenol-rich traditional herbal teas on obesity and oxidative stress in rats fed a high-fat-sugar diet.ย Food science & nutrition,ย 10(3), 698โ711. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2695
Maharlouei, N., Tabrizi, R., Lankarani, K. B., Rezaianzadeh, A., Akbari, M., Kolahdooz, F., Rahimi, M., Keneshlou, F., & Asemi, Z. (2019). The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.ย Critical reviews in food science and nutrition,ย 59(11), 1753โ1766. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1427044
