6 types of weight loss teas
Tea is a drink that is enjoyed all over the world.
You can pour hot water over the tea leaves and let them steep for a few minutes, allowing their flavour to seep into the water.
This aromatic drink is most often made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to Asia.
Drinking tea has been linked to several health benefits, including protecting cells from damage and reducing the risk of heart disease (1 credible source,2 credible source).
Some studies have even found that tea can promote weight loss and help fight belly fat. Some types are more effective than others in achieving this goal.
Here are six of the best teas for increasing weight loss and reducing body fat.
1. Green tea
Green tea is one of the best-known types of tea and is associated with many health benefits.
It is also one of the most effective teas for weight loss. There is plenty of evidence linking green tea to weight and body fat loss.
In a 2008 study, 60 obese people followed a standardised diet for 12 weeks while regularly drinking green tea or a placebo.
Throughout the study, those who drank green tea lost 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) of body weight (3 credible sources) compared to the placebo group.
Another study found that those who consumed green tea extract for 12 weeks lost significantly more weight, body fat and waist circumference compared to the control group (4 credible sources).
This may be due to the particularly high levels of catechins in green tea extract, which are naturally occurring antioxidants that boost metabolism and increase fat burning (5 plausible source).
The same effect applies to matcha, a highly concentrated green tea powder that contains the same beneficial ingredients as regular green tea.
2. Pu-erh tea
Pu-erh tea, also known as pu-erh tea or pu-erh tea, is a fermented Chinese black tea.
It is usually enjoyed after a meal and has an earthy aroma that emanates more readily the longer it is stored.
Some animal studies have shown that pu-erh tea can lower blood sugar and blood triglycerides. Studies on animals and humans suggest that pu-erh tea may help reduce body weight (6 plausible sources,7 plausible sources).
In one study, 70 men were given either pu-erh tea extract capsules or a placebo. After three months, those who took the pu-erh tea capsules lost about 2.2 pounds (1 kg) more than the placebo group (8 credible source).
Another study in rats showed similar findings, suggesting that pu-erh tea extract has anti-obesity effects and helps to suppress weight gain (9 credible source).
The current study was limited to pu-erh tea extract, so more research is needed to determine if the same effects apply to its consumption as a tea.
3. Black tea
Black tea is a tea that is more prone to oxidation than other types such as green, white or oolong teas.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction that occurs when tea leaves are exposed to air, resulting in browning, leading to the characteristic dark colour of black tea (10 credible sources).
There are many different types and blends of black tea available, including popular varieties such as Earl Grey and English Breakfast.
Several studies have found that black tea may be effective in weight control.
One study of 111 people found that drinking three cups of black tea a day for three months significantly reduced weight and reduced waist circumference compared to drinking a caffeine-matched control drink.11 (Trusted source).
Some theories suggest that black tea's potential weight loss effect may be due to its richness in flavonoids, a plant pigment with antioxidant properties.
One study followed 4,280 adults over 14 years. The study found that people who consumed more flavonoids from foods and beverages such as black tea had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those with a lower intake of flavonoids.12 (Trusted source).
However, this study only focused on the association between BMI and flavonoid intake. Further studies are needed to explain the other factors that may be involved.
4. Oolong tea
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea that has been partially oxidised and is somewhere between green and black tea in terms of oxidation and colour.
It is often described as having a fruity, fragrant aroma and distinctive flavour, although these may vary considerably depending on the degree of oxidation.
Several studies have shown that oolong tea can help with weight loss by improving fat burning and speeding up metabolism.
In one study, 102 overweight or obese people drank oolong tea daily for six weeks, which may have helped to reduce their weight and body fat. The researchers suggested that the tea did this by improving the metabolism of body fat (13 credible sources).
Another small study asked men to drink water or tea over three days to measure their metabolic rate. Compared to water, oolong tea increased energy expenditure by 2.9%, which equates to an average of 281 extra calories burned per day (14 credible source).
Although more research is needed on the effects of oolong tea, these findings suggest that oolong tea may be beneficial for weight loss.
5. White tea
White tea stands out among other types of tea because it is minimally processed and harvested when the tea plant is still young.
White tea has a distinctive flavour that is very different from other types of tea. It has a subtle, delicate and slightly sweet flavour.
The benefits of white tea have been well researched, in several test tube studies, ranging from improving oral health to killing cancer cells (15 credible source,16 credible source).
Although further research is needed, white tea has also been shown to be helpful in weight loss and fat loss.
Studies have shown that white and green teas contain significant amounts of catechins, which may help with weight loss (5 credible source,17 credible source).
In addition, a test tube study showed that white tea extract increased the breakdown of fat cells while preventing the formation of new cells (18 credible source).
However, keep in mind that this was a test tube study, so it is not clear how the effects of white tea apply to humans.
More research is needed to confirm the potential beneficial effects of white tea in weight loss.
6. Herbal tea
Herbal teas involve hot water infused with herbs, spices and fruits.
They differ from traditional teas in that they are usually caffeine-free and not made from the leaves of the tea tree.
Popular varieties of herbal teas include Rooibos tea, ginger tea, rosehip tea and hibiscus tea.
Although the ingredients and formulations of herbal teas can vary greatly, some studies have found that herbal teas may help with weight loss and fat reduction.
In one animal study, researchers gave herbal tea to obese rats and found that it reduced weight and helped normalise hormone levels.19 (Trusted source).
Louis Posh tea is a herbal tea that may be particularly effective in burning fat (20 credible source).
A test tube study showed that Louis Posh tea increased fat metabolism and helped stop the formation of fat cells (21 credible source).
However, further studies in humans are needed to examine the effects of herbal teas like Louis Posh on weight loss.
The bottom line
Although many 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 like 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 on humans are needed to further investigate this.
In addition, many types of tea are rich in beneficial compounds, such as flavonoids and catechins, which also help with weight loss.
Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, drinking a cup or two of tea a day can help you lose weight and prevent harmful belly fat.
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