Tea For Weight Loss

If you have tried everything from diet to exercise for the sake of losing weight, here is one more tip to add to your weight loss arsenal. You should consider drinking a cup of tea for weight loss.

Does drinking tea for reducing weight really work?

Preliminary studies show that you can burn fat with tea. Different varieties of tea may contain antioxidants, which can help support metabolism, absorb fat, and help you fight the onset of obesity.

In recent years, the popularity of green tea for weight lossand slimming has seen this traditional Chinese drink marketed as weight loss pills or supplements. Green tea extract ranks as the number one ingredient in most weight loss drugs. Other varieties of tea for burning calories include Oolong tea, white tea made from young leaves and buds of tea trees, which provide a mellow taste, herbal or floral teas, and various types of fruit teas. One of the reasons why individuals consume tea as part of their weight loss routine includes the fewer calories in tea. In fact, one cup or eight fluid ounces of brewed tea (without additives) may constitute only two calories. Additionally, regular brewed tea may contain up to 88 mg of potassium, 7 mg of sodium and 0.71 grams of carbohydrate. Tea contains no sugars or cholesterol. However, it is also not a significant source of dietary fiber.

Tea Benefit In Weight Reduction

You may wonder what makes tea such a great asset for weight loss. Tea benefit in weight reduction comes from its ability to boost your metabolic rate. Individuals who complain of slow weight loss may find a significant difference when they combine diet and exercise with drinking tea, especially green tea for weight loss. Antioxidants or chemical compounds called polyphenols in green tea are beneficial in boosting the metabolic rate and burning fat. Moreover, green tea helps aid the digestion process and may even help regulate blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Drinking tea can spike an increase in burning calories, and you may burn additional calories by adding five to six cups of green tea to your daily diet and exercise routine. Additionally, this relatively low caffeine beverage stimulates your senses and rejuvenates your body. Drinking some tea at the end of a long working day may also provide you with an energy boost and urge you to hit the gym. Another tea benefit in weight reduction has to do with its nutritional properties. Regular brewed tea is virtually calorie free. Without additives such as milk, cream, or sugar a single cup of tea contains only two calories.

Imagine this: if you consume 250 fewer calories per week, you are likely to shed one pound. Switch your daily cup of coffee for a refreshing drink of tea instead.

Types Of Tea To Reduce Weight

Before you choose your brew, it is necessary to get to know the various types of tea to reduce weight. To start with, you are likely to encounter names such as green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea, and so on. These refer to the process that tealeaves usually undergo. Wilting, oxidizing, and fermenting are some of the processes that give tea their specific names. Additions in terms of fragrance or flavor expand the varieties of tea sold in markets today. What makes tea a weight loss ingredient is the concentration of catechins or antioxidants in it. Naturally, green tea and white tea, which do not undergo too much processing, have a higher incidence of calorie burning polyphenols. In recent times, Oolong tea and mate tea have also become part of the weight loss industry. Oolong tea, originally from China, may help boost metabolism and remedy digestive problems. Mate teas from Argentina act as hunger suppressants.

Tips On Tea Intake For Weight Reduction

Tips on tea intake for weight reduction are as follows:

While it is unclear on how many cups of tea may help shed the pounds, it is best to limit your tea intake to four to five cups per day. This is because while tea may have calorie busting properties, they also contain small amounts of caffeine. Drinking disproportionate amounts of tea may cause indigestion, sleeplessness, irritability, and jitters.
You may sip on brewed tea throughout the day or have small cups of tea in between meals. You may also consume tea at snack time to stave off hunger pangs. If you do suffer from sleeplessness, it is best not to consume tea closer to bedtime. Caffeine in tea acts as a stimulant and may cause you to stay awake at night.
If you brew your own tea, it is a good idea to stick to four fluid ounce cups and regulate your intake through the day. Follow instructions on dosage of supplements, which contain tea extracts carefully. These pills or supplements may usually contain concentrated doses of tea extracts.

Precautions While Consuming Tea:

Despite its various health benefits, individuals should take precautions while consuming tea. Some of these include:

If you are consuming tea as part of your weight loss goal, you must realize that additions such as milk, cream, or sugar add calories to tea. Therefore, while your brew may possess fewer calories, drinking multiple cups of chai latte or sweetened ice tea will not help your weight loss goals.
Caffeine in tea may cause individuals certain discomforts such as indigestion, sleeplessness, and jitters. Drink tea in moderation and reduce your consumption if you notice any of the above symptoms. Caffeine sensitivity in many individuals may trigger heart palpitations, stomach upsets, skin rashes, and so on.
Pregnant women must consume tea under medical supervision. Tannins in tea may lead to certain pregnancy risks.
Patients with a history of kidney stones must check with their doctor before embarking on a weight loss diet involving tea. Oxalic acid found in green tea may increase the risk of kidney stones.
Individuals who consume tea in the form of pills and supplements must also take precaution not to overdose. Concentrated tea extracts in these supplements may do more harm than good if you do not follow dosage instructions.

Submitted on January 16, 2014