Green tea has become very popular over the last decade, along with other herbal teas. It is believed to have numerous health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol levels, improving brain function, and even helping prevent cancer.
Another belief is that herbal tea can aid weight loss. It has been used for many years in China and Japan, where it’s said to help boost metabolism.
Some people also believe that drinking green tea will increase your energy level and make you feel more alert.
But, how true is this information? Is herbal tea really good for weight loss?
We’ve got all of the answers you need right here! Read on to find out if drinking green tea can help you lose weight.
Types Of Herbal Tea
There are two main types of herbal tea: black tea and green tea.
Black tea comes from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis, while green tea comes from the buds or the young leaves of the same plant.
Both types contain caffeine and tannins, but they differ in their taste and smell. Black tea tends to be sweeter than green tea.
The most common varieties of black tea include English breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea, and Irish Breakfast tea.
Green tea contains lower amounts of caffeine than black tea, so it doesn’t give you a jolt like coffee does.
The best-known variety of green tea is oolong tea. Oolong tea is made by steaming the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. This process creates a unique flavor.
There are also other varieties, such as peppermint, chamomile, and rooibos tea. Rooibos tea is made from the roots of the plant Aspalathus linearis. It tastes similar to red wine and is often served after meals.
Herbal Teas Have Many Health Benefits
Many studies have shown that drinking herbal tea can improve overall health. In fact, some experts say that it may be better than conventional medicine at treating certain conditions.
For example, one study found that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Another study showed that drinking green tea was effective at reducing high blood pressure.
In addition, research shows that drinking green tea can protect against heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Drinking green tea also helps fight cancer, including breast cancer.
Other studies show that drinking herbal tea can treat depression, anxiety, headaches, constipation, indigestion, and insomnia.
Does Black Tea Make You Lose Weight?
Both black tea and green tea contain antioxidants called polyphenols. These antioxidants are thought to protect against heart disease and some cancers. They may also reduce inflammation and improve blood flow throughout the body.
It’s not clear whether these antioxidants actually cause weight loss. However, there is evidence that suggests that drinking either type of tea can help you burn fat faster.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that women who drank three cups of black tea each day lost about an ounce of weight after 12 weeks.
That’s compared to only half an ounce of weight loss when participants didn’t drink any tea at all.
A similar study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that men who drank four cups of black tea daily burned about 15 percent more calories during exercise than those who didn’t consume any tea.
However, both studies were small and had mixed results. So, it’s hard to say whether drinking black tea makes you lose weight.
Does Green Tea Make You Lose Weight?
Like black tea, green tea contains antioxidants. But unlike black tea, green tea is low in caffeine and high in catechins.
Catechins are powerful antioxidants that are linked to reduced risk of heart disease and certain kinds of cancer.
Researchers think that catechins might have other health benefits as well. A study conducted by researchers at Harvard University suggested that catechins could help prevent obesity.
They discovered that mice given a diet rich in catechins gained less weight than mice fed a normal diet.
In addition, the mice with higher levels of catechin consumption ate fewer calories than mice without any catechins.
Another study published in the journal Diabetes Care showed that people who consumed green tea regularly had lower insulin resistance (a condition associated with increased risk for diabetes) than people who didn’t drink green tea.
Although this study was small, it adds support to the idea that consuming green tea can help control your weight.
The Effects Of Caffeine
Coffee is often blamed for causing weight gain, but research shows that caffeine itself isn’t responsible for weight gain. It’s the combination of caffeine and sugar that causes the problem.
In fact, caffeine has been shown to increase metabolism and boost energy levels.
And, according to research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, caffeine boosts the amount of calories you burn while sleeping.
However, there are some negative effects of caffeine on your waistline. The National Institutes of Health reports that caffeine increases appetite and decreases satiety (the feeling of fullness).
This means that if you drink coffee or soda before meals, you’re likely to eat more food later on.
And, although caffeine may make you feel like exercising more, it doesn’t seem to work.
According to a recent study published in the journal Appetite, caffeine-containing beverages don’t lead to greater activity than non caffeinated drinks.
So, how much caffeine should you limit yourself to?
Experts recommend no more than 200 milligrams per day. If you want to cut back on caffeine, try switching from regular coffee to decaf. Or, switch to herbal teas such as chamomile or peppermint instead.
You don’t need much caffeine to get its effects. One cup of coffee or two cups of tea will do the trick.
But if you want to avoid gaining weight, limit yourself to one cup of caffeinated beverages per day.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to shed pounds, you probably already know what foods to avoid: sugary treats, refined grains, and trans fats.
These foods are loaded with empty calories and cause us to pack on extra pounds.
However, it’s possible to lose weight even when you’re eating these foods.
Does herbal tea help you lose weight? Well, it depends on which type of tea you choose.
Green tea is high in antioxidants and catechins, so drinking it regularly may help keep your body healthy.
But, black tea contains tannin, which helps reduce cholesterol and fight heart disease. So, if you want to slim down, stick to black tea.
If you’ve tried everything else and still haven’t lost weight, consider adding herbal tea to your daily routine. You might be surprised at how effective it can be.
We hope this article helped you learn about the health benefits of herbal tea.
