Here’s one thing all of us love — lounging in our living room couch and talking about life over tea with our loved ones. Not only does tea bring back our fond memories but also it gives us a little bit of calm when we need it. We start by heating up our kettles to kick off our mornings or to relax after an anxiety-inducing day. Something about this freshly brewed beverage restores us and brings us comfort. But, did you know that your daily warm cup of comfort can actually help you shed down your fat cells too?

How does tea help weight loss?

According to a study, both green and black tea can help in weight loss. Researchers found that black and green teas have a positive impact on decreasing the bacteria that is closely related to obesity in our gut. These teas also increase the good bacteria that create lean body mass in our bodies. In simple words, they are serious fat-burners.

Isn’t that great? As you can accelerate your weight loss just by drinking your favourite beverage. Therefore, instead of reaching sugary drinks or dangerous weight loss pills, start pouring yourself a warm cup of tea and sip your way to better health.

Losing weight and becoming fit is one of the most common resolutions that people make every year. While just drinking the best teas for weight loss alone won’t help as you need to eat healthily and exercise as well, sipping a cup or two of these teas will definitely help you accelerate your fitness journey.

Feeling inspired to grab a steaming, soothing and most delicious tea that can help you in shedding some pounds today? Then, check our list of best teas for weight loss.

Green tea for boosting metabolism rate

Green tea is a powerhouse when it comes to health benefits. It is actually considered as the granddaddy of the weight loss brews. The Japanese and Chinese, to promote a healthy lifestyle, often consume green tea with each meal. Thanks to the compounds called catechins, green tea can help in increasing the metabolic rate, boosting energy levels and shedding down belly fat.

A study demonstrated that consistent consumption of green tea increases metabolism and leads to weight loss. In this study, the researchers divided 63 participants into three groups. Where the first group was a placebo, the second consumed two cups of green tea each day and the third group was allowed to consume four cups of green tea every day. After two months, they found that the third group which consumed 4 cups a day showed a significant decrease in weight loss, waist circumference and body mass index.

There is also evidence that green tea can turbocharge your body’s ability to burn fat, thus helping you in reaching your weight loss goals much faster. Another study in 2013 found that green tea signal fat cells to release fat and boost the ability of the liver to convert that fat into energy. In this study, the participants consumed about four to five cups of green tea every day and incorporated a 24-minute workout session into their daily routine. The participants who drank tea along with exercise lost an average of two pounds more than those who simply exercised.

Since green tea boosts metabolism, drink it before or during every meal. Also, make your workouts more effective by adding green tea to your pre-workout routine. Or you can drink a tall cup before heading to the gym.

Our recommendation — Mythical Green Ceylon Green tea.

Also read — How to drink green tea for weight loss?

Oolong tea for burning calories

The hardest thing about losing weight is to have the energy to workout while sticking to your diet. Oolong tea also known as black dragon tea can help you in this. It is a traditional Chinese tea that is partially oxidized, putting it somewhere between black and green teas in terms of colour and oxidation. Oolong tea is often described to have a unique flavour and fruity and fragrant aroma which will make to reach for a cup instead of those unhealthy treats and desserts.

According to the study conducted by the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, drinking oolong tea regularly can help obese people in increasing energy and accelerating weight loss. It says that the powerful compounds called catechins in oolong tea enables our body to target the fat cells and the mild content of caffeine in the tea gives us the boost we need to get through the workout.

This study examined the effects of oolong tea on weight loss in 102 obese individuals. The participants were given 8 grams (about 4 to 8-ounce cups) of oolong tea every day. After 6 weeks, 70% of the individuals lost at least 2 pounds while 22% lost more than 6 pounds.

In another study, researchers gave men either water or tea for a three-day period and measured their metabolic rates. Results showed that compared to water, oolong tea increased energy expenditure by 2.9%. This is equivalent to burning an additional 281 calories per day on average.

So, if you are on a diet and want to exercise, you can drink a cup of oolong tea before hitting the gym to feel energetic while burning more fat at the same time.

Our recommendation — Ceylon Oolong tea.

Also read — How to drink oolong tea for weight loss?

White tea for preventing weight gain

White tea is one of the healthiest teas and is also considered the most natural type of tea. This tea is not processed like any other tea. It is simply harvested and sun-dried before it is packaged and shipped out to you. There are four main varieties of white tea, the two most popular and highest quality varieties are Silver Needle and White Peony. While Silver Needle white tea is made using only the flower buds of the tea plant and features a delicate, slightly sweet flavour. White Peony is made using both the flower buds and leaves of the tea plant. It tends to have a stronger flavour than Silver Needle and is darker in colour.

Both white teas contain higher concentrations of powerful compounds such as catechins and polyphenols when compared to other processed teas. These compounds are powerful antioxidants that prevent new fat cells from forming in the first place.

A study that examined the effects of white tea on fat cells in vitro discovered that the antioxidant EGCG in white tea prevents the formation of fat cells, helping in reducing weight gain. These antioxidants also help in speeding up the breakdown of fats thus making this tea a good choice whether you want to lose weight or prevent weight gain. 

Our recommendation — Pure Ceylon White 'Silver Needle' tea.

Also read — What is White tea good for? A complete guide to white tea

Black tea for an optimum BMI

When compared to other teas such as green, white or oolong teas, black tea has undergone more oxidation. This oxidation results in browning that causes the characteristic dark colour of black tea. There are various types and blends of black tea available today including the popular varieties like English breakfast and Earl Grey.

There are many studies that proved black tea could be effective when it comes to weight control. One study involving 111 people found that drinking three cups of black tea every day for three months significantly increased weight loss. It also reduced waist circumference when compared to drinking other caffeine-matched control beverages.

Some theorize that the tea’s potential weight loss effects are due to its richness in flavones, a type of plant pigment with antioxidant properties. A study followed 4,280 adults over 14 years found that people with a higher flavone intake from beverages and foods like black tea had a lower BMI (body mass index) when compared to individuals with a lower flavone intake.

However, this study only looks at the association between flavone intake and BMI. Further research in the account for other factors that may be involved is needed.

To drink black tea for weight loss, you can add lemon to it and prepare lemon tea. Lemon tea has a lot of health benefits. Lemon tea, when taken regularly on an empty stomach in the morning, aids in weight loss. Lemon tea causes the body to absorb catechins three times faster into the bloodstream which enhances abdominal fat loss. Citric acid from the lemon also reduces the absorption of sugars from food, thereby reducing the amount of sugar converted into fats.

Our recommendation — Pure Ceylon Black tea with Lemon peel.

Also read — What is lemon tea and what are its benefits?

Herbal tea for managing stress and hormones

Herbal teas differ from other kinds of traditional teas as they do not typically contain caffeine. They are not made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Herbal teas are actually the infusion of herbs, fruits, and spices in hot water. Popular types of herbal tea include Rooibos tea, rosehip tea, hibiscus tea, and ginger tea.

Although the formulations and ingredients of herbal teas do vary significantly, some studies show that these teas can help with weight loss and fat reduction. In one study, researchers gave herbal tea for obese rats and found that it actually reduced the body weight and helped normalize hormone levels.

Rooibos tea is especially effective when it comes to halting hunger and keeping you full longer. A study published in the Public Library of Science found that rooibos tea helps in reducing stress-induced weight gain. A chemical compound called Aspalathin in the tea works to reduce stress hormones such as cortisol, which triggers hunger and promotes fat retention. So, by consuming rooibos tea regularly, you can lower your stress levels, feel relaxed and combat hunger. Another study in test-tubes proved that rooibos tea can increase fat metabolism and help block the formulation of fat cells.

There are many pure herbal teas in the market. However, if you love the flavour of tea, then you can also try Green tea infusions with herbs to accelerate weight loss.

Our recommendation — Prakriti VedaGreen tea infusion with Rosehip, Star Anise, Lemon Balm herb (Melissa), Fennel, Black Pepper and Ginger root.

Conclusion

Losing weight is hard, it is difficult to find time to work out and above that, eating healthy can be a drag if you are not into healthy foods. But, getting fit and staying healthy starts with making one healthy decision at a time. Add some of the above mentioned delicious teas into your daily routine to shed those pounds faster while still enjoying the flavours you love. They help you feel energized so you can tackle even the hardest workouts.

Each of these five best teas for weight loss has its own magic properties that can dime your hunger hormones and up your calorie burn. They can literally melt the fat that is stored in your fat cells. Not only this, but they can also help in reducing the risk of diabetes and heart diseases and other diseases associated with obesity. 

So, the next time you pop into your favourite coffee bar, consider skipping the pumpkin-spice lattes, caramel macchiatos, and cold-brew iced coffees; instead, opt for a steaming and soothing cup of tea. Stick to three to four cups of tea per day and choose brewed varieties over bottled to avoid those extra sweeteners and calories.

References

1. Decaffeinated Green and Black tea polyphenols decrease weight gain and alter microbiome populations and function in diet-induced obese mice — https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-017-1542-8
2. The effects of Green tea consumption on metabolic and anthropometric indices in patients with Type 2 diabetes — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3908530/
3. The effect of Green tea extract on fat oxidation at rest and during exercise: Evidence of efficacy and proposed mechanisms — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649093/
4. Beneficial effects of oolong tea consumption on diet-induced overweight and obese subjects — https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11655-009-0034-8
5. Oolong tea increases metabolic rate and fat oxidation in men — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11694607
6. White Tea extract induces lipolytic activity and inhibits adipogenesis in human subcutaneous (pre)-adipocytes — https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-7075-6-20
7. Effects of black tea on body composition and metabolic outcomes related to cardiovascular disease risk: a randomized controlled trial — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24889137
8. Higher dietary flavone, flavonol, and catechin intakes are associated with less of an increase in BMI over time in women — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18996871/
9. The effect of a special herbal tea on obesity and anovulation in androgen-sterilized rats — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10719843/
10. Anti-oxidative effects of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) on immobilization-induced oxidative stress in rat brain - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897768/
11. Effects of fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on adipocyte differentiation — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24060217

About the author

Shreya Dalela

Contributing author

Shreya loves to research and write about tea and claims Mythical Green Pure Ceylon Green Tea to be her favorite go-to beverage. She swears that her daily cup of green tea gives her a dose of morning inspiration as she sits down to type 1000s of words every day. To unwind at the end of the day, she reaches for a cup of soothing Ananda Veda Green Tea infusion. You can often find her saying 'Everything is better with a cup of tea' :)

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