Is Black Tea Good for Weight Loss? You Could Be Missing a Trick

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Extreme diets, over-exercising, and severe food restrictions are popular weight-loss strategies that people revert to time and time again. These methods are harmful, unsustainable, and exhausting.

If you’re tired of chasing fitness tips and unrealistic goals, you’re probably looking for an alternative strategy. Perhaps the secret to weight loss success lies in your daily beverage.

We all know how important it is to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water and other unsweetened fluids, such as tea.

Although it’s the second most-consumed drink in the world, you might be surprised to learn that your usual cups of black tea may promote weight loss.

This article covers how black tea may help you lose weight.

Does Tea Make You Lose Weight? Answer Explained

Although tea alone is not enough to produce a significant weight reduction, it does have properties that may help you lose weight. Tea contains plant compounds called catechins. Catechins have been shown to reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat.

Tea also contains caffeine which may promote weight loss by increasing fat burning. As a stimulant, caffeine boosts energy levels which may help you keep active and burn more calories.

Most of the research into catechins and weight loss surrounds green tea, as green tea has the highest levels of catechins. However, the combination of catechins and caffeine in both green and black tea has the same beneficial effects.

Benefits of Black Tea for Weight Loss

It’s good news for black tea lovers. Your favorite drink has benefits that help you reach your weight loss goals and support good health.

If you don’t already drink tea, here are 5 reasons to add a few cups to your diet.

#1 Low-calorie drink

Black tea is very low in calories, with only 2.4 calories per cup. So, whether you enjoy two or three cups per day, you’re not going to consume a lot of calories. It is fat-free, making it the perfect beverage for a low-fat diet.

Remember that adding ingredients to your black tea, such as milk, cream, and sugar, will quickly rack up the calorie count. Black tea consumed plain is the best approach.

Cutting out high-calorie drinks is a great place to start if you want to promote fat loss, especially those that fuel a high-sugar diet.

#2 Boosts metabolism

The caffeine in teas, including black tea, white tea, and oolong tea, may support weight loss by boosting the resting metabolic rate. Additionally, black tea polyphenols enhance lipolysis, the metabolic process that breaks down stored fat.

#3 Prebiotic effect

Research shows that some teas have prebiotic effects. Both black tea extract and green tea extract can help regulate the gut microbiome by increasing the growth of good gut bacteria. Therefore, tea drinking may play an important role in supporting gut health.

#4 Heart-healthy

Black tea contains flavonoids that have antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that support heart health. Due to these properties, flavanoids are associated with many health benefits for the human body, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Regular consumption may reduce several risk factors for developing heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and obesity.

#5 Keeps digestive tract healthy

As black tea contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects, drinking it may support a healthy digestive system. The positive effects of black tea on the gut microbiome help keep your gut healthy, while the healing properties may protect against stomach ulceration.

Black tea consumption is also used as a traditional medicine to treat diarrhea.

How to Make Black Tea for Weight Loss

It’s easy to make black tea. You can either use tea bags, tea leaves, or powdered black tea, depending on your personal preference.

If using tea bags, add a tea bag to your cup or teapot and add boiling water. Brew the tea by leaving the bag to infuse before removing it using a teaspoon.

For loose leaf tea, add the tea leaves to your tea infuser and place the infuser inside a cup or teapot. Pour over boiling water and allow it to steep for around five minutes or longer if you prefer strong tea. Once satisfied, you can strain the tea to remove the leaves.

If you prefer a cold drink, iced tea provides the same benefits as hot black tea.

Side Effects of Black Tea

Due to the high caffeine content, black tea may cause adverse side effects if you consume too much. The effects can range from mild to severe and include:

• Restlessness and feeling shaky
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Insomnia and sleep disturbance
• Fast heart rate and heart palpitations
• Anxiety
• Dehydration

FAQs

Conclusion

Black tea appears to have several properties that may help you lose weight. In particular, the oxidizing process to produce black tea increases the fat-burning effects. 

As it’s low in calories and doesn’t contain fat, you can drink plenty of plain black tea without worrying about weight gain. But remember to watch your caffeine intake to avoid nasty side effects.

Combine your tea drinking with a nutritious diet and regular exercise to reduce overall fat and promote lean body mass. Cut out your milky coffees and sugary energy drinks for black tea and enjoy the natural, weight-loss-friendly boost.