Drinking Tea May Promote Weight Loss

A growing body of evidence suggests that tea as a part of diet and exercise may aid in weight loss. Teas are already thought to support the reduction of inflammation in the body and protect against cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in part because of chemicals in tea known as flavonoids. More and more, some practitioners and avid tea drinkers think tea can help us shed a few pounds. Here's how:

Tea can boost metabolism

One of the flavonoids in tea is called catechins. Catechins have been found to boost your metabolism and help your body break down fats more quickly. Even if the minor boost in metabolism doesn't result in weight loss, it can help keep your metabolism functioning at a higher level after you have lost the weight.

Caffeine helps burn calories

True teas from the plant Camellia sinensis contain caffeine. The amount of caffeine is dependent on how the tea is processed. Just like the caffeine in coffee, caffeine in tea can boost your energy resulting in the burning or more calories. Obviously too much caffeine may make you jittery or cause your heart to race, so moderation is key.

Replace sugary drink with tea

If you typically order a coffee drink or smoothie with sugar, cream and other calorie-loaded ingredients from your favorite coffee shop, replacing that drink with a cup of tea with lemon or sugar-free flavored tea can save you hundreds of calories per week. Many serious tea drinkers will say that if tea is steeped properly, the natural flavors are sufficient sans the sugar. But if you have a sweet tooth, add some organic honey or, if you must, a little artificial sweetener.

If you would like to know more about some of the benefits of drinking tea, check out this video from our series She Steeps, here, here and here.