Care for a spot of tea? Drinking a daily cup of steaming hot soaked herbs isn’t just a British thing. Study after study has shown there are big benefits of drinking herbal tea. Some are known to ease stomach pain, relieve nausea, calm anxiety, and improve sleep. Others are known to help detox the body, improve heart health, lower risk of stroke and fight cancer. Then there are teas that benefit weight loss. Let’s call them “slimming teas.”
Slimming tea can help shrink your fat cells, blast body fat and beat belly bloat. Desired result? I think so! Of course, I’m not saying you can let diet and exercise go out the window just because you’re drinking a few cups of tea every day. But sipping on the following 15 herbal teas has been proven to help people slim down.
1) White
White tea is viewed as the ultimate diet tea. It works with the body in a few different ways to loosen up your pants. First, it blocks the formation of new fat cells. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, it also helps break down the existing fat your body is storing. So it literally blasts away your fat! White tea helps shrink those existing fat cells because it’s rich in an antioxidant called ECGC. This antioxidant also triggers the release of fat from cells, helping to speed up your liver’s ability to turn fat into energy.
One study found participants who drank white tea for 12 weeks lost 10 percent off their waistline. Sounds good, right?!
TIP: It’s recommended to drink two cups of white tea throughout the day. Also, you will want to drink white tea hot to reap the biggest benefits! The heat is believed to help the body absorb ECGC and other nutrients.
2) Green
Green tea is another tea that contains the antioxidant ECGC, has fat-burning properties, and really benefits your waistline! Sipping a few cups of this tea every day can help rev your metabolism and increase the release of fat from cells. Just like with white tea, this process helps speed up your liver’s fat burning ability, turning fat into energy.
If you are someone who also works out, you will reap even greater benefits. In a recent study, researchers found people who drank 4-5 cups of green tea every day and worked out 25-minutes a day lost an average of two pounds more than non-tea drinking athletes.
TIP: Make sure you’re reaching for regular green tea and not a bottled tea filled with sugar. Since green tea is a popular tea, there are a lot of bottled versions on the market. The best thing you can do is brew your own green tea. That way you know exactly what you’re drinking.
Since green tea has a light flavor, you may want to squeeze half a lemon in your mug. Find out more about why lemons benefit weight loss below.
3) Barberry
Barberry is loaded with powerful nutrients that help blast blubber, even for those who eat a high-fat diet. A study conducted by Chinese researchers found that berberine (a naturally occurring chemical found in the stem, fruit, and root bark of the barberry shrub) can prevent weight gain and the development of insulin resistance.
Sipping this tea can also reduce the number of receptors that are on the surface of fat cells, making them unable to absorb as much fat as they were prior to drinking barberry tea.
4) Pu-erh
Pu-erh is a fermented and aged Chinese tea made from the same plant as green tea and black tea. It’s rich in antioxidants and polyphenols that are known to improve health. One of Pu-erh’s many health benefits includes weight loss. According to studies, this tea can shrink fat cells. Researchers found when rats who ate a high-fat diet were given Pu-erh, they had less belly fat.
TIP: This is a great breakfast tea. Drink two cups in the morning to keep frying fat throughout the day.
5) Rooibos
This type of tea is made from the leaves of a Rooibos bush that contain powerful polyphenols and flavonoids. These nutrients are said to block the formation of new fat cells by as much as 22 percent!
Also, rooibos is a naturally sweet tea. This means, you shouldn’t feel the need to dump heaping spoonfuls of sugar into your cup. This is definitely a plus since sugar is linked to inflammation, obesity, diabetes and long list of other health problems.
6) Oolong
Loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, oolong is touted as a the perfect slimming tea. This traditional Chinese tea is similar to green tea, however, it’s processed differently.
Drinking just two cups of oolong tea a day can rev the metabolism and burn body fat. It believed the polyphenols found in oolong tea can activate certain enzymes, thereby enhancing the functions of fat cells in the body.
In one study, Chinese researchers found when they had participants drink the tasty beverage for six weeks straight. At the end of their study, participants had experienced weight loss and noticed a decrease in body fat.
TIP: Drink four cups of hot oolong tea a day for maximum benefit.
7) Bilberry
Keep food cravings at bay with bilberry tea. Bilberries are a relative of the blueberry and pack a similar nutritional punch. Studies show this antioxidant-rich tea not only helps curb food cravings, but it also has blood sugar balancing effects, helps fight inflammation and beats bloat.
There are varying opinions on the flavor of this tea. Some people feel it has a somewhat medicinal taste, others call it another naturally sweet tea. So before you reach for something to sweeten it up, take a sip. If you enjoy the natural flavor, that’s great! If not, try sweetening it up with a little honey or stevia.
TIP: Drink one cup in the evening before dinner to help kill fatty and sugary food cravings.
8) Lemon
Lemons are a true superfood. By sipping on a cup of lemon tea first thing in the morning, you can help flush harmful toxins, balance your body’s pH level, improve digestion, boost your immune system, fight cancer, and beat belly bloat.
Experts say one reason lemons have such powerful effects on the body (and your weight) is because they’re an alkaline-forming food. The average American’s diet is loaded with foods that increase the acidity of the blood. This can cause inflammation, weight gain, and a slew of other health problems.
TIP: Drink lemon tea first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for best results.
9) Yerba Mate
Yerba mate tea helps rev the metabolism, can kill food cravings and blast fat all over the body (not just belly fat). Since this kind of herbal tea is very bitter to taste, you’ll probably need to add a little honey or a different natural sweetener.
TIP: Drink a cup of yerba mate tea within 30 minutes of waking up for maximum benefit.
10) Mint
Drinking (and smelling) a tall cup of steaming hot mint tea has been known to suppress appetite and kill cravings. One study published in the Journal of Neurological and Orthopaedic Medicine found that people who sniffed peppermint every two hours lost an average of 5 pounds a month.
That’s just one way this type of tea aids weight loss, though. Studies have also found that mint tea helps people relax. By unwinding, you are able to keep stress levels at bay. When it comes to weight loss, increased cortisol levels (a stress hormone) can have a negative impact on metabolism.
11) Chickweed
A great way to get rid of that pesky water weight is to drink chickweed tea. The nutrients found in chickweed make this tea a mild diuretic, which means it will help flush excessive water and fat from your system. If you drink this tea regularly, just make sure you are near a bathroom because it will cause frequent urination.
Chickweed also has a mild laxative effect, promoting healthy bowel movements. If you’ve ever been constipated, you know that it can make you look and feel bloated… not fun!
TIP: Only drink one cup of chickweed tea a day. This is a great late afternoon/ evening tea.
12) Goji
A goji berry is a bright red berry grown in China. Holding superfood status, it’s known as one of the most nutritious fruits on the planet. By consuming goji’s nutrients, you will help satisfy your hunger and curb cravings. Goji berries are also said to benefit metabolism, aiding weight loss.
13) Ginger
Ginger is one of the healthiest spices you’ll ever get your hands on. Along with aiding digestion and promoting healthy bowel movements, ginger fights bloat-causing inflammation. So grab your cup of ginger tea and sip yourself skinny!
14) Fennel
Like ginger, people often drink fennel tea to improve their digestion and beat belly bloat. Since fennel tea fights inflammation, this is one way to un-puff and get rid of that muffin top.
15) Black
The flavonoids found in black tea show promise in frying fat, helping you to drop some extra pounds. Also, the high levels of caffeine in this popular type of tea is said to enhance weight loss and boost the metabolism.
Black tea’s weight loss benefits don’t end there, though. Studies show black tea, similar to mint tea, has a calming effect on the body. Again, when you keep stress levels at bay, you reduce the amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body. Did you know that when your body is hit with high levels of stress, all that adrenaline causes fat cells to release fatty acids into your blood stream? That’s when cortisol comes into play. The hormone will store those fatty acids in your belly. As if those stored fat cells aren’t bad enough as it is, they can actually lead to food cravings. That’s definitely an undesirable effect!
Where Can I Buy These Slimming Teas?
Some of these teas are easier to find than others. However, your local health food store should stock all of these 15 herbal teas. When you are walking down your store’s aisles, avoid any pre-made teas. Often times pre-made teas are loaded with sugars and other chemicals.
Your best bet is to either buy loose herbs and make your own tea on the stove or buy a box of organic tea bags. Either way, you will be able to ensure exactly what ingredients are going into your tea mug and body.
Don’t Ruin The Weight Loss Effect By …
Do you love to load your tea up with heavy cream, cow’s milk, soy milk, or sugar? I’m sorry to break the news to you, but by adding these ingredients, you are automatically canceling out the amazing weight loss benefits of these 15 teas.
Studies show dairy products and soy milk can actually reduce the power of the antioxidants found in these slimming teas. Also, sugar is linked to obesity, diabetes, inflammation and other health issues.
Some of the teas on this list are already sweet, meaning you shouldn’t need to add anything in order to tolerate the taste. However, if you do need to bump up the flavor, try reaching for a lemon, some organic honey or stevia.
How Much Tea Should I Drink?
The goal is to make tea a part of your regular, daily diet. You certainly don’t need to drink all 15 of these teas in one day. In fact, you don’t even need to drink 15 cups in one day! A good goal is to drink between four to five cups throughout the day. While that may sound like a lot at first, it’s really not that hard to drink that much tea.
Start by having a cup in the morning before you eat, or along with your breakfast. Pu-erh, yerba mate, lemon or white tea are all great options for your morning tea! During lunch, replace a high-calorie beverage with a refreshing cup of steamed herbs. You can also squeeze in another cup between lunch and dinner. Lastly, choose a caffeine-free tea to drink before bed. For example, mint tea is caffeine free so it won’t keep you staring at the ceiling, struggling to fall asleep.