Best Teas For Weight Loss



Tea is an ancient beverage that helps boost weight loss and your overall health (1), (2). And you know that green tea, from the plant Camellia sinensis, is one of the most popular and trusted weight loss beverages (3). But scientists have found anti-obesity properties in numerous other herbs, roots, and flowers that you can consume as tea (4). Sure, green tea is amazing for weight loss, and it tops our list. But if green tea is giving you the blues, you can give these other teas a try. This article lists 10 best teas for weight loss – and everything else you need to know to boost it. Swipe up!

1. Green Tea


1. Green Tea
Shutterstock

How Green Tea Aids Weight Loss

Green tea is obtained from the apical leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. It contains a good amount of catechins, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and caffeine (less than coffee). EGCG and caffeine are both responsible for its weight loss properties. EGCG, an antioxidant, helps scavenge the harmful oxygen radicals, thereby reducing inflammation and inflammation-induced obesity and hence placing it high on the list of best teas for weight loss. Various studies by researchers proved that consuming green tea could help obese and diabetic patients lose weight by increasing fat metabolism and satiety and suppressing obesity genes (5), (6), (7).

How To Prepare Green Tea

  1. Heat a cup (or two) of water. Do not let it boil. The temperature should be about 85o
  2. Pour the water into a teapot and add a teaspoon (or two) of green tea leaves.
  3. Cover it and steep for 3-4 minutes.
  4. Strain into your favorite mug.
  5. Squeeze a lemon into it if you want.

When To Consume

You can consume green tea with your breakfast and between meals. Try not to consume it before going to bed, and do not have more than five cups of green tea per day. Avoid it if you have anxiety or become hyperactive after consuming caffeine.

2. Hibiscus Tea


 2. Hibiscus Tea
Shutterstock

How Hibiscus Tea Aids Weight Loss

Hibiscus tea is obtained from Hibiscus sabdariffa and is a potent antioxidant (8). Also, it does not contain any caffeine. Scientists have found that drinking this tea can help lower blood pressure, and hence, it is good for those suffering from hypertension. Hypertension causes stress, which, in turn, increases toxins in the body, leading to inflammation. And when your body is in a constant state of inflammation, it prevents fat metabolism, and this leads to weight gain. American scientists have also found that it helps lower LDL-cholesterol and improves blood lipid profile (9).

How To Prepare Hibiscus Tea

  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  2. Add a teaspoon of hibiscus tea/flowers to a teapot.
  3. When the water starts boiling, take it off the flame and pour it into the teapot.
  4. Steep for 5 minutes before straining it into a cup and drinking.

When To Consume

Consume it with your breakfast and/or between meals. You can drink mild hibiscus tea before bed if you find it difficult to fall asleep. Make sure not to have more than three cups of hibiscus tea per day.

3. Chamomile Tea


3. Chamomile Tea
Shutterstock

How Chamomile Tea Aids Weight Loss

Chamomile tea is obtained from the flowers of M. chamomilla (10)It has anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, sleep-inducing, and anti-anxiety properties (11), (12). Depression, anxiety, inflammation, and sleep deprivation have a direct relation to weight gain. Scientists have found that the presence of phenolic compounds, such as quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, patuletin, and their glucosides, in chamomile tea is responsible for its anti-obesity properties (13). A study also showed that chamomile tea could lower blood sugar levels (14).

How To Prepare Chamomile Tea

  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  2. Take it off the heat and pour it into a teapot containing two teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers or a chamomile tea bag.
  3. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
  4. Strain it into a cup and drink.

When To Consume

Have it before you go to bed to sleep better. Consume a mild version of chamomile tea during the day on weekdays if you feel depressed or anxious. Do not have more than two cups of chamomile tea a day.

4. Ginger Tea


4. Ginger Tea
Shutterstock

How Ginger Tea Aids Weight Loss

Ginger is the root of a flowering plant and is commonly used as a spice and flavoring agent. Scientists have found that ginger contains a bioactive compound, gingerol, which is responsible for its pungent and characteristic smell as well as its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-nausea, glucose-sensitizing, and blood pressure-lowering properties (15). Researchers at Columbia University found that ginger helped increase satiety and enhanced thermogenesis (16).

How To Prepare Ginger Tea

  1. Heat a cup of water.
  2. Add a teaspoon of grated ginger to the water.
  3. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
  4. You can add honey and lemon if you want.
  5. Strain and drink up!

When To Consume

You can consume ginger tea with breakfast or between meals. Do not have more than three cups of ginger tea per day.

5. Peppermint Tea


5. Peppermint Tea
Shutterstock

How Peppermint Tea Aids Weight Loss

Peppermint tea is obtained from peppermint leaves. It has an immediate soothing and calming effect. Scientists have found that peppermint contains volatile compounds, such as menthol, menthone, hesperidin, luteolin, and eriocitrin. These have mood-uplifting, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, digestion-improving, and antioxidant effects (17), (18).

How To Prepare Peppermint Tea

  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  2. Add 5-10 peppermint leaves to the boiling water.
  3. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes.
  4. Strain it into a cup and drink.
  5. You can also use a tea bag and steep it in hot water for about 3 minutes.

When To Consume

Consume it between meals, two hours before sleeping, or with your breakfast. Do not have more than two to three cups of peppermint tea per day.

6. Calendula Tea


 6. Calendula Tea
Shutterstock

How Calendula Tea Aids Weight Loss

Calendula tea is obtained from the flowers of the plant Calendula officinalis, also known as calendula or English marigold. Researchers have found that calendula possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties (19). It has a flowery and refreshing taste that can help calm you down and reduce stress. So, calendula tea can help prevent stress and inflammation-induced weight gain.

How To Prepare Calendula Tea

  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  2. Add one to two teaspoons of dried calendula flowers, cover, and steep for 10 minutes.
  3. Strain it into a cup before drinking.

When To Consume

Consume it with your breakfast or between meals. Do not have more than three to four cups of calendula tea per day.

7. Rosemary Tea


7. Rosemary Tea
Shutterstock

How Rosemary Tea Aids Weight Loss

Rosemary is a popular aromatic herb used in cooking. It is obtained from the plant Rosmarinus officinalis and has spike-like leaves. Research on rosemary leaf and extracts have been carried out, and they were found to have strong antioxidant properties (20). Researchers also found that rosemary tea had an antidepressant property (21). Both these properties are good for promoting weight loss.

How To Prepare Rosemary Tea

  1. Boil a cup of water.
  2. Add it to a teapot. Add a sprig of fresh rosemary or two teaspoons of dried rosemary.
  3. Steep it for 5 minutes. You can also steep for 10 minutes – but it might get bitter.
  4. Strain it into a cup and drink.

When To Consume

Have it with breakfast and between your lunch and evening snack. Do not drink more than three cups of rosemary tea per day.

8. Matcha Tea


8. Matcha Tea
Shutterstock

How Matcha Tea Aids Weight Loss

Matcha tea is the powdered tea from the plant Camellia sinensis. Since it undergoes minimum processing, and you drink the leaves in the powdered form instead of discarding them, matcha is gaining popularity as one of the best teas for weight loss. It has more epigallocatechin gallate, a powerful antioxidant that helps flush out the toxins and boosts immunity.

How To Prepare Matcha Tea

  1. Sift a teaspoon of matcha powder.
  2. Add it to a cup of hot water.
  3. Swish it in a ‘W’ or ‘N’ motion vigorously until it becomes frothy.
  4. Enjoy!

When To Consume

You can consume it with your breakfast or whenever you want to relax. Avoid consuming more than two teaspoons of matcha per day.

9. Pomegranate Tea


9. Pomegranate Tea
Shutterstock

How Pomegranate Tea Aids Weight Loss

Pomegranate tea is a special tea brewed with concentrated pomegranate juice, ground pomegranate seeds or dried pomegranate flowers. Pomegranates are loaded with antioxidants and have antimicrobial properties (22), (23). The sweet taste of this tea will give you a break from the regular unsweetened teas for weight loss.

 How To Prepare Pomegranate Tea

  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil and remove from flame immediately.
  2. Add a teaspoon of chamomile or green tea and crushed pomegranate seeds or dried pomegranate flowers to a teapot.
  3. Pour the hot water, cover, and steep for 4-5 minutes.
  4. Strain into a cup and drink.

When To Consume

You can have it during breakfast or in between meals. Do not drink more than three cups of pomegranate tea per day.

10. Oolong Tea


10. Oolong Tea
Shutterstock
How Oolong Tea Aids Weight Loss
Oolong tea is also obtained from Camellia sinensis, but the processing is different from green and matcha teas. It is also loaded with EGCG, a potent phytonutrient that has antioxidant properties. Scientists have confirmed that oolong tea is great for weight loss as it helps lower the lipid levels in the blood and increases fat metabolism (24), (25).
How To Prepare Oolong Tea
  1. Bring a cup of water to a boil.
  2. Remove from the flame and let it cool down for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add a teaspoon of oolong tea to a teapot and pour the water into it.
  4. Cover and steep for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Strain and drink.
When To Consume
You can have it with breakfast or between meals. Do not consume more than five cups of oolong tea per day. Since it contains a small amount of caffeine, avoid it if you feel restless after drinking caffeinated beverages.






No comments:

Post a Comment

Instagram