Swap out your morning coffee for tea to shed those extra pounds
Green tea’s fat-burning properties are attributed to catechins; a group of antioxidants that target the body tissue used for storing fat.
There are more than 3,000 varieties of tea, but all of those tea variations are derived from one plant: Camellia sinensis (herbal teas are a whole different category). Tea develops its distinct properties and taste from different oxidation times, in which water evaporates out of the leaf and is replaced with oxygen from the air. A general rule is that the longer the tea is oxidized, the darker its color. Black tea undergoes full oxidation; white tea undergoes no oxidation; and green and oolong teas end up somewhere in the middle.
Here are four teas that will help with weight loss.
Green Tea
Lemon Tea
One of the major keys to weight loss is dropping excess water weight. Eating too many carbohydrates or salty foods leads to the body retaining additional water within the cells. This extra water weight explains why we are a few pounds heavier at night than in the morning. Lemon tea contains d-limonene, a compound found in citrus oil that has potent diuretic effects. Drinking a lemon tea will help relieve water-related bloating.
White TeaA lesser-known tea variety, white tea is an ideal drink when trying to keep the pounds off. Research shows that white tea may slow or prevent the formation of fat cells and amplify the body’s ability to convert existing fat into energy. The nutritional benefits are most accessible in the loose leaf form.
Oolong Tea
A prized Chinese tea variety, oolong goes through a special process in which it’s withered under intense sunlight and oxidation. Oolong tea contains a high level of antioxidants, specifically polymerized polyphenols, which research has found reduces the body’s absorption of fat. Oolong tea’s caffeine will give you a jolt, but it also may help treat diabetes, sharpen thinking skill, and improve mental alertness.
