Does Herbal Tea Help With Weight Loss?
As social media influencers praise skinny teas and weight loss drinks for helping them stay fit, many questions surround their validity. Does green tea reduce belly fat? Will herbal tea help with weight loss?
Keep reading to get the answer to all of these questions and more!
Herbal Tea for Weight Loss at Home
Herbal teas are made from a variety of different herbs. For example, ginger root, chamomile, cinnamon, red raspberry leaf, and more can be used.
Other popular options include rooibos tea and hibiscus tea. When you mix the herbs and spices in hot water, the flavors become infused.
Since they are made with healthy, natural ingredients, herbal teas usually have less than five calories per cup! This option does not contain caffeine, unlike other teas made from Camellia sinensis leaves.
The formulations and ingredients of herbal teas vary widely, but some research suggests that they can help you lose weight and burn fat. One study on animals found that herbal teas helped steady hormone levels. It also reduced their overall body weight!
Other research implies that rooibos tea is especially effective if your goal is to burn fat and lose weight. When isolated in a test tube, this herbal tea was able to block the formation of fat cells while increasing fat metabolism.
While additional evidence is needed to identify herbal teas' weight loss benefits precisely, the preliminary studies are promising!
How Does Herbal Tea Help With Weight Loss?
So, how exactly can herbal tea help you to lose weight? Let's dive into the health benefits of this type of tea!
Reduce Cravings and Calorie Consumption
For starters, herbal tea is the perfect replacement for mindless snacking. It reduces your cravings, and because it has so few calories, it helps reduce your overall calorie consumption.
Brewing a hot herbal tea will make you feel satisfied and complete, so you don't indulge in high-calorie treats like chips or other fillers! That means you will be less hungry between meals and more likely to achieve your weight loss goals.
Likewise, replacing sugary beverages like sodas and juices with herbal tea can also be beneficial. You can use it as soup stock to make a meal more calorie-friendly. The next time you crave, opt for a cup of herbal tea instead – the benefits are worth it!
Lower your Risk of Diabetes
Another way herbal tea can improve your health is by reducing your risk of diabetes.
If you compare two individuals where one drinks tea and the other doesn't, the person who consumes herbal tea is less likely to develop diabetes. According to this Harvard Health study, substances like polyphenols in herbal teas are responsible for this benefit.
Polyphenols are antioxidants that you can find in plant-based teas. They can do everything from protecting your body against pathogens to combat UV rays' effect!
Support Gut Health
Herbal teas can also support your gut health. They contain flavonoids, which are a specific class of polyphenols we described above. These flavonoids have prebiotic properties that help stimulate the growth of good bacteria.
Studies have shown that eating foods rich in polyphenols increases the presence of good bacteria in the gut and therefore supports your digestive system and overall health. Herbal teas fall into this category because they are a potent source of polyphenols, so incorporating them into a balanced diet is ideal for enhancing your gut health.
Boost your Metabolism
One of the most effective things you can do to reach your weight loss goals is to boost your metabolism. Herbal teas are the perfect way to kick-start your metabolism!
Another type of flavonoid they contain, catechins, can help you break down fats faster. It speeds up your metabolism and increases your ability to burn calories to lose weight more quickly.
Conclusion
As you can see, consuming herbal teas provides various benefits. Supporting weight loss is one of them!
These delicious drinks can speed up your metabolism, eliminate cravings, and allow you to feel fuller for longer. Make sure to try these out on your weight loss journey!