Can Drinking Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Next to water, more people drink tea than any other beverage. Drinking tea is soothing and tasty, but can it help you achieve your weight-loss goals? Researchers debate whether substances like the catechins, the potent antioxidants found in green tea, might assist dieters in losing weight. Theories suggest that catechins may stimulate the body's ability to burn calories and decrease body fat.

History

People have been drinking tea for 5,000 years, dating back to ancient China. Historically, tea has been served as a part of various ceremonies and has been used to stay alert during long meditations. The Stash Tea website traces its history back to a legend surrounding Emperor Shen Nung --- a scientist and arts patron. According to the site, legend has it that Nung ordered all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day, his servants began boiling the water and dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the pot. Nung was intrigued because the water had turned brown from the leaves. He drank some and found it refreshing.

Tea Varities

Tea is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, an evergreen plant. According to Stash Tea, there are more than 3,000 varieties. However, green and oolong are the two teas researchers most often discuss in connection with weight loss.

Green Tea

A study published in 1999 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found a correlation between green tea and weight loss. "People who drink green tea or take green tea extract have a faster metabolic rate and fat oxidation," agrees Melissa Josselson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine. "One factor is the caffeine found in green tea. However, studies have determined it is more than the caffeine that causes these effects." Josselson said that researchers believe that the catechin polyphenols, mainly epigallocatechin gallate, is the main mechanism for the health benefits. "ECGC is a powerful antioxidant found in green tea that may prevent cancer and other conditions as well impact weight loss," she explained. "Regular intake of green tea has been found to result in a 4-percent overall increase in 24-hour energy expenditure."

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea also has potential weight loss benefits. According to Josselson, several small short-term trials reported a 3- to 4-percent increase in energy expenditure after participants consumed oolong tea. "In a Japanese study, 11 healthy Japanese females around 20 years of age drank water, green tea, or oolong tea," said Josselson. "Researchers measured the amount of energy they burned for up to 2 hours after drinking." Researchers found that green tea burns an extra 50 calories compared to water, and that oolong tea burns an extra 110. "The oolong tea beverage had half the amount of ECGC and caffeine as green tea, but twice the amount of polyphenols," Josselson reports. "The authors concluded that the oolong tea metabolism increase is caused by the EGCG, caffeine and something else."

Conclusions

According to the National Institutes of Health website MedlinePlus, studies have drawn mixed conclusions on the safety and effectiveness of tea as a weight-loss agent. "There are several small human studies addressing the use of green tea extract (GTE) capsules for weight loss or weight maintenance in overweight or average weight individuals," the site reports. "Better research is needed before a strong recommendation can be made in this area."

Josselson agrees. "Overall, larger-scale studies and more human studies are needed on the effects of tea and weight loss," she said, "but it appears that certain teas such as green and oolong lead to a small increase in energy expenditure and thus a minor weight loss."