Tea & Weight Loss

Several types of tea have been promoted as weight loss aids that can help dieters meet their goals. Tea comes in three main varieties, green, oolong and black. There are also specialty teas, such as pu'erh tea, as well as tea blends that contain tea mixed with herbs, oils and flowers. There have been over 14, 000 research studies done on the health benefits of tea, so losing weight may be only one of many benefits of adding tea to your diet.

History

Tea is grown in Asia, and comes from the plant Camellia sinensis. The different types of tea all come from the same plant, but the leaves are processed in different ways. Green tea is the least processed, oolong is processed more and black tea the most. Specialty teas like pu'erh undergo unique processing to make them taste different.

Benefits

The studies done on tea and dieting indicate that tea has several weight-loss effects on the body. Tea reduces appetite, causing you to eat less food overall. It boosts metabolism with a thermogenic (heat-producing) effect, helping the body burn more fat and calories quickly, as shown in a 2001 study in the "Journal of Nutrition." Tea regulates insulin and blood sugar levels, prompting the body to burn fat instead of storing fat. It also targets subcutaneous fat, the fat just under the skin, and helps rid the body of these unsightly deposits.

Types

A variety of teas have been linked to weight loss. Green tea and oolong tea, also known as wu-long tea, are popularly touted as diet aids. Some people swear by specific blends of tea. These include a blend that mixes green and black tea with olive leaf and grape seed, called Spearole tea, according to a 2008 article published in the Australian newspaper, "The Chronicle."

Evidence

In the study published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2001, oolong tea was shown to increase energy expenditure in those who consumed the tea. In addition, a 2005 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" study found that men who took a blend of oolong tea and green tea extract lost body fat and overall weight over a 12-week period.

Science

The science behind tea and dieting focuses on a few factors. For one, the caffeine content in tea is believed to help rev up metabolism. More important, tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This compound was found to slow the creation of new fat cells and cause the death of existing fat cells, in a 2005 study in "Obesity Research."

Tea Supplements

The benefits of tea for dieters aren't only available by the cup. Many companies now make tea supplements. Green tea supplements are the most popular, and are available as supplement pills or liquid extracts.