Herbal Tea To Speed Up Metabolism

The herbal dieter's teas on grocery store shelves and Asian markets have been around for years. And no one could miss all the reports about green tea's health and metabolism benefits in the news. But not many people know how or why - or even, if - these drinks work. Some of them can aid in weight loss efforts, while others are best left on those shelves.

Dieter's Tea

The dieter's teas that have been around for years are non-decaffeinated and most often contain the active ingredient senna, a flowering plant that is used to relieve constipation, according to Teabenefits.com. Senna can have a strong effect on the bowels, so it's best to stay close to a bathroom and limit your dosage if you are new to the tea.

While the tea may help you to lose weight by voiding the bowels, it is not especially effective in long-term weight loss.

Green Tea

Green tea is made from the same plant as black tea, but it is simply dried and not fermented as black and oolong teas. This allows the tea leaves to retain healthy antioxidants, according to Harvard's Women's Health Watch.

Effects

Some studies have shown that green tea can have a thermogenic, or heating, effect on the body, according to International Journal of Obesity. This thermogenic tea contains caffeine, which adds to the effect. It takes more energy for the body to digest and body-heating foods such as green tea, or chili peppers, which raise the body's core temperature, making the body work harder to cool itself off and burning calories in the process.

Other Effects

Additionally, green tea is touted for its ability to help fight high-cholesterol woes, dementia, certain types of cancer and heart disease, according to Harvard's Women's Health Watch. It also contains high levels of Vitamin C, heart-healthy flavonoids and antioxidants that keep skin looking young.

Part of a Healthy Diet

This super food can be a wonderful part of any diet - whether one for metabolism, weight-loss, cancer-fighting or beyond. Remember though, if you are filling up on empty calories or fat-laden foods, no metabolism boosters can undo the damage. Eat healthy and supplement your diet with healthy green tea.