Tea has become increasing popular mainly because of its beneficial effects on overall health. It contains potent antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been associated with reducing blood pressure, improving heart health and decreasing cancer risk. On top of that, evidence suggests that certain types of tea might help boost the metabolism, the rate at which the body burns calories, and enhance fat loss.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea's ability to activate a fat burning enzyme called hormone sensitive lipase might speed up the metabolism and boost weight loss. Masatoshi Nakano led a team of researchers who examined the effects of oolong tea on overall health in healthy participants. Researchers had subjects follow a balanced diet rich in oolong tea and devoid of water for a month. At the end of the study, scientists found that participants experienced decreases in body fat, especially from the waist, according to the Nutra Ingredients website.
Green Tea
Dr. Arpita Basu and colleagues from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center investigated the impact of green tea consumption on body weight and lipid levels in obese subjects. During the eight week study, participants were assigned to one of the following groups: control; four cups of green tea; or two capsules of green tea extract. Scientists observed that both green tea groups significantly reduced their body fat levels compared to the control group. Green tea high content of polyphenols are responsible for the weight loss effects, the May 2010 issue of the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," reports.
Black Tea
In findings reported in the June 2010 issue of the journal "Nutrition," Dr. Satoshi Uchiyama and colleagues studied the impact of black tea extract on body fat levels in rats and mice. Subjects were fed a high fat diet with black tea extract for eight weeks. Scientists found that black tea extract's polyphenols were effective in reducing weight gain and cutting body fat levels, according to research published in the June 2010 issue of the journal of "Nutrition."
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