Can Drinking White Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Weight loss is important to many Americans. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and more than one-third are frankly obese. The health consequences of obesity include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis and cancer. Dietary modifications and exercise are recommended for all overweight individuals, but weight loss is difficult for many. If you are trying to lose weight, you have probably been tempted to try alternative weight-loss aids, such as green or white tea.

Thermogenesis

"Thermogenesis" is a term used to describe a food's ability to increase your metabolic rate. Caffeine, by virtue of its sympathetic nervous system-stimulating properties, is the archetypal thermogenic agent. However, caffeine and its relatives -- methylxanthine and theobromine -- can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, which precludes their use in many obese individuals who already have a higher resting pulse and blood pressure.

EGCG

Both green tea and white tea are rich sources of polyphenols, of which the most prominent is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. A 1999 study published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" suggests that the polyphenols in tea possess thermogenic properties, which could increase your ability to burn calories and lose weight. However, the August 2010 "Journal of Food Science" demonstrated that the EGCG content of both green and white tea beverages can vary up to tenfold, so merely drinking white tea might not be sufficient to help you lose weight. A standardized extract of EGCG could prove more useful.

Dosages

Scientists studying the effects of tea polyphenols on weight loss have used extracts containing various amounts of EGCG. In a 1999 Swiss study, researchers used a standardized preparation containing 90 mg of EGCG, which prompted a significant increase in both energy expenditure and fat metabolism among the study's subjects. Since the total catechin content of green and white teas can vary from 14 to 370 mg per gram of dry tea, it is difficult to establish dosages for non-standardized tea products. Hence, using a standardized EGCG extract is more likely to lead to weight loss than drinking either white or green tea.

Considerations

Caloric restriction and daily exercise remain the most effective means to lose weight and maintain that loss. According to experts at Brown Medical School, 98 percent of participants in the National Weight Control Registry modified their food consumption to lose weight, and 94 percent increased their physical activity. The use of thermogenic foods, such as white tea, is enticing for individuals who are frustrated by a lack of success with other programs. However, at best, tea polyphenols should be considered as potentially useful adjuncts to lifestyle modifications, and standardized EGCG extracts may offer more predictable results than tea.