Black tea is one of the three main varieties of tea. The others are green tea and white tea. While green tea contains the highest concentration of antioxidants, black tea has the most caffeine, a common substance that can help control your appetite. While the caffeine in black tea may have a slight effect on your appetite and your weight, too much can increase your risk of certain symptoms.
Black Tea
The amount of processing is the main difference between black, white and green teas. These teas all come from the Camellia sinesis plant. The leaves of this plant contain polyphenols and alkaloids. Caffeine is one of the alkaloids that acts as a stimulant in the body. Fermentation increases the amount of caffeine in tea while lowering the amount of polyphenols, the chemicals that act as antioxidants. Black tea is a fully fermented tea that has about two to three times more caffeine than green tea.
Caffeine Content
The caffeine content in black tea varies, depending on the brewing time. An 8 oz. cup of brewed black tea has between 40 and 120 mg of caffeine. This amount is less than a cup of brewed coffee, which typically contains between 95 and 200 mg of caffeine.
Appetite Control
In addition to suppressing your appetite, the caffeine in black tea can stimulate thermogenesis, a physical reaction that increases the amount of calories you burn. Caffeine may also cause a temporary reduction in weight due to its diuretic effect. While the caffeine in black tea may help promote weight loss, MayoClinic.com warns that there is no evidence supporting the use of caffeine for permanent or significant weight loss.
Precautions
A daily caffeine consumption around 250 mg per day is about average. While most people can drink moderate amounts of black tea without any negative effects, drinking excessive amounts can increase your risk of caffeine-induced symptoms, such as excessive urination, anxiety, depression, insomnia and nausea. Black tea may also interact with certain drugs and medical treatments, including chemotherapy.
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