Black tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Along with green tea, white tea and oolong tea, black tea comes from the popular domesticated plant Camellia sinensis. Served hot or iced, black tea offers several notable health benefits. Along with its apparent ability to improve mental alertness, improve heart health, and prevent certain forms of cancer, black tea may also act as an appetite supressant. Consult your health-care provider if you are interested in using black tea for weight loss.
Caffeine and Appetite
Black tea contains caffeine. According to the National Institutes of Health, average tea preparations contain about 100 mg of caffeine per 8 oz. serving, with caffeine content varying depending upon natural tea leaf variations and the strength of the individual brew. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, caffeine may briefly suppress the appetite. Although this could facilitate temporary weight loss, Zeratsky notes that there is no compelling evidence that it works as a long-term weight loss solution.
Other Appetite-Suppressing Compounds
Green tea, a beverage derived from the same plant as black tea, appears to contain additional appetite-suppressing compounds aside from caffeine itself. The University of Maryland Medical Center speculates that polyphenols in green tea leaf may be responsible for the product's weight loss effects. Although several studies have confirmed that green tea can enable weight loss, few have investigated black tea to determine if it has similar effects. In theory, polyphenols found in both plants may yield similar medicinal properties.
Related Benefits
Overweight people may benefit from drinking black tea on a regular basis even if it does not lead to specific, direct improvements in weight loss. Conditions frequently associated with obesity include heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The National Institutes of Health reports that black tea can help to prevent and treat these common conditions. If you are overweight, and therefore at risk of developing these conditions, consult your health-care provider about the benefits of using black tea as a complementary method of disease prevention.
Risks and Side Effects
Black tea is safe for most adults, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, it is not completely free of side effects and risks. Black tea consumption exceeding five cups per day may cause caffeine-related side effects. These might include headache, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea, irritability and elevated heart rate. In high doses, caffeine overdose can lead to vomiting, convulsions and confusion. People with anxiety disorders, diabetes, tachycardia, anemia or hypertension should use black tea with caution to prevent side effects.
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