Black Tea Effect On Weight Loss

Black tea contains caffeine and antioxidants. It's possible caffeine may suppress appetite and stimulate thermogenesis -- an increase in the body's heat that elevates calorie burning, notes dietitian Katherine Zeratsky at MayoClinic.com. Drinking black tea hot or iced can provide a low-calorie energy lift that may help you cut calories and increase your physical activity -- two proven ways to lose weight. Consult your physician before using black tea to lose weight.

Black Tea

Tea growers roll or break leaves from Camellia sinensis, a plant that grows as a shrub or tree, to produce black tea. This bruising of the leaves increases oxidization, resulting in a tea rich in teaflavins and thearubigins, polyphenols with antioxidant activity, the Linus Pauling Institute reports. White, green and oolong tea come from the same plant and are oxidized less, giving them different flavors and polyphenol content. Plants develop polyphenols in response to sunlight. The antioxidant activities of polyphenols in the body helps to protect cells from damage -- and may promote weight loss, although further research is needed.

Weight Loss

Successful weight loss requires consuming fewer calories than you burn off in activity. Loss of muscle from age and inactivity result in a slower metabolism and can contribute to weight gain and difficulty with losing weight. It takes a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose 1 lb. Drinking black tea without added calories could help you achieve a calorie deficit for weight loss. If you consume alcohol or sweetened beverages regularly, substituting plain black tea could amount to a significant saving in calories to promote healthy weight loss.

Research

Supplementing the diet with fruit flavored black teas and other flavored black teas could reduce blood glucose due to their flavanoid content, researchers from Poland's University of Warsaw report in the March 2011 "European Journal of Nutrition." The researchers also suggest these black teas and teas with fruit scents offer a source for increasing antioxidants in the diet. Flavored teas include Earl Grey, a black tea with bergamot, a citrus oil, black teas with mint, and various dessert teas.

Considerations

Maintaining stable blood sugar supports weight loss by reducing food cravings. Fruit teas may help to satisfy a craving for sweets. Fruit teas include berry, cherry, orange, lemon and peach. Dessert teas made with black tea come in a wide variety of flavors, such as vanilla, cinnamon and specialty blends. The teas may help reduce your appetite, and having a flavorful tea after dinner instead of dessert can help you create a calorie deficit for successful weight loss. Choose a decaffeinated black tea for evening to reduce the risk of caffeine affecting your sleep. Consult your doctor about weight loss, medical concerns and caffeine intake.