If you are seeking a way to rev up weight loss, black tea might be the answer. This tea has properties that potentially help you burn fat, and its extract is a common weight-loss supplement. There's no guarantee, however, because more research needs to be done before doctors recommend black tea as an anti-obesity aid. Consult your doctor before adding tea to your diet or taking supplements that contain tea, especially if you take medicine or have a health condition.
Evidence
MedlinePlus says scientific evidence is insufficient to rate black tea for promoting weight loss. Same goes for green tea. Black, green and oolong teas are all made from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. A March 2011 "Nutrition" study on mice concludes black tea is effective for slowing weight gain during a high-fat diet. Research also points to green tea as possibly effective for weight loss when it is combined with caffeine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols in green tea known as catechins might be responsible for its possible fat-burning effects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, the polyphenols in black tea are not as well studied or defined. They originally consist of catechins but change during fermentation. One identified derivative is called thearubigin. Theaflavins are another type of black tea polyphenol. The difference between the teas is the length of fermentation. Black tea, which ferments the longest, has the fewest catechins and the most caffeine and theaflavins. Green tea, which does not ferment, has the most catechins.
Theaflavins
Theaflavins might help prevent obesity and fatty liver, according to an August 2007 study published in the "Journal of Lipid Research." Fat accumulation in your liver can lead to liver scarring and inflammation. According to lead author Chih-Li Lin, theaflavins reduce fat production and accumulation while stimulating fatty acid oxidation, meaning they help your body mobilize and use fat for energy.
Reduced Fat Absorption
Polyphenols in black tea might help prevent obesity by reducing fat absorption in your intestines, according to the "Nutrition" study. The study examined the effect of an extract made from black tea polyphenols on mice fed a high-fat diet. The mice that received the extract gained less weight than the mice that did not get the extract, according to lead study author S. Uchiyama. More research is needed to see if humans would experience the same benefit.
References
- "Nutrition"; Prevention of Diet-Induced Obesity by Dietary Black Tea Polyphenols Extract in Vitro and in Vivo; S. Uchiyama, et al.; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Green Tea; September 2010
- "Journal of Lipid Research"; Theaflavins Attenuate Hepatic Lipid Accumulation Through Activating AMPK in Human HepG2 cells; Chih-Li Lin, et al.; August 2007
- MedlinePlus; Black Tea; June 2011
- MedlinePlus; Green Tea; May 2011
- "Green Tea"; Yukihiko Hara; 2001
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