Surprisingly, tea for weight loss can be so delicious. Even better, not only will you have a glorious way to combat degenerative diseases with a brew from the leaves of the Camella Sinensis evergreen shrub, but you’d also be able to shed fat and sculpt your body to near perfection. Even while asleep.
With that said, you might want to kick that daily soda drink habit goodbye and do yourself a favor by trying green, black, or oolong tea instead — assuming you’re serious about losing those extra pounds.
Here’s more. Below are 10 more surprising facts you probably didn’t know when using tea for weight loss. Not to mention your overall well-being. Read on.
1. Tea’s EGCG and three more increases metabolism.Catechins are plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties. The good news is tea has catechins that boost metabolism by stimulating the body to break down fats and burn calories faster.
But it’s not just one. According to research, tea harbors four powerful catechins. These are:
- epicatechin (EC)
- epigallocatechin (EGC)
- epicatechin gallate (ECG),
- and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Of the four, EGCG is the most abundant and widely considered to contribute the most to the health benefits of tea — heart disease prevention including.
2. The Camella Sinensis plant is a tree.On a side note, the Camella Sinensis evergreen shrub grows into a tree if not pruned. Then, you’ll have to pick those catechin-filled leaves from a 6-meter tall plant.
3. EGCG works best with caffeine.Calorie-burning is at its best when EGCG works with caffeine, another active ingredient in tea. Studies have shown that for EGCG to aid in weight loss best, caffeine must be present. Such a synergistic approach happens when you drink a cuppa tea, as these two compounds specifically target fat cells.
A cuppa of tea has about 20 to 45 mg of caffeine, with black tea harboring a bit more than green or oolong tea. Though the amount is slightly less caffeine than coffee, it’s enough to jumpstart your journey to those washboard abs, just like these tea-obsessed celebrities.
4. You can munch on those raw tea leaves.You can eat those tea leaves raw as they’re not a health hazard. But if you decide to eat these Camella Sinensis leaves, we recommend you eat them after steeping. They’re softer and more digestible that way.
5. Tea is a most effective fat burner with exercise.If you look at the labels of most fat-loss supplements, you will likely find green tea as one of its main components. This is because tea extracts have been frequently linked to fat burn and fat burn during exercise.
Various studies back up these claims, as those who take tea before hitting the gym have a far more significant fat-burn percentage than those without tea intake.
6. Green tea is your best friend.
Green tea has the highest amounts of EGCG, with oolong and black tea significantly less. As expected, the least processed tea is the least oxidized, better preserving the Camella Sinensis tea compounds. So effective is green tea that it can even help you slim down while sleeping in a thermogenesis process.
Of course, the reverse is true regarding caffeine content, as black tea, the most oxidized, has the most caffeine, followed by oolong and green tea.
One study involving 1,200 men and women showed that those who drank two cups of green tea daily in a span of 10 years exhibited lower body fat and had smaller waistlines than those who didn’t regularly drink green tea at all.
Further, these people had a reduced risk of premature death, heart disease, and even type 2 diabetes compared to people who didn’t drink green tea regularly. Truly amazing!
7. Lower calorie intake with tea (not soda).
Indeed, calorie intake matters when you want to boast of that slimmed-down Instragrammable version of yourself. The weight-loss equation is pretty simple: you lose weight with fewer calories in and more calories out via exercise. This is where a cuppa of tea would be spot on.
A 12-ounce soda can add up to 150 calories to your body as that’s about 10 ¼ teaspoons of sugar straight in, but unsweetened iced tea contains zero calories. Even the sweetened ones offer fewer calories compared to soft drinks.
Fun Fact: According to Mayo Clinic research, 3,500 calories of energy intake translates to about 1 pound (0.45 kg) of fat. So, it’s time you ditch that daily soda habit.
8. Tea can relieve soreness and pain from workout sessions.
Drinking tea before that melancholic drive toward the gym has guaranteed effects. It relaxes your muscles and promotes fast recovery.
Tea contains anti-inflammatory antioxidants that help soothe your previously strained and used muscles. This makes tea a great addition or alternative to your pre-workout drink. So be sure to include tea in your very own workout routine.
9. Tea suppresses your appetite.
Tea can reduce your caloric intake by hindering your appetite, making you consume less. It’s due mainly to the well-known stimulant caffeine.
Thus, this is a beneficial trait of drinking tea and adding tea to your daily diet, as it can change your food intake to a moderate amount. Small wonder, green tea is key to successful fasting.
10. Oolong has the widest choice of flavors in tea.
If you want to lose belly fat and slim down but loathe the grassy flavor of green tea or the rich, malty taste of black tea, then your best bet is oolong.
Oolong is oxidized at varying levels, giving you a wider variety of tea flavors, from light to full-bodied, accompanied by an equally long list of rich floral aromas. However, oolong can hold its own in the fat-burning department with its ample share of catechins and caffeine.
Note: To increase the EGCG content of your tea for weight loss, steep it in boiling water for 10 minutes.