Tea-Drinking Guide for People on a Diet

When you’re on a diet, the beverages you drink are just as important as the food you eat. Successful weight loss occurs when you take in fewer calories than you burn. For that reason, it’s important to account for the calories from your drinks, something many people forget to do. The great news is that you can enjoy tea if you’re dieting. Keep reading to find out how it fits in a healthy weight loss plan.

Tea to Boost Metabolism

Whether you choose tea bags or loose leaf tea, it contains certain compounds that have been linked to a faster metabolism. Specifically, most kinds of tea contain catechins, which are a type of flavonoid. Catechins give your metabolism a boost, which helps your body burn more calories, even at rest. Additionally, these catechins help burn body fat, giving you a double benefit when it comes to losing weight.

Caffeine in Tea

Many kinds of tea contain caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant so ingesting it can help give you a burst of energy. This comes in handy for exercising for weight loss. If you have a hard time getting yourself going when it’s time to workout, a cup of tea can help give you the motivation to get it done. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and interfere with sleep, so be sure you balance it well for the best results.

Best Kind of Tea for Weight Loss

With so many kinds of tea on the market, it can be hard to choose the right one. In many cases, organic tea is a healthy choice because it won’t contain a lot of pesticides or other chemicals that can harm your health. Organic green tea specifically is likely a great choice because it combines the metabolism boosting benefits with a moderate dose of caffeine for energy. At the same time, green tea is high in antioxidants and other nutrients that support a healthy body, both during weight loss and once you’ve reached your goal weight.

Organic green tea isn’t your only option. Many other kinds of tea can fit well in a weight loss plan. That includes black tea, oolong tea and white tea. If you want to reap the rewards of drinking tea, choose one that you enjoy drinking. You’re more likely to stick with it if it tastes good and you don’t have to force yourself to drink it.

Other Ways Tea Promotes Weight Loss

Tea has other health benefits that make it a good choice for a weight loss plan. For example, it can help you relax and get enough sleep. Lack of sleep has been linked to higher rates of obesity and rest is vital to dropping excess weight. The antioxidants in tea also offer protection from many health conditions that are associated with being overweight. That includes diabetes and heart disease.

Calories in Tea

Whether you choose green tea or another variety of tea, it’s important to keep in mind the calorie content. Plain tea doesn’t contain any calories. However, if you add sugar or milk to your tea, you are increasing the calorie content. Provided you balance those calories with what you eat and drink for the rest of the day, you can still lose weight if you use either milk or sugar in your mug of tea. To save calories, you can flavor your tea with lemon wedges, fresh mint leaves or orange slices.

If you drink sugary, milky beverages in the morning, such as a latte or cappuccino, replacing that with tea instead can save you hundreds of calories. Tea is hydrating, much like water, so it can also help you control your appetite. Sometimes, when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually thirsty. Having a cup of tea may derail your appetite and keep you from overeating unhealthy foods that can hinder your weight loss goals.

If you want to drink tea but don’t like black tea without milk or sugar, there are so many different varieties of herbal and fruit teas. The range is huge. None of them require milk and you should be able to find at least a few flavors you love. Crank them hot or chilled as they make a lovely cool drink on a hot day.

Remember!

You can’t rely on tea alone to help you reach your goal weight. It should be combined with healthy foods and plenty of exercise. If you want to try adding organic tea to your weight loss plan, you can find all of the great choices you love best on store shelves or in an online tea and coffee shop. Here at Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, we can help you find the tea you love best.