Rich in antioxidants, polyphenols and other helpful substances, teas can provide a big boost for your weight loss efforts. A few cups of tea every day won’t magically burn calories for you, but they provide many beneficial effects for your diet.
Try a few of the best teas for weight loss and enjoy their natural power that can make a big difference for your diet. From green tea to other delicious herbal teas, here are the soda replacements that can increase your chances of success when you’re trying to lose a few pounds.
1. Green Tea
The high antioxidant content of green tea is useful for your health, but EGCG, one of the catechins found in green tea, can directly impact your metabolism. This type of tea also provides caffeine, which can aid you in your weight loss efforts, but it can also be toxic in large quantities. You’ll get the weight loss benefits with anywhere from 3 to 5 cups a day, but keep it under 12 daily 8-ounce cups to avoid any toxicity.
2. White Tea
With more catechins and less caffeine than green tea, the white variety is also one of the best teas for weight loss. Of course, no tea will make a noticeable difference without a calorie deficit in your diet, but once you start exercising portion control, while tea can also help prevent more fat storage and even help you burn the existing fatty tissue.
3. Bilberry Tea
A natural appetite suppressant, bilberry tea has a powerful stabilizing effect when it comes to blood sugar levels. That means that a few cups per days can make a big difference in reducing your cravings. This tea also reduces intestinal inflammation thanks to tannins found in the bilberry fruit, improving your digestion.
4. Hibiscus Tea
Definitely one of the best teas for weight loss, hibiscus tea is a natural diuretic, and it can also reduce cholesterol levels and fight high blood pressure. Besides the healthy dose of antioxidants, you’re also getting amylase inhibitors in hibiscus tea, which means less fat absorbtion. Just like with any other tea on the list, read the packaging carefully and avoid any brand with added sugar.
More: Healthiest Herbal Teas You Should Drink
5. Yerba Mate
Made from the leaves of the mate tree, native to South America, yerba mate has been used in natural medicine for centuries, and it’s renowned for its weight loss benefits. It contains caffeine, just like green tea, along with other substances that act as appetite suppressants. Yerba mate can also directly increase your metabolism rate, leading to faster calorie burning.
6. Pu-erh Tea
Fully fermented and ages, pu-erh tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for reducing high cholesterol, thanks to its high content of lovastatin. This type of tea is one of the best teas for weight loss thanks to the way it reduced triglycerides, but it contains less caffeine than other teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant.
7. Star Anise Tea
Used as a natural treatment for digestive problems, star anise tea also has a proven track record when it comes to weight loss. Made from the fruit of the Illicium verum tree, this tea can help decrease water weight, while also improving your digestive health. If you’re not a fan of its natural taste, sweeten with a little stevia instead of adding sugar.
8. Oolong Tea
Aged longer than green tea, oolong is definitely one of the best teas for weight loss. It doesn’t have as much caffeine as green or black tea, but multiple studies have shown that 4 cups a day can make a big difference in your weight loss efforts, through the reduction of bad cholesterol and an increased metabolic rate.
See also: 10 Life-Changing Diet Hacks
9. Peppermint Tea
If you’re dealing with bloating, then peppermint tea is definitely the right choice. It can help digest fat easier, and get the most nutrients out of your diet. Its strong mint flavor can also function as a natural appetite suppressant.
10. Rose Tea
Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and polyphenols, rose tea can offer release from menstrual cramps, but it’s also one of the best teas for weight loss, since it detoxifies and also fights stress related cravings. If you’re looking for the more effective weight loss aid, opt for red rose tea.