Tea to lose weight: meet the main allies of weight loss diets

Upon waking, after meals or before bed. Tea is part of most people’s lives, and today it is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. It is traditionally made by infusing the leaves in hot water and is known to offer several health benefits.

Sabrina Lopes, nutritionist and personal dieter, comments that each tea offers different health benefits. “Most of it is diuretic and contains antioxidant properties. There are teas that help prevent diseases, others that have calming effects, those that reduce the effects of PMS, etc.”, she says.

But, certainly, the ones that gain more prominence nowadays are those considered slimming! Who has never heard, for example, of the famous green tea?! Or even white tea?

You may be wondering: do teas really help a person to lose weight? Some say yes! But, it’s worth noting: they help in the process, they don’t work miracles! They will only offer significant results if they are associated with a balanced diet.

“I lost 5 kg with the help of green tea with cayenne pepper”

Adriana Aguiar Pinto Souza, 46, a nurse, says that she had a good experience with the consumption of Dr. Dukan (infusion that takes green tea, cayenne pepper and lemon and promises to help slim the silhouette, burn calories and cleanse toxins from the body).

However, of course, the good results were not achieved only with the use of tea, but with complete adherence to the diet. “I did the Dukan Diet with the online monitoring on the website and I lost 5 kg in 4 months, in a healthy way and without going hungry. The best part of this experience was to create a new eating habit and today, even with the diet already consolidated, I consciously choose all the foods I will consume”, he says.

“During the diet, I drank Dr. Dukan every day. There was no specific schedule, but I liked to take it because I felt the stimulating and thermogenic effects of cayenne pepper. I liked it so much that I continue to drink the tea even after I have finished the Dukan Diet. I feel more energetic when I drink tea, it sometimes helps me do the physical activities of the day”, says Adriana.

6 best teas to complement your diet

But, anyway, which teas can actually help in the weight loss process?

Sabrina reinforces that teas can help in the weight loss process, but they do not work miracles. “To feel the effects of teas it is necessary to have a balanced and healthy diet”, she recalls.

Below, the nutritionist cites those who can be allies of those who want to lose weight:

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1. Green tea

Sabrina explains that Camellia Sinensis is an herb that helps a lot in this weight loss process. “White, green and black teas are made from it, which differ according to the conditions of cultivation, preparation and conditioning of the plant”, she says.

“Green tea, the best known, is obtained from a process of little oxidation of the plant, and is slightly fermented”, highlights the nutritionist.

With a bitter taste, its slimming power is mainly due to the presence of caffeine and catechins that accelerate metabolism, causing the body to spend more energy. In addition, it facilitates digestion, helps regulate the intestines and combats fluid retention in the body.

Green tea is available for sale in herbs (generally, the most recommended option), in sachets (sachets), in powder and even in capsules. There are still some ready-to-drink versions, but these are generally less effective.

How to prepare green tea:

Put 1 liter of water to boil and as soon as the first bubbles appear, turn off the heat. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of green tea herb. (Ideally start with 1 scoop, at least until you get used to the taste of the tea). Then smother for 2 or 3 minutes. Strain and drink.

2. Black tea

Also made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, black tea, compared to green, is stronger and fermented, and undergoes greater oxidation, according to Sabrina.

As black tea undergoes a longer fermentation process, it has less antioxidant action than the other two teas (green and white) and a lot of caffeine, which contributes to weight loss, as it accelerates metabolism.

Due to caffeine, and if consumed in adequate amounts, it decreases the feeling of fatigue and drowsiness, as it has exciting properties, and stimulates the brain, in addition to helping with digestion.

Black tea is usually found on sale in herbs and in sachets.

How to prepare black tea:

Put 1 liter of water to boil and wait for bubbles to appear (the water is boiling), then turn off the heat. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the herb. Then, let it cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and drink.

3. White tea

Sabrina explains that white tea is made from the infusion of young Camellia Sinensis leaves, without any oxidation process.

As the plant does not undergo fermentation, it has a stronger antioxidant action, but less caffeine.

Its potent antioxidant action is due to the catechins present in large amounts in this tea. Thus, adequate consumption can help prevent cancer, cardiovascular and degenerative brain diseases, in addition to having anti-inflammatory action and protecting the liver.

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Although it has less caffeine than green and black tea, it can help in the weight loss process with its thermogenic action.

White tea is generally available in herbs, sachets and powder.

How to prepare white tea:

Put 1 liter of water to boil and wait until the first bubbles appear and then turn off the heat. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of the herb. Then, smother for 4 to 8 minutes. Strain and drink.

4. Matcha

Sabrina points out that nowadays we hear a lot about Matchá, which is also made from Camellia Sinensis. “But the production process is different, it is made with younger leaves that are slowly crushed and reduced to powder, preserving more chlorophyll, amino acids and L-theanines”, she says.

Tea is rich in flavonoids and caffeine, which are considered thermogenic (that is, they increase metabolism) and have antioxidant properties (slow down the aging of cells).

Matcha has a high concentration of amino acids due to its way of production, and these are essential for the maintenance of the body’s muscles. Exactly why tea is currently recognized for helping in the recovery process after muscle fatigue, being an ally of practitioners of physical activities.

How to prepare Matcha:

It is found in powder, use 1/2 teaspoon of Matcha to 50 ml of water. Boil the water separately (keep the temperature at an average of 70ºC). Add the Matcha powder to your cup and then pour in the hot water, stirring until the tea is diluted. Or, follow the instructions on the product packaging.

5. Carqueja tea

According to Sabrina, carqueja is another plant that can help in the weight loss process. “The tea is made in infusion with the stems of the plant, it has a bitter taste. It is indicated to aid in weight loss as it has diuretic and laxative effects. It is also used to fight liver, digestive and diabetes management problems,” she says.

Carqueja tea is usually sold in herbs and in sachets.

How to prepare carqueja tea:

Put ½ liter of water to boil and when it reaches the boiling point, turn off the heat and add 2 tablespoons of plant leaves. Steep the tea for a few minutes, let it cool, strain and drink.

6. Hibiscus tea

“Hibiscus is also a darling when it comes to weight loss, because it accelerates metabolism, stimulating fat burning, has diuretic, laxative and calming effects”, explains Sabrina.

“In addition, this tea prevents diabetes, lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels”, adds the nutritionist.

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Hibiscus tea is found in the form of herbs (usually the most recommended option), in sachets (sachets), in powder and even in capsules.

How to prepare hibiscus tea:

Put to heat 1 liter of water, when it reaches the boiling point, turn off the fire and add 2 tablespoons of hibiscus. Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain and drink.

There is no shortage of teas that can help you lose weight! To know which is the most suitable for your case, the ideal is to have the guidance of a nutritionist.

It is worth noting that all these teas, as much as they offer benefits, should be consumed without exaggeration.

“It is necessary to be careful with excesses, the ideal before consuming any type of tea for therapeutic purposes is to seek a doctor or nutritionist”, highlights Sabrina.

How to use teas in a weight loss diet?

Sabrina points out that teas should help in weight loss diets. That is, they alone will not offer benefits. Consumption should be associated with a balanced diet and, preferably, the practice of physical activities.

“Most of the teas that help in these diets contain caffeine, so it is interesting not to drink them close to night periods”, Sabrina recalls.

“The quantities must be indicated by a professional, taking into account the biological individuality of each person”, adds the nutritionist.

In addition, the professional will indicate which type of tea is most suitable for your weight loss diet and how it can be purchased (in herbs, sachets, powder). As well as the best or the best times of the day for consumption.

Anyone who thinks that teas, because they are natural, pose no health risks if consumed the wrong way, is wrong. “The exaggerated consumption of teas without guidance can cause hypertension or hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia, insomnia or gastritis. Some teas should not be consumed by pregnant or lactating women. Therefore, it is interesting to prescribe a doctor or nutritionist before consuming them”, recalls nutritionist Sabrina.