One of the world’s best-loved beverages, black tea has been long known to offer remarkable health benefits and might be the secret ingredient of a fat-burning diet. It may lower your risk for heart attack, diabetes, kidney stones, Parkinson’s disease, and more. But did you know that a daily cup of black tea might be the secret ingredient of a fat-burning diet? It also may promote weight loss. Our guess would be that you didn’t.
Why? This is actually something no one knew – until this recent study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition. It was the first study to unveil the fact that drinking black tea is not only enjoyable but may also help you shed a few extra pounds. In fact, black tea seems to be just as effective for weight loss as the widely acclaimed green tea, although it works in a slightly different way. So brew up a warm cup of tea – and let us dive into the details!
How does Black Tea Boost the Weight Loss?
The said study, held at the University of California, found that black tea alters energy metabolism in the liver by changing bacteria in the gut. To gather this data, a series of experiments was conducted on mice. Researchers put four groups of mice on different diets; two of the groups received an obesogenic diet while also receiving green tea or black tea extracts. Four weeks later, the two groups received tea extracts along with high-fat, high-sugar diets. It turned out to have lost as much weight as the mice that had low-fat, low-sugar diets.
Afterward, all of the groups had their gut bacteria and fat deposits in their livers analyzed; as it turned out, both tea-consuming groups of mice had less bacteria in their gut associated with obesity and more bacteria that boost lean mass.
The researchers found out that black and green tea both affected the liver metabolism of mice but through different mechanisms. This explained why earlier only green tea was considered to be beneficial in promoting weight loss.
Previously, green tea was more effective for weight loss than black tea. Only the green tea polyphenols’ small size allows them to go into the blood and tissue. They can reach the liver directly and affect energy metabolism in a way that promotes weight loss. Though black tea polyphenols are too large to enter the small intestine, they still provide some health benefits. Instead, they remain in the intestine and – as it turned out – stimulate the growth of “friendly” gut bacteria. That helps to boost energy metabolism in the liver.
So in summary, it seems that black tea may be just as beneficial for weight loss as green tea. The only difference is that black tea alters energy metabolism in the liver not directly, but by changing bacteria in the gut.
Finally, a Reason to Drink Black Tea!
Just kidding! You don’t need any particular reason to enjoy a good cup of black tea. It is one of the most delicious, healthiest beverages on the planet, loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. It also has powerful effects on the body.
For black tea lovers, though, the weight loss effect may become a new reason to brew an extra cup. So make sure to share this article with your tea-loving friends!
Rick Kaselj MS, is a leading kinesiologist and injury specialist as well as co-creator of the best-selling Unlock Your Hip Flexors program. Rick creates exercise programs that help people heal injuries and eliminate pain, so they can go back to living a full, active, healthy life.
