Is Black Tea Good For Weight Loss?

By on July 20, 2011
Is Black Tea Good For Weight Loss

It seems as though we are all trying to shed a few pounds and increase our health and fitness levels. Loosing weight can be tough, though. Everyone knows exercise and diet play a huge roll in successful weight loss and maintenance, but there are other things you can do to speed your success. What you drink can help, too.

Black tea and weight loss have been studied and a correlation between the two certainly exists. Starting with the question, “is black tea good for weight loss?” researcher doctors at the U.S.D.A. Beltsville Humer Nutrition Center proved an existing link we can all use to help get to our weight loss goals. Another 2008 study in Japan backed up these findings and found an additional benefit of lowered cholesterol. These studies show to get the benefits of weight loss with tea, frequent consumption is necessary to boost the body’s metabolism.

The black tea weight loss link is in part a by product of speeding up the body’s metabolism. Additionally, black tea can help block some of the fattening effects of carbohydrates. Oolong tea is particularly beneficial in this capacity.


Black tea can help with weight loss as a stress management as well. Often when people are under stress they turn to unhealthy snacking choices to soothe themselves and detract their mind from stressors. This mindless snacking can quickly lead to weight gain. A study done by University College London found tea drinkers were able to shake of stress more quickly than their non tea drinking counterparts. The study also found people who drank black tea four to six times a week had lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in their bloodstreams after a stressful event. Black tea may be beneficial as a weight loss aid by helping keep stress levels in control and emotional eating binges at bay.

Black tea detoxifies the body and that can help with weight loss efforts, too. Cleansing the body of harmful chemicals known as free radicals with antioxidants called polyphenols, black tea is a detoxing power house. Packed with ten times the amount of free radical fighting polyphenols than in most fruits and vegetables, drinking black tea cleanses and renews your body effectively. So well, John Weisburger the Ph.D. at the Institute for Cancer Prevention who first reported findings that black tea modifies metabolism to detoxify free radicals says he drinks up to ten cups of black tea a day.

There are other components of black tea aiding in weight loss that are as of yet unknown. Researchers are studying the links between black tea and weight loss when coupled with other supplements and combinations to determine how to derive the most benefits from black tea.

Right now, it is unclear how black tea alone or in what combinations with other nutritional supplements yields the greatest success in aiding weight loss, but research is there to prove benefits exist. In addition to the free radical fighting polyphenols, black tea contains caffeine, catechins, flavonoids, and amino acids all ingredients known to have effects on the brain. Black tea is packed with ingredients that can assist in weight loss goals and help keep you healthy and well.

From such a humble little plant comes great benefit in black tea. Adding black tea into your daily routine can help you keep your weight and stress in check to achieve your weight loss goals. The researchers beginning with the question can black tea help you lose weight have just begun to chip away at finding all the hidden treasures and benefits black tea offers.

From ancient sixth century B.C. China to modern times, the tea leaf has offered numerous health and dietary uses for those who drink it regularly. With a wide variety of blends and brands available, you should have no problem finding a black tea you enjoy drinking. Have a cup in the morning with a healthy breakfast to start the day off right and continue to sip black tea as the day progresses. Enjoy a relaxing cup of a nighttime black tea blend to soothe your nerves and send you off to sleep and let the magic found in the leaves of black tea work for you.


About Sara

Sara is head writer and editor for TimeForTheNewYou.com. She's a health enthusiast and has been writing about health and weight loss related issues for more than 4 years. She's also the mother of a beautiful boy named Sam.

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