Upon looking into dieting teas, and teas for slimming down, I found a variety of things. As an avid tea drinker myself, I was excited to rush out and try a variety of new teas to test the results, but I my enthusiasm dwindled after reading some of the information out there. I hope to pass on some of the benefits of teas, how different teas work for your body, and the warning signs and side effects associated with its improper consumption.

So What’s In Tea Anyway

The antioxidants in green tea, primarily polyphenols called EGCG, are thought to be responsible for the unique health benefits of a green tea diet. Drinking fresh loose leaf green tea not only tastes great, but is a great regular addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle. So, why do you lose weight when you drink tea? Tea contains caffeine, flavanol, polypheonls, vitamins, and other things that promote fat oxidation. Fat oxidation means fat burning, and this means losing weight. A 2006 Northwestern University study found that oolong tea and puerh tea lower the amount of blood lipids. But, it’s also what is not in tea that adds to the equation resulting in weight loss. Tea, by itself, has no calories. If one substituted a cup of tea in the morning and afternoon in place of a Starbucks espresso drink, they could be saving themselves more than 500 calories a day (360 calories for a grande peppermint mocha and 190 calories for a caffe latte), just on calories from coffee drinks.

Oolong Tea

There are three major kinds of tea: green tea, black tea and oolong tea or qīngchá meaning “blue-green tea” in Chinese. You have probably already seen or heard of green and black teas. Jasmine green teas and Earl Grey black teas are staples, but there is a wide variety of each. Oolong teas, are one of the most popular teas served in Chinese restaurants, and are commonly brewed to be strong, with the bitterness leaving a sweet aftertaste. In Japan, oolong tea is widely known as the slimming tea, and called the “looks tea”. A recent study has shown that a 300 ml cup of oolong tea is equal to a fast 15 minutes walk. It is rich with iron, calcium, and other important substances like polyphenol, an activator of the enzyme responsible for dissolving triglycerides in the blood, and an effective substance in controlling obesity and excessive poundage. Indeed, this tea is an all natural weight loss product with no side effects. Oolong tea comes in many aromas and flavors that are appreciated for their sweet and flowery qualities.

Puerh Tea

Puerh or pu-erh tea is sometimes classified as an aged green tea, and is made from a large leaf variation of Camellia sinesis. Puerh’s health benefits include the lowering of blood lipids, lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol, and it has slimming qualities. Puerh Tea is a fully fermented tea, and it is unique because through the fermentation process, it can improve the enzyme decomposition functions of fat. In particular, it has proven to inhibit the accumulation of abdominal fat.

Ma Huang Tea

Ma Huang tea is an ancient Chinese stimulant tea that has organic forms of ephedra. This tea has been shown to increased heart rate even at recommended levels of dosage. Ma Huang has traditionally been used as a treatment for respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, or nasal congestion, but can be used to relieve cough associated with colds as well.

Herbal Teas & Laxatives

The Dangers

There are dangers associated with the use of slimming teas.

While many dieters take slimming teas because they believe that frequent bowel movements will prevent the food they eat from being absorbed, this is not the case. According to an article in FDA Consumer Magazine, studies show laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly reduce absorption of calories. This is because the laxatives do not work on the small intestine, where calories are absorbed, but rather on the colon, the lower end of the bowel. To read more, check out: Tea Advisor Panel.

Where to Get These Fancy Teas?

“I buy high quality tea from two trusted places on the internet. If you are looking for variety or are looking to try different types of tea, then I recommend purchasing from Adagio Teas. If you already know what kind of tea you want, I recommend that you just purchase from Amazon, as they are tax free and hassle free.”
- Thaya Kareeson