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Move over, green tea.
There’s another tea type that is just as amazing at boosting your metabolism, helping to burn fat, and keeping you on track to meet your weight loss goals.
This is the one metabolism-boosting tea that gets rid of back and stomach fat, according to a dietitian.
Black Tea
You’re already drinking green and reaping its many antioxidant benefits. That’s great — but there’s another tea worthy of your consideration.
According to research, black tea can help prevent weight gain and boost your metabolism.
The key fat-burning ingredient found in black tea is polyphenols, which inhibited weight gain in rats used in this study.
The way the tea works is by decreasing bacteria in the body that is associated with obesity and increasing the type of bacteria connected to lean body mass.
According to lead study author Susanne Henning, PhD in a press release.: “The results suggest that both green and black teas are prebiotics, substances that induce the growth of good microorganisms that contribute to a person’s well-being.”
Even though black tea still hasn’t been the focus of studies like green tea, Jonathan Valdez, registered dietitian and owner of Genki Nutrition, told Byrdie: "To a lesser degree, black tea has been studied and appears to work more in the intestine by preventing the fat absorption versus green tea. Both teas play a role in microbial gut health leading to a anti-obese environment.”
No matter which tea type you prefer, the benefits of drinking tea — any tea — may be more important than choosing specific types of tea.
According to Valdez: "Overall, whether it be green tea, black tea, white tea, or lemon tea, they all have zero calories and provide hydration, which can be an opportunity to assist with weight loss versus consuming sugary beverages or alcohol. If you want a little antioxidant water, tea is a nice choice and if you can't tolerate coffee, tea is a perfect substitute."
And, if you are loyal to your green tea, you’ll be happy to know: the same study that focused on the benefits of black tea also included decaffeinated green tea.
So — green or black — sip away!
