Summer is here, and whether you’re planning a vacation or just want to feel free in your summer clothes, you might be considering losing a few extra pounds.
You’re not the only one, though. With lighter days, warmer weather and more time spent outdoors, more people sharpen their focus towards their exercise and diet. In fact, on average, around 43% of the British population exercise in the summer, which is one of the most popular times of the year.
Apart from exercise, many people are switching to fad diets and even trying new drinks to shift off weight quickly and look lean, one of which is skinny tea. You may even have seen skinny tummy tea marketed online and in your local supermarkets; there are many different types.
But is skinny tummy tea the real deal? Explore this tea with us in detail below.
What is skinny tea?
Like its name suggests, skinny tea is a form of tea that’s branded in different ways, providing the consumer with a message: “They will burn fat with this tea.” Now, depending on the blend and the seller, skinny tea often combines green and oolong tea.
Many of these skinny teas are marketed to help burn fat and as a weight loss aid. They’re often targeted at people who want a shortcut solution to weight loss. Skinny teas are also sometimes marketed as detox teas or even ‘tea toxes’.
There are likely many radical names floating about in the tea aisle in your local supermarket. But the truth is, no matter how they’re marketed or the claims they make, there’s no such drink as skinny tea. In fact, the only reason they may work for a brief period is that some of their ingredients may contain natural diuretics and laxatives, which can be dangerous if drunk in high doses.
Though it might be a quick and easy solution, there are a lot of side effects associated with them, causing dehydration and a laxative dependency.
What is the best tea to drink for weight loss?
Let’s get it straight: there are no herbal teas that will directly make you lose weight. Whether you want to lose weight, become lean or feel a bit more lighter, there’s no quick fix. It’s simply a matter of science exercise and calories in vs calories out.
You have to be in a deficit to lose weight.
Herbal teas however are great to support your health and fitness journey, as they are low in calories and contain many compounds which can support your metabolism. You can think of them as a complimentary drink to consume on your fat loss journey, not a skinny tea.
So, if you’re looking for a supportive herbal tea for weight loss, consider the following teas:
Green Tea
Green tea is often seen as fat-burning due to its bioactive substances, EGCG and caffeine, which can help speed up your metabolism and break down fat cells. EGCG, in particular, thought it could help breakdown the hormone norepinephrine, supporting the fat breakdown process. Green tea is also thought to suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness.
Garcinia cambogia & guarana
In many types of branded “skinny tummy tea”, you might find Garcinia cambogia & guarana in the blend. This it’s knwon to help with appetite suppression, alleviate bowel issues, help with fat burning and support your blood sugar.
Support your slimming journey with: NutraTrim our low caffeine herbal tea containing Garcinia cambogia & guaranas, assisting with fat metabolism and weight management.
Ginger
Ginger contains a compound called gingerol, which promotes thermogenesis in the body. This process encourages more heat and energy, potentially boosting metabolism. Gingerol is also known to support the body’s quick digestion of food through the colon, improving gut health.
Ginger also is high in antioxidants, which help fight oxidative stress and inflammation.
While these don’t directly solve weight loss, they help make the slimming journey easier by easing the other side effects of being overweight. A meta-analysis has also shown that ginger may positively affect body weight and belly fat (hip-to-waist ratio). Yet more research is needed to support this.
Support your slimming journey with: Ginseng & Ginger a caffeine free herbal tea which helps support energy levels and digestion.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is another ingredient to look for in tea to lose weight. Again, it does not solve weight loss, but it can support your metabolic processes and potentially help with fat loss. In particular, it contains polyphenolic compounds that help support the digestion of carbohydrates to glucose, helping with the fat-burning process.
It also contains a flavonoid called quertic, which has anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the likelihood of bloating and making you feel slimmer. It also has diuretic effects on your body, similar to green tea.
Support your slimming journey with: Lemongrass & Ginger a caffeine-free herbal tea which facilitates digestion and supports normal function of your intestinal tract.
Liquorice
When you think of getting slim, liquorice isn’t the first ingredient that’s likely to arise in your mind, but liquorice root has powerful benefits. While it’s not scientifically proven, many people mention how liquorice root can reduce appetite. Moreover, it contains flavonoids, which may help reduce the build-up of fat in your body by controlling your blood sugar and insulin levels and reducing inflammation.
Support your slimming journey with: Liquorice & Cinnamon a caffeine-free tea which helps maintain energy levels support blood sugar levels and weight.
The verdict on skinny tummy tea
Overall, there’s no such tea for a flat tummy. Anything you see in the supermarket or advertised online as a skinny tummy tea or fat burning tea can be dangerous. Often, many ingredients are high in caffeine and diuretics, causing dehydration and stress on your kidneys.
If you’re looking to lose weight or have a flat tummy this summer, stick to a healthy diet, exercise, and focus on your calorie intake. To support you on this journey, there are weight loss herbal teas that contain ingredients that can help with your metabolism and feelings of fullness.
However, to burn fat effectively, involves a combination of consistent commitment towards living a healthy lifestyle and diet.
Looking for further support on your fitness journey? Check out our post on the best herbal tea for stamina.
