Herbal teas can’t replace a healthy diet and regular movement. But they might be able to support your weight loss efforts. Discover more with our list of fat-burning herbal teas.
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Despite what you might think from reading the front pages of many lifestyle magazines, fat is not always a bad thing. We need some fat in our diets for our bodies to be able to function properly.
Fat helps us absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin A. It is a source of energy and is necessary for our muscles to work and our blood to clot. We need it to build cell membranes and the sheaths that surround our nerves.
Long gone are the days when fat was considered the universal enemy of good health. These days, we know a lot more about how different fats impact our bodies. Good fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are an important part of a balanced diet, as long as we’re eating them in the right amounts.
That said, some fats are significantly more dangerous for our health. The worst culprits are trans fats, but a diet that’s high in saturated fat can also cause problems.
If you eat a lot of saturated fats, you’ll likely see a rise in your LDL cholesterol levels. As you might know, this type of cholesterol is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.
Eating a lot of saturated fats can also raise our levels of triglycerides, another type of fat that contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
So, while it definitely isn’t the case that all fats are bad, we can all benefit from being mindful of how we manage the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in our blood – known as our blood lipid levels.
Of course, eating a diet that is high in saturated fat can also lead to weight gain.
Drinking herbal tea isn’t a magic wand that will lower blood lipid levels or banish unwanted weight all on its own. But there are herbs that can help to support our efforts by increasing the rate at which our bodies burn fat.
Let’s take a look at some of those fat-burning herbal teas now.
1. Green Tea
Green tea is one of the most popular teas for fat-burning and weight management. It contains both caffeine, which is known to boost the rate at which our bodies burn fat, and a group of compounds called catechins.
Both caffeine and catechins encourage our bodies to produce more of a hormone called norepinephrine, which signals to our cells that they should release fat into our bloodstreams, so it can be broken down and used as an energy source.
2. Cinnamon
Another great herbal tea for fat-burning is cinnamon. This delicious spice is naturally sweet and comforting, which means it can often help us with food cravings. However, cinnamon’s real superpower is the effect it has on our blood lipid levels.
Studies show that cinnamon acts to lower our levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. It also reduces blood sugar levels, which is why much of the research into the benefits of cinnamon concentrates on its use in helping people with type 2 diabetes.
3. Ginger
Ginger is one of our favourite teas for nausea or for aching joints. But it can also be a useful one to turn to for fat-burning.
Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols, compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds also increase thermogenesis, which is the rate at which our bodies burn fat. As a result, ginger may help to reduce our lipid levels too.
4. Turmeric
You may already know that turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. A source of the antioxidant curcumin, turmeric is a popular herbal remedy for everything from joint pain to hay fever. And, of course, turmeric can also be an ally in burning fat.
Research indicates that turmeric helps to reduce our levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. And it might support weight loss too – turmeric increases the rate at which we burn fat and may even prevent fat tissue (adipose) from forming in the first place.
5. NutraTrim
At NutraTea, we specialise in combining herbs together to create supportive herbal tea blends that help you achieve your health goals. And when it comes to fat-burning and weight management, our star herbal tea blend is NutraTrim.
NutraTrim combines green tea with other fat-burning herbal tea ingredients like guarana, ginger, and cinnamon. We’ve also selected other herbs that reduce cravings, support blood sugar management, and help with digestion
6. NutraLipid
Another of our favourite fat-burning herbal tea blends is NutraLipid. Designed with cholesterol balance in mind, this herbal tea contains green tea, cinnamon, and turmeric, alongside other herbs that improve lipid metabolism and support your heart health.
