A review of studies published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that regular tea drinkers have slimmer waists.
After looking at various studies and meta-analyses on the effects that green, white, and oolong tea have on body weight, Dutch researchers discovered that natural tea ingredients such as catching and caffeine help increase energy expenditure of a person, or the calories that are burned. The compounds also increase fat oxidation (fat breakdown) in the body.
Not to mention, tea is great for your gut, says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy Science and director of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Science is continually showing how certain foods can increase good and bad gut bacteria, or flora, and drinking tea accomplishes the former.
Consider this: Drinking a cup or two of tea a day has been shown to improve mood, alertness, and reduce the risk of several diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and diabetes. And no, it doesn't matter what kind of tea you drink. "Diversity makes a difference," he says. Dr Blumberg. “It's a bit of an adventure to go out and find a tea you want.”
It's important to note that these results are modest when not combined with a healthy diet and exercise, says Dr. Blumberg, especially when it comes to weight loss. Think of drinking tea more as a way to boost your diet and overall health.