7 Best Herbal Teas For Weight Loss

The weight loss industry has become a big business... even herbal tea manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon at this epidemic phenomenon. 7 best herbal teas for weight loss explores the nature and 'actions' of popular herbal tea blends that help with weight loss and weight control.

Having to consider losing weight and hearing that four lettered word... D-I-E-T... is something that makes the majority of us cringe with despair. Whether it's starving you on the latest fad diet, or spending ridiculous amounts of money on the newest weight loss program - that make big (yet mostly false) claims to radically reduce your weight in the quickest amount of time - most of us will succumb to this false ideology that looking slim is 'in'.

Herbal teas are a cheaper and healthier alternative to helping with weight loss. But don't be fooled for one second that just solely drinking herbal teas will achieve this. The truth is, there is no magic drink, or pill, or lotion or potion for that matter that can help you lose weight without much effort on your part. The keyword is 'helping' and herbal teas are considered an excellent tonic for aiding weight control and in maintaining a healthy body.

The mantra of regular exercise and a balanced diet may be hard work to fight the bulge but at least it wouldn't compromise your health in the long run.

Dandelion

Known as the "little plant that roars", it has natural diuretic and laxative properties to remove water and food weight before digestion begins and help your body reduce the feeling of 'feeling bloated'. Many avid dieters believe that diarrhea keeps their bodies from absorbing calories or fat but this is not the case and could lead to dehydration and dependency on laxatives. Dandelion is also a beneficial aid for digestion and because of its mild laxative properties, it can help in bowel movements to become more regular.

Chai Tea

Chai tea for weight loss has been debated by many experts. Some individuals are not favored with the idea that indeed Chai tea can help you sculpt your body and remove excess weight. They would say that the concoction would rather make you gain extra calories due to the milk and sugar added in the blending.

Chai tea is basically a combination of black tea, milk, honey and other herbs that are beneficial to your body. If Chai uses sugar instead of honey as a sweetener, then perhaps you have the reason to doubt its effectiveness in aiding weight loss.

Green Tea

Despite not being classed as a herbal tea (as its leaves come from the actual tea plant 'camellia sinensis'), Green Tea has had the most extensive research carried out that has been proven to be very effective in weight loss. This is due to the 'polyphenol' component which is responsible for its slimming effects. It also contains caffeine which gives the drink its stimulant effects and can increase metabolism which helps to burn fat and calories. It is these reasons why the ingredients in Green Tea are widely used in popular diet pills.

Those suffering from anemia should take caution when drinking Green Tea, as it could lead to a reduction in iron absorption in your body which could cause iron deficiency.

Guarana

Guarana's main ingredient is 'guaranine' which is identical to caffeine. It can act as a stimulant to accelerate body functions such as increasing the heart rate, digestion, and respiration due to its caffeine content. It is also a diuretic and can stimulate the nervous system and help you fight depression and cope with stress, thus it may help you to avoid 'emotional eating' which is one of the main causes of weight gain. Due to its high caffeine content, those suffering from sleep disorders and anxiety problems should be wary when taking this in large doses.

Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia Gordonii is known as a 'natural appetite suppressor' and has been used for centuries by South African Khoisan herders to endure long periods without food or water, whilst they were hunting and gathering. It contains the active ingredient, known as P57 which is responsible for appetite suppression that can "fool" the mind into thinking the stomach is full so you are not tempted to snack as much. Caution should be taken as long-term use could lead to addiction and malnutrition.

Siberian Ginseng

It is known as the "king of tonics", Siberian Ginseng is a popular herb to use for its ability to stabilize blood sugar levels thus reducing the desire to eat sugar and sweets. However, people who suffer from high blood pressure, narcolepsy (frequent and uncontrollable deep sleep) or taking blood-thinning drugs should avoid it.

It can stimulate the nervous system and act on the pituitary and adrenal glands to give you stamina and help combat fatigue. An increase in stamina means you can work out for longer without feeling tired! Also used to treat nervous disorders, exhaustion, strengthen organs, increases mental ability and a powerful antidote to stress and problems with aging.

Camellia Sinensis

The Camellia sinensis contains a rich dosage of antioxidants, essential nutrients like the vitamins and minerals that are crucial to maintaining a healthy body.

The antioxidants present in this tea are the polyphenols. The polyphenols particularly the catechins inhibit your body from gaining weight. As a whole, the antioxidants protect you from free radicals and from different health issues like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, rheumatism, cholesterol, high blood sugar level, impaired immune system, and even cancers.