Organic Black Tea & Weight Loss

People have been drinking tea made from the leave of the Camellia sinensis plant for thousands of years. As a testament to its popularity, Americans spent nearly $7 billion on tea alone in 2007, and the numbers continue to rise. Preliminary studies have suggested that black tea has many health benefits, including reducing certain types of cancers, unwanted weight and cholesterol. Both black tea and pu-erh black tea may have properties that promote weight loss due to antioxidants, caffeine and reduction in cortisol in drinkers.

Black Tea for Weight Loss?

• Those practicing alternative medicine have long touted the benefits of tea. Only recently have there been studies suggesting scientific evidence that tea is good for you and that it may help with weight loss. A recent study published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism showed that adults who drink pu-erh (a type of black tea) not only lost weight but also reduced their overall cholesterol, including their "bad" cholesterol.

  There may be several reasons for weight loss. The first is that tea is a diuretic, meaning that it causes you to urinate more, thus losing more water weight. The second is that tea has caffeine in it---black tea has the highest caffeine of all the teas---thus increasing your body's metabolism and helping it burn fat. Lastly, black tea appears to inhibit absorption of sugar in the body and reduces the glucose levels in the bloodstream.

Black Tea or Pu-erh---What's the Difference?

• Studies have been done with both black tea and a type of black tea known as pu-erh. Black tea is tea leaves that have been oxidized. Pu-erh is a special tea where the tea is oxidized and aged and then pressed into cakes. Pu-erh has been known to be aged for years, the older the pu-erh, the more costly.

  Both types of teas have distinctive tastes. Black tea flavor varies widely according to location and grade. For example, a first flush Darjeeling will taste vastly different than a tea from the Fuijan province. Pu-erh come primarily from China and has a small but strong following. It will most likely be a tea you either like or don't. The choice should be based primarily on taste and what you're willing to drink. An expensive tin of pu-erh will not help you lose weight sitting on the shelf.

Organic or Not?

• Many tea connoisseurs believe that it is hard, if not impossible, to find a high grade of organic tea. Most tea plantations use some form of chemicals either for pesticides or fertilizers, however, this is changing with the demand for organic foods. The less chemicals added to your tea, the healthier you are likely to be, so stick with organic tea if you can.

Bagged or Loose?

• As convenient and popular as bagged tea is, most bagged tea is made from the cheapest tea available. The reason is simple: the most of the tea that goes into the bag isn't a whole leaf but is what is often left over after the whole leaves are processed. The "good stuff" is the whole leaf teas which are usually too big to fit into a teabag.

  That doesn't mean that all teabags are bad. Some tea companies are now putting whole leaf tea in larger, pyramid-shaped bags intended to allow the whole leaves to expand. But if you have a choice, skip the bag and go with loose tea.

Other Health Benefits of Black Tea

• Other potential health benefits of black tea include improved breathing for asthma sufferers, prevention of certain cancers, especially colon cancer, prevention of osteoporosis, anti-cavity properties, stress reduction, memory enhancement, and some antibiotic properties. These claims have not been substantiated, although current research looks promising.

How Much; How Often?

• You should consult your physician before attempting any diet plan. Most people in research studies seemed to obtain weight loss benefit by drinking at least five cups of tea a day. The maximum dosage recommended is eight cups a day.