It may also help you keep your weight at a healthier level. In one older study, adults who were overweight or obese who took a hibiscus extract for 12 weeks had reduced body weight, body mass index, body fat, and hip-to-waist ratio compared with a control group. The researchers attributed those perks to the plant compounds in the hibiscus extract.
Unfortunately, current research is limited to hibiscus extract. More research with liquid tea is needed before scientists can make any conclusions about its effectiveness for weight loss.
“There is no magic elixir for weight loss,” Koszyk says. “Drinking tea can help improve hydration and increase metabolism, but for sustainable weight management, you need to make dietary and lifestyle changes.”
Robust Research on Tea and Weight Loss Is Lacking
Many studies look at the effects of tea in capsule or tablet form, which may provide study participants with a more concentrated dose of plant compounds like EGCG than a typical bag of tea would. Other studies don’t use humans, and if they do, the population sizes are on the smaller side. These are major limitations, so more large studies in humans using brewed tea are needed before scientists understand and can better determine any potential weight loss benefits for people.
Regardless, health experts agree that plain, unsweetened brewed tea is generally healthy. Go ahead and prepare that cup.
Read the full article here
