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Intermittent fasting, endorsed by Dr Jason Fung[1] in his seminal work, "The Obesity Code," stands as a pragmatic approach to weight reduction—an aspect I routinely discuss with my patients. Alongside lifestyle modifications, including maintaining a diet rich in 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables, adopting a low-carbohydrate diet, and incorporating aerobic and weight lifting exercises, medications like oral hypoglycemic agents and injectables are considered as needed. My professional commitment extends to advocating for gut health, recognizing its pivotal role in overall well-being. Processed foods and excessive carbohydrates, influencing gut-brain health through dysbiosis, significantly increase the risks of weight gain and elevated blood glucose levels by promoting bad bacteria while suppressing beneficial ones.
In the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, many individuals gravitate towards fasting for weight management and overall well-being. As a physician prioritizing evidence-based practices, this blog discusses the scientific merits of herbal teas for weight loss during fasting, emphasizing their effectiveness in reducing bloating. The beauty of incorporating herbal teas lies in their multifaceted impact on both the physical and mental aspects of fasting, contributing to a sense of tranquility and mindfulness. By emphasizing the natural properties of herbal blends, we embrace a holistic approach to wellness that extends beyond mere weight management.
Teas and herbal infusions, also known as tisanes, play a pivotal role in supporting weight loss during fasting, substantiated by compelling scientific evidence. Let's explore the benefits of detox teas for weight loss:
Lower Blood Glucose and Lipids
Numerous studies highlight the potential of specific teas to lower blood glucose and lipids by inhibiting their absorption in the gut. Polyphenols in tea contribute to improved blood sugar and lipid management.
Improved Digestion
Several herbs commonly used in teas for weight loss are believed to enhance digestion, providing a soothing effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Notable teas, herbs and spices include:
Enhanced Metabolism and Toxin Excretion
Fasting Tea contains bioactive compounds that boost metabolism and aid toxin elimination from the gut. Dandelion extract stimulates detoxification, contributing to effective weight management during fasting.
Prebiotic Properties & Reduction of Gut Dysbiosis
Teas and Herbal teas act as prebiotics, fostering an environment for healthy gut bacteria, suppressing bad gut bacteria and improving gut health.
Lower Hunger Levels, Satiety and Appetite Control
Herbal teas induce a feeling of fullness, aiding in appetite control during and after fasting periods. They suppress appetite and promote satiety.
Hydration with Zero Calories
Fasting Teas and Herbal Infusion provide calorie-free hydration, making them an ideal choice during fasting. To point it out, tea is hydrating while coffee which is commonly used in intermittent fasting is a weak diuretic and often dehydrating.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties
Many herbal teas exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties crucial for supporting the body's natural detoxification processes.
Reduced Bloating
Herbal teas for bloating, with their digestive benefits and anti-inflammatory properties, contribute to reducing bloating.
In summary, incorporating herbal teas into a fasting routine aligns with scientifically validated benefits, encompassing improved metabolism, digestion, and gut health. The evidence supporting their potential to lower blood glucose and lipids, induce satiety and provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects establishes herbal teas as valuable allies in the pursuit of weight loss during fasting.
Lavish blue tea has a wonderful green tea blend with detox herbs and spices such as ginger, lemongrass and peppermint. It is delicious and the best tea for intermittent fasting as it will soothe your tummy, and reduce hunger and also bloating. Butterfly blue pea flowers and green tea are rich in antioxidants and excellent free radical scavengers helping in essential cellular repair.
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With turmeric, ginger, wild cinnamon and black pepper, this tea is full of superb health benefits. Turmeric reduces inflammation and is a powerful antioxidant and adaptogen, ginger aids with digestion, wild cinnamon equilibrates blood sugars and black pepper increases absorption tremendously. These detox herbs and spices are just what you need to glow! If you are not a turmeric lover but are looking for a tea which is as beneficial, I would recommend our Wild Cinnamon Latte with cinnamon, ashwagandha, and black cardamom, this cinnamon tea blend is perfect for intermittent fasting.
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Turmeric and green tea in a delightful balance for health, wellness, reduction of inflammation and an antioxidant boost creating the best tea for intermittent fasting. Try our therapeutic Turmeric Green tea!
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Often while you are intermittent fasting you want something warm, and cozy that helps with detox and digestion without the calories of milk and sugar. Our Floral Fusion Green Chai with green tea, marigold, lavender and chai spices provides just that.
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Chamomile tea relieves stress, reduces stomach aches and aids smooth muscle relaxation, chamomile is an excellent weight loss tea, good for the gut and also your sleep.
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Simple and delicious both ginger and lemongrass are excellent for detox, and digestion and their infusion is full of health benefits for your wellness. Ginger and lemongrass tea is excellent for the belly but often can be too pungent by itself, so the yummy citrus balance by lemongrass will enhance your experience.
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Green tea polyphenols are excellent antioxidants but also help reduce the absorption of glucose and lipids from the gut and enhance their metabolism. They are also wonderful prebiotics and create a conducive environment for healthy bacteria to grow improving gut-brain dysbiosis. Although green tea polyphenols are most studied, white tea, black tea, oolong tea and pu-erh teas have similar health benefits so you will have a wide variety of teas to choose from for weight loss and alleviation of bloating.
Try our Tea Aficionado Combo of 4 Teas including Darjeeling Golden Summer Muscatel + Nilgiri Green Twirl + Assam Golden Needle + Meghalaya Silk Cloud
Shop Now: Nilgiri Green Tea & Darjeeling Green Tea
Tea with its excellent health benefits is perfect to incorporate into your fasting routine. As it is hydrating, helps focus, brings calm has zero calories and often alleviates hunger you can sip on tea during your fast and even once you break it. If you enjoy caffeine, have your caffeinated teas such as Green Teas, Lavish Blue Tea, Turmeric Green Tea, Floral Fusion Chai in the morning and stop caffeinated teas around noon to switch to caffeine-free teas such as Chamomile, Ginger Lemongrass Tea, Cleansing Golden Latte. and Wild Cinnamon Latte.
I recommend steeping the tea and having it as is rather than with milk and sugar as this would increase blood glucose. Our Lavish Blue Tea or Ginger Lemongrass Tea with or without a dash of lime are extremely refreshing when iced or a single origin Black Tea or Green Teas are so sublime when cold brewed.
When you think of tea for weight loss, it is not the tea itself that helps you shed the weight, and the weight loss is the result of the work you put in - so carb restriction, overall calorie reduction, possibly intermittent fasting, exercise and possibly working with an obesity medicine practitioner to see if you are someone who would be helped with one of the new weight loss medications.
Tea for intermittent fasting is definitely a great tool though as they have a myriad of help benefits that will help you during the process. If you do not like classical teas, try blends with herbs and spices that also have beneficial and complementary properties. The infusions will be healthy as well as flavorful. There is not a best tea for fasting, but I believe a wide variety of teas with excellent health benefits for you to choose from based on your health needs and what your palate desires.
Have Questions? We've Got Answers!
The best time to drink green tea for weight loss is generally in the morning or before meals as it inhibits the absorption of glucose and lipids from the gut as well as boosts metabolism.
Although the catechin in green teas is better studied, both green and black tea contain tea polyphenol compounds that may aid in weight loss.
This has not been studied and I believe moderation is the key. Aim for 1-2 cups a day and possibly during the early part of the day, otherwise might interfere with sleep at night.
The best green tea is based on personal preference and if you like a classical green tea versus a blend. Irrespective, choose a high-quality green tea for maximal health benefits and optimal flavor.
Peppermint tea is known to relax the smooth muscles of the stomach, reduce digestive discomfort, and alleviate bloating. Ginger tea is another excellent option, as it may aid digestion and reduce bloating.
Create a detox tea by combining ingredients known for their cleansing properties. You can have a green tea base for caffeine or if you want to have it caffeine free enjoy an infusion without green tea. Add sliced ginger, fresh mint, lemon, and maybe some spices like cardamom and cloves and steep in near-boiling water for 5-7 minutes, strain and enjoy. This blend will support detoxification and weight loss.
If you are using intermittent fasting as a tool for weight loss please do not be discouraged if it does not work out. Sometimes it's not you, it is your metabolism and your body type that might lead to difficulties losing weight. Before you do an extremely fast, austere diet, detox process, drink teas for weight loss, or perform heavy exercises, seek help from a medical practitioner or obesity medicine certified physician. Teas and herbal infusions can definitely be complimentary but if you have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding please discuss with a health care provider before consuming teas or herbal blends as some ingredients might be contraindicated or have side effects. There have been rare cases of severe hyponatremia (low sodium) and acute liver failure noted when people have consumed large quantities of detox teas. In general, I recommend maintaining hydration, pairing teas with a balanced diet, and creating a sustainable exercise routine while you undertake your intermittent fasting journey.
Tea fasting can be a rejuvenating experience when approached mindfully.
In conclusion, the integration of herbal teas into an intermittent fasting routine offers a holistic approach to weight loss and the reduction of bloating. Teas not only contribute to enhanced metabolism and digestion but also play a crucial role in lowering blood glucose and lipids. The prebiotic properties of these teas foster a healthy gut environment, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing gut dysbiosis.
Moreover, herbal teas induce a sense of fullness, helping control appetite during fasting periods, and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties support the body's natural detoxification processes. The variety of teas recommended, each with its unique health benefits, provides options for individuals with diverse preferences and health needs.
When incorporating teas into a fasting routine, it's important to consider the timing and type of tea consumed. Caffeinated teas like Green Tea are recommended in the morning, while caffeine-free options like Chamomile and Ginger Lemongrass are suitable for later in the day. Maintaining hydration, avoiding the addition of milk and sugar, and being mindful of individual preferences contribute to a successful tea-fasting experience.
Finally, the blog emphasizes the importance of seeking medical advice before embarking on any fasting or detox regimen, especially for individuals with medical conditions, and pregnant or breastfeeding individuals. While herbal teas can complement a fasting journey, they should be part of a balanced approach that includes hydration, a nutritious diet, and a sustainable exercise routine. Tea fasting, when approached with mindfulness and consideration for individual health, can be a rejuvenating and beneficial experience.
Sources:
Mauro Serafini, Health Benefits of Tea, Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects
Francesco Di Meo, Curcumin, Gut Microbiota, and Neuroprotection, Nutrients, Oct 2019
