Understanding the health and weight loss benefits of drinking tea

May 21, 4:01 PMFitness ExaminerStefan Pinto

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The political upheaval known today as the American Revolution quite possibly manifested through a key event surrounding tea. The Boston Tea Party was a significant enough protest that it halted commerce, ultimately resulting in economic crisis and an all out war... all because tea was perspicuously dumped into the Boston Harbor.

According to the Tea Association of the USA, Americans consumed well over 50 billion servings of tea in 2007; which is over 2.25 billion gallons (based on statistics provided by the Tea Council of the USA). While some drink tea for simple enjoyment, the allure of this aromatic, infused leaf beverage is centuries old. A recent New York Times article, suggests that China’s southern Yunnan Province was where “humans [first] figured out that eating tea leaves or brewing a cup could be pleasant.”

Despite its fragrant aromas and sweet aftertaste, brewed tea has significant health benefits as well. Research also suggests that daily consumption can help us to not only lose weight, but prevent us from regaining weight. Study author, Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga, Ph.D, indicated that “when combined with caffeine, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), helps boost fat oxidation and resting metabolic rate.”

EGCG or Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), also known as Epigallocatechin 3-gallate, is the ester (an organic compound made by replacing the hydrogen of an acid) of epigallocatechin and gallic acid and a type of catechin. Catechins are polyphenol antioxidant compounds found in various fruits, chocolate/cocoa, wine and certain vegetables. The healthy attributes given to chocolate in recent studies are generally due to the catechin content. "The daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 weeks reduced body fat, which suggests that the ingestion of catechins might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity,” suggests information provided by Matt Storey a spokesperson for Premier Research Labs in Austin, TX.

Tea consumption for weight loss

The Journal of Nutrition, recently published that "antioxidant compounds in green tea could help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss,' this is according to a new study from the American Society of Nutrition. According to Rachel Rademacher, a spokesperson for Honest Tea, “green tea is a rich source of catechins, which are thought to play a beneficial role in reducing the risk of various diseases, including Alzheimer’s, certain cancers, cardiovascular and oral health.” She went on to suggest that “Honest Tea’s line of certified organic teas are leading antioxidant providers -- thanks to their +200mg of EGCG.” Indeed. Both of these teas are low in sugar and contain only 40 calories per serving. Recently named Men’s Health’s “Best Bottled Teas” because of their refreshing taste and high antioxidant levels. Incidentally, Honest Tea is Barack Obama’s tea beverage of choice.

Admittedly, I am an avid coffee drinker. My tea consumption consists of tea bags dunked in a pitcher filled with tap water and stored in the refrigerator. Couldn’t I very well gain the EGCG benefits in caplet form? Studies indicate that few EGCG supplements contain caffeine. Furthermore, “supplements of any sort are tricky business because they are not regulated by the FDA, and some reports have linked liver damage to green tea supplements. In short, it’s best to avoid supplements unless you have your doctor’s permission,” advises Tula Karras, SELF magazine Deputy Nutrition Director.

Karen Hochman, editorial director of TheNibble.com, an online magazine about specialty food, isn’t quite so sure about these weight loss findings and studies. “I’ve been drinking eight mugs of green tea daily for ten years, and have gotten progressively heavier.” Hmmm... anyway, Karen suggests that the weight loss claims are “alleged” as tea is a dieuretic, “you drink and pee off water weight.” I know, I know, we are all thinking Karen should stop, but she remains contrite, “stop drinking eight cups of tea a day and you gain back the water weight.”

Types of tea for weight loss

"From starting the morning with a brisk cup of black tea to iced tea with meals and a cup to relax with later in the day, tea is a perfect day-long beverage throughout the seasons," says Sally Shepard a representative with Newman's Own Organics. Packaged as Newman's Own Organics' Royal Tea, the brand carries a delicious Organic Black Tea and Organic Green Tea. ""For many, however, it just tastes good and is a versatile pick-me-up," she added.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that green tea extract is one of the most effective metabolism boosters that naturally occur in a plant or herb.The ShapeFit website suggests that a naturally occurring side-effect of green tea consumption is that of appetite suppression. Kris Bierek, president and founder of ShapeFit, recommends Chinese green tea as its “weight loss products release antioxidants into the blood stream and help burn fat faster while helping the body absorb calories and convert them directly into muscle or energy.“

“With research showing the potential link to weight loss, Oolong, a semi-oxidized tea, is gaining popularity in the U.S. The beverage is currently experiencing an increase in consumption as more and more consumers are becoming acquainted with its taste and potential health benefits,” said Rona Tison, senior vice president of corporate relations for ITO EN, Inc., a tea beverage company. News from the Tea Council of the USA have directly linked Oolong tea to weight loss. According to their own monitored study published in their monthly newsletter, Topline on Tea, “one hundred and two overweight, obese and morbidly obese participants drank the equivalent of four to five cups of Oolong tea a day for six weeks. The majority of all groups lost over 2.2 pounds of body weight. The obese and overweight participants also saw a 12% decrease in subcutaneous fat.” Certainly, these results vary and significantly increase when combined with daily exercise and proper nutrition. 

Sybil Smith, publisher of Lose Weight with Green Tea, drinks about seven to eight cups of hot caffeinated regular green tea throughout the day and claims to have lost over 25 pounds. Sybil admits that diet is critical, “I pay more attention to what I was actually eating; portion control and the avoidance of fast-food meals. Those changes accelerated the weight loss.” She recommends Celestial Seasonings Authentic green tea brand (incidentally research shows that this brand has the highest EGCG content of any brand).

Rooibos tea contains no caffeine, and provides plenty of health benefits that have made it a very popular alternative to tea in recent years. "Packed with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants, Rooibos tea is a natural and healthy choice," said Colleen Reasoner, Media Strategist for Coffee Bean Direct. She also recommends Japan Sencha (Green Tea) which contains theanine, "a unique amino acid found in the leaves of green tea, which contains antioxidants. This is said to help promote brain health."

Simply put, “the weight effects will be even better if the tea is unsweetened and if it's replacing caloric beverages such as soda,” suggests Shawn Talbott, author and producer of Killer at Large a documentary exploring the causes of and the solutions of the American obesity epidemic.

Loose or bottled?

"Ready to drink tea has only 5% of flavonoids compared with tea brewed fresh from loose leaf tea," writes Neeta Khanna, owner of online gourmet tea company, Language of the Leaf.  According to USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods, "green tea that comes ready to drink in a can or bottle has only 5% the flavonoid content of tea brewed fresh from loose-leaf tea." Khanna suggests that the likely reason for this is "that within a couple of hours of brewing, tea catechins begin to break down." She advises that loose tea is better than teabags, "more antioxidants with loose tea." Take a look at this informative "tea processing flow chart" courtesy of Benjamin Boland on Twitter (@benb)

Bryce Gruber works with Village Tea, a company specializing in loose teas. The brand uses all recycled packaging. Gruber comments that the teas are "a celebrity favorite for health benefits and super powerful antioxidants." Village Tea's Gentle Organic Lemon Ginger tea has a light and aromatic flavor, which comes from organically grown green tea, lemon flavors and ginger root.

Revolution Tea, an international premium, whole-leaf tea and beverage company, offers their teas in an innovative Infuser bag. "We knew that infused teas offered a more full-bodied flavor than traditional chopped teas in soggy paper tea bags," said a spokesperson for the company. The company changed the concept of a conventional tea bag, thereby retaining the "superior infused-tea taste." The teas are delicious, even the packaging is beautiful.

Health benefits of tea

But, did you know that drinking tea can be “healthier” than drinking water? Research suggests that drinking three or more cups of tea a day is as good for you as drinking plenty of water and may even have extra health benefits. These findings are not recent. Published over a decade ago, The New York Times found that "flavonoids are vitaminlike compounds that naturally occur in tea and in fruits and vegetables. They make blood cells called platelets less prone to clotting, and they also act as antioxidants, countering the artery-damaging potential of highly reactive free radical chemicals." Reduction of stroke risks aside, Khanna believes simply that “good tea is one of the few sensory indulgences your doctor would approve of.” She cites Mitchell Gaynor, MD, director of medical oncology at the world-renowned Strong Cancer Prevention Center in New York City and co-author of Dr. Gaynor's Cancer Prevention Program reference tea as “one of the single best cancer fighters you can put in your body."

“The current research being done on EGCG helps cells avoid becoming damaged and prematurely aged. Black tea is heart healthy, cancer protective and is a good substitute for the usual morning coffee routine,” according to the editors of SOBeFiT Magazine, a publication catering to the lifestyles of Miami residents, a city, a recent poll suggested as home to “the most attractive people in the United States.”

Dr. Eric Braverman, author of The Younger (Thinner) You Diet, believes that tea promotes the growth of new brain cells which promote weight loss in the body. He suggests that whichever type of tea you prefer, you need to drink a cup of tea, or more, after each meal to achieve the greatest affect, “by doing so, I believe that you can lose 5% more weight.

"Calm-A-Sutra" - Tea Scholarship Competition

Be sure to check back soon, for my “tea beverages of choice,” submitted by readers like yourself. And, if you’re of British descent, it’s three o’clock here, which means time for a delicious cup of tea. Until then, here is a cheeky YouTube clip of "Calm-A-Sutra," a Tea Scholarship Competition put on by the Tea Council of the USA last year. The Council is currently holding the competition again this year for a $15,000 scholarship. Celebrity spokesperson is two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Misty May-Treanor. Currently, deadline for entries is May 31, 2009. According to Jennifer Krosche, a spokesperson for the council, "this is the third year of the competition and it was developed as a way to educate a younger generation on the health benefits of tea, while providing one student a scholarship opportunity. We are most likely extending that date, but have not announced that yet." For more information, visit www.teausa.org/calmasutra or contact Pollock Communications (212) 941-1414 or the Tea Council: (212) 986-6998