Suppress appetite and burn fat. What teas will help you lose weight?

There are many teas that are recommended to be drunk today for weight loss. They have two main mechanisms of action. The first is appetite suppression. They suppress natural needs, a person eats less. The second mechanism is fat burning, or thermogenesis. This is a process through which the body releases heat and partially burns its own fats. Many are familiar with it: remember the feeling of warmth and heat that sometimes occurs after an overly spicy meal - this is a direct and obvious manifestation of thermogenesis. Usually it does not occur so intensely and noticeably, but in any case, this process actually prevents the synthesis of new fats in the body and promotes the burning of existing deposits. It is important to remember: relying only on tea in the fight against excess weight is wrong.

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Losing weight requires a comprehensive approach: eat less, give up sweet, carbohydrate and fatty foods, move more.

Teas without tea

Mate tea

The Indians of South America introduced this drink to the world. There is a special tea ceremony that requires a calabash, a vessel that tapers at the top, and a bombilla, a straw with a filter at the end. A third of the vessel is filled with mate tea leaves and filled with water at a temperature of 70°C. But you can brew mate like regular tea. It has a strong tonic effect, which is associated with xanthines - substances close to caffeine, but without its side effects. It suppresses appetite without causing harm.

Mate. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Ginger tea

The most famous tea for weight loss: ginger contains gingerol and shogaol - natural substances that stimulate thermogenesis in the body. Thanks to its warming properties, ginger tea is ideal in cold weather. It's easy to prepare. Take a piece of ginger root 1.5-2 cm in size, cut it into thin petals and brew with boiling water. You can add a slice of lemon and a little honey. After 15 minutes the tea is ready. Summer option: brew tea in a thermos not with boiling water, but just with hot water. After 12 hours, the ginger fat burner is ready.

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Green tea

Green tea contains catechins in large quantities. They inhibit the synthesis of fats in the liver and under the skin, and also stimulate thermogenesis. These are extremely useful substances that, among other things, protect the heart and blood vessels, and also prevent the development of cancer. But, in addition, green tea, being a strong stimulant, inhibits the feeling of hunger.

Masala

This is real Indian tea, but not the kind that comes in elephant packs. This is the name of the tea that Indians like to drink. Masala is made from black tea, milk, a mixture of various spices and herbs, and sugar. If you omit the last component, you will get the perfect fat-burning tea. After all, most spices and herbs contain a lot of substances that enhance thermogenesis. The strongest of them is found in pepper, it is called capsaicin. The effectiveness of capsaicin has been proven in many studies.

Masala. Photo: Shutterstock.com/Bon Appetit

Main types of herbs for weight loss

Herbs are classified according to their effects. There are:

1. Diuretics.
2. Laxatives.
3. Reducing appetite.
4. Fat burning.
5. Accelerating metabolism.

Each type has distinctive features, advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Appetite suppressants

Often, a person losing weight experiences a strong feeling of hunger. As a rule, this is due to improperly selected nutrition, when the body does not adequately receive the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for life.

Constantly feeling hungry, a person cannot concentrate on work, feels exhausted, distracted, and forgetful. This phenomenon is abnormal and requires immediate medical intervention.

Traditional medicine recommends in such cases infusions, decoctions or teas that suppress appetite. They are made from the following plants:

• marshmallow root;
• flax-seed;
• sesame.

These herbs themselves can be beneficial for the body. Flaxseed, for example, can replenish the body's daily requirement of Omega-3 fatty acids, and just a teaspoon is enough. Therefore, the listed plants can be added to vegetable salads, combined with main courses and vegetarian snacks. But herbal infusions that suppress appetite alone will not help you lose weight quickly.

Diuretics

As the name suggests, herbs in this category have a diuretic effect and promote fluid removal. Plants in this category include:

• medicinal chamomile;
• horsetail;
• burdock;
• plantain.

Taking diuretics without consulting a specialist is strictly prohibited. This is fraught with serious disruptions to the functioning of the genitourinary system.

To cleanse the body

Another type of herb has a laxative effect. They act on the intestines, promoting the excretion of feces from the body. These include:

• senna leaves;
• dandelion;
• anise;
• yarrow;
• hellebore.

It should be understood that taking decoctions or extracts of the listed herbs can provoke serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. You can take laxatives only with your doctor's permission.

Metabolism stimulation

On pharmacy shelves you can also find herbal teas labeled “To speed up metabolism.” It should be said right away: not a single decoction is capable of stimulating the processes occurring in the body. Therefore, such packaging is just a marketing ploy. Taking decoctions of such herbs is not recommended. In the best case, someone losing weight will not feel any effect, in the worst case, they will get serious problems with the body.

But to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, you can add anise or dill seeds, a little ginger, and red pepper to your food.

Fat burning

Fat-burning plants are believed to help burn fat. Decoctions based on them are often prepared at home. The following herbs fall into this category:

• anise;
• parsley;
• mint;
• plantain;
• cinnamon;
• rose hip;
• flax seeds.

Traditional healers are convinced that eating these plants helps break down lipids, as well as speed up metabolism. However, they will not help you lose weight on their own. However, the listed herbs can be added to food in small quantities as they are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Lowering glucose levels

Plants of this category in folk medicine include:

• centaury;
• calamus;
• flax seeds;
• mulberry;
• bearberry;
• blueberry leaves.

Doctors are convinced that decoctions based on these herbs can lower blood sugar levels, thereby reducing appetite, as well as cravings for “forbidden” foods. There are currently no scientific studies concerning this issue. Therefore, you should be careful with teas based on the listed plants, especially for people with diabetes.

How to make masala tea

Take the following ingredients:

• Black tea 3 tsp.
• Water 1 liter
• Milk 1 liter
• Cloves 4 pcs.
• Allspice 4 peas
• Cinnamon 1 stick
• Cardamom 10 grains
• Star anise 2 stars
• Nutmeg 1 pc.
• Pepper 5 peas
• Ginger root 3-5 cm

1. Grind all the spices and herbs and mix them.

2. Bring milk to a boil and add all the spices. Stir them and simmer in milk over very low heat for 3-5 minutes. Remove the milk from the heat, close the lid and leave to steep for 5 minutes.

3. Brew regular tea and pour it into the milk, then stir. You can strain the drink to remove some of the spices and herbs.

4. It’s better to drink without sugar, but if you want to sweeten it, add honey.

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Not only teas

There are many other drinks that have fat-burning or appetite-suppressing effects. We have selected the most delicious of them.

Coffee

Regular black coffee prevents weight gain. Its effect is twofold, and both effects are associated with caffeine. Firstly, it is a good tonic, works as a dope and thereby weakens appetite and gives strength. Secondly, caffeine is an easy fat burner. The more caffeine in the drink—that is, the stronger it is—the stronger the effect (see table). But decaffeinated coffee will be useless for this.

Reviews from those who have lost weight and recommendations from nutritionists

Doctors warn: herbal decoctions have a wide range of contraindications; their use without the permission of specialists is strictly prohibited. In addition, a person may have an allergy to some components of the collection, which he had not previously suspected. Each organism is unique, and sometimes it is impossible to predict the reaction. Reviews of those who have lost weight also do not say anything unambiguous. If you managed to lose weight, it was only by using other methods of losing weight.

It is also worth saying that no decoction will help you lose weight on its own. There is no herbal based program that can magically melt away fat that has accumulated over the years. To lose excess weight and get back into shape you need complex treatment. Without proper nutrition, physical activity and psychological development of eating habits, it will not be possible to achieve the desired result.

Hot chocolate

We are so accustomed to sweet chocolates that we forget: originally this drink was liquid, bitter and spicy. And it turned into familiar chocolate in the middle of the 19th century, when the first bar was made in Switzerland. The basis of hot chocolate is cocoa, spices (necessarily pepper and cinnamon) and milk. And this is a very good mixture: cocoa contains a moderate amount of caffeine and a lot of flavonoids that promote weight loss, and spices contain fat burners (especially a lot of capsaicin in chili peppers). The best thing you can do to enhance the fat-burning effect is to avoid sugar.

Mexican chocolate. Photo: Shutterstock.com/5PH

Herbs for weight loss: description and properties

Herbs for weight loss are plants familiar to many, used for decoctions, infusions, and teas. They are widespread throughout Russia, found in fields and meadows. You can purchase them without problems in pharmacies, markets or natural food stores. For example, “Collection No. 22 for weight loss” is very popular now.

Herbs contain:

• micro- and macroelements;
• vitamins;
• water;
• glucose and complex carbohydrates;
• fiber.

The beneficial properties of herbs are widely used in folk medicine. But, as a rule, not for weight loss, but for treating or relieving symptoms of various diseases. They are especially often used for sore throats, respiratory tract diseases, and skin rashes. Traditional healers recommend using herbs in the form of infusions, teas or decoctions. The order of use is different for each individual plant.

How to make Mexican chocolate

Take the following ingredients for 2 servings:

• Cocoa powder 2 tbsp. l.
• Cinnamon stick 1 pc.
• Ground chili pepper 1 chip.
• Ground nutmeg 1 chip.
• Milk 500 ml
• Dark chocolate 20 g

Sugar to taste (but it is better to do without it, as the Indians of South America did)

1. Mix cocoa and spices, add milk and cook over heat, stirring.

2. Add cinnamon.

3. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes. Add hard chocolate, stir. The drink is ready.

Question answer

Is it true that hot spices have the ability to burn fat?

Juice with pepper

Although berry and fruit juices contain many useful substances, they contribute to weight gain. After all, they contain no less sugar than soda. But tomato juice and other vegetable juices (with the exception of carrots) are a completely different matter. There is very little sugar in them. And if you add spices, it will be a real fat-burning mixture. The main additive is ground red pepper, it contains a lot of capsaicin. But you can add other types of pepper, as well as ground cloves, cardamom, star anise and other spices. Chopped and even dried herbs (basil, celery, dill, parsley, cilantro) and, of course, garlic work perfectly. For the base, tomato juice is best, but it would be good to add cucumber, beetroot, pumpkin, and cabbage juices to it. And of course, salt to taste won’t hurt.

Juice with spices. Photo: Shutterstock.com/ Olena Kaminetska

Expert commentary

Alexey Bueverov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the First Moscow Medical University named after. Sechenova, specialist in liver diseases :

— Traditionally, pepper and other hot spices were considered harmful to the digestive system and were even prohibited for liver and stomach diseases. But in recent years, after a series of studies, it has become clear that they are safe for the liver, and thanks to bioactive substances they can even be useful. There is one exception: it is better not to take them in case of cirrhosis of the liver, when there is already swelling. This is due to the fact that spicy food increases water consumption. For the same reason, they are not recommended for any other edema. If you eat too much spicy food, irritation of the gastric mucosa, or acute gastritis, may occur. But this disease quickly passes. Spices also have nothing to do with chronic gastritis, as was previously thought. This disease usually develops due to a special bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, that lives in the stomach, and not from spicy food.

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Contraindications and who can harm

Traditional medicine currently does not accept folk medicine. Doctors do not prescribe decoctions or infusions for patients. The reason for this is the small amount of evidence indicating the effectiveness of this method, as well as a fairly extensive list of contraindications. These include:

• pregnancy or lactation period;
• age under 18 years;
• the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pathologies of the genitourinary systems;
• impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• blood clotting disorder;
• cholelithiasis;
• suspicion of malignancy.

Using herbs for weight loss is strictly prohibited without consulting a specialist. Predicting the possible consequences can be difficult due to little knowledge of this method of losing weight.

Red wine

Several years ago, the US National Institutes of Health commissioned a study on the effects of alcohol on weight. For 13 years, observation of almost 20 thousand American women aged 39 and slightly older continued. The slimmest were the lovers of dry red wine. One or two glasses of this wine (150 ml each) several times a week helped maintain normal weight. Most likely, the problem is resveratrol: this substance is most abundant in red wine. Its effect is unique: it changes metabolism in such a way that approximately the same changes occur in the body as during training. At the same time, fat is burned.

To drink or not to drink for slim figures? Only those who know how to build their relationship with alcohol can drink wine. For example, like residents of France, Italy, Spain and other wine countries, where wine in moderate doses is an everyday food for many. Such a “diet” is not fraught with the development of alcoholism. If you have a similar personality, you can safely remain committed to this drink. Just remember to control your appetite so that the fight between dry red and fat is noticeable.

How to use correctly

If you still decide to take herbal decoctions for weight loss, then the main thing is to strictly follow the rules:

1. Do not overuse: one drink of 100-150 ml per day will be enough.
2. Each drink must be freshly brewed. Decoctions that have stood for several hours can be dangerous to the body. Refrigeration storage can also affect the properties of the infusion.
3. It is better to replace oral intake with herbal baths. They produce a good relaxing effect and help get rid of stress and tension accumulated during the day. In addition, some plants can improve skin condition. For example, baths with chamomile can reduce inflammation and get rid of acne.

When taking decoctions or infusions, you must pay special attention to your well-being. If symptoms that are unusual for the body occur (nausea, dizziness, weakness, decreased concentration and performance), you should immediately seek medical help.

Proportions and rules of admission

When preparing decoctions and infusions, you must follow the proportions indicated in the recipe. Usually this is one or two teaspoons of herb per 300-400 ml of boiling water.

The general admission rules are as follows:

1. Do not drink on an empty stomach.
2. Do not drink immediately after eating. Optimally - 40-60 minutes after eating.
3. Do not take medications with herbal decoction.
4. Do not drink too hot or too cold a decoction.
5. Do not brew with boiling water - this reduces the concentration of available vitamins and minerals. It is best to fill the grass with water at a temperature of 80°C.

In addition to these rules, you should also follow the basic principles of brewing.

How to brew herbal teas

To prepare an infusion or decoction you will need a thermos. It is in it that a certain temperature necessary to create a drink can be maintained. In this case, you should adhere to several basic recommendations:

• purchase herbs only from trusted places;
• It is not recommended to collect herbs yourself, since some plants differ little from their poisonous counterparts. It can be difficult for an untrained person to distinguish them;
• inspect the mixture before brewing: the leaves must be fresh, have a bright, rich color and a fresh aroma;
• There should be no mold or mildew on the leaves.

Compliance with these rules will allow you to make a herbal drink that is safe for the body.