If you’ve already added hot peppers, cinnamon, and other doctor-recommended metabolism-boosting foods into your diet, there is yet another science-approved way to help improve your weight loss efforts.
A new study conducted at the University of California and published in the European Journal of Nutrition shows that choosing to start your day with green tea or English breakfast tea could mean more efficient weight loss. Turns out, the Brits have been onto something pretty powerful all along.
Researchers found that not only does the tea warm you right up, but it actually changes your gut metabolites, altering the energy metabolism in your liver—and it doesn’t end there. The study shows that the amount of intestinal bacteria that’s associated with obesity decreases with a cup of tea, and the good bacteria (the one that’s linked to lean body mass) actually rises. Translated: it can speed up those fat burning efforts one sip at a time.
“The results suggest that both green and black teas are prebiotics, substances that induce the growth of good microorganisms that contribute to a person’s well-being,” says Susanne Henning, PhD, the study’s lead author.
Probiotics may have been getting most of the coverage lately, thanks to their strong gut health benefits, but prebiotics deserve some love, too. While probiotics are the good bacteria in our gut, they depend on prebiotics to help them survive. Fun fact: prebiotics are actually food for probiotics, so we wouldn’t have any of the gut healing advantages if it weren’t for prebiotics.
Granted, we’ve known about the benefits of drinking green tea for quite some time, but this is the first major study to give black breakfast tea similar credit. So you can officially expand your tea selection, it’s science-approved.
Check out these 7 delicious teas that have other hidden benefits, and this brewing tip to make it even healthier.
The Morning Drink That Can Boost Your Metabolism All Day
