All intermittent fasting plans require you to stay hydrated. Dehydration will cause low energy and make you unable to focus on your activities. It can also lead to dizziness and irritability.
Drinking plain water for hours during your fasting period may sound a bit boring. You may be wondering what else you can take to keep hydrated during your fast.
Fortunately, you’re allowed to indulge in any drink that’s free of calories. As you may suspect, you don’t have many calorie-free drinks to choose from. Options include water, tea, black coffee, and apple cider vinegar.
Looking at these options, tea is the most exciting. You get a wide variety of teas to choose from. Let’s look at some of the amazing benefits of tea for intermittent fasting.
- It helps your body detoxify
When you fast, your body breaks down damaged cells and tissues. It then utilizes what’s still important and destroys the rest. This process is called autophagy. Since tea contains catechins, it boosts autophagy in your body.
Autophagy helps your body create new cells and preserve muscle mass as you fast. This powerful process slows down aging by producing younger cells. Autophagy will give you beautiful younger-looking skin. It also works to prevent age-related illnesses.
Polyphenols in tea fight free radicals. This can lower oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. As a result, your digestive system and your brain operate better.
- It helps with losing weight
Research shows that intermittent fasting helps to decrease body fat. Fasting lowers insulin levels and helps the body break down its own fat for energy. Tea helps this process by boosting metabolism. The higher your metabolism the more calories you will burn.
If you’re looking to burn fat, you can opt for green tea or green tea matcha. These herbal teas contain high levels of catechins which boost metabolism and aid fat loss. A study on 60 obese men, who consumed green tea regularly, showed that they lost weight over a 12-week period.
However, catechins may lead to adverse reactions in certain individuals. If you’re seeking an alternative for weight loss, you can consider MCT Wellness, a dietary supplement containing an MCT prebiotic blend which gives the benefits you are looking for. For deeper understanding, consider exploring the MCT Wellness Reviews.
- Tea calms you
Fasting can be stressful especially in the first week. Chai masala chai can ease anxiety and help you relax. It reduces levels of a stress hormone known as cortisol If you feel irritable or have mood swings during your fast, sipping on a hot cup of Green Tea Matcha will make you feel better. When drinking tea in the morning hours, choose options that have caffeine to help you stay alert. Loading up on tea will make intermittent fasting more enjoyable.
- Tea helps curb your hunger
Are you worried about hunger pangs when fasting? Well, invest in some quality herbal tea. Studies show that catechins help to lower the hunger hormone known as ghrelin. This hormone signals that it’s time to eat. When you start intermittent fasting, ghrelin will peak at the times you normally eat and snack. If you fast consistently, your hunger hormone will normalize. Tea will help your body adjust from a constant supply of food to fasting. If you’re a beginner, tea will make fasting easier. It will also help you extend your fast.
Which tea should you take when intermittent fasting?
- Green Tea
Green tea could easily take the crown as the king of teas. Its benefits are well known in the wellness industry. It has an incredible amount of catechins which are beneficial for weight loss and detoxification. Green tea especially matcha green tea will improve your metabolism because it contains caffeine. Thus, you’ll burn fat faster when you’re fasting. Additionally, studies show tea green tea is beneficial in lowering bad cholesterol. This herbal tea will help you feel full for longer and will reduce cravings.
- Rooibos
This is a powerful herbal tea that boosts the health of your liver. It helps your liver metabolize fats more efficiently. Plus, it stops the formation of new fat cells. This makes it a great addition to your intermittent fasting diet. Furthermore, it’s full of antioxidants and it improves blood circulation. Rooibos tea is a great option if you want to stay away from caffeine during your fast.
- Ginger Tea
Ginger aids digestion. It also helps with weight loss by enhancing thermogenesis and lowering cholesterol. Plus, it will make fasting easier by reducing cravings. Sipping on ginger tea will prevent stomach upsets including heartburn.
- Black Tea
Black tea and green tea come from the same plant. Though it has fewer antioxidants than green tea, black tea has a lot to offer. Because of its caffeine content, it will give you a boost of energy. If you feel tired or drowsy during your fast, you can opt for black tea instead of coffee. The caffeine in black tea may also increase your body’s metabolism. Additionally, black tea can increase serotonin levels. This will reduce stress, elevate your mood, and help you relax.
The bottom line
Intermittent fasting has amazing health benefits. Including tea in an intermittent fasting diet will boost these benefits. Experts recommend three or four cups a day for improved overall health.
