Drink Tea to Tip the Scale
Article written by: Scott Reed
The calendar has turned to 2013 and with the start of every new year comes new hope, new plans and, of course, New Year’s resolutions.
According to Statisticsbrain.com three of the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions from the past year included personal health goals including, unsurprisingly, the number one resolution, losing weight. While some may think the odds are stacked against them, there is one fact that clearly supports this commitment. January is National Hot Tea Month!
How does National Hot Tea Month blend with the most popular New Year’s resolution you ask? Good question. Numerous research studies link hot tea consumption as a big boost in shedding those unwanted pounds.
According to a study by the Institute of Physiology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, the combination of caffeine and plant compound EGCG found in green tea increases the generation of body heat that occurs as a result of normal metabolization of food by 84 percent. Green tea also increases your levels of norepinephrine, which prepares your body to burn fat for the "fight or flight" response.
Some other helpful tips include drinking hot tea prior to every meal to help you feel fuller and eat less. Also don’t confine your tea to just a morning beverage. According to Dr. Eric Braverman, drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of tea and/or water a day will keep you hydrated and ensures you’re metabolic and digestive systems are fully functioning. Muscle weakness and fatigue can be caused by dehydration so drinking a cup of tea after your workout will give you a healthy energy boost.
The fifth annual International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health echoed Braverman’s findings with a weight loss angle. The symposium noted tea is calorie–free and helps individuals meet fluid requirements without adding calories to their diet, aiding the battle to drop those extra pounds.
Staying committed to a resolution and changing habits is hard work. Use Hot Tea Month as a support to keep you on target and motivated.
About the Author
This blog is written by Scott Reed who is new to the BUNN Commercial blog team. He joined the company in November as a Communications and Data Specialist . You can read more of Scott's work about trends in beverages and menu management on the RomancingtheBean.net