Learn all about the effects of so-called « slimming » tea.

A slimming tea is nothing more than a « classic » tea, to which we associate effects on the weight loss, more or less scientifically validated. For example :

• A placebo effect: « Tea makes you lose weight »
• Appetite suppressant action, due to the tein it contains (equivalent to caffeine). « It is responsible for the stimulating effect of tea, but in a less exciting way than caffeine because the tannins attenuate its effects; and it favors the burning of fats in the body. This last action is reinforced by the presence of ‘antioxidants,’ explains Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen
• A mild diuretic effect: to drink a lot of water in a short time

• Theobromine and theophylline, stimulant substances;
• Fluoride: 20 to 25 mg per sachet;
• Polyphenols, real antioxidant molecules, such as flavonoids and catechins, in large quantities: about 175 mg per 180 ml cup. These antioxidant substances fight against the effects of free radicals on the body’s cells;
• tannins: they are found in smaller quantities in green tea than in black tea These inhibit the absorption of mineral salts and more particularly non-heme iron (of plant origin).

« But if it says ‘detoxification, fat burning, no tea can claim to lose weight on its own’. The only « slimming » merit that tea can have is to detoxify the liver and kidneys, nothing else, » insists Dr. Jean- Michel Cohen, nutritionist.

Theine and caffeine are actually the same chemical compound, a stimulant alkaloid that belongs to a class of compounds called xanthines. « The difference between theine and caffeine is essentially related to their origin. Theine is the name given to caffeine when it is present in tea, while caffeine is the name given to this same substance when it is present in the has. coffee« , explains Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen. Therefore, it will be too let’s just talk about caffeine what you have to bring The drink has.

normal tea, whatever it is (green, black, white…) contains no calories. It’s the sugar that’s added (a lump of sugar, honey, agave syrup…) or the biscuits that accompany it Taste which increase the calories in a cup of tea.

As mentioned above, there is no specific tea for weight loss. However, teas enriched with theine/caffeine it will be the most suitable for losing weight or maintaining the line. « Its content can vary between 1 and almost 10 depending on the tea chosen, » specifies Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen.
Among the most concentrated, we find, for example, matcha green tea, with 126mg of caffeine / 500ml water or Darjeeling Sungma black tea which contains 58mg/500ml of water. By contrast, a ‘Dragon Pearl’ jasmine tea will only contain 13mg of caffeine/500ml of water (source 1).

According to an analysis, carried out in collaboration with the center for research and transfer of biotechnology TransBIOTech (source 1), « a large part of the caffeine is released during the first three minutes of the infusion. And after six minutes of ‘ »infusion, although the curve stabilizes, the release of caffeine continues a little.

« For teas, the tastiest leaves are the smallest and closest to the bud, so we prefer whole-leaf tea, which is mostly offered in bulk, to broken-leaf tea, which is used for sachets, » explains Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen.

Do you still prefer the bag because it’s more practical? Make sure that its contents are not a powder that is difficult to identify. Be wary of certain industrial preparations that contain more flavors than physically identifiable components, this is especially the case with certain boxes like « black tea with 5 red berries » or even « cupcake-style green tea ». « Also keep a critical eye on claims like ‘light digestion’, ‘flat stomach’ or ‘detoxification’ because if they really can improve digestive comfort, they are not miracle teas that will magically make you lose weight, » continues the nutritionist. .

Buying a tea in a specialist shop will guarantee quality. « The seller will have good advice, especially about the origin and the chemical treatment or not subjected to the plant. The only problem: it is often more expensive! » Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen illustrates. However, buying a better range tea will limit certain health risks, due to certain pesticides present in certain teas. A study of 60 million consumers, for example, found sixteen problematic substances (glyphosate, thiacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorfenapyr in 48 products tested in the laboratory (source 2). Depending on the dose consumed, the frequency and duration of exposure to these substances, here are different adverse effects:

• Cancer: Certain pesticides have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer.
• Neurological disorders: Exposure to pesticides can also cause neurological problems, such as headaches, dizziness, tremors and seizures.
• Endocrine disruption: Pesticides can disrupt the normal functioning of the body’s hormones, which can lead to endocrine disruption such as infertility, birth defects, diabetes and obesity.
• Respiratory diseases: Pesticides can also cause respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

With its careful packaging, Trex tea promised a pin-up silhouette »no exercise and no diet« . The sellers of this dream, made in Turkey, had just omitted to add the risk of heart attack or stroke for those who consumed it. After several alerts, the regional pharmacovigilance center thus carried out analyzes and the the results are alarming. The miracle drink would contain two drugs, including one that has been banned from sale since 2010: sibutramine. However, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) just banned its marketing on April 11.

false Also, rooibos is not a tea an infusion : « They are the leaves of a small shrub that only grows in South Africa. It is after fermentation that its leaves acquire the brown-red color to which it owes its name. It is an unexciting drink because without theine, without calories, rich in antioxidants and with very few tannins, » explains Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen.

Tea can be safely consumed throughout the day; as long as you drink it without sugar. However, it will be preferable to stop its consumption at the end of the afternoon, due to the theine contained in this drink that could cause insomnia on sensitive issues.
In addition, this drink should preferably be consumed away from meals « because of the tannins it contains disturbs the correct absorption of iron contained in Food« , adds Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen, nutritionist.
Finally, if the tea does not have major adverse health effects, it will be advisable to limit its consumption to three cups a day and watch out for the perverse effects of certain teas called « detox ». One of the ANSES studies showed risks of hepatotoxicity, ie for the liver, green tea consumed in large quantities (source 3).

In order to preserve all the properties of the leaves of the named plant Camellia sinensis, we recommend an average temperature of 90°C to infuse the tea. In general, the ideal temperature for infusing a tea is 90°C in order to do so preserve all the properties of the leaves of the plant However, this indicator will need to be qualified because iced tea can also have diuretic and appetite-suppressing effects and, therefore, facilitate weight loss. The latter should preferably be « homemade » in order to avoid « ready to drink » preparations, which are often too sweet.

Bottom line: tea alone won’t make you lose weight in any way. And to expect to obtain certain beneficial effects on weight loss, it will be essential to combine it with a balanced diet, along with regular physical activity.