All over the world, tea is the second most consumed beverage after water. There is an endless variety of tea types including the most commonly consumed black tea and green tea. Green tea is prepared by pan frying the tea leaves, a preparation technique differing from black tea in which tea leaves are crushed to release the antioxidants. However, black tea and green tea contain roughly the same amount of caffeine. The components in tea have been associated with the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic ailments. Recently, the effects of tea on metabolic syndrome and obesity have been recognized as well. Research has shown that tea consumption correlates with a decrease in body mass index in both men and women alike. Interestingly, in women, hot tea consumption is linked to lower fasting glucose levels, while iced tea consumption correlates with an increase in waist circumference. In this research study, men who acknowledge that they were drinking many cups of tea daily showed an increase in good cholesterol levels, compared to men who rarely drink tea.A possible explanation for the fact that iced consumption was linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome, is that iced tea is typically consumed with a good amount of sugar. An interesting finding is that iced tea is most often consumed in the southern United States, where obesity is more common. Drinking hot tea regularly could assist with your weight loss by decreasing body mass index and waist circumference. The reason is because hot tea is rich in antioxidants, but also contains caffeine, which has metabolism-boosting properties.
