The word diet in front of your favorite beverage may seem enticing, but unfortunately it’s an advertising ploy. If you have been drinking diet drinks in attempt to slim down, you might want to reconsider. Just because a drink advertises itself as “diet” does not mean it is good for you. So if you’re looking for an alternative beverage to help with weight loss, I recommend ditching “diet” drinks and switching to tea.
As much as we wish there were an easy way to drop five pounds, no fad diet, diet pill, or detox will lead to real weight loss. Best case scenario, you will temporarily slim down until you return to your regular routine. Though diet drinks contain less calories than regular ones, the sweetness comes from artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharine, and sucralose. These alternatives to natural sugar have been found to increase sugar cravings because the brain knows that they are not sources of natural sugar and continues to crave it. Sugar stand-ins have also been found to trigger insulin, sending your body into fat storage mode and leading to the weight gain you were trying to avoid. Diet beverages have also been linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and a larger waist circumference, to name a few. Just another reason to steer clear of diet drinks.
If you’re looking to cut calories, tea has practically none. What they do have, however, are antioxidants called flavanoids, which are known to provide many health benefits. Green tea has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. There are loads of health benefits to drinking Moroccan mint tea. Recently, studies have found that it decreases fat absorption and cholesterol while suppressing appetite. Black and oolong teas contain polyphenols that work as a fat burning enzyme and boosts metabolism. Scientific evidence has suggested that oolong also lowers the amount of blood lipids, helping you slim down.
There are plenty of tea options, from chai to matcha, and chamomile to earl grey. No matter which flavor you choose, they are all immensely better than diet drinks. So if you’re looking for a better alternative to sugary beverages, look no further. Tea is the solution. But remember that drinking tea does not lead to weight loss on its own. Make sure to eat nutritious meals and exercise regularly if you’re looking to lose a few extra pounds. And when you feel hungry in between meals, just make yourself a cup of tea in the meantime!
photo credit © Llaszlo
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