Drinking tea may help to curb weight gain and the negative effects of a poor diet, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
In the study, mice were fed either a high fat or normal diet. Each of the two groups was then split again, with some receiving water to drink, while others were given black or green tea.
The mice that consumed either type of tea showed a resistance to weight gain and belly fat, while black tea, commonly known as orange pekoe in North America, also helped prevent negative blood effects associated with a high fat diet, such as high cholesterol, high blood glucose, and insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance, a precursor for the development of type-2 diabetes, has been on the rise in Western countries, due to the growing prevalence of obesity.
These findings now need to be confirmed in human trials, but show great promise for the health benefits of tea.
In previous studies, drinking tea was also shown to help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s, and long-term consumption may help improve bone density.