Can You Drink Tea While Fasting

Whether it be matcha or herbal, qualified dietitians weigh in on the question of whether or not you may can you drink tea while fasting

The Intermittency Of Fasting And The Consumption Of Tea

According to a study conducted in 2019 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the objective of Intermittent Fasting is to “motivate the body to switch metabolically.” When the body makes a switch, it gets its energy not from glucose stored in the liver but from ketones stored in fat. An increase in blood ketones, a process known as ketogenesis, is thought by some researchers to have the potential to stimulate cellular signals that slow down the aging process, lower levels of inflammation that are chronic inside the body, and result in more consistent blood sugar levels.

In 2017, an article published in Obesity found that it takes the body an average of 12 hours without food to trigger a metabolic transition. Preventing insulin production requires consuming no carbohydrates, protein, or fat and few calories as is humanly feasible. That implies that drinking water, water with added lemon juice, or water with a sprinkle of apple cider vinegar are all acceptable during Fasting, but what about drinking tea?

Since drinking unsweetened tea will not increase insulin levels, it is acceptable to consume these beverages even when fasting. A fast is considered broken as soon as sugar, honey, or milk is added to tea, as stated by Autumn Bates, a licensed clinical nutritionist in Manhattan Beach, California.

It is acceptable to drink plain loose tea leaves or tea bags brewed in hot water during fasting periods. However, sweet tea, tea lattes, and tea containing caloric additives, such as syrup, honey, milk, sugar, or juice, are not permitted during fasting periods. You can drink sweet tea, lattes, and any tea with caloric mix-ins during your eating window. (If you want to know everything you can drink while intermittent Fasting, check out this comprehensive guide.)

What exactly does it mean to fast intermittently?

On this diet, the timing of your meals is more important than the food itself. Therefore, in contrast to regimens such as the Atkins diet (which is low in carbohydrates) or the IIFYM diet (which calculates macronutrients), intermittent Fasting focuses less on the meals and liquids you choose to eat and more on the times at which you do so.

The following is a list of the intermittent fasting regimens that are followed the most frequently:

• This type of Fasting generally follows one of two patterns: either the 16:8 method, in which the individual abstains from eating for 16 hours, then eats usually for the following eight hours, or the 14:10 method, in which the individual abstains from eating for 14 hours, then eats generally for the following 10 hours (fast for 14 hours and normally eat for the next 10 hours).
• Eat, Don't Stop Eating. Hold a fast for the whole day once or twice every week. On the other days, you should eat as you typically would.
• Intermittent or Alternate-Day Fasting Consume around 500 calories every other day and then return to your regular diet on the days between.
• 5:2 Fasting. Eat normally during the first five days of the week, and then fast for the next two days that aren't consecutive (such as Monday and Wednesday).
• A diet designed for warriors. Every day, you should schedule all of your caloric consumption to take place within a four-hour timeframe.

During regular eating periods or days, there are often no limits placed on the number of calories or the kind of foods consumed. On the other hand, the range of calories consumed during fasting periods or days is often between zero to around 500 calories. You have the freedom to choose whether to spend those calories on food or beverages.

Is It Okay To Drink Tea When You're On An Intermittent Fast?

According to Julie Upton, RD, co-founder of the nutrition news firm Appetite for Health in San Francisco, "unsweetened calorie-free tea is good," as was indicated earlier.

Leigh Merotto, RD, a registered dietitian in Toronto specializing in metabolic health, digestion/gut health, and sports nutrition, recommends unsweetened herbal and caffeinated varieties free of cream, cream, dairy/dairy alternative, and any sugar. Merotto's areas of concentration include metabolic health, digestion/gut health, and sports nutrition.

The Many Positive Effects That Drinking Tea Has On One's Health When Engaging In Intermittent Fasting

Consuming many cups of tea daily, whether in conjunction with intermittent Fasting or not, can lead to the following:

• Fewer hunger pains. Because the body is accustomed to having a constant flow of calories throughout the day, the cravings that emerge during the early few days, weeks, and even months of a diet can be difficult for some dieters. It has been found that according to a study published in Clinical Nutrition in 2016, a specific phenolic molecule and antioxidant found in tea called catechins may help lower the production of the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for signaling hunger in the body.
• Increased capacity for relaxing According to research published in Nutrients in 2019, the amino acid L-theanine, which can be found in both green and black tea, may help reduce feelings of stress. It's possible that if you make it a practice to prepare a cup of coffee and keep a warm mug in your hand, it will help naturally settle you down.
• Even more significant weight loss. A review published in the journal Molecules in 2018 confirmed that the polyphenols in tea, mainly green tea, could be beneficial for those trying to lose a few pounds. As a result, caffeine in tea triggers a reaction within the gut microbiome that can trigger increased fat burning. Green tea is particularly rich in polyphenols.

The Best Teas For Making A Cup Of Tea

During fasting or eating periods when practicing intermittent Fasting, drinking any unsweetened tea is beneficial, but the following varieties tend to give the most significant payoffs:

• Green tea
• A cup of black tea.
• Ginger tea
• Rooibos is a kind of tea.
• Oolong tea
• Tea with peppermint
• Tea made with chamomile.

Who Should Do An Intermittent Fast, And Who Shouldn't?

Some potential benefits of intermittent fasting include weight loss, a slower aging process, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, to reap these health benefits, you will need to be able to maintain your commitment over the long term. This can be a difficult task to accomplish if you are only allowed to consume food during a four-hour window each day.

Pregnant, nursing, or have diabetes or a history of eating disorders or seizure disorders should avoid intermittent Fasting. Others who should avoid it include individuals with a history of seizure disorders or eating disorders.

Before beginning a plan involving intermittent Fasting, you must see a nutritionist or your primary care physician. This is true of any dietary plan.

The Concluding Remarks On The Practice Of Intermittent Fasting And The Use Of Tea

While you are intermittently fasting, can you drink tea while fasting at any hour of the day or night as long as you appreciate it in its natural form? Tea that has been brewed in water by itself contains no calories, is high in antioxidants, and may help curb cravings for unhealthy foods while also enhancing feelings of relaxation.

To maximize the health benefits of tea, you should strive to drink three to four cups of unsweetened tea every day, regardless of whether or not you are fasting. Try to make at least half of those cups of tea using the cold-brewing method since some researchers feel that steeping tea in boiling water might destroy some of the components of the tea that are beneficial to one's cardiovascular health and lifespan. Mix loose-leaf tea with water in a pitcher, using one teaspoon of tea leaves for every eight ounces of water. After allowing the tea to steep for at least six hours in the fridge, filter it to remove the tea leaves, and then enjoy the beverage.