This story has been updated since it was originally posted on 08/09/2019
When you’re trying to get flatter, stronger abs, doing a million sit ups isn’t your best option. Abs are made in the kitchen, as the popular saying goes. And, though a steady and consistent cardio and strength training routine will help reveal muscles and flatten your belly faster than without exercise, following a healthy diet with plenty of anti-inflammatory foods and proteins is key.
And beverages can get you there even faster, as long as you’re choosing the right ones. To discover the best fat-burning drink, we spoke to health experts Dr. Carrie Lam, MD, FAAMFM, ABAARM and Dr. Josh Axe of Ancient Nutrition. They recommend one anti-inflammatory tea to lose belly fat faster than sit ups: green tea.
Green Tea
You can try a variety of teas; all boast their own benefits, such as antioxidants. However, if you want to cut to the chase, health experts say you should rely on green tea, which is one of the only teas that has science backing up the claim that it can boost weight loss and burn fat.
"Prepared from steamed tea leaves, green tea is a reservoir of polyphenols and antioxidants that offer immense health benefits," Dr. Lam explains, noting that it can "reduce the risks of cancer, neurological disorders, fatty liver disease, and heart attack. Moreover, drinking green tea promotes weight loss by boosting your metabolism, fights inflammation, and supports oral health," she says.
Dr. Axe agrees, noting that "green tea is a healthy addition to your diet since its consumption has been considered a natural metabolism booster for centuries thanks to special antioxidant compounds." In addition to the antioxidants in this drink, he says "it's also been shown to be a natural fat-burning beverage, in part due to its caffeine. Sipping on a cup of matcha green tea is not only soothing—drinking it regularly may help to reduce body fat and lower cholesterol levels."
This is partly thanks to the fact that green tea contains large amounts of a catechin called EGCG. This natural antioxidant protects cells from free radical damage that can destroy them. But it also plays a role in boosting your metabolism and burning fat.
Teas that are rich in catechins lead to a reduction in body fat. In one study performed in Japan, it was found that daily consumption of tea that contains 690 mg of catechins for a 12-week period resulted in reduced body fat.
But there’s a catch. One cup of green tea contains between 50 to 100 mg of catechins, which means you’d need to drink several cups of it to replicate the same effect.
With that said, even minimal amounts of green tea can help boost your metabolism and make it easier to lose weight. Along with catechins, green tea contains caffeine and produces a thermogenic effect that heats up your body and causes it to burn calories faster.
The bottom line: you shouldn’t rely on green tea to give you a flat belly. But, as a healthy aid, few beverages can compare.
