This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Your diet is the most important element to consider when trying to lose weight. Think about it: How are you going to shed the pounds if you keep filling your body with unhealthy things that slow it down?
Everyone knows to watch what they eat when they’re dieting, but very few realize just how big of an impact the drinks they have play on the success of their weight loss. That’s why fitness experts say it’s best to eliminate any sugary or fattening drinks from your diet and cozy up to metabolism-boosting options like ginger tea!
Ginger tea gets its fat-blasting power from the anti-inflammatory goodness of ginger, which is also known for its amazing digestion benefits and its ability to stabilize blood sugar, cholesterol, and lipids.
"Enjoying a cup of hot ginger tea may benefit weight loss by promoting fullness, reducing hunger, and decreasing calorie intake," Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, tells POPSUGAR. "What's more, research shows that ginger tea actually increases thermogenesis (heat production in the body), which can help you burn more calories overall."
Dietitian Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, says that adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to your ginger tea can also help promote weight loss. She notes that cinnamon is known to help regulate blood sugar, which may help minimize belly fat.
How to Make Ginger Tea
Ingredients:
1 or 2 slices of ginger root
1 cup boiling water
Honey & cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
1. Put the ginger root slices directly in a mug.
2. Add the boiling water and allow it to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add honey and cinnamon to taste, if desired.
Though ginger tea has its benefits, experts say that there's no better drink to have than water when it comes losing weight.
"We can often confuse being thirsty for hunger pangs," nutritionist Sarah Flower tells Express UK. "Drinking plenty of water will not only help combat dehydration but also help detoxify your body, clearing any debris from our cells and flushing them out of the body. Drinking water can also be the key to weight loss as a hydrated body can burn fat and metabolize faster.”
Kubala adds that drinking water before meals can also help prevent overeating, too! "Research shows that drinking more water, especially before meals, can reduce overall calorie consumption, which can help you lose excess belly fat," she says.
Will you be adding ginger tea to your weight loss routine? Let us know in the comments below:
