Is chai tea good for weight loss? Researching Chai for weight loss begins by understanding the origins of this beloved wellness beverage.
In the beginning, Chai was created as a healthy beverage. Legends speak of Kings seeking a drink that would keep them alert during meetings and daily tiresome courtly affairs. After sage consultation, the practice of Ayurveda, a medicinal tea, was presented and quickly grew in popularity. The original Chai recipe consisted of a combination of ginger, black pepper, and cloves. When brewed together, it kept the mind alert and assisted with regular digestion.
Centuries later, the British colonizers introduced black tea leaves, and the recipe shifted to accompany a direct source of caffeine. To counter the bitter taste of tea leaves cinnamon was added for sweetness. Today, this practice continues to flourish within our love for Masala Chai, and Chai tea nutrition facts continue to be astounding.
Learn more about using Chai for weight loss and the endless Chai benefits to your digestive system, heart, mind, and soul.
What is Chai?
Chai is a black tea infused with a blend of spices. Even though the recipe dates back over 5,000 years, today Chai flavor profiles highlight nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. The evolution of this spicy and soulful beverage has never lost its core purpose, which was to help with energy levels, and continues to add more health benefits. To learn more about chai, you can read our article about what is chai?
How Do Chai and Weight Loss Connect?
The main way Chai and weight loss intersect is the increased metabolism properties of cinnamon and ginger, but there is other numerous Chai for weight loss benefits to consider.
Increased Metabolism
Chai contains two things to boost metabolism: caffeine and a compound called catechins. Caffeine continues to be linked to raising metabolism through increasing the resting metabolic rate, which in turn burns more calories while your body rests.
Catechin is a chai tea benefit that increases oxidation directed to stored fats while fighting back against the body storing dietary fats. Catechins are found in most teas with a higher concentration in green tea.
Steady Energy Levels - No Caffeine Drop
A big reason folks turn to Chai for weight loss is that it keeps energy levels consistent throughout the day, meaning you can stay active and alert to reach fitness goals and not worry about crashing early. Chai does this by containing tannins, a slowly releasing caffeine chemical compound. Depending on how you make Chai, a concentrated blend contains on average 30 to 35mg of caffeine, versus 120mg of caffeine found in one cup of coffee.
Choosing a cup of Chai assists with focusing on fitness goals by eliminating midday crashes and burnout, reducing physical shakes from caffeine surges, and won't risk a solid night's sleep.
Read more: Switching from coffee to tea
Antioxidants
Chai for weight loss focuses on the journey inside your body. We believe strength comes from the inside out. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage and reduce the sign of aging. Antioxidants are a key element of Chai for weight loss, and keep your body healthy and regulated while maintaining daily exercise.
Digestion
A healthy digestive system is a surprising factor in a weight loss journey. Your body burns calories while digesting food, and a healthy digestive tract also means nutrients will be absorbed or discarded correctly.
Ginger is a staple ingredient in Chai recipes. It is linked to helping food leave the body quickly and keep the gut clean of toxins. Ginger in a cup of Chai contributes to the spicy flavor, and you won't even realize this herbal hero working in the background on your Chai for a weight loss journey.
Chai Benefits: Learn What Else Chai Can Change
Chai Can Improve Your Heart Health
Cardiovascular health is crucial for weight loss and reaching fitness goals. With a healthy heart, you can work out and maintain results with no additional stress on your body.
A main ingredient in Chai is cinnamon, a spice linked to lowering blood pressure, and in some cases reducing the total cholesterol level of individuals. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde which dilates blood vessels, resulting in relief from tension gained from high blood pressure.
Chai Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
When thinking about weight loss, you also need to consider blood sugar levels. Your body only begins to burn fat when blood sugar, or insulin levels, drop. With high blood sugar, the pancreas works overtime thinking it needs to produce more insulin, and sends an increase of sugar through the body.
Similar to heart health, cinnamon contributes to Chai for weight loss and regulating blood sugar levels. In recent studies, cinnamon has been able to reduce insulin resistance by over 20%, while also helping your body to regulate the insulin it has already created.
When blood sugar (or glucose) is high, your pancreas is triggered to produce more insulin to move that sugar out of your blood and into your cells. That's a problem for weight loss because your body only burns fat when it senses insulin levels dropping.
Where To Begin With Chai For Weight Loss
If you are just starting a weight loss or nutritional journey, it’s easy to get lost in research. The most important part about beginning a health-focused lifestyle is beginning. Showing up for yourself and taking small steps every day to achieve your goal.
Read more: How to make a cup of tea
Is There A Right Time To Drink Chai For Weight Loss?
Chai is a multileveled healthy beverage with numerous factors making it an excellent tool for a weight loss journey. The best part is that you can drink Chai morning or night, but is there a better time to incorporate Chai for weight loss targeted results?
We recommend adding Chai to your morning routine as it also pairs well with meditation and mindfulness. Plus, Chai helps regulate your metabolism and can leave you feeling full to avoid snacks or extra calories during the workday.
The Verdict On Chai For Weight Loss
All signs point to positive results when you include Chai for weight loss in a new or developing fitness journey.
Chai benefits any stage of a weight loss journey and nutritional goals by:
- Increasing metabolism
- Reducing blood sugar
- Improving heart health
- Help maintain a steady energy level all-day
- Improving gut health and digestion
Browse Monk’s Chai concentrate and blends to begin experiencing Chai benefits today! We encourage you to mix and mingle and develop a flavor palette that’s exactly what you want. Get the Monk's Chai organic tea from our shop today to enjoy a cup of Chai and health tomorrow.
Read more: Is tea gluten-free