What people drink can have a significant effect on how much they weigh and their overall health. No specific drink leads to weight loss, but some drinks may support the necessary lifestyle changes.
Certain beverages are more effective than others at promoting weight loss – when used alongside healthy lifestyle changes.
Beverages like green tea, coffee and high-protein drinks have been shown to boost metabolism, promote fullness and decrease hunger, all of which may encourage weight loss.
Here are seven drinks that are some of the best to include in your diet when trying to lose weight and get healthy:
1. Green tea
Green tea is often associated with health, and for good reason. Not only is it packed with beneficial antioxidants and other powerful nutrients, it’s also one of the most effective drinks for weight loss.
Drinking green tea has been shown to decrease body weight and body fat in several studies.
2. Coffee
Coffee is used by people around the world to boost energy levels and lift mood. This is because coffee contains caffeine, a substance that acts as a stimulant in the body and may benefit weight loss.
Coffee can reduce energy intake and boost metabolism, which may help you lose weight.
3. Black tea
Like green tea, black tea contains compounds that may stimulate weight loss. Black tea is a type of tea that has undergone more oxidation (exposure to air) than other types of teas, resulting in a stronger flavor and darker color.
Black tea is high in polyphenols, including a group of polyphenolic compounds called flavonoids. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce body weight.
4. Water
Increasing your water intake is one of the simplest ways to improve overall health. Drinking more water may also benefit your waistline by keeping you full in between meals and increasing the number of calories you burn.
Research suggests that having water before meals can set you up for success when trying to cut back on calories and lose weight.
Apple cider vinegar drink
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, a compound that may stimulate weight loss by decreasing insulin levels, improving metabolism, suppressing appetite and burning fat.
Animal studies have shown that acetic acid can prevent weight gain and decrease fat accumulation in the belly and liver. Although research is limited, there is some evidence that vinegar is effective in promoting weight loss in humans.
Ginger tea
Ginger is popularly used as a spice to add flavor to dishes and as an herbal remedy to treat a number of conditions such as nausea, colds and arthritis.
A study showed that the ginger tea increased the thermic effect of food (the number of calories needed to digest and absorb food) by 43 calories.
Although that isn’t a huge number of calories, this suggests that — when combined with its satiating properties — ginger tea could be an effective way to enhance weight loss.
Vegetable juice
Although fruit juice has been linked to weight gain, drinking vegetable juice may have the opposite effect.
In one study, adults who drank 16 ounces of low-sodium vegetable juice while following a low-calorie diet lost significantly more weight than those who did not.