Who would have thought that that cup of black tea, scented and with an enveloping taste, drunk in the morning for breakfast or as a snack, is actually a powerful ally against obesity? Yet this is the case, as demonstrated by a very recent scientific research, published in the journal Nutrients (Liu et al, Nutrients, 2022).
The problem of obesity
Obesity is one of the problems of greatest concern globally. In fact, being obese means having a higher risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease and cellular degeneration. Several factors contribute to the developing of obesity, including an unbalanced diet, a sedentary lifestyle, alterations in the intestinal microbiota, caused for example by a diet that is too rich in refined fats and sugars and / or medicines. Science is devoting itself to finding remedies, treatments and foods that can counteract the risk of developing overweight and obesity. And from today we know that we have a new, powerful ally on our side, black tea. But let's try to understand better.
How black tea fights obesity
Previous studies had already shown that black tea is able to counteract insulin resistance, relieve fatty liver caused by a diet too rich in refined fats and sugars and support the intestinal microbiota. However, no studies had investigated the effect of black tea in obesity. The scientists carried out a study in the laboratory, which showed that black tea is able to reverse the effects of a diet that is too rich in fats and sugars, thus counteracting obesity and preventing it if not yet present. In fact, black tea acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria of the microbiota and restoring the bacterial flora, altered by an unbalanced diet. Not only that, black tea also acts on a genetic level, regulating DNA methylation. DNA methylation is a reversible type of DNA modification and can be caused precisely by the type of nutrition. It is believed that DNA methylation may be associated with obesity and an increase in pro-inflammatory substances released from adipose tissue.
Conclusions
In the fight against obesity there is no single miraculous food that alone can restore your weight and reduce consequences such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems, cellular degeneration and fatty liver. But certainly help comes from an active lifestyle and a healthy and balanced diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, which also includes black tea. In short, a good cup of black tea is not only a balm for the soul but also for the health of the body!
