With its blend of black tea and spices like cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, there are undoubtedly many benefits to chai. But is chai good for your waist line? It’s a commonly asked question.
The short answer is that this delicious, sweet and aromatic brew can be! Read on to find out why you can keep drinking chai guilt-free, even if you’re on a diet.
Tea and Weight Loss
The base of chai is black tea, which is full of antioxidants and is known to remove free radicals and decrease cell damage.
But in terms of weight loss, black tea has flavonoids, types of antioxidants called theaflavins and thearubigins. Current research suggests the digestive enzyme lipase gets inhibited in animals that consume these flavonoids.
Other research findings have suggested that the number of calories burned significantly increased after consuming theaflavins.
Black tea also contains 30-80mg of caffeine, which is known to boost metabolism. Caffeine can promote lipolysis, which breaks down fat, and stimulates cycles that metabolise fat.
Why Drink Chai for Weight Loss?
Chai in itself is an incredibly low calorie option. A single serve of our Prana Chai blend has roughly 25 calories, and this includes a delectable dash of honey.
Milk and sugars are what add calories to chai. A regular chai with whole milk will be around 200 calories. Of course, this has its own benefits, such as protein, which can keep you feeling full and act as a snack.
Whether you choose to add milk or not, the great news is that chai naturally tastes sweet, which means it may satisfy cravings for sugar-laden foods and drinks.
But it also contains ingredients that can actually boost your metabolism too…
Chai contains cinnamon, a spice known to offset sugar cravings. But even better, cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels, which is key to losing fat and keeping a healthy weight. It also metabolises glucose and carbohydrates.
Chai has ginger too, another ingredient that supports weight loss by making you feel fuller for longer. It supports gastrointestinal health and acts as a digestive aid for high-fat foods.
Enjoy Drinking Chai on a Diet
Together, the black tea base and wealth of spices in chai combine to pack a whole lot of goodness into a single cup. There are ingredients that boost your metabolism, break down fat and keep you full for longer.
As mentioned, chai is a relatively low-calorie option, especially without the milk and added sugars, meaning you can enjoy it guilt-free. Chai is a great replacement for much higher-calorie snacks or beverages (fizzy drinks, chocolate bars etc.).
Start enjoying chai today by getting your hands on our lovingly handcrafted, all-natural chai blends from Prana Chai.
