Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Lori Geurin
I love to drink a cup of green tea when I’m fasting. It’s refreshing, full of antioxidants, and tastes great. Tea and intermittent fasting are a match made in heaven. Plus, tea is an excellent alternative if you’re not into black coffee. But what kind of tea is best for intermittent fasting? Black, green, or herbal? In this article, I’ll break down the pros and cons of each type of tea to help you decide which is best for you when you’re living the intermittent fasting lifestyle.
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Best Teas For Intermittent Fasting
What type of tea is best for intermittent fasting? First, let’s take a closer look at black, green, and herbal teas.
Green Tea
Green tea is my personal favorite. It’s full of antioxidants and has a light, refreshing taste. Green tea is a non-fermented tea that contains less caffeine than black tea – making it a great choice if you’re trying to intermittent fast and stay energized throughout the day. Plus, scientific research shows green tea boosts metabolism and increases fat burning.[*]
If you’re looking for an effective intermittent fasting tea, green tea is a great option. I usually drink it how, but it’s equally delicious iced.
Green tea isn’t the only good intermittent fasting tea, though. Herbal and black tea are also excellent choices.
Black Tea
Black tea is a fermented tea with a bolder flavor than green tea. It also contains more caffeine, so it’s a great choice if you need an energy boost during your intermittent fasting window. Drinking black tea can improve heart health, lower cholesterol, and reduce oxidative stress.[*]
Black tea is an excellent choice if you’re searching for a tea to keep you energized throughout a fast.
RELATED: Intermittent Fasting & Coffee: Does Coffee Break a Fast?
Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a caffeine-free intermittent fasting tea. These teas contain antioxidants and can have various health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and increased immunity.[*]There are many different types of herbal tea, so there’s sure to be one that you’ll love.
Here are a few of our favorite herbal teas:
- Ginger Tea: Ginger tea is an excellent choice if you’re looking to improve digestion or reduce inflammation.
- Turmeric Tea: Turmeric tea is a great way to get your daily dose of turmeric. It’s full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lemon Balm Tea: Lemon balm tea is a refreshing, citrusy tea
- Chamomile Tea: Chamomile tea is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a relaxing, caffeine-free tea to help you sleep.
- Rooibos Tea: Rooibos tea is a caffeine-free red tea from South Africa. It’s full of antioxidants and has a sweet, nutty flavor.
- Cinnamon Tea: Cinnamon tea is perfect if you’re looking to boost metabolism and increase fat burning.
- Dandelion Tea: Dandelion tea is a great way to detoxify the body and improve digestion.
Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
In addition to being a perfect intermittent fasting beverage, tea has many health benefits. Tea is full of antioxidants and has been shown to enhance:
- Heart health
- Cholesterol
- Digestion
- Immunity
- Inflammation
- Metabolism
All of these benefits make tea the perfect choice for intermittent fasting. So if you’re looking for a healthy, delicious way to help you stick to your intermittent fasting goals, tea is a perfect choice.
RELATED: Healthy Coffee Drink Recipe (With Coconut Oil)
Can You Drink Tea When Fasting?
If you’re still wondering, “Does tea break intermittent fasting?” the answer is yes! Tea is low in calories, full of antioxidants, and has various health benefits. So enjoy a cup of tea during your next intermittent fast. Your body will thank you for it.
Does herbal tea break a fast?
Herbal tea does not break a fast. However, adding milk or sugar to your tea will break your fast, take you out of autophagy, and affect your intermittent fasting results. If you’re looking to intermittent fast and lose weight, it’s best to stick with black, green, or herbal teas. These teas are calorie-free and help you stick to your intermittent fasting goals.
I hope this article helped clear up any confusion about intermittent fasting and tea. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. I love hearing from you! Until next time, happy fasting!
Hello Lori,
I IF or two months, If I lost 2 lbs that would be all. I was faithful about fasting. I am so disappointed with the effort I put into it. I fasted from 6:oo pm until 10:00 am. What could I have done differently? I just wasted my time.
Doug Williams
Hi Doug,
I get how fasting for two months and losing two pounds can feel disappointing, especially when you put in the time and effort.
Sometimes positive changes are going on inside (like autophagy benefits, the body switching to fat-burning, etc.) even when the number on the scale doesn’t reflect it yet. It’s definitely a process.
I encourage you to give yourself some grace and patience as you continue on your journey (whether you decide to keep fasting or not). Trust that your body is doing what it needs to and focus on how you feel rather than the numbers.
Wishing you all the best,
Lori