Fasting Teas: What Ingredients Do These Fasting Supplements Contain?
Written by: Ioannis Nikitidis, MD, MSc
Intermittent fasting is a term used to describe a condition where you ingest no food or caloric beverages for a period of some hours daily or 1-3 days/ week. Some diets suggest eating free the rest of the day or the rest of the week others suggest eating specific amounts of calories (1).
Despite the numerous health benefits of intermittent fasting like increased resistance to diabetes, reduced inflammation, increased resistance of the heart and brain to stress, improved body weight composition and blood pressure, and others (2), there are some researchers claiming that intermittent fasting might cause dehydration, cravings or might weaken your immune system (3).
The truth is much different to these last negative claims, because during intermittent fasting you are encouraged to drink fluids with no or very few calories.
Can you drink tea while fasting?
The most important liquid that you can consume while fasting is a fasting tea, meaning a tea without sugar. You can not only drink something to hydrate yourself, but you can additionally provide some beneficial nutrients to your body.
Sometimes, there is nothing better than having a tea during intermittent fasting in the morning to wake you up, hydrate you and delay your breakfast to add a few more hours to an overnight fast.
Since tea does not break the fast, you can drink it at any time of the day, no matter if it is a fasting time or not.
Even in human studies about the health outcomes of intermittent fasting, participants are permitted to drink water, herbal teas, and black tea/coffee with no sugar (4).
There are plenty of teas in the market claiming that they are teas for fasting and some of them claim that have beneficial effects either on their own or in combination with other ingredients.
Here are the most common of the ingredients included in the fasting teas you can find in the market:
Green tea leaf extract
According to a meta-analysis of more than 100 studies, the administration of green tea beverages or extracts resulted in significant reductions in serum Triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol levels (5). Moreover, when researchers evaluated the effect of green tea on satiety, the participants reported that the consumption of green tea increases satiety and fullness (6).
In addition, green tea seems to be beneficial during a weight loss attempt. In a 2013 study, researchers investigated whether the consumption of green tea has any effect on the body weight and blood pressure (7). They concluded that consuming four cups of green tea led to a significant reduction in weight and systolic blood pressure, showing that a green tea during intermittent fasting can have a supplementary role during a weight loss attempt.
Another important effect of green tea is that studies have shown that the major antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents of the green tea- catechins, ameliorate liver inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis.
Additionally, green tea extract suppresses oxidative stress (8). On top of that, it was only recently when researchers discovered the antiaging effect of green tea extract and its major bioactive component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (9).
Animal studies have shown that EGCG increases lifespan in normal or oxidative stress conditions and green tea extract extends the average lifespan of mice with normal diet (9). Furthermore, green tea has been shown to possess cancer chemo-preventive activity. EGCG alone reduced lung metastases in mice with melanoma (10).
Accordingly, there is a more recent study reporting that green tea protects DNA damage and initiates repair mechanisms in various cancer models, thus it is considered as a traditional antioxidative free radical scavenger (11).
According to a human study, the green tea extract that is rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se.
This claim is an additional reason for the green tea extract to be used as a fasting tea for people who diet for weight loss (12). As you can imagine green tea is the king ingredient among the teas for fasting.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound mainly found in red wine, peanuts and red grapes. It is used in many teas for fasting.
Resveratrol possesses anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activity of inflammatory enzymes. Additionally, resveratrol may also inhibit pro-inflammatory factors. Furthermore, resveratrol has been found to induce cell apoptosis.
Resveratrol also possesses anti-oxidant properties and induces antioxidant enzymes like glutathione peroxidase-1 and others. Moreover, resveratrol reduces the progress rate of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and other conditions.
Most US resveratrol teas for fasting, contain extracts of the root of Polygonum cuspidatum. There are also grape extracts and red wine extracts containing polyphenols like resveratrol available as dietary supplements (13).
Quercetin
Quercetin is a common flavanol (belongs to the class of flavonoids) found in many fruits and vegetables such as berries, cherries, apples, onions, broccoli, and capers. Quercetin accounts for almost 50% of flavanols intake.
Qurcetin is often among the ingredients of teas for fasting. There are studies demonstrating that quercetin can exert neuroprotection and antagonize oxidative stress when administered to humans and animals.
Specifically, in an animal study, oral quercetin supplementation was shown to protect rodents from oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Additionally, quercetin also antagonized cognitive impairment induced by feeding mice a high- fat diet.
Another study has shown that quercetin ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease pathology and related cognitive deficits (14).
On top of the above findings, another study reported that quercetin and its derivative quercetin caprylate can rejuvenate senescent fibroblasts and increase their lifespan.
It is noticeable that quercetin has over 6 times the antioxidant capacity than vitamin C. The anti-inflammatory capacity of quercetin combined with the above- mentioned properties contribute to the antiaging effect of quercetin (9).
Blueberry Extracts
Blueberries, containing large amounts of polyphenols, possess a greater antioxidant capacity compared to other vegetables and fruits. Blueberry extracts belong to the extracts that can be contained in an intermittent fasting tea.
It has been shown that the consumption of natural compounds in blueberries can retard age-related physiological and functional deficits.
Specifically, there is an animal study reporting that blueberries are effective in enhancing cognitive and motor behavior as well as attenuating cognitive declines in object recognition memory(15).
Moreover, blueberries contain high amounts of anthocyanins which are flavonoids also used as a natural food colorant. Blueberries anthocyanins are considered beneficial against diseases like diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases (16).
Bromelain
Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic enzymes and is abundant in several parts of the pineapple plant, including the fruit, stem, leaves, and peel.
However, it is mainly derived from the stem of the pineapple plant (17). Bromelain can be an ingredient of a fasting tea, as it does not break a fast.
According to a published article, bromelain can contribute to the therapy of inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. Additionally, a review article (2010) concludes that bromelain possesses anti-cancer properties (18).
Raspberry extracts
The red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is a berry known as one of the highest whole food sources of dietary fiber. The number of nutrients and bioactive components that red raspberries provide, makes them very important for the promotion and prevention of human health. Specifically, they are rich in vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium (19).
According to studies, raspberry extracts play a role in reducing the risk for metabolically related chronic diseases, like cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Plenty of intermittent fasting teas highlight the existence of raspberry extracts among their ingredients.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is another ingredient widely used in fasting teas. It is commonly served in powder form or essential oil in the food industry worldwide. Its pericarp is used in food and beverage preparations like healthy fasting teas.
Studies have shown that nutmeg oil usually contains plenty of chemical components including linalool, terpineol and others. According to a 2016 study, nutmeg possesses anti-inflammatory activities and is a pain reliever (20).
Bottom line
The consumption of a fasting tea is helpful during your intermittent fasting attempt. It does not only hydrate you, but it can also provide plenty of nutrients. Therefore, it is important to choose the intermittent fasting tea that has the highest nutritional value without adding calories in your diet.
There are plenty of teas for fasting in the market. Most of them include 1-2 of the above- mentioned ingredients.
If you want the one that contains all the above-mentioned ingredients, then take your attention to Eat Stop Eat Fasting Tea. It’s only 10 calories per serving and can be the only supplement that you need during your intermittent fasting diet, boosting your immune system with precious nutrients.
References
1) Barnosky, A., Hoddy, K., Unterman, T. and Varady, K., 2014. Intermittent fasting vs daily calorie restriction for type 2 diabetes prevention: a review of human findings. Translational Research, 164(4), pp.302-311.
2) Mattson, M., Longo, V. and Harvie, M., 2017. Impact of intermittent fasting on health and disease processes. Ageing Research Reviews, 39, pp.46-58.
3) Horne, B., Muhlestein, J. and Anderson, J., 2015. Health effects of intermittent fasting: hormesis or harm? A systematic review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 102(2), pp.464-470.
4) Templeman, I., Thompson, D., Gonzalez, J., Walhin, J., Reeves, S., Rogers, P., Brunstrom, J., Karagounis, L., Tsintzas, K. and Betts, J., 2018. Intermittent fasting, energy balance and associated health outcomes in adults: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 19(1).
5) Zheng, X., Xu, Y., Li, S., Liu, X., Hui, R. and Huang, X., 2011. Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 94(2), pp.601-610.
6) Josic, J., Olsson, A., Wickeberg, J., Lindstedt, S. and Hlebowicz, J., 2010. Does green tea affect postprandial glucose, insulin and satiety in healthy subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition Journal, 9(1).
7) Mousavi, A., Vafa, M., Neyestani, T., Khamseh, M., & Hoseini, F. (2013). The effects of green tea consumption on metabolic and anthropometric indices in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 18(12), 1080–1086.
8) Casas-Grajales, S., 2015. Antioxidants in liver health. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 6(3), p.59.
9) Si, H. and Liu, D., 2014. Dietary antiaging phytochemicals and mechanisms associated with prolonged survival. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 25(6), pp.581-591.
10) Liu, J., Chen, S., Lin, C., Tsai, S. and Liang, Y., 2001. Inhibition of melanoma growth and metastasis by combination with (?)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and dacarbazine in mice. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 83(4), pp.631-642.
11) George, V., Dellaire, G. and Rupasinghe, H., 2017. Plant flavonoids in cancer chemoprevention: role in genome stability. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 45, pp.1-14.
12) Dulloo, A., Duret, C., Rohrer, D., Girardier, L., Mensi, N., Fathi, M., Chantre, P. and Vandermander, J., 1999. Efficacy of a green tea extract rich in catechin polyphenols and caffeine in increasing 24-h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70(6), pp.1040-1045.
13) Linus Pauling Institute. 2015. Resveratrol. [online] Available at: <https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/resveratrol> [Accessed 24 July 2020].
14) Costa, L., Garrick, J., Roquè, P. and Pellacani, C., 2016. Mechanisms of Neuroprotection by Quercetin: Counteracting Oxidative Stress and More. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2016, pp.1-10.
15) Peng, C., Wang, X., Chen, J., Jiao, R., Wang, L., Li, Y., Zuo, Y., Liu, Y., Lei, L., Ma, K., Huang, Y. and Chen, Z., 2014. Biology of Ageing and Role of Dietary Antioxidants. BioMed Research International, 2014, pp.1-13.
16) Routray, W. and Orsat, V., 2011. Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins: Factors Affecting Biosynthesis and Properties. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 10(6), pp.303-320.
17) Hale, L., Greer, P., Trinh, C. and James, C., 2005. Proteinase activity and stability of natural bromelain preparations. International Immunopharmacology, 5(4), pp.783-793.
18) Chobotova, K., Vernallis, A. and Majid, F., 2010. Bromelain’s activity and potential as an anti-cancer agent: Current evidence and perspectives. Cancer Letters, 290(2), pp.148-156.
19) Burton-Freeman, B., Sandhu, A. and Edirisinghe, I., 2016. Red Raspberries and Their Bioactive Polyphenols: Cardiometabolic and Neuronal Health Links. Advances in Nutrition, 7(1), pp.44-65.
20) Zhang, W., Tao, S., Li, T., Li, Y., Li, X., Tang, H., Cong, R., Ma, F. and Wan, C., 2016. Nutmeg oil alleviates chronic inflammatory pain through inhibition of COX-2 expression and substance P release in vivo. Food & Nutrition Research, 60(1), p.30849.
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