Drinking tea during an intermittent fasting window has many great benefits. Tea has been consumed for health benefits for thousands of years and before being brewed, sipped and slurped as a delicious refreshment it was used purely for medicinal reasons. I like to think that when I cradle of cup of tantalising tea I am holding on to a cup full to the brim of antioxidants, energy and everlasting life.
Intermittent fasting and cups of tea are a match made in heaven. To say they go together better than tea and jam scones served at afternoon tea on a summer’s day would be cruel but still true. If you now can’t get the thought of tea and cake out of your head, or mouth then I apologise and I’ll make up for it by filling you in on the tea that’s tickidy boo during a ‘clean’ fast and dishing the dirt on which are too dirty to clean your sugar levels up during your fasting window.
So, before I go on to tell you the do’s and don’t of tea drinking on a clean intermittent fast, here is your chance get comfy. Light a candle, put on your snuggliest jumper and switch on your favourite chilled lounge music. But most importantly, stick the kettle on love, because the tea leaves are about to hit hot water and a nice cuppa tea is always the right answer.
Starting off with the positives because that’s how us ‘the tea cup is always half full’ tranquil tea drinkers get down, I’m beginning with types of tea that is beneficial and supportive to a clean fast.
- White Tea
White teas are the purest out of all teas as the leaves have undergone the least amount of processing. The most popular white teas are Silver Needle and Bai Mudan. Personally i have never experienced either of these but have been told they have a subtle delicate and subtle flavor.
- Black Tea
Black tea originates from the plant, Camellia sinensis and over 100 million cups are brewed and gusseled down everyday in Britain alone, making it one of the worlds most consumed beverages. Popular black teas include English Breakfast, Darjeeling and Assam. Black teas are richly oxidised and have a strong and bold taste.
- Green Tea
Green teas require further processing than white teas, but less oxidation is needed, which is the reason the leaf remains green.
Green tea has almost the same amount of caffeine as black tea which can increase energy and boost metabolic rate.
- Oolong tea
Oolong is the most laborious tea to produce as it. The flavors of each type of oolong teas differ usually tasting sweet and naturally milky, and although oolong is semi-oxidized, oxidation levels can be as low as 10 percent (close to a green tea) and as high as 85 percent (close to a black tea).
These are the only teas that will not compromise your clean fast. But be aware when shopping in supermarkets offering 101 different variations of your everyday tea. Look for teas that have zero calories and have no added flavour.
The following list of teas are not deemed as clean during your fasting window.
-
-
- Anise
-
-
-
- Barley tea
-
-
-
- Cannabis
-
-
-
- Catnip
-
-
-
- Chamomile
- Chamomile
-
-
-
- Chrysanthemum
-
-
-
- Cinnamon
-
-
-
- Citrus teas
-
-
-
- Dandelion tea
-
-
-
- Echinacea tea
-
-
-
- Fruit tea
-
-
-
- Fennel
-
-
-
- Ginger
-
-
-
- Ginseng
-
-
-
- Hibiscus and Rose hip
-
-
-
- Honeybush and rooibos
-
-
-
- Liquorice root tea
-
-
-
- Mint and peppermint tea
-
-
-
- Moringa
-
It’s important to remember the beginning of your intermittent fasting won’t always be easy but as Lu Yu says, “Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties.” – And if that doesnt do it for you, keep calm and have a cup of tea.
To learn about fasting windows for weight loss check out my post of a beginners guide to fasting for weight loss by click on the link below
A Beginners Guise To Fasting For Weight Loss
More of a coffee, soya milk and superfood kinda girl? My post of coffee infused with medicinal mushrooms is a must read. Check out the link below.
