Tea is a beloved beverage with numerous health advantages. It hydrates, improves concentration and helps bring calm. Not to mention it contains zero calories! Tea makes an ideal companion during fasting diets as it alleviates hunger while not breaking your fast. But there are certain things to remember when drinking herbal tea during fasting.
Tea, particularly green tea, is known to contain high levels of an antioxidant called EGCG that is believed to suppress appetite and speed metabolism as well as assist with fat burning during fasts.
Many fasting individuals prefer tea for its health benefits and even as an alternative to coffee which may cause stomach upsets. Herbal teas tend to contain less caffeine and therefore can be enjoyed during fasting without worrying about added sugars or sweeteners affecting digestion.
Answering the question “can you drink herbal tea while fasting?” depends on which form of fast you are following. Intermittent fasting methods like 16/8 and 5:2 allow intermittent fasters to consume herbal tea during fasting periods as long as it does not contain sweeteners or any added sweeteners.
Juice Fasting
While juice fasting generally allows only liquids, herbal tea is typically included as one of the allowed beverages. For an extended juice fast, it may be wiser to omit caffeine altogether and switch over to non-caffeinated herbal tea such as Chamomile, Ginger Lemongrass or Cleansing Golden Latte tea instead.
Religious Fasting Herbal teas should generally not be consumed during religious fasts such as those observed by Muslims during Ramadan or Jews on Yom Kippur; during these types of fasts no food or beverage should be taken in.
Before embarking on any religious fast, consult your doctor about which herbal teas would best fit into the plan for you and any preexisting medical conditions that you have. Certain ingredients found in some teas could potentially trigger allergies; it’s wise to be wary if using medications or having preexisting medical issues as this could pose risks.
Herbal tea is a combination of various herbs, spices, roots and fruits that provides various health benefits. It can be made in many ways from boiling to steaming to brewing; the most popular herb used to make herbal tea is hibiscus because it offers many health advantages including lowering blood pressure, strengthening immunity systems and supporting skin health. Other herbs that can be used in making herbal tea include: