There are no miracle beverages to melt belly fat overnight (how I wish there’s one), but there are refreshments that help boost your metabolism, control cravings, and burn more fat – helping you achieve your weight loss goals.
I wanted to help my clients shed extra pounds, so I dug deep into research and reliable sources. Here’s a list of natural fat-burning drinks you could try.
Quick Summary
- Drinks that burn fat faster are water, coffee, black tea, apple cider vinegar, green tea, protein shakes, Ajwain water, and ginger tea.
- The best belly-fat-burning drinks to take before bedtime are lemon juice, cinnamon tea, and cucumber-parsley juice.
- These fat-burning drinks speed up metabolic rate, reduce fat cells, and lastly increase satiety.
9 Best Weight Loss Drinks
1. Water
Water is a great aid in fat loss because more than being a non-caloric drink, water also helps:
- Suppress appetite
- Increase calorie burning
- Stimulate metabolism
- Improve your workouts
Drinking water makes you feel full, so when you feel like grabbing a snack, try downing water first.
Research also found that drinking cold water increases the body’s resting energy expenditure: the amount of calories burned while resting may go up to 24-30%. Check here if drinking hot water helps you lose weight.
So, what’s the general rule for properly staying hydrated?
Experts say you need to drink an ounce or half an ounce of water for every pound you weigh every day and even more if you are regularly exercising.
2. Coffee
Caffeine in coffee is a stimulant helping increase calorie expenditure and burn more calories than you consume.
Research also found that caffeine decreases levels of ghrelin, a substance in our body that makes us hungry; thus, caffeine can increase your satiety and reduce your food intake.
Another related study showed that those who drank caffeinated beverages were able to maintain their weight loss better than those who didn’t [1], meaning that coffee drinkers can maintain their weight loss goals more easily.
Heads-up: Drinking coffee may lead to weight gain, too, if it contains lots of sugar.
Better have low-calorie black coffee in your diet and stay away from sugar.
3. Black Tea
Research suggests that black tea promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut, improving healthy gut and promoting fat breakdown.
It also has polyphenols and compounds called flavonoids found in vegetables.
These are antioxidants, like catechins, that help you lose weight by reducing calorie intake.
Researchers found that people who drank three cups of black tea for three months achieved weight loss and reduced waistline [2].
However, there should be more research to confirm the effectiveness of this tea.
To get the best results, consume black tea after meals and during the daytime, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
The acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar reduces fat accumulation by reducing insulin levels, increasing metabolic rate, and curbing cravings.
Apple cider vinegar is also known to prevent water retention (given that the excess water may result in bloating).
It’s said that a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in the morning helps reduce stubborn belly fat.
5. Green Tea
Green tea is a great choice for losing belly fat due to the two main components:
- Caffeine
- Antioxidants called catechins
The most important antioxidant in green tea for weight loss is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that helps break down fat.
Caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) combined increase metabolic rate and fat burning, backed up by a study showing that participants who drank green tea reduced more pounds than those who didn't [3].
These compounds also have benefits to overall health: caffeine can improve brain function, while catechins can reduce cholesterol levels and avoid developing risks of heart diseases and certain cancers.
6. Protein Smoothies
There are two ways proteins help lose pounds:
- By increasing appetite-reducing hormones while decreasing hunger hormone, ghrelin.
- Making you feel fuller for longer.
One study suggests that consuming shakes with 20-80 grams of protein helps decrease hunger by 50-65% [4].
And unlike fruit juice, protein smoothie is a low-calorie beverage rich in soluble fiber, which can help lose belly fat.
You can read our article on the best fat burning smoothies here.
“Protein is the key nutrient when you’re trying to shed weight: it helps increase satiety, control blood sugar levels, and build lean muscle.”
- Andrew Abraham, MD, Integrated Medicine Doctor & Founder of Orgain
7. Ajwain Water
Ajwain or carom seeds contain thymol, the main substance in thyme essential oil that may help lose belly fat.
Thymol helps improve digestive health, increase metabolism, and decrease fat storage – all of which lead to shedding belly fat.
Here’s how to prepare your Ajwain water:
- Combine 2 tablespoons of Ajwain or carom seeds with 2 cups of water and boil for 8-10 minutes.
- Filter the Ajwain water using a strainer.
Drink warm Ajwain water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning to gain the best results.
8. Ginger Tea
Another drink that burns fat while you sleep that you might want to add to your daily routine is light spicy ginger tea.
Ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the effects of obesity like cardiovascular diseases.
It also has compounds zingerone and shogaols helpful with burning fat and another compound called gingerol which may help control blood sugar levels.
A study also showed that obese women who took 2 grams of ginger powder supplementation over 12 weeks could lose weight and showed a decrease in their sugar levels [5].
To prepare your ginger tea:
- Mix ginger slices in one cup of boiling water. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Filter the tea using a strainer. Add honey to taste.
9. Honey and Cinnamon Water
Honey and cinnamon make a great beverage to melt belly fat quicker.
Reports show that cinnamaldehyde, a substance found in cinnamon, activates thermogenesis, where the body creates heat and burns fat in the process.
Aside from that, cinnamon also has antioxidant properties that combat toxins, boost metabolism, and control sugar levels.
Honey, other than its antibacterial properties, also contains active ingredients that trigger appetite-suppressing hormones, keeping you from overeating.
That's why honey and cinnamon is known weight loss drink.
According to some studies, replacing table sugar with honey helps decrease weight gain.
Make your honey and cinnamon water:
- Boil one cup of water and put half a tablespoon of cinnamon. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Remove the honey and cinnamon water from heat; once it cools down, add one tablespoon of honey.
Then, first thing in the morning, drink it on an empty stomach.
Also Read:
FAQs
What Can I Drink at Night To Lose Belly Fat?
Here are some of the best belly-fat burning drinks to consume before bedtime:
- Honey and cinnamon tea
- Lemon juice or lemon water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cucumber-parsley juice
- Ginger teas
These drinks contain antioxidants such as Vitamin C and have a satiety-boosting quality helpful in boosting digestion, increasing metabolism, and burning fats.
What Homemade Drink Burns Fat?
Drinks you may want to make at home to help you shed more pounds are:
- Ginger water plus lemon
- Green tea with lemon and mint
- Raspberry and lime juice
- Celery juice
These natural refreshments are a great remedy for hunger pangs to reduce binge eating and keep away unnecessary calories.
Which Fat-Shedding Drinks Will You Try?
Trimming your waistline can be challenging, but thankfully there are beverages packed with ingredients that speed up metabolic rate, increase satiety, and reduce fat cells – to help you get rid of the stubborn belly fat and help you lose weight.
Needless to say, if you want to achieve your fitness goals more quickly, these fat-shedding refreshments need to be coupled with regular exercise and a proper diet.
Share your thoughts on these beverages and how they worked for you.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26554757/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24889137/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18006026/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25979566/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25899896/
About The Author
You May Also Like
