Can Drinking Tea Help You Lose Weight?

Can drinking tea help you lose weight? And if so, how much would you have to drink a day to lose a specified amount of weight?

Tea can help you lose weight if you replace unhealthy snacks with unsweetened herbal teas. The rate and amount of weight loss depends on factors such as your diet, exercise and general health. To effect permanent weight reduction, weight should be lost slowly, with a regular exercise program and a healthy diet that is high in fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low in fat and avoidance of sugars, sweeteners, fried and fatty food. These suggestions will provide the nutrients required for a healthy metabolism and good functioning of your digestive and elimination systems.
Black teas contain tannins, which bind the mucous membranes of the intestines to prevent absorption of nutrients from food. Large quantities should be avoided.
For dietary suggestions, see Dr. Dean Ornish's "Eat More, Weigh Less", (Harper Collis Publishers) which describes the basic philosophy behind a fat free diet and includes hundreds of delicious recipes.