Intermittent fasting has become pretty popular over the past few years as a way to manage weight, boost metabolism, and regulate energy levels. For some, it serves as a strategy to improve overall health, while for others, fasting holds religious or cultural significance. If you’re a tea fiend who has recently started fasting, you may have wondered: does tea break a fast?
Since this is an emerging field of study, there are several conflicting opinions on the matter. It all comes down to what you want to achieve from your fast and which kind of tea you drink. If you do it right, tea can be one of the best drinks allowed during intermittent fasting. The team at Chanui runs New Zealand’s favourite tea shop online, which means we have plenty of opinions on all the occasions that might call for tea.
So, let’s break down what intermittent fasting is and how tea might influence your fast.
What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IF) is all about cycling between periods where you eat normally and periods where you don’t consume calories at all, referred to as ‘fasting’ periods. There are a lot of methods for this floating around, but some of the most common are:
- The 16:8 method – fasting for 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window.
- The 5:2 method – eating normally for five days, then restricting calories on two non-consecutive days.
- The 1:1 method – eating one day, then fasting the next.
The golden rule accepted in fasting communities is to consume no calories during your fasting window. The goal is to put your body into a state where it isn’t consuming any energy. Studies show that, in this state, your body’s growth hormone levels go up and your insulin levels go down, all while kicking into accelerated cellular repair. That generally means that food and certain drinks are off-limits, as they can interrupt this process.
That said, where does tea fit into all of this?
A note before we continue: We encourage everyone to always check in with their doctor before they start intermittent fasting, and to fast only if they are over 20 years old. Each body reacts differently to fasting. While one person might absolutely love how they feel while fasting, another person might do some damage to their metabolism, become anaemic, or disrupt other systems in their body doing the same thing. Above all, listen to your body: it knows what it’s doing!
Does tea break a fast?
For intermittent fasting, plain black tea, black coffee, or herbal tea don’t contain any calories. So, they’re generally totally fine during fasting. They’re actually packed with antioxidants that can even enhance the benefits of fasting. The key word here is ‘plain’. If you add milk, sugar, or sweeteners to your tea, you can trigger an insulin response and accidentally break your fast.
Let’s run through a few different kinds of tea to find out which ones are best for fasting.
Does green tea break a fast?
No. In fact, green tea is one of the best teas for fasting. It’s packed with catechins that boost metabolism, while also helping to curb hunger. Plus, the small caffeine hit helps keep you alert.
Does Earl Grey tea break a fast?
No way! Earl Grey tea is safe for fasting, as long as you drink it plain. It’s infused with bergamot, which may even help with digestion and crank up your metabolism.
Does chamomile tea break a fast?
Not at all. Chamomile tea is great for fasting, especially in the evenings. It helps with digestion, reduces stress, and can improve your sleep quality, which is perfect if fasting has you feeling a bit wired at night.
Does rooibos tea break a fast?
Nope! Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and a solid option for fasting. Its slightly sweet taste makes it a great choice if you’re craving something a little different.
For religious or cultural fasting, such as Ramadan or Lent, ingesting any liquid will break the fast. This rule exists because the fast is ideological; it’s not about the calories in the drink but rather the consumption of anything at all during the fasting period. So, if you’re fasting for religious reasons, you’ll have to skip the tea for now!
Final verdict: does tea break a fast? As long as you’re drinking it plain, with no milk or sugar in sight, tea can actually be beneficial for you while intermittent fasting for health reasons. Green, black, herbal, and rooibos teas are all great choices, helping with hunger, metabolism, and overall health. That’s good news because, for many of us, tea is something we wouldn’t want to go without for long.
You know what makes fasting better? Some bloody good tea!
Whether you’re looking for some delicious organic green tea or a box of black tea to kickstart your morning, you know where to find us. We’re the black box in your local supermarket, and we’re also available online! Explore our selection to stock up for your fasting period, and remember: always prioritise safety while fasting.