Green tea is rapidly becoming a popular beverage among the fasting community, but before you jump on board, it’s important to understand whether green tea can break your fast and its impact on other aspects of fasting.
Do note that this article is specific to green tea and fasting alone, if you need a more general article on tea and fasting, find it here, “Does tea break a fast.“
In this short post, we’ll look at the nutritive nature of green tea, to determine whether it can be taken during fasting periods.
When trying to investigate whether green tea will break your fast or not, you need to first figure out whether it has calories.
So, let’s use that as our starting point.
What Is Green Tea And Does Green Tea Have Calories?
Green tea is a type of tea that is made from the leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant.
It has been consumed for thousands of years especially because of its numerous health benefits.
And yes, green tea has calories, the good news is that plain green tea without any additives is incredibly low in calories.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a single serving of tea, which is an 8 fl oz cup (237 ml), holds only one calorie.
This makes green tea an excellent beverage option for both prolonged and intermittent fasting, as it can help you feel full during your fast and even after which might help you with binging after fasting.
Unless you add milk, sugar, honey, or any other sweeteners like aspartame, green tea is a healthy and low-calorie beverage that you can drink at any time during your fast.
So, Will Green Tea Break A Fast?
No, green tea does not break a fast and it is absolutely ok to drink it during intermittent fasting. It’s remarkably low in calories and nutrients, so if you drink it plain and unsweetened, it’s unlikely to break your fast.
But, there are some catches!
If you’re doing a water fast, you’re limited to drinking only water. Drinking green tea during this type of fasting is a no-go, and green tea will theoretically break your fast.
If you are only calorie-restricting or you are following a basic fasting routine, you may be at liberty to drink the single calorie from the cup of green tea.
There are more than these two catches.
The point I’m trying to pass here is, while green tea’s calories are negligible and won’t necessarily break your intermittent fast, your fasting protocol will determine whether you can inconsequentially drink green tea.
Here’s green tea’s impact on other aspects of fasting.
Does Green Tea Spike Insulin?
No, green tea does not cause an insulin spike as it contains insignificant levels of carbohydrates.
When your blood sugar levels increase, your body releases insulin to regulate them.
However, plain green tea contains very little carbohydrates and therefore, should not lead to an insulin spike.
Does Green Tea Break Ketosis?
No, green tea does not stop ketosis, green tea is a great beverage option that can support your ketogenic lifestyle.
It’s important to consume plain green tea without any additives, such as sugar or honey, which can introduce carbs and stop ketosis.
Does Green Tea Stop Autophagy?
No, green tea does not stop autophagy, in fact, it might even enhance it!
Green tea has some compounds called catechins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote autophagy.
Benefits Of Green Tea During A Fast.
One of the most notable benefits of green tea during fasting is hydration.
Staying hydrated is essential while fasting, and green tea can be a helpful alternative to sophisticated liquids like liquid I.V that can break your fast.
Also, green tea can help you feel full, reducing hunger pangs and preventing binges after your fast.
Green tea that contains caffeine can also provide you with a much-needed energy boost during your fast.
Another significant benefit of green tea during fasting is that it promotes autophagy.
Summary And Key Takeaways.
The answer to whether green tea breaks a fast or not might not be straightforward, considering different protocols have different rules, but the good news is that green tea is generally low in calories and can be a helpful beverage during fasting.
If you’re fasting and want to enjoy green tea, you can safely drink plain green tea without any caloric additives.
Green tea remains a healthy and low-calorie beverage that you can enjoy during your fast, the only time it can break your fast is if you add milk, sugar, honey, or any other sweeteners like aspartame.
When it comes to the benefits green tea has to a fast, it can provide hydration, energy, and promote autophagy, making it a useful tool to support your fasting goals.
