by Emeric Harney September 29, 2020 4 min read 7 Comments
Have you heard of intermittent fasting? While new weight-loss programs pop up from time to time (that’s an intermittent joke, folks!), intermittent fasting, or IF, is different from other weight-loss methods. Rather than prescribe what you eat, IF is all about when you eat.
Fasting is not a new concept. It is a practice that has often been employed for religious reasons or medical ones. And rather than trying to lose weight by just stopping eating altogether, which is unhealthy, intermittent fasting offers a mix of times of fasting and times of eating that work to help a person lose weight in a healthy fashion.
That said: anyone considering embarking on an intermittent fasting weight loss program should consult with their physician to make sure they’re not putting themselves at risk. Harney & Sons is not recommending this or any other weight loss program, because we’re tea experts, not doctors! However, if you have considered intermittent fasting, we’ll let you know if you can still enjoy the greatest beverage known to humanity and not blow your hard work!
First, however, some basic IF deets.
Intermittent Fasting Basics
Like we said, IF is all about when you eat and when you don’t. But before you think wow, awesome, I just won’t eat when I sleep and then I’ll eat when I’m awake… hold your scales a minute. It’s a little more structured (and disciplined) than that. There are, however, three popular methods from which to choose, so you can pick the fasting program you’re most comfortable with.
Whichever method is chosen, it’s important not to go hog-wild and binge like crazy during the eating periods of time. That undoes all the hard work of fasting and will not bring about the desired results.
So, why does this style of eating/not eating produce results? There is science behind the effects that fasting has on your body, which include:
While there are known weight-loss benefits to fasting, studies are still being done to understand its other possible benefits to our health.
So, the big question is: when you’re fasting, can you have tea?
Yes, You Can Have Tea
During the fasting periods, having non-caloric beverages is permitted. They are particularly helpful in helping you have a feeling of fullness, staying hydrated, and being a distraction from not eating. While any non-caloric beverage is fine, for obvious reasons we’re going to talk about how tea can be your intermittent fasting buddy.
It can help you feel satisfied. Reaching for your favorite tea while resisting the desire to eat can bring a feeling of familiarity and comfort. Keep those stress hormones at bay (they can cause you to hang onto weight or eat off-schedule) and your fasting regimen intact with a cup of your go-to tea. A fan favorite like Hot Cinnamon Spice is a perfect way to feel like you’re getting something sweet without having any sugar. A hearty cup of Matcha Iri Genmaicha can feel like you’re cheating and having a cup of soup. Or a cup of Green Tea with Coconut, with its caffeine and strong aroma, can help push you through a moment of weakness and give you the energy to forge ahead.
It’s an opportunity to introduce another healthy habit. While you’re working hard to lose weight, why not introduce yourself to some teas that are made with ingredients that contribute to the overall healthy lifestyle you’re embracing. Our Wellness Teas & Infusions Collection features teas all-natural hemp teas from our sister company, The Hemp Division; teas that make you go “ohm” from the Chopra Center; teas filled with powerful antioxidants, adaptogens, spices and much more to make you feel fulfilled from our Mind Your Body collection; and our herbal infusions and tisanes for those late-night times when reaching for a decaf tea instead of cookies is the better choice. They’re all perfect supplements to an intermittent fasting regimen.
It’s a great time to treat yourself. While you may be denying yourself the pleasure of eating whenever you want, why not treat yourself to trying a new tea every day or during every fasting period? We offer a wide variety of sampler sets, like four tins of our best sellers, a wooden tea chest with an assortment of teas, or our master tea taster collection containing an assortment of classic teas along with professional-level tea tasting tools and Mike Harney’sA Guide to Tea for fascinating insights into the tea industry and tips for making the perfect cups of tea. Not only will this set introduce you to new teas, it will give your mind something else to focus on besides that empTEA feeling in your stomach!
If you’re embarking on the intermittent fasting weight-loss plan, we hope these tea tips will help you achieve your goals. We wish you luck and encourage you to be safe and stay healthy! Once ready, check out this intermittent fasting calculator from Fitness Volt.
May 13, 2022
Will the Harney and sons Paris yea break your fast or are there zero calories in it?
September 03, 2021
This tea is absolutely wonderfully Amazingingly delightful❤️❤️❤️❤️ I received as a gift from my meditation partner and they use this tea exclusively! I fell in Love with the Hot Cinnamon Spice flavor….Harney and Sons all I can say is your tea has untouchable elegance and class👍🏾❤️
April 15, 2021
I started intermittent fasting a little over a month ago. I am a coffee wimp. I cannot stand drinking it without a fair amount of non-dairy creamer which equals calories. A dear friend sent me a gift of the Paris tea and I absolutely love it. It is wonderful in the morning to hydrate and stay “full” until my fasting period is over. I’ve also purchased Tower of London, Earl Grey Supreme, Vienna and Hot Cinnamon Spice. All are perfect for helping me stay true to my fast and the pounds are shedding. I don’t miss my coffee at all and now consider myself a tea addict. I can’t wait to try more flavors. I’m so glad I found Harney & Sons.
November 17, 2020
I lost 40 pounds in a little over 3 months and am still losing, with intermittent fasting. If it weren’t for Harney tea in the morning, I’m not sure I’d have made it. However, I will now have to try the suggestions in this article, as I don’t have those teas. Thanks!
November 17, 2020
Truly appreciate the information. Harney tea provides depth that most teas simply do not offer as well as very reasonable prices!
October 15, 2020
I have been doing IF for a year now and your teas are definitely a part of my 16-8 plan. Hot Cinnamon Spice is my every morning tea, with Paris, Tower of London and Black Currant for backup. I really enjoyed the iced teas this summer. Thanks for your quick shipping even during the pandemic to keep me in tea.
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Kristen
October 11, 2022
I have been an extended faster for a long time and I recently found the hot cinnamon spice and it’s a game changer- it makes me feel like I’m cheating 😂
Thank you for making awesome tea!