Since childhood, there’s a likely chance that you will have been brought up not to eat or drink anything after your dinner too close to your bedtime. Perhaps a glass of hot milk or cocoa to help you sleep yet that’s about it for most children, if they are lucky.
Think again as naturally occurring fruits, herbs, and spices contain fat burning and anti-inflammatory properties. By including these ingredients in a homemade drink, you can burn fat while you sleep.
In this guide, we will detail 11 homemade drinks that burn fat while you are sleeping. Many of these drinks will include natural ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, honey, mint leaves, and lemon so they should be easy to do.
Other drinks do contain several calories so they are best drunk after a strenuous workout to replenish your muscle mass.
- Ginger Tea
- Fenugreek Water (Soaked And Boiled)
- Greek Yogurt Protein Shake
- Chamomile Tea
- Cinnamon Tea
- Protein Water
- Ginger, Lemon, Green Smoothie
- Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
- Chia Lemonade
- Green Tea With Mint Leaves And Lemon
- Hot Water With Lemon And Honey
1. Ginger Tea
Ingredients:
- A quarter-inch of fresh grated ginger
- A teaspoon of honey
Simply grate the piece of fresh ginger and boil it in a pan with around two to three cups of water. As the ginger infuses, leave it for a couple of minutes to cool down before pouring into a cup.
If the taste of ginger seems too overpowering then add some honey to stir in as a sweetener to drink before you hit the hay. The ginger root is a common component in Indian cuisine as it brings a lot of flavor to dishes and is readily available.
Each root contains a significant amount of gingerol, a naturally occurring antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that will help your body digest any heavy meals faster.
If you have had a large, protein and carbohydrate-filled evening meal, then a cup of ginger tea should break that down and help you eat.
The science behind ginger tea is how it can work with your digestive system to help transport food through your stomach and then the small intestine. While your digestive system does that naturally, the infusion of gingerol will quicken it up.
With less time to digest, you should experience a reduction in the number of calories and carbohydrates that your body will absorb.
Furthermore, gingerol can assist in stabilizing your blood sugar levels and preventing hunger pangs so your body is discouraged from storing that excess sugar as fat.
2. Fenugreek Water (Soaked And Boiled)
Ingredients:
- A tablespoon of fenugreek seeds
- A teaspoon of honey
There are two different ways of creating a batch of Fenugreek Water, you can either soak it overnight or boil it. Obviously, one method is going to be quicker than the other but it may depend on whether you like to drink it at room temperature or warm.
For the soaked method, pour the fenugreek seeds into a cup and fill it with water, ideally in the morning. Leave the cup for the whole day for the seeds to infuse and then strain them out. After a full day of infusion, the water should be ready to drink before you go to bed.
For the boiled method, add the crushed fenugreek seeds to one or two cups of water in a pan. Crank up the heat and let the mixture boil for between five and ten minutes.
The mixture will be hot so carefully strain it into your cup and then add the honey as an optional sweetener while it remains warm enough to comfortably drink. Fenugreek is a herb that is also known as methi which can be used for both its leaves and its seeds.
In theory, the herb is so rich in fiber that it should help you feel full for longer though it should also help regulate your blood sugar levels.
Drinking it before bedtime, especially if it has been a while since your last meal, should help suppress your hunger pangs and help you to eat fewer calories. The herb also acts as an antacid so can help your digestion and generate heat in your body.
3. Greek Yogurt Protein Shake
Ingredients:
- Half a cup of almond milk or unsweetened soy milk
- Half a cup of Greek yogurt
- A banana
- A tablespoon of peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
- A cup of leafy greens like spinach
- Six to seven ice cubes
This protein shake is really easy to make if you have a blender that you readily use. Simply pour in all the ingredients and then blitz the mixture until it is smooth enough to sip. You can also add flaxseeds or chia seeds if you want to bulk it up.
A protein shake does sound like a lot of carbohydrates to get down you before you go to sleep. However, for those who workout late at night, getting some protein into your system will help repair and then rejuvenate your muscles.
By improving your muscle mass and your muscle recovery, you can allow your body to burn more calories. The milk also contains both tryptophan and calcium, both of which are supposed to improve the quality of your sleep.
With both whey and casein as two different types of dairy protein, you can build your muscle while you sleep and make that workout last a bit longer.
There may be as many as 140 calories in each serving of Greek Yogurt Protein Shake, largely down to the yogurt, banana, and peanut butter.
That’s why it is best to drink before bedtime a few hours after your last meal or first thing in the morning before you have eaten anything at all.
4. Chamomile Tea
Ingredients:
- A chamomile teabag or the equivalent amount of chamomile flowers
If you are a fan of drinking a cup of chamomile tea to promote a good night’s sleep then you may be heartened by its weight loss properties. To create the tea, you can simply prepare a cup with a teabag as you would normally.
Simply steep the teabag in a cup of hot water and allow it to infuse for between five and ten minutes. Leave it for a few minutes and then it should be cool enough to drink. As a caffeine-free beverage, Chamomile Tea is popular as a drink to consume before you go to bed.
The drink was even used as a sedative in the UK, France, Germany, and Belgium by increasing the body’s glycine levels. Not only will the improved glycine help relax your nerves to promote sleep, the flowers are also anti-inflammatory so will look after your pancreas.
This is largely done by promoting the production of insulin which removes sugar from your bloodstream and helps to stabilize those crucial blood sugar levels. Without cravings for sugar and those extra calories, a cup can help you lose weight.
Thankfully, a cup of Cinnamon Tea will be calorie-free so feel free to drink it during the day like you would a cup of Chamomile Tea.
5. Cinnamon Tea
Ingredients:
- Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- A teaspoon of honey
This tea is really simple to do as you only need a pan, some water, some honey, and a tiny amount of cinnamon powder. To create a single batch of this tea, boil up a cup of water in a pan and then add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Give it a good stir and you may want to strain it before pouring it into a cup. Add a spoonful of honey to help the mixture seem more palatable though it also helps the mixture become more potent for weight loss.
Like ginger, cinnamon is another staple component in Indian cuisine which also comes with a range of health benefits. It is known as dalchini and has been involved in spicy dishes though when combined with honey, it can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism.
There has been a study, albeit a small one, that indicated that the cinnamaldehyde present in the cinnamon root can stimulate your body’s production of heat in a process known as thermogenesis.
With more heat, your body can, hopefully, burn more calories, reduce the less desirable effects of fatty food, and then contribute to your weight loss goals. The cinnamon root is also known for its antibiotic and antioxidant properties so it is ideal for a detox.
Like a cup of Chamomile Tea, Cinnamon Tea should not contain any calories. It can be drunk before bedtime but also throughout the day and ideally between meals.
6. Protein Water
Ingredients:
- Protein powder
If you are used to creating a protein-enriched drink either before or after your workout then try one before bed. Follow the instructions as you would normally and add just enough natural protein powder to use with mineral water to create a fine mix.
The protein powder can be whey or collagen-based, just as long as you know it works. This is another great fat burning drink to try if you prefer to work out late at night as it will help in your quest for building lean muscle and trimming extra calories.
You can typically find Protein Water in your grocery store yet by reading the list of ingredients you should be alarmed by what goes into each serving.
A lot of the bottles will contain excess sugar, additives, and stimulants that can actively discourage your body from losing weight.
Thankfully, you can make your own Protein Water at home using a protein powder that you trust and use quite regularly for a pre- and post-workout drink.
There may be around 70 calories in each serving of Protein Water, though that can depend on your choice of protein powder. This drink can be drunk during the day but works best at night, ideally after a workout.
7. Ginger, Lemon, Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
- Half a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Half a cup of fresh ginger
- Half a cup of fresh parsley leaves
- A cup of apple cider vinegar
- A cup of water
- A tablespoon of ground cinnamon
This is another smoothie with several ingredients that all work together to help an individual lose weight. Components such as ground cinnamon and fresh ginger have been found to work well on their own yet here they are combined.
Simply add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend them until smooth enough to drink. You may want to strain the mixture for a finer drink so you can drink it twice a day.
This is a smoothie that you can drink first thing in the morning while you have an empty stomach and then again before bed. Again, the science is that the mixture should promote the maximum amount of heating in your abdominal fat cells.
With the apple cider vinegar working its magic, this is another drink that you should drink a few hours following your evening meal or first thing in the morning.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
Ingredients:
- A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- A teaspoon of honey
Drinking apple cider vinegar in its purest form may seem difficult. After all, it does have such a pungent smell and a strong, somewhat overpowering taste. To create a palatable drink, mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of water and mix it up.
You can even add a teaspoon of honey if you want to produce a better taste with more health benefits. This is a really simple homemade drink that can act as a weight loss remedy.
Apple cider vinegar is known to have plenty of powerful antioxidants that can boost your metabolism and kick-start that fat burning while you sleep.
9. Chia Lemonade
Ingredients:
- Two tablespoons of chia seeds
- A lemon or lime, sliced
- A teaspoon of honey
Yes, a glass of Chia Lemonade may look a little odd as the chia seeds bloat up but it can help you lose weight. Ideally, you should be drinking this before bedtime and not on a rocking chair outside like you would a traditional glass of refreshing lemonade.
For your homemade Chia Lemonade, pour the chia seeds into a jar with the lemon or lime slices and fill with water before adding the honey. Seal up the jar and give it a good shake before drinking directly or quickly pouring it into a glass.
Chia Lemonade is a refreshing drink yet it can help promote fat burning. Not only steady weight loss but heart and stomach health as well as inflammation relief, and enhancing muscle strength. Try drinking this on a daily basis and see how it can help.
10. Green Tea With Mint Leaves And Lemon
Ingredients:
- A green tea teabag or two tablespoons of green tea leaves
- The juice of a freshly squeezed lemon or lime
- Six to seven mint leaves
- One and a half cups of water
A cup of green tea is a great caffeine-free drink to enjoy before bed. It can also help promote fat burning when combined with lemon or lime juice and mint leaves. Grab a saucepan and pour in the water with the mint leaves and either the green tea teabag or green tea leaves.
As the water heats up, the leaves should expand so continue to stir it for a few minutes and then let the mixture steep for around five more minutes. Once steeped, the mixture should be an invitingly green color.
Strain the mixture into a cup and add the juice of either a freshly squeezed lemon or lime. Make sure that you drink it hot, just as you would a regular cup of green tea.
The green tea leaves are the active ingredient in the drink that help promote fat burning so give it a try with a cup before bedtime.
11. Hot Water With Lemon And Honey
Ingredients:
- A whole lemon, sliced and then squeezed
- A teaspoon of honey
You may have had a cup of hot water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey to help with a sore throat. However, the combinations also work well to help you burn fat. Begin by slicing up the lemon and then squeezing out the juice.
Transfer the juice and the slices into a pan of boiling water and let it infuse for a few minutes. Take the pan off the heat and add the honey to add some sweetness and then drink it before you sleep to help reduce belly fat.
This is another drink that you can try before you go to bed and first thing in the morning. It should help boost your metabolism, help your digestive system, and then help you lose weight.
You only need a lemon and some honey so it should be really easy to do and then enjoy the benefits. Try drinking a cup between meals or a few hours after your evening meal.
The Other Drinks You Can Try To Burn Fat
There are plenty of homemade drinks to help you burn fat while you are sleeping. While there are 11 in this list, there are a few more you can try if you want to.
These drinks can include pure fruit juices, particularly those involving lemons and limes, as well as raw vegetables juices.
You can also try Turmeric Milk where warm milk is mixed with a teaspoon or turmeric to boost your metabolism, or Aloe Vera Juice. Cucumber and Parsley Juice as well as Celery Juice are also good drinks to try.
Other drinks that are said to help you burn fat include Kefir, Kombucha, Oolong Tea, and Pineapple Juice. Alternatively, the simplest drink to keep your body in good shape and fully hydrated is plain old water.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps the easiest way to lose weight while you sleep is not through drinking a mixture that is supposed to burn fat. The human body can be a complex system and some drinks may work better than others.
If you are concerned about your weight gain then look to make your body calorie deficient by eating fewer calories and carbohydrates during the day and certainly before bedtime. With fewer calories and less excess glucose, you can promote fat burning while you sleep.
Some of these drinks, such as the Protein Water and Greek Yogurt Protein Shake are designed to burn fat, but only after a workout. By repairing and rejuvenating your muscles, the components in the drinks work to look after your body and promote lean muscle mass.
Other drinks have a formidable alkalizing effect that will help your digestive system, including green tea and freshly squeezed lemon juice in water. Not only can these drinks help clean your colon but they can boost your metabolism too to help you burn fat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before explaining how fat-burning drinks work, it is essential to realize how weight gain occurs in the first place. The food and drink we consume are converted into glucose by our bodies which is then used as energy to perform certain functions.
Any excess glucose which is left over will be stored in fat and muscle cells as a reserve and as that builds, weight gain will occur.
To lose weight, you need to burn off that stored glucose which can be done by using up more calories by increasing the physical activity you do while you can drop your consumption of calories.
The science behind fat-burning drinks is to improve your metabolism while you sleep and rest. That kick-starting of your metabolism can help you lose weight at nighttime by increasing your body’s muscle mass.
More muscle means less fat and that can come from drinking Soaked Fenugreek Water, Cinnamon Tea, Ginger Tea, and also Chamomile Tea.
Our bodies tend to convert the carbohydrates from food and drinks during the daytime when the metabolism rate is at its peak. That would make sense as your body would provide you with energy when you need it most.
This is also likely why it is important not to eat calorie-rich foods like heavy desserts late at night. If the metabolism rate in your body is low then there is more of a chance that those calories will be stored as excess glucose and then fat as weight gain.
