Is Drinking Tea Good For You?

Tea has always been a debatable topic, whether its consumption is good or bad for your health. A Tea Council-funded study by the European Journal for Clinical Nutrition mentions that tea causes no harm if consumed in normal quantities. So, you should be just fine if you drink less than a gallon of tea a day. Drinking tea can do so much for you.

Are you aware that tea has health-promoting substances like Polyphenols, especially catechins and epicatechins? Polyphenols are micronutrients found in plants. These micronutrients are strong antioxidants, and they avoid or reverse harm in your cells due to aging, the pollution in the environment you live in, and your lifestyle. This damage is associated with a higher risk for many chronic diseases. In addition, Harvard-led research of large numbers of people has shown that the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease for tea and coffee drinkers is lower over the years. To get your hands on these benefits, you better get your water boiling, so you can enjoy several types of tea.

Black Tea

Black tea consists of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant used for the production of green tea. The leaves are therefore dried and fermented to give the dark color of black tea and a richer taste. Black tea may have the same green tea advantages. Contrary to other drinks with a comparatively larger content of caffeine, low doses of tea will improve blood flow through the brain without over-stimulating the heart. The breathing system activates both the metabolism and the heart and kidneys. Yet, several studies have explicitly examined black tea and the health effect of the oxidation process. Black tea as a source of antioxidants is an important field of interest.

Appropriate radicals battle against antioxidants. Free radicals are unstable body molecules, caused by both natural and environmental processes. The body can destroy free radicals, but the destruction of free radicals can disrupt or change cells in the body if too many are created. These changes can lead to many diseases and disorders, such as atherosclerosis and some cancers.

Green Tea

Green tea can protect you from having heart disease, gastric, pancreatic, bladder, and ovarian cancers — and even cavities in accordance with Mayo Clinic. It is oxidized and rich in a cancer control compound called catechins. In addition, a study conducted by the Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute indicates that green tea can also improve the immune system. Adding to this, Matcha, a type of green tea, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Matcha is a high-quality, fine green tea powder made of all the tea broths in the shade. Since matcha is the only type of tea to be consumed in the leaves, matcha contains more antioxidants than the standard green tea. Some have actually claimed that 1 cup of matcha is equal to 10 cups of ordinary green tea.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is produced from the same herb used in the production of Green and Black teas, aside from a traditional Chinese tea. There is a difference in the treatment of the tea: Green tea does not oxidize much, but black tea can oxidize until it becomes dark to form the black shade. The folks at Let’s Drink Tea explained that L-theanine, an amino acid that reduces fear and increases awareness and attention, is a notable compound for Oolong Tea. Scientists found that L-theanine can contribute to the prevention of neurological illnesses like Parkinson’s or AIDS.

Furthermore, Oolong tea allows you to lose fat faster by increasing your metabolism when you drink the tea for up to two hours. Oolong also contains polyphenols which can block fat-building enzymes. This means that, if you don’t load this type of tea with refined sugars and artificial sweeteners, you will lose weight. Consider using fresh honey, maple syrup, stevia, or agave syrup, all of which are sugars low on the glycemic index, if you like your tea on the sweeter side.

When Tea Can Be Your Enemy

While a majority of the teas help your wellbeing, you may want to keep teas out of your way:

  • Detox teas for diets that recommend you losing weight quickly. These teas are also laxative, which can affect your health. You should also avoid fancy tea lattes and your favorite chain store’s beverages as they are piled up with sugar.
  • Bubble teas, which have a low to no value of nutrition, filled with sugar, calories, and carbs.
  • Herbal teas can cause allergies, as they are filled with various types of vegetables, plants, spices, and flowers. You have to always check the ingredient list to save yourself from a deadly allergy attack.

There’s no discussion needed when it comes to the benefits of tea. Although teas of different varieties are commercially available nowadays, consumption of the more natural forms of tea and sweeteners is still the best way to keep ourselves protected from numerous diseases. Be sure to be conscious of the tea’s ingredients and how frequently you consume them to make the most of the tea’s health benefits.