Health Benefits of Tea

For centuries, tea drinkers have been claiming the healthy rewards of their drink of choice. But recently, scientists are backing their claims with research and now confirm what tea-drinkers have been saying throughout history: tea not only tastes great, but it is great for you, too.

Perhaps the most important chemical element in the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, or tea leaves, is the variety of antioxidants present. Antioxidants help to eliminate free radicals from the body and prevent them from damaging healthy cells. These antioxidants, as well as other helpful ingredients such as fluoride and caffeine, are the combinations that fight heart disease and cancer, strengthen bones and teeth, and improve mental cognition.

If that weren’t enough good news, tea has practically no calories, no sodium and no fat, and is as rich in antioxidants as a single serving of vegetables. But the benefits don’t stop there. Pour yourself a cup of healthy tea and continue reading the other wonders this drink provides.

Fight Cancer and Heart Disease

One of the antioxidants contained in tea is flavonoids. Falvonoids stop the build up of cholesterol and improve the function of blood vessels. This not only helps arteries remain clog-free but works as a preventative prescription for strokes. Also, tea contains the antioxidant, polyphenol, which helps to fight cancer-causing free radicals. These two antioxidants are responsible for fighting cancer and heart disease in those who drink tea on a regular basis. Studies at Kings College London found definitive evidence that three to four cups of tea daily led to decrease chances of heart attacks.

Strengthen Your Immune System

Not a big fan of fruit? Tea might be the supplement you’ve been looking for. Vitamin C is prevalent in tea and helps battle the flu and common cold. Studies show anti-bacterial proteins were five times higher in tea-drinkers than they were in coffee drinkers. The antioxidant polyphenols not only work to fight free radicals, they also increase the number of white blood cells, which are key components of our immune system. Vitamin C is not the only vitamin in tea, either. Vitamins B1, B2, E, F, P and U are all present in tea leaves.

Increase Metabolism and Lose Weight

Trials conducted on green tea have indicated the drink speeds up fat oxidation and raises thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are burned). It is suggested that these combinations improve endurance when exercising. So sipping a cup of hot tea is actually helping your body lose weight. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Raise Mental Alertness and Lower Stress

Meditation and tea go hand in hand and now scientists have discovered why this connection has carried through the centuries. Theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves. This amino acid changes the attention networks of the brain. Studies have shown that this ingredient crosses the blood-brain barrier where it increases alpha brain waves. Studies also show that stress hormone levels are lower after drinking black tea. The result is a more alert, and calmer, state of mind.

Control Inflammation

If you have experienced a bone injury or suffer from arthritis, drinking more tea might be the most delicious way to ease pain. Polyphenols help with the pain by reducing inflammation and slowing the breakdown of cartilage. Drinking a few cups of tea might be a healthier alternative to taking aspirin or ibuprofen on a daily basis for pain.

Protect Teeth and Strengthen Bones

Here is one that might surprise you. Tea contains fluoride received from the soil around the tea plant. This fluoride helps protect against tooth decay as well as strengthens bones and build resistance against osteoporosis. The polyphenols also help reduce plaque, thereby lowering the chance of developing gum disease and cavities. Researchers also found that polyphenols stop the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. These healthy benefits are definitely worth smiling over.

Enjoy Lower Caffeine Levels

Contrary to what many may think, a cup of green tea contains between 15 to 50 mg of caffeine. Compare that to a cup of coffee which has roughly 150 mg of caffeine and its easy to see that tea is the healthier alternative. These moderate levels of caffeine have been proven to provide benefits such as increase in short term memory, healthy weight loss, headache relief, and asthma treatment. Tea provides just enough kick to get started without the jittery side effects of higher levels of caffeine.

Stay Hydrated

Because many believe that tea has high caffeine levels, another common misconception is that it dehydrates. The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that tea is as good as water for hydrating the body and even better to drink when you take in all the additional health benefits. Tea does more than just replace fluids, it provides beneficial antioxidants.

Live Longer

All the healthy benefits of drinking tea are hard to ignore. And even though it is safe to assume these benefits will extend your life and improve your lifestyle, the antioxidants in tea will even improve your skin quality so you can start to actually look younger.

Which Tea to Drink?

The more processing the tea goes through, the more antioxidants are stripped from it. In that regard, white teas have the most antioxidants and black teas have the least. Still, the benefits of drinking tea, even black tea, cannot be overlooked. It is best to choose loose leaf teas as opposed to instant or bottled teas because they have higher levels of antioxidants. If you want the healthiest and best tasting teas, choose high-quality loose leaf teas.

Drink a Cup, or Two or Three

Certainly these facts confirm why tea has lasted through the ages as an elixir of health. And the variety of unique flavors means there is a tea to match every palate. All these benefits and more, make it is easy to see why a cup (or two or three) of tea should be added as a daily part of your healthy diet.