Who knew teatime could offset some of life’s most dangerous ailments? No wonder tea is so highly revered by the British! It’s a miracle in a cup; packed full of antioxidants which work with your body to maximize life expectancy, whilst tasting delicious and improving quality of life. Tea is really any plant that is soaked in boiling water and then consumed, however most people know tea as the plant formally called Camellia Sinensis. This family of plants produce black tea, white tea, green tea, and the less well known Oolong tea. Whatever your favorite tea may comprise of, you are guaranteed health benefits from all tea types. Let’s discover what tea can do for us.
Key Benefits of Tea
Over 2 billion people drink tea every day across the world; mostly because we enjoy it. However out of those 2 billion people many don’t know really why tea is good for us (other than their grandmother told them it was). Those of you who dislike the taste of tea need to acquire the taste for it. So let’s take a look at the health benefits we can expect from tea.
- Free radicals harm our cells and cause premature aging. Luckily tea has a high Oxygen radical absorbency capacity and helps our body naturally fight free radicals before they can destroy our DNA. This minimizes the risk of developing cancers and neurological disorders as we age.
- Did you ever feel the quick energy boost you acquire after drinking a cup or two of tea? That’s because tea is naturally rich in caffeine. However tea is unique compared to coffee because instead of the caffeine dehydrating you; the antioxidants make up for the caffeine and hydrate you. So with tea you can enjoy both caffeine and hydration.
- Alzheimer’s is a scary disease that leaves its victims in a wave of desperation and loss of thought. The CDC reports that regular tea drinkers generally have a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. If you start drinking tea from a young age, you increase your chances of preventing the onset of cognitive diseases greatly.
All of the facts we listed above are confirmed statistics, however tea has also been known to help fight cavities, detox smokers’ lungs, and fight osteoporosis among women. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start enjoying the health benefits a cup of tea a day can provide you.
Types of Tea
If you were looking for the southern sweet tea or ice tea list then were sorry to disappoint! Those types of tea are generally really bad for you. Fast food restaurants and manufacturers dump buckets after buckets of sugar into teas that literally ruin the whole point of drinking tea. Never fear! We have comprised a list of teas that are healthy for us, but also taste great!
Black Tea
There’s a good reason that over 75% of the world choose back tea for their daily consumption. It is packed with rich antioxidants that fight free radicals and balance your body within. Here is what you can expect from this bold-tasting tea:
- Black tea contains Polysaccharides which are simply put carbohydrates that work to slow down blood glucose absorption. This helps to prevent type two diabetes altogether and can even reverse pre-diabetes.
- Statistics show that countries who are well known for drinking black tea have a lower level of obesity rates among adults. Nutritionists point towards the boost the caffeine in black tea gives to the metabolic system of those who drink it. In short: it can help you lose weight.
Green Tea
When we think of the ultimate tea for your health, the only image that should come into your mind is green tea. Heralded as a tea rich in minerals and antioxidants that work with your body to create and happy and healthy life. Let’s see what green tea can do for you.
- One benefit of green tea most people are not aware of is its ability to help reduce toothache pain. Green tea contains natural antibiotic properties in it that fight tooth cavities and help reduce the effects of gum diseases like gingivitis. It also has antiviral properties that can help fight certain viruses.
- Green tea is also an excellent preventative medicine. The secret behind green tea boosting the immune system is the fact it’s loaded with Catechins. These substances fight cancer-causing carcinogens and build an antibiotic atmosphere in your system allowing you to skip the flu this year!
White Tea
Studies have claimed that white tea’s catechin (antioxidant) content is lower than green tea; and can be increased by the chemical process incurred when mixing with lemon (as explained in the video below).
White tea is unprocessed and it is harvested at an earlier stage as compared to other tea. Therefore, it is less bitter due to its lower levels of Theaflavin content and it is less oxidised. White Tea is a good substitute for Green Tea if you’re unable to handle its bitterness.
It’s important to remember to stay far away from heavily sweetened teas like southern sweet tea or some forms of ice tea. If you want to flavor your tea, add vitamin C rich lemon to your tea. If you really want something out of the norm; try a Boston ice tea by adding straight cranberry juice to your black ice tea. If you must sweeten the tea, then use natural honey. Stay away from artificial sweeteners (learn the dangers of artificial sweeteners here). Make tea time a healthy, yet enjoyable time in order to keep the doctor away.