Fall deeper in love with tea with these nine amazing health benefits.
For the Love of Tea!
The Tea Association of the United States cites health benefits as the main reason tea consumption has grown steadily for the past two decades.
Technically, tea is anything that comes from the tea plant, including green tea, black tea, white tea, and oolong tea. So, if there are tea leaves present, you’ll get all the health benefits. When you learn of its many healthy charms, a cup of tea just might replace your favorite Starbucks standard.
9 Tea Health Benefits
1. Immune System Booster
Drinking tea helps your body’s immune system fight off infection. In one study, 21 participants drank either five cups of tea or coffee daily for four weeks. At the end of the study, researchers found higher immune system activity in the tea drinkers’ blood.
Boost your immune system with the following teas:
Green tea
Chamomile tea
Echinacea tea
2. Less Caffeine
A cup of Joe usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea. So, if coffee gives you the jitters or keeps you from shut-eye, consider switching to tea.
3. Reduce Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
As you know, blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Research has shown that tea drinking may help keep arteries running smooth and clot-free.
Indeed, one study found a 70% lower risk of fatal heart attack in folks who sipped at least 2–3 cups of black tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers.
4. Toothsome Tea
Tea contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay… just stay away from the sugar. Additionally, tea contains antioxidants that help prevent halitosis (bad breath).
5. Protection Against Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress in the body can damage cells, proteins, lipids, and DNA. When metabolized, oxygen creates unstable molecules in our bodies called free radicals that destroy cells.
Oxidative stress can lead to health conditions such as:
- Joint inflammation or arthritis
- Faster aging process
- Eye lens deterioration contributing to blindness and other eye conditions
- Certain cancers caused by damage in cell DNA
- Damage to brain nerve cells which may contribute to progressive illnesses like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
- Higher risk of coronary heart disease
Aside from keeping your breath fresh, antioxidants can work a little deeper and get rid of free radicals to protect us from the effects of oxidative stress. Name a tea blend, from organic teas to more specialized infusions, each of them has antioxidants.
Here are six antioxidant-packed teas:
- Black tea
- White tea
- Oolong tea
- Green tea
- Licorice tea
- Hibiscus tea
6. For Greater Endurance and Weight Loss
Another nod to the amazing benefits of antioxidants, tea can actually boost your exercise endurance. Catechins, a kind of antioxidant found in green tea, can increase the body’s ability to use fat as energy for muscle endurance and weight loss.
Here are some of the best teas for weight loss and decreasing body fat:
- Green tea
- Pu’er or Pu-erh tea
- Black tea
- White tea
- Oolong tea
- Herbal tea (infusion of spices, herbs, and fruits soaked in hot water or brought to a boil)
7. May Help in Blood Sugar Regulation
Drinking tea may help in regulating blood sugar levels and preventing or controlling type 2 diabetes.
Black tea, specifically, has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels after eating. Researchers attribute these to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of polyphenols in tea.
8. Happy, Healthy Tummy
Tea is great for your gut health and can treat issues like nausea, stomach aches, and diarrhea.
Ginger tea has been long used in Chinese and Indian ancient medicine to treat stomach aches. The active ingredients in this herbal tea include gingerol and shogaol—both can soothe the gut lining.
Peppermint, with its menthol and antioxidant properties, can also help with digestive disturbances.
Teas also have tannin contents. This compound can help decrease intestinal inflammation and help soothe stomach cramps.
Other good teas perfect for digestion include:
- Gentian root
- Fennel tea
- Angelica root
- Dandelion tea
- Senna tea
- Marshmallow root
- Black tea
9. Anti-Aging Properties
Enjoy a soothing sip of green tea and reap the benefits of younger-looking skin. Oral and topical green tea can help with skin aging.
In another study in 2013, researchers found that topical application of products with green tea extract reduced sun exposure skin damage. They suggested such products have better skin microrelief and moisturizing effects.
For more than a thousand years, many cultures have been using different kinds of tea for medicinal purposes. With the varied flavor profiles available and many health benefits they provide, it’s not surprising at all why this is so.
What is your favorite kind of tea?
