Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky,
I say, right on! Is there anything better than a nice, warm, comforting cup of tea? No! The resounding answer is no, there is nothing more invigorating, relaxing and satisfying than a cup of hot tea No one knows who or when tea was invented or discovered but according to legends, Tea drinking began during the Shang Dynasty and the earliest record of tea drinking goes back to the 10th century. If there is anyone out there who doesn’t gulp, guzzle, slurp or sip this wonderful, magical beverage, I would insist that you start taking it not only for the reasons stated above but also for its many health benefits. It’s been proven that drinking tea can prevent you from numerous diseases and relax and soothe you as well. Drink it hot, drink it cold, drink it sweet, drink it bitter, anyway you want it. Exotic, traditional, tasty and therapeutic, tea or chai as it is commonly known, packs in a number health benefits as well.
10. Flu, be gone
I always remember whenever I used to get sick; my mum would brew up a strong cup of aromatic ginger tea. It always worked to soothe my nerves and bring down the flu as well. Many of us might be familiar with this practice of drinking hot tea whilst sick, well it works wonders and instantly perks you up. It’s been shown that black tea can help you fight against flu and in a recent study conducted, people who gargled with black tea extract solution twice a day showed higher levels of immunity to the flu virus than those who did not gargle. Regularly drinking white tea also boosts the immunity system because it is abundant in natural chemicals like vitamin H, also known as biotin which helps in developing a healthy immune system. So the next time you need relief from stuffiness, runny nose or a sore throat, simply brew up a cuppa of honey lemon ginger tea. It’s the best homemade remedy available and absolutely free of cost .Kind of like a bowl of piping hot chicken soup.
9. Cancer fighting properties?
Regular consumption of green as well as black tea has been known to reduce the risk of several types of cancer. It’s been suggested that tea contains polyphenols which inhibit the growth of cancer causing cells. These polyphenols have also shown to reduce the risk of various types of tumors .Although research is still going on ,it’s been found that breast, skin, lung, esophagus, stomach ,liver ,mouth and prostate cancer cases have been low amongst those who consume four or five cups a day. Antioxidants found in green tea are hundred times more beneficial than vitamin C as well as vitamin E. Green tea has also shown to stimulate detoxification enzymes that help in preventing tumorous development. Another study also showed that regular consumption of green tea can decrease the risk of prostate cancer in men. So there, I’ve given you another good reason to increase your intake of tea and stack up your kitchen shelves with bags of beneficial herbal teas. Green tea also acts as a backup sunscreen preventing our body from harmful UV rays.
8. Controls Blood pressure
Tea drinkers, rejoice, now you can reap the benefits of drinking tea as recent studies have shown that drinking even as little as half a cup of green tea lowers the risk of high blood pressure by about 50%.The more tea you drink, the bigger the benefits. People with high blood pressure or hypertension can lower their blood pressure by drinking two to three cups of hibiscus tea every day, or more cups, however you want it. Hibiscus tea can be prepared by chopping 1 to 3 chopped or powdered hibiscus flowers in boiling water and drink up. If you’re short on hibiscus flowers, the good news is that you can easily find prepared hibiscus teas at your local health or drug stores. High blood pressure can lead to serious heart problems, about 20% of the adult population suffers from hypertension, so one way to combat that is drinking tea. Tea can also prevent numerous other heart diseases and drinking about eight cups of black leaf tea such as Earl Grey or English breakfast can significantly cut down the risk of heart diseases. It can also prevent heart attacks and death following heart attacks. So what better beverage to keep your heart healthy?
7. Slimming?
Another great health benefit, green tea is always recommended by dieticians and nutritionists when it comes to losing weight. Tea does not have any calories; it all depends upon the amount of artificial sweeteners and milk you add. Black tea does not contain any calories, sodium or fat, so this can be very beneficial for people who wish to lose weight or simply control their weight. Furthermore, if you’re drinking black tea on a regular basis, you are keeping your body healthy and active. Too much sodium can cause heart conditions and too much fat is, well, bad! Another great herbal tea, Green tea is the best option if you’re on a weight loss journey. It boosts the metabolism and has practically no calories. It burns fat and up to 70 calories in a single day. Scientists have found out that Catechins in green tea can burn fat as fuel which accounts for improved muscle endurance. It also prevents cholesterol build up in arteries and burns belly fat. Green tea activates fat burning genes in the body to speed up the weight loss by 70% percent. Some green teas might be a little strong for your taste, so find the ones that you enjoy and you get a great calorie free beverage! Just make sure you don t load it up with sugar or too much milk.
6. Fights Tooth decay
Tea can also help prevent tooth decay and strengthen your teeth as it is a great source of fluoride which strengthens teeth enamel. Now, too much sugar in your tea can ruin your teeth so make sure your tea is unsweetened to keep plaque at bay, a little sugar works but not too much. Artificial or sugar free sweeteners are just as bad, most of these sugar free products are actually full of sugar. So if you can’t digest your tea unsweetened, try honey, just one or two spoons and you have a delicious healthy cup of tea. Unlike coffee, drinking regular cups of tea can prevent gum disease, whereas too much coffee can lead to discoloration of teeth. Mature tea leaves are known to contain 10 to 20 % more fluoride than any other beverage. Compounds in tea are capable of fighting plaque, tooth cavities, killing or suppressing growth or acid production of cavity causing bacteria. It also contains calcium and magnesium which work together to develop strong gums and teeth. So include a cup of tea in your daily ritual of flossing and brushing for strong, healthy white teeth.
5. Hydrates the Body
Everyone knows and believes that water is the only beverage that can keep our body hydrated, however in recent years; this has been overturned as tea is now another common beverage that can up the fluid intake of the body. During winters, when you need something to warm you up and keep you cozy, tea acts as a healthy beverage instead of water, which sounds like a bad idea especially in cold weather. A lot of us think that water is the best fluid to take right after exercise or any other strenuous activity; scientists believe that a cup of tea can prove to be just as good. Although it is high in caffeine, it keeps the body hydrated as it provides a rich, wholesome and flavorful source of water. Recent researches have also shown that caffeine does not really matter; any caffeinated beverage can contribute to our daily fluid needs. It used to be believed that since caffeine is a diuretic that increases urination; caffeinated beverages were not advised for body hydration. So get chugging! Just makes sure you keep your caffeine intake low or moderate.
4. Healthy Bones
Of course, adding milk to tea can help your bones get stronger as milk is an excellent source of calcium, tea can be just as beneficial. A recent study compared tea drinkers with non-tea drinkers and found out that people who had consumed tea for more than 10 years had much stronger bones than those who abstain from tea .Previous studies have also shown that drinking tea regularly can prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. Green tea, with its many merits, also improves bone mineral density and strength. It contains vitamin D which helps build bones as well as the amino acids present in it help proteins in the body to build muscle, bone, skin and hair. Women who experience menopause are usually advised to eliminate caffeine; however tea does not contain that much amount of caffeine as coffee. Alternately you can try decaffeinated tea. We might have seen elderly women sitting around in groups chugging tea and gossiping ,they are actually doing themselves a huge favor as it has been shown that they have higher bone density in their hips and less bone loss than women who don’t take tea.
3. A healthy brain
Regular Tea consumption has also shown to protect Parkinson disease. When compared with other factors like smoking, drinking, physical activity, age and body mass, researches showed that drinking tea regularly was associated with lowered risk of this debilitating neurological disorder. Tea can also act as an effective agent in fighting neurological diseases and disorders like Alzheimer. Although no complete cure for Alzheimer has been found, tea slows down the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer. Green tea can also boost your memory power by strengthening memory cells in the brain and prevent dementia, keeping your brain healthy and working. Polyphenols in green tea can help prevent neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine from degrading. These neurotransmitters are involved in numerous brain functions, dopamine produced by the brain makes you feel good and without it you might feel sluggish and weak. No wonder we feel good after having a steaming cup of coffee. Green tea can also prevent many cognitive disorders by stopping senile plaques from depositing in the brain. One or two cups of tea everyday can certainly boost your learning and memory power.
2. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are crucial for keeping your body working and making you healthy, which is why a number of health companies have started sticking anti-oxidants in diet pills. They have been known to fight diseases such as cancer, coronary heart, hearing loss, cases of brain injury and even altitude sickness. Tea is an excellent and abundant source of antioxidants. Black tea is made from camellia tea plant and this is quite beneficial as it contains many chemical substances like polyphenols which is a type of anti-oxidant. Tea also contains potent antioxidants that kill free radicals which are responsible many chronic illnesses like arthritis and diabetes. Tea is also anti- inflammatory and anti thrombotic, destroying bacteria and virus. Green and black teas are excellent sources of antioxidants. Green tea contains simple antioxidants or flavonoids called catechins and ECGC which can fight wrinkling and skin damage. So no matter, how you drink it, bottled or in a bag, hot or cold, iced or steaming, tea is probably the healthiest drink around.
1. It keeps you happy
As the old adage goes, a happy person is a healthy person and tea can certainly contribute a lot in making a person healthier. This seemingly simple beverage packs in so many benefits that are impossible to neglect. Dopamine which is produced in the brain makes you feel happy and you feel a rush of dopamine after doing any pleasurable activity like having your favorite food or sex. Tea is one beverage that boosts this neurotransmitter. There are so many healthy and herbal teas available in the market today, from green tea to black, hibiscus, ginger, chamomile, tea which are all equally beneficial. Tea keeps you hydrated, rather than dehydrated as it was earlier believed and when your body stays hydrated, your skins starts glowing and your face appears much smoother and soft. It helps you unwind after a hard day’s work, great stress reliever and even studies showed that those who drank a cup of black tea were able to de stress faster. Can you imagine your mornings without tea or evenings for that matter? Bleary eyed and staggering towards the kitchen, a cup of tea is the first thing I hold in my hand every morning. No, I cannot imagine my life without tea, I love the hot aroma, the comfort I get from holding a cup of tea, dunking everything to almost anything in it, it is my friend, in my solitude and in my happiness.If you’re sad, hold a blooming tea party ! Its FUN !
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