Black, green, white, and oolong teas all come from the same plant known as Camellia Sinensis.
The more processing the leaves of the plant undergo, the darker they will turn. (Green and white being steamed quickly, black and oolong being dried and fermented.)
Regardless of the processing method, brewed tea not only tastes good, but can have many health benefits as well;
- Tea contains antioxidants. Antioxidants can help slow down the aging process, and help cells regenerate and repair. Many studies suggest antioxidants also assist our bodies in preventing cancer.
- Tea can lower stress hormone levels. Black tea can reduce the effects of stressful events by lowering the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
- Tea fights cavities and reduces plaque. Compounds in tea are capable of killing or suppressing growth and acid production of cavity causing bacteria in our mouths.
- Tea keeps you hydrated. Every cup of tea you drink, especially low or no caffeine varieties, counts as a cup of water with the added bonus of providing antioxidants as well.
- Tea may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Tea can help prevent formation of dangerous blood clots which are often the cause of strokes and heart attacks.
- Tea can help lower blood pressure. Drinking green tea daily can reduce your risk of hypertension by up to 50%.
- Tea aids your body in digestion. Tea has been used for thousands of years as an after-meal digestive aid. It can also help relieve stomach cramps.
- Tea may help prevent diabetes. There is some evidence to suggest that green tea might help to lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes.
- Tea can help beat bacteria. An Egyptian study testing the effects of green tea on antibiotics found the tea to enhance the bacteria killing effects of the drugs.
- Tea aids your immune defenses. A study comparing the immune activity levels of coffee drinkers vs. tea drinkers found the tea drinkers to have levels up to five times higher.
Aside from these ten, there are many more benefits to drinking tea. Find a variety you like, and enjoy a cup or two daily.
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Image credit: Kanko on flickr creative commons.
Amy Bell
Amy is a vegan, working mother of one with a degree in Nutrition Education. She has had a longtime interest in natural health, animal rights, human rights, and environmental issues. She shares her Midwestern home with her husband and son, as well as with what many would consider to be a lot of pets.
23 Responses to 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
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well,drinking tea has lots of benefits for people’s health. i have been drinking tea for two years.now i look good.
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I recently got into tea drinking. Specially after having some Earl Grey tea my mom gave me, I believe from Zsenzo, it relaxed me so much and I felt so comfortable. I never had that experience. Good to know in these stressing and rushing times.
[...] tea satisfies that urge to be consuming something without adding a lot of extra [...]
I was never a lover of tea until about 3 or 4 years ago when I bought Harney and Sons loose Earl Grey tea as a Christmas gift for my dad. Both of us being used to grocery store Lipton’s tea bags, we were blown away by how different it tasted, and sooo yummy in your tummy.
Ever since, we’ve been drinking anywhere from 2 to 6 cups a day. The grocery store stuff is crap. When I feel under the weather or stressed, I always feel 100% better after drinking tea. I don’t even drink it for health reasons…. rarely do I ever do anything purely for the sake of my health lol.
There’s nothing better than tea when it’s chilly outside! Check out this recipe for Honey Lemon and Cayenne Tea is a great at-home cold remedy!
We have found that Green Papaya Powder is a great natural aid to digestion. Enzymes are critical in life; they are the body’s labor force. Green Papaya contains the enzyme papain, a protein-digesting enzyme. Check it out at royaltropics.com
Many people would be wise to make the shift from coffee to tea. However, some people also go overboard with their tea habits too.
Nice concise post!
I switched from coffee a couple years ago and I haven’t looked back. I still enjoy a cuppa joe now and again, but tea is now my regular drink and I buy loose tea in bulk and drink at least three or four cups a day. There are two additional benefits not mentioned in this excellent overview that are particularly noteworthy. First, tea contains about half the caffeine content of coffee, so you can drink more of it without negative side effects. Second, tea contains an amino acid called theanine which crosses the blood-brain barrier and creates a sense of relaxation and well being in those who consume it regularly. Namaste!
[...] View post: 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea [...]
I’ve been thinking about shifting from the coffee habit to the tea habit, and this post brings up a number of reasons why I should get off the dime and make it happen.