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.
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.
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!
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!
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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!
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.
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.
well,drinking tea has lots of benefits for people’s health. i have been drinking tea for two years.now i look good.
i know an amazing online chinese website: http://www.5ktea.com ,which serves the best genuine chinese teas. you can log on to check out.it’s amazing!!!
I started drinking tea back in March of this year and the benefits are rewarding. I'm now fit and looking good and younger than my real age. 3-5 cups of tea is part of my beverage from that point onwards.
I'm a tea addict. I could never get through an entire day without a cup of freshly-brewed loose tea. The smell alone is enough to make my mouth water and the delicious sensation of fresh hot tea sliding down my throat is something that I always take time to relish during my tea break. Tea has tons of health benefits and is a great source of antioxidants. Some of the best tea can be found at trentonteas.com. Cheers!
Obviously you are unaware that snickers have hydrogenated oils in them… hydrogenated oils are poison. They harden your arteries and lead to heart disease.
So why are they advertised on your “health” site?
Not good.
For true health information visit – LongLiveAllPeople.com
That’s a great question, Marc! Unfortunately, the company serving our ads gives us minimal control over what shows up. I’m not fond of the Snickers ads, either. They beat those “fat belly” ads, at least!
Thanks for sharing a link to your website.
I used to refuse to drink tea. I was an addicted coffee drinker for about 10 years. Just this month, however, I experienced a rise in my blood pressure … out of the blue. The next day, after it returned to normal, I decided I’d skip the coffee and try a white tea. IMMEDIATELY, I felt something change in my body. I felt calmer, healthier, happier, content … I didn’t know it was the white tea until I decided to look it up. I was hooked when I learned how beneficial tea is to the body. Now, I drink three to five cups a day, and I have a well-being now that I’ve never experienced before.
Wow, I didn’t realize that 4 differing teas came from the same plant. That is really interesting. I’m wondering now, which is the better for you, green, black, etc. And, I wonder which has more caffeine than the others.
These are the reasons why I switched from drinking coffee to tea three years ago. It”s good to have a post like this to inform people regarding the health benefit of tea. Thanks!
I’ve never been a tea or coffee drinker. I have gotten too reliant of soda for caffeine and am trying to stop.
I heard that tea is good for you in so many ways and has some caffeine (which helps me get through the day – 2 kids under 4).
I want to start drinking it, but don’t have a clue where to start. I’ve never liked the taste of tea before. All I’ve ever had is the store brand and the terrible sweet tea served everywhere here in the south.
Can anyone suggest some types of tea to start with? Which teas have more caffiene and which have less? Which have stronger taste or milder taste? Anything to help someone try to get started drinking tea for the health benefits.