Tea is our national beverage, we absolutely need to have it in the morning, afternoon, evening and especially at night. Apart from being a staple in every household, tea comes with a lot of health benefits. Tea comes in a variety of flavors and is absolutely delicious. Tea is divided into six main types which include green tea, black tea, white tea, herbal tea, oolong and yellow tea. All these types come from the same basic plant called the Camellia Sinensis. Here are a list of health benefits of tea:
Tea contains beneficial antioxidants
Antioxidants in tea help keep us young and improve overall health. Antioxidants even help decrease the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart stroke, etc. Consuming tea in moderate amounts can help fight cell damages to prevent such life threatening and long lasting diseases.
Tea contains no or lesser caffeine than coffee
Herbal teas contain no caffeine while black or milk teas contain lesser caffeine than coffees. Herbal teas also help you sleep better especially because they contain no amount of caffeine.
Tea helps in weight loss
Drinking green tea after having a hearty meal can help digest food quicker thus helping in losing weight. Although the weight loss is not significant, incorporating tea in your diet with an extensive exercise plan helps lose those extra, unhealthy fats.
Tea protects the bones
Tea contains a chemical known as flavonoids which help keeps bones strong. Green tea curbs the symptoms of osteoporosis which makes bones brittle and fragile.
Tea acts as a medicine
Green herbal tea has medicinal purposes such as curing an upset stomach or influenza. Tea also prevents diseases such as cancer, hypertension and obesity. Black tea contains polyphenols, which may help fight cancer cells in the body. Although consuming black tea will not cure cancer, it may help decrease cancer cell development.
Tea is good for the brain
Tea helps in boosting memory and increases one’s attention span. Black tea contains caffeine (lesser than coffee) and an amino acid called L-theanine, which can improve alertness and focus. This acid increases alpha activity in the brain, resulting in relaxation and better focus. A person feels more awake and energized which helps in getting work done faster and in a more organized and focused manner.
Tea helps lower blood sugar levels
When you consume sugar, the pancreas discharge a hormone called insulin to carry the sugar to the muscles to be used for energy. If you consume more sugar than your body needs, the excess sugar gets stored as fat. Black tea is a great non-sweetened beverage that has been found to help enhance the use of insulin in the body.
Apart from being a healthy beverage, tea is a part of many cultures. While some have it before their meals, some people prefer it after meals for better digestion. You can have tea for breakfast, in the evening with snacks or just anytime of the day. It is that good a drink to have.
