Do you enjoy a daily cuppa?
No matter what the day or the season, tea is a refreshing drink and can be served hot or iced. At the very least, it’s a flavourful way of getting enough fluid into your body each day and studies have shown teas can help protect your teeth and your heart, as well as possibly even helping to stave off cancer.
There is plenty of research showing that drinking tea can improve your health. Here are ten health benefits of tea:
1 - Tea contains antioxidants
Antioxidants work to prevent the body’s version of rust and thus help to keep us young and protect us from damage from pollution.
2 - Tea contains less caffeine than coffee
Herbal tea blends have no caffeine and traditional teas have less than 50 percent of what typically is found in coffee. This means you can drink it without as many effects on your nervous system according to nutritionists.
3 - Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke
A recent study found a nearly 20 percent reduction in the risk of heart attack and a 35 percent reduced risk of stroke among those who drank one to three cups of green tea a day. Those who drank four or more cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent reduction in the risk of having a heart attack and lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
4 - Tea may help with weight loss
Although research on this isn’t as strong, studies have shown an effect have depended on consumption of large amounts of tea, often in pill form.
5 - Tea may help protect your bones
Data from recent animal studies has shown that green tea may prevent bone loss.
6 - Tea may keep your smile bright
Japanese researchers have found that tea can decrease tooth loss because it changes the pH in your mouth when you drink it and that may be what prevents cavities. Tea does not appear to erode tooth enamel.
7 - Tea may boost the immune system
Studies have shown tea can tune up immune cells so they reach their targets quicker.
8 - Tea may help battle cancer
Studies on this are currently mixed and research is ongoing. However, if you’ve got a strong family history of cancer and you want to do anything you can, increasing your tea consumption might help.
9 - Herbal tea may soothe the digestive system
Herbal teas such as chamomile can be good for people with irritable bowel syndrome because it is an antispasmodic. Other herbal teas such as ginger can help calm nausea.
10 - Pure tea is calorie free
Tea is a great no-calorie alternative to water. It provides so many options for flavour and taste, can be drunk hot or cold and you don’t have to put anything in it.
So, enjoy that cup of tea this afternoon and it is recommended that you should drink four cups of tea a day to be of optimal benefit to your health.
FAQs
Tea offers numerous health benefits – it's a relaxing drink that helps increase our attention and focus, is heart-friendly, good for the gut and may help manage blood sugar. Tea makes a useful option if you are looking for a flavourful, low-calorie, unsweetened hot drink with less caffeine than coffee.
What are the 10 benefits of tea? ›
Tea offers numerous health benefits – it's a relaxing drink that helps increase our attention and focus, is heart-friendly, good for the gut and may help manage blood sugar. Tea makes a useful option if you are looking for a flavourful, low-calorie, unsweetened hot drink with less caffeine than coffee.
What is the healthiest tea to drink daily? ›
Green tea will get you “the most bang for your buck” when it comes to nutritional benefits, Crumble Smith said. It has better antioxidant properties than black tea because it contains more polyphenols. Green tea contains several types of catechins, a group of flavonoid compounds.
What tea does to your body? ›
Tea is also associated with a lower risk of many ailments, including cognitive issues, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more. But there may be many other nutrients and minerals in tea that you may not be aware of, contributing to different aspects of your health.
Which teas have the most benefits? ›
When it comes to tea, green tea gets the gold. “Green tea is the champ when it comes to offering health benefits,” says Czerwony. “It's the Swiss Army knife of teas. It covers a lot of territory.”
Is a cup of tea good for you before bed? ›
Drinking tea before bed has been shown to help aid in a better night's sleep and high quality of sleep. This is pretty significant because so many Americans struggle with sleep issues like insomnia. Additionally, sleep issues can become worsened when you've had too much screen time and not enough exercise.
How many cups of tea a day is healthy? ›
Tea is a popular beverage cultivated and enjoyed for centuries, and many cultures worldwide enjoy their unique tea-drinking customs. Although there are many benefits to adding tea to our daily diets and lifestyles, health experts generally agree that we should stick to no more than 4 cups per day.
What is the healthiest tea brand? ›
Tips for Buying Tea
She suggests considering organic, local, and herbalist-made teas, if and when possible. She also recommends brands like Traditional Medicinals, Pukka Herbs, Gaia Herbs, Arbor Teas, Rishi Tea, and Mountain Rose Herbs.
What's the best tea for sleeping? ›
Drinking certain teas, such as chamomile and valerian root, may help you relax before sleep. There are few things as soothing as a hot cup of tea, especially before bed. Some types can help you relax, slow down, and unwind after a long day.
What are the side effects of tea? ›
Drinking large amounts might cause side effects due to the caffeine content. These side effects can range from mild to serious and include headache and irregular heartbeat. Drinking very high amounts of black tea containing more than 10 grams of caffeine is likely unsafe.
Tea on an empty stomach can lead to increased stomach acid, causing discomfort and acid reflux. Excessive intake, especially of caffeinated tea, may contribute to dehydration, affecting overall hydration levels. Tannins in tea can also hinder iron absorption, posing concerns for those with iron-deficiency anemia.
What tea should you not drink everyday? ›
Here are five unhealthy teas and their possible adverse effects.
- Comfrey tea. Comfrey tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the comfrey plant (Symphytum officinale). ...
- Detox teas. ...
- Kava kava. ...
- Black tea. ...
- Licorice tea.
General Health Benefits to Accompany a Healthy Lifestyle
If you believe you already live a lifestyle of health and wellness, but want to give yourself a boost, we recommend drinking 1-2 cups of tea daily. Normally, this is a cup in the morning and a cup in the afternoon or evening.
Is 1 cup of green tea a day enough? ›
How much green tea should you drink a day? It may be good for your health to drink 1-3 cups of green tea a day. Keep in mind that most green tea contains caffeine, unless it has been decaffeinated, so drinking more than 6-8 cups daily is not advised.
Is tea good for blood pressure? ›
Tea consumption is associated with a protective effect on blood pressure by lowering the risk of hypertensive BP by 10%. However, the protective effects vary across the type of tea consumed. Dark tea is related to lower SBP irrespective of duration and frequency of consumption.
Which is better, tea or coffee? ›
Tea has more antioxidants
Both of these might protect against chronic disease. Coffee is high in antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, but your body breaks these down into other compounds that have lower antioxidant activity. These antioxidants might not do as much for your body as tea compounds do.
