Tea – The Healthiest Beverage on Earth

Tea is a refreshing drink with no sodium, fat, carbonation, or sugar. It is a wonder drink which is even healthier than drinking water. It has almost no calories and helps maintain fluid balance and may contribute to your overall good health. This is because of tea's high concentration of antioxidants called polyphenols, which bring significant benefits from tea.

Tea polyphenols are not single. It means the total polyphenols substance in tea.

Our body develops free radicals which play an important role in aging and many types of diseases. The polyphenols in tea reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. Hence polyphenols are the main ingredients in tea which bring significant benefits from tea.

EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea and it is one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties

Caffeine Content in Tea Vs Coffee

One 8 ounce cup of black coffee contains 96 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. The same amount of black brewed tea contains 47 mg and green tea contains only 28 mg. While herbal teas don’t contain any caffeine at all. Taking too much caffeine can make you experience symptoms like a faster heartbeat, tremors in your muscles, headache, nervousness, anxiety and insomnia. However, these symptoms are more commonly associated with drinking a lot of coffee, which has substantially more caffeine than even the strongest teas.

If you are new to the world of tea, diving in to it will amaze you of it’s health benefits and tea can be your favourite health companion. If you are an avid tea drinker, you will be amazed with it’s benefits.

Varieties of Tea

It is interesting to know that all teas are made from the same plant Camellia Sinensis. Each type of tea, whether it is black, green oolong, or white, is made from the same green tea leaves before oxidation occurs. After withering and rolling, the tea leaves undergo natural chemical reactions that result in flavour and colour changes that contribute to the tea's characteristics.

It is the level of oxidation that determines the type of tea:
White tea - Not oxidised
Green tea - Not oxidised
Black tea - Most oxidised
Oolong tea - Partly oxidised

Which type of Tea contains the maximum Tea polyphenols

Green Tea > White Tea > Yellow Tea > Oolong Tea > Black Tea > Dark Tea.

Health Advantages of Tea

As the main nutrient ingredient of tea, tea polyphenols bring many benefits to the human body. It is advisable to have tea with just hot water to enjoy the health benefits. Adding milk weakens the health benefits. There are many blends and flavours available in teas. Choose the brand that offers whole leaf teas and blend of natural herbs and spices. Whole leaf teas allow the water to flow through them and hence offer maximum health benefit. Let’s look at some of the amazing benefits of this wonder drink.

Supports a Healthy Heart

If you want a healthy heart, drink between one and six cups of tea a day. Studies have shown that people who drink at least three cups of black tea every day are less likely to get heart disease or a stroke. Drinking tea lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, slows the progression of disease, lower LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), and improves blood pressure.

Weight Management

Tea polyphenols have effects on burning fat and reducing lipid accumulation. Research suggests that flavonoids and catechins can potentially improve metabolism, which may improve weight loss and maintenance.

Protects Against Certain Cancers

Over 3,000 published research studies have evaluated the effect of tea, be it white, green, oolong, or black, and tea compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In the February 2015 issue of the Journal of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, it was found that the main antioxidant in green tea, (EGCG), helps kill cancer cells through the destruction of the cells’ mitochondria. In a recent review, it was found that green tea may suppress tumor growth, and the clinical trials reviewed indicated that green tea may specifically slow prostate cancer progression. EGCG was shown to have an anti-carcinogenic effect on cervical cancer among women. Although having tea cannot cure cancer, a healthy tea diet can go a long way toward preventing the disease’s occurrence and deterioration.

Neurological Disorders

Theanine, an amino acid, is found in tea (green and black). Tea has L-theanine, and studies have shown that it directly affects the areas of the brain that control attention and the ability to solve complex problems. A long-term study of over 30,000 adults found that consuming three or more cups of tea daily lowered the incidence of Parkinson's disease by 69%. Research also proves that consumption of tea reduces, anxiety as it has lower caffeine.

Diabetes

Regular consumption of black and green tea may have a positive effect on long term diabetes management.

Anti - Inflammatory

In some folk remedies, people apply the tea leaves juice on the skin wound to prevent inflammatory. Gargling with tea is an effective treatment for oral inflammation. The EGCG of tea polyphenols plays a key role to restrain the occurrence of inflammation and achieve the result of treating inflammation.

Anti - Aging

The antioxidant effect of tea polyphenols can reduce the damage of radicals to the biological cell membrane and maintain the cell membrane’s stability, which is believed to play an anti-aging effect. Experiments on laboratory mice with water extracts from various tea types have shown that polyphenols such as EGCG, theaflavin, and thearubigins significantly improve skin wrinkles and fighting skin aging.

Protects Bones

Tea has a very high content of calcium, manganese and fluoride minerals which all are directly proportional to strong bones and teeth. The Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study discovered a substantial and independent association between tea consumption and increased Bone Mineral Density. Another study correlated tea consumption with a 30% reduction in the risk of hip fractures in men and women aged 50 and older.

Aids immune Function

According to research conducted by Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, tea contains L-theanine, which can combat infection, bacteria, and fungi. Current research suggests that the catechins present in tea potential preventive effects on influenza and common cold.

Boost Mental Health

Tea can create a calmer but more alert state of mind. L theanine present in tea helps to relax and concentrate. It also eases irritability, headaches, nervous tension and treats insomnia. Tea can also cause temporary increase in your short-term memory.

Conclusion

Now knowing the health benefits this wonder drink offers who would not want to include this in their daily diet. Tea drinking is a healthy habit that reaps long term benefits. However drinking tea alone cannot be a cure for the diseases. It is always advisable to consult a nutritionist and follow a healthy diet to get the maximum benefits. But you will surely not go wrong in making this drink your companion.