There is no secret about tea being more than a refreshing drink. It has been used as a traditional remedy in most Asian countries for centuries. In these countries, the benefits stretch beyond treating common cold and flu. It’s more than just feeling better following an illness. Tea has amazing benefits for the brain, the heart, and the physical body. We’ll look at the major benefits that tea plays in these parts but first, let’s learn something small about types of tea.
What Type of Tea is in Your Mug?
Essentially, there are two broad classes of tea – true and herbal. True tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Examples in this category are white tea, green tea, and black tea. Though all these types are made from the same plant, they differ in appearance and taste. Green tea is considered the healthiest in this category because it doesn’t lose its natural green color. It also has a high percentage of polyphenols.
Herbal tea, on the other hand, is made from herbs, leaves, roots, stems, and fruits of different plant varieties. The tea is also referred to as herbal tisane. Examples in this category are chamomile tea, peppermint tea, lemon tea, and ginger tea. Herbal tea generally boasts of amazing health benefits because it contains different natural ingredients. Generally, both types of tea give you the following 13 benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory
Conditions like arthritis and metabolic syndrome are because of inflammatory responses by the body. In this case, the body is forced to retain fluids and may appear puffy and feel painful. Drinking a cup of tea daily may help reduce the puffiness and to soothe the inflammation. This is according to a 2007 study. It shows that inflammation levels reduce significantly when taking green tea more regularly.
- Heart Health
Research shows that drinking tea decreases the risk of suffering cardiovascular conditions like stroke and heart attack by 11%. This is because of its amazing antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Tea helps to vastly soothe the tissues surrounding the arteries so as to discourage inflammation and to encourage blood circulation. In the long run, this prevents the formation of clots that may be a trigger of heart attack or stroke. In addition, tea helps to lower blood cholesterol and to regulate blood pressure. Because of this, studies show that people who take tea more regularly are unlikely to suffer hypertension.
- Mental Health
Tea is generally good for your mind. Daily intake of tea lowers stress levels by inhibiting cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone. This is key to preventing neurological problems. For example, green tea has shown amazing results in preventing brain-associated cognitive decline conditions like Alzheimer, depression, dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease. This is because of tea’s powerful antioxidant properties; which not only reduce oxidative stress but gets rid of toxins that cause the conditions.
- Mental Energy
Tea, especially green tea, contain caffeine and you need it to boost your mental energy. The advantage is that the caffeine amount in the tea is lower than what you get in coffee. So, you can use green tea to reduce caffeine intake. The energy-boasting power of tea is derived from l-theanine, an amino acid. The amino acid slows down caffeine absorption to help you focus much better and for longer.
- Immunity Boost
There are suggestions that tea helps to facilitate quick development of immune cells. The cells are able to mature faster and reach their target areas quicker. This happens after you suffer an illness or a physical injury. Immunity is also necessitated by powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral ingredients present in tea.
- Weight Loss
There are different ways that tea aids in weight loss. One, it gives you the mental and physical energy boost that you need to get through a workout routine. Two, it contains viable amino acids which are necessary for burning body fat. This is according to a recent study. Green tea, in particular, is the most used because it’s calorie free.
- Brighter Smile
Tea has the power to reduce tooth loss. It changes the overall mouth PH when you take it. A change in PH simply reduces the risk of cavities forming. Unlike most sugar drinks which are known to erode the enamel, tea preserves it. You can also prevent gum diseases by taking a cup of tea every day.
- Fights Allergy
Are you allergic to pollens? Then you may find it ideal to learn to drink tea more regularly. Based on a Japanese study, tea contains EGCG and polyphenols which are essential in fighting pollen allergies. In addition, it contains quercetin which is a known antihistamine. So, histamine inhibition means a lower risk of suffering an allergy.
- Gut Health
The gut has numerous bacteria; some good and others bad. The good ones are important in preventing inflammatory bowel diseases. However, the foods you eat and interruptions by harmful bacteria like salmonella ruin the performance of the good bacteria. Taking tea helps to maintain a positive environment for encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria and one that inhibits the growth of harmful ones.
- Prevents Stomach Upset
In India, China, and other Asian countries, herbal tea is used to manage stomach upset. This is because it contains Shogaol and Gingerol. The two are important in soothing the stomach to prevent an upset. Tea also contains small amounts of tannins need to soothe intestinal inflammations and stomach cramps.
- Eye Health
According to a 2001 study, tea contains powerful antioxidants that can help to avoid blindness. The antioxidants are able to fight cataracts and other causes of avoidable blindness. Another study shows that tea can be used to reduce risks of suffering glaucoma by 74%. This is also due to its’ antioxidant properties.
- Reduce Cancer Risks
More than 100 categories of cancer are known to man. Some of them are preventable with natural remedies like tea. Based on a study, tea helps in reducing the rate of cell proliferation. This is important in treating breast cancer. Other types of cancer managed by tea include esophageal cancer, colon cancer, and cancer of the pancreas.
- Blood Sugar Regulation
Lastly, tea is important in controlling blood sugar in the body and to manage diabetes type 2 in the long run. For example, black tea shows fast actions in reducing blood glucose levels after taking a meal. The performance is highly attributed to the ability polyphenols present in tea to increase insulin secretion.
Closing Thoughts:
The things that tea does to your body are just unbelievable. Not only does this historic drink refreshes your mind but it’s also able to give you maximum health returns. Whether it’s true tea or herbal tea that you like, you’ll never go wrong with the decision to drink it regularly.
