The Benefits of Drinking Tea

Tea is probably the second healthiest drink after pure water. It is also the second most consumed beverage after water, thanks to over 3,000 different varieties of tea. Though water should still be your preferred beverage, drinking tea is increasingly becoming popular because high quality tea can give you numerous health benefits.

According to legend, tea was discovered in 2737 BC by Chinese emperor Shen-Nung, when tea leaves accidentally blew into the monarch’s pot of boiling water, and the rest is history.

All varieties of tea originate from the Camellia sinensis plant, with the differences between tea varieties coming from processing, growing conditions and geography. The tea plant is native to Asia but is now grown around the world in tropical and subtropical areas.

A lot of things have been reported about the amazing health benefits of tea. Tea has been claimed to:

• Help lower the risk of certain types of cancers like breast, colon, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer
• Neutralize the effects of harmful fats and oils to your body
• Inhibit bacteria and viruses such as HIV, hepatitis and herpes
• Improve digestion
• Protect your brain and liver from oxidation
• Help promote healthy gums and inhibit the growth of bad breath-causing bacteria in your mouth
• Improve mental alertness and slow down the degeneration of brain cells
• Lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduce blood pressure
• Helps protect against type 2 diabetes
• Helps reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke

Why Is Tea So Healthy?

Tea’s cancer-fighting properties are derived from polyphenols, a group of non-vitamin antioxidants common in the diet and particularly abundant in teas, juices and wines.

There is growing evidence that the polyphenols in tea, which include EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) can protect you against cancer. In a recent study, women under 50 who drank three or more cups of tea per day reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by 37 percent.

Research also suggests tea’s potential to fight skin cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Studies show that polyphenols in green tea might be more effective in fighting the growth of cancer than the antioxidants found in red wine and grapes.

You might be reluctant to drink tea because of caffeine, which has been linked to many health problems but a four-year study done in Singapore found that the caffeine found in tea contains the protein theanine, which actually neutralizes the “normal” side effects of caffeine, such as elevated blood pressure, headaches and tiredness.

Choosing the Right Type of Tea

Teas vary in color and flavor due to the way the plant has been processed. Generally, the darker the tea, the longer it has been exposed to oxygen or oxidized. Therefore, the easiest way to evaluate tea quality is by looking at its color.

Tea can be classified into five basic categories:

Black tea is allowed to wither and usually undergoes full oxidation, resulting in a dark brown and black leaf. When brewed appropriately, black tea has a higher caffeine content compared to other teas.

Green tea is slightly withered after being picked and the oxidation process is stopped very quickly by firing (rapidly heating) the leaves. Green tea tends to contain less caffeine when brewed at lower temperatures and for less time and also has more subtle flavors with many undertones and accents.

Oolong tea (or wulong tea) undergoes partial oxidation and has a caffeine level between that of green teas and black teas. While the flavor of oolong teas is typically not as robust as blacks or as subtle as greens, it’s very fragrant and possesses intriguing tones comparable to the taste and aroma of fresh flowers or fruits.

White teas undergo no oxidation and are hand processed using the youngest shoots of the tea plant. They are the most delicate of all teas and are known for their subtlety, complexity and natural sweetness. White tea contains low caffeine levels when brewed correctly at a very low temperature and a short steeping time.

Puerh is an aged black tea from China famous for its medicinal properties and earthy flavor. It was illegal to import it into the U.S. until 1995 and its production is a closely guarded state secret in China. It is a very strong tea boasting of a deep and rich flavor but with no bitterness.

Many healthy herbal teas are also available but they are made from leaves, roots, bark, seeds or flowers of plants, and are technically “infusions” or “tisanes,” not “teas.”

Dr. Mercola’s personal preferences are the Matcha tea, a green tea variety with a vibrant bright green color which is far less processed, making it healthier and better than most green teas, and Tulsi tea, a powerful adaptogenic herb originating from India that provides important therapeutic benefits.

How do you pick the right tea for you? Listen to your body and drink the variety that provides the most benefits for you.

Choose tea that is:

• Organic (free from herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals) and,

• Grown in a pristine environment (a clean growing environment will help result in a high-quality tea free from fluoride, heavy metals and other toxins from soil and water)

Start that tea habit because a cup a day can help keep the doctor away.

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Tags: black tea, green tea, Matcha tea, oolong tea, puerh, tea, Tulsi tea