What are the health benefits of tea?
08 February 2024
People worldwide have been drinking tea for thousands of years, and for good reasons. Numerous studies have shown that various teas can boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and even prevent cancer and heart diseases.
While some teas offer more health benefits than others, there is plenty of evidence that regular tea consumption can have a lasting impact on well-being.
Boil the kettle because we're about to share some of the hidden benefits in the world's most popular teas.
White Tea Benefits
Known for its delicate flavor, white tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant, native to China and India. It is also the least processed variety of tea.
White tea can be good for your teeth as it contains a high source of fluoride, catechins, and tannins that can strengthen teeth, fight plaque, and make them more resistant to acid and sugar.
This variety offers the lowest amount of caffeine, making it a smart choice for tea drinkers who want to avoid or limit caffeine consumption.
Herbal Tea Benefits
Herbal teas are very similar to white teas but contain a blend of herbs, spices, fruits, or other plants in addition to tea leaves. Herbal teas are caffeine-free, making them known for their calming properties.
There are numerous types of herbal teas, each with its unique benefits. Some popular herbal teas include:
• Chamomile Tea: Helps reduce menstrual pain and muscle spasms, improves sleep and relaxation, and reduces stress.
• Rooibos Tea: Improves blood pressure and circulation, increases good cholesterol while decreasing bad cholesterol, maintains strong hair and healthy skin, and provides allergy relief.
• Peppermint Tea: Contains menthol, which can soothe stomach aches and serve as a remedy for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and motion sickness. Peppermint tea also provides relief from headaches and migraines.
• Ginger Tea: Aids in combating morning sickness, can be used to treat chronic indigestion, and helps alleviate joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.
• Hibiscus Tea: Lowers blood pressure and fat levels, improves overall liver health, may curb unhealthy sugar cravings, and can prevent kidney stone formation.
Green Tea Benefits
Green tea originates from China, where the leaves are processed with heat, using either a pan-firing or steaming method, and from Japan, where the leaves are more commonly steamed.
Green tea is exceptionally rich in flavonoids, which can help improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol and blood clotting. Studies also show that this type of tea may help lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and total cholesterol.
Other research has found that green tea may have a potential impact on liver, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Additionally, this tea has proven to be anti-inflammatory, helping maintain clean and radiant skin.
In recent years, matcha – a form of green tea – has gained popularity. Matcha is a very fine, high-quality green tea powder made from the whole leaves of shade-grown tea bushes. As it is the only form of tea where the leaves are ingested, matcha contains even more antioxidants than regular green tea. In fact, some have suggested that a cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of regular green tea.
Black Tea Benefits
Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant used to make green tea. However, the leaves are dried and fermented, giving black tea a darker color and a richer flavor.
Unlike many other varieties, black tea contains caffeine, so it's essential to monitor your intake. When pouring yourself a cup of black tea, you benefit from flavonoids that combat inflammation and support a healthy immune function.
However, you don't have to drink black tea exclusively to reap its health properties. It can be steamed, cooled, and then pressed onto minor cuts, scratches, and bruises to soothe pain and reduce swelling. A black tea bath can also alleviate inflammation caused by skin rashes and conditions like poison ivy.
Oolong Tea Benefits
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea variety made from the same plant used to make green and black teas. The difference is how the tea is processed: green tea isn't allowed to oxidize much, but black tea is left to oxidize until it becomes black.
Oolong tea falls somewhere in between, so it is partially oxidized. This partial oxidation is responsible for the characteristic color and taste of oolong tea.
Oolong tea is remarkable for containing L-theanine, an amino acid that reduces anxiety and increases alertness and attention. Scientists have found that L-theanine can help prevent cognitive diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Oolong tea is also rich in polyphenols, which are linked to reducing inflammation, preventing cancer growth, and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Teas to Avoid
While most teas are beneficial for your health, you may want to avoid these varieties:1. Detox Teas: Made for trendy diets suggesting rapid weight loss. These teas are often blended with laxatives that can be harmful to your health.
2. Luxury Tea Lattes and Drinks from Your Favorite Chain: While some of these drinks, like a matcha latte, may seem healthy, they are loaded with sugar.
3. Herbal Teas that Can Trigger Allergies: Many herbal teas contain various
