The East has held tea in high regard for thousands of years for its health benefits and recently, the West has taken notice.
Aside from breeding happiness and wisdom, teas have also been found to treat ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, while it also helps with weight loss and lowering cholesterol.
Here is a quick list of common teas and the health benefits you can expect to gain from drinking them:
Black Tea: boasting the highest level of caffeine amongst teas, black tea is actually brewed with fermented tea leaves. If you enjoyed “instant tea” or chai teas, then you enjoy black tea, as it is the basis for drinks like these. Studies have shown that black tea can reduce the risk of having a stroke while also protecting the lungs against the dangers of cigarette smoke.
Green Tea: the center of multiple studies, green tea starts with tea leaves that are steamed and has a high concentration of the flavonoid EGCG. Green tea has been said to interfere with cancerous growths in the stomach, bladder, lungs and breasts. Green tea has also been linked with aiding in weight loss and reducing the risk of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
White Tea: said to contain the most potent acting anti-cancer properties amongst teas.
Pu-erh Tea: considered a black tea, pu-erh tea consists of brewed leaves that have been aged and fermented. One study has shown pu-erh tea to limit weight gain and reduce cholesterol in animals.
Oolong Tea: another tea boasting powers in lowering cholesterol levels and assisting in weight loss.
Hibiscus Tea: one study has shown that drinking multiple cups of hibiscus tea on a daily basis helped to lower the blood pressure of individuals with slightly higher than average levels.
Chamomile Tea: the powerful antioxidants contained in this tea combat complications that may arise from kidney and nerve damage, loss of sight and symptoms of diabetes.
There are other teas that may or may not contain properties that are beneficial to your well-being. In general, there is no such thing as “too much tea”; however, the things to watch out for are sweeteners and any sort of laxatives derived from plants, as there are potential harmful effects of ingesting too much sugar and dehydration can result from too many laxatives.
Minimal warnings aside, tea can be extremely beneficial to your health and is a great substitute for coffee—so drink up!
