Did you know that next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world?
The story of tea begins in China, thousands of years ago. But, it’s only now that we are discovering how powerful and health-giving tea really is. And, when it comes to tea, I’m referring to the green leaves of the camellia sinensis plant—not herbal teas, like peppermint or chamomile, which have their own distinct health-giving properties.
There are 4 types of tea: green, white, black, and oolong. All of these can be derived from the same plant, and all are being studied for their considerable health-giving properties. Of the 4 types, it’s green tea that seems to be the most healthful. Dried green tea leaves are about 40% polyphenols by weight. Both green and white teas contain the most EGCG, which is a powerful antioxidant.
Here are eight reasons why tea, and particularly green tea, could be one of the healthiest beverages in the world:
1) Fighting Prostate Cancer
Researchers have known for years that rates of prostate cancer are considerably lower in Asian countries. Many scientists believe this is because of the high consumption of plant foods among Asian populations. But some also think the consumption of green tea — the most popular tea in Japan, China, and other Asian countries — could play a role.
2) Burning Fat
Green tea contains catechins, which increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, leading to improved muscle endurance.
3) Bone Strength
Green tea has been found to help improve body composition and fight osteoporosis by enhancing bone strength.
4) Cardiovascular Health
Studies have found that drinking tea can help to protect against cardiovascular disease, and may reduce the risk of heart attack.
5) Linked to Lower Rates of Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, & More
Tea consumption has been linked to reduced rates of Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, infections, malaria, and even AIDS.
6) Antioxidants to Fight Cancer
The antioxidants in tea are believed to help protect against a broad range of cancers, including cancers of the breast (one study found that 3 cups a day of tea reduced the risk of breast cancer by a third), colon, skin, lung, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, and more.
7) Reduced Rate of Parkinson’s
When a team of scientists monitored 29,335 Finnish men and women over the course of 12.9 years, they came to the conclusion that drinking tea was linked to a meaningful reduction in the risk of Parkinson’s disease. This was true in both men and women, even after factoring for other variables like smoking, physical activity, age, and body mass index.
8) Caffeine (Yes, that’s a good thing!)
Of course, unless it’s been decaffeinated, tea has caffeine (more in black and oolong than in green or white). The health effects of caffeine are a controversial topic. But, a considerable body of evidence shows that the caffeine in tea may increase memory, help to ward off Alzheimer’s, protect against skin cancer and cataracts, prevent weight gain, help with asthma – and even be good for virility.
Enjoy Tea
Keep mind that many bottled tea products are mostly sugar-water. For example, Lipton’s Lemon Iced Tea comes with 31 grams of added sugar. If you’re going to buy pre-bottled tea, it’s best to check the label to be sure it’s either unsweetened or only lightly sweetened. And if you brew it yourself, try it plain, or with a squeeze of lemon, or brewed with some ginger or other herbal teas – or with just a dab of your favorite sweetener. Enjoy your teatime!
Adapted from Food Revolution