The potential health benefits of tea have been circulating for quite some time. While there has been no conclusive evidence there is enough reason to take a second look at how drinking tea may benefit your health. Tea is the most consumed liquid aside from water in the world. So if even a small fraction of those people are experiencing health benefits that could affect a large number. Or, it could simply mean that tea is a coincidental factor in the diet of the masses. For real answers, we need to look to scientific research. While the research is not conclusive on all points, there are many factors about tea that cannot be denied. I want to explore those factors and see if drinking tea can improve health and well being.
Green Tea has been attributed with preventing or helping cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, lowering cholesterol, burning fat, and dementia. That’s quite a line up for a little tea bag. How can simply drinking green tea help with all those issues?
Web MD had this to say about green tea:
“”Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants.
Because of green tea’s minimal processing — its leaves are withered and steamed, not fermented like black and oolong teas — green tea’s unique catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are more concentrated.””
Antioxidants are key to the powerful health benefits associated with tea consumption. Studies have shown that antioxidant polyphenols have anti-cancer properties. Studies have shown that to achieve the most benefit from these antioxidants in tea you must drink between 4-6 cups daily. One study in Japan showed those with heart disease who drank green tea had a lower death rate. Another study demonstrated a 46% risk reduction of ovarian cancer with only 2 cups of tea a day.
While you can derive antioxidants from any fruits and vegetables, tea, whether it is white, red or black, contains just as high or higher amounts of antioxidants. Fruits and vegetables offer more health benefits than antioxidants so it cannot be replaced by tea yet it does make tea a better option next time you want to grab a cup. To gain the most benefits you will want to choose loose or bagged tea over instant. Instant tea is processed further and will be depleted of the health benefits.
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