11 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea
Tea is a plant-based drink that many people regularly consume because of its sweet flavors and soothing aroma, but it also has some genuine health benefits. Let’s discuss the various tea categories and how they can positively affect your bodily functions.
Colored Teas
Colored teas share the same source: Camellia sinensis, a plant with many antioxidants that grows in China and India. The most noteworthy antioxidant is EDCG, which attacks a number of ailments, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and late-onset issues like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Along with these antioxidants (also known as flavonoids), Camellia sinensis has noticeable caffeine and theanine contents, both of which help with mental alertness and give you a temporary energy boost. Let’s take a closer look at the most prominent colored teas.
1. Black Tea
Black tea has the highest caffeine content, making it the go-to mixture for those who drink their tea to replace coffee or energy drinks. Some studies also suggest that it limits the effects of cigarette smoking and reduces the risk of stroke.
2. White Tea
White tea is the purest tea in this category, with no curing or fermentation process. As a result, its antioxidants remain in their natural state and have been shown to limit cancer cell growth and protect healthy cell DNA. However, if you’re looking for taste, we suggest trying something else.
3. Green Tea
Green tea is the most closely observed tea because it contains the highest ECGC levels. We have strong evidence that it stifles cancer growth in many areas, including our digestive and respiratory organs. It also has the ECGC benefits mentioned earlier.
4. Oolong Tea
Oolong tea has a specific effect, reducing abnormally high cholesterol levels in animal studies. It’s unclear whether humans experience the same effect, but it has a large group of believers who use it as a weight-loss supplement.
5. Pu-erh Tea
Pu-erh tea is a solid tea only made from aged, fermented leaves. The leaves are pressed into small cakes, creating a filling low-calorie snack that helps with weight loss and gives you a significant energy boost. It’s considered a type of black tea, but it doesn’t have the same anti-smoking effects.
Herbal Teas
We produce herbal teas from herbs, roots, fruits and seeds. They don’t have the same antioxidant and caffeine levels as green teas, and the effects largely depend on the ingredients. Overall, they tend to have more soothing and pain-relieving effects. Health experts recommend drinking herbal tea to curb cravings during addiction recovery and settle the stomach.
A wide variety of herbal teas are consumed around the world, but the following teas have the strongest track records and are the most popular.
1. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is considered the most effective herbal tea at improving sleep quality and alleviating chronic sleep issues like insomnia. However, scientists are divided on whether the effects are genuine or simply a placebo. It also has anti-inflammatory effects on your digestive system and could alleviate symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.
2. Peppermint Tea
Although we haven’t performed tests on humans, several animal studies show that peppermint tea has significant positive effects on the digestive tract, alleviating nausea, constipation and stomach ulcers. It even reduces spasms in the lower intestines, relieving irritable bowel syndrome. This tea is the recipe to try if you’re dealing with digestive issues.
3. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is perhaps the most similar to the colored teas in the first section, with powerful antioxidants and flavors. The main ingredient is a proven immune system stimulant, reducing inflammation and alleviating nausea. Ginger ale is also a popular sick-day drink for this reason. Some
4. Hibiscus Tea
According to some studies, hibiscus tea is primarily known for its tart flavor and bright coloring, but it also may balance high blood pressure and lipids. In any case, the unique taste is undeniably relaxing and will help you manage your stress levels. Stress management helps lower blood pressure, so perhaps this is the connection the researchers found.
5. Echinacea Tea
Some studies have shown that echinacea tea helps the immune system fight the common cold and other minor ailments, but the evidence isn’t expansive or detailed enough to make a firm conclusion. Still, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to drink a cup of echinacea tea when you’re feeling under the weather. Sometimes a hot liquid is all you need to soothe a sore throat or clear your sinuses.
6. Rooibos Tea
This tea from the fermented South African red bush plant has been a popular natural remedy for the country’s occupants for hundreds of years. Unlike other herbal teas, it contains flavonoids that may have the same anti-cancer effects as colored tea. Some studies have also shown that it improves bone density and prevents heart disease, acting as a blood vessel constrictor similar to some blood pressure medications.
Add Tea To Your Daily Diet
Tea comes in many forms and has a wide variety of health benefits, as you can see. Colored teas lean more on the side of proactive, energetic effects, while herbal teas are more calming and preventative. They all taste delicious (though everyone has their preferences).
Even if some of the teas we discussed don’t have conclusive evidence, the overall soothing sensation of a hot cup of tea is enough to justify consuming the beverage on a regular basis. Add tea to your daily diet and reap the rewards!
