Health Benefits of Tea

Tea: It Does the Body Good

Studies that support the health benefits of tea drinking keep filling the headlines. There's simply no denying that a daily spot of tea does the body good.

Even though researchers can't quite agree on every aspect, I'm sold on the fact that a few cups a day will do its best to protect me from heart disease, a stroke, cancer, and more.

What Makes Tea Good for the Body?

Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, and all of which take on the "free radicals" in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells on board.

In other words, sending in antioxidants is disease prevention in its finest form. Antioxidants are ready and waiting not only in teas but also in several fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, and even wines (see my health benefits of wine article).

If that were not enough, tea also contains flouride which benefits your teeth and has bacteria killing properties which helps control bad breath and the formation of plaque.

Are All Teas Equally Good for the Body?

This is a question researchers are still squabbling over. Does green tea have more antioxidants than black tea? Should I drink instant tea or loose leaf tea for better health benefits? Is hot tea better than iced tea? And here's what it comes down to:

• Higher quality teas may have more catechin antioxidants than lower quality teas.

• White tea has more antioxidants than any other tea.

• Green tea has more catechin antioxidants than black tea since black tea goes through more processing.

• Unfermented rooibos tea has more polyphenol antioxidants than fermented rooibos.

• Freshly brewed teas have more polyphenol antioxidants than instant or bottled teas.

• More researchers seem to agree that brewed (cold or hot) or caffeinated tea has more antioxidants than instant teas.

Here's a short preview of the hundreds of recent studies that boast the health benefits of tea and its antioxidants:

Heart Benefits:

• Study finds tea drinkers have lower blood pressure (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004).

• Tea may lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease (Journal of Nutrition, 2003).

• Black tea may lower "bad" cholesterol (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, 2003).

• Tea consumption may help heart disease patients (Circulation: The Journal of the American Heart Association, 2001).

Cancer Prevention:

• Green tea could help stem esophageal cancer. (Harvard Medical School, 2004).

• Green and black tea can slow down the spread of prostate cancer (Center for Human Nutrition at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, 2004).

• Tea may protect against cancer caused by smoking. (Journal of Nutrition, 2003).

• Green tea and white tea fight colon cancer (Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University study, Carcinogenesis, 2003).

• Hot tea may lower risk of some skin cancers (University of Arizona study, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention (Vol. 9, No. 7), 2001).

• Green tea consumption may lower stomach cancer risk (University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health study, International Journal of Cancer (Vol. 92: 600-604), 2001).

Hypertension-Reducing Benefits:

• Green and oolong teas reduce risk of hypertension (National Cheng Kung University study, Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004).

Immunity-Boosting Benefits

• Tea believed to boost the body's defenses (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003)

Leukemia-Fighting Benefits:

• A green tea component helps kill leukemia cells (Mayo Clinic, 2004).

Alzheimer's-Fighting Benefits:

• Drinking tea might delay Alzheimer's Disease (Newcastle University's Medicinal Plant Research Centre study, Phytotherapy Research, 2004).

AIDS-Fighting Benefits:

• Tea may play a role as an AIDS fighter (University of Tokyo, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2003).

In Conclusion:

So how do you get started in doing your body some good with tea?

To get the most health benefits out of your teas, choose high-quality loose leaf teas from your local or online tea shop. Brew it up and enjoy. And of course, don't throw out the idea of enjoying instant or bottled teas when you're on the go. You just might have to drink a little more.

Don't wait any longer. Sip, savor, and fight disease today. It's never too late to enjoy the many health benefits of tea!

About The Author

Jason Ditto

Author of the www.2BASNOB.com website about the enjoyment of coffee, tea, wine and beer.

---

A Better Hope for Alcohol & Drug Problems

People with alcohol and drug problems have been done a... Read More

Essential Oils Blends and Uses

Better Living With Essential OilsPractical formulas you can use in... Read More

I Want To Be Able To Function and Not Be Stopped by My Pain

Why Your Subconscious May Be Able To Give You a... Read More

Feeling Frisky? Herbs for Fertility

For thousands of years knowledge of the herbs and wild... Read More

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infertility

Although health and healing are the common goals of Traditional... Read More

Understanding Massage Therapy

We've all heard of massage and many of us have... Read More

Check Your Colon Transient Time

Many doctors and others in the health field may tell... Read More

Heart Disease and Homocysteine

Are you aware that one of the most important indicators... Read More

Independent Research Proves Effectiveness of Magnotherapy Wristbands

"Magnetic bracelets reduce the pain of osteoarthritis." Those are the... Read More

Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine, also referred to as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine,... Read More

Vitamins And Minerals

It is obvious that each of our bodies is unique... Read More

Natural Prevention & Treatment For The Flu: What Your Doctor May Not Know

Flu can affect 10 to 30 percent of the U.S.... Read More

The Causes Of Stuttering In Childhood

Stuttering is a problem that affects approximately one in every... Read More

Prenatal Massage

What is prenatal massage? Prenatal Massage is a form of... Read More

Setting Up Your Office For Health

If you work and are spending one third to one... Read More

Working with an Intuitive Counselor: Opening the Door to Yourself

"Oh, I've had a psychic reading before. They read some... Read More

Reiki-Seichem

Seichem - The Elemental Healing RaysSince the emergence of Reiki... Read More

Constipation Relieved Naturally

Constipation is a problem that affects many Americans every day.... Read More

That Popeye Knew a Thing or Two!

For a few weeks the lumps in my throat were... Read More

Natural Smoothie Formula to Stop Constipation and Acne

Here is how to build a natural smoothie that can... Read More

Straddling the Science/Magic Line: A Look At Magnetic Therapy

What's the difference between science and magic? It's our understanding... Read More

5 Simple Steps For Ridding Yourself Of Back Pain

Millions of people suffer from back pain unnecessarily when there... Read More

Which to Use When: Ice or Heat?

Knee pain after running? Wake up with a backache? Twist... Read More

Natural Aphrodisiacs - The Right Way

Aphrodisiacs are amongst the oldest cures, being ones of the... Read More

The Aromatherapy Home Medicine Chest ? Part I: The Essential Oils

Here we will have a brief look at ten essential... Read More

Headaches/Migraine

"Oh, how densely packed your head is, my sweet," sighs... Read More

Eucalyptus Pure Essential Oil

Eucalyptus pure essential oil is obtained from the leaves and... Read More

Know About the All Purpose Holistic Medicine

Understanding what holistic medicine is:Holistic Medicine is a wellness-based approach... Read More

Laughter and Your Health

Alternative medicine: jokes and humor for your healthWhen thinking about... Read More

How to Use the Subconscious to Cope with Body System Triggers of Your Pain

The musculoskeletal, immune and endocrine systems can all be potent... Read More

Junk Food Is Not Easier To Eat

There is something to be said about fast food being... Read More

Water Therapy: Therapeutic and Esoteric Properties for Your Home Spa Smart Bathing

Something New Interesting About Water Therapy."The more I find out,... Read More

As The Primary Care Giver for an Alzheimer?s Patient, How Can I Get a Break?

Taking care of a loved one who has Alzheimer's is... Read More