Health Benefits of Tea
Yesterday we introduce the four main types of tea. Today, we look at some of the ways that drinking tea can boost your health! So sit back with a cuppa and see just how good it is for you.
Health Benefits of Tea
Everyone enjoys a cuppa; in fact, after water, tea it the most consumed beverage in the world and here in the UK, it accounts for 40% of our daily fluid intake. But have you ever considered that apart from tasting great, it may carry some health benefits. We take a look at five health benefits that tea drinkers can benefit from all just through enjoying a nice cuppa!
1) Healthy Heart
There have been many studies which have looked into the link between drinking tea and maintaining a healthy heart. One study by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinking 3 or more cups of tea per day is linked with lowering your risk of Heart Disease, which is the second biggest killer in the UK. A Japanese study also found that drinking 5 or more cups of green tea per day resulted in a 26% reduction in death from heart attacks. It is believed that the antioxidants in tea are what help to maintain a healthy heart.
2) Weight Loss Aid
Forget the latest fad diets; the new emphasis is on how regular tea drinking can help you to lose weight. Recent studies have shown that drinking up to 5 cups of green tea per day can help to speed up weight loss and decrease belly fat. The reason behind the positive effects are that the ingredients in the green tea increase metabolism as well as increase the bodies ability to burn fat as fuel.
3) Boosts Functioning in Old Age
As we get older, our basic functioning deteriorates and things like getting dressed, bathing and using the bathroom might become difficult. Studies have shown that drinking green tea throughout life can help to maintain function levels as we start to age. It is also thought to have memory boosting properties, therefore reducing the risk of contracting neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. As well as boosting function in old age, drinking green tea also helps to fight free radicals-which in excess can accelerate the physical effects of ageing.
4) Rehydrating
It has always been assumed; due to caffeine levels that drinking tea leaves you dehydrated. However recent research has shown that tea actually hydrates you as effectively as drinking water. The British Food Standards Agency as well as the British Diabetic Association advises that tea helps to meet your daily fluid intake requirements of 1.5-2 litres per day.
5) Cancer Preventing
The cancer preventing benefits of drinking tea are somewhat of a new theory and are still very much disputed. However initial studies have found that the catechins in tea: prevent cell mutation, deactivate carcinogens (substances capable of causing cancer) and reduce formation and growth of tumours. It is claimed that drinking 3-5 cups of tea per day lowers the risk of getting some cancer such as pancreatic and stomach cancer, but it is thought that it may not be effective for every type of cancer.
Have you had your cuppa today? Tell us what type of Tea Jenny you are and you could win a tea hamper full of goodies!