The benefits of tea have been praised for thousands of years and modern science concurs. Tea positively affects blood pressure, cholesterol, weight loss, heart disease, cataracts, diabetes and cancer. Tea also gives the immune system a boost and increases mental alertness. Used topically, tea can repair sun damage and rejuvenate skin. Even more importantly, caffeine or caffeine free, the benefits of tea are the same making it possible for tea drinkers to avoid the effects of too much caffeine consumption.
Types
Tea is derived from several sources, which yield a variety of different types of teas. The camellia sinensis plant from Asia produces black, green, oolong, and white teas. The type of tea depends on how the leaves are processed after harvest. Herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile tea are made from different leaves, flowers, and trees. Teas from the camellia sinensis plants have been the most widely studied and are shown to have the most health benefits with regular consumption.
Caffeine Free Teas
Teas are naturally caffeinated and actually contain much more caffeine than coffee. However, tea is used in smaller amounts making the overall caffeine content in a cup of tea lower. Decaffeinated teas have been used in medical studies and have proven health benefits. This is because the active ingredients are not caffeine dependent. The primary issue with caffeine free teas is that they tend to be of poor quality. Holistic physician Dr. Andrew Weil recommends tea drinkers decaffeinate tea themselves to ensure adequate intake of active ingredients. Simply soak the tea bag in hot water for a minute to remove 80% of the caffeine. Discard the water and then prepare tea as usual.
Tea Fights Cancer
Green teas contain EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and New Scientist magazine reported in 2004 that EGCG has anti-cancer properties. EGCG is an antioxidant that can help prevent lung, prostate and breast cancer. Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan discovered that EGCG attaches to tumor cells and inhibits their growth. Decaffeinated green tea still contains EGCG and retains its anti-cancer effects.
Green Tea Weight Loss
Green tea has also been associated with weight loss by increasing the rate of fat burning and improving insulin sensitivity. A Journal of Nutrition study published in 2009 demonstrated that five cups of green tea a day, in conjunction with exercise, doubled the amount of belly fat lost and improved cholesterol. Caffeine levels were the same for the control group and those consuming tea, meaning caffeine was not an active component of weight loss.
Prevent Disease With Tea
Flavonols are found in black tea and are powerful antioxidants that fight disease. In the tea plant, flavonols protect the plant from disease and damage and they have a similar effect on the human body. According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consuming black tea on a regular basis decreased the risk of heart attack by 44%. Decaffeinated forms of black tea were used in the study which proved decaffeinated black teas can reduce the incidence of heart attacks.
Incorporating tea into your daily diet may take some practice, but the health benefits make it well worth the effort.
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