Tea illustration. © 2012 Merdeka.com/Shutterstock/leungchopan Merdeka.com – Tea is more than just a popular drink. For thousands of years, drinking tea has been, and is still a tradition and ritual that is deeply rooted in cultures around the world. Originating in China, perhaps as early as 2737 BC, the habit of drinking tea then spread to Japan, then the Netherlands, and finally throughout Europe.
Dutch settlers in America first introduced tea in 1650. England was one of the last European countries to adopt tea, although initially imports of the tea plant were heavily taxed. Much of the import of tea was illegally smuggled in until the British government cut the tax rate in 1784, allowing tea to be an affordable drink for all and not just a drink for the rich.
In Great Britain alone, about 75 million cups of tea are consumed every day. While it is estimated that more than 3 billion cups of tea are consumed worldwide every day. The popularity of tea is not only due to its good taste. For centuries tea has been drunk for its therapeutic benefits, which have also been extensively studied scientifically.
The medicinal and health benefits of drinking tea have been known for thousands of years. Now, modern science has helped back up these benefit claims. Here are 10 health benefits of drinking tea that you should know, quoting from mindbodygreen.com.
Increase Metabolism & Anti Inflammation
1. Increase Metabolism
The benefits of drinking tea are the first to help increase your body’s metabolic process. Black polyphenols, oolong, and green tea have all been shown to increase calorie expenditure and reduce body fat.
Interestingly, tea actually promotes one type of fat: brown fat. This type of fat is more metabolically active and contains more mitochondria than white fat, meaning brown fat can actually burn calories and boost metabolism.
In a review of 15 studies, it was found that those who consumed two to six cups of green tea a day for more than 12 weeks had lower body fat and weight than those who didn’t.
If you don’t like brewed tea, you can try consuming it in extract form. Green tea extract, the concentrated form of green tea available in powder and pill form, has also demonstrated metabolism-boosting weight loss benefits.
2. Anti-inflammatory
The second benefit of drinking tea is in its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation has been linked to everything from diabetes to cognitive decline. In fact, inflammation has been implicated as the root of almost all chronic diseases.
The antioxidant polyphenols in tea are powerful inflammation killers. In fact, the EGCG in green tea is 100 times stronger than the antioxidant power of vitamin C. Research has shown that tea can benefit those with inflammatory bowel disease as well as other inflammatory diseases.
Reduce Risk of Death & Increase Insulin Sensitivity
3. Reducing the Risk of Death Due to Certain Chronic Diseases
The third benefit of drinking tea is to help reduce the risk of death from certain diseases. In a study of more than 40,000 adults, it was found that regular tea consumption reduced the risk of dying from heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.
In fact, participants who drank five or more cups of green tea per day had a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular death than those who drank less than one cup per day. Researchers have praised green tea’s effects on hypertension and obesity along with its powerful polyphenols for its protective effects.
Chronic disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US, making it increasingly important to drink tea on a daily basis. The benefits were more visible in those who drank three to four cups a day versus one cup or no cup, so start consuming them regularly.
4. Increase Insulin Sensitivity
The fourth benefit of drinking tea is to help increase insulin sensitivity. Green tea can help reduce complications from diabetes. Diabetes is a worldwide health problem, with a significant risk of complications, premature death and a poorer quality of life.
Research shows drinking tea can improve insulin sensitivity, protect pancreatic cells from further damage, and reduce inflammation, all of which benefit those at risk for or already diagnosed with diabetes.
Good For The Brain & Help Prevent Cancer
5. Good For Brain Health
The fifth benefit of drinking tea is to help improve your brain health. Regular consumption of tea can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is still unclear and there is no cure, research confirms that drinking green and black tea improves cognitive scores among those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, drinking tea can improve memory and increase attention span to prevent cognitive decline. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine in tea has been shown to improve reaction time, visual processing, memory and concentration. It even changes the way the brain is organized for more efficient processing of information.
6. Helps Prevent Cancer
The sixth benefit of drinking tea is to help prevent cancer. Green tea’s EGCG catechins are powerful antioxidants that have great cancer-fighting potential. Laboratory and animal studies have found that EGCG can reduce metastasis and improve outcomes for breast, lung, colon, skin, and other cancers.
While more clinical studies in humans are needed, several long-term observational studies have found similar benefits of drinking tea in fighting cancer. For example, Japanese women who drink 10 or more cups of green tea a day (120 ml or 4 ounces each) experience a seven year delay in developing cancer. This amount of tea is reportedly equivalent to 2.5 grams of green tea extract.
Good For Oral Health & Increase Fertility
7. Good For Oral Health
The seventh benefit of drinking tea is good for oral health. Not all drinks are good for your oral health. But tea can actually improve oral health. Tea contains fluoride and can increase the population of bacteria in the mouth. This reduces the risk of periodontal disease, cavities, and possibly even oral cancer.
8. Increase Fertility
The eight benefits of drinking tea are to help increase fertility. A 2018 review reported that infertility is heavily influenced by levels of oxidative stress in reproductive tissues. Drinking tea can help overcome it
The polyphenols in tea have confirmed strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Hence, it has been suggested that tea can increase fertility in both men and women. More research is needed, but it seems that the benefits of drinking this one tea are promising.
Hydrating & Good For Intestines
9. Hydrating
The benefits of drinking tea are the ninth to help hydrate the body. Although it was previously thought that tea (and coffee) increases dehydration by acting like a diuretic and causing the body to lose more fluids, recent research has found that six to eight cups of tea a day are just as moisturizing as the same amount of plain water.
10. Good for intestinal health
The benefits of drinking the latter are good for intestinal health. Gut health doesn’t just consist of fiber and probiotics. Research shows that tea polyphenols are beneficial in modifying gut bacteria. This can lead to positive health effects such as reduced absorption of carbohydrates, increased blood sugar levels, and weight loss.
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