Benefits of Drinking Tea

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. It has been used for thousands of years for it's health benefits. Teas fall into two broad categories. Black, white, green, and oolong teas, all come from the Camellia senensis plant. Herbal teas come from the roots, leaves, and flowers of plants. You can drink herbal teas for relaxing, staying hudrated, or for their health benefits. From boosting digestion to soothing the senses, it is a great way to improve your health. Just don't load your tea up with lots of sugar. Here are some of the benefits of drinking tea.

Antioxidants

All teas contain antioxidants. Green and white teas are well known for the large amount of the plant compound EGCG they contain. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant and and is one of the reasons green and white teas are considered one of the heathiest drinks. Although these teas contain caffeine, they contain less than coffee. You can also get decaffeinated versions of black, green, oolong, and white teas. Hibiscus tea contains 400% more antioxidants than black and green teas and does not contain caffeine. Antioxidants help reduce inflammation and reduce the free radical damage that can happen to your cells.

Stress Relief

For many people, the ritual of preparing and drinking tea, is relaxing and reduces stress. Research has been done that shows that drinking tea can lower the levels of cortisol in your body - the stress hormone. The herb lemon balm has been used for hundreds of years to reduce stress. It is available in tablets, capsules, creams, and as a tea. The lavender and chamomile plants are also available as teas that are calming and can improve sleep.

Improve Digestion

Peppermint tea is the most widely recognized tea for helping to reduce bloating and soothe your stomach. Lemon balm and ginger are also available as teas and have been used since ancient times for digestive issues. Fennel and chamomile are two more plants that have been used to calm the stomach, and are available as teas. In particular, these two plants have studied for their positive impact on ulcers.

Heart Health

Tea has many cardiovasuclar benefits. It's the plant compuond known as flavanoids, that are beneficial to the heart and blood vessels. They help reduce inflammation and improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Tea is also known for it's ability to support healthy cholesterol levels. Green tea is often recommended because it can lower your risk of heart disease. It is also known to relax your blood vessels. Cinammon is a spice that is a powerful antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. When added to tea, it can reduce inflammation and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Mental Clarity

The caffeine and L-theanine in teas made from the Camillia senensis plant, can help give you mental clarity and focus. L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves and is not present in coffee. So even if you don't tolerate caffeine, you'll still get the benefits of L-theanine in decaffeinated green, black, oolong, or white tea. White tea has the lowest caffeine content of the true teas. And like the other true teas, it contains L-theanine which will help you with mental clarity and is neuroprotective. Herbal teas do not contain L-theanine, but peppermint or ginger tea can still help you feel alert and focused.

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