Tea is one of the most widely consumed drinks in India. Although not in many other countries, they prefer coffee more. A cup of tea has astoundingly many health advantages. In this article, we are going to find out what the best way to consume tea is.
Also Read:
Health Benefits of Coffee: Top 10 Positive Effects Backed by Science
What is tea?
Tea is produced by marinating the young tea leaves or buds of the plant Camellia sinensis in hot water. There are several types of tea, mainly black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea. Each of these has its own unique flavour and health benefits that mainly depend on the origin of the leaves and the processing method.
The processing method includes whether they are fermented (black tea), unfermented (green tea and white tea), or semi-fermented (oolong tea). The main story of tea begins in China with a Chinese emperor, Shen Nung. He was sitting beneath a tree while his servant was boiling water, and out of nowhere, some leaves fell into the boiling water. As a herbalist, he decided to try it. The tree was the same Camellia sinensis, the resulting drink is now called tea.
How is tea made? ☕
The manufacturing of tea undergoes many processes, including, or may not include, withering, rolling, fermenting, and drying. The degree of fermentation makes the types of tea different from each other.
White tea receives less than green oolong and then black tea. This process activates the polyphenols in the tea, making them complex and more concentrated, and the degree of fermentation determines the dark or light colour and deeper light flavour of Tea.
Advantages of tea for your health:
This drink is rich in protective plant compounds that help improve blood pressure and cardiovascular health. It modulates the glycemic response and may also reduce diabetes risk, improve gut health, and reduce the risk of cancer. This helps alleviate stress and anxiety. It may improve attention and focus and support bone health.
Nutritional value of tea:
One serving (cup or 225 ml) of black tea with milk contains approximately:
8 Kcal/32KJ
0.4g protein
0.4g fat
0.5g carbohydrate
0.5g sugars
40mg potassium
13mg calcium
Top 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Tea:
1. Rich in protective plant compounds:
All the different varieties of tea (black, white, green, and oolong) are rich in protective plant compounds, known as polyphenols. Regularly consuming polyphenols may help protect the cells from damage and thus reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Catechins in green tea and flavonoids in black tea are the compounds responsible for many of the things mentioned above.
2. May improve blood pressure:
By consuming tea, we may improve the working of our blood vessels, and it may help to lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide, which helps to relax the muscles in the blood vessels, thus making the blood flow more freely.
3. May improve cardiovascular health:
Some studies suggest that irregular conception may reduce the risk of diseases like heart attack again because the polyphenol content is particularly high in green tea, showing a positive effect on all cardiovascular outcomes.
4. May modulate glycaemic response:
By inhibiting digestion and absorption in our body, the tea polyphenols help to manage our body’s carbohydrates and stimulate insulin release. In this matter, green tea appears to be the best.
5. May reduce diabetes risk:
Tea polyphenols can inhibit the digestive enzyme lactase and delay the update of sugar in the gut. They even conclude that consistent intake of polyphenols can be effective in reducing the risk of diabetes; however, more detailed studies about this matter are needed.
6. May improve gut health:
The polyphenols in a daily diet, including those taken from tea, pass and remain in the two large intestines, where good bacteria break them down. They provide a source of fuel for gut bacteria. In this way, it allows them to live and diversify, helping to improve good function and the immune system.
7. May reduce the risk of cancer:
Tea works with other factors to slow down certain types of cancer because of the polyphenols found. Intake of tea results in the following types of oral cancer, including level-based and colon cancer; however, more clear studies are needed on this topic.
8. May alleviate stress and anxiety:
Unlike coffee, which is mainly considered energising, tea is generally seen as relaxing. Both drinks contain caffeine, but only tea contains the beneficial amino acid I-theanine, which contains a relaxing effect by increasing Alpha brain waves.
9. May improve attention and focus:
Drinks like tea that contain both caffeine and iodine appear to have a great impact on our attention and focus. A small amount of green tea provides a high amount of eye Thailand which is associated with less cognitive dysfunction and also helps us maintain better focus and concentration.
10. May support bone health:
Some studies suggest that the intake of tea, especially green tea, helps to maintain bone density and reduces the risk of fracture. This protective effect is due to the polyphenol content.
Conclusion:-
In conclusion, we can say that tea is beneficial to us in many ways, including bone health, cancer, diabetes, stress relief, and many other things. But the concerning thing is how much tea you should drink in a day. This depends on how sensitive you are to caffeine. A sensitive person to caffeine may drink 3–4 cups in a day, as more consumption than this can lead to sleeplessness at night.
FAQs:
- What are the different types of tea?
- Tea comes in various types, including black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea, each with unique flavors and health benefits.
- How is tea made?
- Tea is made by steeping the young leaves or buds of the Camellia sinensis plant in hot water, undergoing processes like withering, rolling, fermenting, and drying.
- What are the nutritional values of tea?
- A cup of black tea with milk contains approximately 8 Kcal/32KJ, 0.4g protein, 0.4g fat, 0.5g carbohydrate, 0.5g sugars, 40mg potassium, and 13mg calcium.
- What are the health benefits of drinking tea?
- Tea is rich in protective plant compounds, may improve blood pressure and cardiovascular health, modulate glycemic response, reduce diabetes risk, improve gut health, reduce cancer risk, alleviate stress, improve attention and focus, and support bone health.
- What compounds in tea contribute to its health benefits?
- Polyphenols, such as catechins in green tea and flavonoids in black tea, are responsible for many of tea’s health benefits.
- How does tea improve cardiovascular health?
- Tea may improve cardiovascular health by enhancing blood vessel function and reducing the risk of heart diseases.
- Can tea help in managing diabetes?
- Yes, tea polyphenols can modulate glycemic response and reduce the risk of diabetes by inhibiting carbohydrate digestion and absorption.
- Is tea beneficial for gut health?
- Yes, tea polyphenols can support gut health by providing fuel for beneficial gut bacteria, thereby improving gut function and immunity.
- Does tea consumption reduce the risk of cancer?
- Some studies suggest that tea consumption may slow down the progression of certain types of cancer due to its polyphenol content.
- How much tea should one drink daily?
- The suitable amount of tea consumption depends on individual caffeine sensitivity, but generally, 3–4 cups a day are considered safe for most people.