Anyone For Tea?
January is National Hot Tea Month, the second most consumed beverage in the world after water and we’d like to share a few benefits of some well-known categories of teas.
Types of Tea and their Benefits
- Green tea: A little newer to the Western culture, there has been a lot of recent media on its health benefits, specific to having a high antioxidant level. Green tea has also been given traction for being a natural stimulus for weight-loss. Once picked, it has only a short time to wither before the enzymes within the leaves begin to break down. The oxidation process is stopped almost immediately because it is heated rapidly by fire or steam. Green tea is unoxidized, which also helps with keeping its recognizable vibrant green colour. Green tea interferes with the growth of many cancers: bladder breast, lung, stomach, colorectal and pancreatic cancer; reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s, stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
- Black tea: Black tea for the most part, undergoes complete oxidization. The water evaporates from the leaf and is exposed to more oxygen from the air. has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. Black tea is contained in chai and instant teas. Studies indicate it may also help with reducing the risk of stroke.
- White tea: Uncured, unfermented and naturally sweet. They derive from the youngest shoots or buds of the tea plant. For best results, brew at a low temperature and requires a short steeping time. White tea may arguably have the most potent antioxidant properties.
- Oolong tea: This form or tea is semi-fermented and oxidized. May assist by reducing cholesterol, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Also known to freshen the appearance and enhance the liveliness of the skin.
- Pu-erh tea: Helps reduce stress and aids in digestion.
Additional Benefits of Drinking Tea
- Some of the more traditional tea leaves contain as much as 50% less caffeine than coffee. As a result, you’d be presented with less jolts to the nervous system and can actually be a calming beverage before bed time.
- Recent studies have shown that green tea helps reduce bone loss. This is especially good news for those who may be more susceptible to Osteoporosis.
- When attempting to reduce calories, beverages can be the sneaky add-on for your overall intake in a given day as some are loaded with sugar and sometimes fat. Tea is a healthy no-calories option to water whether prepared hot or cold and has a variety of flavours that you can enjoy.
- According to Dr. Mark Hayman, tea can help lower levels of inflammation; considered a precursor or causative factor to many modern day diseases (arthritis, many cancers, depression and more).
So when selecting your tea, mix it up a little and choose one from any of the above categories. As you snuggle up with your hot mug of goodness, you may as well allow it to do your body good.
