Lifestyles
Submitted by Maria D'Antonio
I love tea. Friends, family, my editor as well as the staff at the English Tea Room in Covington can attest to this, but I didn't start thinking about the possible health benefits until one of the owners of the English Tea Room came up to our table and started talking about the benefits of drinking tea.
Here are just some of the things researchers are saying about the health benefits of tea:
Since I am drinking tea as I write this blog, I can attest to the last benefit of tea I mentioned, improved alertness and mood. The brilliant thing about drinking hot black tea is that it completely relaxes me while giving me a small, caffeinated brain boost. Also, drinking a cup or two in the afternoon definitely staves off the need for an afternoon snack. However, don't add so much sweetener that the tea's benefits are outweighed by the sugar.
Although the studies are still relatively new and underway, the research is encouraging, and it is a healthier alternative to soft drinks. Scientists agree that green tea is healthiest. Loose tea, since it is less processed than bagged tea, contains more polyphenols.
If you don't drink tea, I recommend that you start, if not for the promising research on tea, then just for relaxation and taste. For those that prefer something sweet, drink Chai, a black tea. It doesn't matter what kind, they all have extra spices and lots of flavor, which can be accented by just a little bit of cream and sugar. If sweetness is not your thing, stick to the traditional English teas, like Earl Grey (what I'm drinking right now) and English Breakfast (my sister's preferred tea). If you want something lighter, then stick with green tea. Green tea is not my favorite, and yes, a hot cup does remind me of grass sometimes, but sometimes you can find green tea mixed with cherries or rosebuds and then it's pretty great, especially iced. White tea has a fuller taste, less caffeine, and is one of my favorite teas, second to black tea. I've had some fruity white teas as well as more almond and vanilla flavors. A few other teas include oolong and pur-erh. Herbal tea does not come from the same plant as the other teas, so it is not considered a true tea, but I've never let that get me down!
So...fancy a cuppa? Tell us your favorite teas below!
Feel free to see what the scientific community is saying about tea below
Sources: https://www.globalteas.org/the-global-steep---blog/whats-the-difference-between-black-green-and-herbaltea
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/268509.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640470
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tea-drink-to-your-health-201312186947
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coffee-and-tea-may-protect-the-brain/
Submitted by Maria D'Antonio
I love tea. Friends, family, my editor as well as the staff at the English Tea Room in Covington can attest to this, but I didn't start thinking about the possible health benefits until one of the owners of the English Tea Room came up to our table and started talking about the benefits of drinking tea.
Here are just some of the things researchers are saying about the health benefits of tea:
- Lower risk of heart disease and stroke
- Polyphenols (naturally occurring micronutrients), especially in green tea, may help protect against certain degenerative diseases, like some cancers and Alzheimer's
- Help in maintaining a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index)
- Improve alertness and mood
Since I am drinking tea as I write this blog, I can attest to the last benefit of tea I mentioned, improved alertness and mood. The brilliant thing about drinking hot black tea is that it completely relaxes me while giving me a small, caffeinated brain boost. Also, drinking a cup or two in the afternoon definitely staves off the need for an afternoon snack. However, don't add so much sweetener that the tea's benefits are outweighed by the sugar.
Although the studies are still relatively new and underway, the research is encouraging, and it is a healthier alternative to soft drinks. Scientists agree that green tea is healthiest. Loose tea, since it is less processed than bagged tea, contains more polyphenols.
If you don't drink tea, I recommend that you start, if not for the promising research on tea, then just for relaxation and taste. For those that prefer something sweet, drink Chai, a black tea. It doesn't matter what kind, they all have extra spices and lots of flavor, which can be accented by just a little bit of cream and sugar. If sweetness is not your thing, stick to the traditional English teas, like Earl Grey (what I'm drinking right now) and English Breakfast (my sister's preferred tea). If you want something lighter, then stick with green tea. Green tea is not my favorite, and yes, a hot cup does remind me of grass sometimes, but sometimes you can find green tea mixed with cherries or rosebuds and then it's pretty great, especially iced. White tea has a fuller taste, less caffeine, and is one of my favorite teas, second to black tea. I've had some fruity white teas as well as more almond and vanilla flavors. A few other teas include oolong and pur-erh. Herbal tea does not come from the same plant as the other teas, so it is not considered a true tea, but I've never let that get me down!
So...fancy a cuppa? Tell us your favorite teas below!
Feel free to see what the scientific community is saying about tea below
Sources: https://www.globalteas.org/the-global-steep---blog/whats-the-difference-between-black-green-and-herbaltea
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/268509.php
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640470
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/tea-drink-to-your-health-201312186947
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coffee-and-tea-may-protect-the-brain/