:: Benefits of Tea

The Main Benefits of Tea Drinking

We are all aware of the benefits of drinking green tea, chiefly its antioxidant and immunity-boosting properties. However, there are benefits to drinking other teas as well.

Green tea was the first tea to be studied because of its cancer-fighting properties. But according to current research, any tea sourced from the leaf of an evergreen called camellia has cancer-fighting properties similar to green tea. The teas in this category do not include herbal teas; they are all the green, black and red teas. The chemicals in the camellia tree that provide the antioxidant properties are called polyphenols.

The color of a tea is determined by the amount of processing involved. Green teas are processed for the least amount of time. Regardless of the processing method, all teas contain polyphenols, which adds to the benefits of tea drinking.

Like other antioxidants, polyphenols assist in protecting cells from "oxidative stress." Studies show that this chemical substance has definite cancer-fighting properties. Some reports show that polyphenols are able to prevent blood clotting and lower cholesterol levels. The benefits of tea drinking in preventing heart attacks has not yet been established. Most studies so far have been conducted on animals.

There are many other benefits of tea drinking. For the best antioxidant power, brew tea from loose leaves or tea bags of the black, green or red tea varieties. Tea also contains fluoride, which promotes strong teeth. A cup of tea contains half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee.

Try incorporating tea drinking into your daily routine to see if you benefit from its health benefits.

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