Drinking tea has different meanings for different people. Some people consider it a part of their self-care routine, others see it as a social thing, while others just like drinking it because they like how it tastes. Truth be told, there are numerous benefits of drinking tea. After all, tea was used as one of the main forms of medicine before modern pharmaceuticals. If you would like to learn about all the reasons why you should start drinking tea, read through the rest of this article.
It reduces stress
Many people use tea to reduce stress without even knowing it. There are numerous stress-relieving herbs that you can use for this purpose, and they are all easily accessible. Some of the best tea ingredients for anxiety relief are lavender, chamomile, passionflower, valerian, skullcap, lemon balm, and the amino acid L-Theanine. Kava tea and blue lotus tea are also known to have a calming effect, making it a popular choice for those seeking relaxation. Look online for kava tea vs blue lotus tea comparisons to discover which one suits your needs better. Of course, you can always look for a label on the tea box that says “relaxation”, “sleep” or “calm”. Most of them will probably contain the ingredients above. So, if you happen to have a stressful day, make yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy. Exploring Chai tea is also a wonderful option, as its rich blend of spices offers both comfort and relaxation.
It prevents tooth decay and bad breath
Drinking tea on a daily basis can help you prevent cavities. The thing that enables this tea benefit is the fluoride that can be found in it. Apart from fluorides, tea also contains magnesium and calcium, which are essential for healthy bones and teeth. Moreover, catechins or antioxidants can help you prevent bad breath. These molecules basically kill the bacteria that can be found in the mouth.
It can strengthen your immune system
The same antioxidant that can help you prevent bad breath can actually boost your immune system. Biotin, also known as vitamin H, can also be found in many teas and can strengthen your immune system as well. In addition, molecules called flavonoids can also be found in tea. As another type of antioxidant, it can prevent cellular damage, as well as UV-induced DNA damage. This basically means that it can play a role in preventing cancer too.
It can help you eliminate body fat
Catechins have another very useful and important role. In a human body, they act as “fat blockers”, especially when it comes to abdominal fat. In your digestive tract, they reduce the absorption of fats found in the food you eat, preventing your body from breaking it down. Moreover, they are also considered to be “fat burners”. They activate enzymes in your body that are normally used to metabolize stored fat. If you want to lose some body fat using tea, drink green tea, as it has the highest levels of this antioxidant. If you do not like green tea you can also try black tea. However, the doses of catechins in this one are a lot lower.
It can make your bones stronger
Apart from magnesium and calcium already mentioned, tea also contains vitamin D and some amino acids which are very important when it comes to bones strength. This can be beneficial to anyone, but especially to women experiencing menopause and people whose families have a history of weak bones. And actually, drinking tea generally is a much better idea than drinking coffee, as the high concentration of caffeine in it can actually cause bone loss.
It can protect your heart
An antioxidant EGCg, which can be found in a high percentage in green tea, can speed up the recovery of heart cells and minimize their death after a stroke or a heart attack. The same tea is associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease as well. This is thanks to different types of antioxidants called flavonoids, which can reduce the amount of cholesterol that can be found in the artery wall.
It can boost your memory
EGCg found in green tea can also act as a brain protector. It can boost your memory and even play a role in Alzheimer’s disease prevention. In this disease, a protein called beta-amyloid is produced more than it should be. EGCg can decrease its production and therefore prevents the disease. So, not only can drinking tea provide you with benefits on a daily basis, but it can also prevent this disease that can occur when you get older.
Even though it can be considered as only a part of your daily self-care routine, drinking tea can actually bring you numerous benefits. From stress and anxiety relief and tooth decay prevention to strengthening your immune system and your bones, there are not many things drinking tea is not useful for. It is no wonder why people have been using it for centuries as a main form of medicine. Of course, you should not rely only on tea for your health, but it is most certainly something worth incorporating into your daily life for that purpose.
About the Author
I love tea. It truly does offer so many benefits. Lately I’ve been steeping our tea in spring water from this Canadian place called bear springs. It tastes delicious & its so pure!