We do love a hot cup of tea and all the benefits that come with it. But what exactly are the effects of tea on body? And how can tea help us maintain a healthier lifestyle?
So, what are the Effects Of Tea On Body? Tea is a very rich source of antioxidants. It helps prevent and reduce inflammation in the body. It helps the body fight against some types of cancer. It also contains caffeine which helps with your overall energy. Tea can be great at reducing your cholesterol levels and decrease the risks of blood clotting. Regular tea consumption also helps in boosting your metabolism to a great extent. It helps you maintain a healthy weight while losing any extra. It helps in the prevention of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It helps strengthen your bones along with helping with digestion.
There are several types of teas and with that comes several types of benefits. Tea has a lot of caffeine which makes it ideal as an energy-boosting drink. It can also be used topically on the skin as a soothing agent which promotes wound healing. They are high in flavonoids which help prevention of blood clots and lowering cholesterol levels in the body. Different types of teas can help with different issues. There are teas that help in calming the nerves and there are some which help with physical pain. It is also high in antioxidants which protect us against free radicals which end up being the reason for various diseases.
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Health Benefits Of Tea
- Rich in antioxidants which help us protect against free radicals
- Can be used topically for soothing and quick healing of wounds.
- Helps to lower cholesterol and reduce blood clotting
- Can give your skin a healthy glow
- Herbal tea helps with relaxation, sleep, menstrual cramps, other physical pain, and allergies.
- Decreases risks of type 2 diabetes
- Helps with regulating blood pressure.
Pros And Cons Of Tea Consumption
| Benefits Of Tea | Drawbacks Of Tea |
| May help with losing weight | May cause Cardiovascular problems |
| May protect bones | May increase the risk of prostate cancer |
| It may help boost the immune system | May lead to anxiety, restlessness, and increased heart rate. |
| Herbal tea may help with digestion | May cause sleep disorder and diuretic effect |
| May help against cancer | Tea can lead to a dehydrating effect |
The Hidden Health Benefits Of Tea
People around the world have been drinking tea for many centuries. Various studies done over the years have shown that various teas help to boost one’s immunity, reduce inflammation, and in some cases help the body against heart diseases and fight cancer. Some types of tea brews are packed with more health benefits than others. But the one thing that had tons of proof backing it up was the fact that regular consumption of tea can have a long-term impact on your overall health.
Here are some of the most beneficial effects of various types of tea:
Black Tea
Black tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis Plants’ leaves. This is the same plant that is used to make green tea. To make black tea the leaves of this plant are dried and then fermented, which is the main reason for its dark color and rich flavors. Black tea happens to be caffeinated which makes it important for you to track your intake. A cup of black tea will help you from flavonoids and help your body fight inflammation. It also boosts your immunity.
Another use of black tea can be as a skin-soothing ingredient. It can be steamed and cooled off to use by applying or pressing it over wounds, cuts, scrapes, allergic reactions, rashes, etc. it can reduce inflammation and promote wound healing.
Green Tea
Green tea has its origin in China. There the leaves are usually processed using heat in the form of pan-firing or by roasting them. In Japan, the leaves are usually steamed. Green tea is very high in flavonoids and can be great at lowering your cholesterol and reducing blood clotting and by doing so it automatically boosts the health of your heart. It can also help the body lower total cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides. Other researchers discovered that consumption of green tea can benefit the breast, prostate, liver and help against colorectal cancer. Green tea also acts as an anti-inflammatory and can help retain the healthy glow of your skin.
A different form of green tea has gotten popular in recent years – matcha! Matcha is a finely ground powder of very high-quality green tea leaves. The entirety of the tea leaf, which is grown in the shade, is to be consumed, which makes matcha very high in antioxidants when compared to regular green tea. Many people claim that one cup of matcha is equivalent to 11 cups of regular green tea.
White Tea
A specific type of Camellia Sinensis plant that is only found in India and China has a very delicate flavor and is called white tea. It is also the least processed tea out of all the teas. Many types of research have found proof that it is the most effective when it comes to fighting cancer due to it being high in antioxidants. It is also good for your dental health because it is a great source of catechins, tannins, and fluoride, which can all work towards strengthening teeth, make them more resistant to sugar and acids and also fight plaque.
White tea has the lowest content of caffeine that makes it a better choice for everyone who loves their cup of tea but also wishes to regulate their caffeine intake.
Herbal Tea
Herbal teas are sometimes referred to as Tisanes. These are very similar to white tea, apart from all the herbs, spices, fruits, and other plants that they contain. They contain no caffeine at all which makes them calming and soothing in nature.
Different herbal teas have different benefits and properties, some of which are mentioned below:
- Chamomile tea – eases menstrual cramps and muscle spasms. Helps improve the quality of sleep. Promotes relaxation. Helps manage and reduce stress.
- Rooibos – helps in boosting good cholesterol and reducing bad cholesterol. Helps in the management of blood pressure and circulation. Relieves allergies. Helps in keeping the hair and skin healthy.
- Peppermint – the menthol present helps in soothing an upset stomach and relieve constipation, motion sickness, irritable bowel syndrome. It can also relieve migraines and tension headaches.
- Ginger – helps in relieving the joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. Helps against chronic indigestion and motion sickness.
- Hibiscus – helps in warding off unhealthy cravings. Helps lower fat levels and blood pressure. Promotes overall liver health.
Oolong Tea
Oolong tea is a variety of tea that is obtained from the same plant from which black and green teas are obtained. It is a traditional Chinese variety of tea. The difference between green, black and oolong tea is that green tea isn’t allowed to oxidize whereas black tea needs to be oxidized. Oolong tea, on the other hand, is a middle ground between the two. It needs to be oxidized partially to obtain its color and its distinctive taste. It has a calming effect against anxiety and also helps improve focus, alertness, and attention due to the I-theanine, which is an amino acid present in the tea.
Research shows that I-theanine can help in the prevention of cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases.
It is also very high in polyphenols. They help in the reduction of inflammation and prevention of cancerous growths. It also decreases the risks of type 2 diabetes.
What Are The Effects Of Tea On Body On Regular Consumption
Can Soothe Inflammation
The international journal of molecular science says that various researches have shown that drinking tea on the regular can have significant benefits in terms of reducing inflammation. A particular study that focused on black and green teas only discovered that these two types of tea have massive benefits against inflammation in the red blood cells. People who suffer from lupus also found that drinking green tea regularly for at least 12 weeks continuously helped them lessen the inflammation in their bodies. It is hence so popular for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Can Help In The Regulation Of Your Metabolism
Tea comes in various forms and some of them can be very useful for the regulation of your metabolism when it becomes off balance for whatever reasons. Studies have discovered that green tea works wonderfully to regulate and restore the balance in the metabolism. This is related to the glucose and weight of the body which also benefit from the consumption of green tea. This can be a great way to maintain these factors of the body for people who suffer from diabetes. The other types of tea which help in the regulation of the metabolism are oolong tea and black tea. They also help the body in weight management.
Can Help In Controlling Weight
The effects of green tea on weight management have been researched so many times that it is easy to lose count. A 12-week research was performed to observe the effects of green tea in women. This study found that the subjects of the study lost a substantial amount of fat around the stomach. Drinking green tea every day increases the levels of energy in the body to a significant amount and this is one of the causes for the loss of weight. Green tea is also great for lipid production and boosting the metabolism in the body, which makes it a super drink for weight loss.
Can Protect Against Certain Cancers
Various studies have shown that green and black tea is high in polyphenols, catechin EGCG, etc. these natural compounds present in tea provide us with protection against various cancers. Consuming at least a few cups of tea a day, on a regular basis, helps us decrease the chances of lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancers.
Adverse Effects Of Drinking Tea Daily
You May React Differently To Tea Concentrates
Nowadays we find a lot of loaded teas which are a blend of various types of supplements along with the tea itself. Although this has been gaining popularity recently, it may not be right for everyone and people sensitive to certain ingredients may react to it badly.
These types of teas promise to boost your energy instantly and give a whole array of benefits. But what most of us miss is the fact that they do not disclose their full ingredient lists which leaves a lot of room for them to add anything and everything they want to without having to face the dangers that it may cause the customers. Most of these teas contain tea concentrate powders which can be very dangerous for people who need to be on medications like blood thinners or have diabetes.
There are some of these teas which are made with ginseng and guarana, that can cause flushing due to the vitamin B and the caffeine present in them.
Some Teas May Have Traces Of Heavy Metal
Some teas may contain traces of metal which can add up and accumulate in the body when the tea is consumed regularly over a long period of time. Various studies have been done to investigate the same and it was found that brewed teas like herbal teas have a higher chance of containing these heavy metals which are not safe for the body. Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium was found in a brewed Chinese black tea. Various air contaminating particles that are used for coal-fired power plants were also found in this particular tea.
Which Teas To Avoid?
Tea, in general, seems beneficial for your health, but there are some varieties of tea you should consider avoiding:
- Detox teas that are made of false diet suggestions, promising to help lose weight quickly are to be avoided because they are full of laxatives that are harmful to your health.
- Drinks from your favorite chai store or fancy tea latte, some of these drinks look fancy and healthy with labels like Matcha, Green Tea, but they are sugary concoctions.
- Bubble teas which are so in trend, this drink is full of calories, carbs, and sugar and almost zero nutritional value.
- Herbal teas may trigger allergies, Many of the ingredients in herbal tea are flowers, spices, herbs, and fruits, and you can be allergic to something you don’t know is being added to your tea. Always check the label before grabbing a new herbal tea flavor, just to be safe.
