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Cup of tea after all is good for you...

You do not have to be a tea lover like me to read and enjoy this blog. But yes, this blog can motivate you to at least try one cuppa of good health. People drink tea for its natural and earthy flavor, however, the tea you drink has so many health benefits as well. So if you drink tea on a regular basis, pat your back because you gave your body a great gift of health!

There are many tea types which include black, green, white, chamomile, and herbal teas. Amongst these types, green tea has been rewarded the title of “the healthiest tea.” Adding green tea to your diet, which should comprise whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, has reduced the risk of heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes.1 Professor Qi Shun, an assistant professor at the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, mentions that green tea contains a substance of polyphenols, which is assumed to be an effective anti-inflammatory substance. Polyphenols have a compound known as catechins. The most significant type of catechins present in green tea is known as the epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Research conducted on EGCG has demonstrated the ability of the compound to prevent or treat cancer.2 Hence, this proves that drinking green tea on a regular basis has a major health benefit. So it may be a good idea to add green tea as a part of your diet. 

The second type of tea that I would like to discuss is black tea or popularly known as the Engish Breakfast Tea. This is my personal favorite. Any type of black tea like earl gray or Indian Masala Chai is considered my favorite beverage which I like to consume while studying. This type of tea generally contains caffeine. Nevertheless, the amount of caffeine present in black tea is generally less than that present in coffee. Black tea obtains its color when the leaves of Camilla sinensis  (the plant where the tea leaves come from) are crushed, dried, and fermented. It is because of its fermentation, that the tea obtains its characteristic black color. During the fermentation process, the catechins react to form theaflavins or other flavonoids. 2 These flavonoids have health benefits including weight and sugar management. It is also linked with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.3 Black tea provides you with all these health benefits. Has it convinced you to try black tea as your morning dose of energy?

Now let us move on to the other category of tea, herbal teas. There are numerous types of herbal tea available on the market. Some of these include chamomile, mint, lemon ginger, rooibos, and honeybush. Here in this blog, I am going to discuss the health benefits of chamomile and rooibos teas, only because I consume them on a daily basis. But I encourage you to explore the other types of herbal teas if you are interested in them. Popularly, chamomile and rooibos teas are consumed at night because of their soothing qualities. Not all people can tolerate herbal teas, so it is beneficial to ask your doctor or primary health care providers before you consume any type of herbal tea. Rather it is advisable to consult with your doctor before adding any type of tea to your diet. With that being said, let us go back to the health benefits of chamomile tea, Medical News Today mentions a significant amount of benefits linked to chamomile tea including relieving menstrual cramps, inducing sleepiness, and reducing inflammation. 4 They also mention that people who have severe allergies to pollen should steer away from chamomile tea. 

Along with chamomile tea, rooibos tea, which is also known as red tea, has calming qualities. Rooibos has a sweet nutty taste and is shown to have minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium. It also contains Vitamin C. With all these vitamins and minerals, rooibos has put forth a strong case in its favor and demonstrated how healthful this tea is. It aids in weight loss, improves skin appearance, and helps with digestion.5 But as always, be careful about adding anything to your diet before talking with your doctor. 

There are other types of teas that I haven’t mentioned, nevertheless, there is a ton of information on the internet available about teas and their potential side effects which I highly recommend to review over. I hope this blog is a good introduction to the amazing world of teas which is yours to explore if you want to and of course if your body allows you to. With that, thank you so much for visiting my blog page, and hope to see you soon on my next blog. 



References

  1. Health benefits linked to drinking tea - Harvard Health. (2014, September). Retrieved June 6, 2022, from Harvard Health website: https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/health-benefits-linked-to-drinking-tea

  2. ‌Khan, N., & Mukhtar, H. (2018). Tea Polyphenols in Promotion of Human Health. Nutrients, 11(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010039

  3. ‌Takemoto, M., & Takemoto, H. (2018). Synthesis of Theaflavins and Their Functions. Molecules, 23(4), 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040918

  4. (2020, January 6). What are the benefits of chamomile tea? Retrieved June 6, 2022, from Medicalnewstoday.com website: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320031

  5. Sencha Tea Bar. (2021, August 24). 8 Amazing Rooibos Tea Benefits You Didn’t Know About. Retrieved June 6, 2022, from Sencha Tea Bar website: https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/rooibos-tea-benefits



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