The ul-TEA-mate Beverage

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Tea has grown in popularity in recent years and for a good reason. In fact, tea’s popularity has surged so much it is now the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water (1). Positive research findings on regular consumption of tea are published nearly everyday. It surely has created a hot area of science, as many Americans are becoming more concerned with disease prevention.

Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis shrub. Black, green, and white teas all come from the same plant; it is the processing which makes each type of tea unique. However, no matter what the processing, all three types of tea provide potent antioxidants, that have numerous benefits for the body.

Here’s the scoop. Our bodies produce something called free radicals; free radicals are unstable molecules in the body that “attack” other cells and do harm. In addition, the air we breath and exhaust we inhale when enjoying the outdoors, along with being exposed to environmental toxins, increases free radical production. There is no way to stop this in the body—in fact, even exercising increases free radical production. Of course that doesn’t mean we should stop exercising, it just shows that free radicals cannot be totally eliminated. Fortunately, science has proven that loading up on tea and eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods, provides your body with something called antioxidants—which “fight” free radicals. Antioxidants can be thought of as the heavyweight champions in the boxing circle; they knock out the free radicals to keep the body strong.

Tea is a potent source of particular antioxidants called flavonoids. Black, green, and white tea all provide a hefty dose of flavonoids, so it’s wise to drink up and drink often. In addition, tea has also been linked to weight loss, enhancing the immune system, reducing the risk of heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and helping protect against prostate and other types of cancer (1,2,3).

With all of these benefits, the addition of tea throughout the day is a wise idea. Next time you stop at a coffee shop, put down that calorie laden, sugary beverage you’re normally used to ordering, and try a great cup of tea instead.

References

1. Peters, U., Poole, C., & Arab, L. (2001). Does tea affect cardiovascular disease? A meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol, 154(6), 495-503.
2. Arts, I. C., Jacobs, D. R., Jr., Harnack, L. J., Gross, M., & Folsom, A. R. (2001). Dietary catechins in relation to coronary heart disease death among postmenopausal women. Epidemiology, 12(6), 668-675.
3. Chantre, P., & Lairon, D. (2002). Recent findings of green tea extract AR25 (Exolise) and its activity for the treatment of obesity. Phytomedicine, 9(1), 3-8.

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