Tea is one of the most common beverages. Scientifically, tea is known as Camellia Sinensis. Mostly it grows in tropical and sub tropical areas but some varieties of tea can also tolerate marine climates. Tea may be consumed early in the day to heighten calm alertness; it contains L-theanine, theophylline and bound caffeine(sometimes called theine). Decaffinated brands are also sold. While herbal teas are also referred to as tea, most of them do not contain leaves from the tea plant. While tea is the second most consumed beverage on Earth after water, in many cultures it is also consumed at elevated social events, such as the tea party.
Benefits of consuming tea
1. Helps to lower blood pressure
Drinking only half a cup of green or oolong tea a day could reduce your risk of high blood pressure by up to 50% and those who drink more can even further reduce their risk, even if they have additional risk factors.
2. Helps inhibit intestinal inflammation
The polyphenols in green tea have been shown to have an effect on the intestinal inflammation caused by conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It acts as a natural remedy for people who suffer from IBS.
3. Helps to reduce stomach cramps
Properties of red tea cause it to act as anti-spasmodic agent and allows it to aid in the relief of stomach cramps or even colic in infants.
4. Gives protection against cancer
While the exact types of cancer tea protects against are debated, recent research has suggested that lung, prostate and breast cancer see the biggest drop when green tea is consumed regularly. Again, there is no surefire way to prevent getting cancer, but having a cup of tea a day may is definitely worth the preventative benefits.
5. Helps to lower the risk of diabetes
There is some evidence to suggest that green tea helps lower the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes, though future research is needed to confirm the association.
6. Helps to lower the risk of food poisoning
Catechin, one of the bitter ingredients found in green tea has been shown to effectively kill the bacteria which causes food poisoning and minimize the effects of the toxins that are produced by those bacteria.
7. Helps to fight infection and flu
Tea contains chemicals called alkylamine antigens which act similarly to some tumor cells and bacteria, boosting the body’s immune response. It has even been shown to have an effect on severe infections like sepsis.Black tea may bolster your efforts to fight the flu as participants in a study who gargled with a black tea extract solution twice daily where more immune to the flu virus than those who didn’t.
8. Increases metabolism
Is a slow metabolic rate keeping you from losing the weight you want? Some studies suggest that green tea may be able to boost your metabolic rate slightly, allowing you to burn an additional 70-80 calories a day. While this may not seem like much, over time it could add up.
