Why Tea? Health Benefits of This Popular Beverage

Can’t seem to get enough of this popular beverage? Neither can other tea drinkers around the world. Worldwide, tea is the second most widely consumed beverage after water.

All teas (other than herbal) come from the same Camellia Sinesis plant, but whether they are black, green, or oolong depends on how and how long they are processed.

ALWAYS A TYPE AND TIME FOR TEA

What’s your cuppa tea? With so many options, there is a healthy variety to keep you enticed, and whether morning, noon or night, it’s always time for another cuppa! For caffeine early in the day, a strong black tea works well. Other less caffeinated teas, like puerh and oolong, can be good pick-me-ups for the afternoon lull, as are green or white teas. At night, enjoy a caffeine-free cuppa from rooibos, herbal teas (like chamomile and lavender), or tisanes (infusions of barks, leaves, roots, berries, seeds, and spices).

DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS

Not only is tea delicious, it is also nutritious with many health benefits. Tea just happens to rhyme with longevity. So, cheers to your health!

HEALTHY HYDRATION

Bored with water? Keep hydrated with tea. Tea is a flavorful way of getting more fluids, and aids digestion while keeping you hydrated.

SHED THOSE POUNDS

Tea can aid in weight loss. Get back into those skinny jeans with the help of tea flavonoids that boost metabolism. Added sugar packs on the calories, but good quality tea can stand alone without any cream or sugar.

LESS CAFFEINE CAN BE A GOOD THING

Get your kick without loading up on caffeine. Since tea contains less caffeine than coffee, it’s a perfect pick-me-up without excessive caffeine, which causes restlessness, insomnia, and headaches.

IMMUNE BOOSTING + GUT FRIENDLY

Tea boosts your immune system and improves gut health. Antimicrobial properties improve good bacteria growth in your gut, warding off baddies like Salmonella. With trillions of microbes in the human body, we want as many virus-fighting friends as possible, and drinking tea, and fermented tea (kombucha), helps restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria.

LIVE LONGER AND STRONGER

Studies show that drinking three to six cups of green tea a day can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer, and is especially beneficial when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

BLACK TEAS

One randomized, controlled study concluded that consuming black tea for a period of 12 weeks decreased triglycerides and blood sugar levels. Other studies found drinking 3 cups of black tea a day reduced the risk of developing heart disease and resulted in significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

OOLONG AND PUERH TEAS

Oolong teas contain theanine, an amino acid known for its relaxing effect on the mind and body. Oolong teas are known to lower bad cholesterol, increase insulin sensitivity, and lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Puerh teas can combat bad bacteria like harmful E. coli. Applied topically, they can alleviate skin conditions like acne. Puerh teas can assist with weight loss and eliminate toxins, as well as lower LDL cholesterol.

GREEN TEAS

Why are green teas considered so healthful? They are less processed and contain high amounts of polyphenols. Studies show they may interfere with the growth of certain cancers, assist in weight loss, improve cholesterol, prevent clogging of arteries, and reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

WHITE TEAS

White teas are even less processed than green teas. Uncured and unfermented, they contain even more antioxidants which help protect from harmful free radicals. Studies support white tea’s potent anti-cancer properties.

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT

So, drink up and enjoy the profound effect of tea on your good health!

Forsyth Mags writer Susan Schabacker is the founder and master tea blender of the local tea business, Cuppa Love Teas, whose tea is carried by 8+ retailers in Winston-Salem. They offer authentic blends of organic and natural teas, with love in every cuppa.

Visit www.CuppaLoveTeas.com for more information. E-mail [email protected] to order teas and stay in touch. Cuppa Love Teas is also on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest: @CuppaLoveTeas and on Twitter: @TeasCuppa.

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Susan B. B. Schabacker

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Susan Schabacker was blessed to be adopted as a baby and made her journey from South Korea to Massachusetts where she arrived safely into her adoptive mother’s loving arms. She later moved to New Mexico and, after a few years, moved to Winston-Salem, NC, to study classical ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts from the eighth grade through high school. Susan has lived in the Piedmont Triad area for nearly 20 years and had the opportunity to travel to Budapest, Hungary; London, UK; and Beijing, China, where she studied abroad through Elon University. In Stockholm, Sweden, she had a marketing internship at Hachette-Filipacchi, publisher of Elle and other magazines. She graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications and a minor in Dance from Elon University. Susan loves writing and is pleased to have written for Winston-Salem Journal’s "Teen Page," Triad Living, KernersvilleMagazine, and of course, Forsyth Mags. She is a co-author of a children’s book, Huckleberry Robin, based on a three-generation true family story. Susan is grateful for her faith, family, and friends and is happy and excited to be part of the Forsyth Mags team. She spreads the word about Forsyth magazines and enjoys reading and sharing them with her family and friends every month.

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