Many of us cannot start our day without having a cup of hot tea- be it black tea, masala chai, green tea or whatever we prefer. All the teas we drink have some common benefits that we certainly do not want to miss. Tea isn’t just a comforting and pleasant beverage; it also has remarkable healing properties. Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world, after water. That’s because it’s so versatile: You can drink it iced or hot and there are enough varieties of tea to suit just about any palate. Here are some reasons you should drink tea everyday:
ATIOXIDANTS
It contains a potent antioxidant that kills free radicals. Because it is a potent antioxidant it can positively impact a lot more than skin cells. Free radicals are increasingly linked to many serious chronic illnesses like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
EASIER TO MAKE THAN COFFEE
Most of the time, you need a whole machine to make coffee, and you may even have to grind some beans. To make tea, all you need is boiling water, tea and a cup. Just add tea to boiling water and let it steep and filter. It’s that simple.
RELAXES THE BODY
Tea leaves contain an amino acid called theanine that is associated with reducing mental and physical stress and improving cognition. So there’s some scientific background to what we already know- that a tea break can turn around a bad day, improve one’s mood, and put one’s worries into better perspective.
PROTECTS YOUR BONES
A study recently found that people who drank tea on a regular basis had stronger bones and actually were less likely to develop osteoporosis thanks to the high levels of tea catechins. In addition, another study a few years earlier found that drinking tea helped promote healthy bone formation.
STABLE ENERGY
It keeps energy stable by balancing blood sugar levels. EGCG improves insulin use in the body to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes that can result in fatigue, irritability, and cravings for unhealthy foods.
FRESHEN BREATH (UNSWEETENED TEA)
Drinking unsweetened tea can freshen up your breath (yes, quite contradictory to the sweetened chai). Black tea contains chemical components called polyphenols that slow down the formation of plaque-causing bacteria. The polyphenols also reduce “acid production levels,” helping to prevent periodontal disease.
HELP YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE
Tea can boost exercise endurance. Scientists have found that the catechins (antioxidants) in green tea/black tea extract increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, which accounts for improved muscle endurance.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THAN COFFEE
Because many herbal teas can be made using local herbs, nuts, weeds, and fruits, your tea options are not as limited as when you’re reliant on the coffee bean industry. Also, the amount of water required to make a cup of coffee (from plant to cup) is 140 litres on average, compared to 35 litres per cup of tea.