(PCM) Worldwide, tea is the most widely consumed beverage after water, and for good reasons! A daily cup or two of black, green, or white tea offers a magnitude of health benefits from weight loss to reduced breast cancer risks.
Here are the top 5 reasons to bring back tea-time!
1. Tea can help you lose weight. Compounds in black, white, and green tea provide a slight boost in metabolism, burning an extra 45-50 calories a day. That can add up to 3 to 5 pounds a year! Furthermore, in 2011 Japanese researchers identified two tea compounds that slowed weight gain in rats fed a high-fat diet, but only when there was no milk added. But whether you add a splash of milk or not, as long as you skip the sugar it’s a healthy substitute for juice and soda.
2. Tea can help you stay calm. Tea contains the compound L-theanine, which can have a direct effect on your ability to focus by altering brain-wave activity, creating a relaxed, yet alert state. Regular tea drinkers also tend to have lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. For the best effect, sip on 3 cups of green tea a day. Skip the midday coffee run and have a cup of tea instead!
3. Tea can help repair cancerous cell damage. Tea is a rich source of flavanoids, an antioxidant that helps fight cell damage, regulate cell cycles, and help repair DNA damage that can make cells become cancerous. Green tea has also been linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, skin and lung cancer. Black tea has similar benefits, but contains lower levels of antioxidants.
4. Tea may ward off postmenopausal bone loss. Growing evidence suggests that women ages 65-76 who drink black tea have stronger bones than those who don’t, and men and women over 50 who drink black tea are associated with having a lower risk of hip fractures. Green tea drinkers have also been found to have the lowest rate of osteoporosis. Further research is needed, but it’s certainly worth raising your teacup for!
5. Tea protects your gums and teeth. Tea contains fluoride which helps protect enamel, and the antioxidant catechin which may help reduce inflammation and plaque. A study at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry also found that rinsing with black tea for 30 seconds every three minutes stops oral bacteria from growing and producing the acid that causes cavities!
Source: health.msn.com