Tea Has Less Caffeine Than Coffee
Herbal blends have no caffeine, while traditional teas have less than 50% of what typically is found in coffee. That means you can consume it without those pesky effects on your nervous system, says Leslie Bonci, nutritionist and owner of Active Eating Advice. If you’re trying to switch from coffee to tea, try a chicory root tea like Teeccino, which has a mouth feel and flavor similar to coffee. Chicory root is also known to help reduce stress and is a prebiotic so may be helpful to your gut.
Bonus: this tea will give you a kick of energy without the caffeine.
May Lower The Risk Of Insulin Resistance
Insulin is an incredibly important hormone. It helps move nutrients from the bloodstream into the cells to be used or stored for later.
However, as a result of several factors, including high sugar consumption, some people stop responding to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.
Sadly, insulin resistance is very common and is linked to many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and metabolic syndrome .
Interestingly, studies have found that polyphenols like the ones in white tea may lower your risk of insulin resistance .
Animal studies have found that EGCG and other polyphenols found in white tea may enhance the effects of insulin and prevent high blood sugar levels .
In an analysis of 17 studies with over 1,100 people, scientists found that the molecules inside teas, like polyphenols, significantly reduced blood sugar and insulin levels .
While the research seems promising, more human-based studies specifically on white tea will help clarify whether it can reduce the risk of insulin resistance.
Summary Insulin resistance is a harmful condition linked to many chronic diseases. Studies have shown that polyphenols like those found in white tea may lower the risk of insulin resistance and improve blood sugar control.
Can Green Tea Affect Iron Levels
Like all types of tea, green tea contains tannins. Tannins can interfere with the absorption of iron so try not to drink tea with an iron-rich meal and leave at least one hour before drinking tea after an iron-rich meal.
Kerry Torrens is a qualified nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food.
Jo Lewin is a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition with a specialism in public health. Follow her on Twitter .
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
Recommended Reading: Iaso Tea Wholesale
What Is Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is also known as red tea or red bush tea.
It is made using leaves from a shrub called Aspalathus linearis, usually grown on the western coast of South Africa .
Rooibos is a herbal tea and is not related to green or black tea.
Traditional rooibos is created by fermenting the leaves, which turns them a red-brown color.
Green rooibos, which is not fermented, is also available. It tends to be more expensive and grassier in flavor than the traditional version of the tea, while also boasting more antioxidants .
Rooibos tea is usually consumed like black tea. Some people add milk and sugar and rooibos iced tea, espressos, lattes and cappuccinos have also taken off.
Contrary to some claims, rooibos tea is not a good source of vitamins or minerals aside from copper and fluoride .
However, it is full of powerful antioxidants, which may offer health benefits.
Summary Rooibos tea is a traditional beverage made from the leaves of a South African shrub. It is consumed in a similar way to black tea and contains many antioxidants.
Green Tea Brewing Tips
For the best cup of green tea, pour water that’s between 158 and 176 degrees Fahrenheit , per instructions from the Dilmah School of Tea. To achieve this temperature, bring the water to a boil, then allow the water to sit for about 10 minutes before pouring it over the tea leaves, recommends the Tea Association of the U.S.A. Then, steep the tea for 2 to 3 minutes, adjusting to suit your taste.
The Takeaway on Green Tea Health Benefits
Existing evidence supporting any direct cause-and-effect relationships between drinking green tea and improved health outcomes is preliminary. Rather, this research more often shows associations between green tea and better health, including links with less inflammation, lower rates of cognitive decline and heart disease, better control of type 2 diabetes and a longer lifespan. The evidence linking green tea and weight loss is limited, and green tea or any caffeinated drink, for that matter may actually worsen heartburn.
You May Like: How Many Twisted Teas Does It Take To Get Drunk
Is It Good To Drink Black Tea Every Day
Flavonoids found in black tea are advantageous to heart health. According to research, drinking black tea on a daily basis may help minimize the risk of heart disease. The flavonoids found in black tea appear to be more beneficial than those found in white tea, which is why some scientists believe that black tea is better for you than white tea.
Black tea contains more antioxidants than other types of tea. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are molecules with an extra electron that can cause injury if not removed by healthy cells. When oxygen comes into contact with caffeine, which is found in both black and green teas, it causes these molecules to become activated. As a result, eating foods high in antioxidant nutrients like fruits and vegetables along with drinking black tea regularly can help prevent cancer and other diseases caused by free radical damage.
The polyphenols in black tea have many health benefits. The most abundant type of polyphenol in black tea is called epigallocatechin-3-gallate or EGCG. Scientists have shown that drinking EGCG can reduce the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver, breast, prostate, bladder, and kidney.
About Article Author
The Diet Detective: The Everything Guide To Tea
- Charles Stuart Platkin
- For Active.com
Is it true that tea has more antioxidants than almost any whole fruit or vegetable? Yes — sort of. While it’s hard to make a general comparison, a rough estimate suggests that two servings of tea equal one serving of your average antioxidant-packed veggie. Tea ranks among plants with the highest total flavonoid content.
“The idea started from research completed by Dr. Ron Prior of the USDA, where he compared tea to many fruits and vegetables and found it to be higher in antioxidant components,” says Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Association of the USA Inc.
Do different teas come from different plants? Tea, by definition, is a leaf from the Camellia sinensis bush, says James A. Kinsinger, Ph.D., of The Hain Celestial Group Inc. Only white tea comes from a different part of the plant than the others, while green, black and oolong are made from the upper leaves. To achieve a variety of tastes, the tea leaves are exposed to air, a process called fermentation.
When fermentation is completely arrested, the tea stays “green” or yellowish brown. When fermentation time is long, the leaves darken and become “black” tea. Somewhere in between, “oolong” tea is created.
Are herbal teas really teas? Hot-water infusions made from herbs are also called “teas,” but they are technically not teas because they aren’t from the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas were originally brewed for medicinal purposes.
Click here for tea brewing tips.
Also Check: Starbucks Have Boba Tea
Below Are A Couple Tea Recipes To Try:
Green Tea Sautéed Vegetables
- 2 tsp. chopped fresh red chili pepper
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1 tsp. loose green tea
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup yellow or green zucchini, cut into ¼-inch diagonal slices
- ½ cup brewed green tea
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch square
Add oil to a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chili pepper, lemon peel and tea leaves, stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broccoli and zucchini and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the tea and bell pepper. Cook until most of the liquid evaporates, about 1 minute. Makes 4 servings.Nutrition Facts per ½ cup: 92 calories, 3g protein, 6g carbohydrate, 7gm fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 25 mg sodium, 3g fiber
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup brewed green tea
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
For the marinade: mix teriyaki sauce, vinegar and pepper in a medium bowl. Dissolve the cornstarch in the vinegar mixture, then add garlic, orange zest and green onions. Add chicken to the marinade, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Remove chicken from marinade, reserving marinade. Preheat grill. Place chicken on grill and cook for 8-10 minutes. Turn and brush with reserved marinade. Grill an additional 8-10 minutes, or until tender and no longer pink in the center.
Recipes courtesy of Cooking with Green Tea, by Ying Chang Compestine
Is Tea With Milk Bad
Drinking black tea appears to reduce one’s chances of heart disease and cancer. Some experts believe that milk may react with the polyphenol components in tea, reducing its health benefits. However, other studies have not found evidence for this hypothesis.
Tea is made from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. The taste of tea depends on how it is processed: green tea is unprocessed, white tea is processed to remove its color and flavor, and black tea is processed further by removing its aroma and caffeine content. All types of tea contain antioxidants called catechins that help prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Black tea also contains theophylline, a drug used to treat asthma and bronchitis. The amount you receive from drinking tea varies depending on how much you drink and how often you drink it. You might want to add some lemon or sugar to your tea if you’re drinking it plain without any additives.
Black tea has more antioxidants than other colors, but all tea has many nutrients that may provide health benefits when consumed regularly.
Recommended Reading: Teas Test Advice
What Does Green Tea Do For You
Green Tea is the best beverage to have to avoid diabetes and lower your heart disease risk. You may also lose weight more manageable, especially when you are obese and have lots of pounds to lose.
Green Tea can also improve your skin appearance and have hydrating effects on your body. It helps you fight against chronic inflammation and keeps the water balance to the positive side.
Health Benefits Of Tea Heres What The Evidence Says
- Read in app
After my Upshot column on the potential health benefits of coffee, the No. 1 request I got was to look into the potential benefits or harms of tea.
Unlike coffee, tea does not seem to generate negative perceptions. I know many more people who think that tea is beneficial, much more so than coffee.
As with coffee, a fairly large number of studies have looked at associations between tea and health. Most of the studies dont have the rigor of randomized control trials and dont prove causality. But so many studies were available that I was able to focus on systematic reviews and meta-analyses, or studies of studies.
Nine prospective cohort studies, three retrospective cohort studies and four cross-sectional studies including more than 800,000 participants have looked at the association between tea and liver disease. Those who drank tea were less likely to have hepatocellular carcinoma, liver steatosis, liver cirrhosis and chronic liver disease. This confirmed the findings in a previous systematic review .
Tea has been associated with a lower risk of depression. A 2015 meta-analysis of 11 studies with almost 23,000 participants found that for every three cups of tea consumed per day, the relative risk of depression decreased 37 percent.
Green tea catechins, antioxidants found in the drink, had no effect on HDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels or C-reactive protein concentrations. Two more meta-analyses confirmed these findings.
Also Check: Dunkin Boba Locations 2021
May Reduce The Risk Of Strokes
Strokes result when a blood vessel in your brain is either blocked or ruptures and is the second leading cause of death worldwide after Ischaemic heart disease.
Fortunately, 80% of the strokes can be prevented by simply managing your diet, physical activity, blood pressure and not smoking. Taking care of the following can help lower the risk of stroke.
One study followed 74,961 people over the course of 10 years concluded that those who drank four or more cups of black tea a day had significantly lowered their chances of stroke by 32% than those who didn’t.
Potential Risks Of Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey tea, as with all black teas, has a substantial amount of caffeine. Caffeine has been demonstrated to likely have an anxiety heightening effect on adults. Caffeine has also been linked to lack of sleep, a common exacerbator of depression.
Earl Grey Tea Intoxication
Earl Grey tea consumed at extremely high levels may interfere with your bodyâs ability to process potassium. In a case reported by the Lancet, a 44 year old man drank 4 liters of Earl Grey tea every day. As a result, he developed severe muscle cramps that only subsided when he stopped drinking Earl Grey tea.
These symptoms likely stem from the bergamot in Earl Grey tea, which can interfere with potassium channels and cause your cells to overreact to stimulus, leading to muscle spasms and cramps.
Show Sources
Also Check: Strawberry Popping Bubbles Dunkin
Peppermint Tea Is Associated With A Healthy Digestive System
Like ginger, peppermint is known for promoting healthy digestion. Peppermint herbal tea can be a great option to help support digestion, says Al Bochi. Peppermint contains a compound called menthol that can help relax the intestinal tract and help relieve bloating.
Some studies in animal models have shown that peppermint can specifically help relax gastrointestinal tissues, a review notes. Another review found that peppermint oil is a safe and effective short-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome , though its worth noting that peppermint oil is more highly concentrated than peppermint tea.
Other research, published in February 2019 in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, shows that peppermint could ease chest pain and help people with esophagus disorders better swallow their food, potentially by helping relax smooth muscle located in the lower esophagus.
Because peppermint tea doesnt contain any caffeine, its also a great option for a soothing drink before bed.
What Is Black Tea
Black tea is made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis. It has caffeine as well as other stimulants and antioxidants. Lots of people in the U.S. drink it either hot or cold. It should always be steeped in hot water before it is cooled.
A process called oxidation turns the leaves from green to a dark brownish-black color. Oxidation means the leaves are exposed to moist, oxygen-rich air.
Tea manufacturers can control the amount of oxidation. Black tea is a fully oxidized tea. Green tea comes from the same plant, but is not oxidized.
Black tea extract is sometimes sold as an herbal supplement. Sometimes, the supplement includes other types of herbs, vitamins, or minerals.
Also Check: Does Starbucks Have Boba Tea 2021
Antioxidants In Green Tea Boost The Immune System
Drinking green tea might fend of the sniffles this winter. In a randomized controlled trial, 32% fewer participants taking green tea extract developed cold or flu symptoms compared to a placebo control group . The exact mechanisms behind this effect are unknown, but they could be related to the vitamin C content in green tea.
May Improve Heart Health
Black teas also contain another group of antioxidants called flavonoids which benefit heart health.
Besides teas, flavonoids can also be obtained from vegetables, fruits, red wine, and even dark chocolates.
Recognized by Arab L. et al. in their 2009 research paper called Green and black tea consumption and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis, it was found that individuals who consume 3 or more cups of tea had a 21% lower risk of a stroke than people who consume less than 1 cup of green or black tea per day.
Figuring a way to add black tea to your daily routine and into your diet can help significantly reduce your risk of future health complications.
Don’t Miss: Kung Fu Bubble Tea Franchise
May Lower Bad Ldl Cholesterol
The body contains two lipoproteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body.
One is low-density lipoprotein , and the other is high-density lipoprotein .
LDL is considered the bad lipoprotein because it transports cholesterol to cells throughout the body. Meanwhile, HDL is considered the good lipoprotein because it transports cholesterol away from your cells and to the liver to be excreted.
When there is too much LDL in the body, it can build up in the arteries and cause waxy deposits called plaques. This can lead to problems like heart failure or stroke.
Fortunately, some studies have found that consuming tea may help reduce LDL cholesterol.
One randomized study found that drinking five servings of black tea per day reduced LDL cholesterol by 11% in individuals with slightly or mildly elevated cholesterol levels .
Another randomized three-month study in 47 individuals compared the effects of traditional Chinese black tea extract and a placebo on LDL levels.
Results showed a significant decrease in LDL levels in those who drank black tea, compared to the placebo, without any undesirable side effects. Researchers concluded that black tea helped improve cholesterol levels in individuals at risk for heart disease or obesity .
Summary
LDL and HDL are two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol throughout the body. Too much LDL in the body can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Studies have found that black tea may help reduce LDL levels.