What are some of the many benefits of tea? Tea is a nice remedy for when you are sick, but it has a lot more benefits than you might think. I personally like to drink a cup of warm tea at night while I’m doing homework. Also, whenever I'm tired or feeling under the weather, I opt for tea!
A Scientific Explanation
Compared to coffee, tea contains more antioxidants, which are essential to prevent particles called free radicals that could damage the body's cells. Also, tea also has less caffeine compared to coffee. Caffeine can make us feel energized and more alert because it stimulates the body's central nervous system. As the saying goes, sometimes, too much of something might not be good for the body! In fact, a safe amount of daily caffeine consumption is up to 400 milligrams, which amounts to roughly 4 cups of coffee and about 8 cups of green tea. Due to this, if one prefers to drink in large quantities and still get a dose of caffeine, he or she could instead, go for some tea!
Physical Health Benefits
On top of that, tea could potentially reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. According to a study that compiled reports regarding the relationship between tea and heart health, there was a 20% reduction in the risk for heart attack, as well as up to 35% reduction in the risk for stroke. In addition, additional research shows that tea could help with weight loss, (although there is not enough evidence to provide complete support).
Mental Health Benefits
Besides the physical benefits of tea, tea can also help with your mentality as well. For example, a study showed that black tea reduced the participants' stress levels, as seen by a 20% drop in cortisol levels (cortisol is a hormone released during stressful situations). Tea also generally eases irritability and headaches. Moreover, tea has multiple benefits for the body, whether it be physical or mental.
What About Bubble Tea?
When talking about tea in the 21st century, we can't leave out bubble tea! Bubble tea has been widely popularized, with its tasty appeal and chewy "bubbles." However, drinking too much bubble tea might not be the best option when considering your health! The Tapioca pearls in bubble tea are known to be made with a lot of sugar and can add more calories to your drink. To compromise, you can still have the best of both health and taste by drinking a cup of herbal or plant-based teas! (If you want a sweeter taste like bubble tea, I recommend rooibos tea.)
Personally, I really love drinking tea for the slightly sweet taste and the way it relaxes my body after I drink it. My favorite types of tea include black tea and oolong tea, although I look forward to trying different types of tea in the future! I definitely encourage opting for tea once in a while over other beverages because of the amazing health benefits it has. For more information about tea, check out the perfect tea for every college situation and, if you're new to tea, look out for the beginner's guide to tea drinking!