Now I’ve never been the biggest tea person. It’s one of those things where I try to be, but always end up with a half-finished cup of now cold tea, or dump it out because I added too much honey or too much milk. (It’s not like I don’t try — I have an entire cabinet full of the stuff!) But as much as I struggle with drinking tea over coffee, the fact of the matter is that tea is just better for you. Please note that I am writing this blog post while making myself sip this enchinacea tea — with loads of honey, of course — due to the cold that has invaded my body. The health benefits alone should be enough to make most of us make the switch. With that said, here’s the rundown on types of tea and why you should be drinking it.
WHITE TEA
White tea is the purest of teas (meaning the least processed — uncured and unfermented). It has little caffeine content and contains healthy antioxidants. This tea is a light tea in color and flavor and is best for skin and complexion. There have been studies that show that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties in comparison to other teas.
GREEN TEA
Green tea is the beverage of choice in Asia, making it the most popular. And with 5-10% caffeine, lots of healthy antioxidants, cholesterol maintenance, skin and teeth benefits, and healthy blood sugar maintenance packed into each cup, I can certainly understand why it’s so popular. There have been studies that show antioxidants found in green tea may help to interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. It also helps to prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, help with stress on the brain, reduces risks of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and strokes. Basically, it’s the miracle tea (in my own opinion). You should be drinking it.
OOLONG TEA
Oolong tea is a semi-fermented, sweet and flavorful tea with 15% of the caffeine in one cup of coffee. Ooolong teas are helpful when it comes to weight loss and lowering bad cholesterol levels. Definitely a keeper.
BLACK TEA
Black tea, a fully fermented tea, is one of the most common types of tea — being that many enjoy it iced and it is the base for other teas, like chai. It contains 20% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Like many other teas, black teas help maintain cholesterol levels (that are already normal), and is great for keeping your cardiovascular function and circulatory systems in check. Studies have shown that black tea may help protect your lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke and it may help to reduce the risk of stroke.
HERBAL TEA
Herbal teas are made from herbs, fruits, flowers, seeds or roots steeped in hot water. They have lower amounts of antioxidants than other teas. While there has been little research on the health benefits of herbal teas, there have been claims that they help with weight loss, the common cold and sleep. Herbal teas are typically caffeine-free and many are rich in vitamin C. It has been found that CHAMOMILE TEA is beneficial for diabetics and stunting the growth of cancer cells. ECHINACEA TEA is a great aly in fighting the common cold. ROOIBOS TEA has been claimed to possess cancer-fighting properties.
* Tea facts found on WebMD.com and Teavana.com.
What are your favorite types of teas and additives? Honey, milk, sugar?
Social Grocery // Facebook // Twitter
