Tea comes in a number of varieties. Black, white, green, and oolong are the main types to be found. The main difference between the four are the oxidation levels.
Oolong tea is oxidized for two hours and black tea is oxidized for four hours. White and green teas are not oxidized at all so they are very natural and have a mild flavour. Black tea has the strongest flavour and darkest colour due to the long oxidation times. Despite these differences, all four teas offer benefits to your health.
Tea has no sugar or calories and can help you lose weight. This beverage has been shown to increase the metabolic rate in the short term. Drinking tea, even caffeinated, has been shown to boost hydration. The different varieties of tea have different amounts of caffeine depending on their processing, but all have one-third to one-half lower caffeine amounts than coffee.
Tea has been shown to prevent tooth decay as well as bad breath. The catechins in tea can reduce the growth of harmful bacteria that can grow on your teeth and gums. Infections can also be eradicated before they cause illness. Your mouth and dentist will thank you for a daily dose of tea.
Age may cause some memory loss, but tea can help to boost your brain power. Certain compounds found in tea have been shown to put a protective shield on the brain that can help against Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. The antioxidants found in tea can protect your brain from the damage free radicals in the environment can cause.
Antioxidants have been known to help control cancer growth, and tea is loaded with antioxidants. Cancer may be one of the biggest causes of death. Many people fear it for that reason. Studies have shown that drinking at least three cups of tea a day can help lower your risk in certain types of cancer. Breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers are three of those studied.
Cardiovascular diseases are another leading cause of death and tea can help lower the risk. Tea has been shown to improve total cholesterol levels, as well as LDL and triglyceride levels. If you are concerned about your heart health, try drinking two or more cups per day.
With the proven abilities of tea to decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, it is only natural that this drink may also extend your life. We know death is inevitable at some point, but why not try to prolong our lives for as long as possible. Our families and friends would certainly be grateful to have us around longer.
The variety of tea you drink does not matter when it comes to your health. They all will help in each of the above areas. For the best results, try not to add sugar and milk to your brew. Milk has been shown to reduce the power of the antioxidants in tea. Sugar will add calories that will contribute to weight gain and lower the ability to fight tooth decay. If you think black tea is too bitter without sugar, try a cup of green or white tea. Both are much milder in taste.
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