Is It Safe to Drink Tea during Pregnancy?

Tea, whether green tea, black tea, oolong, white, or other varieties, is a healthy drink. Many women ask the question of whether or not it is safe to drink tea, such as green tea, during pregnancy. The main matter of concern is the caffeine content of tea, as there is some evidence that high doses of caffeine can be.

Is it safe to drink tea during pregnancy?

Yes, but in moderation. The answer to this question is essentially the same as for the general population. For most people, caffeine is safe, but only in moderation.

How much tea or caffeine is safe for a pregnant woman to drink?

The official stance of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as of July 2010, is that it is completely safe for pregnant women to consume less than 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine daily. Although the caffeine content of tea varies widely, the amount in a single 8 ounce cup of tea is almost always under 75mg, usually under 60mg, with most teas somewhere in the 30-40mg / cup range. Coffee, by contrast, contains much more caffeine. It is thus totally safe for a pregnant woman to drink a few cups of tea a day. The studies on higher doses of caffeine are conflicting and unclear; although there is some evidence that higher doses of caffeine increase the risk of miscarriage, there is still a lot of uncertainty to these results, and there are several studies which found no effect.

It also must be emphasized that there is not really that large a difference between the guidelines for caffeine intake for pregnant women and those for the population as a whole. The Mayo Clinic's recommendation for safe caffeine intake is up to 300mg daily, and emphasized that even in non-pregnant adults, amounts of caffeine greater than 500mg daily can be associated with a number of health problems.

Drinking herbal teas during pregnancy:

Since herbal teas encompass any hot water infusion made from any plant other than the tea plant, it's hard to generalize about the safety of herbal teas during pregnancy. Since some herbs can act as potent medicines, it is best to consult a professional herbalist or other healthcare professional before consuming a potent medicinal herb, or any herbal tea in high doses. Just like with anything, moderation is the key.

There are some herbs which are thought to be beneficial during pregnancy. One such herb is red raspberry leaf, which is used extensively in traditional medicine in association with pregnancy. Some herbalists have recommended ginger to treat morning sickness, as ginger can be effective at treating nausea.

Don't worry and don't think too much:

Stress always has a negative impact on the body, and with all the messages in the media and other information sources about what a woman should or should not do during pregnancy, it's easy for pregnant women to become stressed out by worrying too much about what they should or shouldn't be eating or drinking.

As with a lot of things in life, it's best to not think too hard about it, and to use moderation and common sense. Whether you're pregnant or not, an excess or extreme of anything, whether tea, caffeine, or any food, drink, or medication, is going to be detrimental to your health, even when more moderate amounts are totally safe. Practice moderation and stop thinking about your diet: listen to your body and stay relaxed.

Drinking Tea Regularly and Get the Advantages

Drinking tea is loved by the people of China and they believe it can benefit the health of the body. Green tea is even used as a kind of medicine in the ancient China. Today many researches and reports have showed that drinking some tea everyday can be good for your health.

Drinking tea can help you to lose weight. Since the tea contains many kinds of ingredients such as caffeine, cholestenone, and pantothenic acid and so on they can prevent and suppress the obese effect. Oolong tea from China has the best effect in decomposing the fat and making you feel less greasy. It can also help you have a good digestion but keep less fat into your body. Therefore, drinking some tea after the three meals can reduce the amount of acids glycoside and cholesterol and have obvious effect in losing weight.

Drinking some tea or brush your teeth with tea will not only remove bad breath, but also protect your teeth from being destroyed by acid. Tea contains different forms of fluoride which can form into calcium fluoride which is antacid and become a protective layer to protect the teeth from decaying. And 10 grams of tea per person per day for drinking or brewing will meet the fluoride need of the body.

Nowadays, some researches confirmed that the tea is good for the curing of the intestinal tract disease, because the polyphenols in the tea can enhance the coagulation of the protein. And they can even kill the bacterium during the process of the coagulation with the protein. And drinking tea can also be able to slow the process of growing old and help the human to prolong the life. It is found that the anti-aging effect of tea is above Vitamin E 18 times.

Generally speaking, drinking some tea not only help you keep many diseases away but also make you be healthier and young. The tea can also promote the hematopoietic function and the anti-radiation materials can reduce the harm of radiation, so, you can feel much safer to watch TV or surf on the Internet. Since there are so many benefits, why not make some changes on your drinking?

Health and Healing Properties of Tea

For more than 4000 years now, tea has been a faithful staple in many cultures and countries around the world. Used as a sustaining liquid for those suffering from infectious disease, there are many believers who have always asserted that tea holds powerful healing properties.

In some cases, they believe that tea can actually cure ailments and sickness. New emerging studies are elevating these assumptions from myth to scientific reality, providing significant evidence that tea is indeed a source of health and contains legitimate healing properties.

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, second only to water, and in many parts of the world, green and black teas are mass produced from the plant Camilla Sinensis. Because of the way the beverage is brewed, it is also one of the safest beverages made on the planet. This is because it is made with boiling water until it is sterile. It is this process that eradicates just about every type of bacteria or virus commonly found in water.

For centuries, tea has not only helped promote health, it also has served as a as a social outlet (tea time), battlefield sedative (the British for years served their wounded tea on the battle field as a way to calm them), and has played a major role in at least one revolution (the Boston Tea Party).

Pirates used to raid tea ships and bounties were put on these pirates’ heads, sometimes even surpassing the bounties placed on pirates that raided gold and silver ships. Rumor has it that this beverage was so popular in England and the colonies that during the American War for Independence, tea was still served in many of the thirteen colonies under a collection of aliases.

Throughout this time, however, tea was also believed to possess qualities that promoted good health and it was believed that tea could help a sick or injured person heal. For centuries, this was merely attributable to antidotal experience, with no scientific foundation on which to base those beliefs. Recently, however, detailed research done by an array of colleges, universities, and research centers have focused on teas positive properties.

Japan and China initially carried out the lion-share of this research, which primarily focused on their tea-of-choice: green tea. Europe and the United States, though, have begun to get in on the act, focusing on green and black tea and the results have been nothing short of astounding.

Not only have many of the alleged healthful properties been certified, researchers have also identified other, previously unknown qualities of tea that have proven that the beverage possesses qualities that can fight prevent the introduction of free radicals into the body. This results of these tests indicated that because teas possess a high level of the antioxidant tea polyphenols, it is a great disease fighter.

As researchers have discovered these properties, they also have been able to map out the chemical composition of tea and pinpoint what they believe are the critical properties of this near wonder-drug.

These findings have allowed researchers to begin to understand what makes tea so effective in healing and promoting health. The most productive tests have come in the form of multi-disciplinary approaches, which consider data from epidemiology and field studies, laboratory tests in animals and historical accounts that are compared to current testing results.

Researchers have tested tea against many different ailments and the results have shown that it is one of the most effective methods that a person can employ to ensure that they are able to adequately fight against any of these sicknesses. The jury, however, is still out, as tea’s potential is only just now beginning to be understood.

Health Benefits in a Cup of Tea

Tea is the dried plant Camelia sinensis. True tea includes black, green, white and oolong teas. Drinking two or more cups of tea a day can provide many health benefits. What is in tea that makes it so special?

EGCGEpigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant, has shown remarkable health-promoting properties in laboratory studies. Included are anti-viral actions, which offer more cold protection than either vitamin C or Echinacea. It is thought that the chemicals in tea stimulate gamma-delta T-cells that boost the body’s own natural immunity against both bacteria and viruses. Tooth decay or gingivitis causing bacteria are also killed. EGCG is very effective at destroying free radicals.

Flavonoids
Flavonoids, more antioxidants, lower LDL cholesterol levels benefiting the heart and circulatory system. These powerful antioxidants protect against hypertension by suppressing the production of a hormone, angiotensin II, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Further protection against heart attacks and strokes comes from actions that inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots. In addition, anti-oxidants show effectiveness in lowering blood sugar and protecting against diabetes.

A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis.

Minerals
Drinking tea provides important minerals such as zinc and folic acid. An eight-ounce cup of tea provides 25% RDA of manganese, a mineral essential for bone growth and body development. Drinking tea hydrates the body and, as a good source of potassium, helps maintain healthy body fluid levels. Fluoride strengthens teeth and bones and can help protect against osteoporosis.

So the next time you need a break, make it a tea break with a warm, soothing cup of anti-oxidants and minerals!

Health Benefits of Tea and Coffee

Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good."

Consider this: At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones.

Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis.

Indeed, the brain responds to coffee in a unique way. The extra alertness can often help to focus, concentrate and even remember details at a higher rate.

Coffee also aids workers to concentrate. 200mg of caffeine can significantly reduce the tendency towards sleepiness and convert grogginess to alertness and concentration. In fact, coffee usually helps workers for at least 5-7 hours which can help out for the entire shift.

Also, many workers will find themselves feeling especially groggy after lunch. This is also an efficient time to drink coffee because attention, memory and concentration are most likely a part of the job. There are also studies that have shown that people who drink coffee over the lunch hour are more contented and more interested in their work, as well as more alert. However, it is also important that addiction to coffee can eventually increase the rate of irritability.

It is also important to consider what is necessary to perform at your best. Coffee can actually increase information processing by 10%. This is especially important for repetitive work. Coffee can also help to deal with the problem of headaches.

Tea’s Benefits

Claims have bombarded us regarding a specific product being the cure-all for all sorts of ailments. Some of these include the ability of snake oil products to cure baldness, rheumatism, weight loss and digestive problems. In curing your aches and pains this miracle product guarantees your complete satisfaction of your money back. Often times these extraordinary claims are viewed with skepticism.

However, for thousands of years a drink has existed that emerging studies have been able to support its reputation as a wonder product. Some amazing returns are starting to yield from drinking green tea. The human body can be aided in a number of ways by drinking green tea. Fighting viruses and other various ailments are some of the possible benefits from drinking green tea.

Viruses
Test results also suggest that another possible benefit of drinking green tea is the ability to negate viruses. Viruses that cause the body to experience diarrhea, pneumonia, inflammation of the bladder and infections of our skin have been shown in studies to be effectively counteracted by green tea. The mouth can also be cleansed of viruses by sipping the tea.

The immune system is also believed to be stimulated by certain ingredients in the tea. The role of the immune system is strengthened and increased in combating viruses and the bacteria that invade the body as a result of this stimulation.

Other Benefits
A broad spectrum of soothing ailments within the body is other possible benefits of drinking green tea. This includes cataracts, arthritis, hearing loss and tooth decay. The role of green tea in maintains health is larger than previously suspected as recent case studies have suggested, even though for thousands of years this drink has been popular.

Healthy with Tea

We've been drinking Tea Europe for centuries and in China for Millennia. The health benefits of drinking tea are many and varied.

Here are some tea facts that I bet you were not aware of:

• Tea with milk provides 16% of daily calcium requirement in 4 cups
• Tea contains some zinc and follic acid
• Tea with milk contains Vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and Thiamin B1
• Tea is a source of the minerals manganese, essential for bone growth and body development, and potassium, vital for maintaining body fluid levels
• The average cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine than coffee. One cup contains only 50mg per 190ml cup
• Tea is a natural source of fluoride and delivers 45% of your daily requirement if you drink 3/4 cups per day
• Only 11% of UK water supply has fluoride added
• Green and black teas are from the same plant, Camelia sinensis, and contain similar amounts of antioxidants and caffeine

Did You Know?

• Tea outsells coffee by 2 to 1.
• 96% of all cups of tea drunk daily in the UK are brewed from tea bags.
• The UK drinks 165 million cups per day - 62 billion cups per year.
• 45% of people take sugar with their tea.
• 98% of people take milk with tea.

Additionally tea can be used to help cleanse and freshen the face (no milk required) helping to speed the healing of minor cuts and blemishes. And is even used to clean computer disk drive heads as part of the disk production process, apparently it's unsurpassed in its ability to leave the disk heads 100% clear of dirt and dust particles.

Simply Refreshing with Tea

A nice, aromatic and simply amazing beverage! Every time I drink tea I feel that I am just reborn.

Well, it's that rejuvenating and refreshing. Tea is a favorite beverage in many oriental countries but it is also extremely popular in England.

Tea was originally and accidentally discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung when the dried leaves blew in his hot cup of water. He may have had no clue that this new drink would cause such a sensation all across the world.

The tea is not of just one type like coffee tea too has many varieties.
The tea varieties and colors are available like the colors of rainbow i.e. white, black, green, and many other.

Green tea is extremely popular. Normally tea contains caffeine but herbal tea is known to be caffeine free. In China, this consists of eyebrow-shaped or twisted pieces, tight balls, flat needles, or curled whole leaves.

Japanese green tea leaves are shiny green blades with reddish stalks and stems. Green tea is greenish-yellow in color, with a grassy, astringent quality reminiscent of the fresh leaves.

Scientific studies have shown that both green and black teas prevent cavities and gum disease, and increase the body’s antioxidant activity. Wu- long or Oolong tea is extremely good for Health.

Tea varieties from India are also very famous. Tea is called "Chai" in India. It is a derivation of original Chinese word "Cha" Tea is grown in Darjeeling and Assam in India. Tea from Srilanka is also famous.

My favorite is Ice Tea and Rose Tea. Flavored Teas are also extremely popular in the world. Actually flavored tea are ornaments to the already and originally flavored "tea leaves" who are simple but truly enlighten your Senses.

Tea, the Healthy Beverage

Tea has been thought to hold medicinal uses for centuries by cultures such as Japan, China and India. Even England has seen tea as a health benefit for many years. It is just in the last few years that tea has been looked at for it's medicinal and healing benefits here in the United States.

From 1635 to 1657 there was a great debate at the positive or negative effects of tea on the body. These debates called the Tea Heretics took place in Holland as the consumption of tea skyrocketed. The debates among these doctors and university scholars were mainly ignored by the general public as tea consumption continued to soar. Tea has been proven to not be harmful to one's health but the current debate is what healing or health benefits tea really provides.

Teas are credited for having the ability to reduce high blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, prevent blood clotting and even promote a healthy immune system. Research has shown that the healing or health benefits of tea come from a compound called polyphenols which are found in teas. These are commonly known as antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress. This is caused by free radicals that damage the cells of the body and can lead to all types of health problems including heart diseases and even Parkinson's disease.

Tea also contains amino acids that are unique only to tea. Tea also contains vitamins, minerals and methylxanthines. All of these components of tea help to promote a healthy immune system and can help the body fight diseases and viruses.

The benefits of tea are found to be most effective when 2 to 4 cups of tea are consumed each and everyday. Tea also contains fluoride and contains half the caffeine as a cup of coffee. Tea also contains no calories and can be a great item to add in a low calorie diet for weight loss. In fact tea has been prescribed over the years as a weight loss aid. The idea is that tea has no calories but a great taste. The only calorie that tea has is what is added to it. If you are adding tea to a diet regimen it is important to leave out the calories associated with sugar or honey. Try using a sugar substitute to sweeten your tea or add nothing at all.

There is also no research on whether decaffeinated tea has the same effects on one's health as caffeinated teas do. It is thought that the decaffeination process may also remove the antioxidants as well as the caffeine. Both of these are natural components of the tea leaves and there is not evidence as to what effect this process has on the tea as a health benefit.

The idea is to drink as much tea as possible. It does not matter what types of tea you enjoy just enjoy as much tea as possible. The idea is that the life expectancy of the Chinese and Japanese is enhanced due to their over whelming consumption of tea. Tea has been found to not harm the body and as the debate is still open as to the effectiveness of tea improving one's health, why not drink up as much tea as you can for the possible added benefits.

Drinking Tea for Your Health

The latest figures suggest our nation drinks around one hundred and sixty five million cups of tea a day. This goes to show just how much the average British person loves the taste of this drink but most people would not be aware of the actual health benefits that drinking tea can give. In this article I am going to write about some of these benefits.

I have to say that on average I will drink around four or five cups of tea a day. I am not really sure why but I actually thought that this was a bad thing but I have recently been reading about the many health benefits it can give you. This new found knowledge has pleased me no end and I can now enjoy drinking this tea even more than I ever did before!

One of the many health benefits of drinking tea is that it can offer some protection against heart disease and cancer, it has also been reported that it can protect against some age related memory impairments such as Alzheimer's. This is because of the fact that tea is a good source of flavonoids. What are flavonoids you may be asking? Flavonoids are the type of compounds that occur in most vegetables and fruits, they have very powerful antioxidant properties similar to those of antioxidant vitamins C and E. Tea itself is supposed to have twice the antioxidant power in just one cup compared with one apple.

As you can already see, tea can be of great benefit to people. This has come as a bit of a shock to me as you never really here reports in the media of these health benefits. Advice to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables is regularly reported but nothing about tea. I am sorry but I am not a lover of fruit or vegetables but I do like a good cup of tea.

These are some of the many health benefits of the antioxidants in tea:

• Anti-viral benefits
• Anti-inflammatory benefits
• Anti-bacterial benefits
• Anti-allergenic benefits

There are other benefits from drinking tea, it can help to increase levels of concentration and therefore improve one’s performance. This is due to the fact that the average cup of tea contains a moderate amount of caffeine in it.

Tea can also help with our teeth and can help to prevent things such as gum disease and tooth decay. This is because tea is a natural source of fluoride.

As you can see drinking tea is good for you, therefore I am now off to make myself another cup!

What is in a Cup of Tea?

Tea is the dried plant Camelia sinensis. True tea includes black, green, white and oolong teas. Drinking two or more cups of tea a day can provide many health benefits. What is in tea that makes it so special?

EGCG

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant, has shown remarkable health-promoting properties in laboratory studies. Included are anti-viral actions, which offer more cold protection than either vitamin C or Echinacea. It is thought that the chemicals in tea stimulate gamma-delta T-cells that boost the bodies own natural immunity against both bacteria and viruses. Tooth decay or gingivitis causing bacteria are also killed.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids, more antioxidants, lower LDL cholesterol levels benefiting the heart and circulatory system. These powerful antioxidants protect against hypertension by suppressing the production of a hormone, angiotensin II, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Further protection against heart attacks and strokes comes from actions that inhibit the abnormal formation of blood clots. In addition, anti-oxidants show effectiveness in lowering blood sugar and protecting against diabetes.

A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis. A diet rich in anti-oxidants can to slow the aging process by attacking free radicals before they have the opportunity to damage cells. Anti-inflammatory properties of these anti-oxidants also protect against arthritis.

Minerals

Drinking tea provides important minerals such as zinc and folic acid. An eight-ounce cup of tea provides 25% RDA of manganese, a mineral essential for bone growth and body development. Drinking tea hydrates the body and, as a good source of potassium, helps maintain healthy body fluid levels. Fluoride strengthens teeth and bones and can help protect against osteoporosis.

So the next time you need a break, make it a tea break with a warm, soothing cup of anti-oxidants and minerals!

Health Benefits of Tea

For over a century we have immersed ourselves completely into the rich and fragrant aroma of tea which resulted in a unique teatime culture that indulges in varied tastes and experiences with this beverage. Of course tea has no rules, no rituals and with all its casualness it embraces numerous health benefits that make it such a fast evolving beverage.

Whether you are looking to burn off a few extra calories or simply get a little more energy during your day, numerous health benefits have been attributed to tea since time immemorial. In folk medicine, the health benefits of tea were already recognized 5 centuries ago and it was used as a treatment for infectious diseases, colds, and also as an aid to the digestive and nervous systems.

Studies that support the health benefits of tea drinking keep filling the headlines. There’s simply no denying that a daily spot of tea does the body good. Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, and all of which take on the “free radicals” in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells on board. Here are some well researched health benefits of tea.

Heart benefits
Studies suggest that drinking oolong tea or green tea can lower blood pressure, protect against heart disease, and guard against stroke and blood clotting. Tea has been found to be a great antidote for high cholesterol as they contain a compound known as flavonoids. These flavonoids contain anti-oxidant properties very similar to vitamins E and C. A study led in Japan in which 9,000 women participated, shows that women who drank less than 5 cups of tea per day were twice as prone to suffer strokes.

Improves focus and concentration
Tea leaves contain an important protein building block called L-Theanine. L-Theanine affects the central nerve system, causing certain substances to be released which cause a sense of euphoria, optimism and serenity. It stimulates cerebral activity but doesn’t over-stimulate it like coffee does.

Teeth and bones
Originally, drinking tea was associated with loss of teeth and weakening of bones. While tea can also stain your teeth if you are not careful, the beverage supplies the body with both tannins and fluoride, which can support good dental health. Tea leaves contain fluoride which helps strengthen bones and teeth and fights cavities.

Immunity boost
Tea believed to boost the body’s defenses (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003)

Common cold
Probably the most commonly suffered ailment in the world, common cold can also be tackled by the judicious drinking of tea. Adding lemon to the brew does wonders and adding honey to tea works wonders on sore throats. Inhaling the aroma of tea brewed with a hint of lemon juice greatly relieves one of nose congestion.

Effective hydration of body and energy drink
Hydrating the body without adding extra calories definitely puts another feather in the tea’s cap! The main advantage of tea lies in the fact that it is a completely natural product, without any added flavorings, colors or preservatives. Tea has the ability to boost metabolism, which not only helps provide energy, but also is a low calorie drink unlike colas or any other aerated water.

Discover the Health Benefits from Drinking Tea

Year after year the newspapers and health magazines report another health benefit of drinking tea. Tea drinking is an old custom. The consumption of tea has a vibrant and rich history that is over 5,000 years old.

The newest revelation concerning the health benefits of tea is that tea drinkers are more likely to survive a heart attack. There are other studies that support the premise that tea may have preventive and curative benefits to the human body.

Some Chinese historians claim that the elaborate and beautiful Japanese Tea Ceremony is a celebration originated from the Chinese around 800 AD. The monks transferred the custom from China to Japan. The monks brought tea with them. The drink was being used in China as a medicinal beverage.

The Chinese stress the benefits of drinking tea. Drinking tea is an age old custom for the Chinese who consider tea a medicine with a miracle power to prolong life.

The recent research confirms that tea can in fact prolong life. Scientists from Boston interviewed 1,900 people after their heart attacks, asking them to recall their consumption of caffeinated tea during the year before the attack.

"The more tea people drank, the lower the death rate," says lead author Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Moderate tea consumption, defined in the study as two cups a week, was associated with a 28 percent lower death rate when compared to the death rate of non-drinkers.

The summary of benefits for tea that have been noted:

• Enhance Health
• Restrict Blood Cholesterol
• Control High Blood Pressure
• Lower Blood Sugar
• Suppress Aging
• Refresh The Body
• Deter Food Poisoning
• Prevent And Treat Skin Disease
• Stop Cavities
• Fight Viruses

The different types of tea which are available on the market boggle the senses. Specialty Teas range from Ceylon Single Estate Black Tea, to Green Teas, Herbal Teas, Ayurvedic Teas and Fruit Teas and more. The health benefits plus the delicious aroma of tea is being discovered and enjoyed by people all over the world.

It does not seem to matter what type of tea you drink to enjoy the benefits. Tea contains flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants. These flavonoids improve the ability of the blood vessel to relax.

Flavonoids also prevent the so-called bad cholesterol, or "LDL," from oxidizing, which experts believe may promote hardening of the arteries. These flavonoids available in tea may also keep blood from clotting.

The world has discovers more and more benefits for this special drink from mother earth. Tea was a major import to the colonies. Specialty teas are also sometimes imported. At one time in history Tea was so prized that only people of high rank or high esteem could afford to buy tea or drink it.

Today, anyone can enjoy the wonderful power of teas. The aroma and flavor can be as select from the exotic specialty teas to the common Lipton tea.

The Natural Healing of Green Tea

The green tea natural healing phenomenon is in the media everywhere from the Oprah Winfrey show, in magazine editorials, in health websites, to the internet. But what kind of health benefits does this beverage have? How do you separate the fact from the fiction? In this article, you'll learn about the multiple health benefits of green tea and what it means for you.

The nutrients in this healthy beverage contain powerful anti-oxidants which fight free radicals that age and damages cells. Free radicals are by-products of oxygen in the body and can wear down your immune system, heart and can lead to other diseases. It's believed free radicals are the cause of many diseases which makes it a powerful preventive aid.

The first huge benefit green tea provides is for your heart. Its properties can keep your heart arteries flexible and relaxed which can help you if you have problems with your blood pressure. It also helps to regulate your cholesterol levels. Researchers believe that it can help to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) by limiting its absorption and also raises good cholesterol (HDL). It also may help prevent atherosclerosis by using its anti-oxidant properties against cholesterol which may oxidize and build up as plaque in your arteries.

Another benefit is its thermogenic properties. Its main ingredient, EGCG, generates heat and increases the metabolic rate, resulting in calories being burnt faster in every activity such as running, strength training, even digesting. This makes green tea an excellent fat metabolizer.

The fourth benefit is the boost in your immune system. Green tea also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Catechins which are found in the tea, can fight, protect from and even destroy bacteria that cause pneumonia, cholera, food poisoning, colds, the flu and more.

Overall, green tea is a powerful natural healing aid and has multiple benefits for your body. The fact is that green tea can assist in preventing and in fighting against many diseases. However, it is not a miracle cure but more like a strong weapon and defense for your body. It is one of the best supplements/foods you can consume if you are serious about your well being and want to get healthy and stay healthy.

Stay Healthy with Tea

Drinking tea goes back about 5,000 years ago as evidenced by archeologists. There are indications that China and India were the first countries to drink tea. It is believed that Portuguese Jesuit Father Jasper de Cruz in 1500s had his first taste of tea and was able to trade with China for the tea.

Finally tea came to America by Peter Stuyvesant in the 1600s. It was soon after that England discovered the tea. You might remember the Boston Tea Party when the colonists rebelled against taxes imposed upon them without their consent and threw the tea in the Boston Harbor.

For many years there have been many studies on the benefits of drinking tea. There continues to be research regarding tea and the benefits. Scientists study the white, green, and black teas and believe they may help you live a long and healthy life.

Teas contains flavonoids which are compounds that have antioxidant properties. Green tea is made of unfermented tea leaves which causes the highest concentration of antioxidants called polyphenols. The antioxidants fight free radicals.

China uses this tea to treat depression, insomnia and nausea. Green tea also contains caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline which have stimulant effects. Usually 2 to 3 cups of green tea per day are recommended.

Many in the medical profession support the benefits of the tea and recommend it to many of their patients because they too believe that many diseases could be prevented by including it in your diet.

Why People Drink Tea?

Tea is perhaps surprisingly the second most popular drink after water. It's drunk throughout world, and it is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the health benefits that different teas can provide.

Here are 10 reasons why people drink tea.

1. Tea is refreshing, and cools you down on hot days. Despite being a hot drink, it helps to regulate the body's temperature and so cools you down. This explains why tea is so popular in hot countries. Tea is very popular in Kenya, India and Sri Lanka, as well as many other hot countries.
2. A breakfast tea such as Earl Grey or Sencha 2nd Flush Green Tea can be drunk in the morning in order to help you wake up and feel stimulated. A cup of tea is a great start to the day when combined with breakfast.
3. Sweet tea is known to be good for people suffering from shock. This is why tea is often offered to people who have been involved in accidents, or have received bad news.
4. Drinking tea has many health benefits. Green and White teas have been proven to help protect against cancer; reduce the pain and suffering for those with arthritis; help to prevent heart attacks, help with weight loss, and much more. Green and White teas really are superfoods.
5. People who enjoy the finer things in life will often drink gourmet tea, which require a bit of patience to make, but the results are definitely worth it. This is because different teas need the water at different temperatures, and need to be steeped for different times. An alternative to remembering the right temperatures and brewing times is to use a tea machine. All you have to do is to tell it what sort of tea you are using, and it does the rest, so that your tea is always brewed to perfection, every time.
6. Tea contains less caffeine than coffee, and so can be drunk throughout the day without the effects that drinking too much coffee can bring.
7. It's always the right time for a cup of tea. With different teas suitable for drinking all day long, whether you want to get yourself going in the morning, enjoy the evening after a nice meal, or get in the mood for going to sleep, there's a tea that's just right for you.
8. China, India, and Japan are probably the most well known producers of tea, but Kenya, Sri Lanka and South America also produce tea. Even if you know what your favourite tea is, why not try one from a different country
9. Herbal teas are infusions rather than teas, as they are not made with tea leaves, but are still often classed as teas. Many of these herbal infusions offer health benefits, such as herbal mint infusions aiding an upset stomach, or South African Rooibos which has calming effects and is often given to children.
10. Making tea isn't difficult, and most tea drinkers use a teabag, kettle, teapot and a cup.

Now you know why people drink tea, and why it's so popular, isn't it time that you drank tea, or tried a different sort of tea than the tea bags you normally use?